Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-09-13

The $50, ,2.s, $50. as aforesaid, does not in
clude any cost Of the exhibits, and IN an!
attempt to estimate their value the inn
agination is soon fatigued. Here, foi
instance, are some 2,0po paintings ano
statues Of the first class and $500 other
works Of fine arts, worth dare not say
how many millions, but running lar into
the tens, of course, as many are from the
worlds greatest collections and only
loaned for this occasion as a rare act o!
courtesy to the United States. For this
reason the Art Palace is guaranteed as al
solutely fire proof and the regulation
there are rigid to u military degree. And
here are the three great Japanese vases,
bronze overlaid with the most delicate
porcelain and resting on wooden pet!estak
made from the ruins OF that famous old
temple destroreI By the calthquake-tht
three worth 81, 900 And here are vases
of smaller sizes worth all the way from
e, 700 down to go each. Some one has
estimated that in the great Manufacture,
and Liberal Arts building the exhibits
would require the work Of 1900 men foI
ten years, and while this is necessarily
rough estimate, can scarcely doubt 1t
when gaze on that wonderful array.
save as relics and curiosities moderate
estimate would run FAR into the millions.
In the monastery Of La Ra bida alone are
1867 articles, OF which over 80 are OF
priceless value az relics. and one collection
is 80 highly esteemed that the observer Il
politely requested (by a pIaeard) 10 take
of his hat while he stands in front of it..
There are autograph letters Of popes and
emperors and great explorers. There are
some of the first maps made in Europe,
the first books printed in Spain aud Italy,
the first writings In which the words
America or California appeared, some OF
the weapons Of the great conquerors OF
the new world, gifts Of sovereigns and
friends to Columbus. the commission by
Pope Leo X 20 the first bishop in America.
the appointment by Pope Alexander vi
Of the priest who came with Columbus,
and hundreds Of old medals, pictures,
cups and other c,.rios. the whole making
historical rnrscum far more complete
than any ever shown on the western con
tinsnt.
Asd consider fer brief space how these
care to be here and the extraordinary
honor shown 10 the United States. Here
are foFty-seven articles sent direct from
the private archives Of the vatican by His
Holiness Leo XIII in compliance with
resolution OF the congress Of the United
States" Among them are eopies--for the
originals could not be removed from the
great folio registers-of documents show
ing the complete history OF the Morse
christians in Iceland and TiBland az they
were enthusiastically connected with
Rome. The search through the 1900
volumes began in 1873, when they were
first opened to scholars, and quite recent
ly the last OF the documents was discov-
cred and the line Of succession traced from
Bishop Albert in 1o55, the first bishop In
iceland, down to the letter Of Pope
Nicholas V, dated Sept. %. 144s. giving
the Irish bishops authority to inquire into
and regulate the affairs Of the church In
Greenland and Iceland. By these docu-
ments and the reports rendered it Is made
highly probable that Nova Scotia was the
viniand discovered by the Morse sailors
snd that in their later voyages Catholic
priests accompanied them to America.
The subject is 80 fascinating that one ia
tempted to linger long over these origin.
ais and fac-similes In the monastery. The
structure Is reproduction Of the original
monastery Of La Rabida, which standa
near Palos, SPAN, and shout three milez
from the ocean, Tradition says it VS. b
gun IN the reign Of Trajan and was tn
most westernly christian structure as thl
tfme-hence tbs name, The Outpost, ID
the Moorish tongue, given II many ysan
istss. II wss thers that Columbos sP