The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-09-27
49, ~N
THE BOOK CORNER.


OF the new books Of the week. Justin
Nc(zrrhy's Life OF Pope Leo XIII. In
the "Prhise Men OF To-Day series. may
fugfiy be given the frat place Ia point Of
Interest and Instruction Pope Leo XIII.
d the son Of Count Ladovico Peccs. his
mother vas descendant OF the ce,e-
bYatee Lola de RIenzi the last OF tie
Roman triDunes, the same who gave Lord
Bs.xer Lytton the motive for his DOW
erful novel, ''RienzI." No bgo9rapher
could desire a more interesting subject
man the lie Of this sovereign poasfa.
whose rule over the Roman Catholic
eaarch has continued for the past eight
eza years. Almost from its beginning.
Pope Leo's career has been full Of pie
furesaue and romantic interest Mr.. Ne
czFsay passes hastily over many of the
cartier Esscisenfs Of the pope's life. not
going "a fully as the general reader might
desire into the history OF his early nan
hood. when as yineenzo Pecci he was
eminent both az a statesman and scholar.
Little Ii also said OF his influence al Bens-
vsnfo. where as a young priest he imn1e-
6;zfely distinguished himself by crushing
eut brlgsnda ge, or Of his career az nGa-
20 al Brussels. and later "a bishop Of
perux!a. where he remained for over
tb!rty-tHo years, devoti8g himself most
earnestly TO pracsics. questions Of e1aea-
ton and religion. meantime being made
4 cardinal.
"a fSs7 Cardinal Peccf was nominated
"a be cardinal chamberlain. and a year
later when Pope Plus TX died Il was ais
A,,sv 10 perform the strange, sad cere-
mortal which takes place when the spirit
u pope leaves its earthly habstatlon:
THE cardinal chamberlain approaches
ne bed OF the dead pontiH. bearing In h-J
hand little hammer o. siiseT. pros;.ates
h.rself over the bed. and calls the dead
man three times. not by his name as
osos. but by the name given az his oap-
fIsra. and three times touches the cold
sorenead Lightly with his silver hammer.
r-as silence which follows this appeal by
vafcs and by touch is formal proof that
L. who makes no answer Is beyond It's
,saeh and the cardinal chamberlain an
rnuuees ofscially 10 the waiting priests
ehat the pope has ceassd 10 i've"
M. Mccarthy writes from the stand
eosnt on devout Catholic, but CAIN.
&nnartial judgment Iz given or the history
- he zine from the death OF Plus TX
6owu to the present. Indeed II is histors-
q, narrative os many countries since ls.s.
through which runs the constant theme
- the prsctica. ability and nobility OF
Pooe Leo Kill. and the reader cannot
faf 20 be inspired with admiration and re-
opeca fc- q man who. apart from his ex-
ntted position and despite all differences
= creed. q worthy Of love and admiration
4 4 statesman. q scholar and phlianthro-
0sst Mr. Mccarthy relates with gusto
he Iona story Of the 'kultur-kamf'--the
otrtxx.e over the education OF Catholics
"a the German empIre-and the eventual
triumph over Prince Bismarck. Each
step Of his subsequent career Is dwelt up
"a In a manner that cannot but impress
the reader with the forciDie and at the
same time lovabia qualities OF this won
0erful man who Il under seif-fmposed re-
strain, AZ the vatican. bat whose sway and
hducnce are felt all over the world