The bee., 1908-10-01
Mr. TAFT AT THE VATICAN.
His Entertaining Account of the Au-
dience Following His AdrOit
Settlement of a Vexatious
Philippine Problem.

1t is exceedingly difficult to induce
Mr.. Taft to discuss in public his own
part in any of the deeds of important
statesmanship which he has accom-
plished. On his last voyage to the
Orient he yielded to numerous re-
quests voiced by those who were
measurably familiar with the adroit-
ness with which Mr.. Taft conducted
the delicate business of gaining the
assent of the Vatican to the ceding of
the rich lands of the friars, so solving
one of the most vexatious of the Phil
ippines problems. He told of his visit
to the Vatican and of his audience
with Pope Leo XIII.
Il had supposed" said Mr.. Taft,
"that the Pope, who was then 80
years old, would have met us purely
as a matter of formality and enacted
the part of lay figure in the negotia-
tions. To my surprise, 1t was other
wise. When we were ushered into
the papal chamber, His Holiness re-
ceived us standing. He was under
average stature, extremely bent and
of waxen complexion, but exceedingly
quick in his movements. Chairs had
been placed for us and to these the
Pope motioned us, while he seated
Ou a uldS.
THE Pope listened with the closest
attention to an address covering the
subject, which had been prepared by
me, and which outlined the purpose
of our visit. He then entered into
clear, concise discussion of the mat
ter, which lasted for ten or fifteen
minutes. While he vouchsafed no
conclusion or final opinion, he in
| UnnnrQI W nxnpncCnh cNr OF hxsx x.yffh
our mission, and promised to submit
the matter to the congregation of ex-
traordinary Jurisdiction.
He turned to personal subjects,
and chatted with us for some time.
1t struck me that he possessed a we'll
defined vein of humor. For instance,
he said that he heard / had been i'll,
and carefully scanning my somewhat
heroic proportions, he dryly remarked
that my physical appearance gave no
indication of the effects of any serious
malady.
The light in his eye, keen and
ecrutinizing, his expression and his
manner, caused ii to be borne in upon
one that despite his age and some
what feeble appearance, he knew
what he had in mind he appreciated
fully the intricacies OF the subject of
our errand, and had a complete grasp
OF the matter. When he rang the
bell to summon an attendant 20 show
us out, the cord did not operate read
lily. He grasped It with no uncertain
hand and pulled 1t so hard that /
fully expected It to break.
my inability to speak French
caused me more regret than II did
when my lack OF knowledge OF that
language made II impossible for me
to converse with the facility | so
eagerly desired with this ecclesiasti-
cal gentleman and statesman. / can
not doubt from what / saw OF him
that Leo Kill was The greatest Pope
in many years. His statesmanship
was undoubtedly OF the highest type;
he Was a Latin poet Of great purity
and force, an Italian noblemRn OF
thorough education and a man who
controlled Almost to the minute OF
his death he was Pope IN fact, the
Pope In control Pope who carried
out the policies of the church as he
thought they oughtto be carried out"
Decorations which the Pope was
anxious TO confer upon Mr.. Taft and
the members OF his party to signalize
the visit were declined. One OF Mrs.
Taft's most prized mementOs OF travel
is a bit of rare German enamel. rep
resenting st. Ursula and her virgins,
which the Pope gave her.