Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1903-07-24

in the papal library until they re
ceivcd word from the doctors which
announced that his last expiring
breath was approaching. Then they
moved silently within the death
chamber. some standing, some kneel-
ing. all awaiting the awful moment Of
dissolution.
In the a~ntc-chambcr had assembled
the high ccclesiastics, members Of the
diplomatic corps and representatives
OF the papal ~aristocracy, awaiting the
announcement that the final moment
had come
DR.. LappOni. who almost constantly
had his fingers on the pope's pulse,
felt it become gradually weaker and
weaker, and at the same time the
pontiff's extremities began to get
cold, his lips became blue, his eyes
sank more deeply into the head, his
breathing became even more difficult,
and there were strange ratings in
his throat.
Finally, the pope vas asked to bless
his nephews and all the others pres
cnt. He attempted to raise himself,
and the extreme emaeiation of his
person, covered with IA fine nightshirt,
was rendered more pronounced by
the surroundings.
IL was n most solemn moment. The
head of the pontiff. with its white
skullcap. 10 whittier than the fringe
Of slivcry hair, rising above tha
crimson coverlet, his hand raised in
the familiar gesture of benediction,
the knceling assemblage being too
earnestly absorbed in deep affection,
veneration and weeping 10 even make
a movement.
Profound silence reigncd in tho
pope's bedroom, only broken by the
doctors rising to render their expir-
ing patient more comfortable. by the
sobs of the evcr-faithful valet, Pho
Contra. or the murmurcd prayers OF
Mgr. Piifcri, the papal confcssor, him
self "a years Of age who had to be as
| sisted to the bedside.
Prayers Recitcd for the Dying.
Softly he rccited the prayers for
the dying, the pontiT at one moment
appearing to follow them as though
conscious of what was transpiring,
but he could not speak. Then the dy-
ing pope m%urmured something to
himself. in which those bending over
him heard the words: Father" and
Mother"
The last conscious act Of the pom
tiff was to turn his eyes toward the
great crucifx on the wall, after
which he suffered from a paroxysm
Of choking, during which he passed
away.
Then the silence of awc-stricken
a~ssemblage was broken by the sonor-
Gus, solemn voice Of Cardinal Serafno
V%annutelli, the grand p~cnitentiary,
intoning the requieum aetcrnam crest
cternal).
Outside the death chamber expccta-
ton was intense, but the sight OF the
%sorrowing faces of those leaving the
room was sufficient, without words,
to spread the sad news, which vas
not long in spreading throughout
Rome.
The occurrences in the death
chamber Immediately following tho
popc's denis" were Of impressive sol.
cmnity.
Couricrs had been dispatched 10
summon those who are delegated Il
perform the first religious offices to
ward the dead pope, and soon the
chanting Of the Franciscan monks
was heard, rs two by two, in coarse
brown habits, and with sandaled feet,
they proceeded to the room in which
Leo lay dead. From time immcmorial
Franciscans have been pcnitcntiaries
of st. Peters.
Following them came the noble
guard to watch over the pontiN's re-
mains, the brilliant of their uniforms
contrasting strikingly with the som
Der attire Of the quantity CARRIED
monks and the solemn dignity Of the
chamber itself.
The only sound heard was the
measured chanting of the "salms OF
pcnitcncc, by "A group Of monks knecl
ing beside the couch of death. The
noble guards took up positions at thu
foot Of the couch and stood by, rigit
and silent as statues, with swords
drawn.
The death chamber preserved mucl
the same appearance as it did at tn;
time Of the final illness cf the pope
Across the middle Of the room hLna
heavy draperics, partly conccalini
the bed on which lay the silent form
Of the dead pontiT. BY the side o
the low bed burned n number OF can
dies, and from above looked down th'
picture of the Madonna, with the in