The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-08

Pope Leo made every effort to bring
about peaceful solution of the difh-
culties and this failure to accomplish
his desired object weighed heavily on
his mind and it is probable that this
disappointment added to his old age
served to increase the severity of his
illness several years ago, when 1t SEEM
ed as though the aged Pontif, stricken
with paralysis, had finished his course
His recovery, however, was remarka-
BILE, and when he celebrated his ninety
first birthday in March, 1901, he
seemed in splendid health.
Leo Turned the Tables.
When Leo XIII. was elected, he
found himself face to face with the
Falk law, then in full force. But the
oppression of the Catholics in Ger
many had weakened the hold of all
religious bodies on the people. and
this in turn had given strength TO the
propaganda of the socialists.
Leo XIII. saw his opportunity and
wrote his encyclical letter on social
ism. Prince Bismarck found an ally
where he least expected one. He was
unable to refuse the help offered, and
once more the Prince Chancellor and
the papacy were working side by side.
From this as a starting point Leo
XIII, as the months rolled by, made
advance after advance until Prince
Bismarck, protesting he would not go
to Canossa," found himself before the
castle gates. The Falk laws were alb
rogated bit by bit until they disap>
peared and the triumph OF Leo's d.
plomacy was complete.
Pope Leos encyclical of 1891, in
which he took up the socialism of the
day in America, and his action in the
of Of Vnrly
we'll remembered.
The Pope as a Scholar.
AS a scholar the Pope ranked
among the first men of his day. In all
departments of learning his efficiency
was remarkab BILE. AS a poet he was rec
ognized to possess genius, and a num-
Der of his compositions were of the
highest order.
His Appearance.
Personally the Pontiff was tall and
slender, and his hair was snow white.
His face had the kindliest of express
siens, and his smile was ready when
there was anything amusing said. He
possessed a keen wit, tempered by his
charitable wish not to wound the feel
ings of others. His manner was high
bred and finished, and he possessed a
most charming courtesy, which placed
all who saw him at their ease. He de-
lighted to chat on literary topics and
to the last found pleasure in reading
the great authors of antiquity. His eX-
perience in life had been so vast that
his remarks were full of a quiet wis
dom. He impressed every one who met
him. His personal habits were simple
to a degree, for he lived the life of an
ascetic His industry and power for
work were extraordinary, and the la
Dor he daily went through while Pope
was enough to exhaust a much young
er and stronger man.
Vatican as PapaI Prison.
The Vatican, the residence of the
Pope, is one of the most interesting
buildings in the world.
He who is elected Pope retires to the
Vatican, a custom inaugurated by Plus
TX In fact, Plus was living in his pal
ace at the time of the italian occupa-
ton of Rome, in 1870.
In the course of the day, as it be-
came clear that the capture of the city
was imminent, the Pope retired to the
Vatican, never to leave it again. His
successor, Leo XIII, who was elected
in the Vatican, has continued the tradl-
tions of Plus TX, and since his election
in 1878 has not gone outside the Natl-
can. This imprisonment" is purely
voluntary and is meant as a dignified
protest against what, from the Vatican
standpoint, can only be regarded as a
usurpation; a seizure by violence of the
possessions of the church.
There is another consideration. While
the reception of the Pope in the streets
of Rome would undoubtedly be, in the
main, respectful, there is always the
possibility that isolated anti-clerical OF
socialists might make some hostile
demonstration of sort that would give
rise to great scandal throughout Cath
Ole Christendom.
1t may be remembered that during
the funeral of the late Plus TX the pro-
cession was mobbed while crossing
Ponte SAINT Angelo and the coffin of the
Pope nearly thrown into the Tiber be-
fore order could be restored.