POPE LEO XIII.

Western Star, Issue 2220, 8 July 1898, Page 6

POPE LEO XIII.

In manner, as well as appearance, the icigning PoutilY offers a striking, and in more than one respect advantageous, contrast to his immediate predecessor, Pius IX., of whom, during his long Pontificate, 1 twice bad audience, The late Pope, when I knew him, was a vigorous old man of burly prer.enee and jovial manner, liking to question rather than to be questioned, and displaying a marked predilection for " le pi tit. mot pour nre "—of his own saying, of course, for what layman would dare to make jokes or i-vt n say " gooil things " to a Pope? 1-eo XIII. is slightly built, fragilelooking, exceedingly grave in manner, and diguified of bearing His featuics are strongly inttiki d.but finely proportioned ; his cheeks and loi'iy brow are almost colourless—"sicklied o'er by the pale cast of thought." When his face is in absolute r< pose, its expression seems to be token that be is reacting profoundly, but mournfully. When lighted up by one of his peculiarly fascinating smiles, however, it brains with gentle benevolence ami tender lovingkindutss. Altogether it is one of the most interesting, ptlraclive. and memorable physiognomies I have ever yet cont. mplated. That Leo XIII. is one of the mo.t amiable ns well as iu'telh dual of living potentates, no one who tas seen him smile and heard him speak can doubt. But consciousness ot power and strength of will are "no Jess manifest in the glance of. his bright eve ami the tone of his clear voice than his geniality of temperament.—" Men, Cities, and Events," by William Beatty-Kingston.