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Show PIUS X FAINTED WHILE AT MASS '."" , .' ' -f . ' Collapse Due to Weakness of the Heart and the Terrific Strain Endured by the New Pope For the Past f Week. j 1) OSIE, Aug. ii. Just a week haa j -...elapsed since the election of Pius X and he has been already overcome over-come by the unaccustomed strain o' the pontifical duties.. This morning he fainted while at mass. His collapse is considered to be due to heart weakness aggravated by fatigue. It "constitutes the first victory of his entourage, which has insisted that he should take the charge from his previous life less strenuously. stren-uously. Even though he disappointed some people, they argue that he should not concede audiences to all comers and to render himself less accessible. Dr. Lapponi recommended the pope to take a complete rest. He ordered all audiences audi-ences postponed. The pope, however, cannot understand under-stand the necessity of sparing himself and Raid to Dr. Lapponi: "I am stronger than Pope Leo. "Why should not I do what he did?" It was explained to him that Leo when elected began by taking a fortnight's fort-night's perfect rest and thereafter gradually trained himself to his new-duties. new-duties. Moreover, Leo's peculiar constitution con-stitution did not need exercise in the-fresh the-fresh air when on ordinary h'ealthy man does.- At noon Pope Pius was reported to be almost restored to his normal condition, con-dition, but was keeping to his room as he feels occasionally a slight palpitation palpi-tation of the heart. The pope ardently wished to receive today the Aupstrian ambassador, who was to present his credentials, but he was pursuaded to renounce his intention, inten-tion, not only in this cas nut with regard re-gard to all the audiences which were fixed for tomorrow. ' Has Aged Visibly. Although the pope was much better this afternoon. Dr. Lapponi, who visited vis-ited him again, thought it more prudent pru-dent for his holiness not to leave his apartment and not to go into the garden gar-den of the Vatican, as he desired, lie doctor further insisted on a suspension suspen-sion of audiences. . The pontiff seems more docile to the doctor's wishes than his. predecessor, although he insisted on transacting some current business, such as Ihe appointment of Alberto Sili, the son of the dean of the grooms, as his personal valet, the place occupied by'Pio Centra under Pope Leo XIII. Dr. Davenozia, speaking about the pope, said: "If they wish our Pius not to succumb, suc-cumb, the Vatican authorities must change their system. They must not --t oblige him to follow the habits of Pope Leo. The present pontiff needs especially especial-ly plenty of fresh air. He must not be shut up in a box : a vitiated atmosphere." atmos-phere." The pope retired earlier than usual, "saying that ho felt. quite tired. His intimates say that he is much changed since his election and seems to hav? grown years older. His sisters at Venice were much alarmed over the news of his indisposition, and have decided de-cided to come to Rome to attend him. Signs of Breakdown. The pope had already given the com-riiunion com-riiunion to 200 people when he began to feel ill. Those about him soon perceived per-ceived that he was not himself by his nervousness and impatience which showed itself when his attendant handed him his spectacles. He pushed them aside and drew another pair from hU pocket. When another attendant tried to tie the ribbons of his robes behind be-hind he told him to stop and did it himself, a most unusual occurrence with him. The consternation of the Venetians when they saw him faint was great' and they rendered matters worse by crowding around him. Mgr. Bisletl, however, kept his presence of mind and ordered the Swiss guard to clear a space about the pontiff. Smelling Smell-ing salts were brought hastily and had the desired effect. When able to speak again, the pope asked for a few drops of water, which j were given him, and water was sprin- kled on his face. His gown was opened at the neck as he seemed to be choking. chok-ing. " Was Able to Walk. lie refused resolutely, however, to be carried to his apartments, saying 1 that he was sufficiently strong to walk. The way thitcher was cleared and he ' proceeded slowly, surrounded by his anxious entourage, his head bent almost al-most on his shoulder and his. face so pale that the flesh was scarcely distinguishable dis-tinguishable from his robes. The neck j of his gown still remained opened. It was a solemn moment when the j pontiff passed through the midst of j kneeling Venetians without having the strength to give them his benediction. Deep silence accentuated the impres-siveneas impres-siveneas of the scene. As he went out of sight through the Raphael loggia, tears fell from the cheeks of several of the pilgrims and one could not refrain re-frain from crying out: "Take care of yourself, your holiness, for our sake, who love you so much, as well as for your own." |