286 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



had no more than strength suffi- 

 cient to raise his hand in the ponti- 

 fical blessing. Bat as he was as- 

 sisted to the altar, and turned to 

 recite the litany, his marvelous 

 voice sounded far into the recesses 

 of that wondrous church. Blessing 

 the people, he sat down and re- 

 ceived the representatives of the 

 pilgrims, each of whom kissed his 

 slipper and hand. As if inspired 

 by the deafening cheers of the mul- 

 titude, he rose to his feet and re- 

 mained standing while borne back 

 through the long nave of the 

 church to the Vatican all the 

 while bestowing his blessing on 

 either side. There was not one in 

 the pilgrimage, whether Catholic or 

 Protestant, Jew or Gentile, who did 

 not enter heart and soul in greeting 

 the venerable and saintly-looking 

 old man. Almost everyone held 

 up rosaries, handkerchiefs, or some 

 precious object to be blessed. The 

 Pope is now about 92 years of age, 

 and it is said that he is busily en- 

 gaged with his private secretary 

 two to four hours daily, besides re- 

 ceiving many visitors to the Vati- 

 can. His manner of living is most 

 simple. He always dines alone, 

 and nothing but the plainest of 

 food is placed on his table. His 

 private physician attends him al- 

 most constantly, and no infant 

 could receive more tender, watch- 

 ful attention to every detail of life 

 than does His Holiness. 



Baby Incubators lu Paris. 



Ten incubators, each containing 

 a living baby, are on exhibition in 

 Paris every morning from 9 to 11 

 o'clock. These incubators can be 

 secuied for the home at a cost of 

 per month. 



The Students' Medical 



Association of the University of Paris 



is about to issue invitations to the 

 medical students of America, as well 

 as to all nations, to attend certain 

 social and scientific functions con- 

 nected with the medical faculty of 

 the University of Paris during the 

 time of the exposition. 



In the latest report of the Health 

 department of Paris more than one- 

 third of the births recorded were 

 illegitimate. 



The Paris Exhibition. 



Those who purpose visiting the 

 Paris Exhibition will do well to pre- 

 pare to meet the demands that will 

 be imposed upon them during their 

 stay in gay Paris. 



Preparations for the coming ex- 

 hibition are going on at a lively 

 rate, but at best the buildings can- 

 not be in readiness before the first 

 of June. In fact, it will astonish 

 the Parisians if all is in readiness 

 before the close of the exhibition. 

 This delay is due in part to the un- 

 usual cold and wet weather of the 

 past winter; in part to the labor 

 strikes, but more than all to the in- 

 herent disposition of the French to 

 be always behind time in whatever 

 they undertake. 



Naturally the Americans will 

 view the exhibition from a com par 

 ative standpoint; and in so doing, 

 the Paris Exhibition will be at a 

 great disadvantage because of the 

 lack of building space. The build- 

 ings are so crowded together on 

 either side of the river Seine as to 

 make it impossible to fully appre- 

 ciate their architectural beauty. 

 At this time, (March 24) the build- 

 ings are sufficiently complete to 



