Sunday morning globe., 1901-09-01
WINDSOR Castle.
Its Countless Treasures the Inheri
tance Of the King.
THE LIBRARY A RESORT.

Holmes, Tho Cultured Librarian In Charge
Of 100000 Volumes, Many Of Them Of
Priceless Value.
Among the countless treasures at
Windsor Castle which form part Of the
personal Inheritance Of the king, Is the
precious collection Of books prints and
MSS, whose lordly home is the royal
library.
When the two Libraries formed by
George H. and George ILL., went to the
British museum, the castle was for
some years without any literature at
ALL But under William w. forgotten
collections were unearthed at St.
James palace, Hampton court and else.
where end brought together nj Wind
sor, and day after day for 20 years the
prince cOnsOrt devoted his leisure mo.
ments to the congenial task of repair.
ing the gaps in this new library
Early in the reign a Mr.. Holmes
ohanced to be one of the keepers of
MSS i'm the British museum, and he
introduced his son Richard as an as.
1istant. and for 16 years the younger
hook-lover was preparing himself un-
consciously for his life work. When
I'm 1868 an archaeologist was sought
FOR the expedition to Abyssinia young
Holmes was taken for the purpose, and
o this episode was due his selection
by Queen Victoria in 10 TO he her
7rivate librarian. For 80 years he has
carried on the work started by The
prince consort, until to-day he is In
charge Of 100000 volumes one Of the
richest private collections i'm the world.
Colonel Holmes is a short, dapper
trim-beared bibliophile, Of ruddy ge.
niality. His luxurious tome upon the
life Of his august mistress proves him
to possess a ready pen. and that he
also wields a ready brush is shown by
his illustrations foE Mrs Oliphanr
Makers of Venice Perhaps his great
est treasure is one Of the only two per
feet copies Of the earliest dated print
ed books. the 1457 Mainz Psalter,
whose value runs into five figures, and,
indeed. on one occasion an American
lady, who was permitted to inspect the
library was very angry because her.
oicerone would not accept there a
check for 100000 in exchange for this
book. Here are to be seen also a
dozen Caxtons, including the only per
feet COPY Of his Aesop, a Coverdale,
Luther's own bible Mozarts first ora
torio. the testament that Charles L.
carried to the scaffold. his folio Shakes
peare. Oriental MMS. encrusted with
gems and many another volume to be
seen nowhere else ON the planet
Queen Victoria would never willing
ly permit novels of the moment to en-.
cumber her shelves although there are
one or two first editions of kipling and
some presentation volumes. There IS
little poetry also, including a choice
COPY which Alfred Tennyson prepared
of his works as a laureate's gift The
bulk of the library, however, is made
up of books on history, biography, her.
aldrv. bellies letters, and the fine arts,
including the caricatures of three cen
turtles to say nothing Of the 10000
prints and drawings.
The queens boolyplate, made by Mr.
q. w. Eve, introduces the badges Of.
Henry VII. and Edward III. surround
ed by the garter, and the royal cipher
Is stamped upon the binding Of many
volume. Many Of the bindings 10 he
seen in the royal library are marvellous
ly beautiful
For the last year or two an assistant
has been busy upon typed card cata'
logue Of authors and subjects, in the
manner Of the Guildhall library and
tn.s Is understood to have enabled his
majesty to observe the presence Of
large numbers Of presentation and
other volumes which can now be spar
ed. It is said, indeed, that a large pro
portion will be distributed I'm various
directions later on.
His maiesty's own library was form
ad I'm the first instance at MARLBOROUGH
House. but upon his return from India
he room was required for his eastern
rolics. and most of the books We're
therefore. transferred to Sandingham
There they occupy at present three
apartments, and they comprise the
works which he read before startinEI
on his tour. together with a fine Cri'|
mean collection. a complete set dealing
with the Nelson and Wellington cam
Daigus. and a large case devoted to|
farming. sport, the Babminton library
and the manifold interests Of a cour
trv gentleman. Here also are TO be
found the best romances i'm the litera
ure of all Europe from Thomas Hardy
70 Alphonse Daudet from Bourget TO
Mrs Henry Woods. Some Of these vol
umes are to be transferred to Windsor
and others will now be represented by
duplicate copies to bear the severely
astely monogram Of the king, and
later on his new boolplate.
The Windsor library is one Of the
most perfect retreats in all England
'or a rainy day. It has a superb out
look across the Stoke and way TO Har
-ow.on-the-Hill, and as the privileged
'adies and gentlemen Of the court loll
IN its cozy chairs, leathered in brilliant
carlet. and rest their books upon It's
nolisaed ebon tables inlaid with ivory
he spirits of the past-of Anne and
he duchess, Of Elizabeth and her tir
ing maids, Of Charles II. and Lely's
beauties-seem to pervade the fireplace
md oriel alcove and mullion. Little
wonder that such a corner became q
'avorite retreat on Sunday afternoons.
Another Enterprise.
"I've got a scheme said the CRATER