The sun., 1919-11-02

twelfth century, a large number of
manuscripts relating to the history of
the various religious houses, and a
considerable number of liturgical and
other illuminated manuscripts of the
thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth
centuries. The most interesting of
these manuscripts provided NJ. lie Cha
noine Reusens with the material for
his studies, which resulted in his "Ele-
ments des photographic" where may
be found descriptions accompanied by
reproductions of number of the most
representative of them.
Remarkable Book Collection.
1t was not only in manuscripts that
the library was rich. Its printed
books included a Remarkable collection
of Incunabula. numbering upward of
$50 examples, a large proportion of
which were printed in the Low Coun-
tries, comprising many specimens Of
the works of John of Westphalia, the
first printer in Louvain, including the
first dated work printed by him in
| 1474, and the "Vocabularis'' of 1888, of
which apparently only one other copy
is known.
The collections of mathematical and
medical books were equally notable,
containing the vellum copy of DE
corporis humani fabrica" of Versalius,
which was presented to the university
by the Emperor Charles V.
Now that Belgium has been freed
from the hateful presence of the bar
barian invaders, whose brutal tyranny
has received the answer ii so richly
! deserved. the Belgian people are re-
turning from exile, having their hearts
filed with a new-found but aching
| pride in the immortal glory which
! their country has acquired
Thinking men and public spirited
! citizens have expressed their desire to
see the replacement and restitution Of
the treasures of art and literature,
| for which the University of Louvain
was admittedly famous. There has
| been formed recently National Com
, mittee OF the United States for the
| Restoration of The University of Lou
vain. Nicholas Murray Butler pres
ident of Columbia University, has been
| appointed chairman OF the committee.
! A campaign Is now under way to raise
! 100000 for the restoration of the Ii
! brary of the university, the destrucN
! ton of which Cardinal MerCier, now
! the guest of the American people.
| called "the greatest sorrow of his llfe.''
DIR. schurman Gives His Books.
Prof. Jacob Gould Schurman. presi-
/ dent Of Cornell University. has donated
! his entire philosophical library TO the
| executive committee, which Is in
charge OF all donations. Books mum
bering several thousand volumes have
been donated by other libraries md
endowment institutions in this country.
! While the priceless treasures of the
past cannot be replaced, the library Of
Louvain will be restored to it's former
! position as a centre of Belgian in ell
| lectual life. The plans of the Germans
| to cripple the educational and cultural
! centres of Belgium have been frus-
trated by the generous support Amerl-
cans have given to the fund to rebuild
and equip the library of Louvain.
w. J. Guard in a communication TO
the editor of THE EVENING SUN, pub
! lished October Il, says:
"Apropos of ~ movement to raise
a fund TO renew the library Of Lol-
vain. let me recall a leading editorial
by Gustave Herve, the fearless pro-
war Socialist of France, in his news
paper. then known as La Guerre So
I cidle-since renamed lie Victoire-of
! September 20, 1914.
'In that article NJ. Herve pictured
a reconstructed, restored Louvain-
old yet new-a Louvain to which all
the civilized world should contribute
Although America was late in get
ting into the war II Is gratifying TO
note that she is the first TO undertake
a realization OF NJ. Gustave Herve
prophetic dream OF ave years ago"