The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-25
impressive Intornent Takes Place This Evening in the
 St John Lateran
ROME RESOUNDS WITH
 SOLEMN MASSES FOR DEAD
Interest in concIave ncreases-cardl- nal cottl's Chances Are Improving, Although No One Knows
 Who Will Wear the Tiara.

Rome, July 24.--Again today the body of Leo XIII lay in state in the basilica of St Peter's and about 5000 persons passed before the eatafalque during the day. This Is probably slight increase over the number who viewed the remains yesterday and the augmentation was doubtless due to the widely circulated reports that today would be the last on which the public would have an op- portunity of looking upon the body of the pontiff. These reports proved to be baseless and the body will continue in the chapel of the sacrament at least during the greater part of tomorrow. The fears expressed by the vatican au- thorities concerning decomposition ap- pear to have been exaggerated.
 With impressive ceremonies the body will be inferred tomorrow evening in sareophagus at St. Peters where 1t will remain until taken to It's final resting place in the church of St. John Lateran. Italian soldiers again today preserved order inside St. Peters, where there was a repetition of the scene and crowds which occurred yesterday.
 The day was notable for the solemn masses celebrated for the repose of the soul of the late pontiff at St. Peters and other famous churches in Rome, which were largely attended despite the cere- monies which were occurring at the basilica-
 Interest In concIave.
 Interest Is now largely engrossed with the coming conclave and it's result. The gossip of the day may be summed up briefly by saying that Cardinal Gotti's chances of election seem to have inn proved in comparison with those of oth- CT cardinals who have been mentioned as likely to succeed the dead pontiff, al- though there still exists a strong feel ing that some one hitherto scarcely talk ed of may wear the tiara.
 Much comment was excited at the vati- can by a drive which Cardinal Oreglia took through the gardens this morning.
 The workers in the more quiet precincts of the gardens were startled when they saw the well-known papal carriage ap preaching surrounded by Swiss and noble guards. Their hearts jumped as they saw the face of the cardinal looking out at them The camerengo did not appear to be satisfied with what he saw. He shook his head, exclaiming dismally What decay; what neglect. could not remain shut up in this melancholy place. l should die within year"
 The gossips of the vatican now wish to know If this means that the cardinal would not accept the papacy, which seems practically impossible; or accept ing, would refuse to be the voluntary traditional vatican prisoner. It seems that the more probable interpretation of his remarks would be that if made pope he would institute great changes in the gardens.
 Cardinals Have Not Decided.
 The congregation of cardinals has not yet decided whether the note which the
 
 powers concerning the situation of the papacy at Rome shall be presented to- morrow, when the reception of the diplo- matic body occurs.
 At the meeting of the congregation to- day Cardinal Satolli asked when the conclave would be opened. Cardinal Oreglia replied that he thought that on the evening of Friday, July 31, all the cardinals might enter their cells and be ready for the first meeting of the con- clave on August 1.
 Monsignor Farabulini a latinist whom Gladstone often consulted and of whom the German emperor requested advice con- corning Latin, has been selected to write the oratio brevis, the Latin eulogy on the late pontiff. which will be buried with him.
 The congregation today also heard the secret reports received from the nuncios at Vienna, Paris, Munich and Madrid. It approved the charity bequeathed by Leo to the poor, dividing it follows;
 Ten thousand dollars for Rome; $4oO0 for Perugia, where Leo was for many years archbishop and 5000 for Carpineto. where the late pontiff was born.
 Tonight's Italia sees alleged conf1rma- tion of the story that Cardinal Gibbons has succeeded in transforming Cardinal Richard, archbishop of Paris, into an op- ponent of Cardinal Rampolla in the alleged Rl..k [4, Cardinal Richard while in Paris, that they left together for Rome, travelled together and will lodge together at the house of the order of St. Sulpice. As a matter of fact, only the statement that they will lodge together is true
 Preparing for the concIave.
 Inside the vatican the work of arrang- ing the apartments for the conclave has been begun. The court yards are choked with carts. bricks and building material for raising the walls where doors exist and for making partitions The palatine guards and gendarmes will be transferred elsewhere, as their barracks are needed by the conclave. This afternoon Cardinal Oreglia, escorted by the Swiss guards in- spected the work observing everything minutely.
 Cardinal oreglia is increasing in favor daily, even in the government circles, where it is remembered that it was through his efforts that the propaganda of the vatican adhered to the request of the Italian government to establish an apostolic prefecture in Erythea.
 The congregation of cardinals today decided to ask Monsignor Cali to deliver the funeral oration on the late pope and Monsignor Sardi, the oration on the du- ties of the college. in connection with the selection of I.eos successor. These appointments, houever. are of a tenta- tive nature and have not yet been of ficiaIly communicated to the appointees. The report that Monsignor D. J. O'Connell rector of the Catholic univer- sty at Washington, was obliged to leave Rome on account of his electioneering for Cardinal Gibbons, is pronounced un- fr,.a rho fact is that Mouefenor 0fCOn-