The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-18

tne KING nlghly praised the tact, abil-
ity and intelligence of the young pre-
late, and expressed the desire to see
him soon nominated cardinal, which he
would consider as personal favor,
with such recommendation his rise
to the purple was, of course, sure
But he did, not return at once to
Rome, thinking it good opportunity to
satisfy one of his great desires-that is,
to go to London, and see and speak
with Queen Victoria In fact, he cross
ed the channel and succeeded in obtain
ing the longed for audience, from which
ne received an indelible impression, as he
himself says in letter about this visit
written to his family-a letter which
IS now reserved at Capineto, his BIRTH
place. He describes the conversation
with the queen, nine years younger than
himself, with great enthusiasm, and has
not sufficient words in which to praise
ner grace and amiability and to ex-
plain how profoundly touched he was
by the conversation and sentiments ex-
pressed by her. He ends by saying that
he would never forget that meeting,
| and it would seem as though he has
| not done SO, because when he came to
the pontificial throne as Leo XIII, there
| was an exchange of warm compliments,
| and a reminder of this conversation of
| thirty-two years before, and even now
every new year the aged pope and
| queen personally write eaCn OtRer Lew
| lines. a
This visit to London retarded Mon
sigor Pecci's return to Rome with his
precious letter, SO that on his arrival
he found Gregory XVI. SO dangerously
i'll that he could not present it. Only
a short time after. on June 2, 1s46, Gre
CORY died, and, the letter had to be
given to Plus TX, who was already
| under the influence of Cardinal Anto-
nelli, who, being. like Pecci, from Cio-
| ciaria-a district of the province Of
Rome-heartily disliked the future pope,
| who did not get his red hat until 1853
Hence one may say that his visit to
London and his desire to see the queen
retarded his ecclesiastical career for
seven years.
During his stay at Brussels he became
an intimate friend and adviser Of the
king, whom he charmed with his fin
esse and humor. Once, sitting at the
royal table, he was annoyed by the
rather easy conversation Of a diplomat
who kept expiating on his success in So
| cfety and was showing the picture of a
dame du grand monde, beautiful as
| work of art, but not quite modest. In
the hope of teasing the young Nuncio,
he passed the picture to him, asking his
opinion of it. Monsignor looked at the
| portrait most indifferently, and, giving
! it back to it's owner, said in a loud tone,
so as to be heard by the king: Very
fine! Is it the portrait of your wife,"
All persons are required to kneel
| when before the pope. Catholics are
expected to kiss the papel ring, and it
! is left optional with them whether or
not to kiss the pope's foot.
| Protestants are of course required to
| do neither. Many of them, however,
voluntarily kiss the ring, for the gentle
bearing and simple dignity of the old
| The OCCASIONS were rare indeed when
Americans showed themselves lacking
in the amenities of the place; and even
| these rare exceptions were Of trivial
| Importance.
One such episode occurred at a recep-
| ton. When the pope approached the
American group several Catholic wo-
men Frustrated themselves before him
and kissed his slipper.
| When he had given his blessing he
passed on to several others who were
not Catholics and extended his hand.
Two of the women kissed his ring, but
a young girl who was with them, al
though kneeling, very plainly manifest
| ed her determination not to do as the
others had done, and, ignoring the out
stretched hand. contented herself with
inclining her head as the aged man
| stood before her.
There was something very like a
smothered murmur of CONSERVATION
throughout the hall The pope could
| not helped noticing the girls attitude.
An amused smile passed over his face,
and he said to the young woman in 1tal-
ian: You are one of my children, just
like the others, even if you do not like
| me- Then the gentleness and tender
| ness of his face increased as he looked
down at the girl and gave her his bles-
sing. When he had passed on to the
next group somebody translated to the
| rebellious young woman what the pope
had said. She knelt there for a minute
or so, looking at the aged mans face;
then she rose hastily and, rushing over
| to where he was standing, threw herself
| impulsively on her knees before him
and said: I am so ashamed. l am 50
sorry! Please let me kiss your hand"
The pope, of course, could not under
stand the words, but the girls mean
| ing was clear from her manner, and the
| little, thin trembling hand of the pom
tiff was raised to bless her again. when
| the girl bent over and reverently kissed
it. Everything is well when the heart
is right said the pope, tenderly; and
there was suspicion of tear in his
eyes as he moved on to the next kneel-
| ing figure.
A number of portraits of the pope
have been put forward from time to
| time, but none of them has been taken
! from a direct sitting. Only three paint
ers have succeeded in securing sittings
from his holiness. In 1891 Theobald
Chartan secured some sittings, and
painted his well known portrait Of the
| pope, which is now in this country.
Ugolini, an italian artist. also painted
a picture of the pope from sit
/ tings. When he asked his holi-
ness how he wished to BE-
painted his answer was, Come Papa"
| (as pope. And Ugolini painted him.
not as an old man, but as one in the
prime and strength of manhood-a face
in which benevolence and grace are
knit with strength. And it is Come
| Papa that the man Pecci will always
| be remembered and recalled