The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 5, July 1901 - April, 1902 Page: 208
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208 7xwas Historical Association Quarterly.
Of what we may call his minor passions that of ransacking book
stores and libraries was easily the chief. His knowledge of books
bearing upon any ordinary historical subject was really remark-
able. Doubtless, he never entered a library without leaving behind
a suggestion that caused his visit to be remembered. He was espe-
cially interested in the acquisition by libraries of books that were
"worth while," and in the diffusion of knowledge concerning
them.
Father Schmitt was more than generous to a fault; with him, it
was a failing. The worthy and unworthy were alike helped by him,
lest, in refusing any, some needy one should suffer. It was no
uncommon thing for him to give away "not merely his coat, but his
cloak also," and his relatives or friends must rival him in gener-
osity in order to prevent the entire depletion of the good father's
wardrobe.
Toward his parents his love and loyalty were beautiful. To us
who knew him in San Antonio his affection for his father and the
latter's devotion to him were touching. At the close of his semin-
ary course it became possible for him to go abroad for some years'
study, either in the Tyrol, or at the Vatican in Rome. To a man
of his historical tastes the opportunity seemed too good to be
missed; but he chose to remain in this country, so as to be near
his mother, then failing from the same disease that was later to
attack him. Again, in 1895, he hastened from his pastoral duties
to his dying mother's bedside, and very likely in the long watch
beside her, contracted the germs of the fatal disease. His appre-
ciation of family life was high, and nowhere better shown than in
his tender filial devotion.
As a youth, Father Schmitt had been a frequent contributor to
newspapers and periodicals. During his seminary course his efforts
were turned into their life-long channel-the history of the pion-
eers of the Catholic faith in the United States. His first work of
this character, published in Cincinnati, was Lose Bliiter aus der
Geschichte der Deulschen St. Marien Gemeinde, a history of Ger-
man Catholic pioneer days in New Albany, Indiana, and vicinity.
A little later there appeared from Vienna his Bibliopraphia Bene-
dictina, a complete bibliography of that order in America. During
his pastorate his attention was attracted to the early French mis-
sion of Vincennes, in his preparation of a life of Bishop Brut6,
the first bishop of that section of our country. His work on this
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 5, July 1901 - April, 1902, periodical, 1902; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101021/m1/214/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.