The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-07-23

ed no strength in combating the inev-
liable. Just as easily as he weighed
his friends and his foes, be weighed
himself. He knew his own limitations.
He vas great man among the great
men of his day. He played part amid
some of the most tremendous dramas OF
hi story, and he played it successfully.
He made men who commanded ar
mics obey him; out of enemies he Gre
ated friends; church which he found
a prey of all, he left strong in the cir
Gle of her defenders. Leo XIII will 60
down in history as one of the greatest
among the long line of great men who
have filled the papal chair.
He WAS too great of mind to be ham
pered by custom or tradition. He
wrought great changes, but so patient
ly, so gently that his reforms were &C
complished and his innovations effect
ed without shock.
Personally, the late pontiff was tall
and slender, and bis hair was snow
white. His face had the kindest of ex-
p~essions and his smile was ready. His
keen wit was tempered with gentle
charity. His manner was highbred
and finished, and he possessed most
charming courtesy, which placed 9TH
ers at ease. He loved to chat on liter
airy topics and to the last found pleas
ure in reading the great authors Of an
tiqujty. The experience of his life was
so vast that his remarks were full of
quiet wisdom. His personal habits
were simple to degree, for he lived
the life of an ascetic.
His Early Life.
Gloachino Cor Joachim Vincent Ra-
phael Iodovico Pecci, afterward Pope
Leo XIII, was born March 9, 1910, at
Csrpeneto, a small town thirty miles
from Rome, situated IN the hill coun-
try and near the ruins of Tusculum
Cicero's home.
The future pope was born of an an
cient and noble family. The counts
Pecci lived here for hundreds of years
in peace and plenty.
When he was eight years old he was
sent to a Jesuit school at Vitebo, where
he remained for seven years. His first
great grief came when he was IA years
old. His mother died. At Is he en-
tered the Collegio Romano, where be
took front rank as a scholar, taking
fret prizes in! physics and chemistry.
Five years later he formally enrolled
himself as divinity student and en-
tered upon his career as a churchman
The pope, who always evinced a
deep interest in the working, classes,
was, through his mother, a direct de-
scendant of Cola di Rienzi, the dema-
gog-hero of Bnlwer Lytton's novel,
1.-THE Last of the Tribunes."
Joachim, or, as his mother always
called him, Vincent, was remarkably
strong and rugged lad. He grew up
among the sturdy mountaineers and
the goats of Carpeneto. He loved the
outdoor life, and aside from his
mother, whom he fairly worshipped. his
two passions were poetry and hunting.
1t was his mothers gentle hand that
guided him into the career of church
man; it was his deep love of poetry
that made him the deep student of
classic literature and the most accom-
plished writer of latin verse in modern
times. 1t was the love of the hills,
the hunting and tramping that laid
the foundation of a life lonoger than
that of any living statesman or ruler |;
having spent that life in study of the
world problems and politics; grounded
in the classics; familiar with history
and for three quarters of century an
actor in history, he acquired store
of knowledge that gave him immeasur
able advantage in coping with his adj
versaries and in working out his plans
In constant touch with men of every
nation and men from every spot on the
earth where men dwell he had point
of view that was broader and more
comprehensive than that of any histor-
ian or statesman.
Winning His Way.
In 1882 he won the degree of doctor
of theology and entered the College of
Noble Ecclesiastics, where those who
design to serve the pontifical govern
ment automatically or administrative
ly are trained.
In 1887 he was made sub-deacron,
then deacon, then priest. In 1888 he
was made delegate or governor of the
province of Beneveto. In lS41 he was
appointed governor of Spoleto. In 1S43
he was made apostolic nuncio, or paral
ambassador to Belgium and titular
archbishop of Damietta. In lS45 he
was made bishop of Perugia, where he
arrived i'll 1916. In 1853 he was made
a cardinal. In 1877 he was appointed
camerlingo. In 1873 he was chosen
pope to succeed Pope Plus TX.