The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1908-09-17

~NAS k'OPS. DOA JOu lA1AA dA
able to open door myself? When 1
shall be old and i'll he will open the
door and will stay in bed"
Notwithstanding his simple living
and abstemious habits Pope Plus is
bothered with govt. One of the old
fashions Of those calling on the head
OF the church was to kiss his foot.
This custom the present pope has dis
continued along with others of similar
nature. When one delegation asked
for the old privilege of kissing the
papal toe he replied, ''No, it is Ill.,
Stopped Old Customs and Graft.
But Plus KS democratic tendencies
do not stop merely with abrogating
old customs, but enter into his policies.
For hundreds of years there has been
In connection with the church an acad-
envy for noble ecclesiastics. None out
side Of the nobility was eligible to ad-
mission to this exclusive school. It has
furnished the church with all her dip
lomats for centuries. Many popes and
other chief men of the Catholic world
Ao' OO&A SAo lucIc Lue
operation Of this institution a diplo-
matte career and other high church
positions were closed to all not of blue
blood. The pope decided to shut up this
institution forever and to throw open
all positions to the sons of the poor
and untitled as we'll as to those Of
wealth and family. Not only 50, but he
has named for many Of the chief sta
lions under him those of peasant orr
gin, like himself. He has halted the
policy of Capitalization. He has stop
ped graft. One notable instance was
shown in the gifts of insignia Of Office.
Happening to ask the price of one Of
these ornaments, Plus was struck by
the exorbitance. On inquiry he found
that twice as much was asked for the
articles as they were worth. He traced
the dishonesty to its source and found
It originated with middlemen. He
thereupon ordered that in future the
jeweler should deal direct and there
should be fixed scale of prices.
This most democratic Of the pontiffs
smokes, jokes, says if he were young
he would ride wheel, is reputed to
have been a freethinker in his early
days, freely expresses his opinion that
the church should have little or moth
ing to do with politics, but should
concern itself with spiritual affairs,
shows an unbounded interest in Amer
lea, is friend Of the king and many
statesmen of modern Italy, with whom
all popes are supposed to be in a
deadly feud, upsets moss grown Vat
lean rules, makes his visitors treat
him like man rather than like
monarch, loves games and plays them,
from chess to bowls, and generally
conducts himself like reformer and
man Of the new age.
overrated. He is subject to his car
dinals, just as president of the Unit
ed States is subject to the senate In
some things, however, he is supreme,
and his influence is potent every
where. Should Plus K. be spared a
few years longer it is believed he will
take still more advanced steps.
Beloved by the People.
From the days when he was a hum
BILE parish priest until the present
Giuseppe Sarto has had unbounded
popularity. When he was advanced
from his first charge men gave him
an ovation and women wept to see
him go. While he was cardinal and
patriarch of Venice his popularity
grew till It became fad. In the same
way he is now beloved by the COM
mon people of the entire Catholic
world.
After all, the greatest thing on earth
is the soul of man. 1t is higher than
institutions, forms or ceremonies.
Despite our beliefs, when we see
fine white spirit, true to God and his
people, we hail it in whatever sur
roundings it appears Such a soul is
the simple, kindly, unpretentious and
honest Giuseppe Sarto, son Of peas
ants and now known to fame as Pope
Plus x