The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-03-06
THE PoPE's JUBILEE.
Splendid Celebration Of Twenty-Fifth
Anniversary Of Coronation.

Splendid Celebration of Twenty-Fi fifth
Anniversary of Coronation.
Rome, March 5.-From sunrise today
all Rome was alert, showing; unusual
interest in celebration Of the twenty
fifth anniversary of the coronation of
Pope Lee XIII. This was especially no.
ticeable at the large hotels, which were
Illuminated as though for a ball. An
idea of the humble of people congre-
eating at the vatican could be formed
by the fact that it was utterly impossi-
bic to get a carriage If the vehicle had
not been ordered yesterday, especially
as 1t was raining, and by the prices
charged for those secured in advance.
The scene on the piazza Of st. Pc
ter's was magnificent. There assembled
many hundreds of Italian troops in
various modern uniforms, making a
striking contrast with the medieval
costumes of the Swiss Papal guard, on
duty at h bronze doors Of the cathe-
dral.
The crowds which gathered before
the first Gordon of troops were impa-
Nent as they stood dripping unde the
persistent rain. There was great clash
Ing of umbrellas and a general feeling
of discomfort among the sightseers,
who included many women in the most
varied attire, comprising foreigners of
all nationalities and Italians from all
parts Of the country.
Scene at st. Peters.
Finally the doors of st. Peters
opened. An almost indescribable strug-
gle occurred in which all present for
got the rules of his holiness and strove
hard, with push of elbows and feet, to
reach the interior Of the sacred edit1ce;
While on all sides were heard cries of
fear n t~mprecattons not very we'll
suited to the spot where a notable re-
lg1ouS ceremony was about to begin.
Once inside the cathedral, ladies who
wore lace gowns found them mutilated,
and some We're carried away fainting.
The tribunes were crowded to over
flowing n all the best standing places
taken.
A period of comparative calm sue
ceeded this great rus and the attention
of the people was attracted to the gild-
ed throne near the high altar and to
the immense pillars Of Basilica, hung
with the red siken draperies. Some Of
| the tribunes on Zach side of the altar
were filed with men and women blaz-
/ ing with decorations. In the group of
I royal p~ersonages We're Crown Princess
1 Victoria of Sweden and Norway,
| Countess Mathilde Of Tran, Of the
Bourbon Naples family; the Grand
| duchess Of Sake Weimar, Duke Robert
of Parma, the Grand Duchess of Meek
lenberg, the Prince Of L~ichtenStein and
Prince Maxilimian Of Saxony. In a
special tribune was the ropes family
the diplomatic corps and r@embers OF
the Order of Malta in full uniform.
A Majestic Procession.
After an hour of very fatiguing wait.
ing the majestic procession began te
appear. 1t was composed of great dig.
nitaries of the church, the forty-five
cardinals present, gorgeous in their rec
robes alone making a most imposing
characteristic and picturesque group:
AT Ii o'clock precisely h great bel
of st. Peters rang out a signal which
was followed by the changing of bell!
of abou 500 churches in Rome as thu
pontitf was on his way to the Basilica
The life Of the ancient city seemed tt
pause for a moment. Hats were raised
and the sign of the cross made. Short
ly afterward, inside St. Peters, the sill
yer trumpets blared out their messag'
and the pontiff appeared. The peoply
held their breath for a moment AM
then all the pent-up enthusiasm burs
forth in a tremendous roar of welcome
From his elevation on a new sedii
gestatoria, carried by twelve men Il
costumes of red brocade, fanked by tn
famous flabelli (~spreading feather FANS
and surmounted by a white n gol,
canopy, the pope appeared to be NOR
than a human being. He seemed to b
a white spirit. This impression wa
added to by the pontiff's white robe
and white mitre, the delicate feature
Of his face white as ~alabaster, n hi
thin hand moving slowly in benedictior
AS the well trained voices of the Sis
tine choir sang "Tu Els Petrus," thous
ands of voices houte Long Live Pop
Leo Handkerchiefs futtered in tn
air, banners of various societies wer
waved and many of those present over
come with emotion, sobbed loudly
while others tainted from excess c
feeling or fatigue,
Ceremony at the Throne.
When the pope arrived at the thron
the ceremony proceeded rapid,
Leaving the sedia gestatoria the pon
tiff knelt, prayed, then rose without as
sistance, donned the falda and the ne,
triple crown, and the celebration {
mass began. At the m of ele
walton OF the host, a profound silenc
fell on the assemblage; the guards pre-
sented arms, the people knelt where
was possible for them to do SO, an
from the cupola came the clear, thi
sounds of silver trLmpets, giving til
idea of heavenly music. The pope the
administered the papal benediction an
retired to his room for restorative
which are prepared OF purpose ever
, time he goes to ST. Peters. There az
Z. dressing DR.. Lapponi, his private ply
sician, the pontiff said:
, You see, that after all your warning
the ceremony did me good. Whs
touching loyalty!"
1t was calculated there were abol
5000 people present, including 100,
= Americans.