LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
THE LIBRARY OF LOUVAIN.
(To Tax EOM{ or TIM ”Srsoraroa..] Sra,—In the Bulletin of the John Ryland. Library, Mani:Leger, just issued, will be found a short statement of steps taken by the authorities of the library to give practical expression to their sympathy with the University of Louvain in the terrible losses it has suffered. The aim is to get together a number of books of value, to arrange them properly, and so help towards the intended reconstruction of the devastated library. Already Mr. Guppy, the Rylands librarian, has set aside • number of works which the Governors are giving for this object, and it is to be hoped that others, both private individuals and public institutions, both in England and other countries, will seize the opportunity of aiding in this work. The Rylands Library would undertake to receive and keep a register of gifts and the donors. The librarian would catalogue and classify the books sent. To do the work pro- perly will take time, and it cannot be undertaken too soon. It is one only of the hundred efforts to be made towards the restoration of Belgium ; small, no doubt, but, we hope, signifi- eant, not only as an expression of sympathy, but of expecta- tion. To keep our word to Belgians was the object that united the nation in favour of war ; our aim was to protect. We have failed utterly. Now the obligation is tenfold stronger—to restore. The whole soul of the nation should be concentrated on that. Until Belgium hi freed and restored we can hare neither honour nor safety. To talk of peace until that has been accomplished is to dally with disgrace. Let every act done, small as well as great, and every word uttered, show that we recognize our duty and mean to do it. We have learned much since the war began ; the power and vigour of the foe are greater than we imagined, and his calcu- lated cruelty and wickedness beyond the most hideous dreams of what was possible for human nature. The task is harder, the goal farther than we thought ; to reach it we must "lay aside every weight," strain every nerve, and look to its attain.
Itickmanaivorth.
[We deal with this subject in our leading columns.—En. Braaten]
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