Evening star., 1898-09-03
DAY WITH THE POPE
How the Worlds Greatest Religious Monarch
Spends His Time.
Divided Up as Regularly as the Dial
of q Clock-His Frugal
Habits.
From the London Mail

VI al SHrlStian cnurcheS that OF Rome Is
the greatest and over it's 230. 100000 i..em-
hers the pope reigns supreme. He is the
greatest religious power in the world, and
at the present time, when his health is CIV
ing such anxiety. some account of his daily
life cannot fail to be interesting
As the great clock of ST. Peters strikes
seven the pope's valet enters his bed room,
large square apartment, simply furnish
ed, Throwing open the windows Centra
wishes his holiness good morning and pro-
ceeds to assist bis venerable master to
dress. His toilet completed. the pope per-
forms his morning devotions and proceeds
to the next room. which is fitted up as an
oratory, where he celebrates mass oeea-
sionally highly privileged persons are per-
nitted to be present at this service, which
lasts about forty-five minutes. A second
mass Is afterward celebrated by one of the
nahitants Of the Vatican, Including the
pope, are present. His holiness then break
fasts In his study, the meal consisting of
cup OF strong soup and few chocolate
pastilles.
The pope then goes into the library,
where he gives an audience to specially ia
Vered pilgrims. 1t is In these interviews
that the marvellous memory and learning Of
the pope are best shown. German, En-
gltsh, French, Spanish and Italian-his ma
1--WE language-he speaks with ffuency. His
holiness addresses each pilgrim in his own
language, discussing with them the leading
topics Of their respective countries. Leo
reads many newspapers, and is fully ac-
qnainted with the world and all it's doings.
His visitors gone, the pope commences his
days work. His first task is to revise and
alter the work of the previous day. for he
is most painstaking and fastidious
scholar: While engaged in these literary
labors he refreshes himself with an occa-
slonal pinch of snuff.
AT 10 a. m. the secretary of state,
Cardinal Rampolla enters, and with him
the pope goes through the political corre-
spondence Of the day.
The pope's annual income has been esti-
mated al f520,000, and about E29O 900 of this
goes in maintaining the Household of the
vatican. Though by no means a niiser,
Leo is very careful; his valet Keeps all his
keys. with the exception of the Key OF the
strong box. which the pope himself retains
His holiness gives away large sums in
charity every year
At moor the pope dimes; the meal consists
of an omelette, roll of bread ana a little
cheese. washed down by single glass Of
red wine.
enc OF the nunleroHA nails of the Vatican,
atler %hlch Va is carried in sort of sedan
SDs1s by two stalwart lackeys into the gar
0en and placed In his carriage.
He is driven down the avenues accom-
pc MED by an officer of his guard and two
gendarmes. At the Cascata dell Aauila
the pope ahghts, ard, leaning on a stick,
strolls up and down the terrace Here is
fine vineyard W ,ich is one of the pope's
hobbies, and a profitable hobby 1t is, seeing
that 1t yields an annual harvest of 1900
gallons of wine.
The pope amuses himself with catching
small birds with nets, sport in which he
was an expert when lad, and of which he
is still very fond. The cultivation of tea
roses is another hobby of his holiness.
Near this place, the pope's playground,
stands the huge tower of the Citta Leonta,
a building which dates back to the eighth
century. AS evening approaches the pope
proceeds to this tower alone, and until sun
set he remains in its solitary dungeon.
nat he does there nobody knows. 1t has
been suggested that he indulges in nap,
Q" that he arranges his future plans; at all
events, much of his literary work is done
IN this large, empty room. AS the sun
goes down the pope returns to his apart
ments, and, after telling his rosary, sets to
Work, and does hot retire to rest until mid
night. When seeking an inspira ton he
walks to his study window. and, drawing
aside the curtains. gaZes long and silently
at the brilliant sky of an italian night
At II o'clock his holiness goes to bed, to
wake up at o'clock to live the same day
over again
The pope is in his eighty ninth year. and
despite his great age he is marvel OF phys
lcal and Intellectual vigor. Since his cleo
ton to the chair of st. Peter his death has
oeen foretoid scores of times, and the
.Siiioio VI his ul-nealtQ nave filled humber
less newspaper columns. But Leo XIII has
proved the truth of the adage, Threatened
Hen live long and though old age has be-
gun to tell upon him there is every pros
pect that the pope will give the lie to flI-
ture rumors by refusing to die for some
years He Is one of the cleverest scholars
ana statesmen of the age. while his piety
Is great. and he Is austere to the verge ~
ascettcisn. e Va
such is the daily life of the man who {,
regarded as their spiritual ana temporal
ruler, and as infallible in all things. by NOR,
than one-half of all the Christia ne unon ~
face of the globe NSo-- 'Ae