Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-21

years are shown by the wh1teness of his hair. His face has the tawny hue of old parchment and is deeply lined. Despite his austerity the cardinals learning and piety are universally rec ognized, This is the man who for the time being is practically pope. It was he who issued the orders to clear the Vatican from intruders and brought tranquility out of the confusion imme-- diately following Pope Leo's death.
 At APO o'clock in the afternoon a man dashed across the square of St. Peters, while another followed on bicycle. Within a few seconds, as if by magic, newspaper men, gendarmes and messengers, running, driving and gesticulating, dashed to and from the portals of the Vatican. Like wire less message there flashed around the words, "He is dead" Rubbing the aft ernoon sleep from their eyes, barehead- ed men and women, many carrying babies, emerged from the darkened houses and cafes and besieged the door of the Vatican.
 The greatest interest is now centered in the work of the holy conclave which is to select the successor of Leo XIII. Speculations, prophecies and predic- tiCns come from every direction in fla vor of the various candidates. The comparatively long illness of Leo has had the effect of narrowing the chances of some who entered the contest with what was thought to be the brightest prospects, while it has brought forward the prominence of others who at first were hardly considered. The result is that they are all now on about the same level
 From a most reliable source 1t is learned that the considerable talk which is going the rounds to the effect that certain foreign powers might exer- else the right of veto in the conclavS is unfounded What the powers desire is not that the new pope should be friendly to any particular power, but that he should conduct the affairs of the papacy in peaceful, equitable, re- ligious manner without stirring up in ternational strife.
 Indeed it is supposed that the rumo1 that Austria might attempt to exercise the right of exclusion against Cardinal Rampolla was started by the friends of the latter in order to have him ap- pear as a persecuted martyr. The most prominent candidates for the sue ! cession are Cardinals Gotti, Oreglia, Agliardi, Serafino Vannutelli, Capece- latro, Sarto, Rampolla, Di Pietro, Stampa, Ferrari, Satolh and Richelmy,
 By a strange coincidence this is the birthday of former Queen Margherita, the mother of King Victor Emmanuel and flags had been raised all over the city in her honor, giving it festive ap- pearance. By express desire no sa- lutes were fired, as is customary, SC that the pontif might not be disturbed especially as there is fort near the Vatican. When the king heard of this desire he had telegraphic orders sent all over the Kingdom that no salutes should be fired. Tn Rome on the fac of the death becoming known many of the displayed flags were withdraw and shops closed. Bulletins announc ing Pope Leo's death are being pasted to the closed shutters, and all the thea ters are closed, placards being put oul saying there was no performance as z sign of mourning for Leo XIII. Al the newspapers, including those favor able to the present institutions, publish long eulogistic articles about the de ceased.
 The chief International question: which may be affected by the death O.
 the pope are those connected with tn, suppression of religious orders il France and the change of the clergy il l the new Spanish-American possessions