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Show I Pope Leo XIII. i . I GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD. ' J (From Latest Painting.) 4-4-4 4 4IIH i t : mw0 ir- : : A. mm- i II LEO XIII, FROM A LATE PAINTING. X I Paris, July 25. "I have had the honor hon-or of painting the greatest man in the world," so said the great French artist, Benjamin Constant, "the most absolutely abso-lutely wonderful man that ever lived, for such I believe Pope Leo XIII to be." Benjamin Constant, fresh from a visit vis-it to Rome, sat in his magnificent studio stu-dio in Paris and described to his caller the great painting which has made him the most talked-about artist of the season; sea-son; and which will bring him down Into posterity as the delineator of the features of one of the most remarkable remarka-ble men the world has ever known. The Pope does not like to sit for his portrait, and, therefore, when Sir Benjamin Ben-jamin applied for permission to paint him, it was at.first refused; however, when the artist described the magni-tuoe magni-tuoe of the work, and its importance, his Holiness gave his permission, and the painting went rapidly forward. "To those who think that the last day of the Pope Is near, I only want to say that he speaks with the vigor of a young man," said the artist, "and his voice is pure and good. "I arrived at the Vatican at 11 a. m. The Pope would soon receive and bless more than 15,000 pilgrims in old St. Peter's. "The pious travelers, dust-laden, with heavy, wearied steps, stream through the three large portals. Like strayed sheep they run hither and thither through the vast sanctuary. At last there is a concerted movement toward the altar of confession under the large dome. Then all fall on their knees, men and women, and repeat their chap-lets. chap-lets. . "This murmur of prayer is troon lost in the noise of the . multitude which press forward seekin gto be near the passage through which the Holy Father will pass. The basilica is now filled with a compact crowd. All are thrilled with expectant emotion. "All eyes are directed toward the chapel, through which the Pope will enter, en-ter, nother lot of tardy arrivals princes and ambassadors, accompanied by their secret chamberlains and a few grand dames make their way to the tribunes reserved for them. "Finally the door of the chapel opens, and there Is breathless silence. The Swiss guards are seen to range themselves them-selves in their places: the officers of the Noble guard draw their swords, and suddenly, in a golden penumbra, a vague form appears above their heads in the distance. . "Nearer and nearer draws the figure on a red throne borne by men in red. What a venerable old man! "The beneficent vicar of Christ seems capable of bestowing not only on "this multitude but on the whole world, now and forever, all the happiness he desires de-sires for mankind. "As the Pope approaches the confessional, confes-sional, the pilgrims, no longer able to contain themselves, applaud enthusiastically, enthusias-tically, 'Viva il Papa Re!' "Here is a king indeed, one who is nearest to God and nearest to the peoplea peo-plea king -who will kneel and pray with them, right at their side, with all the pomp of royalty "The applause of the pilgrims is refrained re-frained by more than 20.000 voices un- , fior , lofty vaults of the grand cathedral. ca-thedral. "All this overpowers the senses and the e:nonons by its religious grandeur. "Twenty thousand heads bend to receive re-ceive the parting benedictions of His Holiness, who, with hands lifted over I the multitude and with loving smiles, I returns to the privacy of the Vatican. I "The next morning I went to the Vatican Vat-ican by appointment, to paint His Holiness. Holi-ness. "It is in the privacy of the Vatican that the lustre of Pope Leo XIII. shines brightest. "Having had the honor of painting the portrait of His Holiness, I will endeavor en-deavor to describe him an imprudent and dangerous task. "Cardinal Mathieu conducted and in- ' troduced me to the Pope. ! "It was 8 o'clock in the morning. AH . the church bells rang, the first mass. ' ( and the streets again teemed with, countless crowds of pilgrims. The blanched appearance of the Pope surprised me, despite what I had learned about his gradual emaciation. The face and hands seemed immaculately immacu-lately white, the blue veins being quite conspicuous. His delicate form is arrayed ar-rayed in white from head to foot. ;; "After the usual genuflexions. His f Holiness asks us to be seated, the Car- dinal on his right and I on his left. "The conversation turns at once to my desire to have several sittings for the proposed portrait. The Holy Fa- , ther asks whether the afternoon would I suit me best for light. I protest re- j spectfully .and say that I prefer tha i morning. But the early morning is de- voted to diverse audiences and recep- tions of pilgrims, he tells me. "Everything is at last arranged to the satisfaction of His Holiness and I i spread out my paints, fearful lest he ! will repent and withdraw his permis- ! sion. f . I "To my relief, he enters Into a con- I versation with the Cardinal. "While Leo XIII. is engaged in conversation con-versation for a few moments with Cardinal Car-dinal Matthieu on Church affairs, I am painting the portrait. I have an excellent ex-cellent opportunity to observe the interesting in-teresting physiognomy of the Sovereign Pontiff small eyes that twinkle brilliantly; bril-liantly; a sharp nose, expressing prudence pru-dence and wisdom; a mouth that be- ' tokens extreme benevolence. ; "On the following morning at 9 o'clock ' I am alone with the Pope. My emotion j j i is intense. I am to faithfully depict this ? t grand personage on the canvas. ' "I forget my task in the rapture of the moment. i "The Pope seems to know everything that is going on in the world. What a ! wonderful memory! What vivacious spirit has this old man of 90 years! f " 'Your great sculptor, Falguiere, who j has Just died, has degraded his art to- ; f ward the end by painting nudes that i shocked decency,' remarked His Holl- i ness. ; I " 'That is true,' I replied, 'but h f shaped the St. Vincent de Paul of the : Pantheon, and at no time has an artist j created a figure more radiant with charity and pose and gestures more paternal and affectionate.' " ? : i |