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Show REVIEWS OF BOOKS i . II t THE EECONSTRUCJTED WEBSTER. I Webster's Xc International Dictionary: I' "oo nnpes: U00O llliiclratlonn. Com- plctolv Rewritten. Published by G. & H ' C. MrrTlain Co.. Springfield. Muss. ' Wo luavo in this very JnrRC. newly-B newly-B mad volume. :i complete brinjiinsr up I it rtictionnn' lore to dale. Tho cditor-I cditor-I in-cbicf. "Dr. V. T. Harris, Into IT. S. I f'omnnssionor of Tlilncnl ion, is probably I Mio best, man in tho United States to B bead this vrork. For the pnsl six vcurs a larce alnfT of editors has bemi at work men carefully selected for I rhoir individual qiKilillentfons, and so J grouped to cover tho whole field of I practical lexicography: di reeled by I chiefs who had gained oxporienco in prnvious revisions of Wobsler; and reinforced rein-forced hy experts ehosin front tho , liighcsh aulhontios in literature and science. The conor.il supervision of tho whole has been in ehargo of Dr. W. T. Harris, who was editor in chief of I the Tntcmaiionnl Supplement of 1000, 1 1 and who is recognized ns a. scholar ' and metaphysician of the highest rank. When the six years' labor in tho preparation prep-aration o Ihis dictionary began, there was iu hand a. mass of literary material mate-rial carefully gathered through many year?. Tho work of the experts was to arrange and utilize this material, as woll as everything new that could bo found during the process of revision. The outcome is thai rho present volume, both in quantity and quality of matter, mat-ter, exceeds its predecessor, tho old 1'nlomat.ioiial. at least as much as that surpassed the now obsoloto ' Unabridged. Una-bridged. " The consistent principles of t'onciseness, exactness, and up-to-date- uoss liavo been kept fully in mind. There has been an improvement of IU form and substance of definition ; Micro I has boon a tremendous enlargement of I the vocabulary, the number of words I carried being -100,000; thoro has been I added a greatly increased amount of I ' encyclopedic information; and there has I been such an arrangement of material II) as lo increase tho ease and convenience I with which the consultcr will lind whnt-I whnt-I ever he may wish. There arc tec.h-I tec.h-I nical advantages, also, as having the I, headline to tho first and last words ou I each page. The appenrauco of tho page I is novel, with the lower section iu smaller type, almost, as notes; but this 1 will be easily adjusted in the familiarly familiar-ly ity nf use. There is a great saving of U space arising from this nago division, I which places the words of rarer use in I the small typo bottom-page section. By I the introduction of the lower section N . in smallor tvpc, by a slight incrense of H tho size of the page, by the addition H of about, -ino pages, by tho use of slightly thinner yol, bettor paper, and bv an editorial trcatmcut which has I oceasioiiiilly eliminated or condensed ? tho old matter, uud has grouped the I' lclinitions of certain classes of words so as better to elucidate within briefer I space by these, and minor resources i of typography, the result has bcon ac-I ac-I complished that, while the dictionary H remains practically the same in bulk 1, and can be easily handled as before, 1 the number of words and phrases dc-I dc-I fined is more than double the number 1 found in ihe old Internal iounl. The amount of actual information given is increased iu an equal or approximate ratio. As an illustration of this increase in-crease and fuller presentations, may be noted the treatment, in this edition. 1 as compared with tho former one, of such words as "do." "make," "break," "foot," "force," "electric." "elec-tric." or. indeed, almost any word in common use. Kor example, the word I "but" (prep, and con.i.) is given, in ! comparison with the old International, 120 lines iu place of 6"i, 11 definitions , as against (i, and 33 citations instead of 14. The book is thoroughly reconstructed. t In all branches the work of making all new has beeu radical and comprehensive comprehen-sive The synonj-ms arc entirely a new work, in extent and character distinctly superior to the old. The etymologies havo boon revised through-, through-, out, and in many directions represent , original work of special value. The legal terms have been treated with a i fullness and precision such as have ' novor before been attempted in a gen-oral gen-oral dictionary. The Statural Sciences have been carefully treated, "Religious and Theological terms havo been rc-, rc-, vised by high authorities. Military and Nautical definitions arc brought full' up to the latest facts. Mcehani-i Mcehani-i i'7 and Civil Engineering, and the Mechanic Arts, havo had specially ( compotont handling. The same is true , of Social Science, Music, and the l)o-i l)o-i mestic Arts, i m Tho pictorial illustrations have been j increased in number, being now about I tfOOO. The guiding principles in their 'I selection and insertion have been ac-, ac-, curacy and utility, i' Tho appended Biographical Dic tionary and Gazetteer of the World have 'been enlarged and corrected in accordance, with tho latest authorities. In spelling and pronunciation, the treatment of the various special departments, de-partments, iho principles applied to each, and the names ot t Iu experts employed em-ployed in the work, the detailed in the preface. Suffice it to say that all is excellent and the authorities relied on are the best. As to pronunciation, special care has been taken to ascertain ascer-tain and record the best Knglish usage, thus freshly emphasizing the "international" "inter-national" character of the work. Tho treatment applied to the general vocabulary may be. illustrated from one class of words. The common speech of the people is swelled largely from homely and everyday sources. 