The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-07-24

such wonderful impression as did the
aged Leo. He possessed a marvellous
Individuality which was heightened by
his remarkable vigor and tenacity in
old age. At ninety, when he gave Ben
jamin Constant sitting for his por
trait the French painter was aston
ished at the brilliancy of his intellect.
Yet with serene poise and strength he
passed ON for three years more to his
jubilee, retaining for more than a quar-
ter Of century that papal power
which. 1t was supposed, was conferred
for only q. short time upon feeble old
man in 1878 He proved one of the
strongest In physical endurance as well
as In mental qualities that had ever
been elevated to the papal throne.
AS the head of the Catholic church
the achievements of Leo XIII. are
memorable. Even those not in the Ro-
man communion freely admitted his
greatness, while to the devout Catholic
he was the personification of goodness
He was both statesman and priest and
his views, like his ambitions, were of
the widest. His services as papal nun
clio at Brussels gave him that stamp of
the diplomat which never left him. In
close touch with the affairs of many
nations, his extraordinary memory, his
fresh and earnest interest In the on-go-
ings of the world, made his contribu-
tons to passing history of peculiar sig
nifcance and value.
In America the late pope SEEMED to
take an especially vivid interest, which
was evinced In wise counsels to his
people in this country on many occa-
sions. To the republican form of gov
eminent he showed himself a good
friend upon more than one occasion
In his ellcyciicals on socialism is seen
how his sympathy for the struggling
and aspiring masses was balanced by
his fine sense of the necessary order
and stability of society His refined In
tellect. his simplicity of life, his unaf-
fected piety, all exalted to emincnce by
his extraordinary career, made him an
inspiring parsonage even to those who
did not recognize him as spiritual
ruler and teacher, and Protestants as
well as Catholics mourn his death
The story of the pope is an exceeding
ly simple and pretty one. He has been
though the pontiff, as It is called. Of
the most ancient ecciesiasticisrn In west
ern European excellent citizen of our
later world. He has been good mag
istrate. superior pastor. a gentleman
and. it may be added. prince. He was
a prince In nature before he was either
cardinal or pope.
From the time he was elected pope the
city of Rome has been in the occupa-
ton of the king of Italy and has indeed
been the political capital of Italy, the
laws Of that kingdom paying no atten-
ton to the previous laws and formal
ties which the secular state supplanted.
But the influence of the pope as a spirit
of education and of light has extended
to the most remote portions Of the
world.
Above all other popes. and somewhat
beyond his own record In earlier life,
Leo XIII. has been liberal politician.
He has hailed the future rather than
deplored the loss of the past. He has
been one Of the captains Ia the move
ment for universal education and has
striven to make education and morals
confide In each other. Not single
scandal from Rome in his papacy has
been conveyed to the world. He has
shown a friendly disposition to the
world and could himself take place in
almost any learned faculty or congress
and hold his own In general knowledge
with scientists. belleslettres men and
doctors.