had held high positions. The lives of Count and Countess Pecci were pure, noble, and inspiring. They lived for their children and that their children might serve God was their one ambition. Little Vincent and his brother were taught by their mother until Vincent was eight and his brother ten, when they were sent away to school. In the Jesuit school at Viterbo in the fall of 1818 the little boys began their long and careful training. Here they remained until 1824. Vincent Pecci was a remarkable student and while in school wrote Latin verse of much merit. He was known to the teachers of the school of Viterbo as one of the brightest and most exact students they had ever known. The last year at Viterbo was a sad one, for in this year the Pecci children lost a loving and tender mother. Later Joachim, for Vincent now changed his name in honor of his much loved mother to Joachim, entered the Roman College at Rome. Here he proved himself as great a master of his studies as he had heretofore at Viterbo, and won for himself all the honors such a school could bestow. Ordained a priest at the age of twenty-four he immediately became attached to the Vatican, where he had a training that was to be of use to him in future years. Pecci was appointed delegate to the province of Bene vento and later delegate to the province of Perugia. In both of these provinces he had to deal with criminals, and crimes of all kinds. He was equal to the work assigned him. It is said that the king of Naples openly praised him for his success in restoring order, and that the town of Perugia was ever grateful for his treatment of the people of all classes. Monsignor Pecci threw open his home to every citizen and in the most friendly manner received all who came. He visited the prisons. He visited the shops. Once upon hearing of a dishonest baker he visited all the bakeries. He examined the bread and when he found the loaves under weight he ordered his officers to give them to the poor. At the age of only thirty-three he was made archbishop and was sent to represent the Pope at the Court of Brussels. Here he displayed the same interest and influence in all that concerned the people, and won the respect of the king, who invited him often to visit the court as friend and counselor. In the meantime the bishop of Perugia died and the people, remembering the wise delegate Pecci, asked at once for his return as their bishop. Their request was granted. The Pope foresaw Archbishop Pecci's worth in a country like Perugia, for the air was filled at this time with all the signs of a fearful revolutionary storm which was likely to burst at any moment upon the Papal States. Of this storm Perugia was one of the centers. While acting as bishop of Perugia with the title of archbishop, the much loved and esteemed bishop was made cardinal. In 1878 Cardinal Pecci was called to the bedside of Pope Pius IX. When this great Pontiff's soul had taken flight Cardinal Pecci took charge of the arrangements for the Conclave. This Conclave was for the purpose of choosing a new Pope. Three ballots were taken. Imagine the surprise and fear that fell upon Cardinal Pecci when he received twenty-three votes upon the first ballot. The third ballot gave him forty-four votes out of sixty-one. The question was asked him, "By what name do you wish to be called?" Bowing to the Divine Will he answered, "By the name of Leo XIII." Leo XIII, possessed of great learning, great political skill, and great financial ability, now set out not only to strengthen the Church but so to act that the whole world would be made better. People who are not in sympathy with the teachings of the Catholic Church admit that Leo was just, was the entreator of peace, and was one of the century's greatest statesmen. Only the little in mind and the ignorant are bigots. Leo XIII was large minded in every sense. Never did he forget that not only individuals, but countries have rights of their own. When he was called upon to settle the dispute, in 1885, which arose between Catholic Spain and Protestant Germany over the Caroline Islands, he decided quickly in favor of Protestant Germany because right and justice were hers. Leo XIII was a scholar and a writer. The composition of Latin poetry was one of his favorite relaxations. He was much interested in science and art, and admitted all properly qualified scholars to the Vatican archives, expressing the conviction that the study of history would strengthen the Church. His life was of the simplest, most abstemious description; and this doubtless had much to do with prolonging it to the ripe and unusual age of ninetythree. When he died, in 1903, he was mourned and honored not only by those of the Catholic faith, but by all persons throughout the world who had learned of his good works and the nobility of his life. From torrid South to frozen North, |