The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-07-14

Rome July 11.-1:1O a. nj think
he will live To be one hundred, saio
an Italian priest in the court yard Oh
the vatican last night as he read me
latest bulletin regarding the pope's
condition. Il don't believe this bui!e7
tin said another Il don't either
chimed in a third. But it does not do
to say here"
These expressions accurately repre-
sent the hopeless difference of opinion
exhibited by those who have to rely for
information regarding the pont:f's i'll
ness. solely upon official bulletins.
Cardinal Satolli, in a conversation
with the representative OF the AssocI-
ated Press told the latter that life was
ONLY kept in the tired body of the pom
tiff by the constant use of powerful
stimulants and other persons equally
reliable who saw the pope yesterday
and who had seen him on previous days
of his illness agree with Cardinal Sa-
tollf in saving that death has made all
his ravages save the separation OF the
soul and body. Yet the doctors an
nounce to the public that Pope LeoS
general condition is satisfactory. An
explanation of the apparent contradlc-
tion lies in the fact that the doctors
expected his holiness to die long before.
this and now are exercising i'll their
bulletins an excess OF caution ana
comparative method OF eApreSSloh
which is incomprehensible to me lay
man. Moreover, the extraordinary VI
taIity of their patient has, so to speak,
annihiIated every medical theory he'd
by doctors in Italy, SO it is scarcely sur
Drising that Doctors ROSSOni, MaZzOnl
and Lapponi. content themselves with
daily recording the symptoms OF pro
gresssiOn and retrOgression which sue
ceed each other with such battling r.
regularity as to forbid the risk Of max
ing a definite representation for the
public In private they only disagree
as to the number of days the struggle
will last.
Though science still may be unable
to save Pope Leo in his present illness
it has, at least, afforded his practically
a painless day. Since Saturday morn
ing his holiness included in his pontlh-
cal routine a peaceful sleeep' the du-
ration of which gave rise to some
alarm. several visits from his docIoss
and audiences with four or flVe CAROL
nails. For man OF his age IN perIe2I
health this Saturday would be an ldle
one.
The tremendous superiority OF the
Dontiff's mind over his frail frame can
be Judged from his actions regarding
Mgr VoIpipi. Tired of the fnsistant ex-
cuses made by those who were trying
to conceal from him the fact OF MsF
VolpinTs death by saying that he was
ill Pope Leo exclaimed, then W. must
appoint a coadjutor." and he thereupon
solemnly decided that Mgr MarinI
should act as assistant to the man NnC
was buried on Friday The grim oddlty
of the situation was heightened by the
coincidence that Mgr Marini himself
was coadjutor to the secretary Of the
cOnsistorial congregation when Pope
Piols TX died. He IS now substitute
at the congregation of briefs rms n
dication of the wishes of his holiness
though given under circumstances O
nathetic concealment. is likely TO secur.
for Mgr Marini the place made Vacan
by the sudden death of Mgr NolpanI-
Another incident showing the won
derfuI vitality of his holiness nccurre'
when the pope was told of the post
ponement of King Victor Emmanuel
visit to Paris on account OF the papa
aff1iction.
"Ah." said the pontiff. I'VE knoS
how chiva1rous is the house Of Savoy
even to its opponents
This note of harmony. struck from
sick bed, makes it apparent on all sloe
that the chaSm between lne gov EeiE
ment and the vatican has almoSt ap
parently been bridged over by the ma
tional sympathy with the dying pope.
Cardinal Oreglia is credited with N
intention of not leaving anything q
the vatican untouched during his snol
period of supreme power. When aIte
the death Of Pope Leo. he Will be card
nal Camerlengo until a new pope
elected. 1t is known that he has a
ready directed that even the work ne'
eSSary to build cells for the conclaN
e and walling up of the entrance etc
shall not be done by the regular pap
architects and engineers. Mannuct
and Schneider but by a person enjo.
ing his confidence. and that he n;
selected an outsider. engineer Ross WI
whom he has already conferred reSar'
ing the matter. He has also chose
Controller ROssi Degaspers to supp
all the necessities such as food. mel
cine. the services of BARRIERS and dc
tors etc. required inside the conciaS
Naturally. these measures taken
Cardinal Oreglia while the pope is st
alive are much commented upon.
The great scourge of the Italiaa pe
pie is the lottery. which is in the han
of the government and which tur
millions into the treasury every yet