Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-02

library are several important manuscripts
from his pen; and they are regarded as
great prizes, for his autographs are scarce.
The monastery at which Luther lodged
when he came to Rome is down on the old
Piazza de Populo under the famous Pin
clan HILL where the fashionable people of
Rome promenade, and there, too, is the
church in which he celebrated his last
mass.
In the same case with the Luther manu-
scripts are a collection of love letters writ
ten by King Henry VIII of England to
Anne Boleyn, and the original manuscript
of the treatise he wrote against Luther and
the reformation. which gained for him the
title, Defender of the Faith"
But even more Interesting than these theo-
lcgical manuscripts is book of poems in
the handwriting of Michael Angelo, that
universal genius who was a poet. painter,
architect. sculptor. musician and engineer.
His poems written in a beautiful hand,
which indicates that he might have been a
good boOkkeeper also but his mind occa-
sionally wandered from his muse, for several
of the pages contain pictures of windows.
doors, arches, columns and drawings of
other details of architecture. Like some
other good men he was proudest of his
weakest accomplishment. He thought he
was a great poet and in these silent lines,
which repose under the shadow of the ma
jestic dome he created for st. Peters, he is
said to have taken the greatest satisfaction.
In his former residence at Florence. which
has been turned into museum of his works,
are other poems in his handwriting. These
however. have never been published, and
learned gentleman who has read them de-
clares that they are not worth publishing.
In the same case is similar volume in
the handwriting of Tasso, most of the
poems being twice written The original
draught occupies one page with corrections
made in a revision by the author. On the
opposite page is usually found clean copy
written in neat and rather fanciful man
neT.
How the Books Are Kept.
There are something like 10000 manu-
scripts in the Vatican library and several
hundred thousand printed books. and
there are twelve hundred feet of corridors
in that section which is exhibited to the
public, not including an enormous area in
which the books are kept. Father Ehrle
says that he has been thinking of getting
bicycles for his assistants because of the
long distance they have to travel when they
are sent for books. On busy days they have
to walk several miles. and of course this re-
qures a great deal of time The books are
not arranged in modern libraries but
according to the plan in use for centuries
among the princes of Rome. No books or
manuscripts are visible. They are all in
closed in low closed cupboards called ''ar-
marii about five feet high and the wood
en- doors are richly decorated This plan
was adopted in order to combine art gal
leries and libraries and thus give room to
hang pictures on the wall over the books.
The main exhibition room, 22b feet long
with ceiling decorated in most brilliant
color, contains several interesting historical
relics They include some of the choicest
gifts received by Leo XIII. on his jubilee
anniversary. and by his predecessors from
foreign pOtentateS. An enormous font of
Sevres porcelain, which stands in the center
of the room, presented to Plus TX by
the Emperor Louis Napoleon of France
souvenir Of the baptism of the Prince I'm
perial to whom the pope stood as godfather.
On either side priceless Sevres vases.
presented by Napoleon l 10 Pope Plus VII.
Among the most UNIQUE of the JUBILEE gifts
are two slabs of marble of oddbut graceful
shapes bearing medallions OF Leo XIII, with
appropriate inscriptions, which were pre-
scented to him by the Emperar of Austria.
but he never liked them. He said they
looked too much like tombstun4B.
This library was begun by Pope Nicholas
vi in the year 1900. who. with his dying
breath. thanked God for having given him
a taste for letters, and the facilities neces-
sary for cultivating 1t with success. He
once offered a reward Of 5000 ducats to any
person who would bring him the gospel OF
st. Matthew in the original tongue. Most
of the popes have cultivated the arts and
letters, but none in the long list took
greater interest in such subjects than the
late Leo XIII, which was perfectly natural
because lie was himself IN author. Here in
the library are to be found in beautiful
bindings collections of all his public papers
and several duplicate copies of all the edi-
tons of his poems that were ever published.
He used to come here frequently before he
became so very infrm and left all his books
and papers to the library. Father Ehrle is
now engaged in arranging them and ma king
a catalogue.
Leo's private library numbered about 3O.-
900 volumes and included nearly every Cath
Ole book published during his pontificate and
nearly every book of whatever character
published by member of the Catholic
Church during that period and nearly every
one is a presentation copy, inscribed with
the authors name, because II was well
known that the late pope appreciated such
gifts. There is a great deal of trash in the
collection. of course. Father Ehrle Is going
through the collection carefully, picking out
duplicates and sending them to different
colleges in Rome. and disposing of worth
less volumes elsewhere.
The state papers Of the late pope have
been placed in the archives They include
a great deal Of valuable historical material.
Purely biographical papers will be referred
to his future biographer II one Is ever Sc
lected, which is scarcely necessary, because
half dozen excellent Biographies have al
ready been published He was very particu-
lar about his papers. He never destroyed
anything and fortunately we have several
duplicates Of his poems in his own hand
writing.
Father Ehrle is also engaged in rearrang-
ing the several thousand volumes recently
purchased from the Barberini family, which
had one of the most valuable private librar-
les in the world. 1t is unusually rich in early
Latin publications and had nearly all of the
first editions of the books printed by Guten-
berg and Faust, including a splendid copy
of the Gutenberg Bible. which of itself is
worth nearly as much as was paid for the
entire collection.