Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1903-03-04
MOST IMPOSING
CEREMONIES
Mark Twenty Fifth Anniver-
sary of Pope's Reign.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES HELD.
Many Nations Represented by Royalty
and Other Prominent Personages.
Pope Highly Pleased With Loyalty
ShnNUn
Shown.

Pope Highly Pleased With Loyalty
Shown.
Rome, March 3.-From sunrise this
morning all Rome was alert and show
Ing most unusual animation and inter
est in the celebration of the twenty
fifth anniversary of the coronation of
Pope Leo XIII. This movement was
especially noticeable at the large ho-
tells which was preparing for large
crowds. A large number of people
congregating at the vatican, an idea
of which can be formed by the fact
that it was utterly impossible to get
carriage if the vehicle had not been
ordered yesterday, especially as it was
raining, and by the prices charged for
those secured in advance, that the
scene on the piazza of St. Peters was
magnificent. There was assembled
many hundreds of italian troops in
various modern uniforms, making
striking contrast with the medieval
costumes of the Swiss papal guard of
duty at the bronze doors of the ca
thedral
When, finally the doors of st. Pc
ters were opened, an almost indescri-
bab1e struggle occurred, in which all
present forgot the rules of the holi-
ness, strove hard with pushes of Ell.
bows and feet to reach the interior of
the sacred edif1ce, while on all sides
were heard cries of fear and impreca-
tions not very well suited to the spot
where a notable religious ceremony
was about to begin. Some women
were carried away in fainting condi.
ton.
The tribunes were soon crowded to
overfowing, and all the best standing
places were taken. A period of COM
parative calm succeeded this great
rush, and the attention of the people
was attracted to the gilded throne.
The altar and immense pillars of
the basilic hung with red silken dra-
peries. Some of the tribunes on each
of the affairs were filled with men
and women blazing with decorations
In group of royal personages we're
the Grown Princess Victoria Of Swe-
den and Norway; the Countess Mathil-
dc of Trani of the Bourbon Naples
family; the grand duchess of SAKE
Weimar Duke Robert, of Parma, the
grand duchess of Mecklenburg, the
prince of Liechtenstein and Prince
Maximilian of Saxony.
In special tribune was the pope's
family, the diplomatic corps and the
members of the order of Malta, all in
full uniform. Special interest was
shown in the innovation introduced
in the uniforms of the different de-
tachments Of the pala guards.
At II O'Clock precisely, the great
bell of ST. Peters rang out a signal
which was followed by changing of
bells of about 500 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 a moment, hats were
raised and the sign of the cross was
made. Shortly afterwards, inside
ST. Peters, silver trumpets bIared out
their message and the pontiff appear.
ed The people held their breath fer
a moment and then all the pent-up en-.
thusiasm burst forth in tremendous
roar of welcome.
From his elevation on the new Sc.
dia Gestatoria carried by Il men in
costumes of red brocade, fianked by
the famous fabelli (spreading faith.
or fans) and surrounded by a white
and gold canopy, the pope appeared
to be more than a human being. He
seemed to be a white spirit, this i'm
preston being added to by the pom.
tiff's white robes and his face was
white as alabaster and his thin hand
moving slowly in benediction.
AS the sweet-toned, well-trained
voices of the Sistine choir sang Tus
Petrus, thousands of voices shouted
Long live Pope Leo!" Handker
chiefs fluttered in the air, banners OF
the various societies were waved, and
many of those present, overcome with
emotion, sobbed loudly, while others
tainted from excess of feeling or ia,
tigue
Meanwhile the pope proceeded slow
ly on what seemed a carpet of heads
absorbing the entire attention OF the
vast throng.
When the pope arrived at the throne
the ceremony proceeded rapidly. Leav.
ing the sedia gestatoria the pontif
knelt and prayed and then arose with
out assistance, donned the falIa and
the new triple crown and the celebra
tion of the mass began.
The pope then administered the pap
al benediction and retired to a room
for restoratives, prepared on purpose
every time he goes to st. Peters.
There, addressing DR.. Lepponi, his pri.
vate physician, the pontiff said:
You see that after all your warn.
ings the ceremony did me good. What
touching loyalty"
1t was calculated that there were
10000 persons present, including about
1000 Americans.