The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-01-14

of December, 1887, began the commemo
ration of his jubiee-the close Of the
fiftieth year of his priesthood All the
Christian world shows profound respect
the Catholic nations have shOwered upon
him the richest gifts, and even the rulers
Of BuddhiSts and MOhammcdans have
sent gifts and honOrs as 10 the head OF
n great Christian communion 1t Is
not to the pope only that those gifts
and honOrs are offered, for Leo
XIII had an enviable reputation rs
diplomat, statesman, scholar and
publicist long before he became pope,
As writer Of pure Augustan Latin he
probably has not an equal in modern
times; his poetry, though often sad, is ex-
quisitely sweet, his plan for the organza-
ton of schools has been thought
good enough to be adopted by some
Protestant communities, and his diplo-
macy in France, Belgium, Spain and
Germany has been attended with the
happiest results His arbitration between
Spain and Germany in the matter Of the
Caroline Islands has gained him the
friendship Of both nations. He has put
an end to the bitter struggle in Germany
called the "Kultur kampf." The rela-
tions between England and the vatican
are now closer than they have ever been
since Henry VkI, and Queen Victoria has
sent the Duke Of Norfolk to represent her
ut the festivities. Europe admits that
for centuries no such far seeing states
man has been at the head Of the church,
and Protestant and Catholic nations unite
In doing the honors ut his jubilee.
Uniting scholarship, craftsmanship and
peculiar sweetness of character to his
functions rs pope, we need not wonder at
the presents received from apparently UNI
likely sources The sultan of Turkey,
for instance, sends an antique pastoral
ring, set with precious stones ana
valued Mt $4,000 The emperor Of Ger
many land what would have been thought
more unlikely in 1870 500 sends mitrc
worked in gold and encrusted with rubcs,
emeralds, brilliants and sapphircs--the
whole Of immense value, The Chinese
government sends n special envoy with
rich presents, and the empress regent
sends large contribution in money.
From other nOn-Catholic sources gifts
almost equally princely are received. But
from Catholic princes and peoples the con-
tributions are so numerous that the list
would fiji many columns. The queen
regent Of Spain sends u ring set with u
sapphire worth $4,000. The emperor Of
Austria and the ladies Of Vienna join I'm
presenting pictorial cross costing 100000
florins. The clergy and laity of the arch
diocese of Paris have contributed 100000
francs for u tiara, which IL to he studded
with 600 diamonds. rubics, cmcralds and
sapphircs The Syrian Catholics give
n cross and chain worth 1000
rupees. Scores Of associations Of
pious ladies' in many places send
beautiful and costly gifts The oc-
casion will also be utilized by various
churches Ireland will dedicate the Irish
National church in Rome. Ireland also
contributes the garb in which the pope
celebrates the public mass on Dec. 81. 1t
Is Of white Irish poplin, woven for this
special purpose by direction Of the bishop
of Armagh For this mass over $500, 900
has been contributed, making it the
most impressive ever witnessed In such
blaze OF brilliancy will close the llfteth
year Of his priesthood, and we are justi-
fled in some curiosity as to the life and
achievements Of the man thus highly hon
ored
Leo XIII was the fourth son OF Count
Dominica Ludovico Pccci and Anna Pros
peri-Bugi, and was born at Carpineti,
a place of some 5000 inhabitants, set
in cleft of the Monte Lcpini,
spur Of the Apprentices Both his parents
were Of noble blood His father had
served under Napoleon. Farther back the
family were Sienncse noblemcn and pro.
duced several eminent men. His mother