Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-19

lfTSNsTTiI pineto are constantly
n SSII II boasting. When you en-
;SI9@5H ter th' village the first
llNA person you encounter will
tell you of its distinction.
Almost half century has passed
since the holy father looked upon the
village, and he will never see it again.
But his thoughts are ever turned to-
ward it. How this wonderful man, who
was born when the past century was in
its swaddling clothes, finds time to de-
vote so much attention to his BIRTH
place is beyond the comprehension of
those who are familiar with the vast
amount Of work he performs.
All Of Carpineto revolves about the
pope. All its stories are Of him, and
men of 70 tell tales which were handed
Gown to them by their fathers and
mothers.
Among all the millions Of people the
world over who give love and reverence
to the holy father noSe enthrone him
so high in their hearts as the 700 fam
lilies in Carpineto. One can learn more
about the personality of the man in the
place Of his birth than in the Vatican,
yet few persons visit Carpineto. 1t is
only few hours journey by rail from
Rome to Montelanico, where one takes
strongly built little stage drawn by
four mules and guarded by two cara
biniers armed with rife, sword, revolv-
or, and stiletto. The Italian govern
ment doesn't care to have a foreigner
abducted by banditti if it can be
avoided.
The road leads straight up and
around the mountains for miles, and
the cooked rifles and the sharp outlook
maintained by the guard would indi-
cate that the precautions are not mere
ly matter Of form. But for an hour
or two one will not see hut or habita-
ton, and more than likely not human
soul.
Suddenly, at turning In the road,
the driver points out great country
house, which he calls the Pecci casino,
and below it is "Carpineto, the birth
place of our holy father" The village
was founded more than ten centuries
ago by the warlike Volsci, the robber
knights Of the middle ages. These
earliest settlers had to hew into the
solid rock in order to build their hous-
es. and at this day the total number Of
them is not more than 500.
One goes on foot through a stony
back lane known as the Corso to the
first home Of Leo XIII, called, like ev-
cry nobleman's home In Italy, palace
1t looks, to American eyes, more like a
fort than a stately residence. The house
is two and half stories high, with a
modest balcony in front The lower row
of windows is not more than four and
one-half feet high and Is guarded by
iron gratings.
1t was in this house that the holy
father passed his childhood. Although
the Peccis were mobiles they were poor,
and one may see the room where the
holy fathers mother kept the silk
worms which furnished the money for
the late cardinal, which was the foun-
detion for their success.
Everywhere one hears stories about
him. AS q child he was a true son of
the mountains, and 1t Is said that no
one in Carpineto could equal him in
mountain climbing.
Father Salvagni is the only surviving
schoolmate of the pope In Carplneto.
He is a small, thicket man, who says
he is at least 80 years old, and who Is
still proud of his muscle, even boast
ing Of it like youth in the first flush
OF manhood.
User Nino Leo was the most courag-
eous mountain climber l ever saw"
said Father Salvagni, land we have
long been famous for our skill in noun
taineering In this part of the country
And at one time he was the best shot
In these mountains. So great was his
skill with the rife that he disdained to
shoot bird except on the wing.
But study ruined his craftsmanship.
It Is a great pity. was ashamed Of
him the last time he visited us, in Sep
TENDER, 1857. With other huntsmen /
had gone out on the road near Monte
lanico to meet him. He recognized me
in the throng, and begged me to lend
him my rife. handed the weapon to
him. He aimed at bird and hit tree.
1t cut me to the heart He, the best RI
fieman in the mountains, to miss an
easy shot! He never used a gun again.
! suppose he felt the disgrace too keen
ly. He left us on Nov. of that same
year, never to return"
In his youth the holy father was al
ways called "Nino," and Father Sal
vagni so called him in speaking Of their
boyhood days. He walked over the
grounds where he and the pope used to
hunt.
There" he said, pointing to a grot-
to-; there we used to lie in ambush for
rabbits more than seventy-hve years
ago."
The grotto Is near the Celle Orecchie,
or Hill of Ears. The name was given
to it back in the middle ages, because 1t
was on this bill that the men Of Car
pineto cut of the ears OF prisoners
from the town Of Bassiano. Twenty
years late those of Bassiano had their
revenge, for they captured many of the
Carpineto fighters, and on this same
hill not only cut OF their ears, but
their noses as we'll.
In the Pecci palace there stands In a
corner Of an upper room a flint lock
with an excessively long barrel, while
all about are the uniforms and cos
tunes OF the male Peeois, most OF
whom we're IN the service OF the vati-
can as courtiers, councillors, jurists,
prelates, or military oficers, and the
bishops and cardinals robes, miters.
croziers, episcopal rings, gloves. and
oIfnnaru haton od10 IN tho hnIv fafhar