Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-07-12
rig pope.s LIBRARY.



the ysffesn Book sb@tses-
One Of the most interesting sights 10
Rome. well known for the most part 20
students. but generally passed oTer oy
The ordinary sightseer. is tire Vatican
library. Nothing 10 Rome gives such
an impression 81 She wealth OF the
Papal treasures as this matchless liz
brary, and visi. 10 II would help peo-
ole TO form more just estimate oi the
contributions made al least By some 81
the Popes to The cssIse Of learning than
that wfich il sometimes taken. The
library. which Is now extraordinarily
extensive. particularly 10 IT. collection
81 manuscripts -lt II said to conialE
81 the present time 2i.5so manuscripts
IN all. a large proportion Of which are
Oriental and Greek lis not very an
nient IL practically dates from the
beginning Of the seventeenth century.
xAen the most important collections
we're embodied 10 IL There bad been
indeed az earlier nucleus transported
from the Laieran ~ Pope Nicholas v
Ia 1917; but II sAs he additions which
that raised the Vatican 10 it, place
among the great libraries Of the world
The visitor on fret entering the Vat
Irau will probably be most struck with
its extreme unlikelinesg 10 any other
library he has before seen. He hads
himself in brightly. not 20 ssy gaod-
iiy. painted room. on the hoor Of bich.
dotted At intervals. are brightly
painted cspbosrds Il l. 10 these cup
ts,Artis safe. comsnodiois, dry recep-
iaeses that the great mass Of the
the manuscripts which form the glory
Of the library are stored. Every here
and there among the cupboard- are
various works u ART. gifts 10 different
popes. aud glass-coyered eases aud
tables. such a. are 70 fe fousd ia other
libraries, containing sueh Illuminated
manuscripts aud other treasures are
best suited for exhibition. The cases
aud tables Of theystican differ. how
ever, from the cases and tables Of most
ether libraries In being carefully eoy-
sred np with wooden shutters.
Among the treasures 10 b. met With
In these cahse are not only the famous
ference, several famous yirgil- the
Palstlne Virgil among them. and
many other manuscripts 81 the classics.
but also = hat most students Wiil turn
10 first. the world famous manuscript
Of the Greek Bible. the xeli known. but
little studied. vodex faticsnu-.
The great hail which forms the main
building ~ the library terminates Ia q
corridor. or series Of corridors. Of
enormous Length. On the floor Of these
are arranged the various presents given
10 the present Pope on the attainment
Of his Jubilee All along tbs walls are
easas filed with countless and almost
inestiinable treasures. la one l. Il coli
lection Of articles gathered from the
eataeombs and early Christian tomb-;
In another a series Of iew.lod looms
brought fron knssia; next comes
collection al chalices aud patens and
other early church plate. after this
wonderful series 81 specimens Of the
early Fl0rsnline painters. from Clam
bne downward, arranged chronology.
oallyi opposite these again Is a small
collection oi most lovely paintings.
some 81 them early Christian paiut.
ings from the catacombs. others
hasthen works found from time 10 time
IL the nelghborhood Of Rome
There i another series ~ most I'M
teresting rooms the horgia rooms. AS
they are called. built by Alexander vi
These rooms are Cow Devoted toprinted
books ~hish. AZ ia an ordinary library.
are here arranged on shelves along
the walls the ceilings ARE most
beautifully painted by pinturiccbo.
The pletgres seem zingularly beautiful.
particularly the series representing
scenes from our sayiours lie, Lon
don Guardian.