The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-20

This is really the happiest day of
my life
TT seems impossible that it is 25
years since I have been there" was
Leo's exclamation as he looked from a
window of his apartments this morn
ing into the sunlit piazza of st. Peters.
This was the pontiff's only reference
to his long term of self imprisonment
in the vatican during which he has
never gone beyond the palace grounds
and St. Peters, which is considered to
be part Of the vatican.
What a glorious morning for the
jubilee of my pontificate," the pope
added, as he proceeded with evident
pleasure to peruse the almost innum-
cradle kilograms, letters and addresses
of congratulations which has reached
the vatican from all parts of the world.
The han of beatiication. above the
portico of st. Peters, where the pontiff
held his jubilee celebration presented a
brilliant scene It was beautifully
hung with antique brocades and illun-
mated by thousands of electric lights
and wax candles. The boxes lining the
long, narrow hall were filled to their
capacity when the members Of the
Roman aristOcracy, diplomats, women
with black wells, men in S=zaning dress
Here and there groups of papal guards
in bright uniforms lent color to the
whole. Notable among the diplomats
was Count AImodovar, head of the spe-
cia1 mission sent to represent the king
of Spain at the jubilee.
The struggle to get into the han was
terrific People were swept OIL rheif
feet and women were overcome but nq
one was really injured. The babel oe
tongues raised in protest testified to the
worldwide character Of the gathering.
Among the Americans present were
Bishops Maurice Burke of St. Joseph.
Mo- and Edward Dunno of Dallas, Tex
Fathers S. p. Mcdonnell and Hugh
! OfGara AfcShane of Chicago and Thomas
O'Gara of Wilmington HI, Mrs and
Miss Choate and r. u. Johnson There
was a long and tedious wait before the
ceremony commenced. and the audi
ence was growing restless, when sud
denly q great roar Of Long live Leo"
and Long live the pOpe-king an
nounced the arrival Of the pontiff. His
4 holiness was borne in the sedia vesta-
toria on the shoulders of eight men hab-
i tied in red brocade- The pope himself
wore gorgeous robes and had the triple
+ crown on his head He bestowed his
/ benediction right and left as he passed
+ through the cheering concourses whose
enthusiasm was SO great and whose de-
sire to touch the hern Of the poDe's gewn
was 50 intense that the presence of the
/ guards seemed really necessary for his
protection
Ia a procession SURROUNDED BY SlGf o.
/ brilliant escort of DreIates. aristocTacy
and guards. Pope Leo always appears at
+ his best His feebleness and bent form
are hidden and the public sees only the
venerable patriarch with cameo-lilze
features and kindly smile.
When the pope advanced to the throne
the Peccf family Chat of the pontiff1
stood on its right and Count Alrnodovar
on its left
Cardinal Ferrari in behalf Of pill
grimage from Lombardys presented an
address to the pope, who thanked the
4 pilgrims and gave them his benediction
Subsequently the presentation Of gifts
+ occurred. including the gold tiara, the
jubilee present Of the Catholic world,
which cost So. 600 the gold medal and
Il the symbolic colors After hestowing
the apostolic blessing the pope returned
to his apartments amid the enthusiastic
plaudits Of the multitude.