The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1903-07-23

Of violence Fortunately for him, he
was almost Immediately taken Ill with
the typhoid fever, and his death was
supposed to be certain. This calamity
softened the nature OF the people, and
they began to talk about this intcilectu-
al young priest who had exposed bis
life in Rome to the pestilence. Instead
of antagonizing him they formed pro-
cessions and went to public prayers in
his behalf, and when he recovered 1t
was looked upon as in the nature of q
miracle.
They were mistaken. however, as to
his worldly force.
There lived in mountain fastness in
the state celebrated brigand named
Pasquale Colletta. who had a band Of
fourteen murderers, and they had COM
i1itted every species Of otfense. The
priest governor laid his plans well, and
one day the people were surprised to
see come into the town, manacled and
under guard. the chief Of the band and
every one of his myrmidons. In spite
of their threats, promises and peMtence
they were executed.
Pecci now turned his attention to the
lawless mobiles who had countenanced
such trespasses. and when one of these
undertook to browbeat him and threat
ened to 90 to Rome and have him re-
called the governor said. marquis, be-
fore you get to the Vatican you shall
pass through the castle of st. Angelo"
This was the state prison Mt Rome. and
its name was OMNIBUS.
A feeling grew that this young man
had special powers with the pope. Evil
doors FASTENED to get out Of his terrific
~ or make their peace.
He searched the lawless castles, be-
gan to build good roads. examined and
lowered the taxes, made the collec-
ton Of the revenue effective, and thus
spent nearly three years making an or
derby state out Of most disorderly
one.
Pope Gregory now recalled him to
Rome and appointed him governor Of
Perugia, where he will always be re-
membered as one Of the wisest men
who ever took charge of her fortunes.
This city stands near Assist, where Ia
the monastery founded by st. Francis.
1t was full of Mazzini's revolutionary
societies.
The object the papal authorities had
was the suppression of these plotting
spirits by Pecci, but he commenced in a
different way.
Finding that tie city was on high
mound or cone above plain or marsh
and hGd road to it SO steep that no
vellicl" could climb it without the aid
Of many yoke; e oxen, the new gov
ernor s. to York and in twenty days
built Graded road u tie height. over
which il q Il; le white rode the pope.
much TO his wCu,iCr and satisfaction.
Tho pope VS. so d>i:~A+cd with his
youn% engineer governor, then aged
thirty one, Tat lie said as he left a
number of presents to be distributed,
Il will remember you, my friend, when
get to Rome"
In the meantime Pecci founded a saw
ings bank in Perugia and himself sub
scribed largely to the stock and began
to set up excellent schools. The peo-
pie felt that friend and not an enc.
my had come among them.
Just as he had accomplished remark
able things in that city the pope re-
solved to send him as nuncio, otherwise
minister, to Belgium, which had not
long before been separated from Hol-
land by revolution and created into q
new monarchy. Belgium had only
been free from Holland about thirteen
years. The people were Catholics,
while those of Holland had been Prot
estants. Other than church differences
existed between them. The Dutch
were unimaginative and penurious and
hard taskmasters. The Belgians had
an antiquity of turbulent freedom and
loved the arts and joys.
At thirty-three Archbishop Pecci, as
he now was, appeared in Brussels &C
credited to King Leopold, who was the
uncle Of the royal family of England
An interesting account of his gentle
yet democratic intercourse is to be
found in the >"Life of Charles Lever
the novelist, who at that time lived in