The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23

Again Slevin seized his opportunity
and, continuing his appeal. he spoke
of the two hundred and fifty million
Catholics scattered over the earth
whose hearts would be cheered. whose
zeal would be quickened. IL they could
see the Holy Father moving before
them as in life. Motion pictures from
the Vatican would appea, IN the faith
full in all lands and in all tongues
as wonderfully as the Miracle of the
Pentecost.
The Pope smiled mysteriously as
before. and again the American
paused. A subtle instinct told him to
avoid a definite refusal. Once more
they all knelt and kissed the fisher
mans ring on the pontiff's white
hand. and then the Holy Father with
drew.
The entertainment had been n great
success; but Slevin knew in his heart
that Pius X. would not consent to the
motion picture plan.
1t was a eriou situation. The
American had spent months in Rome
under heavy expense and the people
n New York were growing impa-
tent. They had cabled that Slevin
must get a definite answer. Yes" or
NO And he had cabled back: "If
you want NO for answer you can
get il Immediately. II you want
Yes you must wait and get it my
way"
The Roman Catholic Church was
not to he hurried. 1t was this that
saved Slevin. his stubborn unwilling
ness to be placed in a position where
he could be definitely refused. To be
refused was to fail. and he must get
those motion pictures. He never al
lowed himself to doubt that he ulti-
mately would get them.
Difficulties multiplied, however, be-
fore the confident promoter. Within
a fortnight it was made clear 10 him,
by courteous i~ndirection, that his eff
fort was hopeless. The papal authori-
ties We're most friendly. they appre-
ciated his services. and proved it the
day following the exhibition. when
a delegation from the Vatican waited
upon Slevin and presented him with
a blue and gold certificate of knight
hood. "bene merenti,' together with
a gold decoration bearing the Pope's
image.
But nothing was said about the mo-
" ANfah paw &c va "a
can wisely said nothing. He was not
in a hurry. He was enjoying him.
self in Rome, and was glad to give
pleasure to others. He was interested
in art. n pictures, in life.
He talked charmingly at l%uncheons.
He was apparently a person Of
princely leisure who loved to enter
tain his friends. Back of his serenity
p.a "a. lo. ,,,,r..1 80
trouble brewing at the base of sup
plies.
There followed months of waiting
and If fru.tless effort, during which
Slevin was obliged to return to New
York and make new arrangements:
in fact, to organize a new company.
So tempting was his plan and 50 on
tagious his enthusiasm that a day
came, early in 1914. when Slevin
walked out Of an office in Wall street
with $4,000 to his credit and tina
papers of Incorporation of the Sacred
n Historic Film Society, signed and
sealed. in his pocket. And March, 1914,
found him back in Rome In his spa
c.ous apartments on the Pincian hill
near the Villa Borghese. whence he
looked forth morning and night upon
the grandeur Of st. Peters. He pro-
posed to get those motion pictures Of
the Pope.
Meantime the news had spread
among other companies that Plus Y.
was interested in motion pictures.
Slevin's exploit had made a great sem
sation. 1t was realized that here was
a prize worth millions ready for some
me. Films of the Vatican. Films
of the Holy Father! All the big mo-
ton picture concerns in Europe and
America were stirred to action and
when Slevin arrived in Rome he found
hve powerful rivals already ti.tab-
lished there. each pulling frantic
wires and making strenuous efforts
to gain favor with the Pope. The
situation was difficult than II
was before.
Slevin had m great advantage,
however. over other aspirants-he
knew the vanity of slapdash business
methods in this venerable court, and
he sat him down to wait patiently and
good naturally while his rivals
hustled. He watched them make their
moves, force their campaigns and
finally come to the point of a definite
demand for motion pictures. Then,
M by one, saddened or angered, he
watched them depart from Rome,
bafiled by the ancient diplomacy,
silenced, definitely refused. And still
S!ev!n waited on P!ncian Hill, asking
for nothing.
Weeks passed. The American enter
tanned delightfully."-, He fortified
various friendships. He saw much Of
Cardinal Merry del Val. But in all his