The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-04-13
4 Kentucky Treasure.

4 Kentucky Treasure.
The Central University at Richmond
KY, is congratulating herself on the &C
QUESTION of q very valuable bibliographi
cal treasure-a copy of the 1890 edition
OF Anselm's works, and ''oontainin!
copious extracts from the former letter
Of Paracelsus, giving the personal de
scription of the Virgin Mary and he
son, Jesus Christ" as the Louisvill,
Courier-Journal puts it. The book wa
the property of the late DR.. K. w. Ian
dis. Of Danville, KY, and the manne
in which it came into his possession i
another of the romances of bibliomania
In October, 1889. he was rummagine
over the old stock of a secondhand
dealer in Seventh Street, near Market
Philadelphia. and in turning over par.
ticularly yellow and musty lot he came
to this. II could almost hear my hear
beat" he wrote. 80 excited l was by
the discovery, and it was with difficulty
that 1 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" -.....
DIR. Lands subsequently made his
''find'' known, and there was for time
considerable controversy about its gen.
uineness. The copy bore no date. but
was evidently published before 1494, for
in that year Anselm was canonized, and
on the title-page he is not spoken of as
saint. The British Museum made a
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
ty, which is Presbyterian institution,
organized within the past ten years. II
is small folio of about three hundred
pages, bound in vellum, yellow with
age, but with the tlamboyant tracery
still perfectly defined. Its medieval
Latin abounds in authorizations, and it is
evidently almost literal transcript of
an original manuscript. 1t appears to
have belonged to some German monas-
terry, but it gives no clue itself as to the
adventures it must have had before it
turned up in the Philadelphia second
hand store. .-'a
A Conrier-Journal 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 was docile. fond of learning
and perseyering about Holy Scripture.
The work of her hands was wool, linen
and silk. There was a distinct place in
the house of the Lord, in 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 persevere. and guard
The affairs and the temple, ministering tc
The priests. Her manner was moderate
IN speech, of prompt obedience, without
.udacity. without laughter. without
hurry, without anger. She saluted
kindly. Men wondered at her eloquence.
She had dark eyes, right aspect, black
eyebrows, a moderate nose. Her face,
hands and fingers were long, her stature
She was constant in prayer
She gave herself to reading, to fasting,
o manual labors and to every good and
7irtuOus occupation. When she was
AIKEN up into Heaven she was seventy
;wo years old, by the following occupa-
ion: 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
In her fourteenth year the JOY
If all ages was announced to her; in her
fifteenth year she brought forth Christ
md lived with him thirty-three years as
! parent. After the Lords ascension
The was in the home of John the Evan.
,elist just twenty-four years"
Her son is described as of medium size
md comely in his personal appearance.
He had a venerable countenance, which
he beholders could both love and fear.
lie had hair of the color of an unripe
ilbert and even lying almost to his ears,
,ut from his ears, waving curly, little
larker and more glossy floating on his
houlders. His hair was parted in the
middle, according to the custom of the
Nazarenes; his forehead smooth and
most serene, with u face without
wrinkle or spot, of a moderate and beau
iful ruddiness. His nose and his mouth
we're faultless. He had a copious and
-outhful beard, parted in the middle.
lie had an aspect simple and mature.
lis eyes were bluish-gray, lively and
right. In rebuke, he was terrible; in
gentle and lovely; cheerful,
hough maintaining his gravity. He
vas never seen to laugh, but often to
weep"
1t is pity that so great a treasure
hould be buried in SO out-of-the-way
orAer of the world as Richmond, Ky.
The authorities of the College, which |
ow owns it place its money value al
25, 900, but they would perhaps take 8
rifle leSs.-N Y Graphic.
How Mark Twain Was Sold.