The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-07-23

was almost lllHIeuldleIy 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 iatellectu-
al young priest who had exposed his
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 it
was looked upon as in the nature of a
miracle.
They were mistaken, however, as to
his worldly force.
There lived in a mountain fastness in
the state a celebrated brigand named
Pasquale Colletta, who had q band Of
fourteen murderers, and they had COM
mitted every species of offense. 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 penitence
they were executed.
lawless mobiles who had countenanced
such trespasses and when one of these
undertook to browbeat him and threat
ened to go 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 at Rome, and
It's name was ominous.
feeling grew that this young man
had special powers with the pope. Evil
doors FASTENED to get out of his terrific
ry 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 a most disorderly
one.
Pope Gregory now recalled him to
Rome and appointed him governor of
Perugia, where he will always be re-
numbered as one of the wisest men
who ever took charge Of her fortunes.
This city stands near Assist, where Is
the monastery founded by st. Francis.
1t was full of Mazzinis 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 the city was on a high
mound or cone above plain or marsh
and had road to it so steep that no
vehicle could climb it without the aid
of many yokes of oxen, the new gov
ernor set to work and in twenty days
built graded road up the height, over
which in little while rode the pope,
much to his wonder and satisfaction.
The pope was so delighted with his
young engineer governor, then aged
thirty-one. that he 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 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 AMI created into
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 ac
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