New-York tribune., 1903-07-23

advanced, giving an opportunity to the Chspte'
to precede the bier.
LEAVING THE sIsTINE CHAPEL.
From the Sistine Chapel the procession wound
out around the Loggie OF Raphael crcieo 'ns
court OF San Damaso and descended tne pr
vate staircase. still chanting. into the Oasl'iea
The moment the faring torches, which sum ieu
the procession. entered ST. Peters. the choH
which waiting there began to sing tne
"Libera me. Domino"
Monsignor Carcapi. the canon Of st. Peters .
sprtnkled holy water over the Popes oody anu
pronounced absolution. AS It was borne across
the threshold the cathedral choir. still singing
took the lead of the long procession. and the
body carried down the nave to the Chapel
OF the Sacrament. where candles burned
brightly. 1t was revereutly laid behind the iron
gates. and two members Of the Noble Guard
took UP positions on either side Of the bier
The procession then reformed and returned TO
the Vatican. leaving the body OF Leo XIII
alone except for the guard and penitentiaries-
The body of the dead Pope lies on a high
catafalque the slippered feet protrudtng
through the gates to be kissed by the faithful
THE MORNINGS CEREMONY.
The first of the great ceremonies of Pope
Leo's funeral began to-day, when the body lay
in state in the throne room Of the Vatican
d
accredited 10 the Vatican. the Roman princes
dukes barons and other representatives OF an
cient families remaining faithful 70 the Papacy'
all the high dignitaries Of the Church. the arch
bishops, bishops pstriarchs and heads OF the
religious orders passed before the bier OF the
Pontiff.
The Papal throne had been removed. and IN
it's place under the red silken canopy on
small bed. lay the body of Leo XIII. over the
bed was thrown a red damask coVerihs' ."
which the body lay robed in white. with the
rad rocbe+ and hood. and on the feet slippers
embroidered with gold. The thin hands, ciasped
over the chest held tightly a small ivory cruel
Ax Around this was entwined rosary ol
mother Of pearl. set in gold. on the'thru nlee.
of the right hand the huge emerald FOnunca'
ring sparkled In striking contrast Win 'he
chastity face was the purple hood drawn uoNh
over the head almost to the eyebrows anu O'ei
the ears The sunken cheeks ana Jaws oT"ueh'
the nose and chin nearly together on the
,,,o,,th though no marks Of pain were visible
II was the body of a man who might nave pesii
dead for fifty years.
On either side, near the shoulders. stood
member OF the Noble Guard, erect and mouon-
less. only slight quiver Of the drawn s"orus
giving any indication that they were not hete
statues The ordeal Of the soldiers In the
heated chamber was so intense that they had
to be constantly relieved
SCENE IN THE THRONE ROOM.
A. +bs fopr corners of the bed stood lighted
candles ten feet high On the right OF the DouS'
close to the bed, was small table covered Win
, white linen cloth on which were two candles
throwing q glmmer of light on the crucinA De-
tween them AT the foot Of the cross was
CRYSTAL howl filled with holy water. from which
each t.&-linal, when he passed the body'
sprin.Led ? and uttered benedtction- Beslue
this ware the devotional books used py rope
Leo. Silence was broken by the chanting OF SIX
Franciscan penitentiaries, who. kneeinS or
standing at a bench at the foot Of the bier con-
tinued their supplication
To the left and right, on the walls, two great
gold and marble brackets supported many
branched candelabra. but they were not lighted
nor were the lamps on the marble columns at
each corner OF the throne room. The only
light came from the candles beside the body and
from the faint rays OF sunlight which nltered
through the two windows, curtained with white
silk and rich green hansings
The red damask tapestries with Whlcn tne
room was hung gave touch Of splendor TO the
surroundings otherwise 1t was an almost sim
ple scene for the death rites of a Pope There
was no carpet the marble floor, and not a
flower was to be seen.
AS each Law or clerical dgnitary entered the
Throne Room he advanced slowly to the side OF
the bed took look at the body and withdrew
Some persons kneIt for a moment in prayer and
crossed themselves It was tribute Of devo-
ton and affection rather than Of outward hom-
age to the head of the Church.
RECEPTION OF THE MOURNERs.
Outside the Throne Room the long corridors OF
the Vatican presented a brilliant spectacle. At
the entrance of the court of ST Damaso Pom
tihcal gendarmes we're drawn up and saluted as
each carriage drove in. The diplomatists wore
full uniform, and the princes and others were
dressed in deep black. From the court they
passed up the marble staircase into the Gle
mentino Hail. where the Swiss Guard was
ranged in double columns on each side. Next
they entered the Hall OF Palafrenieri, where
twenty-five grooms in red livery show I'd the way
TO the Hall Of the Swiss. where a company OF
gendarnes, wearing heavy black chapeaus.
tight white trousers and high cavalry boots,
stood on guard at the threshold OF the ante
chamber. which contained a platoon of the Pala-
of Tapestry and the Chapel Of the Pope. The
Noble Guard, in full scarlet uniforms. glittering
brass helmets. and silver sashes covered with
Grape kept the last watch at the door Of the
apartment of their dead master.
Outside the Vatican interested crowd in
Guiding a number of Italian soldiers, watched
the coming and going of the mourners.
In the latter part Of the afternoon minor
ecclesiastics and laymen less distinguished then
those who were admitted in the morning We're
allowed to enter the Vatican TO view the body