The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-21

D 100000 y WV
Pope Leo NH entered his pontificate in
the sixty-eishth year of his age. long
tried prelate. whose strength of character,
energy. judgment. piety. virtues and serv-
ices are matters of record. He united in
admirably proportioned degrees the apos-
tolic mildness with the administrative r!gor;
he made himself at the same time loved and
feared.
Personally he was a man of stately bear
ing. His voice was sonorous and brilliant
when he preached, and slightly nasal in
familiar conversation. In private life he
was simple, affectionate, lovable and witty.
In the ceremonies Of the church. under the
purple, he was grave. austere and majestic.
One would say that he was given 10 posing,
hut that was not true The pose with him
was natural; he did not seek it; it fought
him. It was the same with Plus IX. The
pontdcate creates a second nature.
A photograph OF Cardinal Pecci taken in
1870. when he attended the Ecumenical
Council gives one an admirable idea Of the
personal presence of the Pope. With it ap-
pear also the licensees of all the other
Cardinals. and 1t is no eSasgeration to say
that Peccis head is by far the most Impress
i've IN this gallery. There are sterner
heads, heads more severely Intellectual or
austerely grand; or cast perhaps in finer
diplomatic mold: but for supreme kindness
and benevolence and a certain beamfnS,
gentle grace no face in the galaxy Of Car
dinals can approach 1t.
Like that Of Pho Nome. It was a counte-
nance that won at once and Immediately
the way to the scrutinizers heart. At the
Same time it was stronger in its intel
1ectual quality than was that Of Pho Mono.
and 1t was particularly conspicuous in the
manifestation Of sound sense and clear
judgment.
TALL AND SPARE IN BUILD,
YET OF STRONG PHYSIQUE.
Leo XIII was a tall man. rather spare in
build. but nevertheless of strong, wiry
physique. His presence Was most com
manding. His head was very large and
thoroughly Italian. 1t differed from the
good-natured roundnes Of Pho Nono's by
its great length and the sharper outlines
which It reached toward the chin. The
forehead was massive, high and rather
straight, and was especially striking from
its great width, indicative OF intellectual
strength The thin hair that streaked IL
was Of silver hue. The eyebrows were dark
and heavy and Of perfect arch. and the eyes
were singularly mild and soft and, at the
same time, penetrating and searching. The
large, well-defined nose was characteristic
OF hrmness and will power, decidedly Ro-
man in shape, but with wide nostrils that
were credited by physiognomists with bold,
leonine qualities.
His handwriting Is peculiar enough to eX-
cite interest even II it were not that of the
Pope. 1t Is exceedingly small and of very
careful. 1aboHous construction. as IL each OF
the infnitesimal characters were formed
with the most painstaking care. In its airy
delicacy il resembles a lady's hand. but the
mosaic elaboration of every stroke has
something highly scholastic about 1t Tn
der his dirinutive signature the Pope leaves
half an inch of vacant space and then COM
pletes It by five dashes growing success
sively smaller and smaller.
Pope Leo XIII had marvellous memory
which he retained up to the last. Speaking
Of him in December, 1896. Archbishop
stonor, who frequently attended on him
said:
He recc1lects many Of the people he re-
ceives after intervals Of as long g
years Many years ago, when Lord Pal
merston was Premier. his Holiness visited
England and was presented to the Queer
and Prince Consort. OF that visit he still
remembers the small details, and only
short time ago he mentioned Sir Jane.
Graham, who was one of the Ministers o
the period, and spoke Of the part he tool
in controversy respecting posts and tele
graphs" Again, when a Miss O'Connel
was presented to the Pope a short tint
ago, his Holiness asked whether she wa
a relative OF the distinguished parliamen
tartan Of that name, and. on learning tina
she was his niece, he said. 81 well recollec
hearing your uncle speak in the House o
Commons
POET AND STATESMAN
he REMAINED TO THE LAST.
A poet as well as statesman and pon;it
Leo remained to the last, as is evidenced b.
the fact that fine poem on the Twentieth
Century by him was published as late a:
the twenty-fifth anniversary Of his pontifi
cate. In it we note all his old vigor ant
grace Of diction. A remarkable achieve
ment 1t was for a man Of his years, and TO
IL he won high praise from competent critic
Throughout the civilized world.
OF him, indeed. 1t may be said that what
ever he did was well done There hav
been many pontiffs, but not many who hav
done greater Deus eilOtdIeu tHeulSelNt
more to all Christendom than Leo Mi
A conservative in many respects, he was q
the same time true child of the centur,
ard hence he could not be blind to III
march of events. He saw the meaning {
modern progress and he recognized the pc
,ency of modern ideas. A man of narro'
mind might have come forth as champio
against them. but not such a man was Lee
Intolerance formed no part of his creed
class prejudice found no favor in his eye!
In his mastery encyclicals he spoke su
thoritatively and most wisely, not Away
on purely ecclesiastical subjects, but yer
often also on subjects which are OF worlc
wide secular interest Thus he was moi
than an ecclesiastic: he was also grea
statesman. OF his personal character. a
who were ever privileged to know him hav
spokeu in the highest terms. That he wa
very charitable and kindly is known TO a;
In a word, he bore himself nobly in hi
high office. and now that he has gone
his reward all who have watched his stel
ling and loyal work will admit that ne Wa
:, true and eminently sagacious shepherd {
the people.
WORLD SENT HIM PRESENTS
AT HIS JUBILEE IN 1857.
The pope's jubilee was celebr1s.d