Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-03-05
Grand Celebration of 25th Ami
versary of Pope Leo Kills
Coronation.
GREAT CRUSH AT ST. PETER s
Indescribable Struggle to Make an En-
trance-Costly Gowns Badly Multi
ated-A Maj stio Procession Ac-
companied the Pope to the
Basilica rs 900 Present.

Rome, March 3--From sunrise to-day all
Rome was on alert and showing most I'M
usual animation and interest in the cele-
bration of the 18th anniversary of the cor
onation of Pope Leo XIII. This move
ment was especially noticeable at the large
hotels, which were illuminated as though
for ball.
The scene on the piazza of st. Peters
was magnificent. There were assembled
many hundreds of Italian troops in vari-
GUS modern uniforms, making striking
contrasts with the medieval costumes OF
the SWISS papai guard on duty at the
bronze doors of the cathedral.
The crowds which gathered before the
first Gordon of troops were impatient as
they stood dripping under the persistent
rain There was a great clashing of UNI
brcllaS and a general feeling of discomfort
among the awaiting sightscers. who in
cluded many women in most varied attire,
comprising foreigners of all nationaliticS
and Italians from all parts of the couil-
try, the uniformity of tho crowd being
pleasantly broken by groups of sisters In
the different gowns of their orders Cath
Ole students and pcturesquely attired
friarS
When. finally the doors of St. Peters
were opened analmost indcscribabic strug-
gle occurred. in which all present forgot
the rules of politeness and strovc hard
with push of elbows and feet to reach the
interior of the sacred ediiicc. while on all
sides were heard cries of fear and impre
cautions not very we'll suited t othe spot
where u notable religious ceremony was
about to begin.
Once inside the cathedral, the ladies
who wore lace gowns found them to be
in a much mutilated condition and some
of the women were carried away in
fainting condition. Tho tribuncs were soon
crowded to overlooking and all the best
standing places were taken.
a period of comparative calm succeeded
this great rush and the attention Of the
people was attracted to the gldcd throne
near the high altar and to the immense
pillars Of the baslica, hung with silken
drapcries Some of the tribuneS on each
side of the altar We're filled with men
and women blazing with decorations. In
| a group of royal personages were the
| Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and
| Norway the Countess Mathilde of TRAM.
of the Bourbon Naples family; the Grand
| Duchess of Saxe-Weimar Duke Robert
of Parma, the Grand Duchess of Mecklcn-
| burg. the Prince of I.iechtenstcin and
! Prince MaXimilian of Saxony. In a spe-
cial tribune was the Popc's family the
diplomatic corps and the members of the
order OF Malta. all in full uniform.
Special interest was shown in the inno-
walton introduced in the uniforms of the
different attachments Of the papal guards.
| The swiss guard wore red velvet knee
breecheS red silk stockings. black shoes
with red rosettcs, FURNISHED steel cuirasscs
inlaid with gold and steel collars, in addi-
ton to large, white linen collars, starched
stiff, falling over their shoulders The
silver mounted arms of the Swiss guards
were inlaid with gold and its members
wore steel helmets with red ostrich plumes
similar to the helmets of the 10Th century.
| The noble guard Wore their new uniforms
of bright red.
| After an hour of very fatiguinS waiting,
a majestic procession began to appear. 1t
was composed of the great dignitaries of
the church, the 10 cardinals present, gor-
Scous in their red robes and making a
most imposing group.
At II O'Clock precisely the great bell Of
ST Peters rang out a signal, which was
followed by the changing of the bells of
about $40 churches in Rome as they sound
ed the announcement that the pontiff was
on his way to the Basclica. The life of
the ancient city seemed 10 pause for a mo-
ment, hats were raised ana the sign OF the
cross was made. Shortly afterwards, in
side ST. Peters, silver trump"tS blared out
their message and the pontiff appeared
The people held their breath for a moment
Then all the pcnt up enthusiasm burst
! forth in a tremendous roar of welcome.
/ From his elevation on the sedia ges-
tatoiia carried by II men in the costumes
OF red brocad" thanked by the famous
fla belli and surmountoI by white and
gold canopy. the Pope seemed to he
more than a human being. lie seemed to
be white spirit this impression being
added to by the Pontiff's while robes and
| white Nitro, his delicate features, face
| as white as albaSter and his thin hand
moving slowly in bencdction. II almost
seemed as if all human attributes had
been expelled from that slender venerable
form. As sweet toned, well trained voices
of the Sistinc choir san "1u IS Potrus."
| thousands of voices ShOIli I'd 81 live