The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-04-28
Pope Leo XIII.

Pope Leo XIII.
After his mass, which he says early,
Leo XIII. gives audience to Cardinal
Jacobini, Secretary OF State and former
ly Nuncto at Vienna, whose political
learning is rare, even in those of his OH.
clal position. His place is then taken
by the Cardinal Secretary of Eoolesias.
tical Affairs and by the congregation Of
Cardinals, each of which has it's fixed
day. The several councils generally
occupy the whole morning, until one
hour after midday. The Pope's dinner
A potage. one dish OF meat, and some
cheese, A few minutes suffice for its
consumption. While he takes tho air
in the afternoon-generally in his oar
rage-he usually reads the bishops re-
ports, all OF which comes direct into his
own hands, the kdispatches from the
nunclatures, and especially any news
from Belgium. That little kingdom,
which has broken its diplomatic relat-
ions with the Holy See, is particularly
near his heart. For it ia there that he
himself was Nunoio from 1874 to 1916,
and there that he studied, at CLOSE quar-
ters, q great politician, Leopold I. To-
ward o'claok tho Pope gives his pri-
vate and public audiences, and the even-
ing hours are devoted to the reception
of bishops. This long day over, Leo
XIII. regains the solitude of his own
closet. Then, at last, he is able to be.
gin work.
Tall, tlin, spare, with his pale and
deeply lined face. the Pope usually has
delicate health, of which he takes small
care. His austerity is extreme. The
spiritual sovereign OF 2O0, ,OOO, 900 Catho.
lics does not spend 100 francs a month
for his table. The enolgy of strongly
developed nervous system alone enables
him to resist the fatigue Of his labor and
about him perceive moment of exhaus-
ton and collapse; but q little happiness,
a piece Of good news, or a pleasant tele-
gram restores the lite OF his worn frame:
Suddenly well again, he takes up once
more his heavy burden, and betakes
himself to that work of reconciliation
and peace-maklng to which he has de-
voted himself.
He is always grave, or, rather, solemn,
always the Pope. The Italians call his
manners and surrounding ceremonious.
Gravity is inherent III his nature, as
those aver who hnve known him from
his earliest youth. He never abandons
himself, laughs rarely. He might be
thought stern did he not temper his
severity by the patient attention with
which elstens--wlthoutint Interruption
to all who speak to him. His audiences
are far less frequent than wero those of
Plus TX, but for that very reason they
take up more time. He has not the
brilliant side so noticeable in his pre-
decessor, the genial ease, the fine good
humor wbich endured, Notwithstanding
the surprising vicissltudes Of the last
Pontiiicate, nor the frank, bold and
genial speech, full OF witty and happy
words, thrown off i'll that sonorous voice
which Plus TX. retained in his extreme
old age. Leo XIII. is as slow of speech
us the Archbishop of Paris, But If
neither the Pope nor the Cardinal has
received the orators gift each has been
endowed with the authors. Perhaps
this similarity explains the special SYM
pathy and esteem which the Pope on
tertains toward Mgr. Guilbert.
The pastorals in which the Archbis-
hop OF Perugla (this was Cardinal Pecoi's
Office before his election as Pope) was
wont to demonstrate the harmony Of
fifth and reason, Of religion and oivill-
zation, 'growiug like the flower and
fruit from the root of Christianity"
were much noticed by italian publicists.
Tho priest loved to freat the questions
of the day, and of modern society. The
illustrious Bought eaid os him. that
this was "oue OF the most finely balanced
and vigorous, of characters" thathe was
"a man who had realized the idea of a
Cardinal such us st. Bernard conceived
it," Since the eighteenth century, since
the time of Benedict XIV. and Clement
XIV, Rome has not seen Pope of 50
cultivated a mind. 80 accomplished in
Latin and Tuscan verse, 80 familiar at
once with classic and contemporary let
ters. at the presant time, the two
qualities which Leo XIII. most prizes.
and aims most constantly in securing in
his writings, are simplicity and moder.-
ton. His letters, his onoyclicals, all
are submitted to the sacred college.
Nothing is more admirable than the
manner in which lie ellcits opinions and
weighs objections. He has been known
to completely rewrltl, after grave de-
bates, enoyolicals which he had already
completed. AS he suffers from Sleep
lessness, it Is generally in the night
hours when he composes his most inn
mortal work.
--<Sea<>---