LITERARY NOTICES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 8, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 48.

LITERARY NOTICES.

By Editor

[The SIGNS OF THE TIMES holds itself under no obligation to notice any publications sent it by publishers. Those considered worthy of notice, or which are deemed profitable to its subscribers, will receive such notice as time, space, and value will permit.]

A Standard Dictionary of the English Language.—Projected on Original Plans and Designed to Give, in Complete and Accurate Statement, in the Light of the Most Recent Advances of Knowledge, and in the Readiest Form for Popular Use, the Orthography, Pronunciation, Meaning, and Etymology of All the Words and the Meaning of Idiomatic Phrases in the Speech and Literature of the English-Speaking Peoples. Volume 1, Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York.

It has been said that the making of a dictionary of words is an event of importance in the literary world. The last decade in America has been marked by a thorough revision of one dictionary and the issue of two new ones, all of them reflecting credit on the publishers and the nation. Among these three works, all of which we have before us, together with Worcester's latest revision, the palm of excellence must be awarded to the Standard, judging the completed work by the volume which lies before us. The publishers have modestly termed it, on its title page, "A Standard Dictionary," but it is safe to predict, on the supposition that its merits are appreciated, that it will be "THE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE."

Having stated this much, it is due our readers that we present some of the reasons why the Standard is considered the best dictionary:—

1. Its vocabulary is richer and fuller than that of any other dictionary, not only indicating the growth in the language, but the diligent, painstaking, and laborious research of its editor, his associates, and colaborers. To illustrate: Johnson's Dictionary contains 45,000 words; Stormonth's, 50,000; Worcester's, 105,000; Webster's International, 125,000; Century (6 volumes, complete), 225,000; Standard, almost 300,000, nearly 75,000 more words than the six-volume Century.

2. In defining words the old order has been reversed. That is, where a word has two or more meanings, the most common meaning is given first, the less common next, and so on down to the obsolescent and obsolete forms, and the etymology last.

3. The Scientific Alphabet, prepared and recommended by the American Philological Association, and adopted by the Spelling Reform Association, is used in giving the pronunciation of words. This might seem to be a disadvantage, because of its general unfamiliarity, but this objection is overcome by a simple key, much freer from diacritical marks than are most directions of this kind; while the advantage of the Scientific Alphabet in aiding to an exact pronunciation outweighs all the disadvantages. One of the most world-renowned of living philologists, Prof. F. A. March, of Lafayette College, has had the charge of this branch of the work.

4. The quotations used to verify and illustrate the meaning of words are so definitely located that they may be easily found if the work from which they are taken is accessible. The name of the author, the book, page, and edition of the work, are all given. Nearly 1,000 volumes have been read for the purpose of obtaining standard quotations. English literature has been ransacked from Chaucer to the present.

5. Disputed pronunciations and spellings have, under the direction of Professor March, been referred to a special committee of fifty eminent scholars who are noted philologists in American, English, Canadian, Australian, and East Indian Universities, and representative professional writers and speakers of English. Thus the best scholarship has contributed to correctness and best usage in this respect. When a word has more than one pronunciation, that first given is preferred by the Standard; those following are from other dictionaries.

6. Geographical names are spelled according to the decisions of the United States Board of Geographic Names. This will be a great help in postal directions.

7. In words fully Anglicized the diphthongs "æ" and "œ" have given place to simple "e." Many chemical terms have been simplified, in compliance with the wishes of eminent chemists.

8. Special, class, and technical words have been defined or approved by specialists competent so to do. When a word is used in an opposite sense, as is the case with some religious names, both definitions are given.

9. What will prove of especial value to the untrained student and printer are the following points: (a) Only proper nouns, or proper words derived from them, are printed with initial capital. (b) Compound words have been reduced to a scientific and regular system. This will be of great help to those who desire to establish uniformity in usage. The union of compound terms is indicated by the double, or German, hyphen. (c) The syllabication, or the dividing of words into syllables, is another important aid to the printer and teacher.