1.1s lowor stratum, the debatable "round between the admissible and tho inadmissible for a dictionary, consists partly of what in known ns slang. The word itself is defined in the present book (in tho svnonyms under "caul") as "the popular- but. unauthorized (and usually ephemeral) usage of odd, grotesque or strained words or terms of speech." Johnson defined tho dignify of literature litera-ture bv a highly exclusive! attiludo toward to-ward all such interlopers. Webster shut the door still tighter. But tho Unabridged Una-bridged of .IS6I opened tho gate a little, and the old International opened it wider. Tho Oxford Dictionary is ox-tromclv ox-tromclv hospitable, admittiug almost ovorvtliing of this coinage which is found in reputable print Tho purist who would tain run a rigid lino of exclusion ex-clusion along this frontier is confronted by the fnel. that historically slang has been one of tho experiment stations in which verbal candidates were trjed out: il: linq been rmn slafe ill thn contest for tho survival of tho fittest. Thus "bluff," as a metaphor derived from tho gamo of poker, found place iu the best, periodicals about a quarter of si century ago. "Stand pal," from the same game, seems to have been first omployed in a political sense by Senator Sena-tor Ilanua in 1002 and now the "standpatter" "stand-patter" figures in all current discussions discus-sions of the American tariff. Such slang terms as "daisy.' ' "ciuch." "graft." "rough-house," "make good,'- (v. i.), whatever their merits or prospects, are so common in the newspapers news-papers and light, litoraturo of the day that their meaning is likely to bo occasional oc-casional ly sought for, perhaps by some erudite scholar who has stu tabled on them in unfamiliar fields. As to all such lenns. the editors of the Isew International In-ternational have aimed at the practicable practic-able maximum of utility. Thoir tost question has beeu: Is this word likely to bo looked up 1)3' enough readers, within the next fow 3'ears, to entitle it to a place? This has led to the inclusion of such slang terms as appear to have pretty general voguo and seem likely to hold their ground for somo longer or shorter term of years. This Koonis to us to be the true principle prin-ciple of dictionary making. There is contained also in this great work a full representation of the ancient an-cient usage of "English authors. New uses of old words are well pointed out. and, in short, it is difficult to think of anything appertaining to the collection, definition, and treatment of words that is left out. of this book. Everything is hero; nothing is omitted. And the surprising sur-prising fullness of it all is for tho benefit bene-fit of the users of this comprehensive, highly practical, magnificent volume. A VIRILE, WELL-PUT NOVEL. The Fishier. By Albert Payson Tcrliunc. Published by Frank F. Lovcll Company.-New Company.-New York. The author of this book is an experienced experi-enced writer, and he has certainly done good work in this volume. Caleb Cono-ver, Cono-ver, rcd-hcadod, determined, boorish, ignorant, of books and of manners, but learned in methods and men, is the guardian of his dead friend's daughter, Desirco Shcvlin. Conovcr presses his wholo life and resources to her advantage. ad-vantage. Ife wants to see her marry into the highest social class and have a standing iu society that can not be assailed. Ho himself makes advances in the same direction, and maintains his ground with a stubborn tenacity and resourcefulness that discomfit all efforts ef-forts to cither bar him out or kick him out. When the country club of the little town undertook to claim tha the governors of the club didn't know.whut kind of a man they were letting in, uncouth, ignorant, no gentleman, when they let in Conovcr, he met them squarely square-ly and put them all down, by mere brute force and by cunning, which led him to find out personally all about them and so discomfit them on every point. The girl is a charming crcaturo and is devoted to Conovcr. lie allows her to pot him, to jolly him, to tyrannize tyran-nize over him, and finally to go on a sojourn to the Adirondncks. and she al- lures him thither also, although ho has never taken a vacation in his lifo and is a little rcslivo about it. However, tliero they como to understand each othor pretty closely, being lost, in n mibli at night. nnr( each proving the other's heart to the infinite content