Evening star., 1939-02-10

weeks after the elevation OF the
260th successor to st. Peter to the
Fisherman's throne. The prelim-
mary incident took place In France,
where a group Of us were en-
gagged in the customary specula-
ton as to the outcome Of the con-
clave and the name of the future
pontiff. Interest ran high, and as
the expectancy was prolonged, some
sleep was lost. When the name OF
Achille Ratti reached us In the
Loire district on February 6, fell
low student made jest that be-
came classic but which is intelligible
only within the framework Of the
French language. Plus XI IN French
is Pie Onze, and as soon as the
chosen title was announced a bril-
liant colleague, with that instanta-
neous adaptability characteristic OF
Gallo wit remarked: 'Maintenant
nous pourrons pioneer" (now we
can go to Sleep,
But the new father of Christen-
dom was destined to cause one OF his
sons from America to travel on many
a midnight train to many quarters
of the earth; to the furthermost cor
ners of Russia, to ancient Mesopo-
tamia, to Mexico, to Belgium, to Ger
many, to Baltic Provinces and to
regions of the Near East as far as
the frontiers of Persia. On March 3,
1922, 1 was ushered into his august
presence and beheld, for the first
time, the engaging and ruddy coun-
tenance that still reflected the
strength and outdoor complexion OF
the mountain climber, In whose hon.
or an Alpine peak is still named.
The Pope was standing at ease, his
arms folded, and leaning slightly
against the capacious work desk that
stands before the stained-glass VIM
dow overlooking the Piazza San
Pietro. Ones first impression was OF
figure of medium height. neither
tall nor short, stocky and ,substan-
TALLY built, after the type Of the
Lombard that he was. Plus X1 had
neither the aquiline angularity Of
Leo XIII nor the austere aristocracy
of Benedict XIV. The white-clad
figure was heavier, more solid, and
radiant with healthful vigor. The
rotund countenance glowed with
human sympathy, and the hair that
still showed beneath the white
zuchetta was of a nut-brown hue,
with but little grayness apparent at
that time. There was slight con-
traction about the eyes as they peered
inquiringly with scholars interest
through strong spectacles at the
newcomer. They were fine mirror
of the broad humanity that accom-
panied his spiritual qualities. They
spoke welcome and genuine interest,
not the mere toleration or formalized
condescension, or the stereotyped
smile that so often reside in high
places. Scholar that he was, Plus
XII received visitors with the intel
lectual curiosity of a librarian ex-
amining a new accession And, like
an experienced bibliophile, he would
soon evaluate their contents and
catalogue their merit.
Worked Long Hours.
This first encounter was the prel-
ude to numerous similar conferences
over 80 in number, some of which
were prolonged far beyond the nor
NAL time allotted to audiences. He
worked late into the night. On one
occasion, as nearby bell tolled H.
1 ventured to convey the impression
that the hour might no longer be
convenient to His Holiness. but was
relieved and encouraged to hear the
comforting pronouncement, 1--WE
have given instructions to lower the
lights at midnight" And he bent
anew over a map of Russia. I later
learned that the Swiss Guards and
other papal officials soon came to
realize that the strict protocol of the
Vatican Court was subject to elastic
readjustments. He would some
times say when engagements multi
Piled and callers overlapped, 1--WE
have tomorrow"
His mind was universal in it's out
look and sweep of comprehension
as bef1tted the supreme administra-
tor of a universal church. It was
informed and quickened by practi-
cal knowledge of world affairs
vouchsafed to but few of his prede-
cesSors. The British Museum still
cherishes cards signed "Achille
Ratti" as souvenirs of the days spent
in laborious research in that treas.
ure house of knowledge His French
was perfect, his German fluent anC
his working knowledge of the other
principal modern languages was
such as to afford him direct access
to reports and sources of informa-
ton written in languages outside
Latin and his native Italian. His
training IN accurate scholarship anC
library science was later broadeneC
and enriched by diplomatic expert.
ence as Nuncio to Poland and by
administrative duties as Archbishop
OF Milan. His knowledge of Euro.
pean history was organized and de.
tailed. as was manifested by the east
and relish with which he inter.
spersed his conversation with
anecdotes and references to diplo.
matte incidents. Thus he once en-.
larged on what Bismarck had done
in circumstances similar to the case
we are discussing. In another con-
ference, when a certain undated
document was under examination
he showed annoyance at the lack
of precise Identification and, wher
it was finally determined, he in.
serted the notation with his owr
hand.
Two Human Preoccupations.
His knowledge of Alpine lore and
his ascent of the Matterhorn, the
Allerhochstespitze (4,683 meters)
and Mount Blanc won membership
in the confraternity of those who
seek to explore the highest peaks Of
earth. Nor did Plus XI forget the
fellow-c climbers who knew him as