Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-20

ical states, by which ID out of the 20 prov
inces were taken from the pope. Previous
to that time the pontifical revenue had
amounted to nearly Si4, COO, 600 annually.
Since 1870, when the temporal power disap-
peared, Peters pence has been the only
source of revenue, and the devotion %
Roman Catholics throughout the world has
always been strong enough to meet the ne
cessities of the caSe-about 81 SOC, 600 year
Though the pope is practically impris-
Oned within the walls of the Vatican, he is
obliged to provide from Peters pence for the
universal administration of the churches.
he has to maintain nuncios in different
capitals of the old and new world, to CORE
spond with more than 900 episcopal sees
in every part of the world, to support mis-
sionary work abroad, to maintain at Rome
the congregation and schools and ecclesias-
teal tribunals, to pay the cardinals sal
aries and those of the dignitaries and other
employees of the pOntifical guard, and to
keep in order the sacred churches, like St.
Peters and St. Mary Majors, and to pre-
serve intact and even improve the libraries
and museums of the Naticat..
1t is easily understood from this why Leo
was personally so economical. Although
the gross sum Of Peters pence is large, it is
only by the most systematic expenditure
thereof that it is made to meet current ex-
penses. Long before his death Leo mott
fed his relatives that nothing should go to
them out of the innumerable and precious
gifts sent to him from every part Of the
world ON the occasion of his jubilee of 1855.
The only advantage he conferred upon any
of his relatives so far as reported was the
title of count upon his nephews, which
helped them somewhat In contracting adj
vantageouS marriages
OF the total amount of Peters pence
two-thirds have come from France OF late
years. Italy has not produced mere than
Il, 900 lire S3.o00) The offering is free and
anonymous everywhere. Collections only
take place twice every year in the churches.
On some occasions "A supplement Of revenue
comes to the pope-as, for instance, on ore
list Of January, when he olIiciated at what
was called his Golden Mass" he received
more than 5000. 600 in fees.
Leo as a Writer.
Pope Leo XIII wrote a great deal dur
ing his life, mostly Italian and Latin verse.
When he desired TO write, he used to lock
himself up in his room and allow no one to
disturb him. His abstraction was so great
that he used to wipe his pen upon the sleeve
Of his white soutane, and his faithful body
servant, Contra, lived in morbid terror lest
his master should be seen in this spotted
state, and on days of audience personally
essary, in a clean robe
Much of his verse was of course religious
in its character, though not all. In rhythm
it is Virgilian, being sauve, elegant and of
easy, smooth phrasing His epigrammatic
POEMS" writes one familiar with the pom
tiff's writings, ARE light, lively and strike
where they ought, but they have not poi
soned barbs.
"One of the verses has this subject: A
youth asked one day for an audience and
avowed that his life had been too free for
virtue. The holy father advised him to re-
tire to convent for some time and to ban
ish from his mind every thought that could
defile it.
This is a prose rendering of what he
wrote: 'Florus, my child, furious fever
burns you; foul plague softens your body
and your soul. You have been drinking
and without shame, of an Internal and poi
sonous cup. 1t is the cup of Gree. 1t
evokes in your mind images Of animal
bestiality. If you care to be saved, fly from
the SIRENS song and from the inhOspitabie
shore. Take good courage and fight temp
tation while fleeing from it. If you do. God
will fight for you and look on you with
favorable eye. Already the hideous serpent,
full of rage at the prospect of defeat, plunges
into the black waters of the Styx. FloruS,
my son, be saved"
Stories of Leo XIII.
Joachim Pecci was of most impressive
presence, even when a young man, and in
his old age, when pope, he seems to have
been positively awe inspiring. Most read
ers will remember the reports of the meet
ing of the pontiff and the young emperor
of Germany a few years ago. The Teutonic
monarch, who had never before been
so far as the records go, was rs
L IL l.
white haired old man, who though his rule
was entirely spiritual, was the acknowl-
edged head of the greatest division of the
Christian church. His personal appear
ance is thus described by one to whom an
was accorded in 1872:
He was tall and slender TO attenuation.
His visage was an almost fieshlesS mask, |
his complexion of a vaXy pallor, but his
eyes were clear and luminous He would
be ascetic of look under one aspect and
keen under another, but the
general one was OF sweetness and kindli-
ness. Judging from his face and general
the first impression given by
him was that of man largely endowed
with common sense. The full, broad brow
likewise indicated brilliant intellect, and
the passing smile which occasionally fitted
across a counteuance worn as if with much
care spoke rather of melancholy than OF
mirth."
At an audience described by an American
who was present all fell upon their knees
when the pope came in, but ut "A sign from
one of the nIonsignores, who acted as cham
berlain, all resumed their places. With me
chanical air the pontiff, after bowling, BEGAN
talking with the man who sat nearest the
door Individual intuitions were followed
as to etiquette by all present When the
pope gave his hand, some raised it to the |
forehead and others to the lips; others, fall |
ing on their knees, kissed the cross on he |
poatiff's foot. One man shook the pope's |
hand heartily.
There was no talking except between the |
pope and those to whom he found time to |
give attention. No one was passed entirely |
and in one case in which a poor |
woman cried with a sob in her voice, 20 |
holy father, give your blessing to our sonP' /
Leo's eyes were suffusGd with tears, and he |
bent over her and talked for some time. |
One woman tried hard to impress him with |
her own Importance by declaring that the |
cardinal in her town was great friend of /
hers. When the round of the room had
been completed, the pope stepped into the /
- 81 and making the /