The Washington times., 1903-03-08
Venerable Pontiff a Physical
Marvel-POssessed of Re-
markable Memory and
Eyesight, But Aging Fast.
Liberal Cardinals Alarmed
Over PoStponing Of Con-
sistory-Pope to Receive
Pilgrims Tomorrow.

ROME. March THE Pope IS rapidly
reEaininE his usual health. Al dinner
today he appeared TO have his usual ap-
petite. His holiness had a long confer
ence today with Cardinal Rampolla. tho
Papal secretary Of state, and Cardinal
ResDiShi. vicar general OF the Pope He
has decided TO receive all pilgrims on
Monday
The negotiations between the Vatican
and Austria regarding the appointment
OF Hungarian cardinal have failed.
The more liberal cardinals are al@med
over the postpOnement OF the consistory.
which was 10 have met this month. but
which will now probably not assemble
until June. should a concIave be neces-
Sary before the latter month the pres
en-; composition Of the Sacred College
which has a conservative. majority.
mign, Drccipitate dangerous issues in
The election Of a new Pope-issues which
would ne adverse &C ItaIy and France
and TO liberal ideas
Pope Postpones Consistory.
II was hoped that The appointment Of
foreign cardinals at the March corsis-
tory would modify the situation in q
liberal and conciliatory sense. Tho lib
eral cardinals vainIy urged an inmedIai @
ccns'stOry 10 elect new cardinals and
bishops. but the Pope. after today's con
ference with Cardinals RampoIa and
RespiShi, decided otherwise.
There nave been many false alarms
In regard 10 the Pope's health. often
based on a slight cold or something sim
liar, but Of late there has undoubtedly
been more serious cause for alarm
though the wonderful old man seems
again TO DC returning TO his normal
health. which is marvelously sound. L
is often said that his holiness is sub
ject TO fsinting spells. but there is alb
solutely no foundation for this state
ment. He Is too abstemious for that
1t is fact that he has little appetite
now. and has become so used to eating
soft food that when II was proposed
that he should have false teeth. not
having a single natural one. DR.. Vat
man opposed the plan. on the ground
that he would then naturally eat heavier
food. and thus upset his digestion.
Pontiff a Physical Marvel.
The marvellous facts about the Pope
are his eyesight and his memory. He
has never used glasses OF any kind. vet
ne reads BADLY printed Italian newspa-
pers which require the best eyes. In
regard TO his writing there is little TO
be said. For years he has written moth
Ing bevond his signature. which is so
shaky as 20 be almost nlegible
There are many tales as TO his mem
DRY, showing that he not only remem-
bers events Of long ago as do many old
people. but the Iit;le details OF everyday
life. An instance occurred the other
day when he received foreign cardinal.
who. upon leaving. asked the papal
benediction :or his servant John.
What" asked the Pope. have you
changed servants? I thought his name
was Louis"
1t Is. your holiness" said the car
dinal but Ee is III. and ! have brought
another in his place"
Ticket Sale Grievance.
There is one feature OF the papaI
functions which is deeply depIored by
good Catholics-the sale OF tickets for
any great ceremony At which the Pope
IS to appear. While the cardinals and
their friends. not 10 mention the lesser
lights. receive a very limited number
% tickets for the tribunes. rich Protes-
tants. staying AZ the large hotels. can.
81 they are willing 10 pay. procure all
they desire. Thus a person not n Cath
Olc can see the holy father. while one
who may be most fervid and even
friend OF n cardinal. must content him
self with standing among 50 900 others.
There Is rot room for more than 900
people in the trsbunes. and the
division OF tickets seems most IN
just 20 those who, az heads o. institu-
lions. had 900 in 1902. and ONLY 100 this
year.