The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-21
SLAST
DAYS DEDICATED
To WORLD PEACE
CONTINUED from First Page,

Continued from First Page)
and after the sinking of the Lusi,
tania he autographed the German
emperor. telling his adherence Of
| the deed.
Pope Benedict's first appeal for
peace was issued one week after
his coronation. The appeal failed to
bring results. as did also his later
plan for a Christmas truce.
In January and in July, 1915, he
again tried to bring about peace ne
gotiations. In March, 1915 he re-
peated his attempts and in May of
the same year suggested that Amer
4 lea should act as conciliator be-
tween the warning nations. His note
| to President Wilson to this effect
| reached Washington when Germany
and the United States were involved
in a diplomatic crisis. The Vatican
approved Of President Wilson's peace
note in 1917 but three months later
the United States entered the war.
The Pope's most memorable appeal
for peace was issued In his own hand
writing on August 8, 1917. and asked
all belligerent rulers to end the
struggle.
| SOhACiHC0 VIII w hbOhs
During the peace conference his
pleas were issued In behalf of weaker
nations.
Just before the conference Presi.
dent Wilson had a private conference
with Pope Benedict at the Vatican in
which many questions of q serious
nature were discussed.
The settlement of the 750-year-old
Irish problem was received with great
pleasure by the Pope. who issued O
message congratulating the principals
In the negotiations.
The story of Benedict's personal
life is replete with interest.
At the age Of thirteen the Popc
appealed to his father, Marquis
Della Chiesa, for permission to enter
the priesthood. This permission was
not granted at that time, and when
a young lawyer of twenty years the
boy reiterated his preference and was
permitted to enter the priesthood.
In the days when he reigned as
Bishop Of Bologna Benedict was
cheerful and smiling constantly, but
since his elevation his attitude be.
came reserved. his words few and the
expression of the countenance Sc
rious. with eyelids dropping heavily.
Student Of History.
The Pope was q student Of cur
rent events. and since 1915 the Vati-
can has become a great center for
news. A student Of international af-
fairs, Benedict had the politics Of
Europe. Australasia and North and
South America on the tip OF his
fingers.
The Pontiff concerned himself with
Boishevim and communism. He
feared and hated both, and constantly
used the social organization Of the
church to combat these two modern
evils In every country. He was
greatly interested I'm the laboring
class. and strove time and again for
their betterment. In many cases he
has taken the part Of labor against
| capital.
People who have seen the frail.
white figure Of Benedict have always
concluded he was in Ill health. But
the Holy Father scarcely ever felt Ill.
and physicians and medicines have
been almost Unknown to him. The
pope,s daily routine was one which
could not be followed by q man in
weak health.
Lieut.. Commander w. H. Bytham,
writer, described the Pope in this
way:
"A short slender figure, with black
hair. wearing glasses perched on the
bridge Of the nose, through which he
looks In a paternal, II perhaps, a
trifle quizzical manner, dressed in a
cream colored robe, with a cape. a
round cream cape; scarlet shoes, with
| simple design worked on them In
gold cord, and around his waist q
eroad cream-colored watered silk sash,
the two ends having a gold crossl
worked on them, and gold cord
fringe-such was the Holy Father"
The genius OF the Pope was dipls
matte and In that field has been |
| achieved his supreme triumphs.
The Vatican policy is not only De-
termined by the sovereign pontiff. nut |
administered by him with such cardul |
| attention to detail that the staff of |
the secretary Of state Is considered |
little more than a clerical force! As
for the ENJOYS Of the Vatican In the
different capitals. they are he'll to
rigid standards of efficiency and
pressure OH tho unfit Is stringent.
A Refugee to Prayer.
The Pope was considered obftinate
and II Is said It was quite imrossible
to make him swerve by a haf from
any course he has mapped but for
| himself.
Benedict has always been a. firm be-
hevei III tho poWer ol praler over
sickness.
The Pope observed strenuous days.
He seldom went to bed untilmidnight
and arose at 5 o'clock. From five to
six he spent the interval in prayer and
in reading either the Scriptures or one
of the Fathers-always in latin. He
celebrated his own daily mass in the
strictest privacy. kneeling humbly as
II he were an altar boy. # o'clock
a cup of black coffee. quie hot, was
served. There was Sometimes fruit on
the tray, or a dry biscuit, but the
| Pope did not often consume anything
for his breakfast but his CLIP of coffee.
After breakfast, Benedict glanced
over the newspapers. 0rdinal Gas.
parri, papal secretary of tate, always
perused the paper first and marked
the important items.
When the papers wfe read, the
Pontiff went to his desl and worked