The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
EXHArsTING WORK.

EAHAUSTING. WORK.
This fact supplies the explanation both of
his mental habits and of his material health
to-day. His mental habits are laborious and
exhausting. He has always on hand the
preparation of some pontifcal document
of Importance. Each Of these documents
implies a vast labor. But knotty questions
are of far greater frequency than the solu-
ton of doubts or the exposition of great
issues in public documents. All the rami-
fications Of the papal administration end
naturally in him, and 1t is his daily duty
to ratify, after conscientious examination,
the findings of each branch of the eccle-
SiaSttcal government These audiences take
place on every morning of the week save
Sunday and Thursday, and in every week
of the year save q few set down by pre-
scriptive right as feriae. This audience-giv-
ing, which is obviously burdensome does
not flag during the heats of the Roman
midsummer. One other point however, at
fords more direct indication of the mental
habits of Leo XIII. This is his determine
ton to be his own counsellor. Everything
winch is grave in consequences he reserves
for his own scrutiny
Norshas the advantage of age brought any
diminutfon of what the Latin races ca il
genality. His human sympathy is of the
highest kind, and at once wide ana ex-
quisite, broad and tender. He receives
literally all sorts and conditions of men
except M. lola coming in peculiar cir
cumstances. To each one received he APP
ropriates-readily naturally and ade-
quately-the proper interest, satisfaction.
and benevolence, and all in the most royal
and courteous way. And with his sympa-
thy of a higher sort has endured his mirth-
fulness. A refined wit is often attributed
to him. 1t is equally certain that he has
the fullest and most human appreciation of
humor. On one occasion a lady of ma
tronly proportions was presented to him.
She wore a dress Of black silk, ample folds
and great SplendOr. He mistoOk her for
a meritorious Christian mother. "Vous etes
une bonne mere de famile; est ce pas?'
he said. 1t was at once explained by an
attendant that she had never married.
The Pope broke into a laugh, which was
instantly lost in a broad smile. as he check
ed himself. 1t is the only case in which |
have seen him, or heard of him, provoked
by humOr but the richness and abandon of
his laughter were sufficient once and for all
to reveal the man within the octogenarian
Pontiff. NH
FRUGAL HABITS.
There is a fancy, if not tradition among
Catholics that a Pope, however aged or
invaded, cannot lose the use of his men
tai powers. The preservation of Leo XIII
in life, healthfulness and activity has the
general merit Of teaching some homely les
sons in hygiene. Leo XIII is an enthusiast
for frugality, after the manner of Cornaro.
He has not only given an example of per-
sonal practice, but he has published pre-
Cepts. Upon his verse on sobriety since the
period of their publication and of their
translation by Mr.. Andrew Lang, there have
been modelled menus, at least in the United
States. In still stricter conformity with
them, as a glance at the menus shows, is
the Pope's unchanging diet-self-prescribed
at Perugia and approved by the Archiatro
Pontifico in Rome. Indeed, the PopeS APP
petite has not varied in any perceptible de-
gree for thirty years, and his present ply
Slcian could have described 1t at that dis
lance of time as he does now, saying: Il
think that take more at one meal than the
Pope in a week" After about four hours
sleep and some additional rest, the Pope
rises at 6. Besides his coffee and milk, taken
with a morseI Of bread-nterally a morsel2
he settles down to the work of the day.
More than half way through the morning
he takes cup of broth, and occasionally at
>other times, when he feels weakness. AT |
6clock, or even later and sometimes as late
as , O'Clock. he takes his mlcday meal,
which, according to the old-time Italian
hygiene, should give the staple OF sus-
tenance to the body. 1t consists of a little
soup, which is French rather than Italian,
being clear, and not filled with vegetables
and paste, of a little boiled meat. the in
evitable bollito, which opens every Italian
dinner; of some roast-preferabiy roast
lamb, with vegetables and. infrequently, of
a pudding of spinach a la Parisienne, or OF
some wholesome vegetable, ana OIL trult.
This light rejection may be measured by its
accompaniment of wine, which IS claret,
especially prepared and sent from convent
at Bordeaux. He drinks q wineglassful. He
has been advised esnecialIy some years ago.
dissatisfaction after trial His solitary
glass of wine sutiices to secure him his
daily siesta, which lie takes reposing on a
couch with his face turned towards tie
window Of the room.
Owing to the lateness of his dinner, and
his sesta, the day is advanced before he
resumes work AS / have limited, the
Pope is a representative of the old Italian
manners, and Of the old ecclesiastical fash
ions; a representative in cast and mind and
in habits of life of the chaStened and nom
luxurious renaissance. In Italy the IN
tellectual workers and the churchmen pref
erably study in the morning, take tull
meal and proportlonate rest in the after
noon, and then their constitutional. "
When the weather is fine. the Pope, after
a short period Of work. which follows on
his siesta. is carried in a sedan. so as to
avoid changes of atmosphere. to the en-
trance of his gardens There he enters his
carriage. which is closed, and Is driven
about. After he has been driven q few
turns. he alights. and takes walk. es-
corted by the prelate ard chamberlains in
attendance.
He has a collection of birds, of which
he is very fond, especially Of his gaudy-
colored parrots; and 9 collection OF AMI
maIs-pelicans. ostriches ana lawns.
These also receive his frequent attention.
He has a vineyard, which Is so much the
object of his care that he may almost DC