10. The encyclopedic character of the Standard is remarkable. Under "apple," for instance, we have a list of nearly four hundred varieties, classified under the various headings of size, form, color, quality, use, season, and where best cultivated to advantage. Under the word "American" we have a classification into main divisions and subdivisions of all the various Indian tribes of this continent, with their original locality. The same is true of coins, weights, stars, elements, etc., etc. Under the names of the various trades and sciences are given lists of the technical terms used therein, as, for instance, under "carpentry" are all the various terms used in that trade, and so with others. These various words are defined in the vocabulary.

11. An immense amount of time and care must have been expended on the matter of synonyms, in which the Standard is especially rich. The various meanings of synonymous words are given with a nicety of discrimination which shows both care and scholarship.

The above is not written with any desire to flatter. The Standard is all that we have said it is, and more. It has all the excellences of all the other dictionaries, and many more which we have not space to note. Our expectations (and they were high) are more than met.

The publishers have employed in its production 247 office editors and specialists and nearly 500 readers for quotations. Many others have rendered needed service in various ways. By the time both volumes are on the market the dictionary will have cost the publishers nearly one million dollars. The best scholarship of the world has contributed to its richness and exactness; no expense or care has been spared in its mechanical execution, which, in illustrations, printing, and binding, is simply superb, and we can but wish that the work will be so thoroughly appreciated as to repay the enterprising firm which has given it existence. It will prove a blessing in every household and library. Sold only by subscription. Address the publishers for terms.

LIFE AND SERMONS OF JONATHAN ALLEN, PH.D., D.D., LL.D., PRESIDENT OF ALFRED UNIVERSITY, N. Y.—Illustrated. Published by subscription.

The biographies and lives of good men, though nearly always written by friendly and partial pens, are generally suggestive and helpful. That is truly the case with the work under review. The author of the book is the wife and lifelong companion of President Allen, one who shared his toils and labors, his struggles and triumphs, and who not only knew the outer man better than any other mortal could know, but who also knew better the inner life, the more secret revelations of the worse or better man, unknown to the public. This book presents before us a twofold picture, the one objective, the other incidental; the first, in the foreground, is the building of a strong, manly character; the other, in the background, is the building up of a great institution, around which centers much of the life of a small but noble denomination, and which has had much to do in moulding its methods and spirit; for President Allen's life work, and that of his wife (for they cannot be separated) was bound up with Alfred University. The story is told in an interesting way, in choice, pure, and dignified language, in twenty-three chapters. It sketches early life in Southern New York, the privations, struggles, and obstacles in the way of an education in those times, which now would seem impossible to meet successfully, but which in those days proved stepping-stones in the path of many a noble character.

To put it briefly, the book traces the career of the boy that was "father to the man," and sets forth graphically the high and noble purposes and principles, based on a religious education, which controlled him. It gives his career as a student, a professor, a president, a pastor, and a counselor. More than a score of sermons and parts of sermons are given, which teem with strong suggestive thoughts, helpful and invigorating to the student and interesting to the reader. Some of the subjects are: "God in All, All in God," "Faith," "Obligation Imposed by Culture," "The Ministry of Joy and Sorrow," "The Ideal College—a Light," "The People's Debt to Colleges," "True Education." We have not had time to read them all. Most excellent words are uttered on the "College Community," and its obligations. In the life of President Allen the young man will find a noble example, pointing onward to the One Great Example. The work we anticipate will be warmly welcomed by the alumni and friends of Alfred. It should be. Finely illustrated and printed. Price, cloth, $3.50; morocco, $5.00. Address Mrs. Abigail A. Allen, Alfred, N. Y.

In order that the influence of the Papacy over legislation may be better understood, a document has been compiled from the Congressional Record containing the speeches of Representative Linton and extracts from the speeches of Senators Gallinger, Daniel, Quay, and Call on the Indian appropriation bill, which will be furnished to those interested at the price of $2.50 per thousand copies, $1.50 for 500 copies, or 50 cents for 100 copies. This matter is inclosed in envelopes, and franked, so as to be available for distribution without postage. Orders should be directed to Rev. Green Clay Smith, box 333, Washington, D. C.