History Repeats at Louvain

Few German actions in World War I so aroused U. S. citizens as the burning of the University of Louvain's Renaissance library, with thousands of irreplaceable books and manuscripts. U. S. colleges, universities, women's clubs, school children, actors, policemen gave more than $1,000,000 to restore the library. In 1928 the new library was dedicated. Designed by famed Architect Whitney Warren, it was built of white stone and red brick, had a tall spire and a carillon of 48 bells.

But Architect Warren did not consider the building complete. He wanted an inscription: Furore Teutonico Diruta: Dono Americano Restituta ("Destroyed by Teuton Fury; Restored by American Gift"). On the ground that the inscription was "likely to breed hatred," Architect Warren was overruled.

Last week, war correspondents arrived in Louvain in the wake of Germany's army. They found the Louvain Library and its 700,000 new volumes again destroyed by Teuton fury.

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