The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-04
HONOR TO THE POPE
WAS PAID IN ROME ny REvERENT
THOUSANDS.
STRUGGLED INTO ST. PETERS
PUSHING AND CRUSHING FOR THE
PLACES OF VIEW.

tiOh OF the NWenty-nIth AnnlNeF-
snry of the Coronation of the
POpe-LeO XIII Was Hailed with
JOY by the Mass of PeOple-Be-
slowed His Benedictions-DeepI
Gratified by the Day.
Rome. March S.-The twenty-nfth
anniversary of the coronation of Pope
Leo was celebrated to-day with all
the grandeur and impressiveness asso-
ciated with the high ceremonies of the
Catholic Church, and amid a display
of enthusiasm and emotion on the
part of the vast assemblage gathered
within the walls of ST. Peters such as
Wed with the greatest of previous dem
orstrations of reverence and affection
for the aged Pontiff.
Tonight all the sacred edifices in
ries and also many private houses
were illuminated in commemoration of
the event, the Trastevere quarter and
the Leonine city especially presenting
a blaze of light while the general effect
was heightened by the burning of Ben
Leo, who supported admirably the IA
tigue and excitement of to-day's cere-
mony after having retired, rose again
from his couch and going to the win
dow of his bedroom, gazed for a while
upon the scene of Illumination. The
view from the Vatican. embracing a
stretch of seven miles brilliant with
light, was a marvellous one. and his
holiness exclaimed as he withdrew
from the window:
"This will, indeed. be pleasant
thing to dream of"
dral lasted two hours and a quarter,
and although it was noticeable that
Pope Leo felt the effects of his recent
cold, all were surprised to see how well
he seemed. His voice was strong, his
gestures vigorous and the frantic cheer
ing which greeted his arrival and de-
parture gave him visible pleasure and
brought a faint tinge of color to his
face.
On the Alert Mt Sunrise.
| Rome, March 3.--From sunrise to-day
all Rome was on the alert and showing
most unusual animation and interest in
the celebration The scene in the piazzi
of s.. Peters was magnificent. There
were assembled many, hundred of Ital-
ian troops in various modern uniforms,
making a striking contrast with the
medieval costumes of the Swiss Papal
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 per-
sistent rain. There was a great CLASH
ing of umbrellas and a general feeling
of discomfort among the awaiting
sightseers, who included very many
women in most varied attire. compr1s-
ing foreigners of all nationalities and
Italians from all parts of the country,
and groups of sisters In the different
gowns of their orders, Catholic students
and picturesquely attired friars.
Rushed Into the Cathedral.
When, finally, the doors of st. Peters
were opened, an almost fndescribable
struggle occurred, in which all present
forgot the rules of politeness and
strove hard with push of elbows and
feet to reach the interior of the sacred
edifice, while on all sides were heard
cries of fear and inprecations not very
well suited to the spot where a nota-
BILE 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 a fainting condition. The tribunes
were soon crowded to overlooking, and
all the best standing places were taken.
period of comparative calm sue
ceeded this great rush, and the at
tention of the people was attracted 10
the gilded throne near the high altar
and to the immense pillars of the Ba-
silica, hung with red silken draperies
Some of the tribunes on each side of
the altar were filled with men and
women blazing with decorations
among them a number of royal person.
ages. In a special tribune was the
Pope's family, the diplomatic corps and
the members of the Order of Malta
all in full uniform.
Procession Was Majestic.
, After an hour of very fatiguing
waiting, a majestic procession began
to appear. 1t was composed of the
great dignitaries of the church. the
forty-fve cardinals present, gorgeous
in their red robes. alone making
most imposing, characteristic and pic
turesque groups.
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 the 500 churches in Rome as
they sounded the announcement that
the Pontiff was on his way to the
Basilica. The life OF the ancient city
seemed to pause for moment, hats
were raised and the sign of the cross
was made. Shortly afterwards, inside
st. Peters, silver trumpets blared out
their message and the Pontff appear
ed The people held their breath for a
moment, and then all the pent-up en-
thusiasm burst forth in a tremendous
roar of welcome.
From his elevation on the new sedia
gestatoria, carried by twelve men in
costumes of red brocade, hanked by
the famous fabelli (spreading feather
fans) and surmounted by a white and
gold canopy the Pope appeared TO be
more than a human being. He seemed
10 be a white spirit, this impression
being added 20 by the Pontim's white
robes and white mitre delicate fea-
lures, face white as alabaster and his
thin hand moving slowly IN benedio-
ton.
People Were Excited.
As the sweet toned, well trained
voices Of the Bistine choir sang Tu ~
Petrus, thousands OF voices shouted,