The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-04

 ANNIVERSARY Celebration of the Event
 in Rome. THE POPE BEARS UP WELL Goes Through Ceremony, Not withStanding Predictions. An Almost Indescribable Struggle When Doors of St. Peters are
 Thrown Open to Admit
 the Multitude.
THE POPE BEARS UP WELL

Rome, March s.-From sunrise today all Rome was on the alert and showing most unusual animation and interest in the eel ebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the coronation of Pope Leo XIII
 This movement was especially notice able at the large hotels. which were iilu- minated as though for ball. An loea or the number of people congregating at the Vatican could be formed by the fact that it was utterly impossible to get a carriage if the vehicle had not been or dered yesterday, especially as it was rain- ing. and by the prices charged for those secured in advance,
 The scene on the plazza or St. Feter 2 was magnificent. There were assembled many hundreds of Italian troops, in va rious modern uniforms, making striking contrast with the medieval costumes ot the Swiss and papal guards of duty at the bronze doors of the Cathedral.
 An Impatient Crowd.
 The crowds which gathered before the first cordon of troops were impatient as they stood dripping under the per sistent rain. There was great slashlng of umbrellas and a general feeling of dis  who included very many women in most varied attire, comprising foreigners of all nationalties and Italians from all parts of the country, the uniformity of the crowd being pleasantly broken by groups of sisters in the different gowns Of their orders, Catholic students and pie turesquely attred friars.
 When finally the doors of St. Peter s were opened an almost tndescrfbable struggle occurred, in which all present forgot the rules of holiness and strove hard with push of elbows and feet to reach the interior of the sacred ediflce while on all sides were heard cries oi fear and imprecadons not very well suit ed to the spot where a notable religious ceremony was about to begin.
 Once inside the Cathedral the ladies who wore lace gowns found them to be in a much mutilated condition and some of the women were carried away in a faint ing condition.
 A Magnificent Spectacle.
 The tribunes were soon crowded to over flowing, and all the best standing places were taken. A period of comparative calm succeeded this great rush and the atten- ton of the people was attracted to the gilded throne near the altar and the inn
 
 red silken draperies. Some of the tribunes on each of the altars were filled with men and women blazing with decorations. In a group of royal personages were the Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Norway, the Countess Mathilde of Trani of the Bourbons-Naples family, the Grand Duchess of Mecklinburg, the Prince Liechtenstein and Prince Maximil- ian of Saxony.
 In a special tribune was the Pope's family. the diplomatic corps and the members of the Order of Malta all in full uniform. Special interest was shown in the innovation introduced in the uni forms of the different attachments of the papal guards The SWISS g Iard wore red velvet knes breechss, red silk stockings, black shoes with rossttes, burn-shed steel cuirasses inlaid in gold, and in addition to red. white linen collars, starched stiff, falling over their shoulders The silver mounted arms of the Swiss guards were also inlaid with gold and they wore steel helmets with ostrich plumes similar to the helmets of the sixteenth century
 The noble guards wore their new uni forms of bright red. After an hour of very fauguIng waiting a majestic pro- cession began to appear. It was composed of the great dignitares of the church. the forty-five cardinals present, gorgeous in their red robes, alone making a most imposing characteristic and picturesque group.
 Arrival of the Pope.
 At II o'clock precisely the great bell of St. Peters rang out a signal, which was followed by the changing of the bells of about 800 churches in Rome, as they sounded the announcement that the Pom tiff was on his way to the basilica. The life of the ancient city seemed to pause for moment, hats were raised and the sign of the cross was made. Shortly after ward. inside St. Peters, silver trumpets blared out their tones and the Pontiff ap- peared. The people held their breath for moment and then all the pent-up enthu- siasm burst forth In a tremendous roar of welcome.
 From his elevation on the new sedia gestatoria carried by twelve men in cos- tunes of red brocade fianked by the fa- nous Flabelli Spreading feather fans) and surmounted by white and gold can opy. the Pope appeared to be more than q human being. He seemed to be a white spirit this impression being added to bv the Pontiff's white robes and white rnltre delicate features. face as white as ala baster and his thin hand moving slowly in benediction.
 As the sweet-toned well-trained voices of the Sistne choir sang Tues Petrus." thousands of voices shouted Long live Pope Leo" Handkerchiefs fluttered in the air, the banners of the various so- cieties were waved and many of those present. overcome with emotion, sobbed loudly, while others tainted from excess Of feeling or fatigue.
 Meanwhile the Pope proceeded slowly on what seemed carpet of heads. ab- sorbing the entire attention of the vast throng.
 When the Pope arrived at the throne the ceremony proceeded rapidly. Leaving the sedia gestatorius. the Pontiff knelt and prayed and then rose without as sistance donned the falda and the new triple crown and the celebration of the mass began.
 At the moment of the elevation of the Host. a profound silence fell on the as- semblage, the guards presented arms. the ranVla lrpaIf Whara ~ossibIa R0r