The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-18
is DRAWING TO A CLOSE
Incidents in the Remarkable Ca.
reer of Leo XIII.
ONE OF THE GREAT POPES
Great Simplicity and Earnest Devotion
to Duty The Daily Routine of
Busy Life Some of His
Favorite Pastimes.

| AS the life of Pope Leo XIII. is draw
| ing to a close every incident in the ca
reer of this remarkable man gains in
| interest. He will certainly figure among
| the great popes of history, and some
future Ranke will place him in posi-
ton he merits, by the side of Innocent
Ill, the pope of great and fertile ini-
tiative; Of Nicholas v, the pope of the
Renaissance, the founder Of the Vatican
library, and of Benoit XIV, the enlight-
ened pope who ranks side by side with
the greatest geniuses of his time. Leo
| XIII. is sure of a place among the great
figures of the nineteenth century.
A sketch of the routine Of his daily
life shows it's great simplicity and earn
est devotion to duty. Not minute of
the day passes but has it's appointed
work, each feature Of which is carried
out with unvarying regularity. Ris-
| ing at 6 o'clock in the morning and fire.
| quently earlier, he celebrates mass at
in his private chapel, and listens to
a second one. A light breakfast is par
| taken of at 5 O'clock and then he takes
| up and studies questions Of policy and
with his secretary, Cardinal Rampolla,
who brings him al the news Of the day,
he examines documents and draws up
letters and encylclicalS. AT IL o'clock
general business has his attention, and
he receives successfully his secretaries
of state, the ambassadors and the sec
| retaries of the various congregations
which are attached to the Holy See.
During the winter two public audiences
take place each week. At these recep-
tons the followers of all religious faiths
are welcomed with the same cordially,
and his broad sympathies and quick
appreciation never fail to impress them
selves in lasting maner upon those
who come in contact with him.
Midday is the time usually fixed for
the very special private audiences which
are given to kings, princes and cele-
brities of all kinds. This function over,
the pontiff sits down to his monday
meal, simple, light lunch. After this
he goes gu to get fresh air in the Vati-
can gardens. He is carried through the
library on chair and acros the Della
Piqua courtyard to the gate known as
the Cancello della Lecca. Here his car
rlage and attendants are in waiting
and the equipage starts off on a trot
along the oak bordered avenues.
AT cascade known as the Eagle, the
Pope, if he is well enough, alights and
walks to fayorite vine trells. He
likes to talk to the gardeners, and fol-
lows their work with the closest atten-
ton. He interests himself also in the
number of oranges that are grown and
in their disposal But he is especially
interested in this vine trellis, which
forms a covered path to the famous old
tower OF the Citta Leonina
The pope is very fond of this vine,
which he planted with his own hand,
and every year when the proper season
comes around 1t has been his habit to
gather with his own hand the fruits of
his planting.
Anonther of his favorite paStimes is
the reccolo, sort of net trap for catch
ing small birds This sort is common
in Italy and Leo XIII. is very fond of it,
and when he has been very successful
he sends to the cardinals or ecclesiastics
of his household a dozen birds captured
by him. This favor is greatly appre-
| ciated by those who receive it.
Half-past two is his holiness dinner
hour, his dinner consisting of a couple
OF eggs and little wine. The rest of
the afternoon is spent in reading and
writing. AT times he gives private
audiences in his library at about 6
O'Clock in the evening At about 8
o'clock he recites the rosary with one
of his private chaplains, and then he
seats himself again at his writing table
He is supposed to retire shortly after his
evening devotion, but he is persistent
burner of midnight oil, and much of his
literary labor is performed during the
night.
Whenever the pope has any important
business on hand he locks himself up in
his room and allows no one to disturb
him. His abstraction when he writes
is so great that he wipes his pen upon
the sleeve of his white soutane. His
faithful body servant, Contra, lives in
mortal terror that he should be seen in
this spotted state, and on his days of
audience closely examines his master,
ready to invest him, if necessary, with
| a clean robe.
Active and conscientious as he is, Leo
XIII. cannot attend personally to all
his correspondence; he subjects his sec.
retaries to the same rule as himself
during pressure of affairs, shutting them
into the room adjoining his and remoy-