hose
reforms within the Church of which now he so clearly saw the need.
Savonarola had burned with this same selfless desire to reform the
Church from within. And his life became the forfeit. But the present
age was perforce more tolerant; and was likewise wanting in those
peculiar political conditions which had combined with the religious
issue to send the great reformer to a martyr's death.

As Jose entered Rome he found the city in a state of turmoil. The
occasion was the march of the Catholic gymnastic associations from
the church where they had heard the Mass to St. Peter's, where they
were to be received by the Holy Father. Cries of "Long live
free-thinking!" were issuing from the rabble which followed hooting in
the wake of the procession. To these were retorted, "Viva il Papa Re!"
Jose had been caught in the _melee_, and, but for the interference of
the civil authorities, might have suffered bodily injury. With his
corporeal bruises he now bore away another ineffaceable mental
impression. Were the Italian patriots justified in their hostility
toward the Vatican? Had United Italy come into existence with the
support of the Papacy, or in despite of it? Would the Church forever
set herself against freedom of thought? Always seek to imprison the
human mind? Was her unreasonably stubborn attitude directly
accountable for the presence of atheism in the place, of all places,
where her own influence ought to be most potent, the city of St.
Peter?

For reasons which he could only surmise--perhaps because of his high
scholarship--perhaps because of his remarkable memory, which
constituted him a living encyclopedia in respect of all that entered
it--Jose was now installed in the office of the Papal Secretary of
State as an office assistant. He had received the appointment with
indifference, for he was wholly devoid of ecclesiastical ambition. And
yet it was with a sense of relief that he now felt assured of a career
in the service of the Administrative Congregation of the Church, and
for all time removed from the likelihood of being relegated to the
performance of merely priestly functions. He therefore prepared to
bide his time, and patiently to await opportunities to lend his
willing support to the uplift of the Church and his fellow-men.

The limitations with which he had always been hedged about had not
permitted the lad to know much, if anything, of the multitude of books
on religious and philosophical subjects an