The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-07-24

An Incident of His Generostty which,
Secured Him u Trustworthy gerv-
ant-Witty Reply to 81 Woman
yisitor--Study's aUinous Facet on
His sIarlzsInarlsHip as "a Hunter.
His Only TilrasI,fns.
y we'll known Catholic once told Il
story of the kindness ana discerning
power of Pope Leo MIL. says the
Rome correspondent of the Pail Mail
Gazette.
Our pope,'' said he, reads character
at IL glance and is rarely deceived. One
evening, when nuncio at Brussels. he
was entering his carriage to go 10 din
ner at the house of Count de Ballet
when just as his foot was on the car
riage step u workman, w~retchedIy
dressed. rushed forward. insulted him
and attacked him personally. His serv-
ants. ready IN his defense, seized the
aggressor and proceeded to make
things hot foc him. but the pope, then
simple Mgr. pecci, stopped them and,
calmly and kindly addressing the man.
said:
My friend, bear you no malice for
what you have done. Are you in need?
Come to see me some other time and
let a five franc piece slip into his hand.
Needless to say. the workman. after
much encouragement. went to see him.
and went SO often that the nllncio
eventually took him into his service as
a domestic. and Leo MIL. who re-
tanned a benevolent recollection OF him,
used to recount that he never had 4
servant more respectful and more to
be trusted"
A story which typifes the two domi-
nant characteristics of the pope, his
LONELINESS and his humor, is as fol
lows, says Il writer in the London
Tit Bits: One day when he was be-
set by pilgrims begging for some me-
mortal of him, something which his
hands had touched. an old lady said to
him. Holy father. give me n of your
stockings; it will cure my bad leg"
with pleasure, madam the pontiff
replied. but l may a we'll tell you it
has never cured mine"
Right Rev. Camillus Paul Macs.
bishop of Covington. O.. who made his
ad lumina visit to Rome in May, 1902.
speaking of the characteristics of the
pope. said In the Cincinnati Enquirer:
"a very singular trait of Leo NIL.
is his great store of good humor and
wit. l have known no man more re-
sponsive to a pleasant joke or more
keen and quick in his reply. l recall
the case of a certain French bishop
who visited the pope several years ago.
and upon leaving began to weep. The
holy father asked the eason of his dis
tress, and the prelate replied that he
could not control himself at the
thought that he would w see him
again. The pope answered: Why will
you not see me again? You are still q
about sixty, looked up at this reply.
and. seeing the smile of keen delight
on the holy fathers face, took his
farewell with conflicting emotions.
lin March. 1902, a certain French
lady. who regularly visits the pope ev-
cry two years. upon leaving inquired
whether she should come again. and
received the answer, Once more and
then'-and he pointed upward"
The installation of the electric light
in the Vatican was inaugurated not
long ago. 1t is on a very extensive
scale. comprising 6.OOO lamps of six
teen candle power. says the Pail Mall
Gazette. The pope said recently. in re-
ferring to this noteworthy event III the
history Of the apostolic palace. "Peo-
pie will no longer be able to reproach
the Vatican with being the enemy of
light"
Father Salvagni, the only surviving
schoolmate Of the pope in Carpineto.
Italy. while recalling incidents Of the
pope's boyhood days. spoke thus. ac-
cOrding to the Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune:
Ser Nino Leo was the most cour-
ageous mountain climber l ever saw,
and we have long been famous for
our skill in mountaineering in this part
of the country. And at Z time he
was the best shot in these mountains.
So great was his skill with the rifle
that he disdained to shoot a bird except
on the wing. But study ruined his
craftsmanship. 1t was a great pity. l
was ashamed of him the last time he
viSitad rs in Santemhar g n With
other huntsmen. l had gone out on the
road near Montelanico to meet him.
He recognized me in the throng and
begged me to lend him my rifle. I
handed the weapon to him. He aimed
at a bird and hit a tree. 1t cut me to
the heart. He. the best rifleman in the
mountains. to miss an easy shot! He
never used a CUR again. suppose he
felt the disgrace too keenly. He left