The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-03-06
SISTER OF PIUSX.
NEVER REJOICED
AT ELEVATION
Rosa Had Devoted Her Life TO
the Brother. Whom She
Intensely Loved
OLDER THAN HE, GAVE
HIM MOTHERLY CARE
An IntimatiOn that He Broke Il
Vatican Rule and Went to
Her Death Chamber

ROME. March 6.-Signora Rosa
Sarto, elder sister OF Pope Plus Y.
who died recently in her modest little
fiat within stones throw OF the
great bronze doors OF the Vatican
was anything but great lady in the
ordinary sense OF the word. Sister
Rosa" as she was known In the fam
lily circle as we'll as TO the outside
public. had been her brothers closest
companion from their childhood. He
was the strongest affection OF her life.
and her few years seniority gave her
just that authority and influence over
him in boyhood and youth that enab-
led her to become his help and ad-
wiser when he entered the priesthood.
She acted as his housekeeper, looked
after his creature comforts, nursed
him in sickness and boarded his little
savings, even scolding him when "a
shortage in the weekly cash revealed
some act OF charity which the young
Priest d-heen- tempted indulge
in without consulting her.
When Mgr. Sarto was raised 10 the
purple Sister Rosa felt that the first
step in their separation had come.
when. as Patriarch OF Venice, he at
tended the COnclave OF 1903 and the
news came 10 his native city that he
had been elected Pope. she burst into
tears and refused to accept the con
gratulations which were hesped upon
her from all sides.
He Is Lost to U.s.
He has been taken from u.s." was
all that she replied. FOR us her
younger sister and herself he is
lost"
The two sisters came TO Rome. fO'
the elder declared that in spite OF his
altered condition OF life, she would
not be definitely separated from him.
The little fat in the Corso Vittore
Emanuele was ar first invaded by
fashionable callers OF the black aris-
tocracy Of Rome. who came 10 offer
their homage 10 the two simple old
ladies. But Sister Rosa, who was the
ruling spirit, declined 10 make her.
self "one OF them" She received all
advances coldly. and people said that
her new honors had turned her head,
and she was proud. The truth was
very different. She felt that she be-
longed TO the humble though indie
pendent class which resents patron.
age and prefers 10 stick to its own
environment and traditions. She was
OF the peasant class by birth. and she
intended TO remain in her own
sphere.
What do all these princesses and
countesses want OF me, a poor, sim
pie woman" she asked. They come
out OF pure curiosity 10 see what the
Pope's sister is like, and TO comment
on my speech and manners behind my
back"
Soon the callers became more rare,
and finally the two old ladies were
left to themselves. They changed
their fiat for one closer to the Watt
can, on the Piazza Rusticucci. and
Sister Rosa saw her brother every
few days. When IL was a question OF
taking a summer holiday she refused
10 leave, because as she said, life
is uncertain and | prefer TO be near
my brother" The doctor was con
suited and the Pope insisted, and Sis
ter Rosa went TO the Albi.n hills fol
month. With this exception she
has never been out OF Rome since
coming here soon after her brother:
election.
Declined Nobility.
The Pontificial court desired TO in
scribe the two sisters on the list q
Roman nobility as the natural seque
TO their relationship with the Pope
but Sister Rosa declined IN term:
/ which excited the amusement OF III,
Pope himself and the matter was al
| lowed TO drop.
, When death came to Sister Ros;
one OF her l..t words was reques
| 10 see her brother; but II was no
granted
/ Two hours after the end a CLOSED
| carriage left the bronze doors and
! muffled figure in black stepped from
| 1t 10 the death chamber and laid
small crucifx on the dead woman
breast. Naturally. the report that tn,
! Pope had left the Vatican was con
tradictcd in official quarters but tn,
public are left TO Judge whether TIM
| ties Of family and a lifetimes affec
| lion were not in this instance allowed
| TO override the tradition which keep.
the Pope prisoner in his splendid
| palace. Certain IL Is that no NOR
| genuine tears were shed than thos
| OF Plus " when the news was broken
TO him that his lifelong companion