The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-24
THOUSANDS PASS
BEFORE THE DEAD
Decomposition Setting in.
Burial May Occur Today.
The HOLY FATHERS WILL
All the Properly Of Which He Died Possessed
is Left 10 His Successor for
the Use If The
Chu.ch.

lBy IDe ASSOCldJeu GEeSS.
Rome, July 23-From sunrise until sun
set today thousands passed before the
body of Leo XIII lying in state in the
Basilica of ST. Peters. 1t was originally
intended that this opportunity publicly to-
view the remains should extend through
three days, but tonight the Associated
Press correspondent learns that the time
| is likely to be curtaied and that the fun
eral may occur Friday instead of Saturday
night, owing to the evidences that deconl-
position is setting in. This is due to to-
days severe heat. from which no en-
balming, however perfect, could complete
! ly protect the body.
The will of the dead Pope was opened
at today's meeting of the congregation OF
Cardinals 1t consists of thrty-six pages,
| in the handwriting of Leo XIII and leaves
all the property of which he died possessed
to his successor, for the Use of the church
To each member of his family he leaves
present to be chosen from the valuable
objects in his apartment. Similar pres
ents are bequeathed to his physician. The
total amount property which he left IS
not yet known.
The prevailing impression of those who
today passed before the iron gates of the
chapel. who come to view the remains,
was one of intense pity, combined with a
certain sense of horror The body was
tilted up on the catafalque in order that
all might see the terribly shrunken face
An ordinary skull in frame of gold, lying
| in the fidst of a mass of red robes, could
scarcely have been more typical of death
Except at suarise, when the crush
threatened panis, .shAthose wllo. wished It
had an opportunity of entering st. Peters.
An important political factor was intro
dueed into the ceremony by the entrance
into ST. Peters OF Italian soldiers, who re-
NAMED there throughout the day to pre-
serve order Their presence there in such
a capacity, unprecedented in the history Of
modern Italy is important as an indica-
ton of better citations between the gov
ernment and the Vatican, as it was by the
consent, il not by the desire of the Vatican
authorities, that they today employed the
troops of the Quirinal in Papal territory.
Another feature which is causing com
ment along the same line 81 sthe fact that
Cardinal Orcglia, in receiving a group OF
the city fathers of Rome, who represent
the clerical party, charged them to thank
also their liberal colleagues for the man
ifestations of sympathy which they show
ed during the illness of the Pope. The
Cardinal, continuing his conversation, in
divated special satisfaction over similar
manifestations coming from constituted
bodies of the Kingdom of Italy, such as
communal councils and provincial deputa-
tions, including that of Rome, which is
presided over by Prince Felice Borghese.
1T is unexpected tribute" exclaimed
the Cardinal, (which no one would have
imagined twenty-five years ago."
The most important matter before the
meeting of the congregation of cardinals,
was proposition presented by Cardinal
Oreglia to send a note to the diplomatic
body accredited to the Holy See for the
! purpose of representing to the powers the
condition of the Papacy since the loss of
its temporal power and the transfer of the
capital of the italian government to Rome
From what leaks out it appears that the
proposition provoked considerable discus
sion and that Cardinals Steinhuber, Math-
leu and WIVES v Tuto, favored the de- |
spatch Of a most energetic nate concern
ing the question of reclaiming the Papal
rights
Cardinals Agliardi, and Serafino vannu-
telli on the contrary advocated milder
wording Of this document, which, they
contended should maintain the historical
pretensions OF the Holy See. but in tenn
perate language The majority of the con-
gregation decided to pursue middle !
course. and en- rusted Cardinal Merry Del
Val with the duty OF drawing up the doc
ument for submission to another meeting
4
of the congregation.
After the will of Leo XIII had been op-
ened. it was the intention OF the Cardinals |
To maintain the strictest secrecy concern
ing It scontents. The earlier portions of
the testament include the recommendation
which the testator addressed to his execu-
tors. Cardinals Rampolla, Mocenni and Gre
toni on the best way to continue the re-
hgious impulse given to the church as well
as the policy followed by the Holy See
during the latter years
The document then enumerates all the
propertv which Leo possessed and pro-
vdies that it shall all go to his successor
for the benefit of the church, including
evan tba presents which might perhaps be
oone;darad personal rather than gifts to
tho pontiff as such. The money which the
po,o lofA i in a closed safe in his bed
room the KEYS having been given to diff
foront nersons mentioned in the will
Al the land purchased and buildings
orao+oa Cor institutions personally founded
bv leo are put in the name OF the Holy
c. - auo;d nossible claims from relatives,
os +ha pone nossibly remembered that
SOME time ago the death of Plus TX. the
lat4o..a na,ba,Ys instituted a suit against