Evening star., 1907-09-01
Statue
IFS VlnpelIeO

Special Cablegrsm TO The Star
ROME August Sl.-There f. something
peculiarly appropriate in the circum-
stance OF the statue of Pope Leo NIII being
placed above the left entrance TO the
saCristy in St. John Lateran In a corre-
spending position TO the statue Of Pope In
nocent III. which is just above the right en-
trance to the sacristy. Leo XIII raised this
monument to one of the very greatest OF his
predecessors In the papacy. Innocent III
was buried in the Cathedral OF Prruga
where Leo XIII had been cardinal and arch
bishop for two-and-thirty years. When he
became Popn he had the remains OF limo
cent III removed to the Latcran and the
magnificent monument in that church erect
ed to his memory.
ON a Monday morning in the great Church
of the Lateran and in the presence OF sev-
eral cardinals and the chapter the great
white cloth that hid from public view the
monument of Leo XIII was let down and
the statue of that pontir and his tomb were
revealed to the public. At first sight the
statue of the famous pontff the figures be-
side ii and the richness OF the setting and
shine of the marbles dazzle and delight tho
eyes. The critical faculty will awaken later
on, and. doubtless faults will be found and
unsupported beauties discovered.
There is however, one thing certain Tho
artist. Tadolini. has achieved a llfe-like fig
ure of the late pope One solitary but char
acteristic moment in the life of Leo XIII
all that could be actually represented
in the stern, colorless marble. but that was
a most expressive moment, summing up In
itself much of the character of the pontiff
and of the personality of Leo XIII. The
moment Is that in which the multtudes who
filled the vast spaces of st. Peters occa-
sion of the many great functions witnessed
so frequently-the moment when the aged
and spirit-lilte pontiff rose to his feet in
the Sedia Costa toria and put forth his arm
and trembling hand to bless the applaudIng
thousands. No one who ever saw and re-
members that characteristic and grand ac-
ton but will acknowledge the faithfulness
with which TadolIni has expressed 1t.
The statue is colossal The tall figure OF
the pope, the great cope, which was made
of the lightest materials. as to lessen its
weight for him; the great tiara and the
head slightly bent forward recall his figure
and features most accurately. Beneath his
feet is the elegantly formed sarcophagus.
in which his remains will be placed when
there is probability of propitious time
being found for their removal. At the right
side of the monument female figure.
seated in despondency, with veil shading
the upper part of the bent head. her right
arm hanging droopingly over the sar-
cophagus, represents the sorrow OF the
church at the death of the pontiff--a sor-
row. as the inscription tells shared by the
| world at large. On the other side work.
man, who is also pilgrim. kneels and
looks up to the pope blessing. He holds up
his hand with a rosary in it, in the other
hand he carries his pilgrim staff in his
girdle Is his hammer. He Is the repre-
sentative of labor.
Strange to say, of all the great acts and
successes of the twenty-five years of Leo's
pontifcate. his great achievements such as
tIa OF nf RiSr, rrk tha i,r1nt tlCa m
learning given by him, the renewal of his
| torical writing, the number of institutions
and charities he established, the saints he
canonized and the other innumerable
grand works he accomplished-there was
nothing else chosen by art for commem-
Grafton save the fact that he was the
workingman's pope" and it is by this title,
so far as this monument can make 1t EVIL
dent that he will be known to the world
VINO receive information by seeing rather
| than by reading. 1t is perhaps. the title
he would choose to be known by to future
ages.
In consignng the monument to the GUS
tody Of the Lateran chapter the commis-
sion Of cardinals for its erection-it is erect
ed at the expense of the cardinals whom
the late pontif created-Cardnal Serafno
vannuteli on the part of the commission.
after Iauding the work of the sculptor.
of the venerable pontiff in the act In which
he blesses his children could not be better
or more majestically represented. nor ex-
press better the effuson of his paternai
heart in blessing. Civilization, Christian
humanity. which. with arm extended on the
sepulchral urn. sorrowfully mourns the loss
of such a pontiff while 1t expresses a fact
historically most exact. signifies likewise to
what high grade of esteem the great Leo
has reached IN the admiration of civilized
nations with his mastery teachings in his
marvellous encyclicals. in which the most
arduous problems of our age are most lu-
minousty solved.
The pilgrim who on the other side. ven-
crates the vicar of Christ specially personi-
fies the devout gratitude the working
classes owe to him. the protection OF whom,
within the limits of justice and charity. he
assumed. In fine. the monument which
you GurnIng to the sculptor, 1adolinD.
ulustrious professor. consign to US today is
a real compendium as well as a majestic
synthesis OF the great pontificate of Leo
XIII in its most salient parts.
Cardinal Satolli, archpriest OF the Later
an, responding to Cardinal Vannutelll, said
that the most solemn monument which will
serve to perpetuate the memory of Leo XIII
more even than the admirable forms In
which Commentators Tadollni has repre-
sented the beloved likeness of the dead
pontiff-are his works He spoke at length
and with complete mastery of his subject
on the principal encycltcals OF the late
pontiff showing their profound wisdom and
their great social significance. He recalled
to mind how Leo XIII had desired tat be-
side his own tomb should be that OF the
Pontiff Innocent Ill. of whose works he
was the admirer and continuation. Cardinal
Satolli said that the Lateran chapter, proud
of having in Its BaSilica the venerable re-
mains of the pontiff who was SO devoted to
its adornment bows down in reverence be-
fore his tomb.
The holy see is much pleased with the