FAMOUS LIBRARY.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14625, 1 February 1918, Page 7

FAMOUS LIBRARY.

SOLD TO JAPANESE MERCHANT.

The announcement that Japan ecently had secured Dr. G. F.. Morrison's great libraiy at Pekin was the subject of a conversation with the distinguished visitor at Christ-church.

Dr. Morrison said the library took him seventeen years to collect. It contained more than 20,000 books, exclusively Avorks in foreign languages dealing with the Chinese. It represented twelve main languages, but dki not contain any works in the Chinese language. The catalogue, which occupied 2880 pages of foolscap, would bo published in Tokio. In the collection there were maps, charts and engravings dealing with 'many subjects and with famous people associated with China. There 'were nine editions of the voyages ol Marco Polo, including one in German and several in Latin.

When Dr. Morrison went to Pekin he found that there was no library of that character there. He began to collect, and continued to collect, until the library grew to isuch dimensions that oue man could not attend to it. | The University of California wished to buy it, and asked for an option over it; but, in- accordance with a promise made many -years ago. the Jirst refusal was given to Japan. The library was sold to tho Japanese •Rothschild, Baron lwashi, oue of tho leading merchants of Japan, for the sum of £35,000, on condition that it is housed and estafr I [shed in Tokio, is called the Morn-son Library, and is open to all. serious students.