The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-30

is so sadly neglected. Thore is in it a
mine of unexplored wealth, for which the
mere smattering Of ancient or modern
languages, which we receive in return for
the neglect Of our own, but very poorly
repays. There is tendency among us
in this, rs in other respects, 10 prefer the
foreign to the home production, which de-
serves reprobation. There are very few
indeed among us who can be said really
to know our own language; and among
the few thus highly gifted, we, ourselves,
are more indebted 10 lady of our ac-
quaintance, with whom We have spent
many pleasant hours digging up English
roots, than to any other individual since
our schooIboy days. Few believe how
much of history, science and morality
there are in words. Let me hero, in il
lustration, simply mention two. Who
would believe, unless acquainted with it,
that the word Sauaterer carries the mind
back 10 the times of the Crusaders. 1t
is from the French, p" .Sainte tsrre," (holy
land) and was originally applied to those
in remote ages who made pilgrimages to
Jerusalem. The other word is Villain,
which takes us back TO the Norman con-
quest, when William divided England
among his Norman Barons, whence origi-
mated the English aristocracy-the villain
was the Saxon serf, or peasant, from VII
lanus, because he occupied or cultivated
the land; and so the word pagan, from
paganus, IA villager) with our ideas Of
the meaning of words, who would dream
of such an etymology9 and yet so it is.
English literature is very much indebted
to arch-dcacon Trench, for his pleasing
and instructive volumes, "Study of
Words" "English-Past and Present."
Glossary of Words" also, to Mr.. Swim
ton for his late work, Rambcs among
Words" all which we have read with
pleasure and profit. But for deep, rad
ical, expansive knowledge of our language,
we know of nothing that can at all COM
pare with Websters Dctionary-especial-
ly the late Pictorial Edition of the Messrs.
Merriam, of Springfield, Massachusetts.
We believe we have had an opportunity
of examining almost every dictionary OF
our language, published for the last twen-
ty years, except that of Richardson, and
ever since we read the strong recommen-
dalton of it by Trench, we have longed
to possess that one; and did not "honest
poverty" as Burns calls it, prevent, we
should assuredly have it. Among all tho
dictionaries, however which VIC have seen,
Merriams' Pictorial Edition of Webster
as far exceeds them as, TO use the language
of the Roman poet, "lenta inter viburna
cupressi." 1t has several thousand words
more than the former edition, by the same
publishers. Its pictorial illustrations en-
brace complete system Of Natural His
tory, from the Malnmalia race, down.
wards, together with architecture, geolo-
gy, geometry, heraldry, mythology, and
many other subjects in science and art.
1t has valuable appendix on synonyms,
which may save to the student the pur
chase of the excellent work of Crabbe,
besides several other very valuable appen-
dixes. The world was under obligation
to the Messrs. Merriam for their former
edition, which has been eur study CON-
panion for years; but the present throws
the former vastly SUB un6ra;; and were-
joice that this invaluable edition has been
given to our country, and hope that it
will find place in every college class
room, seminary and district school, tbro'-
out our land. We ourselves have sold
our copy of the former edition, and the
Pictorial has taken its place on our study
table, and we advise all our brethren in
the ministry to go and do likewise"
J. ANDERSON.
NEWS ITEMS.