The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-07-31
LAST TRIBUTES OF LOVE.
Thousands Visit the Basilica Of St.
Peters, at Rome, to View the
Remains Of Leo.
ROYAL TROOPS GUARD SACRED tDIflce.
Tttcs We're Even stationed within
tue Dn-iIira hen the crush br-
came roo Great FOR the Pnpni
Guards to Hnndi--tn Event OF
Peculiar Significance.


-
Home, July -. From sunrise until
sunset to-day thousands passed he.
fore the body of Leo MIL lying in
state in the b%nsilica Of 81. Peters. IL
wus originally intended that this OPP
%poriunity publicly to view the remains
should extend through three days, but
20 night II Is learned that the time
~ likely to be ourtailcd, and that the
funeral may occur Friday instead Of
Saturday night owing to the evidences
that decomposition Is setting In. This
Il due to io.day's severe heat from
which no cmbolming, however per-
feet. could completely protect the
body.
The prevailing impression Of those
who passed before the Iron gates OF
the chapel Of the Sacrament 10 view
the remains was one Of intense pity.
combined with n certain sense OF
horror. The body was tilted up on
che catafaiquc In order that all might
see the tcrribly-shrunkcn face. An
ordinary skull In n frame Of gold ly-
Ing In the midst " a mass Of red
robes could scarcely have been more
typical Of death.
Panic Threatened.
Except at sunrise, when the crush
threatened a panic, all those who
wished II had m opportunity Of en-
tcring 81. Peters. During the day
many Of those who passed In stopped
before the catafalque 20 say a hurried
prayer.
An important political factor was
introduced into the ceremony by tho
entrance into 81. Peters 81 Italian sol
dicrs, who remained there throughout
the day 20 preserve order. Their pres.
encc there IN such n capacity. I'm
~prcccdcntcd In the history OF modern
Itaiy. IL important ~ an Indication Of
better relations between the govern.
mcnt aud the vatican, ms II was by tho
consent. II not by the desire ~ the
vatican authorities that they cm-
ploycd the troops % the q%uiripni In
papal territory.
Another feature which IN causing
comment along the same lines l. tho
fact that Cardinal Orclcgia in %rccciy.
Ing n group Of the city fathers %
Rome. who represent the clerical
party, charged them 10 thank
also their liberal colleagues for
the manifestations Of sympathy
which they showed during the
illness 81 the pope, The cardl'
nni. continuing his conversation, In.
Dictated special satisfaction over sim
liar manifestations coming from sew.
erni constituted bodies ~ the king.
dom ~ Italy. such MS communal coun
cils and provincial dcputntlons. In
cluding that ~ Rome, which Il pre-
aided over by Prince Fnlicc Borghcsc
"it IN an expected tribute" cN
claimed the cardinal, (which no on,
would have imagined % years ago"
After the will of Leo NH. had beer
opened, II was the intention Of III,
cardinals 10 maintain the strictcst So
crccy concerning It's contents, hut Il
Il learned that II comprises 20 Sheet
IN the handwriting OF the lato pope
except some additions evidently mad
~ his later years when the pop'
found considerable difficulty In writ
tng, owing to the trembling of hi
hand. which was so pronounced be
fore his death that he was obligc'
Co hold his right hand with his lef
when he made his signature. Th'
earlier portions Of the testament In
cludc the recommendation which tn
testntor addressed 10 his executor,
Cardinals Rampolla, Moccnni aud Gre
toni, on the best way to continue III
relioioua imnuiss oiyen IN tha churcl