Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-09-17


of the Leader an article headed "a Math-
ematieal Calculation" in which the writer
made some UHOisdom-liks 1--WE borrow tho
term from Worcester) assertions He says
that g Ingham & Bragg have sold I,lOO
copies of WOrcester's Dictionary since Feb
ruary last, and that if the proportionate sales
of Webster and Worcester are "a to 1 in ia
vor Of Webster, then there has been sold
26,4OO Of Webster in six months, in Cleve-
land alone" He made no mention in the
article to which he alluded, of the proper
tionate sales at Cleveland, and only referred
to the actual sales made By booksellers through
the State, and not to the number that Ing
ham & Bragg have sold or left on commits
sion, now in the hands Of different dealers.
Should we take into account the number Of
Worcester furnished the trade by them, in
estimating the proportiOnate sales, then each
copy is accredited for as tloice sold, as they
are the Ohio agents, and supply nearly all
that are sold to dealers in this State. Again,
Ingham & Bragg haze not sold l,lOO copies IN
actual sales. Neither do we believe that
they have disposed of that number in sales,
donations and commissions, We know Of nu-
merous instances where they have left from
one to Eve copies with booksellers on com
mission, that yet remain on Their sEelves tsold,
and wiltcOntihue to remain for a long time
to come jndgiug from the statements of
those that sold them, who say that they have
little or no call Jo7 Worcester, while the sale
of Webster is continually increasing.
1t has been repeatedly asserted by promi-
nent book men throughout Ohio, that they
here not hare one call for Worcester s and haze
sold yfty Of WeBster's and some evsr as high as
eighty or niHty. Within two weeks the tray
cling agent of Worcester's Dictionary has of
fered to place in the hands of a petty Book
Seller, ten copies to be paid for when sold
Is this part of the ,IOOP Ifthe Agent de-
sires proof Of this, or any other statement
made, he can have it simply by making
request. In the city of Detroit not long since,
this same agent proposed to donate promi-
nent Book House a copy of Worcester for
every ten they would purchase at the usual
wholesale prices.
The offer was refused, however, and word
returned that their sales of this work would
not warrant their keeping on hand ten cop
les, as they could not dispose ofthat number
in year, and at the same time this firm sell
at the rate Of 400 copies of Webster, annual
ly. It is fact worthy of note, that in that
city there has not been sold fifteen of Worces-
tsr's Dictionary, and but very few in Chica-
go.
In New York city the largest dealers state
that their sales are from ten to fifteen Of
Webster to one of Worcester. In the city of
Boston, where it is claimed that Worcester
has the preference, the leading Book House
says that they sell 10 to 1. One firm states
that they have sold II9 Pictorial Webster's,
and only two copies of Worcester. Another
cester.
Again, it has not been claimed by the
publishers of Worcester that they have sold
$4,000 copies oftheir work as asserted by their
Agent. They only claim to have issued that
number, and this includes some seUen thou
sand copies furnished on subscription, all they
hare left on commission, donations and sales
Why such an absurd statement, when it is
so well known that it is unfounded?
Another misstatement; it is also affirmed
that Worcester is made the standard D:ction-
ary in Oberlin College, and that the Publish
ers of Webster donated that College 25 copies
at a cost of s162,5O.
The writer assumes to be mathematical
calculator, and it is sure that "fgures won't
lie" but it is evident that either the figures
or the instrument using them arrived at an
erroneous conclusion in this instance. There
are some Professors in that College who pre-
fer Worcester, but the majority are decided
ly in favor of Webster. The fact that since
the issue of Worcester, there has been sold
ten copies of Webster to one Of Worcester for
use in that College, is a sufficient proof Of
the preference which Webster meets with
among the Professors and Students. Sup
/ pose the Publishers of Webster have present
ed the College with 25 copies, they are not on
the point Of tailtrs, and their rapidly inereas-
ing sales would warrant their doing it, pro-
vlding they feel so disposed, and We ask
what business it is to any outside man who
has nothing more to do with Webster's Die.
tiOnary than he has with Rays Arithme'
tic, or McGufey's Readers. Another absurd
ity. It has been currently reported that the
Ohio State Teaehers's Association, at thei
late meeting at Newark, took action on tn,
Dictionary question and adopted Worceste
as their standard, and got up and signed
recommend to the effect that they would us
this work and no other. This is as bold as i
is false. Every member present knows tina
there was no such action taken, that all tn
/, signatures obtained to q recommend for Wor
cester was done outside the meeting, ant
that no mention whatever was made of tn
} Dictionary by the Association.
This statement is only one Of many of
like character that have been put in circula
tion; calculated to create q wrong impression
, and impose upon the public mind.
tl--4t is fact no one will attempt to dispute
that WOrcester's Dictionary contains man
valuable features, and is a work worthy tn
/ honorable efforts Of any agent who may be e
gagged in presenting its varions claims to pub
lie favor, but when the public are made
understand the means that have been resort
, cd to, in order tosccomdlish certain ends, tn
, results cannot be either to increase the sal
, ftheir work or displace Webster. 1t
What the Papers Say.
The Tenth of September, at Cleveland, wa
a day long to be remembered. So deep a
! interest as was taken in the inauguratio
/ ceremonies, and so general turnout of th