The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-23

This. then. was Leo's own chamber.
in which he dwelt at different times while
he was climbing to the highest office OF
the Church. The bedstead is inlaid with
mother-of-pearl Over il is baldachin
of violet silk. on the wall is great paint
ing of the beautiful Marguerite Pecci.
-grand-sunt of the Pope who died
in the fifteenth century. and who is
pictured in the garb of a Sister of Servi-
tude. Near the window stands praying
desk of gilded wood, and over it hangs
the Pecci family tree. showing they were
rulers OF Siena before one branch of the
family established itself in the fef Of
Carpineto. under the suzerainty of the
/ Holy See. There is also wonderful
antique writing table. the top of which
is of gilded silver. Near by is leather
armchair. the label OK which shows that
studying.
| When I went down TO dinner It was
my privilege to sit in the same chair and
at the same place that the present Pope
occupied more than eighty years ago.
when his mother presided at the family
board. In this room nothing has been
changed. Soon after he assembled the
throne OF St. Peter the Pope wrote to
his nephew:
IF ever l am allowed TO leave the vati-
can l want to visit my fathers house and
| sit in the old dining hail, to think of
my dead loved ones. Pray do not move
chair from its accustomed place nor
nail or a picture. If anything threat
ems to break down have ii repaired. so
{ that IL will look as IL did before
! The furniture must he as old as the
house itself. which dates back 500 or 600
years. and everything except the tables
/ and chairs is stationery. Even the family
portraits are set in the walls.
j In the drawing room concessions have
been made TO modern taste. The walls
are hung in scarlet brocaded silk and
the antique furniture has been newly
gilded. More interesting is the chapel
which is connected with the main building
by loggia.
/ II was in this chapel that Leo XIII.
stammered his first prayers; here he went
20 first communion; here he WIGS confirm
ed in the faith Its chief attraction TO
/ the sight-seer is a grand fresco paint
1 ing OF the Virgin. with Leo l. on the left
and Leo NH. on the right receiving the
tiara from his predecessor
THE Holy Father loves this old place."
slid Count Pecci. His private library in
the Vatican has many photographs OF the
chapel. illustrating every nook and cram
~"
The library is even more interesting.
for ii contains many souvenirs OF che
Fope's younger days. as well as those
of his greatness. Ii is a perfectly square
room. the walls half covered with book
shelves All the books are bound in
white parchment. In the centre OF the
room is a great square desk Under the
large window is a stronghold more than
seven feet high. in which are hundreds
OF manuscripts written BY Lec-sSssys.
sermons, state papers. poems. all in his
own handwriting. as well as letters writ
ten from time to tirle OF his boyhood 10
the present. and the handwriting never
varies from the time he reached mans
estate.
Near the window is a strzw-coyered
armchair where 'Nino Pecci passed
many hours OF his life in study. IL was
is this. chair that his father died. after
, tearing up the leaves OF the ledger where
on the arrears OF his tenants were record
ed.