The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-22
The Pontif,s Character.

In any rank or path Of life Leo XIII
would have been a model Of manners.
Manners mean more than department
Department is-the shell OF the individ-
uaFs philosophy Of living. II the in
dividual philosophy be logical it will De
reflected In a certain attitude OF mind
toward all other human beings
In proportion 10 the validity of the
logic that mental attitude will be a ju-
dicious blend. OF dignity and urbanity. OF
permaneney OF conviction IL what ought
TO be deemed the Interchangeable and OF .
gracious dexibiiity in what is inciden-
tai, personal, and transitory.
No other man occupying a sovereign
rank in the world at any time during
Leo kits pontifcate has been net
within his private precincts by so
many human beings OF so many differ
ent types of race. culture. OF station as
the Pope. No matter who or what. all
have Withdrawn from his presence bear
ing the same witness 70 a charm OF con-
duet Justly described as inenabIe. to a
phenomenal aspect of spirituality In
flesh and to a henignity due In equal
measure TO logic and culture.
The logical basis OF living toward 9TH
ers is a realization that no one In this
world is responsible for being IN II and
that all are equally entitled TO commits
GRAFTON and congratulation for being IN
IT, II Is an essential of such logic TO
realize that as to rank. possessions.
power, talents, opinions, each one in the
world is. as a rule, no more to be prais-
ed or blamed than for the mold OF ones
physiognomy or the color OF the eyes OF
hair.
An ideal democrat In his posture to all
his fellow-men, Leo XIII had the same
manners to the humblest peasant that
/ begged aims OF him on the street when
archbishop OF Perugia as 20 Emperor
William and King Edward. In els heart
he probably congratulated the peasant
more and poured his commiseration upon
the monarehs.
/ The Pontiff's personal patience has
been one Of the most signal proofs OF
his philosophic intellect. An instant OF
| Feasibility. of petulance. OF arrogance
has never been reported Of him by any
one. The personal equation" he seems
/ TO have reduced to its simplest and in
exorable terms.
Uniinching in the face Of menace. he
appears 10 have been innocent Of the
vice OF vanity. That vice has often ac-
comPanied not only power but intrinsic
as well as conventional eminence. Ma
poleon was vain enough to wish 10 be
painted crossing the Alps on a fiery
charger, his mantle flying in the wind,
when, in fact, he made the passage in
undress uniform on a mule. Pope Julius.
whose love of the fine arts Leo XIII fully
shared. was so imperious to Michael
Angelo that the latter. with correspond
ing vanity, quilted his service in a rage
and IL required strenuous and prolonged
diplomacy 10 reinstate a friendship upon
which the progress OF the world in that
hour sensitively depended.
A brutalizing age has fallen into the
vulgarity of thinking meekness is not
ranliness. that simplicity is faulty.
that there is no virility In courtesy. tia.
sweetness in dignity is childish. and that
there is nothing mighty in the world but
physical force.
! The sublime years OF Leo XIII testify
that gentIeness conduces TO longevity.
The awe and Difference with which the
entire civilized world has contemplated
the death of the Pontin bear witness that
his was a philosophy of living which IT
were we'll for the world that all reason
ing human beings should strive 10 follow
as best they may-Chicago Chronicle.
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