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Show By Prof. Horace Spencer Fiske, University of Chicago '(Chicago Tribune.) Dr. Hugh T. Henry of Philadelphia, a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, has just finished his translation of the "Collected Poems, Charades and Inscriptions of Pope Leo XIII," and to one who is only familiar with the fact that the present pope is a writer of able, sympathetic and comprehensive com-prehensive encyclicals, the book comes as a genuine surprise. Chronologically the volume covers eighty years of the pope's life' and includes that "marvel of beauty, dignity and earnestness" the ode to "The Opening Century," written In the pontiff's ninetieth year. The book is a strange illustration of a stranger fact that the charm of Latin verse can yet abide side by side with the modern Italian in the cloisters of the Eternal City. The reading public's first knowledge of the poetical attainments of Leo XIII was brought by Andrew Lang's translation trans-lation of the "Epistola ad Fabricium," which was cabled to the New York World in 1897. Three years later Mr. Lang also translated the ode to "The Opening Century' and William Hayes Ward, editor of the Independent, moved by his admiration for the remarkable re-markable intellectual powers of the nonagenarian pontiff, wrote a scholarly scholar-ly and spirited translation of the same ode. In fact, this particular poem has found a host of translators and has appeared in many languages. But even as far back as the year 1S22 the pope has been writing Latin verses, which Included in their scope odes, charades, heroic hymns, familiar epigrams epi-grams to his friends, quatrains and inscriptions. in-scriptions. Among the earliest of the songs is one written in 1830, which is strongly suggestive in its spirit of Milton's Mil-ton's sonnet on his own blindness. The pope is writing of his own sickness, which brought him face to face with the formidable shape of death; but, like Browning in "Prospice," he carries a brave front and a triumphant spirit: "Haggard and wan my-face,-and laboring is my breath; Languid I walk the way to dusty death. Why shall I cheat my heart, and years a plenty crave When Atropos compels the dreader grave ? Rather my soul will sneak: 'O death, where is thy sting? With gladness I await thy "triumphing! The passing shows of life shall not disturb dis-turb my peace. Who long to taste the joy that cannot cease. Happy the exile's feet to press the fatherland; father-land; Happily the storm-tossed bark to gain the strand!' " In great contrast to the context of the preceding lines are the couplets on the repelling of a "wanton" by his fellow fel-low student, Ruggero: "With red flaming cheek, with gaudy array. What snare dpst thou plan? Amaryllis., away ! For a poison of asps is under thy tongue. And a hideous ulcer thy bosom hath wrung." Like Spenser, the pope has written an "epithalamium" a song in celebration of the nuptials of a young Italian pair whose hearts were fused in love; and the fact that the great pontiff was in his seyenty-third year when the song was written is abundant evidence, if any were needed, to show 'the open-hearted open-hearted tenderness, of Leo XIII: "Two hearts twin altars claim A. single love-lit flame; You ask me whence it came. Kindred in heart and soul-Love soul-Love silent on them stole And gained complete control! What more? I end my lay, Heaven's choicest gifts to pray . On this, their weddinjr day!' The ode "On Frugality and Long Life," first translated for English readers by Mr. Lang, will doubtless be regarded by many critics as the. most characteristic and interesting piece of work in the volume. - It partakes of. the simple and wholesome life that the distinguished pope is known to lead, and it has also a certain humorous and happy sense, as will be seen in the following fol-lowing lines: "Seek neatness first: although the board be spare, Be every dish and napkin bright and fair; And be thy vintage purest of the pure To warm the heart and prove a pleasant lure That shall both friends and wholesome mirth insure. Be frugal here, however; nor decline To put a frequent water to your wine. O, crystal drops that heaven from ocean lifts To shower on earth the best of nature's gifts! Next have the beakers foaming to the brim With milk no thrifty maid hath dared to skim. No draft than this more wholesome shall assuage The thirst of childhood or declining age. Be thy fresh eggs the talk of all the town-Hard town-Hard boiled or soft, or fried to savory brown. Or poached, or dropped, or sipped raw from the shell. Or done in ways too numerous to tell. And last, delicious fragrance of the east! With cups of steaming Mocha close the feast; But taste the amber with a lingering lip-No lip-No hasty draft! 'twas made for gods to sio! Now, if you diet thus, why, I'll engage, You've found the secret of a green old age." The book illustrates many phases of the pope's life, his inner feelings as a priest and pontiff, his versatile fancy and Jiis technical mastery of a variety va-riety of metrical forms. It is interesting interest-ing to note that the translator, observing observ-ing the immemorial rule of Vatican etiquette, eti-quette, sent his volume unbound that it might be officially bound in white vellum and stamped with the papal coat of arms before presentation. In this respect he was more familiar with papal etiquette than President Roosevelt, Roose-velt, who sent his holiness his complete com-plete works bound in the highest art of American bookbinders. To comply at least in form with the time-honored I custom, the Vatican authorities had the ; president's volumes inclosed in a case of white vellum stamped with the papal arms, and thus presented to the pontiff. pon-tiff. 4 ; t '- 0Asii SS ' . immrm;:mm0mmm, i - --7 :r h X r ' X ' f : - ' Li. I" v- r - f ! ' I " - " u . '...; N I" ' . ''-3 .Vay ' -' : y i . , V ! : REV. J. J. . CAIXAHAU. 4- Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, Butte. 4- |