The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-22
WHERE LATE POPE
FIRST SAN The LIGHT
Home of the Peeeis, SO Elo-
quent of Memories of
Leo Kill.

70
changes effected IN the little city of
carpineto, where Leo was born, since
the election of the pontiff md the be-
ginning of, his acts of beneyolence to
the place is the removal of the old city
gate, blaekened and stately and war
like, and its substitution by pebbly
ascent, steep and winding. that leads
directly into the public square.
On the way you pass the Church of
St. Augustine, which Leo XIII. has re-
newed from it's former dilapidated
state-it dates from the twelfth cen
tury-and built a beautiful convent be-
side it. which he has transferred to the
Augustinians. Over on the other side
of the valley is the Franciscan monas-
terry, which, when I knew it first at the
time Leo XIII. was elected, was aban-
doned, being only inhabitated by two or
three friars.
The monastery is now a hospital.
supplied with the best and latest re-
the work of Leo XIII. So is the new
road from Monteianico to Carpineto;
the fountains in the town are supplied
by Water brought from the mountains
at the expense of the pcp.iff.
The streets of the tewn are narrow
and gloomy, the stairs in the houses
are steep, for space is limited here;
the houses. to the eye OF strangers,
do not seem comfortable The people,
strong and hardy as mountaineers
generally are, are not notable for
beauty: the sternness and severity of
their features being quite noticeable.
The chief attraction for strangers,
and that which induces them to fore
go fatigue and danger, is the house of
the Peccis-the PalaZzo Pecci-in
which Leo XIII. was born. on March 2,
1910. There it stands in the principal
street, in the highest part of the city,
with its semi-tropical arched door
leading up to street behind as we'll
as to the palace, and having over it
the we'll known shield of the pontiff.
1t was this and it's contents we had
come to see.
The house is fitted up with consider
able elegance and some comfort. The
grand hall presents fine appearance.
The great picture painted by Count de
Courten. representing Pope Leo XIII.
returning in state. wearing the tiara
and seated upon the sedfa gestatoria.
from the Sistine chapel, fills up large
part of one Of the longer walls. 1t is
valuable picture. as it contains ex-
cellent portraits of cardinals and other
distinguished personages who are since
dead Here, in the extreme right cor
ner of the picture is the late Cardinal
I1O8dId, d TAN, SpltHuld uSuTe, WHO
was master of many languages: here
also is Cardinal Sacconi. and host of
ecclesiastics and diplomats.
The walls are hung with crimson
damask; and above the magnificent
Oriental vase in metal, all chased with
strange designs. which stands to the
right of De Courten's great work. is
the excellent portrait of Cardinal Jo-
seph Pecci, brother of the pontiff. Be-
ON he loft ic n1Q
did portrait of Leo Kill, painted In
pearly white color. that is absolutely
poetic. as well as beautiful. The CELL
ing is the old fashioned style. the great
beams Of wood crossed by smaller
beams, all painted and picked with
bright colors. and the rosettes in the
Golfers
The library Is another large, though
poorly lighted room. A good bust Of
the pope stands at one end of it. and
large table on which are few books
and periodicals occupies the center. On
this same table are six bundles of
papers, still in their original wrappers.
unopened. They are quite large, and
contain the thousands of kilograms
that have been sent to Leo XIII. from
all lands under heaven in the years
1902 and 1903, on the occasion of the
jubilee. which ended in March last.
What a tale they would tell of world
wide respect and admiration for the
man who was born here ninety-three
years ago. ess.F...
At the side of the window the book
cases contain a variety of intereS ting
works. Here are some English books,
and here, to the delight of the student
of Roman antiquaries, are the great
tones of De Rossi's Roma Sotteranea,
and the latest volume of that same au-
thors inscriptions Christianae Urbis
Romae." On the left of the room are
large volumes in a formidable row, the
Bollaudists' Lives of the Saints" rich
ly bound. On the tables are piles of
addresses illuminted in colors or print
ed on silk, and bound in silk and gold
with much richness, which have been
sent to the pope.
In another large hall are the family
portraits. Here are likenesses of the
grandfather and the grandmother of
Leo XIII. The former is rather an ele-
giant figure in a coat cordered with gold
lace, holding book in his right hand,
and wearing a white wig, somewhat
like that of an English judge, but
much shorter and with four stages of
curls. The grandmother, here repre-
sented in the early years of her mar
ried life, is rather dainty and prim in
appearance. She is standing at little
table, on which rests mirror, and is
affixinga jewel to her dress. The head,
turned to one side, shows a jeweled
aigrette fastened in the hair.
Over the doors of this hall are por-
traits Of the father of''tl1e pope, Col.
Count Ludovico Pecci, and of the moth
er, Countess Anna Prospect Buzz. The
father, in his uniform OF dark blue vel
vet, with deep rich gold lace, and his
fine epaulettes, lace cravat and cuffs
and white wig, looks quite gentle
man Of the olden times. 1t was said he
was IAN honorary colonel of the grand
army" of Napoleon l., but that is quite
a mistake. Two documents" if they
may both be called so. testify to the
contrary; the uniform worn by Count
Ludovieo, which is still preserved,
shows the papal arms and raised keys
in relief on the buttons, devices I'M
known to the Napoleonic army, and a
diplomat, dated 1892, which places
Ludovico Pecci at the head Of the
baronial troops raised for the defense
Of the papal states by Prince Aldo
brandini- Borghese, feudal lord of Car
pinetQ and the surrounding districts
under the pontifical government
The mother Of Leo XIII. came from
the little hill city of Corr, in the Vols
clan hills, high above the Pontine
marshes. She was a genuine specimen
of the Roman and Christian matron-a
strong woman in the truest and best
sense of the term. Gentle and loving,
and at the same time firm, she knew
the art of inspiring in her children the |
virtues she practiced herself. Her por-
trait, in spite of the ANTICIPATED style |
in which she is represented with her |
powdered hair pulled out on each side, |
shows her to be a gentle woman Vim |