The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-09-06
DA|LYHAB|TSOF POPE LEO,
An Account of the Life of Head
of the Catholic Church.
DELICATE AND FRAGILE.
With Mind Uuim paired, He is n Stric:
Disciplinarian-Wh What He
Eats and Drinks.

Ders have always one item in reserve
which they serve out personally-the ILL
ness of the Pope 1t Is like the famous
sea-serpent which is always appearing.
Quite lately they have twice made Leo
XIII. sick. and because of his old age
the news seemed to have some sembance
of truth in it. and gave much uneasi-
ness to the pious souls that are devoted
to the holy father. This sickness Of the
pontif, however, is happily pure fancy,
and to reaSsure the credulous ones con-
corning his health it is necessary for me
only TO give in detail how he passes his
days and how he lives, and they will see
that there has been scarcely any change
in his reg inc of today and of twenty
years ago.
The greatest modification in his life is
his almost entire abandonment Of his
walks in the gardens. When he went in
to the garden ten days ago to breakfast
with his two physicians and his nephew,
the Count Camille Pecci. it was the first
time in two years that he had been there:
AS Il matter of fact, the Pope himself
say: that ne has no need Of open air. II
at times the heat is excessive it IS posi-
bic that he has himself carried in chair
to the pavilion he has had built on the
highest point in the garden, and thus en-
joys, so 10 say, little country life for
few hours; but l do not believe that he
cares for this very often. In his apart
ments the Pope can get. by going from
one room to another. such slight yara-
tons OF temperature as are sufficient for
= his delicate system.
There are also some changes in his
manner OF saying mass. Formerly on
Sundays the Pope celebrated mass in the
large chapel of his apartments and invit
ed thither people of note who were pass
Lnn fh0n hyxv0
years, however, on Sundays and week
days, with very rare exceptions, the holy
father says mass in the little chapel next
to his bedroom and no one is admitted.
His servant Contra assists him. Nor is
this mass said at a fixed hour, as used
to be the custom. Now he celebrates it
at I or g. or even 9-whenever he has
happened to wake up.
A Delicate Appetite.
A good idea Of Leos health can be
had from his appetite and his manner Of
living. Joachim Pecci has always been
light eater and for several years past
naturally, he has eaten less than ever.
Having no teeth and with a stomach
which. always fee BILE, now digests with
difficulty, it is necessary for him to have
special cuisine. In the morning Contra
brings him chocolate, milk and two very
soft-boiled eggs: The kitchen is story
h'''t wv l'dlill anu Is CON
necte'l with them by a very narrow and
straight staircase, which is used for no
other purpose. The dishes are taken first
to the crr1cnziena (ottice), where Sgnor
Giuseppi Macelli is in command. He
gives them to Contra, who is in the ante
and assists him at his meal. Macelli car
ries first wicker basket in which is Il
very simple copper tray. with the cover
and napkin marked with the letters IS.
\. r., which stand for Sacred and
Apostolic Palace Then come the
dishes. ,Thee, i'ops really takes regularly
only a houillon Or potage. which is
the chief item Of his nourishment. The
rest Of the meal consists of little balls
OF haShed meat or minced chicken, eggs,
well-cooktNl vegetables and very ripe
fruits. Ordinarily coffee is not served,
and as to wine. the Pope drinks but lit
tie, but it is an excellent claret sent him
from convent in Bordeaux. He cuts
IT.. as If with water. with little white
wine Of Grottaferrata. When the dishes
have been taken back to the office it is
seen that he has scarcely touched any
thing: that what he has eaten would
hardly I've enough for a child of 6. On
much soiled. for the Pope, at his adj
vanced age: has no longer steady hand
and when he is serving himself it trem.
bes greatly When he has poured out
a. glass of wi inc before he drinks it he
always lifts it high before carrying il
explained as the accompaniment Of q
prayer or the habit of raising the chalice
4 Firm Master.
Leo's apartments have no dining room
He passes the day in his bedroom, works
there. eats there and gives his ordinary
audiences there. The room is divided by
q curtain which conceals the bed Neal
the curtain and leaning against the wall
are the familiar armchair from which
his ideas and thoughts go out through
the world. and little square table, not
more than sixty centimetcrs wide' i
1anke" or English amateur would pay
We'll for this piece of furniture. for if is
at this tiny table that the Holy Father
eats and writes-when he can. Because
of the trembling of his hands the Pope
does not write any more. He can hard
ly sign his name.
IN his attitude toward those in his
service Leo has not changed with agt
and governs with tirmness which is moi
exempt from harShness: Accustomed tc
been an example Of regularity in his
work and in the accomplishment Of his
duties. he wishes to be served promntjx
and we'll. and when necessary he MAKE
that clearly understood. Recently, Mgr
Angel; his particular secretary. a mar
tremelv irritable. almost beyond endnr
ance. has been spoken to by the POM
before everybody in the antechamber
|Monsignor. w:hre was your head wher
yon wrote that letter? You have moi
understood a thing that l said" '0
If Leo has changed much physical,,
with years there is no failing in his in
telliyencc and will power. 1 can saw tho
no one in his encourage comes befor
him without a slight quickening Of H.
pulse. because nothing escapes him an,
his remarks. although always calm. ar
short and to the point There is no r.
taxation in him. The Pope is still tn
legatse, the firm and severe Chamberlai,
pecci. '"'
Uses Snuff Freely.
Like Plus 1X.. Leo XIII. uses snnn
He takes much and has a prediction
for Spanish tobacco, which is dar]
brown. almost black. He takes lary
pinches Of il. and drops a good part .
them over his soutane and on the cor
pet, and where he has been is alway
marked by little heaps of it. He nse
fine red silk handkerchiefs, which tn
Religeuses Reparatrices wash for him
These sisters likewise have charge Of III
linen and the wardrobe. the soutanas
pelisses, coverings, shawls for the shonl