The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-04-14

kentucky Treasure.
The Central University at Richmond,
KY, is congratulating herself on the ae.
QUESTION offs very valuable photographic
cal treasure-a copy of the 1870 edition
| of Anselm's works, and containing
copious extracts from the former letters
of Faraeelsus, giving the personal de-
scription of the Virgin Mary and her
son, Jesus Christ" as the Louisville
Cou ier-Joartat puts it. The book was
the property of the late DIR, Il. W. Lam
dis, of Danville, Ky, and the manper
in which it came into his possession is
another of the romances of bibliomania.
In October. 1889. he was rummaging
over the old stock of second hand
dealer in Seventh Street, near Market,
Philadelphia, and in turning over par
ticularly yellow and musty lot he came
to this. Il could almost hear my heart
beat. "he wrote, $50 excited | WAS by
the discovery, and it was with difficulty
that | could control myself to ask the
bookseller to let me carry it home with
me and bring the money back for it. |
never rested until the precious volume
was safely locked in my room and the
small sum was paid
DR.. Lands subsequently made his
''find known, and there was for a time
considerable controversy about its gen
uineness. The copy bore no date. but
was evidently published before l494, for
in that year Anselm was eanonized, and
on the title-page he is not spoken of as
saint. The British Museum made
standing offer of 5000 for it. but the
| owner held it to be worth much more,
and in his will he left it to the Universe
| tv, which is Presbyterian institution,
organized within the past ten years. 1t
is small folio of about three hundred
pages, bound in vellum, yellow with
age, but with the tlamboyant tracerv
still perfectly defined Its medieval
| Latin abounds in authorizations, and it is
evidently almost literal transcript of
an original manuscript. II appears to
have belonged to some German monas-
terry, but il gives no clue itself as to the
adventures it must have had before it
turned up in the Philadelphia second
hand store.
A CoRrierJourndt reporter who was
sent to interview it appears to have had
enough knowledge of Latin and block
letter and all that to make summary of
what Paracelsus' letter has to say about
the history and appearance of the Virgin
Mary. This information is thus impaired
to the readers of the paper as the result
of the reporters two hours labors at
deciphering the unfamiliar type: MARY,
the mother of God. learned Hebrew
while her father. Joachim. was still
living. She wa. docile, fond of learning
| and persevering about Holy Scripture.
The work of her hands was wool, linen
and silk. There was distinct place in
the house of the Lord, i'll His temple,
next the affairs. There holy virgins used
to stand, and when the divine Offices
were discharged they all would go home.
Mary alone would perseyere, and guard
the affairs and the temple, ministering to
the priests. Her manner was moderate
in speech, of prompt obedience, without
audacity, without laughter, without
fairy, without anger. She saluted
| kindly. Men wondered at her eloquence.
! She had dark eyes, a right aspect, black
! eyebrows. a moderate nose. Her face,
hands and fingers were long, her stature
mddling. She was constant in prayer.
She gave herself to reading, to fasting,
to manual labors and to every good and
virtuous occupation. When she was
taken up into Heaven she was seventy
two years old, by the following occupa-
ton: Seven years she was educated
with her parents, and seven years and
half she ministered in the temple of the
| Lord; she was in the house of Joseph six
months. In her fourteenth year the Joy
of all ages was announced to her; in her
fifteenth year she brought forth Christ
and lived with him thilty-three years as
parent. After the Lords ascension
| she was in the home of John the Evan
gelist just twenty-four years.
Her-sonis described rs of medium size
and comedy in his personal appearance.
"He had venerable countenance, which
the beholders could both love and fear.
He had hair of the color of an unripe
filbert and even lying almost To his ears,
but from his ears, waving curly, a little
darker and more glossy floating on his
shoulders His hair was parted in the
middle, according to the custom of the
Nazarencs; his forehead smooth and
most serene, with. face without a
wrinkle or spot, of a moderate and beau
tiful ruddiness. His nose and his mouth
were faultless. He had copious and
youthful beard, parted in the middle.
He had an aspect simple and mature.
His eyes were bluish-gray, lively and
bright. In rebuke, he was terrible; in
admonition, gentle and lovely; cheerful,
though maintaining his gravity. He
was never seen to laugh, but often to
weep
1t is pity that so great a treasure
should be buried in so quito f-the-way
cor er of the world as Richmond, Ky.
The authorities of the College, which
now owns it place its money value. at
s25, 900, but they would perhaps take a
Grihe less.-N T. Graohtc