The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-13
POPE LIES ILL IN A PLEASANT ROOM Light, Bright and Airy With
 No LuxurieS LEO IS FOND OF SOLITUDE Wishes No One to be With Him But Likes to Talk When Appointed
 Visitors Arrive-He sus-
 poets concealment.
LEO IS FOND OF SOLITUDE

Rome, July 12.-As many fantastic de- scriptions are in circulation regarding the room where Pope Leo lies, the representa- tive of the Associated Press has taken some pains to secure an exact account from the nephew who sees his nncle daily. The room is large, bright and airy. The walls are hung with pale green and gold silk damask. Entering 1t, with the sun pouring through the ample window, is like a taste of spring. A large curtain divides the room and Is generally drawn open, showing on the right the modest narrow brass bed covered with a red damask cov- crit.
 Even in his desperate condition, Pope Leo shows great daintiness with regard to his person, performing a full toilet whenever possible and changing daily his fine white batiste night shirt. At the head of the bed is a good picture of the Madonna, besides a holy water font, while in the middle of the adjacent wall is an immense crueinx, reaching from floor to ceiling, with an ivory figure of Christ. At the foot of the bed stands very simple walnut writing desk, at which the pope has written the best of his Latin poems. On the other side of the curtain stands the now famous armchair, which is most com fortabie, a small table, few shelves with the pope's preferred books and nothing more The chamber gives the idea of ex- treme simplicity, luxuries being vigorously banished.
 Objects to Company.
 r-.,1,, g,, ,,f- ,.ro-o,4 o1pditta,, pnpa ,eo has great objection to having people about him, unless specially called so that except in the moments when he was much worse Dr. Lapponl and his valet Centra, them selves could not enter unless he rang. Centra, who Is most reluctant to leave the room, asked this morning if the pom tiff did not think 1t better to have some one always to keep his company. Pope Leo tranquilly replied:
 T am in good company" pointing to the large crucifix.
 Now and thea the pope suspects that something is being concealed from him, so today, after the visit of the doctors, when copy of the medical bulletin was brought in he read it attentively and then rang To Centra. who appeared in response to the bell, he said abruptly:
 Bring me another copy of the bulle- tin," emphasizing the word another"
  had been doctored for his benefit as had been done before But today Centra was able triumphantly to bring another idon- tical with the first.
 Pope Likes to Talk.
 One of the greatest difficulties is to prevent the pope from speaking too much. When some one Is allowed to wis it him, he immediately begins describ- ing the satisfaction he felt on the greet ings he received on the occasion of the last jubilee, and also at the manifesto tions of sympathy from all parts of the world during his present illrVSs which he considers almost pro idential to strengthen the infuer.e of the Catholic church in the person of It's head. Either the doctor or one of his nephews steps in and monorolizes the conversation, ob- liging th1 pope to be silent, which he does ryt like at all.
 Y Is wonderful what different impress sions people receive of the popes con dition according to their different tenn peraments For instance the Associated Press correspondent was present wher Cardinals Ferratar, Segna and Cretoni left the sick room together. Cardinal Ferratar, rubbing his hands together, said: "The holy father is almost conva- lescent. We shall soon see him in the vatican gardens again."
 Cardinal Segna, making the sign of the cross, signed Our beloved pontiff is lost" while Cardinal Cretoni, shaking his head in doubt exclaimed: "Who knows. He may die, still he may get better"