Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-02

AAAAND Ao bC6lhhlh6 lhlb WOOh vi
over the world, a celebration in
~ which millions Of people in every
IENgNI civilized country will join. Pope
- Leo XIII enters the twenty
fifth year Of his pontifcate and the silver
jubilee will continue for a year, il his holt
ness lives that long. In the event of the
successful conclusion of this he
will have equalled the quarter-century
pontifcate 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 expected
almost daily for several years, Pope Leo
has displayed astonishing vitality. His
quiet existence, the purity Of his life, no
less than the strength of his faith, have
tended to lengthen his years.
Long life" he said recently, "is 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 sub
ject he likes to have his little joke, as
when he said of the cardinals: "They
look for a conclave; l hold a consistory,"
or in reply to on the accounts
VI Ills lllueSSs L suppose Llere Is again q
scarcity of sensational news, but l have
yet much work to do" For the last year
two physicians have been in constant at
tendance at the vatican, and the pope's
body servant never leaves his side, even
taking his meals in the private apartment
of the pope.
Carpineto, a 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 it
contains volumes Of manuscript of great
age, antique books of all kinds and piles
and piles of manuscript 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 9 years, are
in a hand of which a man might be proud.
Pope LeO's First Letter.
From college, when about ~ years of
age, the future pontiff asked for a writing
desk, "as the other boys all had them"
After his elevation to the pontihcate the
first letter signed with his new title was
the one sent to his old home:
VATICAN, Feb. 20, 1S7S.-Dearest Broth
ers: l announce to you that in the scrutiny
wished me to elevate my humble person
to the chair of st. Peter. This is my first
letter, which l address to my family, to
which, .imploring all happiness, I send
with affection. the apostolic benediction.
Pray God much for me.
LEO P. P. XIII.
With massive features, a broad forehead,
the thin skin of which shows the tracing
of the veins, deep-set eyes of startling bril-
liancy, a mobile mouth, large and charac-
teristic ears, a countenance pallid and COM
posed as that Of a corpse-it is thus that
Leo XIII has been described. He is al
ways a dominant and imposing personality
whether arrayed in the simple sottano Of
white wool and the plain calotta (skull
cap), or in splendid pontifcal robes and
priceless gems. Nervously restless, he
rarely sits for any length of time, and never
without incessant changes OF attitude. Until
Of late he took snuff constantly, but by
medical advice he has renowned his one
indulgence.
Personal Characteristic.
Leo XIII speaks quite as often in French
as in Italian and always with extreme
rapidity. He only commenced to study