Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-07-21

bfatpd French diplomatist. who IN his
early life had been Catholic bishop.
The little state was full of reaction
airy guerrilias and brigands. The young
ruler went there under the general ex-
pectation that no would be the victim
OF violence. Fortunately for him. he
was almost Immediately taken Ill with
the typhoid fever. and his death was
supposed to be certain. This calamity
softened the nature OF the people, and
they began 70 talk about this intellectu-
al young priest who had exposed his
life in Rome % the pestiience. Instead
OF antagonizing HIM they formed pro-
cessions and went 10 public prayers In
his behalf, and when he recovered II
was looked upon as In the nature Of a
miracle.
They were mistaken. however, as to
hts worldly force.
There lived In a mountnin fastness in
the state a celebrated brgand named
PasQuale Colletta. who had band Of
fourteen murderers, and they had COM
mitted every species of offense. The
priest governor laid his plans well, and
one day the people were surprised to
see come into the town manacled and
under guard, the chief Of the band and
every one Of his myrmidons. In spite
OF their threats. promises and penitence
they were executed.
Pecci now turned his attention to the
lawless mobiles who had countenanced
such trespasses, and when one of these
undertook TO browbeat him and threat
ened 20 go to Rome and have him re
called the governor said, Marquis, be
fore you get 10 the Vatican you shall
pass through the castle of st. Angelo"
This was the state prison at Rome. and
It's name was ominous.
A feeling grew that this young man
had special powers with the pope. Evil
doors FASTENED to get out of his terrific
~ or make their peace.
He searched the lawiess castles. be-
gan TO build good roads. examined and
lowered the taxes, made the collec-
tion of the revenue effective. and thus
spent nearly three years making an or
derby state out of a most disorderly
one.
Pope Gregory now recalled him to
Rome and appointed him governor of
Perug1a, where he win always be re
membered as one Of Ghe wisest men
who ever took charge Of her fortunes.
This city stands near Assist, where is
the monastery founded by st. Francis.
II was full Of Mazzint's revolutionary
societies.
The object the papai authorities had
was the suppression of these plotting
spirits by Pecci, but he commenced In q
different way.
Finding that the city was on high
mound or cone above plain or marsh
and had a road to II 50 steep that no
vehicle could citInb 1t without the aid
Of many yokes of oxen. the new gov
ernor set to work and in twenty days
built a graded road up the height. over
which IN little while rode the pope,
much To his wonder and satisfaction.
The pope was SO delighted with his
young engineer governor, then aged
thirty one, that he said as he left
number Of presents to be distributed.
II will remember you. my friend, when
get to Rome"
In the meantime Pecci founded a saw
ings bank IN Perugia and himself sub
scribed largely to the stock and began
TO set up excellent schools. The peo-
pie felt that friend and not an enc
my had come among them.
Just as he had accomplished remark
able things in that city the pope re-
solved to send him as nuncio, otherwise
minister, to Belgium, which had not
long before been separated from Hol-
land by a revolution and created into
new monarchy. Belgium had only
been free from Holland about thirteen
years. The people were Catholics.
while those Of Holland had been Prot
estants. Other than church differences
existed between them. The Dutch
were unimaginative and penurious and
hard taskmastes. The Belgians had
an antiquity Of turbulent freedom and
loved the arts and joys.
At thirty-three Archbishop Pecci, as
he now was, appeared in Brussels ac-
credited to King Leopold, who was the
uncle Of me ruysf fanrfy of England.
An interesting account Of his gentle
yet democratic intercourse Is TO be
found in the life OF Charles Lever"
the novelist, who at that time lived in