The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-08-25

was heard when he was called in the
Of a winter night to n deathDed
which proved to be nothing of the Kind.
He gave freely Of his very small means,
and was often without food himself,
keeping May 2 rolr family from star
walton.
In 1867 he wa at last appointed
parish priest at Salzano, considered an
important promotion, being a village
Of 3,341 souls. Sarto was exceedingly
sorry to leave Tombolo, having become
attached to the people. The peasants
when he left made a most enthusiastic
demonstration, crying viva Don
Giuseppev' while the women whose
children he had petted wept. He dis
tinguished himself SO much at Salzano
that he was kept there only two years,
which is remarkable in the career of
an Italian parish priest. In 1875 he
was elected chancellor Of the b%ishopric
Of Treviso, then spiritual director of
that seminary, judge Of the ecclesias-
teal tribunal and finally vicar general.
Pope Leo, who had highly appreciat-
ed his cleverness, piety and modesty,
appointed him in November, 1884, at
the age of forty~ine years, bishop Of
Mantua, where he remained nine
years, until 1893. when lie was made a
cardinal and appointed patriarch of
Venice. In the Queen City of the
Adriatic he distinguished himself as a
thorough reformer, suppressing all
abuses, restoring the dignity of the
clergy and the earnestness of religion.
To him is due the revival of the Gre
gorian chant in the beautiful churches
overlooking the lagoons and the strict
return to liturgic rules.
Sarto soon became the idol of the
Venetians. When his gondola passed
along the canals the people rushed to
the bridges and along the sides of the
canals, kneeling and saluting, the
women exclaiming, "God bless the pa
triarch!" In those days the patriarch
would say that he did not like to go
out of sight of the lions of st. Marks,
which now he will never see again, if,
as is almost sure, he follows the rule
inaugurated by his two predecessors
never to leave the Vatican. In the
few times in which he went to Rome.
on returning, when asked if he en-
joyed the g~orgeousness of the papal
court and the magnificcnce Of the
functions, he answered:
'yVhen l am there l feel like a fish
out of water"
The pope has very modest tastes,
having retained almost the same
habits as when he was a mere curate
at Salzano. He is severe, but was just
with his clergy. There is nothing he
dislikes so much as publicity. He de-
tests the praise and compliments of
courtiers. Frankness is another of his
principal qualities, although he is
somewhat timid. AS the Italians say,
he has no harm ON his tongue or pen.
Although at first received coldly by
the liberal Venetians, his affable man
ners soon make him many friends, and
the official visit he paid to the king
and queen, contrary to instructions re-
ceived from Rome, made him the idol
Of the population and a most welcome
visitor in the homes of the patricians.
His favoritc diversion was that of tax
ing excursions in his gon6ola along the
shore and landing at some point on the
coast to pay surprise visits to the
priests Of his jurisdiction. At q
| o'clock every morning the patriarch
was in the habit of going out for a long
walk, usually to the sandy islands OF
Lido, which separate the lagoons OF
Venice from the Adriatic sea, as he
loved exercise and the country. He
went often to his native village OF
Riese, where he helped his many poor
relatives.
The relations of Sarto with the house
Of Savoy are well illustrated by VIVA
occurred two months ago, when the kins
of Italy went to Venice to open the In
ternational Art exhibition. King Victo
Emmanuel gave orders that the patrl
arch have precedence over all the loca
authorities, but Sarto, having arrived
while the king was speaking to the pre-
feet. who is the highest government
official in the province, refused to b
announced and said that he would nc
disturb his majesty. He remained
Il All tlllCCllIllDCI NOAlNC loAAo VIVA SA
generals and admirals gathered Their
When the king learned of his present
he came to receive him on the threshol
!, OF the chamber, and kept him i'll CO.
} ~versation. accompanying him afte
ward in a gondola, while all the SC
| diers rendered military honors to IL
ecclesiastic.
1t was recently said of him that MOI
knew his attitude On political que
tons, but that the people of Nenl
: knew that If there was sickness or su
faring in the city he was sure to
found ministering to the afflicted Wi
Ills own hands. They also know tn
he is Il man of great learning, a preac
er of great sermons, a writer OF go'
books. They also know that VIII
0 Cardinal Sarto undertook a work-t
8 building of a church or the righting