The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-29
From the New York sdn.

From the New York Sun.
 Baltimore. January 2-To visitors to this city there Is no more interesting fig ure in 1t than James. Cardinal Gibbons. Archbishop of Baltimore. His name is known throughout the Catholic world, but there are thousands of the faithful who have never seen him and many more thou sands who know little of his life and per- sonality.
 To Baltimoreons, the slender figure and the pallid and aseetic but kindly feat ures, the black ecclesiastical costume and especially the little skull-cap peeping from under the American high hat, have become,a familiar figure. with a firm and rapid stride, Is seen to pass down Charles street, sometimes going no further than Baltimore street, and then homeward on the other side. Protestants and catho- lies alike bow to the cardinal. and he al- ways returns these salutations with a smile, although he does not recognize one tenth of the faces.
 The cardinal is now approaching TO years, but to those who see much of him there seems little change in his appear ance from what 1t was a decade ago. And there have been few changes in his habits. He still walks every day in the open air, but not so far. In work he does not spare himself, and he has all the en- durance of former years He is as ab- stemlous as ever, and as thin. When he returned from Europe two years ago he a I3,,t 1.fr tive, energetic temperament forbids that he should ever become even moderately plump, live as long as he may. The almost perfect health he enjoys Is due chiefly, no doubt, to the constant exercise of mind and body, the love of fresh air and al- most unbroken regularity of habits.
 The cardinal, like all Catholic ecclesias- ties rises very early. His daily mass is said usually at O clock. After his thanks giving he has breakfast, g1ances at the newspapers and, with his secretary, at tends to his correspondence, which Is very large. He rarely sees anyone, except by appointment, before 10 o'clock; but then there are many callers-people upon busi- ness of every imaginable sort.
 Many strangers passing through the city come to pay their respects. These include Protestants as well as Catholics members of the Protestant clergy, au- thors, politicians, educators, doctors and even actors and actresses. A short time ago a little boy, who was playing with popular star in one of the theatres, went to see the cardinal and recited his whole part before him, much to the amusement of his eminences
 As soon as there is lull In the visits the cardinal goes out for a short walk. Dinner Is at 1 o'clock, sometimes with a guest, visiting archbishop or other dig nitary; then rest till o'clock then more visitors, another walk, tea and a quiet evening over books. Ten o'clock Is the regular hour for retiring-a rule almost never broken.
 This routine is changed only when the cardinal Is away or when there are ecclesiastical functions. His recreation at home is in reading. There is not much time during the day for books, but he is not without leisure in the evenings, espe- cially during the winter; and then It is that he turns over the pages of favorite writers, He likes the old standard al.- thors best. He reads the reviews and other publications, however and keeps himself well posted as to what is going on in politics, literature. science and daily history
 The cardinal is an excellent traveller and makes many journeys in the course | of a year. These include trips to the various parishes in his archdiocese, jour. neys to attend important functions in oth. CT cities, and many journeys throughout the year to Washington on business or tc keep some social engagement. Clad in the scarlet robes of his rank he appears sometimes at weddings or great dinners at the capital-usually a brief apparition He is the most important parsonage con nected with the Catholic university, and naturally has much business there. Ere. quently he has business with the govern ment The cardinal knew President Nc. Kinley well and greatly valued his friend | ship and has called upon President Roose welt in an official capacity, to talk over matters concerning the Philippines. | At home he changes his costume ac. | cording to the ecclesiastical seasons; ir
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