Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-09
rue popE.s LIBRARY.

s.u~ of the Treasures to be Found Upon
the Vatican Book Shelves.
One OF the most interesting sights IN
Rome, well known for the most part 10
students. but generally passed over oy
the ordinary sightseer. is the Vatican
library. Nothing in Rome gives sucn
an impression of the wealth OF the
Papal treasures as this matchless IL
brary, aud visit 20 it would help peo-
pie TO form a more just estimate OF the
contributions made at least b. some oil
the Popes to the cause OF learning than
that which Is sometimes taken. The
library. which is now extraordinarily
extensive. particularly In Its COLLECTION
Of manuscripts is said to contain
At the present time $3.50 manuscripts
10 all. q large proportion OF which are
Oriental and Greeks not very an
rient. 1t practically dates tom the
beginning Of the seventeenth century.
when the most important collections
were embodied in L. There had been
indeed az earlier nucleus transported
from, the I.ateran by Pope Nicholas '.
Ia i&47; bat il Was the additions which
we're made in and about the year 1900
that raised the Vatican 10 It's place
among the great libraries OF the world.
The visitor ON frst entering the Vat
lean win probably be most struck with
It's extreme unlikeliness 70 any other
library he has before seen. He finds
himself In brightly, not 10 say gand-
lily, painted room. on The door Of which,
dotted at intervals. are brightly
painted capboards. II Il in these cup
boards safe. commodioas, dry reeet-
,aeles shat tbs great mass Of the
the manuscripts which iorm the glory
OF tbs library are stored. Every here
and there among the cupooards are
various works OF art. gifts 10 different
Popes. and glass-eovered cases and
tables, such ~ arc to be found III other
libraries. eontaiuing such illuminated
manuscripts and other treasures are
best suited for exhibition. The cases
Aad tables OF theYatican differ. how
ever, from the cases and tables Of most
other libraries In being carefully COW
cred up with wooden shutters.
Among the treasures 10 be met with
In these casss are not only tbs famous
ference. several famous yirgiis. the
Palatine Virgil among them. and
many other manuscripts o. the classics.
but also whit most students viii turn
10 first, the world famous manuscript
Of the Greek Bible the well-knowD. bat
little studied. yodex Vaiicanas
The great hall which forms the main
building OF the library terminates In u
corridor, or series Of corridors. Of
enormous length, On the floor Of these
are arranged the various presents given
70 the present Pope on the attainment
Of bis jubilee. All along the walls are
cases filled with countless and almost
lnestimnble treasures In one " a col.
lection OF articles gathered from the
caiaeombs and early Christian tombs;
Ia another series u ieweled locus
brought FROM Russia; next comes a
collection Of chalices and patens and
other early church plate, after this a
wonderful series Of specimens Of the
early FloreutiDe painters, from Clam
hue downward, arranged chronology
cally; opposite, these again Is ii small
collection Of most lovely paintings.
some OF them early Christian paint
ings from the catacombsi others
heather works found from time to time
Ia the naighborhood OF Rome
There is another series OF most In.
teresting rooms -the Borgia rnoms, "a
they are called, built by Alexander VI
These rooms are uow devoted to printed
books which. AS ia an ordinary library
are here arranged on shelves along
the salls. The ceilings are mos
beautifully painted by Piuturiccho
The pictures seem singuiarly beautiful
particularly the series representing
scenes from oar Saviours life. Lou
don Guardian.