The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-07-06
THE PRIDE OF PARIS.
The National Library Probably the
Finest in the World.

Take 1t all in all, the National LII
brary at Paris is perhaps the richest and
rarest one in the world, and that is say
ing a great deal.
The history of its accumulation is in
teresting. Charlemagne and the early
kings of France had collections of manu-
scripts which they valued highly, but 1T
was Charles V who first built special
chamber to hold his library that mad
grown to number some 900 volumes In
the Lorne he arranged his collection in
the Tower of the Library, as it was called,
ad at night silver lamp made it possible
to read there. catalogue of his books
was made by one of his Wallets de
chambre and this Is still extinct When
Charles VIII came from Italy he brought
with him many rare manuscripts; then
Louis XII left some valuable books that
had belonged Sforza, Visconti and Pc
trarch next Francis I took the whole
collection to Fontainbleau; Henry Nv
again took the books to Paris; under
Louis XIII there was 1916 volumes and
under Louis XIV the number was $4,000;
in 1724 the palace of Cardinal Mazarin
was was purchased to hold the books,
and in the time of Louis XIV there was
over 100,0 600.
The library today. occupies the palace
of the great Cardinal, who was the
Minister of Louis XIII, and 1T lies be-
tween the Rue Vivenne. the Rue Col
bert. the Rue Neuve-des-Pe Champs,
along the Rue Richelieu, this last portion
of the building having been the bank
of John Law, whose South-sea scheme
nearly ruined France. By great good
fortune the library did not suffer during
the stormy days of the Revolution. and
after that period books We're taken from
the suppressed monasteries and brought
to the Paris library, together with manu-
scripts, charts, maps and eengravings,
and from year to year additions are
made until it is a marvellous place to
visit. In the great reading room 300 per,
sons may enjoy the privileges accorded
them, and the books for general refer
ence are free for them to use.
A foreign visitor in Paris may obtain
a ticket that allows him free use of the
library, if he gets note Of introduction
from the Minister or Consul of his coun-
grand old galleries Of the Palais Mazarin,
reached by a staircase from the Rue Col
bert. there is public reading room, with
fPGV fhis no oSs ticket IS needed It was after the
Revolution that it was called the Ma
tional Library, it having been, up to that
oVer omr sos 600 n Books, 10000 Of them being
of French history alone, and there are
over 5000 maps and charts, nearly $1,000
manuscripts and 100000 coins and medals.
expended in books and binding.
In what was the greatest gallery of
the Marzarin Palace, along the Rue VI
vienne. are the manuscripts. This gal,
lery has a ceiling painted by Giovanni
, Mazarin and Louis XIV had sent for to
come to Paris and adorn their palaces
study with Pietro da Cortona. Under
glass. in cases, are some books in won
derful bindings of carved ivory, Of gold
and silver set with precious stones. And
amid Oriental manuscripts: richly illum-
mated. are autographs of many kings
and literary persons
On a bracket is sort of box or casket,
above which is well-exeeuted bust of
Voltaire, and in the casket is his heart,
that for many years Belonged to the
| Marquis of Vilette; the French writer
who was ssar member of the convention in
| 1892. and was warm friend of Voltaire.
The family of the Marquis finally pre-
Philadelphia Press. y =