Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29
Count Pecci's Responsibility.

late pope, which traces his genealogy back
to the year 12SS.
Count Pecci's Responsibility.
For 450 years they have occupied this
CASTLE have owned the land for many miles
around, and have been lords over five or
six thousand people. most of whom have
been employed upon their farms. Although
the feudal relations that once existed be-
tween the land owners and the peasants OF
Italy were dissolved long ago, and the num-
blest laborer now has theoretically as mucn
to say concerning the government as Prinee
Doria, with his vast estates. they still re-
tain a feeling Of dependence winch mas
been inherited from their ancestors. and
Count Pecci, like many other Italian land
lords, occupies patriarehal responsibility
The people come TO him. as their iote
fathers came to his ancestors, In their SVr
rows and their joys. He Is their banker,
their adviser in all matters and their friend.
This is perfectly natural, because the men
who work his lands today can trace thelr
lineage back as far as he. and their ances-
tors served his ancestors in the same way
that they serve him. i3'i2
Count Pecci tells me that more than q
| thousand of his neighbOrs and tenants nave
gone to the United States during the last
| two years, and the most OF them are #orK-
ing as laborers. on the Pennsylyania rali-
| road for wages OF a dollar iano nan VI e. q
day, while at home they could never earn
more than 80 cents, and the most OF theHl
less than 90. Few took their famhes 10
America; several have sent for their IaHi-
lies since they left; some nave come pdch
a ter them; Others send their savings 10
| Count Pecci to keep for them, and expect
| to return to their homes in few years.
The streets of Carpineto are SO naiI ..'s
that we had to leave the carriage at tEs
edge of the town. and they are so crookeo
as to suggest that the houses must nave
been originally built on either sac oI q
| poat trail Before reaching the castle we
nassed under an arch Of stone, upon wmch
| several centuries ago some misdWhrope an
| scribed this cynical sentiment:
For the good / do am
Dfsliked He who does good 10
Strangers loses his time;
No matter how little 1t is.
The Ancient Castle.
Count Pecci and the countess are iios'
hospitable and agreeable hosts. and they
entertained us in a charming manner. Inc
castle Is vast building, with enormous
rooms. decorated and furnished in the style
| of a century ago. with fine old carved OAK
and gliding that will never lose It's luster.
| The reception room, the drawing room the
| library and other apartments are All iats e
| enough to entertain a regiment, ana every
| thing about the place is OF princely proper
| tons The chapel in which Leo XIII was
| baptized, and where ne oIten Gsieor ,,Is1
mass. Is kept just 1t was IN his child
| hood and here, as in other homes OF the
| ancient Italian aristocracy, there has been
! little change for centuries. and few MODERN
ideas have been introduced.
| Upon the walls many valuable pic
| lures by artists Of three and four centuries
| ago. in addition to the collection OF ances-
trail portraits to which I have already al
luded As Leo XIII Is the most distin-
| guished member Of the family 1t Is natural
| that his likeness should appear frequently
and there are portraits Of him painted when
| he was young man. when ne was DISH
| OBJ, a cardinal, and several while he was
| pope. Among other modern pictures Is one
| that has been made familiar to the world
| by frequent reproductions In books, news
| papers. photographs and engravings. 1t
| represents Leo XIII being borne upon the
| pontiflcal chair at the head of an Easter
| procession in st. Peters, one of those
| pageants he loved so we'll
The bed room that he occupied during his
| frequent visits to his home before his eleva-
| ton to the papal throne Is beautifully fur
| nished with suite Of ebony furniture In
laid with mother of-pearl: but more precious
\ and more interesting than anything else 1t
econtains is little sheet of note paper,
framed and hung upon the wall, bearing
| these lines: 80
FROM THE VATICAN. February Is.
1s7s.-My Very Dear Rrothers: / have to
| inform you that in the ballot this morning
the sacred college elevated my humble self
| to the chair Of st. Peter. This is my first
| which address tony family. upon whom /
| implore all happiness and send with affecs
| ton the apostolic benediction. Pray God
| much for me. &c LEO P. p. XIII"
A Museum Of Presents.
In series of large rooms on the upper
floor of the castle is a curious museum made
up of presents which ths'late pope received
from various parts of the world during his
long reign. Many of them were birthday
gifts. others came upon the anniversaries of
the church. and the greater number upon
the occasion of his jubilee. They are an
| amusing illustration of the queer ideas some
| people have of what wonld be acceptable on
| such occasions to men of his station. There
| are almost innumerable souvenirs received
| by him from time to time of banquets, fes-
| rivals. bazaars and othr functions, when
| some devoted ohurehman or enthusiastic
| admirer suggested that a memento be sent
| to the pope. There 10 also multitude of
gifts of every conceivable kind sent to him
4 by men, women and children, by monks and
| nuns. by missionaries In the savage wiids
| and by manufacturers In the great cities, by
| artists. inventors and other people who
| wished to show their affection for the holy
father by giving him some remembrance.
| He used to receive bushels Of these things
at Christmas. on his birthdays, and on the
anniversary OF his coronation every Year.