The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-30
POPE LEO IN MARBLE.
The Noble Statue of the Pontiff to
Be Unveiled in WASH
ington.
A Great Gathering Of Catholic
Churchmen at the Capital
Next Month.
Leading Di.nitaries Who Win Be Present
Count Lie ubat, the Donor, and !.
Luchetti. the Sculptor,

Especial Correspondence of The INDEPENDENT.
ysVAfASHlNGTON. D. c., AUG. GA
ATNy22 memorable occasion in the history
wy of the Catholic church in America,
eaualed III Importance only by the cele-
hration. in November, 1889. of the centennial
OF the Catholic Hierarchy in the United
States, will be the unwilling of the
magnificent marble statue of the su-
preme pontiff, Leo Kill, which is
now fixed to take place here on
September 2Sth next. Already the ar
r~angements for the ceremony are well under
way, and it is anticipated that there will
be present almost the entire Catholic her
archy, as during the same week the church
will celebrate, with unusual pomp, the CEN
tenary of st. Sulpice at Baltimore, and the
priests and prelates in attendance there
will doubtless avail themselves of the on
eortunlty to attend the picturesque ceremo-
nonial at Washington also.
The statue, which is the gift of Count
Joseph de Loubat to tie Catholic university
of Washington, arrived at the national
capital early in August. MIR. Loubat ia a
wealthy New Yorker, we'll known in society
II club circles. He is a devoted son of
the church, and has at several times signal
lied his fidelity to its interests by a lavish
generosity to its institutions. For
this work he chose Joseph Lu-
chetti, one of the best of the
modern school of Italian sculptors,
who labored on the massive block of pure
Carrara a whole year under Mr.. Loubat's
personal supervision. a clay model having
hrst been submitted to the pontitf and ap-
proved by him.. The finished statue, which
is almost heroic in size. being fourteen feet
in height, including the pedestal, is a faith
full likeness of Pope Leo, not as he is to-
day, frail and attenuated, but as he ap-
peareG in his matug G prime, some years ago,
for the face ls almost a counterpart of q
statue OF his holiness that was exhibited at
the celebration of his golden Jubilee as a
priest. Tho sculptor has presented the
pontltf seated on the papal chair or throne,
wearing the triple crown of tiara, and
vested with the cassock, the alb, the stole
and the cape. Tn cassock, or long frock
GOAT peculiar to the Catholic clergy. is
drsped gracefully and but little concealed
by the folds of the cape, which hang from
the neck and over the shoulders; the stole.
= long. narrow band of silk worn across
both shoulders, is visible underneath, while
the graceful folds of the alb reach to the
feet and lie on the top of the pedestal.
But the face, around which the chief in
terest centers, Is a remarkable study. 1t
wears an expression of gentle admonition,
like that OF a father warning, yet rather ad-
yislng than reproying his children. This
impression is heightened by the attitude of
the figure, the right arm raised slightly
with the hand open and palm turned up
ward, as though inviting spiritual conten-
plation or invoking benediction. The left
hand rcposes on the arm of a chair. The
face is very grave. yet kindly and even
familiar. 1t has been said of the present
Pontif that he was never seen to smile;