Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-07-24

such wonderful impression as did the
aged Leo. He possessed marvellous
Individuality, which was heightened by
his remarkable vigor and tenacity in
old age. At ninety, when he gave Ben
Iamin Constant a sitting for his pOr-
trait, the French painter was aston
lshed at the brilliancy Of his intellect.
Yet with serene poise and strength he
passed on for three years more to his
Jubilee, retaining for more than quar-
ter Of a century that papal power
which, 1t was supposed, was conferred
Tor only short time upon feeble old
man in 1878. He proved one of the
strongest in physical endurance as well
AS in mental qualities that had ever
been elevated to the papal throne.
AS the head Of the Catholic church
the achievements Of Leo XIII. are
memorable. Even those not in the Ro-
man communion freely admitted his
greatness, while to the devout Catholic
he was the personiflcation of goodness.
He was both statesman and priest, and
bis views, like his ambitions, We're Of
the widest. His services as papal nun
eio at Brussels gave him that stamp Of
the diplomat which never left him. In
close touch with the affairs of many
nations, his extraordinary memory, his
fresh and earnest interest in the on-go-
lnes Of the world, made his contribu-
tons to passing history Of peculiar sig
nit1cance and value.
In America the late pope seemed to
lake an especially vivid interest, which
was evinced in wise counsels to his
people in this country on many occa-
lions. To the republican form Of gov
.rnment he showed himself a good
friend upon more than one occasion
In his encyclicals ON socialism Is seen
how his sympathy for the struggling
md aspiring masses was balanced by
his fine sense of the necessary order
Ind stability Of society. His refined in
iellect, his simplicity of life, his unaf-
.ected piety, all exalted to emincnce by
his extraordinary career, made him an
inspiring parsonage even to those who
Aid not recognize him as spiritual
ruler and teacher, and Protestants as
we'll as Catholics mourn his death.
The story Of the pope Is an exceeding
Y simple and pretty one. He has been
though the pontiff, as 1t Is called, Of
he most ancient ecclesiasticism in west
Urn European excellent citizen Of our
alter world He has been a good mag
strate, superior pastor, gentleman
md, 1t may be added, princes He was
lprince in nature before he was either
cardinal or pope.
From the time he was elected pope the
ity Of Rome has been in the occupa-
ION of the king Of Italy and has indeed
een the political capital of Italy, the
avs of that kingdom paying no atten.
ion to the previous laws and formal.
les which the secular state supplanted
But the influence of the pope as a spirit
II education and of light has extended
70 the most remote portions Of the
world.
Above all other popes and somewhat
OCyoho LIE oWh lcSOlu III illS
Leo XIII. has been liberal politician
He has hailed the future rather tina
deplored the loss of the past. He ha
been one of the captains in the move
ment for universal education and ha
striven to make education and moral
contide in each other. Not singl
scandal from Rome in his papacy ha
been conveyed to the world. He ha
shown friendly disposition to TN
world and could himself take place /
almost any learned faculty or congress
and hold his own in general knowledg
with scientists, belles-lettres men an
doctors
Elected pope in February, 1878, b
was then almost sixty-eight years G
age, and he had been for thirty -tw