The Washington herald., 1912-09-22

the character OF Pope Plus x is his great
affection for his three sisters. Rosa
Anna, and Maria, who when In fsea he
was elected TO the papai chair took up
their residence with him In Rome ~
has often been remarked that the pontiff
leads a remarkably simple life. and that
his sisters exert a strong influence over
him. In fact. he has often been urged
to- have them return TO the village near
Venice whence they came. but he stead
fastly declines to be parted from them.
He reminds his advisers that when he.
then Giuseppe Sarto. decided TO accept
the high once TO which he had been
elected. 1t was with the understanding
that his sisters also should soSto Rome
with him, so that he might be able to
see them each day. He even went so
far as to suggest that they should live
with him in the Vatican. but this plan
was rejected. So they took up their
abode In the neighboring street of Wit
tore Emmanuelo, in modest apartments.
which enables them to visit their exalt-
ed brother as often as possible.
The greatest concern OF the trio SEEM
ed to be that their brother as Pope would
not be able to procure his favorite dishes
AT meal IlTntS i Tcdu tnht "hch tht
news of his elevation to the occupancy
of the chair Of ST. Peter was conveyed
to his old peasant mother and sisters on
their humble farm near Rieso. the form
er wept, as she said: I'VE shall never
see him again" And the elder sister
remarked: Il am sure he will miss his
luncheon of rice and mussels. which he
enjoyed so much. because 1t was pre-
pared by our hands" II must have been
touching indeed to see the sorrow OF
these simple. but affectionate. women. so
anxious lest the brother they adored
should not be well looked after.
They made great sacrifices when he
was a boy in order that he should obtain
the training necessary to Mt him for the
priesthood. II was hard struggle the
sisters had working at farming to provide
their beloved Giuseppe with an education.
The young priest, however was a good
student. and when his education was fin
ished worked hard to make life easier
for his mother and sisters. He never
forgot the sacrifices they made on his
behalf.
When the news was brought to him
that he had been chosen as Pope by the
Cardinals College. his leading concern.
was that 1t might mean separation from
his mother and sisters. and that he
would have to give up the simple living
that he always had known and enjoyed
with them. As a matter OF fact. the
Pope and his sisters continue to live in
the same simple style that characterized
their peasant days. When the three
sisters arrived at Rome II was suggested
that they should be raised to the rank
OF countesses. but they objected. We
are the sisters of the Pope. that is
enough" they answered. simply.
The pontifr showed his brotherly feel
ing when they met for the first time
after he had been annointed for his emil
nent position. They threw themselves at
his feet. but he bade them rise. En-
bracing them in turn, he said: Remem-
ber that 1 am still your own Beppo.
On their arrival in the Eternal City they
visited an order OF nuns. One day the
mother superior went to them and sug-
gested that since their brother was Pope
they ought to lay aside their peasant
garb and become grand ladies. They
would not agree to this. but after a
lengthy discussion they compromised by
clothes, but they continued to wear the
more conventional hat.
The next question that greatly per-
picked them was how TO address their
illustrious brother. The elder sister. when
asked about II. laughed and said: "Of
course when We are alone he is still our
dear brother, and We call him just plain
Beppo. But when we meet before others
We make what the English call
Charity courtesy, kiss his ring and ad-
dress him "Santo Padre
Visitors to the stately home of Sir
Walter Scott at Abbottsfords still may
see on the walls OF an inner room near
the great novelist's study a picture which
tells of a curious incident in the family
history of the masters of Elibank. The
picture was painted by Sir Walters
friend, Kirkpatrick Sharpe. and the au-
thor Of Waverely was fond OF relating the
story to his many acquaintances.
A certain Sir William Scott, from
whom Sir Walter was descended, was i'll
advised enough to plunder the estate OF
Sir Gideon Murray. OF Elibank. an an
cestor to the present Lord Murray, late
whip of the Liberal party. The maraud-
er was seized and brought in fetters to
the castle of Ellbank on Tweed. Lady
Murray, agreeable to the custom of
ladies in ancient tales, was seated on the
battlements and deserted the return of
her husband with his prisoner. She i'm
mediately inquired what he meant to do
with the young knight OF Harden. as
Sir William was known more generally.
Hang the robber. assuredly," was the
answer of Sir Gideon.
What" replied the lady. hang the
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