The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-06
HOW THE HOLY FATHER
 RECEIVES HIS VISITORS

1 so that it would appear as if his was the only voice.
 have before referred to the sense of responsibility which seems to have entered in and become a very part of the holy father. And yet this very sense of responsibility which weighs so heavily on him has already enriched his pontificate with extraordinary achievements and has filled him wit spirit of labor and energy almost incredible in man of his years.
 Most of US were surprised on August l 1, 1908, when we learned that the 63 princes of the church. comprising the most venerable and enlightened body of men in the world selected as com | paratively unknown man to succeed Leo XIII, not a theologian like Car dinal Satolli, for Cardinal Sarto has never written anything but plain pas | torals for his people, not a great statesman like Cardinal Rampolia for Father Sarto had concerned himself all his life with the spiritual inter- ests of his parish or his diocese not a mon with splendid family tra- ditions to guide him in the task of governing-he was the son of a village postman, and he would never have been ordained but for the charity of a good man.
 Neither as priest nor bishop had he done anything to dazzle the pub lie eye. He thought it a good Joke when some one said to him in Rome before the conclave: Take care, your eminence, that they do not elect you" and he replied gaily: T am not uneasy -I have my return ticket to Venice here in my pocket and l intend to use it."
 A few days later he was begging 4I to desist from voting for hin-but it was in vain, for they knew him bet ter than he knew himself. or than the world knew him. week after this trembling man had become Plus x, and was proclaiming to the universe that the aim of his pontificate would be: TO restore all things in Christ"
 Six years have passed and what do we see? He has inaugurated the re- form of the entire body of church legislation; he has restored sacred music to it's true place and dignity; he has laid down splendid pro gramme for the teaching of Christian doctrine throughout the world, he has infused new spirit of zeal among the priests and bishops of the church he has reformed more than one of the Roman congregations; he has made the world ring with his defense of the rights of the church in France.
 If we in America. Catholic and aon- Catholic alike. have a special vener- alton and admiration for the charac- ter of Plus X. l think the cause of it is partly at least in that wonderful en- ergy and practical spirit which he has sh town and which we like to associate in a special manner with our country and our own public men.
 Practically all of us are busy men, but l doubt very much If any of us would survive very long the stren- uous life Plus X has imposed upon himself. The room where the holy father transacts routine business has the appearance of working office. There are no decorations on the walls and but few pictures. The desk aN furniture are plain.
 Papers are carefully arranged and in or der. Judging from the use he made of it in our presence, his was the busy hand that kept the desk. On it lay his steel framed spectacles, his pens, his sand bot tie, which he uses instead of a blotter, and his keys.
 Back of his desks are cases, one of which he opened in our presence, taking from il number of special gifts for his morning visitors. The Pope waits on himself in all these matters. his move ments direct his. manner courteous and gracious.