The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-13

should have reached an age of 100 years
or more. One Of the reasons for his I'M
timely death was undoubtedly the selection
of the Pontiff's sleeping apartment. The
body physicians of the Holy Father seem
to know nothing of the hygiene of sleep.
If they possessed any clear understanding
of the danger of self-poisoning on the part
of a sleeping person, they would never have
permitted the Pontiff to occupy such
small, narrow bedroom as he did. The
worst air in room attaches to the walls
and is retained by them until forcibly eject
ed; the worst portions of the walls are its
corners, regular receiving stations of bad
odors. Walls may be swept by the force
of air currents, but it is more difficult to
clear the corners of poisonous gases accu-
INFLATED. The late Pope's physicians had
10 business to allow the Holy Fathers bed
to stand in the corner of a room; it was
grave oversight In particular, to allow the
headpiece to stand against the wall If
any part of a bed must stand against the
wall. let 1t be the foot end. To sleep hy-
CHEMICALLY means to have the bed in the
center of the room, free on all four sides.
1.-THE late Pontiff. by his mode of sleep
ing, weakened his body by self-poisoning
| i. e.,
by the walls and corners of his little bed
room, were allowed to re-enter and thus
produce self-poisoning In this manner he
became predisposed to malaria and in
Illumination of the lungs. 1t is my settled
opinion that the late Pope did not catch
his final disease in the gardens, but in his
own bedroom. Inflammation of the lungs is
caught far more often within walls than
outside" So far DR.. Jaeger.
AS stated, 1 was unable to ascertain
whether Pope Plus was impressed by the
above letter, certain it is that he followed
its implied directions, which is a matter
of congratulation TO the whole Catholic
world.
OUTLOOK FROM THE TERRACE.
j visited the room in which Pope Plus
spends his nights; 1t is situated on the top
of the house and very large and lofty, the
windows reaching to the floor. On one side
is big terrace. affording one of the most
enchanting views imaginable. On a clear
day Pope Pius's eyes may travel to the
very limits of the former papal states, while
at his feet stretches the ocean of houses.
known as the Eternal City. Right opposite
are the yellow walls of the Quirinal. the
There are more than a thousand church
steeples in view, and the silvery band of
the Tiber may be followed to its union with
the sea. Pope Plus likes 10 spend the
early morning hours on this terrace and
never misses saving the Ave there with
his house chaplains. \ prelate. who had
occasion to observe Plus on the terrace.
says his eyes most often seek the snowy
tops of the Gran Sasso and the walls and
towers of Castle Gandolfo beyond the dead
crater of the Lake of Alba.
Castle Candida served as papel state
summer-residence for centuries, and ac-
cording to the law of guarantees, the SOW
ereignty of the Holy See extends to that
beautiful spot. we'll as to the Vatican.
The castle is noted far and wide as the
coolest spot I'm all Italy. and il is to be
hoped that in future years Pope Plus, whose
body and mind crave fresh air. may find the
modus vivendi allowing him TO spend the
heated term there. instead of i'm Rome IT.
self. This il is claimed by men learned in
the law, would involve no abandonment OF
principle.
Since Pope Plus took up his residence in
the tower he INDUCES. according to letters
addressed to his brother, in his "favorite
dishes only" which. at the same time, are
the simplest on record. Leo made it a
mint not to spend more than franc day