The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1903-07-23

teal tribunals, to pay tie cardinals sal
aries and those CT the dignitaries and other
employees of the pontifical guard, and to
keep in order the sacred churches, like St
Peters and St. Mary Majors, and to pre-
serve intact and even improve the libraries
and museums of the Vatican.
1t is easily understood from this why Leo
was personally so economical. Although
the gross sum of Peters pence is large, it is
only by the most systematic expenditure
thereof hat it is made to meet current ex-
penses- Long before his death Leo noti-
fed his relatives that nothing should go to
them out of the innumerable and precious
gifts sent to him from every part of the
world On the occasion of his jubilee of 1883.
The only advantage he conferred upon any
of his relatives so far as reported was the
title of count upon his nephews, which
helped them somewhat IN contracting adj
vantageous marriages.
OF the total amount of Peters pence.
two thirds have come from France of late
years. Italy has not produced more than
5000 lire (s3,000) The offering is free and
anonymous everywhere Collections only
take place twice every year in the churches
On some occasions a supplement of revenue
comes to the pope-as, for instance, on one
lst of January, when he officiated at what
wascalled his Golden Mass" he received
more than 100000 in fees.
Leo as n Writer.
Pope Leo XIII wrote a great deal dur
ing his life, mostly Italian and Latin verse
When he desired to write, he used to lock
himself up in his room and allow no one to
disturb him His abstraction was so great
that he used to wipe his pen upon the sleeve
of his white soutane, and his faithful body
servant, Centra lived in morbid terror lest
his master should be seen in this spotted
state, and on days of audience personally
examined him, ready to invest him, if nee
essary, in a clean robe.
Much of his verse was of course religious
in it's character, though not all. In rhythm
it is Virgilian, being sauve, elegant and OF
easy, smooth phrasing. His epigrammatic
poems" writes one familiar with the pom
tiff's writings, "are light, lively and strike
where they ought, but they have not poi
soned barbs.
lone of the verses has this subject: A
youth asked one day for an audience and
avowed that his life had been too free for
virtue The holy father advised him to re-
Tire 10 u COHttDb iOE sOilic blfuc tlllQ W DdI
ish from his mind every thought that could
defile it.
'This is a prose rendering of what he
wrote: 'Florus, my child. furious fever
burns you; foul plague softens your body
and your SOUL You have been drinking.
and without shame, of an internal and poi
sonous cup IL is the cup Of Circe. 1t
evokes in your mind images OF animal
bestiality II you care to be saved, fly from
the SIRENS song and from the inhospitable
shore Take good courage and fight temp
tation while fleeing from it. If you do, God
will fight for you and look on you with a
favorable eye. Already the hideous serpent,
full of rage at the prospect of defeat. plunges
into the black waters of the Styx. Florus,
my son. be saved"
Stories of Leo XIII.
Joachim Pecci was of most impressive
presence, even when a young man, and in
his old age, when pope. be seems to have
been positively awe inspiring. Most read
ers will remember the reports of the meet
ing of the pontiff and the young emperor
of Germany few years ago. The Teutonic
monarch, who had never before been
abashed. so far as the records go. was as
timid as a schoolboy before the serene,
white haired old man, who. though his rule
was entirely spiritual, was the acknowl
edged head of the greatest division of the
Christian church. His personal appear
ance is thus described by one to whom an
audience was accorded in 1892
HE was tall and slender to attenuation
His visage was an almost feshless mask,
his complexion of waxy pallor, but his
eyes were clear and luminous He would
be ascetic of look under one aspect and
penetratingly keen under another, but the
general one was of sweetness and kindl
ness Judging from his face and general
appearance, the first impression given By
him was that of man largely endowed
with common sense. The full, broad brow
likewise indicated brilliant intellect, and
the passing smile which occasionally fitted
across q countenance worn as if with much
care spoke rather of melancholy than of
mirth-"
At an audience described by an American
who was present all fell upon their knees
when the pope came in, but at a sign from
one of the monsignores, who acted as cham
berlain, all resumed their places. With me
chanical air the pontiff, after bowling, began
talking with the man who sat nearest the
door Individual intuitions were followed
as to etiquette by all present When the
pope gave his hand, some raised Is to the
forehead and others to the lips others. fall
ing on their knees. kissed the cross on the
pontiff's foot One man shook the pope's
hand heartily.
There was no talking except between the
pope and these to whom he found time to
give attention. No one was passed entirely
unnoficed and In one case In which a Door