Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-12-17
A RARE olp MissAl.
california's State Library Has q Volume
Worth Twice Its Weight In Gold.


Worth Twice Its Weight In Gold.
Under lock and key, In tho state libra
rian's office Mt Sacramento, is volume
worth more than twice its weight in gold.
Six centuries have rolled by since tho
plous Fra Ambrosius sat in his monastlc
studio and mixed the watery blue, tho
pale green and startling crimson hucs
with which no illuminated this ancient
misshl. Ho devoted one yenr to tho labor
OF copying with microscopic exactness,
the Latin prayers, the calendar Of tho
saints and hymns Of praise on selected
parchment leaves. In tho Introduction ho
wrote in Latin, II have entered upon this
work with consciousness OF my short
comings and sinful impulses, which rem.
der me unworthy Of SO honorable task,
but after much fasting and prayer hive
been guided by an inner voice which bids
me to write"
Tho history of this missal is full of ro-
mantle interest. The monastery in which
FRI Amhrosius worked was broken up,
and the book over which no had spent go
many weary days passed into the posses
sion OF sailor named Rodrigo de Triana,
who shipped on the Santa Maria when
Christopher Columbus started on his voy.
age Of discovery to tho new world. Re.
turning with tho great admiral on his sec.
ond voyage, Do Trlann married native
woman and eDdeayorcd to carry tho mes
sage Of tho cross to tho people whom no
had adopted Us his kindred. Hls success
as a missionary IS problematicnl. Tho
mlssal, however, was kept by his chill
dron, and when the Spanish padres began
to flock to the huathen shores that Column
bus had given TO CASTLE a priest bought
the volume and mndo in 1t q motto of tho
fact md the date The discovery of such
a work in the hands Of the natives made q
strong impression on the missionary, and
he Investigated its history, making 70.
port to the head Of his order in Barcelona
at the Same time forwarding the missal.
Tho little volume, with Its ohcckercd
history, rcroscd among the archives of the
Barcelona convent until Cortoz fitted out
his expedition to the land Of the Montezu-
mas, taking us his chaplain the pious Fa.
thcr olmodo. Before Olmedo SGT out ON
the dangerous voyage the bishop of Barco-
Iona gave him his blessing, some good ad.
vice and this mlssal. So armed, the chap
lain sailed away to the overturning OF the
dread deity Quotznlcoatl, whom the dwell.
ers OF Annhuac worshipCd.
The bloody wars OF the conquest placed
Nno huAHur VI lno SIOhh OVER lilO ruins OF
the teocallls and made Cortez the governor
of New Spain. Father Olmcdo soon after
ward presented to Cortoz tho now historic
missal as foundation for a library by tho
conquoror and in his diary made mention
of the travels and adventures through
which he had passed. Cortez afterward
took up his residence in Cuyoacan, one Of
the suburbs Of tho present City Of Mexico,
and carefully preserved the book for a
number OF years. When his Coyoacan os.
tablshment was broken up the conquerol
gave the nissal to the Franciscan brothers,
who were thon waxing rich and strong In
the new world. Ono Of their number
brought 1t TO San Francisco in the early
days OF the gold excitement, and it passed
into the possession of the late Governor
Pho Pico.
When tho state library became an estab.
lishcd fact, Governor Pico gave the book
to tho institution, where it now remains.
The missal is Emo specimen of illumi-
nation. II contains 40 pages OF carefully
painted contents The gold letters arc
mado Of gold leaf firmly gummed to the
parchment. The frontlspieoe is "a gem Of
medieval art. IL represents the cruelty
ion, with Mary and Martha--who are giy-
On slightly japanese cast of features
standing Mt the foot Of tho cross. In tho
background river flows, on the other side
OF which arc seen several ediflces that are
architectural curiosltcs.
This interesting volume IS valued ut
$9,OOO-San Francisco Chronicle.