Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-06
vast piazza Tn front or St. Peters seek

ing scraps Of intelligence.
 The Swiss guards in their brilliant black, red and yellow uniforms are pacing up and down before the portals receiving the eager inquiries with their customary imperturbabie calmness. Baron von Rothenham, the Prussian minister, showed Cardinal Rampolla a telegram from the German emperor expressing his majesty's deepest regret on learning of the pontiff's illness and the hope of a speedy recovery.
 During the day the strength of the pontif began to fail him so rapidly and his condition became so critical that it appeared that only few more hours of life remained to him. It was there fore deemed wise to advise him of his grave condition, and this was done with tender precautfon. Pope Leo was thus prepared for his last con1nmi0n, which was administered with the par ticipation of all the cardinals now in Rome and the whole of the pontffical court
 The solemn yet gorgeous ceremony of administering the last sacrament took place at the bedside of Pope Leo. The central figure was the dying pontiff, whose long lifes journey is nearly over, calmly preparing to enter the dark valley.
 Around the bed were grouped the noble guards in their gifttering uni form, the knights of the cloak and sword in their picturesque and media val costume of black with white ruffs, twenty-five cardinals, all members of the Sacred college who are present in Rome, stately and venerable figures in their sweeping crimson robes, the whole forming scene of rich yet sub dned coAoring, fit subject for the pen ctl of Rembrandt The whole of what is called the pontffical family, headed by Cardinal RampoIla and including all the private chamber was there.
 Assisted by the grand penitentiary, Pope Leo feebly recfted the confession of faith as formulated by the council or Trent, and finally the words of ab. solution and the formula of indulgence in articulo naort1s were solenniy pro nounced by the grand penitanttary. The heads of the great religious or ders who were present granted the pope the special indulgences, which they have the privilege Of comforting Then came the touching prayers for a passing soul and part of the gospel, the LoFd's passion. As the last words died away all fell on their knees.
 The pontiff, raising his almost trans parent fingers with a feeble effort, pronounced in scarcely andfbde words his benediction on the Sacred college and on all present and then sank back on the pillows. There was scarcely a The sobs of the pope's relatives were plainly heard Deep silence followed, only broken now and again by murl mured prayer or pious ejRcumtfon.
 Dr. Maszoni and Dr. Lapponi now think that the danger of catastrophe has been awerted. Indeed they hope that unless there is heart failure they will be able to keep their august pa tient alive for a few days longer, es- peciaIly if he will willingly consent to observe the physicians prescriptions This, however, is the more difficult, as his holiness preserves his full con- sciUnGness and arg1es and discusses his doctors prescriptions. The latter, fearing to excite him by contradiction, ara sometimes at a loss how to proceed.
 It is stHted that owing to the serious illness of the pope the proposed visit of King Victor EmmanHel to Paris has been postponed indefinitely.