The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-21
REMARKABLE PICTURES
OF Pope Leo XIII. al The Vatican BY the American
biograph COMPANY.


1t is fact 'well known To diplomats
that Pope Leo XIII. mas wonderful
grasp upon the affairs of the world.
Keen insight into the condition of
progress exhibited by the various ma
ton and remarkable knowledge of
the advances made in science as pre-
sented I'm the very latest outputs from
the workshops OF the inventors but To
the average individual IL seems hardly
. credible that the head of the Catholic
church, who never sets foot outside
the confines of the Vatican, could be
familiar with scientific inventions hard
ly known TO more than "A limited num-
Der OF persons living in the worlds
great centres.
1t is nOt 10 be wondered at there
fore, that as related recently IN these
columns, when "A representative OF the
American Biograph Company went 10
Rome, he was in fear OF failure to
gain the consent OF the Pope to a
sitting before the motion picture cam
era. Visitors To Rome know how diff
ficult IL is To gain access to the pres
as have sought an audience with the
ence OF the sovereign pontiff, ana such
Holy Father ana failed can fully APP
preciate the difficulty which faced q
daring American who went to the
Eternal city with the purpose OF photo
graphing the Pope in such a manner.
But Pope Leo XIII. is "A man OF sur
prises, and he gave the venturesome
American most agreeable surprise
when he not only informed him that
he was thoroughly familiar with the
method of making the pictures, but
was also keenly alive to the fact that
the invention could be made of SER
vice to the cause of religion after the
very manner suggested by his visitor.
At great personal Inconvenience he con-
sented To allow his picture To be taken.
He received the biograph man grac-
iously gave him every facility for Sc
curing "A number of very remarkable
views, i'm all OF which the Pope is, of
course, the central figure, and finally
extended his courtesy TO the full ex-
tent OF allowing the biograph to re-
produce him in the act of bestowing
the pontifcal blessing.
These pictures We're recently shown
with the sanction of the heads of the
church i'm this country, i'm Baltimore
and later at Carnegie Hall in New
York, and they are certainly remarka-
BILE. The Holy Father is seen in the
Sistine chapel; being carried in his
chair; riding i'm his carriage of state,
which was opened for the first time in
20 years expressly for the purposes OF
the picture; sitting. surrounded by
many notable members of his house
hold. walking in the gardens of the
Vatican and in the very act of bestow-
ing the pontitical blessing. The pict-
ures are wonderfully clear are life
size and the effect of being actually
in the presence of the Holy Father is
perfectly plain.
The clergy and a select number of
laymen who have seen the views pro-
nounce them wonderful. IL is certainly
strange that what but few Americans
are permitted to see, even after a jour
ney TO Rome, can here in this country
be now seen by all.
The Holy Father. in granting to the
representative Of the biograph comp
any such extraordinary courtesy. made
but one condition concerning the ex-
hibition of these pictures. He exacted
promise that they should not be eX-
hibited i'm connection with any theat-
rical entertainment, and this promise
will be kept.
1t is a great compliment to the per-
sonar worth and reputation of Mr.. r.
t. Keith that he should have been Sc
lected To- present these wonderful liv-
ing views to the public in New York,
Boston, Providence and Philadelphia.
Boston will see them for the first time
I'm Keiths New Theatre on Christmas
next sunday and Providence at
an early date; and "A prominent Cath
ole clergyman will be selected to de-
liver "a lecture on Leo XIII. and ex-
plain the views presented
Mr.. Keith has firmly refused to open
his handsome theatre on Sunday eve
nings for any purpose, not even for
entertainments designed TO benefit the
most worthy of local charities: but he
feels that at last he has good ground
for breaking his rule, and that GER
tainly the character of these pictures
and the influence they viii exert make
them an exhibition suited to the day.