The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21
THE PoPE's HEALTH.
Indications That 1t Has Been Almost
Wholly RestOred
(Rome Letter in the London Post.)

(Rome Letter in the London Post)
Whatever doubts were felt a week ago
| as to the real state of the Pope's health,
there is now no longer any question that
he has rallied from his indisposition, for
he has again allowed himself to be pho
| tographed in the Vatican gardens His
holiness was taken in chair, surrounded
| by his chamberlain. Count Camille Pee
ci some of the Guardie NobiIi and a
| number of Swiss guards The photogra-
pher was again Kennedy Dickson, who,
besides photographing the Pope twice.
has been allowed by the military author
ties to make an ascent in a captive bal
loon, so as TO obtain from above views of
the Tiber and the Piazza San Pietro
AS though posing for a photographer
were not sufficient proof of good health,
his holiness received on the same day
five prelates for the dispatch of Vatican
business, and lin the afternoon conceded
to various persons the consolation of kiss
ing his hand"
The recent indispoSition of the Pope
and the rumo-s' founded on it, have
brought to light a number of interesting
particulars with regard to the Pontiff's
daily life. An early riser. Leo XIII is on
foot soon after o'clock, and Immediate
ly on rising says prayers. He then often
descends, or rather is carried, into the
Vatican gardens, from which he returns
to say mass in his private chapel and to
confer with his secretary of state, Car
dinal Rampolla. After a cup of choco-
late or coffee the reception of visitors be-
gins, those having special appointments
being received between and $3.50 O'Clock,
while the members of the sacred congre-
CATION have their audience from or 9. IA
O'Clock onward
ABOUT II O'Clock the Pope retires for a
moment to take a cup of boulion with a
glass of Bordeaux. after which he con-
tinues to work until 2 O'Clock. which is
his hour for dinner. The pope is always
behindhand with his work because he in
sists on reading and arranging personally
the matters brought to his notice After
dinner. which is extremely light. and
which is always taken by the Pope alone
work is continued until 7 or 1880 O'Clock
when another turn in the gardens is TAX
en- until sunset. There are a few but
very rev. exceptions to the Pope's prac-
tice OF dining alone Some time since
the Spanish Ambassador to the Vatican
was invited with his wife and son to
share the Pontiiical dinner. but the Popa
has never, for instance invited his broth
er, Cardinal Pecci, or either of his neph-
ews TO bear him company at table
The whole of the Popes kitchen costs
him little more than five shillings a day.
s'tNNNNi liz ohiiNNtSk tIOuOlJ Is DTdc-
ticed in all the departments of the
Pcpe's household, and Leo XIII will GER
tainiy be known 10. history as one of the
least extravagant Pontiffs on record. Aft
er returning from the gardens. receptions
are continued until II O'clock or even
midnight Then the Pope retires to rest.
but not always TO sleep. for during the
night he otter composes Latin verses.
which are dictated to one of his secreta-
ries early next morning.
For man OF nearly lightweight years
of age this is a heavy days work. which
furnishes proof of the astounding vitality
and strength of the Popes constitution.
The surest sign OF indisposition or weak
ness on his part is the curtaiment or the
cessation of the numerous daily recep-
tons, and it was the diminished number
of visitors to the Vatican some days ago
which gave substance to the rurnors of
the Pope's illness. The Pope, it is said
was much annoyed by the concern shown
shown by the Government at the news Of
mis- disposition. and in order to show that
his strength was by no means so dimin-
lshed as II was generally reported to be.
His Holiness gave orders for the recep-
tons TO be continued with as great free
dom as ever