The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1912-05-11


tion stan was selected by Mr.. Selig to
stare tho mammoth production and he
Was assisted Ivy the combined strength
of he producing department. Some
difficulty was anticipated at the outset
in securing an actor who rescmbled
! Columbus to portray him with any
th.ng like historic fidelity. even with
the head If makeup. After long
search An actor was found who bore "A
striking resemblance to the great nav
igatOr. lie was engaged as SelIg
leading men ;lnd io linn fell the hon
or of port raging Columbus
/ There are 4 number of portraits of
/ Columbus cxtant Two of these are
best known, bot bear little resem-
\ blance To each other One Is that OF a
+ smooth faced man with high brow,
j hair falling almost upon his shoulders
and dressed in simple garh. This por-
trait was selected as The most authen-
lie hy the committee Of scholars who
visited Spain for the Sclig company.
This is the Columbus portrayed III the
pictures.
Ofintercst to all Catholics and to the
world ut large is the fact that the films
already have been presented before
Pope Plus X. who enjoyed the PIE
lures hugely and sent his blessing and
a medal to Mr.. Selig by Father Tonel-
10. 1t is the first time the Pope ever
gave his official approval to Il CONNER
clal enterprise.
1T is rather hard at certain times
Father Tonello wrote in describing his
interview with the Pope, Ito obtain a
private audience, but through dear
friend of mine l received a letter of
invitation to be at the Vatican ut II
O'Clock sharp on certain date. The
day before had invited several pref
ates, ladies and gentlemen, among
these the sisters Of the Pope, TO see
the films on the screen. The Sala Pc
rosl or Sala Pia was well packed, and
the history Of the great discoverer.
with all his hardships, joys and sor-
sows, was viewed by The illnstrlous
spectators with the greatest interest
and enthusiasm. The private secre
tary of the Pope, Mgr. Piscinni, and
the Mgr. Ugolini, who were sitting at
my side, were particularly impressed,
and in occasional bursts Of enthusiasm
whispered. oh, how lovely" How
grand At the end of the exhibition
the audience gave viva for Mr.. Selig. |
The next day at noon sharp pass
ed through the main hall where the
Pope gives public audiences and was
at the door of the Pope's private apart
ments. Brother Damaao, the director
Of the Sala Pa, had preceded me and
had told the Pope of the success of the
When entered the room
| found his holiness standing by a
kind Of cabinet. picking from it some
small red Baskets containing medals
Come in, my son. he said. \ was
just looking for some nice suitable |
gift for your Mr.. Selig' Then he |
show ed me 4 little silver medal bear
ing his own likeness This is not |
pretty enough. he said. Never mind,
your holiness, this is all right for me,
| answered. He gave il to me, with |
three other smaller ones which dar- /
cd to ask for, seeing how good he was
to me- Then he said, Il have some |
thing better for Mr.. Selig' He cross
ed the room, went to another cabinet |
and got another beautiful medal in a
red plush casket. Now this is for Mr.
Selig,' he said.
THE medal was struck last year as
a souvenir of the opening Of the new
erected by the Pope in
the Vatican gardens |. bears on one
side the image Of the Pope and OH the
other that OF a matrOn representing as
tronomy sitting on Il chair and point.
ing out the new building. while the
old observatory is seen IN the back
ground. The inscription running
around the medal reads: 'Ampliorem
mih! in hOrtus vaticanis sedem ador-
navit, which is He beautified for me
a larger seat in the Vatican gardens
''All this was done before present.
ed the reels. Then the Pope babe me
sit down By his desk. When l had
given him the reels the holy father ex-
AHMED the small pictures. He had
been informed by Brother Damaso
md others how beautiful they were
~ the screen. Then he turned to
Brother Damaso. who was there, and,
giving the reels to him for the Sala
Pa, said, You will have big show
low, and smiled happily.
I'VE talked awhile about the splen-
lid exhibition of the Coming of Col
INDUS Then the Pope said: You
will please extend my thanks and
to Mr.. Selig. and my
wishes for the greatest success of this
Coming of Columbus / wish to en-
courage him to make other films of
uch historic and moral value II
As | knew that the holy father had
orbiddcn all priests to go to moving
picture shows, owing to many irreligi.
'us and immoral films exhibited in {
tome, told him that the censorship
n America " rs much more strict. es- I
'eclally in regard to immoral and ir. !
subjects. He was very glad g
o hear this and said: 1T is rly great I
esirc that this great invention should
ecome school OF truth, of high edu
alton, of morality. of social and do 7
nestle virtues and of real benefits to q
umanity and religion 8
After few words about other mat 2
ers knelt down to ask his blessing a
Or hhe, my family and my MANY a
'iends. he waited patiently until | h
as through my list, blessed ali Of +
nem, and said. Tell Mr.. Selig that ] .
less him. his family and his work. O
lett with the impression that had {
cen conversing with saint. Il,
I'm the evening Brother Damas.|
lrprlsed me with another gift he had
ON the Pope to be presented to Mr.
ellg. IT was a beautiful bias relief or 3
,ramic, the work Of one of the best ar -
SITS IN Italy. 1t had been especial, :,
ade for the Vatican exhibition on -
'e occasion Of the golden jubilee OF ,
ope Leo NH. 1t is copy of larg.
iinting existing in St. Joachim.
'urch erected in honor of Pone loo 81