The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-20
POPE Plus K.
Rose from Poor Boy to Head Of Roman
Catholic Church.

Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto known t.
the world as Pope Plus x, was elected
to the pontificate on August A. 1908, ant
during his occupancy of his exaltei Of
| flee of the Roman Catholic church, he
was confronted with some of the most
momentous problems, religious and gov.
ernmental, with which the Holy See has
had to deal in modern times.
Pope Plus was born on June ?, 1885
at Riese, in the Venetian province, the
first child of Clan Battista Sarto. a post
man, and his wife Margherita. Gut
seppe's early career was influenced BY
the village priest, who took liking
for the boy. taught him to read and
write and drummed into the youthful
head the rudiments of Latin At the
age of ii years he entered the seminary
at Castlefrsnco, not far from his birth
place, and for four years every day h.
tramped to school, usually barefooted,
until he reached the outskirts of the
village, where he would slip on his shoes
to keep up appearances.
From Castelfranco he passed in 1850
TO the seminary at Padua, and In 1858,
at the age of Is, was ordained priest
and took up his studies at Tombolo. In
1867 he had his first parish of impor-
lance that of Salzano, where he re-
manned u years. In addition to his &C.
clesia stical duties Father Sarto contrib
uted largely to the support of his moth
er and sisters. who found life a hard
struggle. especially in the winter.
His eloquence led TO his being called
at the age of 40 to Treyiso as chancellor
of the diocese, and shortly after he was
appointed professor of theology in the
seminary. Nine years of strenuous work
crowned, in 1884, by his as
summing the mitre as bishop of Mantua.
Leo XIII. conferred upon Bishop Sar.
to the title of Roman Count" and in
the consistory of June, 1898, created him
giving him the Roman church
Of San Bernardo from which to take his
title He was so poor that he was UNI
able to pay the fees connected with the
acceptance of the new dignity. but some
Of his admirers came forward and pro-
vided him with the necessary funds.
Creating him cardinal, Leo XIII. APP
pointed him also patriarch Of Venice.
1ut he did not leave Mantua until a
rear later. owing 10 conflict between the
italian government and the Holy See,
,ver the right Of the House Of Savoy
% be consulted before the appointment
" a patriarch, the governor having in
lerited the rights OF the republic Of
Venice. The dispute was cut short by |
King Humbert also appointing Cardinal |
,arto as patriarch Of Venice.
The patrisrch's relations with the |
Iouse Of Savoy were always most cor
Iial. Every time that their maiesties /
n the princes visited Venice he paid 7.
hem a visit and presented his homage. \
ie was one Of Queen Margherita's con
essors. and only r few months before
he death Of Leo Mi. he was next the
cunt Of Turin in public. when he 1.-THE
atriirch blessed the foundation stone
{ the new Campanile in Piazza San
LARGO He was the candidate Of Leo 4
iii. ss has successor. but he 30 little
salized the future that when he left 4
-enice. in July, 1908. for the oonclave
j Rome. he bought 3 return ticket.
IN the conclave the struggle was for
ID against Cardinal Rampolla. Leo Z
IIIls secretary Of state. whose chances n
ere lost when Cardinal Puzyna pro-
ounced the veto Of Austria against him, /,
hieh veto was supposed 70 represent
be triple alliance. Then. needing
pope. all ewes turned 10
srsinsi Sarto. who a. first refused. but
ns afterward induced 20 Accept the
q position, being elected almost unzn-