Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-03-08
Attributes Vitality in Large Measure to the
Exercise Of Will Power.
CHURCH APPROACHES PERIOD OF TRIAL
Hopes to Live to Garry it Safely Through
the Difficulties Ahead.
SPIRIT GIVES A MEDIUM ITS OPINION
FIXES Upon september 16 of the Pres
ent Year as the Date of the
Aged POntiH's Death-Pope
Insists on Being Active.

ROME, March 7.-(New York World Ca
blegram-special Telegram.)-"W feel the
strength to battle for the church another
ten years" said Pope Leo XIII few days
ago, employing the plural pronoun I'VE"
instead OF 81" as sovereigns do.
The pontiff was addressing Marquis Sac
chetti an important official Of the papal
court who repeated the words today to the
World correspondent
"It is indeed a singular privilege to have
attained so great an age" the pope con-
tinued, but we esteem still more the fact
that age has in no way lessened or weak
ened our mind or will power. On the con-
trary, this most exalted position to which
Providence has been pleased to raise us
appears to have impaired fresh resolution
and power to our spiritual and intellectual
constitution
eve are convinced OF the marvellous eff
cacy of the will, and attribute a great
measure of our good health and strength to
the vigorous constant exercise of will
power for It is our ardent desire to remain
at the helm Of Peters bark as long as our
presence can be useful to the church.
I'VE anticipate that the immediate future
will prove to be a period Of great trial for
the church. Therefore. with Gods help,
we hope to steer the vessel conhded to our
care safely to port before laying down the
emblems of our high office"
Marquis Sacchetti said to the World cor
respondent that II was impossible not to be
deeply impressed by the profound convic-
tion with which the pope uttered those
words
weakened by Cough.
Although the pope's cough ahated some-
what today. he is still feeble. and HIS physi-
clan insisted that he should remain in bed
sll day There was no audience, and the
nnly persons permitted to visit him were
his physicians ard the regular attendants
upon his bed chamber
The fact that he is not permitted audi
tnces vexes Leo greatly. He knows that
there arc a number OF persons waiting to
see him as soon as he may be permitted
TO receive them, and he tries to hasten this
end by bringing into play every effort Of
his indomitable will
There is really nothing the matter with
the pope except the ills attendant upon a
great age and a gastric complication which
Dr. Lapponi says Leo can, with his marvel
Gus constitution, successfully combat II HI
will only take a long rest. But the pops
believes that the best medicine for his all
ments is excitement, and II is the reaction
from the effect of his favorite prescrip
tion that IL causing anxiety. On Wednes
day the ceremony OF the silver jubile,
lasted two hours and a half. The pop
seemed to gather strength with every mo
ment and at It's conclusion remarked to Lap
poni that it had done him good, that h
felt much better. While Il was noticed tina
he felt the effects OF his cold everyone VIII
saw him was surprised how well he seemed
His physician compelled him to rest tn
MI he uae mt N ha
early. In spite of the precautions TO in
sure him needed rest, however, he in
sisted on rising in the middle of the nigh
to view the illuminations OF the city.
spirits Take "a Hand.
At a spiritualistic seance held last nigh
In the parlor of one of the most prominer
Americans in Rome. at which many re
tmarkable manifestations are reported I
have been witnessed. this question was pu
10 the spirit said to be in control Of tn
medium:
when will the pope die?"
The medium wrote out upon slip
paper this date: 10 September. 1903"
Leo XIII broke another record when
celebrated mass on the anniversary
Plus ks death, February Z. 1t was II
hrst time in the history Of the papacy thu
pope who has reached the twenty-fft
year of his pontificate had ofilciated at n
requiem mass for the repose Of anoth'
pope. his predecessor, Plus Xix, who all
relgned for more than a quarter of a ceI
tury (from 1886 to 1879, thus contradic
ing the old prophecy none will see Il
years OF Peter"
Leo was assisted by Cardinal satol
and the Sistine choir sang for the fr
time under the direction OF its new maestr
Don Lorenzo Perosi, the famous compose
The college OF cardinals. the diplomat
corps accredited to the Holy See, the men
bers OF tho Roman aristOcracy and Of Il
papal court, were all present adding ma
nihcence TO the imposing ceremony.
Three American bishops, who participate
In the papal silver jubilee ceremonies. a
still here-Heban OF Scranton, Burke Of {
Joseph. Mo-, and Dunno OF Dallas, TIE
They have already been received by Ca
dnal Gotti the prefect OF the propagant
and Cardinal Rampolla the papal seer
tary OF state. Now they await audienc
with the pope, at which they will prese
TO him handsome contributions Of "Pete
Pence"
EiNn IIcE E0P Tue cnMpnN