The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-06
MELAN|A WAS
THE RICHEST
OF ALL WOMEN

Cardinal Rampolla secretary OF state
10 Pope Leo MIL, discovered among the
manuscripts of the Escurial when he was
papal nunclo al Madrid. biography OF
Saint Melania the Younger. which he has
lately translated. edited and had printed
at the Vatican press. What follows Is an
abridgment OF his narrative,
The author of the biography was named
Gerontius. From A. ID. 400 until 4S9 no
was I'm the services OF and daily associa-
tion with Melania. and after her death he
succeeded her as the head OF monastery
which she founded. An eyewitness. he
tells who Melania was, the amount OF her
fortune and what she did with IL.
Melania and her husband were both
Christians and wished 10 follow literally
the Saviours precept: go and sell all
that thou hast and give TO the poor and
thou shalt have treasure I'm Heaven"
They therefore resolved to devote their
immense possessions TO the cause oil
Christ.
History records that during the fourth
and tho beginning OF the fifth century af-
ter Christ certain patrician Roman fam
lies amassed enormous wealth. Melania's
fortune surpassed all others and consisted
OF "a villa on the Coelian at Rome which
enclosed porticoed courts, a circus. "A hip
podrome and immense gardens. It's build
| ings were decorated with the paintings,
mosaics, statues, sculpture and precious
marbles, cared for and served by garden
ers, butchers. bakers, cooks, waiting wo-
men, valets and all the host OF necessary
slaves.
A rural domain at the fifth milestone
on the Appian way three miles in cir
cumference-its ruins have yielded many
marbles TO the Vatican museum.
estate on the northern coast OF Sicily
titled by 5000 slaves
Estates In Africa, Itumida, Mauritania
In Britain. In Spain --d IN Gaul with
enough slaves to cultivate them.
Her yearly revenues, II is estimated
amounted 10 scores OF millions of dollars
They may well have exceeded the civil
list of any emperor or potentate who ever
lived and were probably greater than any
other woman ever possessed
IL is not known what use Melania made
OF her wealth before she decided to rid
herself of it; her blographer begins his
story only wher she had so resolved
Melania found il very difficult TO follow
| the command of her Master; public opin-
/ ion, custom and above all the law OF the
! empire forbade. The Roman law then
1 prohibited, except under certain restric-
/ tons, the alienation OF real estate. Then,
| when this husband and wife decided to
obey Christ's command they were minors
| and they could not sell their real estate
! without decree IA tilted by the Roman
! senate
Public rumor. which had been busy with
Melania : future blaming or praising as
prejudice or religious bias swayed. had
aroused the queens curiosity and its OBJ
iect had been several times hidden to the
| imperial palace, commands which had in
! variably been disobeycd In the spring ot
| a. -. i0t the disobedient one remembered
that the imperial power could unmake as
well as make laws and could smooth hei
difficult road TO poverty.
Accompanied by her husband severa
bishops and Gerontius. who chronicles IN,
event. she went TO the Palatine. IIer
! train included slaves bearing many aud
costly presents. tho customary offerings
10 tho powerful and their court Clos ell,
yelled and wearing a dress OF very cheaI
material, tho suppliant said to those VIII,
demonstrated with her.
II shall not uncover the head which
have covered for Christs sake: | shal
not change the garment which | have pu
on for my Savlour's glory"
Her humility had its immediate reward
for Serena herself came forward TO NEE
and greet her, seated her at her side or
the golden throne, and calling her cour
around her said:
Behold this woman. who could h,
surrounded by all that wealth could buy
YET Tor Christs sake renounces all tn,
Nanties OF this world
Serena herself declined the gifts Offered
TO her. and forbade any OF her courtier.
or servants to accept any. At her reques
the emperor at once gave orders TO tn,
rulers of his provinces 20 sell Melania'
estates and remit the proceeds TO her
"WC were all stupefed with amaze
ment' commented Gerontius.
Melania and her husband left Rome be
fore Alaric captured IL and went TO thci
Sicilian estate The troubles of tho tim =
delayed the sale OF their possessions 70
| years. AS fast as they could they spen
their wealth i'm building and endowin,
Churches, monaSteries. nunneries hospi
tals and endowing and adorning their al
tars win vessels Of gold and of silver
They relieved the necessities of thous
ands or the poor and needful. sendin,
vessels and messengers with money ans
hecessaries for them and TO the hermit,
ana monks OF Egypt Jerusalem and An
! toch, After q years of continuous Of
| fort they had at last reduced their ono,
| colossal fortune to the remnant Of ;
small estate In Spain.
Gerontius never could give the numbe
OF slaves that Melania at one time own
! ed, but stated that In two years 500 wer,
| liberated. lie states that her annual I'm
! come was 10000 pounds weight I'm gold
| equal TO more than $S0.0OmO of Unite,
| states gold coin, and. taking the pur
chasing power Of specie In the sixth cen