The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-11-06
THE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
y Letter From Librarian Hosmer ON
Irish Literature.
Editor of the Irish Standard:


Editor of the Irish Standards:
Thank you much for the paper with
the marked editorial l should have
acknowledged it before; but the board
meeting Monday has tied my hands until
the present moment. The spirit of your
editorial is excellent, and 1, for my part,
take little exception to the ideas you
express. The Irish have been in Amer
lea from the beginning. In the revolu-
ton, While the Scotch were largely Tor
les, the Irish were patriotic. There
have been no better or more distinguish
ed soldiers In our wars than Irishmen,
and In other fields their fame is not
small; in English history no part Of
the empire can show better list OF ia
nous and useful men than Ireland.
AS to this institution, the administra-
ton aims to be strictly impartial l
believe the lives of all eminent Irishmen
may be found on our shelves, and also
the most approved works Of Irish his
tory. Irish poets, novelists and states
men are fully represented, AMI wher-
ever there seems to be lack think
our book committee will be happy to
supply it.
AS to Catholic books, while 1t is quite
impossible with the library's means to
have an exhaustive collection, the effort
has been to buy all epoch-making books,
and to have the writings of epoch-mak-
ing men. 1 believe we have everything
OF Cardinal Newmans. l have taken
great pains to have as complete as posi-
BILE the Relations des Jesuits," the pic
turesque accounts of the heroic lives
of the Jesuit missionaries in North
America. We have many copies of the
earlier editions, and were among the
first subscribers to the complete and ex-
pensive edition now in course of publ
cation at Cleveland, o. We have two
large sets of lives of the saints: Of Cath
ole scientific writer's we have the works
of st. George Mivart and Father Zahln
of Notre Dame; while of writer's in
more popular fields we have the works
of Marion Crawford, Louise Imogene
Quincy, Agnes Repplier, George p. and
Rose Hawthorne Lathrcp, and many
more; in several cases we have many
copies in duplicate of the books most
In request These are Catholic writer's
OF our own day. Going back into the
centuries we have many, Of tho great
writer's of the past-Lingard in history,
Bossuet, Bourdalone and Massillon, in
eloquence; Madame Guyon and Thomas
Attempts in DEVOTION The Oldest, the
largest, probably one of the most costly
books In the library is our very hand
some books of Gregorian chants, from
as early no doubt as the 18th century,
written by monks and used for ages Ia
an Italian monastery by the brother
hood. This venerable volume has the
place OF honor in our building, being
exnlblted in handsome case where It
Is seen by our hundreds of visitors.
The library will always be hapny IN
receive visits from Irish Catholics. The
Misses Lynskey, two of the most valued
members of the library staff Zone I'M
fortunately we have just lost by mar
riage), have always done all they could
to make their fellow countrymen, bot1
clergy and laity, feel at home; tut that
indeed is what we all try to do. Bishcr
McGolrlck, In past years, was frequent
visitor of ours. At present several faith
ers and members Of brotherhoods and
slsterhoods may be often seen in our
nails. They are always welcome, and
any suggestion from them or any lay
man has always been and will always
be laid before the board and respect
fully. considered.
AS to our reading rooms, IT. has always
been the policy of our board to subscribe
very seldom for religious publications,
we have, however, the Catholic World
and the series of the Catholic Historical
Society of Philadelphia. and the Dublin
Review, all which we preserve carefully
and bind. The Catholic Standard and
Times, of Philadelphia, and the Irish
VIZ Ae''e do Sl1Ls, anu place
them where they are accessible to all.
we value them much. Usually our re-
nglous newspapers have been gifts. We
are glad to receive them, though, as l
have said, the board seldom subscribcs
Tor them. Respectfully yours,
J. K. HOSNtER.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Nov. 8, 1897.