The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-23
IN THE THRONE ROOM.
Body of Leo Lay in State Neveral Hours,

@ooy OL LCO Lay HI 0Ldtc ScNCAu uA Hours.
 Rome, July 22.-The first of the great | ceremonies of Pope Leo's funeral com | menced today, when the body lay in state
 in the throne room of the Vatican from
 s:3o a. m. until p. m. All the diplomats accredited to the Vatican, the Roman
 princes, dukes, barons and other repre- sentatives of ancient families remaining faithful to the papacy, all the high digni-
 taries of the church, the archbishops, bishops, patriarchs and heads of the re- ligious orders, passed in solemn process sion before the bier of the late pontiff. The papal throne had been removed and in it's place under the famous red silken canopy on a small bed lay the body of Leo XIII. Over the bed was thrown a
 red damask covering on which the body reposed. robed in white vestments with the red rochet and camauro hood, and on the feet were slippers embroidered with gold. The thin hands, clasped over the chest, held tightly a small ivory cru cifix. Around this was entwined a rosary of mother of pearl set in gold. On the l third finger of the right hand the huge
 emerald pontifcal ring sparkled. In striking contrast with the ghastly face
 was the purple hood, drawn down over
 the head almost to the eyebrows and over the ears. The sunken cheeks and
 jaws brought the nose and chin nearly together on the mouth, which was re-
 duced almost to nothing, though no signs of agony were visible. It was the corpse of a man who might have been dead fifty years.
 On either side near the shoulder stood
 member of the Noble Guard, erect and
 motionless, only a faint culver of the drawn swords giving any indication that they were not mere statues. The ordeal
 of the soldiers in the heated chamber is so intense that they have to be constantly
 relieved.
 At the four corners of the bed stood
 lighted candles, ten feet high. On the right of the body close to the
 bed was a small table covered with a
 white linen cloth, on which were two can-
 dles, throwing a glimmer of light on the
 crucifx between them. At the foot of the cross was crystal bowl filled with holy
 water, from which each cardinal, when ever he passed. sprinkled and uttered a
 benediction. Besides this were the devo- l tional books used by Pope Leo in his lifetime.
 The silence was only broken by the chanting of six Franciscan penitentiaries | who, kneeling or standing at a bench at
 the foot of the bier, continued their in- cessant application
 The only light thrown on this solemn scene came from the candles beside the
 body and from the faintsray of sunlight which filtered through the two windows, curtained with white silk and rich green | hangings.
 The red damask tapestries with which
 the room was hung gave touch of royal splendor to the surroundings. Otherwise
 1t was a most simple scene for the death
 rites of a Pope. There were no carpets on
 the marble floor. and not a flower was to
 be seen, according to the strict ritual
 of the last honors of the church to a
 pontiff.
 As each lay or clerical dignitary en-
 tered the throne room, he advanced slow
 ly to the side of the bed. took one last
 look at the body and then withdrew
 Some persons knelt in momentary prayer
 and crossed themselves. It was the last
 tribute of affection and devotion rather
 than of mere outward homage to the head
 of the great church.
 Outside of the throne room the long
 corridors of the Vatican presented a
 brilliant spectacle. At the entrance of
 the court of St. Damaso poptihcal gens- darmes were drawn up and rendered mill
 itary honors as each carriage drove in.
 The diplomats wore full uniforms and
 the princes and others were dressed in deep black.
 From the St. Damaso court they
 passed up the marble staircase into the nall. where the SWISS guard
 was ranged in double columns on either
 side. Next they entered the hall of Pal
 afremieri. where twenty-five grooms in
 red livery led the way to the hall of the
 Swiss, where a company of gensdarmes,
 wearing heavy black chapeaus, skin white trousers and high cavalry boots stood on
 guard at the threshold of the ante-cham-
 Der, containing a platoon of the Pala- tine guard. Further along they passed through the hall of tapestry and the chapel of the Pope. The Noble Guard in
 full scarlet uniforms. glitering brass hel. mets and silver sashes, the latter covered
 with crepe, kept the last watch at the door of the apartment of their dead mas ter.
 Outside the Vatican an interested crowd, | including a number of Italian soldiers. watched the coming and going of the privileged mourners.
 In the meanwhile the congregation of | cardinals met in the hall of the consis- tory under the presidency of Cardinal Oreglia. It was determined to arrange for the accommodation of the cardinals during their enforced seclusion at the conclave in exactly the same manner as when Pope Leo was elected. Monsignor Merry del Val to-day took
 up the duties of secretary of the aonsis-
 toral congregation.
 HAD TO BREAK DOWN DOOR.