The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-13

beautifully furnished and decorated,
~ throne bcarng the papal crown oc.
cllpicd one side Of the room.
His Holiness greeted us very cour-
tcously and cordially. He wore a long
white cassock, with a girlle at the
waist. The Fishcrmans ring was on
his finger and he wore Il small, closely.
lifting skull cap OF white.
L had an opportunity to study his
face. 1t is a round, strong face, full
OF Kindness and bcncvolcnce, but there
are not lacking indications that it's
posscssor has a purpose and will Of
his own. The face is ruddy and the
nose rather long 1t is straight and
not archcd. His eyes are large; blue
and friendly. The scant hair, visible
below the skull cap. is white.
In stature the Holy Father is about
five feet nine or ten inches and his
figure is sturdy, but not too heavy.
His step is light and gives an impress
sion Of strength ana good health.
His Holiness has already gained a
reputation as Il democratic pontifr and
enjoys a large and growing popularity
with the people. He is an orator, and
often, on Sunday, goes into one of the
many courtynrds of the Vatican and
breaches to the crowds that gather
quite informally. His gestures are
said to be graceful and his voice melo-
'lious. His manner is earnest and his
thoughts are expressed in clear and
emphatic language.
There is a feeling in Rome that Plus
y is going TO he known in history as
Il rcforncr. not as n rcfOrmcr of doc
trinc. but as one who will popularize
the Churcll's doctrine with view to
increasing the hcartinrss and zeal Of
the masses in the application of reIigi-
Gus truth to everyday life
l assured His Holiness that I apprc-
ciatrd the opportunity that was his
TO give impetus to the moral forces
of the world, ana re replied:
~ hope my efforts in that direction
will be such as TO merit cOmmenda-
ton"
Answering my statement that I
called to present the good will of many
Catholic friends as we'll as to pay
my respects, His Holiness asked me to
carry his bcncdiction back to them.
| 1pn
such brief observation, it is that heart
characteristics will dominate the pres
emf Pontif'S course. He is not so re-
nowncd as Il scholar and diplomat as
was his predecessor; nor is he 81
skilled in statccraft, but he is virle,
energetic. practical religious teacher,
charitable. abounding in good works
ana full Of brothrrly love.
am encouraged to believe that he
will play an important part in the
Worldwide conflict between man and
mammOn.
The world has made, and is making,
great progress in education and in in
lnStry. The percentage of illitcracy is
everywhere steadily decreasing. The
standards of art and taste are rising
and the forces of nature "rc being hHr-
messed to do the work of man. Steam,
madly escaping from it's prison walls,
turns myriad wheels and drags our
commerce over land and sea- While
electricity, more fleet of foot than Mcr.
cllry. has become the message bearer
Of millions.
Even the waves of the air are now
u'tc'licnt to the command Of man, and
intelligence is flashed across the ocean
without the aid of wires. With this
dominion over nature man has been
able to advance his physical wel-be-
ing as we'll as to enlarge his mental
horizon, but has the moral develop
mcnt of the people kept pace with ma
tcrial prosperity?
The growing antagonism between
capital and labor, the lack of sympa-
thy often manifest between those Of
the same race and even of the same
religion, when enjoying incomes quite
unequal-these things would seem to