The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-29

'fraWnCP' as only an EnSllSiIldn Ut
affected Bostonian can say it, but with
him there was no affeCtation. 1t was
natural and musical.
An outline of Mr.. Crawford's very
interesting lecture can convey no ade-
quate idea of the delightful manner Of
it's presentation. 1t gives his subject
matter, however and by clothing this
with the direct, exact and beautiful
language of Mr.. Crawford's books one
can gain an idea of what his audience
enjoyed.
SUBJECT NOT AN EASY ONE.
The subject. the lecturer said, was
not an easy one. 1t is one that Catho-
lies approach with the greatest deli
Cacy and respect. and members of
other religions with certain amount
of distrust. Il am going to try to
place before yOu," MI Crawford said.
the personality Of Leo XIII." The
lecturer first gave a brief sketch of
Europe at the time of Leo's accession
to the papacy, and then for contrast
told briefly Of the character of Plus
TX. his predecessor.
Plus IN. was described by Mr.. CraW-
ford as man too good for the age in
which he lived and too weak for any
age. An account of every one Of his
political acts begins "The Pope hesi-
tates" He was the kindest and best
of men himself. but his right hand man,
Cardinal Antonelli, was neither kind
nor gentle. Although q cardinal. An
tonclli was not a priest He was un-
scrupulOus; fighter and a schemer,
and might be justly compared to
Cavour or Bismarck.
An interesting bit of the lecture was
Mr. Crawfords description of An
tonelli's crude manner Of living and his
shabby lodgings in Rome. which the
lecturer visited a few hours after the
cardinals death.
Speaking of Victor Emanuel the lee
turer said he was Il fine old king and
a gallant man, and he would not have
broken his vow by taking Rome if cir
cumstances had not forced him to it,
When the king was dying he asked the
POpe's blessing.
That same year. 1873, Plus IN. died
and Leo XII. was elected pope. He
was then 6S years of age. He was born
Count Joachim PeCCi at Carpieneto
Southern Italy, in 1910 and now, al
though nearly 90 years of age he is
as apparently strong and active physlc-
ally and mentally as he was ten or
fifteen years ago.
LIKE LIVE ALABASTER.
He bears a striking resemblance tc
his father and mother. 1t is from the
latter that ne inherits his peculiar firm
set jaw and Characteristic mouth, with
its thin lips, which seem ever bent on
smiling. Another striking character
istic is his complexion. His face seems
as if made out Of live alabaster. He
possesses the TALL sinewy, broad
shouldered frame of the southern
mountaineer; his features are aquiline
and his eyes marvelously bright. His
every movement is quick, and when
walking he travels at very rapid
pace for one of his years
Physically he bears a strong resem.
blance to Mr. Gladstone and president
Lincoln All three men had great
physical strength in their youth and
all capable of profound study. In Lin.
coin the real and material were upper.
most; in Gladstone, the intellectual,
was the striking feature; in Leo. the
spiritual was the most pronounced.
A-N' > NtiA - lllN was SlltIl III lllt ODel
air, He was fond of exercise and out.
door sports, and at an early age i'm,
hibed a large store Of good common
sense.
First he was priest, then a nunciC
! a Brussels, and next Archbishop o.
| Perugia, where he lived for a long time
AS an instance Of the liberality o.
Leo's views, Mr.. Crawford told of how
he opened his house at Perugla to The
government officers at a time wher
| there was bitter dispute between tn,
| government and the Vatican.
Leo approaches as nearly as any on,
| the well-balanCed character. He is {
| great statesman, a ripe scholar anC
| the soul Of piety He has a rare
| healthy sObriety of judgment and 1!
| simple and straightforward, but no
without requisite noble caution. II,
| is extraordinarily skilled in writins
Latin and Italian verse. He does no
| speak English. Mr.. Crawford STATED
| parenthctically, without lnantainin.
| tina. the Pope is the greatest man o.
| the age, that he rs the most event,
balanced Of great men and has tn.
most stubbOrnly same disposition.
HIS GREAT ACTIVITY.
A most remarkable characteristic o
| Leo is his great activity. Although 81
| years Of age, he is constantly occu