Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-18
HIS DAILY IIFE.

his DAILY LIFE.
There have been greater Leos in the Vatican
Leo XIII has neither the wealth nor the ambi-
tion Of the tenth Leo to build St. Peters and be
the patron of Michael Angelo and other grea.
artists and literat Of his generation. But or
the other hand he encourages no excuses and
luxury that could suggest to any nation the
need Of . reformation. On the contrary, no
man can be more simple In his habits and
exemplary In his daily life. Rising at in the
morning he hears mass in the private chapel
and then takes his abstemious first break
fast OF bread. coffee and milk. The next few
hours are devoted to hearing reports and
debating answers to his secretaries. He
then receives the cardinal secretary of state
and the members OF the sacred college in sue
cession. At o'clock the pope takes bis second
breakfast, consisting of bouillon or broth. q
roast and an entree. In . convent in the de-
partment Of the Gironde the pure and whole
some Bordeaux wine is bottled especially for
his use, and OF this he drinks one or two glasses
The pope suffers much from sleeplessness. and
his delicate nervous organization requires the
greatest care to enable it to withstand the wear
Of constant work. After luncheon he takes q
siesta and then walks or rides in the Vatican
gardens. At in the evening he dimes frugally
and at 10 he retires, keeping the lights burn
ing in his chamber for an hour or two longer.
which time he deyotes to silent prayer and med
itstion.
Various rulers of the see Of st. Peter have
been noted for the variety and popularity OF
their amusements. but the entire history Of the
church exhibits no picture OF the chief pastor
Of Chistendom employing his leisure hours in
amateur composition in Latin. Or. Arnold Of
Rugby claimed that Latin yersifcation was val
uable for its humanizing influence, but In the
poems Of Leo XIII we find not only humane
thoughts, beautiful imagery, revealing taste
and culture, but~a mastery OF the Horatian
meters and a Latinity that would have been the
m
scarcely attainable at the present time. These
poems have been collected and published
together with an English translation by the
Jesuits of Woodstock College.
CARDINAL GIBBONS ESTIMATE.
In a personal communication addressed to
the writer Cardinal Gibbons, speaking of the
character of tine pope. says: II think that great
as is the worlds admiration for the present oc-
cupant of the fshermans throne, time alone
will enable men to fully appreciate and fifty
express his worth. lie mites to an eniight-
ened Judgment an indomitable will. to truest
piety genius OF the highest order, and to purest
love for God and the church an intense concep-
ton of the needs OF the times and interchangeable
labor in discovering and applying remedies for
them. He Is the pope of the people and seems
TO know no rest while there is possibility Of
helping them in their best and legitimate sspi-
rations. His love for the soundest principles of
democracy is deep as his sight is clear and
far-reaching, and his sympathy for American
institutions and tendencies deserves for him
place among the most admired and loved of
men.
"(Signed) J. CARDINAL GIBBONS"
The sentiment expressed by Cardinal Glib
bons in this letter concerning the supreme
pontiff Is in the main the sentiment of Roman
Catholics the world around. As man the pore
has shown the character and qualities of
great statesman as religious leader he stands
among the foremost of his ilustrious pontifical
predecessors. FARRINGroN-M MAXWELL