of both. Then the girl is caught in a bad railroad wreck and is supposed lo bo dead, but. C'onover calls her back to lite iu a chapter of very rrreat feeling and power. Some of tho chapters where Conovcr has to deal wil.h his eneniii'S in tho way of legislation and in tho control of members of tho house, are very forceful if somewhat crndo pictures pic-tures of tho way legislation is sometimes some-times manipulated in tho interests of selfish trusts and combines, or rather how one combine or trust is able to stand off (ho threatened legislation against it by another combine or trust which has "its influence. M Tho book altogether is a strong, entertaining one to road, and if its merits wero fully known would bo ono of the best, sellers of tho year. GOOD GUIDE TO BIOGRAPHY. A Child's Guldo to Blogrnpby: Amerlcnn Men oi Action. By Burton 13. Slcvcu-Non. Slcvcu-Non. Tho Baker & Taylor Company, Publishers, Xcw York. Tho contents of this book aro distinctly dis-tinctly and decidedly of an educational aud elevating character. It opens with u general talk about biography, its val-uo val-uo and its high function. Then it passes to a reviow of tho boginncrs of tho American nation. Thou thoro is a chapter, chap-ter, ""Washington to .Lincoln,' ' thou "Lincoln and hid Successors," "Statesmen," "States-men," "Pioneers," "Groat Soldiers," and "(.Treat bailors. To each chapter (here is a nummary. Tho illustrations aro of "Washington, Columbus, .Tcffor-eon, .Tcffor-eon, Jackson. Lincoln, Cleveland, Franklin, Frank-lin, Webster. J3oone, Grant, Loo and Dowoy. Full just ico is done to the. Amoricans who have achieved great things, but tho author is evidently much taken with tho great, ones of the navy, for ho says that (hough this country "has produced no soldiers of commanding command-ing genius, but her sailors outrank tho world." It is not worth whilo to arguo on that point, and certainly not against tho sailors. However, it. is worth while to remember that it was Washington's military genius, for tho most part, that achieved tho independence of this country, coun-try, and Grant 'a military genius that prcsorvod tho Union in time of peril. Tho author has done his work in excellent ex-cellent style, and hns written with an enthusiasm that is infectious and is sure to capture the children as well as bo-ing bo-ing pretty 1'mblo to capture those who havo pnssed out of the children's class. Tho work is decidedly a commendable one, that, would bo good to have in every school. HOW TO SELI. GOODS. Tho N'ew Salesmanship, and How to Do Business by Mall. By Charles Ltndgrcn. iPublised by Laird & Lcc, Chicago. This is a sort of text-book to the commercial com-mercial traveler, undertaking to give a complete course of salesmanship in one volume. It deals largely with quostious of human nature and the best way to approach persons of different characteristics character-istics and temperaments'. The lesson on this point is that a salesman must study human nature and be ablo to size up a customer quickly and effectually. As the author says, "tho real salesman obtains ob-tains results; tho poor salesman looks for excuses; somo talk too much, and others not enough. To say tho right thing at the right time requires good .judgment and forethought. " Tho New: Salesmanship teaches tho correct methods meth-ods of selling, instructs in mail order correspondence, and dwells on tho im-portancc im-portancc of ambition, enthusiasm, determination, de-termination, resourcefulness, and originality. orig-inality. Tho kc3-nol;c of it all is "how jo win," and concisely expressed that is 1)3' knowing how. FOUNDED ON A PLAY. f The Pride of the Kancho. Bv Henry E. SmJtli. Tlie J. S. Ogilvle Publishing Company. New York. This novel is founded upon the an thor's play of tho same name, and while it may be a go on tho stage, it certainly makes very tame reading in a book. The motive, the run of the story, tho incidents all appear sadly disconnected disconnect-ed and trivial. The only character in it that amounts to much is the big rancher, Sampson, and wo sco altogether alto-gether loo little of him and too much of those who are of small account. The novel deals with early days in California, Cali-fornia, when the Americans and the old Mexican settlers wero ."just beginning lo find each other out, and to come to a neighborly basis of living. A POET'.S MYSTERY. Thp Drcnm of Lovo; a Mystcrv. By Henry Abbey. Published by tho "Riverside "River-side Prcus. Cambridge. This author has a facile art in writing writ-ing poetry, but bis ideas seem to bo rather foggy. J To covers a small no tion with a multitude of words, and tho sub title of the book is a very good description of the result. The small poems are much better. Where there is no ambition lo do something great bul to express clearly, conciselj-, aud melo dionsly, the author achioves a fair measure of success. LITERARY NOTES. - The Book-Xews Monthly for Januarv Is a Qulller-Coucli number. It gives a. portrait or him and a picture of his bouse and has very much of appreciation apprecia-tion of hlin. Thoro is also a tribute lo Itlcbaifl Watfion iJMrlcr. and a lanro variety