The Washington herald., 1914-10-04
new PONTIFF HAD
GREAT TEACHERS
Passed Many Years at Vah-
can with Leo XIII and Car
dinal Rampolla.
SPEAKS MANY TONGUES
Eats Simple Food-Liked to Play
Tennis During Summers Passed
in Bologna.
SPEAKS MANY TONGUES
Special Cable to me Washington Herald.

Special Csbls to The Washington Herald.
Paris, Oct 3-In a thousand ways,
some little and some big, revolution
will be wrought at the Vatican by Pope
Benedict XIV. Dust to mention minor
matter-Pius X could converse in no
modern tongue except Italian. Foreign
ers had to talk through an interpreter
on the occasions when they were re-
ceived by his holiness. Besides italian,
Benedict XIV speaks f1uently English
French, Spanish, and understands Ger
man. Like Leo XIII. he will make prae-
tice Of addressing every visitor in his ma
tive language.
Francis Cary, the Catholic author. gives
this pen sketch Of the new pontin:
Il well remember Mgr. Della Chi
esa. For twenty years he was the best
known figure Of the Vatican, the most
frequently invoked authority. the per-
sonage who came most in contact with
those who had business with the Holy
See or with the ecclesiastical Offices of
the Vatican. His decisions and opin-
ions were considered as direct emanation
Of the cardinal secretary of state. Ram
polla-
Resembles Poet Leopard.
when 1 saw him for the first time
he at once gave me the impression Of
man physically iIl-favored but gifted
with great intelligence. Short Of statue,
ascetically thin, with the right shoulder
raised above the left, he gave me the i'm
preston of being extremely nervous and
weak. But when he raised his head in
stinctiveIy felt that 1 was in the presence
of a man gifted with exceptional intellec-
tual powers and great energy. From the
very first he reminded me Of the great
poet Leopard
Benedict XIV has an ample brow Of
an ivory pallor, surrounded by coal-black
hair, black eyes, lively and penetrating,
a large mouth with thin lips but full
of expression. When beginning a con-
versation or a sermon he appears to find
his words with difficulty. He has evil
IDENTIFY thought them out before express
ing them But one is Immediately struck
with the truly marvellous lucidity Of his
mind. with the CONCESSION and order with
which he expresses his ideas, which as
sumo a special power. impresstng them
selves depIy in the mind of his hearers
when speaking he usually looks you
straight in the eyes, and one OF his
favorite attitudes was to hide his aristo-
cratic hands in his pockets, nervously
playing with his rosary or some other
object. At times he would writhe as IL
the intensity Of his thoughts gave him
physical pain. then he would raise his
eyes to the ceiling, look at the window
or at the furniture and gradually again
on his visitor through the big spectacles
which enlarged his pupils
Quiet, StudIous, Sad.
Giacoma Della Chiesa was Born in
Genoa on November q, 1854 and belongs
TO one Of the Oldest families of the
Riviera. On his mothers side his family
has already given to the church another
Pope. Cosimo Migliorati. who was limo
cent VII Q4O4-14OsD. while on his faith
er's, the new Pope is connected with
nearly thirty aristocratic families of
Northern Italy, among whom are some
of the most prominent society leaders of
the capital, like Marquis DurazZo Prince
Centurione. and Count Sasshi.
Of Benedict XV's boyhood days very
little is known His sister-in-law relates
that he was a quiet, obedient lad who
studied and seldom iuduiged in his COM
panions' pastimes. One day, when only
twelve, the young marquis approached his
father and told him pointblank that he
wanted to become 4 priest His father
thought it over for a minute and then
said:
VERY well; but first get your diploma
and then renew yOur request.
For eight years not a word was said or
the subject. The young man attended
the school at Genoa, always distinguish
ing himself. and later on entered the law
faculty of the local university. His early
inclination had been wholly forgotten by
all when one day the young man re-
turned home. and laying on his fathers
desk the parchment stating that ne was
a full-fedgsd doctor of law, said:
Now, will you give me your consent to
become a priest?"
Marquis ThunderstEuck.
The old marquis was thunderstruck
-N1 h,F1 h. eli
figure Of eight years previous. whose
steady gaze betrayed a strong determine
tion. The marquis surveyed him care
fully and then said:
''of course. il you still think So
That settled IL. few months later
the young man entered the Capranica
College in Rome There he took his minor
orders. and later on the Mobiles Academy.
where he graduated as D. D. A few
years later he returned to the academy
as professor of diplomatic science.
1t was while he was teaching that
Cardinal Rampolla put his eyes on him.
In 1855 when the Caroline Islands ques-
ton came up and Rampolla was sent to
Spain as special envoy, Della Chiesa was
given him as his secretary and highly
distinguished himself. The happy solu-
ton in 1857 of the Caroline Islands ques-
ton by Leo XIII opened to Rampolla
the gate Of the Vatican state chancery
and Mgr. Della Chiesa went with him,
beginning at the bottom OF the ladder.
A few years later, however, he succeeded
Mgr. Tripepi, who was appointed car
dinal, as. Rampolla's substitute and this
gave him the opportunity of acquiring
under great masters-Leo XIII and Car
dinal Rampolla-the wide diplomatic ex-
perience which is now his chief asset.
Politics Were Danished.
The many years spent at the State
Chancery were the happiest of Benedict
xV's life in Rome as a prelate. He