The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02

to thy honesty. 1 will speak TO Rampolla
and see that thou ART we'll rewarded" All
the man got was Is francs. Leo was blamed
| for his parsimony. but ii is very likely that
Rampolla fixed the sum of the scant reward
! 1t was Leo's boast that, as grand admin
istrator of the church. his personal ex-
penses never exceeded three francs per day.
As Pope. he got along on one franc only.
| do you think Leo Mi cow? haven't
acquired a second stomach since yesterday.
when 1 was Cardinal Pecci." he said to his
cook. when the latter proposed change in
the diet after moving to the Vatican.
The three things he insisted on were: Clean
linen. homemade bread and fresh eggs.
| While Leo was bent on making as much
money as possible for the church, he was
not commercially inclined. True. he sold the
products of the Vatican vintage to the high
est bidder but the proposals of stock COM
pany to market the wine under the Vatican
label and with papal authority, were indig-
nantly declined. Even an offer of 100000
francs cash for the monopoly failed to
tempt Leo.
Several years ago his former business
manager, Mgr. Folchi, lost twelve millions
of Leo's money at the Paris bourse, where
! upon the rope IedU MINI a moSt QeClutu
lecture on foolhardy business methods tell
ing him at the same time to keep out of his
way for month or SO: after that Folchi
was received at the Vatican as usual. but
never again did he see the color Of the
| Pope's money.
Leo never got rid of the habits of his
early environment. Farmers are naturally
suspicious and the Pope was never quite
happy unless his personal belongings were
under lock and key. No one dared touch
anything on his writing desk; only when its
disorder was so great as seriously to inter-
fere with business was the valet allowed to
set it straight-under the Popes own eyes.
When the Holy Father left his library. he
invariably locked the door and put the key
in his pocket.
| When Leo's four secretaries were provided
with work for a given number Of hours, he
locked them in, too-to prevent visitors and
servants from disturbing their labors he
said. But good nature not infrequently tri-
umphed over bis precaution, and at inter-
walls the Pope could be seen stealthily enter
the secretary's room with a bottle of good
old wine under his arm. Each got a glass
and the rest was divided among them. Then
the door snapped to again.
His personal funds the Pope kept in a safe,
standing in his bedroom. and his valet or
Monseignor Del Val were, from time to
time, ordered to help him count his accumu-
lated wealth. That the counting was per-
functory only is evident from the fact that
at one of these occasions bundle found
containing bank notes that had long been
out of circulation. Again, it often happened,
| that the Pope forgot to clip maturing cou-
pons.
Leo was nervous and easily irritated by
the demands of his toilet. Little Plus" he
| often said to his valet, 81 am beginning to
think that the Pope is harder to dress than
fine lady. You ought to thank God that
| don't go into society,""
| The Pope's wardrobe budget was quite
| large for a man of his simple tastes, be-
cause he spoiled a good many of his white
| gowns by the snuff habit to which he was
| addicted. But still more were ruined by the
muse of poetry that visited him at all hours
of the night and day.
As soon the idea for poem struck him,
he took his pen in hand waiting for the
stanxas to form. They did not always come
to the front as readily as anticipated, and.
in the meanwhile, Leo described figures in
the air with the penholder, much to the
detriment of his white wooden gown. the use
fulness of which ceased after the first drop
of ink descended upon it.
| An Italian painter had secured the order
for decorating the Gallery of Candelabri,"
and after he had been at work several
weeks, the Pope went to see what progress
he was making, and although the maestro
tried to restrain him by hifaultin talk, Leo
| insisted upon mounting the scaffold and in
vestigating for himself. When he stepped
down his face was red with anger RE
move these daubs without delay he said
| to the master of the palace. Another artist
shall be called in, and mind, this time we
will not be mislead by national preferences"
F! Thereupon Ludwig Seitz was employed and
he did the work SO well that Leo commits
stoned him afterwards to renovate the Bor-
gia apartments.
When another French artist asked Leo
to inscrbe a portrait he had painted, the
Pope did so In the words: Don't be fright
ened, it's t.
| Pope Leo knew all members of the HER
archy by name; he knew their additional
| titles, bish0prics, abbeys and even their per-
| sonal traits. Several years ago he ordered
some changes in the South American sees
| and without referring to a handbook noted
down the various bishops Christian and
| proper names, their age, residence and
qualifications.
Some old ladies from Cologne were re-
ceived by Leo in special audience, but were
too tmid to utter a word. All they could do
was to kiss the papal toe Pray restrain
yourself, ladies'" said Leo at length ''I will
have to wear that slipper again. And now
tell me of your great city, speak loudly, If
you please. Just act as ifsI was your old
deaf uncle. Everybody has one or more deaf
uncles, / dare say.
Several years ago a French photographer
came to the Vatican to take a life-size pic
ture of the Holy Father. OF course he had to
wait quite while before a sitting could be
arranged for, and that difficulty settled,
another arose. Leo was so nervous that the
photographer despaired of persuading him to
keep still even for a second. At last he got
good focus and, under his breath, ex-
claimed, Bravo"
Leo heard it and turning instantly TO a
cardinal sitting nearby, said: did you
hear? This Frenchman calls me a bravo"
bravo is equivalent to bandit.)
One day, when papal nuncio in Brussels,
Leo was literally held up by workingman
in the street. who insisted that he must lis