Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-03
FOR THE POPE
Vast Throng Greets Him in
st. Peters.
NOTABLE ANNIVERSARY
VENERABLE PoNTIFF DEEPLY
TOUCHED BY GREETING.
Brilliant Scene Inside the Historic
Edifce-Tremendous Crush to
Gain Admittance.

ROME, March 3.-From sunrise today all
Rome was on the alert and showing most
unusual animation and interest in the .cele-
bration of the twenty-fifth anniversary OF
the coronation of Pope Leo XIII. This
movement was especially noticeable at the
large hotels, which were illuminated as
though for ball. An idea Of the number
of people congregating at the Vatican could
be formed by the fact that 1t was utterly
impossible to get carriage If the VENICE
had not been ordered yesterday, especially
as it was raining, and by the prices charged
for those secured In advance.
The scene in the piazzi Of st. Peters was
magnificent There were assembled many
hundreds of italian troops in various mod
ern uniforms, making a striking contrast
with the medieval costumes Of the Swiss
papal guard on duty at the bronze doors Of
the cathedral.
The crowds which gathered before the
first Gordon OF troops were impatient as
they stood dripping under the persistent
rain. There was a great ctashfng of UNI
brellas and a general feeling of discomfort
among the awaiting sightseers, who 1nclud-
ed very many women in most varied at
tire, comprising foreigners Of all nation
alities, and Italians from all parts OF the
country. the uniformity OF the crowd beng
pleasantly broken by groups of sisters In
the QlHerent gowns OI lHelF oTueTS SdlHoiiS
students and picturesquely- friars.
Struggle to Enter St. Peters.
When, finally, the doors of st. Peters
were opened an almost indescribable strug-
gle occurred, In which all present forgot
the rules of politeness, and stroye hard with
push of elbows and feet to reach the in
terror Of the sacred edifice, while on all
sides were heard cries of fear and impreca-
y,
a notable religious ceremony was about to
begin.
Once inside the cathedral the ladies who
wore lace gowns found them to be in q
much mutilated condition. and some OF the
women were carried away in fainting
condition. The tribunes were soon crowded
to overlooking. and all the best standing
places were taken.
Richly Attired Guards.
Special interest was shown in the in
novation introduced in the uniforms Of the
different detachments of the papal guards.
The Swiss guard wore red velvet knee
breeches. red silk stockings, black shoes
with red rosettes. FURNISHED steel cuirasses
inlaid with gold and steel collars, in adj
dition to large white linen collars, starched
stiff. falling over their shoulders, The sill
ver-mounted arms Of the Swiss guard were
also inlaid with gold and they wore steel
helmets with red ostrich pIumes, similar
to the helmets of the sixteenth century.
At II o'clock precisely the great bell of
st. Peters rang out signal, which was
followed by the changing of the bells of
about five hundred churches in Rome as
they sounded the announcement that the
pontiff was on his way to the basilica.
The life of the ancient city seemed to pause
for moment. hats were raised and the
sign of the cross was made. Shortly after
ward. inside St. Peters, silver trumpels
blared out their message and the pon;if
appeared. The people held their breath
for a moment. and then all the pent-up
enthusiasm burst forth in a tremendous
roar of welcome. +,
Appearance of the Pope. =
From his elevation on the new Sedia Ges-
tatora, carried by twelve men in costumes
of red brocade, fanked by the famous
fabelli spreading feather FANS, and sur
mounted by white and gold canopy, the
pope appeared to be more than a human
being. He seemed to be white spirit this
impression being added to by the pontiff.s
white robes and white mitre. delicate fea-
lures, face white as alabaster and his thin
hand moving slowly in benediction
AS the sweet-toned, weil-trained voices of
the SistiEe choir sang Tues Petrus," thou
sands of voices shouted Long live Pope
Leo handkerchiefs fluttered in the air
the banners of the various societies repre-
sented were waved and many of those pres
ent overcome with emotion sobbed loudly.
while others tainted from excess of feeling
or fatigue.
Meanwhile the pope proceeded slowly on
what seemed carpet Of heads, absorbing
the entire attention of the vast throng.
When the pope arrived at the throne the
ceremony proceeded rapidly. Leaving the
Sedia Gestatoria the pontiff knelt and
prayed. and then rose without assistance.
donned the falda and the new Triple crown
and the celebration Of the mass began,
Papal Benediction Given.
The pope then administered the papal
benediction and retired to room for re-
storatives. prepared on purpose every time
he goes to st. Peters. There. addressing
DR.. Lapponi. his private physician, the
pontif said: ''You see, that after all your
warnings the ceremony did me good. What
touching loyalty
1t was calculated that there were about
1000 people present There were about
1000 Americans in the tribunes and the
body of the church.
CARNEGIE's GIFT TO PRINCETON