va-riety of good literature in the number. Rex Bench's Alaskan story. "Tlic Barrier, Bar-rier, which has had dramatic production on the road, is scheduled to ho produced hi New York about the middle of January Janu-ary ISugcno Presbrey. who made the stage version of Sir Gllhert Parker's "Tho Right of Way." is Iho dratnallr.or. and lias constructed 'the play In four acts. Two scones aro laid In the? llul niore nr. tho (radlng post, one iu the living room, and another In the quarters of the hero, a young: army captain. Th publishers of. "Tho Barrier." Harper & Brothers, havo included In their new stage edition of (hs novel all the original Illustrations, and have added to thee photographs of scenes from the play. That Walter Scott's Uehecea was drawn directly from an American woman pi oerman-.TewlGli decent is brought out In Professor Pausl'n "The German J2le- mfrnti JUc0 Rtnt" (Houghton- Mifflln Co.). The woman s namo was Rebecca Oral.. Her father had heroine a sucee.sHfiil merchant in Philadelphia, and she. herself, through her great per-Fpnal per-Fpnal beauty and charm, had become in-tliriule in-tliriule with many prominent men and women. Among them was Mathlldo Hoffman, who was the only love of a.shlngton Irving. The lalter described Miss r.ralzs fine qualities i0 AS'aller Scott when the novelist was pearchinc for the finest type of Jewess for Ids Ivannoe. and subsequently the first eopv or the novel wan pent to Irving with the question. "How do you like your Rebecca, Rebec-ca, voofi the Rebecca I have pictured compare well with the pattern given?" ,11Rra 1 Morris SchnfTs account of Tho Battle of the Wilderness." which r now appearing In the Atlantic Monthly, Month-ly, will he. published In book-form later In Mia year by IIoughton-MIHIln Company Com-pany Mcrsic. Harper & Brothers are an nouncing for Jnnuniy publication "Legends "Le-gends or tho Clly of Mexico," by Thomn.i A. Janvier, tho historian nnd utory-wrltcr. utory-wrltcr. The volumo Is mado up of folk-8(orloii folk-8(orloii Mich ns are cherished among thi older inhabitants, rich and poor, of Mexico City. Tho young, saya Mr. Janvier, aro poinollmns scornful of tlicso legends, nnd tho danger la tbnt they will bo lost, hence the historical valno of such n. collection ns tho present one. l'or tho various stories, siot down Just ns they wore related re-lated by the tnlkallvo or tho supoir.tltloiin. tho lato "Walter Appleton Clark mndo hnlf a dozen drawings. Those arc included In Illustration, together with many photographs photo-graphs of plnce. Tho volumo represents a period of collection on tho part of Mr. Janvier of a full quarter of a century. Ono of tho enrllest cases of graft in this country and an amusing Instance of man's Ignoranco of housekeeping matters In 1-clntud In Professor Faust's "Tho German Ger-man JSInment In tho L'nltcd States' (Houghton Mifflin Co.). In May. 1777, Congress appointed a German, Christopher Christo-pher Ludwlg. as superintendent of Ihc baking for tho cntlro continental army, directing him to "furnish ono hundred pounds of hrend for every one hundred pounds of flour" In Iho bollef that they thus prevented all Illegal prollt to tho linker, Ponnoi' superintendents had kept their heller Information to themselves and grown rich, hut Ludwlg proclaimed that "out of ono hundred poubds of Hour one boLs one hundred aud thlrty-llvo pounds of bread (on account of tho addition addi-tion of water) nnd so many will I give." Ono of his greiuost achievements was tho baking of bOOO loaves In ono day (after only twonty-four hours' notice from Gcn-cinl Gcn-cinl Washington) to supply Coniwallls's army on Iho day after tho surrender al 1'orklown. Nothing in Mexico Is more likely to Impress the nvcnigo visitor than tho amazing conlrnsts between its civilization civiliza-tion and Us barbarism. A scries of articles ar-ticles now running in ono of tho prominent promi-nent mugazlncs under tho tltlo of "Barbarous "Bar-barous Mexico." reveals almost Incredible Incredi-ble conditions; on Ihc other hnnd, In his recent work, "Mexico, tho "Wondorlnnd of tho Souih." W. K. Carson describes a civilization which iu many ways Is the equal of any in the world. Mr. Curson found also, however, the barbarity. Ono of the strongest points In his book is the vividness with which, ho brings out the astounding contrasts. Ho deals with Mexico's mediaeval system of peonage and explains how the Indian race has been robbed and enslaved by Its while oppressors. "Llko all who write of the Republic, he has much to suy of Por-llrlo Por-llrlo Dla, Mexico's great Dictator, whoso Iron rule, more despotic than that of the Czar, has given tho country prosperity nnd at tho same time muzzled tho proas and stifled free speech. Under the surface. sur-face. Mr. Carson saw the monaco of a revolution. This and the possibility of tho annexation of this wonderful land to tho United States he discusses frankly Iu a book which Is distinguished by the breadth of Its view and tho comprehensiveness comprehen-siveness with which It embraces the conflicting con-flicting and almost Irrcconcllablo aspocLs of Mexico's natural and human characteristics. |
