The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-12-24

Notwithstanding the ever-increas-
Ing number of new books, the inter
est In the old ones never lessen. at
rare intervals the discovery is made
Of some unknown book or manu-
script Of the days Of antiquity. Such
a discovery interests laymen as well
as Librarians. for the charm of a book
current in the time of our remote an
cestors appeals 20 readers of every
class. The quest for old literary
treasures has been carried on SO un-
Eceasimgly by modern librarians that
1t is believed few remain unknown,
SO each new discoveryis matter Of
importance.
II The latest discovery of this kind IL
that of 1.-THE Odes Of Solomon" an
early religious work known to have
existed, but which had been lost to
the world for nearly 2, 900 years. II
n was found by Rendel Harris, dis
ltihguished student and explorer.
among collection of loose leaves
lsent in from Mesopotamia. The book
was written in Syrian characters and
is believed to be the only one Of its
kind in the world. The copy is i'm.
perfect, at the beginning and the end,
the. preface and the colophon being
missing. Mr.. Harris was able to
identify it promptly It had been
catalogued In lists of early Christian
and SEMI Christian, literature made
during the first and second centuries.
The Latin writer, Father Lactantius,
quoted from 1t in the fourth cen
fury and five Codes from it were
quoted In curious Gnostic book
called "Pistus Sophia" an early
Egyptian translation of which now
exists in the British Museum. The
old volume lately discovered is to
be included in the treasures of the
museum. Its contents are being
translated and will become familiar
additions to the recognized religious
literature of the ancients.
Another discovery of great interest
to literary antiquarians is that of
what is believed to be the original
manuscript on the Constitution Of
Athens. While copies and transla-
tons of this work are fairly we'll
known, the original manuscript, writ
ten upon Egyptian papyrus, has late
lily been catalogued as "CXX x r. in
the papyrus collection of the British
museum.
The Library Of Congress did not
enter, the markets for the purchase
of literary antiquities until very re-
Gently. because it was felt that the
money appropriated should be ex-
pended upon books Of general use for
their contents, rather than upon
rarities chiefly valuable to the coll
Hector. 1t has been the policy of the
library also. not to purchase a rare
volume until after 1t reaches the Sec
ond hand shop or the auction rooms
| in order that 1t may be secured by
as small expenditure as possible.
Notwithstanding these drawbacks, 1t
is securing wealth OF antique treas
ures most creditabie to Its single CEN
fury Of existence. as well as crafty
| ing to the Americans who are inter-
ested in such matters. This has
been brought about largely through
donations and deposits made by
private individuals.
The unsurpassed facilities Of the
library for caring for rare works
and also for placing them at the SER
vice of the persons capable of being
benefited by them is making defit-
mite appeal to wealthy private col-
lectors who are looking for a final
repository for their treasures.
The collection of incunabula now
assembled in the Library OF Congress
| is the largest to be found in this
country and it's condition is unsur-
passed because Of the care taken in
Its arrangement. Incunabula is a
term used by librarians to includetall
the books printed before the year
1900. Most of these were religious
works and few of them can now be
bought except from private collec-
lions. The collection of incunabula
belonging to the library has been
| greatly augmented by the collection
made by, the late John Boyd Thatcher
| OF Albany, N. Y. which has been de-
posited there. This includes nearly
900 volumes. Its greatest treasure IL
copy of the psalter printed upon
lvellum in the year 1457. In the coli
lection owned by the Library of Con-
grcss Is another psalter, similar in
character. printed upon paper in
l14s9, which is almost equally inter
testing This rare old book has late
lly como from the hands of William
Berwick, the restorer OF manuscripts
flor the Library Of Congress. who has
mastered one of the most difficult:
Heats Of restoration in his work upon
this book.
4 The restoration OF manuscripts and
lold volumes is a fine art all by itself
and one recurring infinite skill and
ipatience. The repair room Of tho