A STORY OF DR.STAFFORD

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 18, 7 May 1908, Page 37

A STORY OF DR. STAFFORD

Many stories are being to-ld in the Washington capers of the late Very Rev. Dr. Stafford. One of 'the best relates the manner in which he came into possession of a cherished edition of Shakespeare Several years ago a man visited St. Patrick's rectory, having with him a Boydal edition of Shakespeare.

I am m great want,' he said, • and I have come to -beg you to buy this book for a hundred dollars.' lne priest looked at the book and answered -~ — fVLy friend, do .you know, that , this, editfcm is. wottta several thousand dollars ? ' + v J h ? manm ' an ajdmitlte d that he knew its val,ue, but that he was in such immediate need that he would be glad ta sell it for even half the sum he had asked, it only the doctor would want it.

Ob, yes, I want it. I want it as a starving man wants food. I have for many years longed for just this 3oydal and I expect to long for it until I die, but I should be a thief to take ifr at your terms If I were, neb I would buy it, but it is utterly beyond my means.' J

The man insisted that he must sell his book that night, no matter who was the purchaser. 'In which case,' the priest said, ' I should be a! mean thief indeed to take advantage of your stress of mind.'

Dr. Stafford lent the man money for his immediate wants, and told him to take his book to tjso friends of Ms, one a Bishop of the Episcopal Church., and the other a Senator from the West. Both, he explained, were-, wealthy men, and each loved the bard well enough to want so rare an edition of his works. It happened that the man took Ms book first to the Senator— Cushman K. Davis— and told him of Dr. Stafford's refusal to buy the book at the -offered terms.> The Senator considered it a good story,' and that night at a large -dinner party he repeated it to a- group of fellow-Senators and a Justice of the Supreme Court. They, too, considered It a good story, and, as a result, a few nights afterward Dr. Stafford was amazed to receive the book, bearing the names of the Senators and the Justice, all of whom had subscribed and^ made Him a gift of Ms longed-for "Boydal/