The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-20
POPE Plus C0NSECRATED HIS
ENTIRE LIFE TO GOOD FOR ALL
Peasant Boy Born in 1885 Won Scholarship in the Great
University of Padua and Was
Ordained in 1853.


FuSarOni.
What Riese could not long afford to a
bright boy advancing In his studies
might he furnished at the neighbour
Ing and larger town OF Castelfranco
Nenetn Somewhere there is a memo
randum to the effect that the yearly pay
OF the postman OF REESE was about $50.
out OF this and the scant profits OF n
tiny shop. with many mouths to feed,
little could be spared for the charges
OF education. Giuseppe Sarto Is seen.
In fair weather and In foul. walking
miles In the morning early to school
and wearied evening miles to his home.
This continued for four years without
intermlssion.
Successful In His CInsses.
II Is recorded that the peasant boy
who came 80 far every morning did we'll
In his classes. better than the town
boys with whom he competed In re-
ward OF diligence and good application
small scholarship OF the diocese Of
IreViso opportunity became vacant and
young Sarto won II. with this help, a
mere pittance after all. he went to the
great University Of Padua. for centuries
the radiant centre OF Italian culture.
and there In the crowd OF poor students
ne made his classical and philosophical
ana theological studies Men who were
mis- companions at the lectures and IN
the schools agree that his study never
perhaps rose to briliancy but that he
was always firmly grounded upon ac-
curate knowledge and proceeded with
sound logic.
IN 1888 he was ordained and assigned
at once as chaplain or curate at Tom
bolo. The nine years OF this chorpe
were years of very great responsibility.
very formative years. for he had n
charge 10 which he was not officially
committed. The rector Of Tombolo was
aged and infrm the young chaplain
who was but % at his induction. was
called upon to exercise the full duties
OF parish priest and yet without the
authority which the position should con-
Ter. In the nine difficult years he
learned many lessons in control of him.
self and Of others. preparation which
long afterward stood him in good stead
when he was conscCrated to a charge
Of turmoil In Mantua.
lie was sent in 1867 to Salzano in his
nome diocese Of Treviso as archpriest.
Here he spent eight constructive years.
me church, an ancient structure. was
dllapldated. the parish had not yet be-
gun TO recover from the ravages of
Austrian misrule. It's charitable institu
lions We're dormant. its school was of
the poorest. Here as archprlest he had
/ "a FREQ hand Il, 10 l..
there was little in that hand wherewith
to repair the ravages Of time and OPP
preston. Yet he succeeded In restor-
Ing the church. II was reverent res
toration, not always the case when ac-
tivity and zeal work their will upon
the memorials Of the past in decay. II
stands now, not a show place at all. but
a simple parish church restored to de-
cency and to order BETTING the service
to which II was long ago dedicated, a
credit to the priest who brought II out
Of ruin. There was little to do II with
the priest expended first his own sti-
pend save only so much as was needed
In the reCtory for the bare necessities
OF life. To be born a peasant and to
| live poor student ut great university
habituate one to rigid economy in the
household. Sarto as priest spent his
own money first before he called upon
his parishioners; his example was the
best appeal for the contributions.
Remained at Post During Epidemic.
Nor did the restoration OF the church
limit his activity. The schools were
bettered so that education might be
within the reach of the poor at home !:
he knew what those long morning and
evening walks to and from a distant
school meant to growing lads. The hos
pital was enlarged and its endowment
was secured, Here and in the other
forms of the works of needed charity