The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-03-02

There is beginning this week all over
the world a celebration in which millions
of people in every civilized country will
join. Pope Leo XIII. enters the twenty
fifth year of his pontihcate, and the sill
yer jubilee will continue for a year, If
his holiness lives that long. In the event
of the successful conclusion of the cere-
mOny, he will have equaled the quarter
century pontiicate of st. Peter, and will
have been surpassed in length of service
as the head Of the Catholic church by
only Plus VI. and Plus TX.
For a man whose death has been ex.
pected almost daily for several years,
Pope Leo has displayed astonishing vi
tality. His quiet existence, the purity
of his life, no less TIM the strength of
his faith, have tended to lengthen his
years.
Long life" he said recently, as a
characteristic of the Pecci family; they
live long, but death comes to them sud-
denly"
So often Of late have reports of the
Pope's death been made, that his holiness
is rather amused by them, and on this
subject he likes to have his little joke
as when he said Of the cardinals: "They
look for a conclave; hold a consistory,'
or in reply to comments on the accounts
OF his illness, Il suppose there is again
scarcity Of sensational news, but I
have yet much work to do" For the
past year two physicians have been in
constant attendance at the Vatican, and
the pOpe's body servant never leaves his
side, even taking his meals in the pri,
vate apartment of the pope.
Carpineto, village almost within sight
of Rome was the birthplace of Leo XIII
The goal Of every pilgrim is the Pecci
Palace. where the pope was born. The
library Is of particular interest, for 1t
contains volumes Of Mss of great age,
antique books Of all kinds, and piles
and piles of Mss. written by Pope Leo
himself His childish letters to his
Cara SignOra Madre"-Dear Madam
Mother-to "Signor Padre Monsieur
Father" written at the age of nine years,
are in hand of which man might be
proud.
From college, when about twelve years
Of age, the future pontiff asked for a
writing desk las the other boys all had
them" After his elevation to the pontii-
cate the first letter signed with his new
title was the one sent to his old home:
Vatican, Feb. 20, 1873.
Dearest Brothers. announce to you
that in the Scruting of this morning the
sacred college has wished me to elevate
my humble person to the chair of St
Peter This is my first letter which I
ADDRESS to my family to which, implor-
ing all happiness, l send with affection,
the apostolic benediction. Pray God much
for me- Leo p p XIII
head. the thin skin of which shows the
tracing of the veins, deep-set eyes of
starting brllliancy a mobile mouth, large
and characteristic ears a countenance
pallld and composed as that Of a CORPSE
1t IS thus that Leo XIII has been de-
Scrbed. He is always a dominant and
imposing Observation-Disclosures arrayed in
the simple sottano of white wool and
the plain calOtta (skulI cap,) or in SPLEEN
uld pontlhcal robes, and priceless gems.
NerVously restless, he rarely sits for any
length Of time, and never without in
cessant changes of attitude Until of
late he took snuff constantly, but by
medIcel advice he has renowned his
one indulgence.
Leo XIII speaks quite as often in
French as an Italian and always with
extreme rapidity. He only commenced
to study French when appointed Nuncio
to Belgium, land I could speak as fluent
Iy as l do now by the time l reached
Brussels he is reported to have said.
King Leopold used to exclaim Il forget
Pecci is an Italian" He does not speak
English, although he began the study OF
the language more than a half century
ago He has one phrase which he al
ways addresses to English visitors at
the Vatican, this is, seat down"
He does his private writing with a
gold pen, but his pontifcal signature is
quill which is believed to have come
from the wing of a dove, although per
sons who have. seen it say it must have
come from a larger bird. The same quill
has been used more than forty years.
III only serves for important signatures,
and is kept in an ivory case. The pen
with which the Pope signed and dated
the first document of the twentieth CEN
tury was a present from the citizens
Of Naples. 1t is of gold mounted with
precious stones.
A letter to the pope must be in Latin.
The style need not be classical, but the
language is obligatory. Some sort of
Latin must be employed. The letters
must be addressed to His Holiness Pope
Leo XIII, the happily reigning pontiff.'
IT must begin with "Beatissime Pater,"
Most Blessed Father" and must end
with some expression of regard. When
it reaches the Vatican it has little chance
of arriving at it's destination, unless
some special precautions have been
taken, for the daily budget numbers
10000 documents. An excellent way of