Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-16

One of the most interesting relics of the
early history of the college. around which
clusters many memories of the older gradu-
ates Of the institution, will be looked for IN
vain by those who will next week revisit the
scenes of their youthful struggles and triumphs.
This is the old bell, whose tntinnabuations for
many years awakened. at inopportune moments
often, the echoes of those clustered walls. and
summoned all too soon from their slumbers
the unprepared scholars to their morning
duties; but whose clamorous tongue seemed
always tardy enough in its announcement of
meal time. This old bell came from Holland
some time during ITO, soon after its birth
when it came into the possession of George
town college. While performing its regular
duties OF summOning sleepy students to pray
ers, one fine morning in November. 1855. there
was suddenly a sound OF muffled effort; the
heart of the faithful old thing had snapped
asunder, and its voice became mute and use
less. 1t was carefully and tenderly laid to rest.
all its goodness remembered, all its errors for
gotten. Now, when it is wanted to shed glory
upon the house of its refuge it is not to be
found. Whether it has been consigned to that
cemetery of useless things. the shop of brie-
a-brac dealer, whether it fingers in some safe
obscure corner, listening to the ghosts OF its own
past vibrations. or whether it is simply lost in
the multiplicity of hiding places formed by the
vast improvements which have taken place in
and about its old home. no man knoweth. but
it is not where it can be reached and brought
forth and set upon pedestal as it should be to
add to the interest of the coming joyous cele-
bratiOn.
THE COLLEGE LIBRARY.
The library now contains about $4,000 vol
umes. among which are many rare books and
manuscripts. There are 100 with dates from
AGO to 1920, and one illuminated manuscript of
the year 1880. Among these rare and curious
volumes may be mentioned Bible of 1909: the
| Gospels of St John. in japanese; portfolio of
Pope Plus TX, presented by F. o. st. Clair of
the State department.; Etymologies of st.
lsadore OF Seville, Augsburg. 1472: Bibles
1879; Catholic prayer-book of 1856
the Epistles of st. Paul. 1875: Euclid's
Geometry, 1888; copy of Virgil. 1902 These
are only Il few of the photographed treasures
which have found a resting place in the college
library, but they are sufficient to indicate that
while the collection is not so large as some il
includes books and manuscripts which are in
valuable and which cannot be duplicated
In the center of the library is an ancient
| table-filled with books which the gorged
| shelves refuse to entertain-oval in form.
made of old black San Domingo mahop-
| any, which was the dining and council
table of the first actual governor, Leonard
Calvert of the colony of Maryland Around
this hospitable table, doubtless in the
governors house. if tables could speak.
might be told tales of meetings social
and political. After the social part
| was over came discussion ON state affairs.
| when the grim aspect of the savages on one
side and Claiborne on the other taxed their re-
sources, and was not an easy question to dis
pose of. This heirloom has descended to
Georgetown college. coming direct to it from
st. Inigoes. The old library has long ceased
to be capacious enough for the store of books.
1t is overfowing, and order, '.heaven's first
law, has sunk into allegiance, but when the
new building is completed these precious vol
umes will be properly disposed, and then be
consulted by all who desire.
CECILIUS CALVERT.
Georgetown college is an appropriate depos-
tory for these relics of the Calvert expedition.
1t was through the enterprise of Cecilius Cal