The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-07-16


the work, and that as we were both
Americans we certainly should 90 with
courage as well as with hope, for he
knew our church work would not be
hampered in any way and that we
could act with perfect liberty He
called attention to the liberal attitude
Of the American civil government in
the Philippines and assured us we
should have no impeachment
'"The pope then went into a concise
analysis Of the conditions in the Phil
ippines, especially in regard to the
changed conditions since the American
occupation. It was the most illumi-
ming address ever heard. l had been
in Rome seven weeks, studying night
and day on the Philippine situation.
had access to all the information there
was at the Vatican / had worked
some days for twenty hours, and yet
in that fifteen minute talk Of the pope
he condensed every particle of in
formation had secured and much be.
sides.
HE had it at bis fingers ends, as he
has all other matters relating to the
church.
1T had been arranged that a party
Of dozen Americans should follow Us
for an audience. and when the pope
had finished with us he sent word to
admit the party. we stepped to one
side. AS the people came up the pope
had a pleasant word of greeting for
each. He blessed such articles as were
presented. There were several parish
priests, Americans, In the party. He
gave them the papal blessing They
asked If they might convey that bless
ing to their congregations, and he said
they might. Then, in order that they
might thoroughly understand what he
had said, he repeated in Latin the
blessing he had previously given to
them in Italian.
while the party was going out
there was naturally some little delay,
and / stepped over to the side of the
pope and said
Holy father, what impresses me
more than all else is to find you so little
changed in eight and one-half years
HE looked up at me and smiled.
And how do you find meg he asked
~ find you seemingly exactly the
same as when I last saw YOU re
Piled
"He smiled again, this time a curious,
half sad sort Of smile and said, very
gravely, An, well; the years do pass.
Il had marked him closely during
our interview and while he was re
ceiving the party Of Americans.
could find no trace Of change He
seemed the same great mind incased
In its little frame of flesh He was
no thinner, no grayer, no more stopped,
and his face had not changed a par
ticle He displayed considerable physic-
al activity and was earnest and inn
pressiye when he talked His mind
was as alert as it was when first saw
him. There was no hesitation for
words, no grasping for ideas. He knew
what he wanted to say and said it like
a master Of his subject l knew be
was ninety three years old. 1t was
marvellous. 1t almost seemed supernal.
II saw him again on June %, the day
Of the consistory. That was one Of
the hottest days / have ever known In
Rome When it is hot in Rome 1t is
very, very hot. He went through that
long ceremony, lasting more than an
hour, without q break or a falter. The
chapel was crowded. 1t was sitting,
but the pope fulfilled bis offices as
calmly and quietly as IL he had been
in his own chamber. cool and COM
Portable / am big fellow and pretty
strong, but when / got out of that
chapel was sick could eat no din
ner The pope did not give evidence
Of the slightest discomfort.
Il was to leave Rome next day. June
90 and before starting | went up to
the Vatican to see Contra, the pope's
personal attendant
Presently Contra came out This
was the day after the consistory, mind
YOU, when the pope had carried on that
tremendous ceremony and it had been
so hot
Contra said, Just as / received your
card the pope sent for me-.
How Is be this morningg asked.
Fine like himself, Contra replied
enthusiastically He has been a bit
depressed for few days at the
thought Of the task Of the consistory,
but this morning. now that that is off
his mind, he is feeling better than he
has for weeks. It Is like old times.
THAT was the last I heard of him
directly. When / reached Paris I saw
reports in the papers Of an indisposi-
ton, but had no knowledge Of how
serious the illness was until arrived
at New York.
Il consider Leo XIII. one Of the most
marvellous men OF the age, church
considerations apsrt.