Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-24
TRIBUTES OF LOVE
Paid by Thousands to the
Memory Of Pope Leo.
The Citizens in SorrowfuI Procession
View Pontiff's Remains.
Circumstances May Cause the Funeral
to Be Held, Friday.

Rome, July 23.-From sunrise until
sunset, today, thousands passed before
the body of Leo XIII lying in state in
the basilica of st. Peters, 1t was
originally intended that the opportu-
nifty to publicly view the remains
should extend through three days, but,
tonight, The Associated Press cores
pendent learns that the time is likely to
be curtailed and that the funeral may
occur, Friday. instead of Saturday
night, owing to the evidence that de-
composition is setting in. This is due
to today's severe heat, from which n
embalming, however perfect, could
completely protect the body.
The will of the dead Pope was opened
at today's meeting of the congregation
Of cardinals. 1t consists of SO pages, in
the handwriting of Leo XIII and leaves
all the property of which he died POI
sessed to his successor for the use of
the church. To each member of his
family he leaves a present to be chosen
from the valuable objects in his apart
ment. Similar presents are bequeathed
to his physicians. The total amount of
the property which he left is not yet
known.
Except at sunrise when the crush
threatened a panic, all those who
wished it had an opportunity of en-
tering st. Peters.
| An important political factor was in
| troduced into the ceremony by the en-
trance into ST. Peters of Italian sol-
diers, VINO remained there throughout
the day to preserve order. Their pres
ence there in such a capacity is un-
precedented in the history of modern
Italy, and is important as an indica-
ton of the better relations between the
government and the Vatican. Another
feature which is causing comment
along the same lines is the fact that
| Cardinal Oreglia in receiving a group
of the city fathers of Rome, who rep
resent the clerical party charged them
| to thank also their liberal colleagues
for the manifestations of sympathy
which they showed during the illness
of the Pope. The cardinal, continuing
| his conversation indicated especial sat-
| isfaction over similar manifestations
coming from several constituted bodies
of the kingdom of Italy.
| Tt is an unexpected tribute,'' ex-
| claimed the cardinal, (which no one
would have imagined rs years ago.
In this connection, additional inter-
est attaches to todays meeting of the
congregat ton of cardinals. The most
| important matter before the meeting,
however, was a proposition presented
by Cardinal Oreglia to send a note to
the diplomatic body accredited to the
Holy See, for the purpose of repre-
senting to the powers the condition
| of the Papacy since the loss of it's tenn
poral power and the transfer of the
capital of the Italian government to
Rome. From what leaks out, it APP
pears that the proposition provoked
considerable discussion and that Car
dinals Stenhuber, Matthew and Wives y
Tuto favored the dispatch of a most
energetic note concerning the questions
of retaining the Papal rights. CARO-
nails Agliard and Serafino Vannutelliyssx q
the contrary. advocated a milder w0roNg
| ing of the document, which, they con-
| tended, should maintain the historicala
pretensions of the Holy See but in tent
perate language. The majority of the
congregation decided to pursue middle
course and entrusted Mgr. Merry Del
Val with the duty of drawing up the
document for submission to another
meeting of the congregation. t
The commission of cardinals entrust-
| ed with the arrangements for the con-
cIave has presented a plan which in
wolves an expenditure of $1400 and as
sures that everything will be in readi-
ness for the opening of the conclave,
July 81 The apartment still occupied
by Cardinal Rampolla will be divided
into four rooms in order to accommo-
u Of ha oar during
conclave.