The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-24
His Face, Framed by Crown of Gold and Roses, is Per-
 feet Deaths Head
FUNERAL CEREMONIES
 MAY BE CURTAILED
Italian Soldiers Preserve Order In St. Peters, an Act Unprecedented In
 the History of Mod n ern Italy.

Rome, July 23.-From sunrise to sunset today thousands passed before the body of Leo XIII. lying in state in the basilica of Peters During the day many of those that this opportunity to publicly view the remains should extend through three days, but tonight the Associated Press cores pondent learns that the time Is likely to be curtailed and that the funeral may oc- cur Friday instead of Saturday night, owing to the evidences that decomposition is setting in. This is due to today's severe heat from which no embalming, however perfect could completely protect the body. The will of the dead pope was opened at today's meeting of the congregation of cardinals. It consists of thirty-six pages, in the handwriting of Leo XIII, and leaves all the property of which he died possessed, to his successor for the use of the church. To each member of his fam fly he leaves a present to be chosen from the valuable objects of his apartment. Similar presents are bequeathed to his physicians. The total amount of the prop erty which he left is not yet known.
 A Ghastly Picture.
 The prevailing impression of those who today passed before the iron gates of the chapel of the sacrament to view the re- mains was one of intense piety, combined with certain sense of horror. The body was tilted up on the catafalque in order that all might see the terribly shrunlen face. An ordinary skull in a frame of gold, lying In mass of red roses could scarcely have been more typical of death. Except at sunrise, when the crush threatened a panic, all those who wished it had an opportunity of entering St. Peters. During the day many of those who passed in stopped before the cata- falque to say hurried prayer Hp p1dreds Of the women, and even some of the men, carried children in their arms
 Italian Soldiers on Guard.
 An important political factor was in- troduced into the ceremony by the en- trance into St. Peters of Italian soldiers, who remained there throughout the day to preserve order Their presence there in such capacity unprecedented in the history of modern Italy, is important, as an indication of better relations between the government and the vatican, as it was by the consent, if not by the desire of the vatican authorities, that they to- day employed the troops of the quirinal in papal territory.
 Another feature which is causing com- ment along the same lines is the fact that Cardinal Oreglia in receiving group of the city fathers of Rome, who repre- scented the clerical party, charged them to thank also their liberal colleagues for the manifestation of sympathy which they showed during the illness of the pope. The cardinal, continuing his con- versation, indicated special satisfaction over similar manifestations coming from several constituted bodies of the kingdom of Italy, such as communal councils and provincial deputations, in cluding that of Rome which is presided over by Prince Felice Borghese.
 oreella Is Qualified.
 "It is an unexpected tribute exclaimed the cardinal, which no one would have imagined twenty-five years ago"
 In this connection additional interest attaches to today's meeting of the con- gregation of cardinals, which appointed Monsignor Pifferi as confessor of the conclave, a committee to undertake the arrangements of the conclaye, and select cd other officials, such as the physicians who attend them during their seclusion. The most important matter before the me- ting, however, was a proposal pre- sented by Cardinal Oreglia to send diplomatic body accredited to the holy see for the purpose of representing to the powers the condition of the papacy since the loss of its temporal power and the transfer of the capital of the Italian gov ernment to Rome. From what leaks out ii appears that the proposal provoked considerable discussion and that Cardi- nals Steinhuber, Mathieu and Wives y Tuto favored the dispatch of most energetic note concerning the question of rnn IqfT 1i11u fhn no rio 1l e Agiardo and Serahno advocated a milder wording of the document, which, they contend, should maintain the historical pretensons of the holy see. but in tenn perate language. The majority of the congregation decided to pursue a middle course, and entrusted Cardinal Merri Del Val with the duty of drawing up the document for submission to another meet ing of the congregation. The note, when approved will be presented to the diplo- matic body, signed by Cardinals Oreglia, Macchi and Netto. deans of the three or ders into which the sacred college is di- vided.
 Cardinals Desired Secrecy.
 After the will of Leo XIII had been opened it was the intention of the card inals to maintain the strictest secrecy concerning it's contents, but it is learned that it comprises thirty-six sheets in the
 
 dtions, evidently made in his later years when the pope found considerable diff ficulty in writing, owing to the trembling of his hand, which was so pronounced before his death, that he was obliged to hold his right hand with his left when he made his signature. The earlier DOT lions of the testament include the recom- mendation which the testator addressed to his executors. Cardinals Rampolla, Mocenic and Cretoni, on the best way to continue the religious impulse given to the church. as we'll as the policy follcw ed by the holy see during later years.
 Property Goes to Church.
 The document then enumerates all the property which Leo possessed and pro- vides that 1t shall all go to his successor for the benefit of the church, including even the presents which might perhaps be considered personal rather than gifts 10 the pontin as such. The money which the pbpe left is in a closed safe in his bedroom. the keys having been given to