The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-24

sion are forced 10 90, II seems dlIAOSb 1lhS
mummery, for the pontiff appears to the
eye as but a child swathed in robes OF
state About him is wrapped gold en-
broidered white robe From his shoulders
falls a cloak Of scarlet satin, lined with
ermine, while upon the head Of the pontiff
rests the mitre that was presented by EN-
peror William of Germany. And the jewels
that decorate him. A rare treat, indeed,
would q simple survey of them be consid-
cred by the noblest connoisseur of them
all. First of all, shining upon the outside
Of the white gloved right hand, is the pom
udcal ring, which for twenty-six genera
tons has been worn by the Popes of Rome
A cross of superb diamonds hangs upon
the Pope's breast, and the scepter which
signifies his authority is a marvel of the
jewelers. art. All this upon form shrunk-
an to ehildlike proportions, the form of an
old, very old. man, who seems to be all
IN readiness to trust himself 10 the skill of
Charon at any moment.
THE POPE'S SIMPLE LIFE.
This is the ceremonial side of the life
Of Leo XIII. 1t is by no means.represent-
alive of that which he leads from day to
day. Simplicity is his watchword. and well
does he observe it. He rises at o'clock
each morning and attends mass in his pri-
mass, and occasionally one of his chaplains
celebrates a mass of Thanksgiving When
the hour of arrives his simple breakfast
Is served him. This consists of milk, cof-
fee and cold bread. This meal at an end
the Pope Immediately devotes himself to
the consideration of such correspondence
as his secretary may have placed before
him. He is system itself iii method and
movement, and in this way manages to
accomplish far more than many people who
are blessed with comparatively good health,
and at no time does he seem or is he hur-
ried. He is a firm believer in the maxim
that haste makes waste and we'll does he
live up to that belief. The consideration of
business over, or, rather, such as has been
submitted to him for settlement, the Pope
rests for a time. AS the clock strikes 10
each morning the secretary of state APP
pears, and following him come such fur
Their attaches of the Vatican as the Pope
may.consider it advisable to see. All these
matters occupy the remainder of the morn
Ing. for whether those who wish to see
him be great or few the pontiff will only
admit certain number during a given
period Of time. Those whose business is
least important must wait Nothing is per-
mitted to interfere with this programme
AT dinner the Pope's almost ascetic method
Of satisfying the physical man is again ap-
parent. Always soup-because that is so
nourishing-there is, besides, macaroni,
which his Italian birth and surroundings
have made Indispensable roast beef or
mutton, well done, and vegetable. Then
comes fruit, for the Pope is firm believer
in the ACCESSIBILITY of all persons, young
and old, supplying themselves freely with
edibles of this nature.
The pontiR is by no means a teetotaler
although his consumption of stimulants is
confined to a light red wine that comes to
him from the south of France, where it is
prepared by the nuns in a convent. It's fla
vor is delicious, and yet its effects are
never deleterious, nor does it stimulate to
a degree that in the slightest unpleasantly
affects the nervous system. 1t is during
this hour, that of dinner, that the Pope
Listens to the reading of the newspapers
by one of his secretaries. 1t is one of the
rules governing the life of the Pope of
Rome that he must always dine alone.
He can, if he chooses, have some one in
the same room to converse with, but never
to dine Even his own brother, the late
Cardinal Pecci, of whom Leo XIII was
very fond, never took dinner with him be-
cause of this rigorous rule. 1t was Leo's
predecessor who said: what a pity it is
= that the Pope cannot be as little of hui
man being as the church considers him.
NEVER LEAVES THE VATICAN.
Dinner at an end. and alone but for the
presence of his faithful servant, Contra, the
Pope drops asleep, sometimes for an hour,
but never less than half an hour Then
comes the reception of the visitors-those
who have no business to transact. Tuesday
and Friday the ambassadors who are credit
ed from other countries to the court of the
Vatican received and at other times
such visitors as the Pope may consider it
wise to admit to his presence greet him.
After the last of those to whom permission
to enter has been given are gone he goes
for walk or a drive in the garden of the
Vatican.
Few people know, and yet it is a fact,
that outside the Vatican grounds the Pope
never goes. There is no papal law concern
ing such action on his part but it is believed
that the appearance of Leo in the streets
of Rome would create a riot, and perhaps
revolution Feeling runs very high between
the Catholic and anti-Catholic partisans
and therefore it is considered the part of
wisdom that the pontiff should remain in
comparative seclusion. Within the Vatican
grounds is the drive of a mile winding
carriage road, the carriage used being one
that Plus TX utilized. 1t is a great old
fashioned affair, drawn by two long-tailed
black horses. that amble about in as gentle
a fashion as the greatest of invalids could
desire. Frequently the Pope leaves the car
riage and walks among the flowers and
shrubs. of which he is extravagantly fond.
If there ever was a pontiff who was near to
natures heart it is Leo XIII. When the
drive is over the Pope returns to the Vati-
can, and presently takes a glass of milk
or a cup of broth, with cold roll and a
glass of wine. 1t used to be the case that
in the evening the Pope would devote much
of his time TO writing or the consideration
OF official matters, but now that the hand
of old age rests so heavily upon him he re-
tires very early, and one of his secretaries
reads him to sleep. So runs the day of the
head Of the Roman Catholic Church. An
uneventful one, perhaps, it seems, but yet
always fraught with tremendous Importance
to some one.
Nowadays the Pope seeks to carry out his
programme the one that he has followed for
nineteen long years, but he does not always
succeed Contra picks him up and carries
him about if he were child, and he is
allowed to make no movement that would
weaken him in the least, provided human
agency is able to act for him. 1t is doubtful
If there has ever been a case where such
tremendous effort has beer put forth to pro-
long human life. Every physical law is