Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-28
MASSFOR THE DEAD
Sung With all It's Solemnity at
 Rome To-Day
VERY IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY

Cardinals, Monks and Prelates Were There-The Singing of the Gregorian Chant by the Sistine Choir Was Awe Inspiring-The Scene Was One Never to Be Forgotten.
 Rome, July 2S.-The first of the three great requiem masses, under the aus pices of the sacred college, for the re- pose of the soul of Pope Leo, was cele- brated this morning in the Sistine chapel. All the cardinals now in Rome, the diplomatic corps, the Roman nobility and many other distinguished persons were present. No such mass had been seen in Rome since the death of Plus TX.
 In the Sistine chapel stood a huge white catafalque thirty feet high, and 0n 1t, upon two scarlet cushions, rested triple crown of gold, shining bright ly in the light of a hundred candles. uhe catafalque completely hid the al- tar. Thanking the catafalque, on benches specially constructed, sat al most all the members of the sacred col lege, wearing scarlet caps over their violet robes. At their feet, on stools, were the conclavists, or secretaries, in violet. In the narrow aisle behind, be- tween the benches and the wall, the heads of the religious orders, archbtsh- ops, patTiarchs, monsignors and monks, knelt or stood in picturesque confusion.
 At the four corners of the catafalque burned candles ten feet high. Beside these stood noble guards, motionless, with drawn swords Other noble guards were posted at the chancel en- trance. Immediately beyond, in re- served places, were all the diplomats. The intermingled uniforms of Trance, Russia Prussia, Austria. Spain, Bel gium, Portugal Brazil, Chilli, Colom- bia, Guatemala and Bavaria formed vivid contrast with the simple evening dress of the Roman princes and crape veils and black dresses of the prin- cesses, who sat directly across the aisle. In addition, two galleries had been erected. Tn the one on the left were about a hundred ladies, all in deep black; in the right were the spe- cial missions, among them being Sir Thomas Esmonde and Captain Don elan, representing the Irish parlia- mentary party. Beneath the galleries the priests and laymen who had been
 
 were packed in dim seclusion. Swiss and noble guards, chamberlains and other vatican officials lined the aisle, Michael Angelo's frescoes on ceiling and wall seemed merely faint refiec- tions of the brilliant maze of color that stretched below from door to altar.
 The A1bbe Perosi, Italy's foremost oratorio composer, waved his baton and the silence was broken with the notes of the Dies Irae. Those who know the vatican we'll say the matchless Sis tine choir never sang as 1t did to-day. Through the historic chapel the voices of boys and men rose and fell and swelled friumphantly as if with songs of paralysis, the voices dying away almost to a whisper at the mention of death. Even the cardinals sat spell bound at this perfection of the Gre gorian chant. Not note of instru- mental music was heard throughout the mass.
 At the altar Cardinal Serafino Van nutelH was assisted by Cardinals Ag- liardi, Vincenzo Vannutelli, Satolli and Richard, wearing white mitres and glistening vestments
 SatoIh, always erect and swarthy, looked doubly so beside the feeble frame and snow-white head of the aged Cardinal Richard, archbishop of Paris.
 As the fifty cardinals and fifty con clavists gathered around the cata- falque and alternately knelt and rose, their movements resembled an amaz- ing kaleidoscope of crimson and vio- let, with colors so bright as to be most trying to the eyes.
 Then came the singing of the Sane tus, modulated almost into whisper. All present knelt as the choir ceased intoning its grand chant and the dead silence of the conservation which fol lowed was suddenly broken by the clash of arms as the noble guards pre- sented swords. Then there was an- other chatter of arms as the soldiers scabbards clashed on the marble floor ing when they dropped on one knee, lowered their swords and brought their left hands to their helmets in rigid salute.
 Clouds of incense rose from the cen sers until Michael Apgelos famous ''Last Judgment was almost hidden from view.
 Suddenly the sharp tinkling of bell rang through the edifice and told the worshippers. that the host had been elevated,
 At the conclusion of the mass the choir agatn burst out into song and Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli, preceded by the cross-bearer, passed solemniy around the catafalque, after sprinkling it with holy water. Each of the of hciating cardinals followed in turn and hhe ceremony was concluded with the chanting of the Oremus.
 MASS FOR POPE LEO.
 London, July 28.-A requiem mass