The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-08-21
POPE, TOGET WELL.
MUST LEAVE ROME
Prisoner OF the Vatican Advised
by Doctors to Break the
Precedent Set in 1870.
HIS ATTITUDE IN DOUBT
Plus Personally Does Not Ap-
prove Retirement in
Vatican.
HIS ATTITUDE IN DOUBT

Rome. August 2o.-The Pope is out
CT danger and convalescent, but will
ne ever be really well again? Will
nc ever become as strong again as
lie was before he threw away his re-
turn ticket to Venice and shut him
self up in the Vatican?
Ihat Is the question OF absorbing
interest here. Professor Marchiafava
and Dr. Petacci, the two celebrated
physicians, who for months have un
ceasinsly and assiduously attended the
pontin and studied profoundly his
condition. answer that notwithstand-
ing his seventy-seven years, his run
down state. and his overw orked, siren
uous life he could recover entirely on
certain essential conditions chief
among which would be a change OF
air.
Ihis would mean moving out of the
vatican thus renouncing one of those
forms Of protest which the Holy See
ADOPTED at tho fall of the temporal
power In order to maintain Its claims
ior the civil possession OF Rome There
10 strong party which declares that
30 precious a life as that of Plus y
must not be risked as a sacrihce to
what Is really simple form, as the
essence OF the protest is not repre-
sented by voluntary and, TO certain
extent. useless imprisonment in the
Vatican, but has been soIemnly con
tanned in every word. in every state
mcnt, In all Official documents which
for the last forty-one years have ema
mated from the three men who have
sat IN the Chair of St Peter since Sep
TENDER 30. 1870.
TO Plus X 1t must have cost more
than to his predecessor to act as ne
has done, but he had not the least
hesitation, feeling that he could not
dlsavow what had been the policy Of
IN church. nor take upon his shout
ders the responsibility of compromia
Ing the future for the Popes to come
after him. And all this for a cues.
ton OF personal feeling entirely over
weighted by the great and complex
Interests of the vast institution of
which he is the head!
There is no doubt that Plus X. who
remembers the painful condition OF
his dear Venetian provinces under
Austria. always looked with sympathy
on italian unity. and there is no doubt
that while he was Bishop OF Mantua
and Patriarch OF Venice he was in
mos, friendly relations with the
Italian government and on terms of
great cordially with several mem
hers OF the House of Savoy. especial
~ Queen Margher!ta, Princess Clotil-
da. and the Duke and Duchess OF Ge-
noa The last named paid him a sec
ret visit at the Vatican Ave months
after his election to the Papacy.
The Pope's last public appearance
In Venice was on the occasion OF the
laying Of the cornerstone OF the new
Campanile OF San Marco. and on that
day he sat next to the Count OF Turin.
representing the King of italy, and
the Minister OF Public Instruction. rep
resent!ng the government. and was
surrounded BY many other Italian au-
thorities. Once rope. however. one
Of his first memorable acts was to de-
nounce President Loubet for visiting
him who usurps the dominion OF the
Pope"
Under the circumstances. what is
the use. II is asked, OF the Pope re-
manning prisoner in the Vatican
when 1t may cost his life. and espe-
cially when he himself evidently at