The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-04
CURRENT TOPICSINPARIS The Protector of the Congo Free SaeAs He Appears
 SE the French Capital-Pope Plus Family Sienced "a
BY PIERRE RosIER.

1 court and lead to further diminution of the Peters pence income.
 The first year of Leo,s pontifcate the P. P offerings came to 15,OOO000 lire, the second year to 17000 GOO lire. After he de- elared himself indifferent to political forms of government it fell to 7,5oo,OO0 lire, the second year to 100000 lire. lire, and last year to 5,O00, GOO lire. How ever the late pope received 620o0,00O lire as jubilee gifts. The jubilee iewelry is valued M Nisard reports at about 16, oOO' 900 lire The late pope's executors have decided to sell all that is devoid of his torical artistic interest But the ques- tfon is how to sell. Donors would be deeply hurt were their gifts put up to auction. The exhibition of jubilee offer ings in Roman sale rooms could not fail to shock many pious Catholics, and still more the eager bidding of Jewish brok- CTS against Christian relic-hunters. It has been proposed to send them to the auction mart of the Rue Drouot where the jewels Queen Isabella took with her from Spain were disposed of Paris is so fertile in producing startling events that nothing any longer astonishes the Par isians. What might be deemed startling in Rome would be of no consequence save to a special public in Paris Paris is also more accessible to buyers from everywhere than the Eternal City. and it's press and auctioneers know how to get up a purchasing craze. The jubilee sent to Leo XIII may therefore come to the hammer at the Rue Drouot
 Plus x will live In the rooms of Car dinal Rampola. They are above those of Leo XIII, whose valet Centro, also lodged in them. The ceilings are lower than in the late pope's private apart ments, but the view from the windows is more extensive The entrance to the late pope's rooms, when one does not mount in the lift, was grandly palatial The regal stairs led to the Clement gal lery, with it's unrivalled loggia and thence, through the halls of the noble guard, the chamberlains, and greater throne room, to the room where the shadowy old man in white, with gleam- ing eyes gave audiences.
 It appears that Plus x intends to re- duce the Swiss and Noble guards and chamberlains. There is no place on the floor he will inhabt for a grand retinue NJ. Nisard reports that neither he nor M Navenne has kissed the popes slipper Plus dislikes to see his fellow creatures prostrate before him, and sits near the door of his audience room so that he can at once meet the visitor and offer him his hand
 
 trived Venetian mousquetare to keep off Pare de Monceau mosquitoes A pious Venetian lady presented it to him a few years ago. The tissue Is of the lightest silk gossamer-like gauge with silk cord woven into it as crossbars. An angel in sold gold made to be fastened like a sus- pension lamp to the ceiling, holds the mousquetare. A string descending from the figure can set the wings in motion like fans. An enlarged photograph of the pope's mother will be placed within the door of wall press. It seems that he is her image. She figures in the parish register of Riese as Margaret Samson" "a French name North Italy from 179S to 1874 was held by French troops and under French viceroy. l dare say Plus x had French grandparents. Margaret Samson was by trade a dressmaker, and an active, thrifty woman Now that think Of 1t, l see a likeness in the DOT trait of her in the French illustrated papers to Samson of the Francais, Rachels professor.