The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14
Ancient CarpinetO Turned Into a
Modern Town by His Unequaled
Care and Munihcence.
HOUSE WHERE HE WAS BORN
HOSPITALS, ASYLUMS, WATER
WORKS AND SCHOOLS PROVIDED.
A Museum to Contain Many Personal
Relics-He Looks Closely After
His Property.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
CARPINETO, Dec. 1.-Official Rome was
startled the other day by the announce
ment of the Vatican Court Circular that
the Holy Father had been pleased to APP
point protector for his village of Car
pineto with orders to look after the public
buildings, water works, charitable institu-
tions, roads and other improvements. Car
pineto, you must know. belonged to the
former States of the Church and some ultra
patriots feared that Leo might be about
to reassume the privileges and rights of
sovereignty. l thereuDon started for Leo
kits birthplace to investigate, and this
is what found.
A community gradually raised from the
torrents of excessive poverty by the fnu-
nihcence of Carpinetos great son; a thou
sand-year-old town in the way of recon-
struction on hygienic principles; the direst
necessity of the native population to be
relieved by splendid water works. palaces,
hospitals, schools and old peoples homes
all and everything provided and maintained
by the good Pope for his beloved towns
people. and Monsignor Adami, the papal
protector. in charge to see that his Holi-
ness's money is properly spent so as to do
the most good.
Though only few hours from Rome. in
the heart of the volsci or Lepini noun
tains, Carpineto has no railway connection.
Up to Montelanico 1 travelled by stage be-
tween two carabinieres armed to the teeth
with rifle, sword, revolver and stilleto-for
the Italian government does not care to
have a foreigner abducted by the banditti.
There I mounted tiny, but strongly built,
x~o,. I~,x. 49,
the mountain side. The road led straight
up for miles and miles, and the Kings
soldiers had taken to horse one in front,
the other behind. their cooked rifles handy.
their eyes searching the mountainous and
ravines. Not living soul anywhere, not
house or hut, for an hour or two, until
suddenly, at turning in the road, the
driver called my attention to a far-off
country house, the ''Pecci Casino" as he
called it. "And further below Carpineto,
the birthplace of our Holy Father" The
town is built in the shape of a sword The
Pecci Palace with its tall. four-cornered
tower stands at the head, forming the hilt.
so to speak; the natives houses, some 500
in number, mark the blade. The majority
of these houses are hewn in the solid rock
with additions fore and aft and on top.
LEO'S BIRTHPLACE.
The streets of Carpineto are not wide
enough to accommodate vehicles; the foun-
ders OF the town, the warlike Volsci and
their successors, the robber knights of the
middle ages. had use for mules and horses
only. So we left the mail cart at the foot
Of the lower of the two mountains flank
ing Carpineto north and south and entered
the stony black lane called Corso that
leads to the gate or the Pecci Palace.
In Italy every nobeman's house is called
a palace: TO my American eyes Pope Leo's
homestead resembles fort rather than a
stately residence. The house is two and a
half stories high. with a modest balcony
in front; the lower row of windows is not
more than four and half feet high, are
above reach of a mans hand and guarded
by heavy iron gratings / had my hand on
the knocker of the bronze portals, showing
the heraldic star and the tall cypress tree
of the Pope's coat of arms, when the door
opened and A middle-aged man offered me
welcome.
''Ludovico Pecci." he introduced himself,
''the Holy Fathers unworthy nephew.
Monsignor Adami advised me of your COM
ing. and l shall be the more glad to assist
newspaper correspondent deeming 1t worth
while 10 tell the world of the cradle of
Leo XIII"
A servant in livery took me to an upper
chamber to help me dress for dinner, a
quarter OF an hour hence. The room is
hung I'm yellow silk and the furniture Is
of rare gilded wood. The first thing to at
tract my attention was marble slab, with
the following inscription. let into the wall
stranger. the room you have entered Is the
same which Leo XIII lived in as
Prelate, Delegate. Bishop
and
Cardinal.
Count Ludovico Pecci. his nephew. restored
II with much splendor in honor OF
the Great Pope.
This, then, was Leo's own chamber.
where he dwelt at different times while
climbing tor the highest offices the Catholic
Church holds out to its worthy servants.
There was his bed OF precious wood inlaid
with gold and mother-of-pearl. Over II a
baldachin OF violet silk and next to IL a
grand painting of the beautiful Marguerite