The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-24
SEEN BY THOUSANDS
WAS THE BODY OF LEO Mi IN
ST. PETERS.
FUNERAL MAY BE TO-DAY.
INTENSE HEAT RENDERS HASTE
NECESSARY.

the Remains Is Setting in Cause
the Belief That the Time of Ex-
hibitiOn in st. Peters Is to BE
Curtailed-RaVages of Time and
Death Visible in the Face of the
Dead as the Body Lay Upon the
CatnfaIque-WiII of the Pope Read.
Rome, July 23.-From sunrise until
sunset to-day thousands passed before
the body of Leo XIII, lying in state in
the Basilica of ST. Peters.
1t was originally intended that this
opportunity publicly to view the re-
mains. should extend through three
days, but tonight the correspondent of
the Associated Press learns that the
time is likely to be curtailed. and that
the funeral may occur Friday. instead
of Saturday night, owing to the evil
dences that decomposition is setting
in. This is due to to-day's severe heat,
from which no embalming, however
perfect, could completely protect the
body.
The will of the dead Pope was open
ed at to-day's meeting of the Congre-
cation of Cardinals. 1t consists of
thirty-six pages, in the handwriting of
Leo XIII. and leaves all the property
of which he died possessed to his sue
cessor. for the use of the CHURCH. To
each member of his family he leaves
a present to be chosen from valuable
objects in his apartment. Similar
presents are bequeathed to his physi-
clan.
The total amount of the property
which he left is not yet known.
Pity and Horror Blended.
The prevailing impression of those
who to-day passed before the iron
gates of the chapel of the Sacrament to
view the remains was one of intense
pity, combined with a certain sense of
horror. The body was tilted up on the
catafalque in order that all might see
the terribly shrunken face. An ordi-
nary skull in a frame of gold lying in
the midst of a mass of red robes. could
scarcely have been more typical of
death.
Except at sunrise when the crush
threatened a panic, all who wished il
had an opportunity of entering st
Peters.
An important political factor was in
troduced into the ceremony by the en-
trance into ST. Peters of Italian sol
diers, who remained throughout the
day to preserve order. Their presence
there in such a capacity, unprecedent-
ed in the history of modern Italy, is
important as an index of the relations
between the government and the Vati-
can, as it was by the consent, If not
by the desire, of the Vatican authori-
ties, that they to-day employed the
troops of the Quirinal in the Papal ter
ritory.
OregIia Grateful.
Another feature which is causing
comment along the same lines is the
fact that Cardinal Oregla, in recelV-
ing a group of the city fathers OF
| Rome who represent the clerical par
| ty, charged them to thank also theiI
! liberal colleagues for the manifesto
| ton of sympathy which they showed
during the illness of the Pope.
The cardinal, continuing his CONVEX
sation, indicated special satisfaction
over similar manifestations coming
from several constituted bodies of the
Kingdom of Italy, such as the commu-
NAL councils and provincial deputa-
lions, including that of Rome, which
| is presided over by Prince Fel1ce
Borghese.
TT is an unexpected tribute" ex-
claimed the cardinal, (which no one
would have imagined twenty-five
years ago"
Division Among Cardinals.
The most important matter before
| the meeting of the Congregation o.
| Cardinals was proposition presented
| by Cardinal Oreglia to send note tt
| the Diplomatic body accredited to the
| HOLY See. for the purpose of represent
| ing to the Powers the condition of th'
| nanacy since the loss of it's Temporal
| mower and the transfer of the capita
| of the Italian government to Rome.
From what leaks out it appears tina
| the proposition provoked consldera bl'
| discussion, and that Cardinals wives
Tuto Steinbuber and Matthew raw
| ored the dispatch of a most energetic
| note concerning the question OF re
| claiming the papal rights. Cardinals
Agliardi and Serafino Vannuteli, OF
! fine contrary, advocated a milder word
ing of this document, which, they con
tended. should maintain the historical
! pretensions of the Holy See, but II
temperate language.
THE majority of the congregation de
cided to pursue a middle course ant
trust Monsignor Merry Del val VIII
the duty of drawing up the documen
for submission to another meeting o
the congregation
Provisions of the Will.
After the will of Leo XIII had beer
onened It was the intention of the car
| dinals to maintain the strictest secrec.
| concerning it's contents. me carrie
| nortions of the testament include tn
recommendation which the, testator ad
| dressed to his executors, Cardinal
! Rampolla, Mocenni and Cretonl, on tn
hest way to continue the religious i'm
rnIsa given to the church, as well a
| the policy followed by the Holy Sc
during latter years.
The document then enumerates al
the property which Leo possessed, ant
nrovides that it shall all go to his sue
ceesor for the benefit of the church
Including even the presents, whicl
night perhaps be considered personal
rather than gifts to the Pontiff a
The money which the Pope left is 4
a closed safe in his bedroom, the key
having been given to different per
cons mentioned in the will. All tn
land purchased and buildings erecte
for institutions personally founded b
leo are put in the name OF the Hol
See 10 avoid possible claims from rel
atives. as the Pope recalled possibl
that some time after the death Of Ptu
| - -. tattarie aanheUa instituted