The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-22
OFFICIAL ROME
WAS startled
By Announcement of Appoint
ment by the Pope.
VILLAGE OF CARPENATO
Mill Now be Looked After and
Properly Cared for.

Onicial Rome was startled the other day
by the announcement in the Vatican Court
Circular that the Pope had been pleased
to appoint a protector FOR his village
Of Carpenato with orders to look after
the public buildings. waterworks. charit-
able institutions. roads and other improve
ments. says the Buffalo Courier Carpe-
nato belonged 10 the former states OF the
church and some ultra patriots feared
that Leo might be about to reassume the
privileges and rights OF sovereignty. I
started for Leo NILS birthplace 20 in
ves;igate and this is what i found
A community. gradually raised from
torments OF excessive poverty by the mu-
nificence OF Carpenato's great son: a
thousand-year-old town in the way OF re-
construction on hygienic principles: the
iirect necessity of the naive population
TO be relieved by splendid waterworks
palaces. hospitals. schools and old people $
homes-ail and everything provided and
maintained by the Pope for his beloved
townspeople-and Monsignor Adami the
papl protector. in charge 10 see that hts
holiness money is spent so as TO do the
most good. Though only few hours
from Rome. in The heart OF the Vosci or
Lepini mountains. Carpenato has no rail-
road connection. Up 10 Monteanico l
travelled by stage between two carabin-
lers. armed 10 the teeth with rife. sword.
revolver and stfletto-for the Italian gov
eminent does not care 10 have a foreign
er abducted by the bandits. There
mounted a tiny, but strongly built trap
drawn by four mules TO circumnavigate
the mountainside. The road led straight
up for miles and miles and the King s
soldiers had taken TO horse. one In front.
the other behind. their cooked rifles han
dy. their eyes searching the mountain tops
and ravfnes. Not living soul anywhere.
not house or hut. for an hour or two.
until suddenly. at turning in the road.
the driver called my attention 10 a far-or
country house. the 'Pecci Casino" os he
called it. And further below. Carpenato.
the birthplace OF our Holy Father.
The town is built In the shape OF a
sword. Pecci Palace. with its tall. four
cornered tower stands at the head. form
ing the hilt. so 20 speak. the natives
houses. some sou in numeber. mark the
blade. The ma jirity OF these houses are
hewn in solid rocks. with additions fore
and aft and on top.
The streets OF Carpenato are not wide
enough to accommodate vehicles. the
founders OF the town. the warlike Volsci
and their Successors. the robber knights
Of the middle ages, had use for mules and
horses only. SO we left the mail cart at
the foot of the lower OF the two noun
tains. fanking Carpenato north and south
and entered the stony. black lane called
Corso. that leads 30 the gate Of the Pecci
Palace. In Italy every noblemans house
is called a palace-to my American eyes
Pope Leos homestead resembles a fort
rather than a stately residence. The
house is two and a half stories high with
a modest balcony IN front: the lower row
Of windows is not more than four and 4
half feet high and without reach OF a
mans hand. while guarded by heavy iron
gratings l had my hand on the knocker
Of the bronze portals. showing the her
aldic star and the tall cypress tree OF the
Pope's coat OF arms. when the door opened
and a midde-aged man offered me well
come.
"Ludovico Pecci'' ne introduced him
self the Holy Fathers unworthy
nephew" servant in livery took your
correspondent TO an upper chamber 20
help him dress for dinner. quarter OF
an hour hence. The room is hung In yell
low silk and the furniture are OF rare gil
ded wood. The first thing 20 attract my
attention was a marble slab. with the fol-
lowing inscription let into the wall.
Stranger. the room you have entered
is the same which Leo XIII lived In as
prelats. delegate. bishop and cardinal.
Count Ludovico Pecci. his nephew. re-
stored II with much splendor In honor Of
the great Pope
This then was Leo's own chamber
where he dvelt at different times while
climbing to the highest Offices the CG;ho-
lie church holds out to lie worthy -erv-
ants There was hts bed Of precious
wood. iuIaid with gold and r1oth-r-of-
pearl over Il baidachir % violet sflk
and next 20 IL a grand painting % tho
beautiful Marguerite Pccci a great great
aunt Of Leo. who lived IN the fifteenth
century The painting II MASTERPIECES.
a Holbein might be proud % r. Mar
guerfta wears a dress 81 a Sister Of ser
itude and ~ Is easy 20 see that tho Pope
bears an unnfstzkable likeness n his
sanity relatives
Near the window stands praying desk
% gilt wood ard over u hangs the Peccs
family tire. showing that they were
rulers % Sienna before ore branch sstsb-
shed its.If In he ref q Csrpens;o. IN
der the sszsrszlnty 81 the Holy Gee.
There IL also wonderful antique writing
table. ;he toy Of which u % Esidsd silver.
n front stands much-worn antique arm
chair. the Iab-i % which shows that
he Pope used IL for many year, while
studying
While re were taking our eer-e in Inc