The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-13
Storm Bound in an Old CIOister, the
DuiIness Of Rainy Day Led to
Search for Pastime.
WAS WINNER IN SIX GAMES
MASTERED INTRICACIEs AT ONCE
AND TOOK LEAD II PLAYING.
Gave Winnings 30 the Poor, and New
er Played Again sor Fear of Be-
coming Too Deeply Interested.


Correspondence OF the Indianapolis Journal.
ROME. April The story The First
and Only Time when Pope Leo Played
Poker, was told BY Cardinal Parocchi, the
pspal vice chancellor. to an American gen
tleman. "A prelate now visiting in Rome.
Cardinal Parocchi is at the head of Pope
Leo's chaneery. from which emanate all
public acts of the holy father. and is di-
rectly concerned with the Natican's rea1
tions to foreign states. IL being his duty to
authenticate the Popes every public act
and al documents issued under the au-
thority Of the church.
You know" said his eminence, that the
Pope is an ardent chess PLAYER. The royal
game is the holy fathers chief amusement
nowadays. and his regular partner. Pater
Giulio. Dominican monk of great wisdom
and sunny temperament. who holds the posi-
ton OF master OF chess in the palace. told
me only the other day that old age does
not interfere in the least with his holiness )
cleverness as "a player; on the contrary,
though Pope and monk have now been play
iEg against each other for twenty-three
years, it is still undecided which of the
two is the others superior at chess.
But as | was going to say continued
blood in him. Up to his fortieth year he
was a great hunter. and to this day there
Is not game mentioned in the magazines
or newspapers that he does not take an in
terest In. OF course. his dignity would not
allow him TO engage in amusements outside
his own apartments now. but in the days
OF his cardinalship etiquette was less bur
densome and the then Count Pecci made
play poker-and he beat US right royalty /
assure you.
OLD FRIENDS
'-You know" continued the cardinal. 1.-The
Pontiff and myself have been friends tor
the last forty or nifty years or longer.
When l was archbishop Of Bologna and the
Holy Father held the same dignity in Peru
gia, both Of us being cardinals at the same
time. we often met i'm friendly intercourse.
All, those were the happiest days of my
life, and perhaps also those Of Pope Leo.
Though princes of the church we knew
not the cares of state and seemingly had
Reached the pinacle OF our ambition.
We'll. one day IN September. 1874 we
met at the Sanctuary of Nernia, high up
I'm the Romagna mountains. At the time
the sanctuary was celebrating the seven
hundredth anniversary of its foundation,
and we both longed TO see the spot where
st. Francis OF Assist bent his knee and &C
knowledged Gods greatness and goodness.
The history of the founder of the Fran
Ciscan friars. you must know. is intimately
connected with the Monastery OF Vernia,
where the good saint renewed the vows of
poverty he made before his bishop. when
the latter demanded him to renounce his
rights to his fortune, an act TO which he
assented and carried to such extremes as
20 strip himself literally of the very clothes
he wore, begging the prelate to procure
him some rags instead
Both Cardinal Pecci and myself had never
been in that part of the Romagna, which
then had only half as many inhabitants as
now. We went 10 the sanctuary by invita-
ton OF the abbot, who with his monks
was well known for the hospitality extend
ed TO rich and poor alike. Indeed, they
kept open house for all wayfarers, and in
winter their dogs searched the mountains
for unfortunates for many miles round
CROWDS OF PIOUS PILGRIMS.
Cardinal Pecei and myself were not the
only visitors at the sanctuary during the
festival. There were besides two bishops
from the neighborhood many prelates and
notables from Rome and hundreds of pious
pilgrims from all parts of Italy while the
Romagna send thousands of faithful to fill
abe church and the square where it stood
However, Cardinal Pecci and myself, being
princes OF the church. we were the guests
OF honor, and as a consequence the abbot
asked US TO select our own company for
the time We intended to stay. Each named
q few of the eminent men present and the
church ceremonies being over. we sat down
- 4
aided by wise and merry speech and excel
lent music. which latter Cardinal Pecci en-
Joyed perhaps more than anything else, for
he has loved music all his life with a fine
understanding
After breakfast Cardinal Pecci proposed
20 view the art treasures of the sanctuary,
and we remained for some time I'm the
church, where his Eminence delivered an
impromptu lecture on the reliefs decorating
the walls. which he ascribed TO the great
Della Robbia. arguing Interestingly and
convincingly that no one but Robbia could
have done them in such perfection. The
natural leader OF any congregation OF men.
he next proposed an expedition into the
mountains. telling us how he enioved
mountain climbing as a boy and while still
belonging 10 the lower clergy. .Ah. those
Nasa - f-ttA EAAANNNtf +tN NArtAtAf Wien Was
young and vigorous and deemed three or
four hours climb a mere bagatelle"
"Hs wanted me 10 be Of the party but I
declined. though twenty-eight years ago 1
weighed about fifty pounds less than do
now"
The cardinal interrupting himself for
breathing spell the American prelate util-
ized the opportunity to inquire about Pope
Ieo's appearance and habits at that time
OF his history.
Making Of course due allowance for his
old age the cardinal looked very much like
the Pope Of to-day" answered his Emil
nence. IL anything, his bony frame was
more prominent. be never had an ounce OF
superhuous flesh. But / think his general
aspect was more severe. his countenance
vas not yet mellowed by the expression
OF love and forbearance now shining from
It.
MOUNTAIN CLIMBING.
Cardinal Pecci finally induced some OF
the younger prelates 90 accompany him up
the mountains and they actually reached