The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-11
POPE LEO'S AMAZING ENERGY.
Continues to Toll Earnestly and I'm
tirinsIy, Though Over Ninety-Two.


ST. Louis Republic.
Most men, upon starting out in life, look
forward to period of rest and peace when
age shall have overtaken them. For most
men, too, the time comes when they can
no longer toll, whether they will or no. and
the allotted span of three-score and ten
years, which not many in these rapid times
attain, finds them exhausted physically and
mentally, and no longer capable of effort.
The most notable exception to all these
conditions within recent history is Pope
Leo XIII. Over ninety-two years Of age.
he still tolls. and, SO far known, is the
hardest worker in the world. For him
there is no rest In the twilight of life;
standing on the pinnacle of human great
ness, he must throw off the burden OF years
daily and do that work for which he alone
is qualified. His daily routine requires such
mental efforts as few men are called upon
to exert. Young, robust, vigorous men
could not continue such toll many years
without succumbing, yet the venerable head
of the Roman Catholic Church has for more
than twenty-five years labored zealously,
earnestly and untiringly without seeming
fatigue, and to-day he performs almost the
same tasks with the same energy as he did
quarter of a century ago.
The reign of Leo XIII is one of the long
est of the 266 papal reigns. Only three
Popes have so far exceeded Leo XIII In
length of service. They were: st. Peter,
who reigned twenty-four years, five months
and ten days; Plus XI Q775), twenty-four
years. six months and fourteen days; Plus
TX QS46), thirty-one years. seven months
and twenty-five days. With the death OF
Cardinal Galeati, on Jan. rs, Pope Leo XIII
has buried 135 cardinals since he began TO
reign.
The personality of the venerable Pontin
excites the most profound and constantly
lied world For more than quarter or
century a supreme figure In the religious
world, whose elevation of life and whose
wonderful wisdom and interest In the well
fare of all men make him an object or
admiration and sympathy even among those
who are his professed followers, his say
ings and doings are of tremendous infu-
ence throughout Chrstendom.
OF all that has been written concerning
his Holiness, the best description Is pos
sibly that from the pen of +. Marion Craw-
ford, who says:
Born and bred in the keen air of the
Volscian hills, he Is a southern Italian, but
Of the mountains, and there Is still about
him something of the hill people. He has
the long, straight, broad-shouldered frame
of the true mountaineer, the marvelously
bright eye, the eagle features, the well-knit
growth of strength, traceable even in ex-
IRENE old age; and in character there Is In
him the well-balanced combination OF
steady caution with an unerring, unhesitat-
moments when history will not wait for
little mems long phrases, when the penuu-
lum world is swinging its full strike, ana
when it is either glory or death TO lay
strong hands upon its weight But when
it stops for time and hangs motionless,
the little men gather about II and touch IL
boldly and make theories about It's next
unrest.
"In the matter of physique. there Is, in
deed, a resemblance between Leo XIII,
President Lincoln and Mr.. Gladstone-long,
sinewy men, all three, of a bony constitu-
ton and indomitable vitality, with large
skulls. high cheek bones and energetic jaws
all three men of great physical strength.
of profound capacity for study. OF melan-
cholic disposition and of unusual eloquence-
Born during the height of the conflict be-
tween belief and unbelief. Leo XIII, by
significant fatality, was raised TO the pom
tificate when the Kultur Kampf was rag
ing and the attention Of the world was
riye.ed on the deadly struggle between the
Roman Catholic Church and Prince Bis
marck-a struggle in which the great chan
cenor found his equal, IL not his master.
"Of the Pope's craftsmanship and Latin
lity the world knows much, and is sure to
| hear more, while he lives, most, perhaps,
hereafter. when another and a smaller man
shall sit in the great Pope's chair. For he
is a great Pope. There has not been his
equal. intellectually. for long time, nor
| shall We presently see his match again.
| The era of Municipalities is not gone by as
some pretend. Men OF middle age have seen
/ Cavour, Louis Napoleon, Garibaldi Dis
raeli Bismarck, Leo Kill With the pos
| oned, as some say. before he had lived out
| his life, few will deny that of all these the
present Pope possesses. in many respects.
the most evenly balanced and stuboorniy
sane disposition. That fact alone speaks
/ highly for the judgment OF the men who
elected him. in Italys half-crazed days. Inn
mediately after the death OF Victor En-
manuel.
AT all events, there he stands, at the
head OF the Holy Roman Catholic and
Apostolic Church. as wise a leader as any
| who In our day has welded power; as
/ hold the pen: and better than all that. as
| straightiy simple and honest Christian
| man as ever fought great battle for his
| faiths sake.
Observation-Disclosures honest and simple, he
| Is yet keen. sensitive and nobly cautious;
| for there is nobility in him who risks a
/ cause for the vanity OF his own courage.
| and who. In blind hatred OF his enemies.
squanders the devotion OF those who love
| him. In z sense. to-day, the greater the
man the greater the peacemaker. and Leo