The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-24

circumstances would call for. Leo XIII
looked at him sharply tor moment and
then said: Has your erlinence brought
the hammer?' This was so near the
mark that the cardinal fed, and has
since been as sensitive about the word
hammer" as Cyrano was about nose
At another time the rumor spread that
the head of the church was dead, the
news being brought to the cardinals in
Rome as they were gathered for soma
church business. The meeting immediate
ly broke up in confusion, each rushing
to his carriage and galloping to the Vati-
can, where they all arrived within fifteen
minutes of one another. The rumor had
by this time reached the pontiff also,
who, expecting them, gave orders that
they should all be shown into the same
room, where he himself arrived fsw
minutes later Your eminences" he be-
gan, L am delighted to see you al to-
gether; but to what am I indebted fo-
this particular vtsit?' AS no answer came
from the embarrassed prelates, who now
regretted their precipitation, he went on.
with meaning: 81 have not for a long
time felt so we'll as 1 do today and /
beg your eminences to let inquirers know
that 1 am stronger than 1 have been for
years.
One day lately finding myself with
Prof. MaZzoni, who cleverly operated on
the pontiff year ago, he said, emphati-
cally; You know that usually as people
grow old their veins contract, preventing
perfect circulation. My patient has the
immense and unusual advantage of hav-
ing his veins as they were in mis- youth,
so that he will in all human probability
live 1yr years to come" Prof. Lapponi,
the pontiff's private physician is OF the
same opinion, and predicts that if all
goes normally Leo Kill will live ten
years more, until he is one hundred years
old
But these are merely individual opin-
lens. To the general public he is a Won
derful old man. certainly much nearer the
grave than the majority of persons.
Therefore, who will be the next pope re-
mains always question just below the
surface in Vatican circles. It has been
brought Up again by the reported illness
O. the present occupant of the chair of
st. Peter. Certain cardinals are spoken
of as papabili. but at the last moment
q person now unthought of may be
elected. This is, however, unlikely, as,
although the pope need not be chosen
from the sacred college. he invariable is
so chosen. All speculation on the subject
Is Ideas there are at least five princes
of the church who have an equal chance
One of the most likely however is Car
dinal Svampa, who has some drawbacks
such as his age-he is only f1fty-and one
great advantage. his name which means
flame"
In the superstitious minds of most of
the cardinals and their followers, the
predictions which Malachy archbishop
of Armagh, in Ireland, made in the six
teenth century, have value which might
powerfully influence the deliberations of
the conclave. Malachy left a Latin
motto for each future pope. There are
5ust ten of these notices left, so that
according to the infallible prophet the
papacy has not many more centuries of
life before it. Odd as it may seem they
have usually been perfectably applicable
For instance, that of Plus VI was .sPere-
grinuS ApcStolicus, and his pontificate
was certainly a series of peregrinatfons
Plus III. IS was "Crux de Cruce,'' which
we'll characterized the crosses in mis-
life. That of the present pontiff is LII
men in Coelo," which is finely applica-
Bile either to his powerful mind Or to his
blameless life. The next in the list of
Prophecies is "Ignis Ardens' (ardent
fire., which might apply to any one of
three cardinals, Oreglia 0i Santo Stefano
who has blazing altar in his coat-of-
arms; Gotti, who boasts a torch in his
and SVampa, whose arms show a dog
with a burning torch in his mouth How
ever, Cardinal Svampa has other and
more significant claims to the motto
His Very name means fame, and when
archbishop he was at Forli, where the
inhabitants have. in the language of the
people fire In their veins" which shows
itself in quick temper and readiness to
take offense. The patroness of Forli is
the Madonna of the Fire" who gained
her name through what was called a
miracle. One day the schools of the
caught tre, and the entire building was
DESTROYED with the exception of a picture
OF the Virgin, which was not even sing
CO. Inc picture so ''miraculously" save1
mad chapel erected for it, and may be
seen In the town even to this day.
Besides the Malachy prophecy there
nave been representations touching
cardinal syampa. which. If not signif-