The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1865-04-05

|
ers Of the Register:
TIE New DrCTIoyA FJ1end -
-: do not see that you have either
Chronicled or Gazetted one of the most
important events of 1864. In the fourth
year of our dreadful war, was issued the
most important book that has seen the
light in our language since 1911. /
doubt whether between the lids of any
one volume ever issued in any language,
has there been collected so much, so va
ried, so ncedtul, so cheap, or so accessi-
bic to mass of knowledge.
Before me are three quarto volumes
issued by Geo. & Chas. Merriam of
Springfield, Mass, in 1917, 1859 and
1861. Their respective weight in avoir-
dupois ounces is, los, 120 and $50;
the square feet of printed surface in each
are 500, 40 and $50. They are Web
sters Dictionaries, distinguished as the
Unabridged, the Pictorial, and the Illus
trated. The second was printed from
the same plates with first, such correc-
tions being made as they admitted but
there were added 209 pages of import
ant matter, particularly synonyms, pic
lures and an appendix of new words
Its type, of course, was not clear as
when new.
All this was probably an cxpedient to
gain time, and to head off Worcestcr's
Dictionary illustrated with cngravings.-
In this it was successful. Meanwhile n
corps of eminent men were at work in
many departments preparing for the H.
Illustrated. Thirty years OF paid labor
have been spent on its correction and en-
largement.
The result, rs TO mere bulk, is given
above: the pages are somewhat larger,
and increased in number from 1850 to
1910. The illustrations, 5000 in num-
Der, are intcrmixcd in the text and Ic-
pcatcd in the end The treatise on syn
onyms is mixed in with the vocabulary.
The words defined are no longer printed
IN capitals, but in full face typc-a great
improvement. The guide was three let
tiers over each column; now it Is by Civ
inc entire the first and last word of each
page. The pronunciation is more clab
crate, am, never doubtful. Secondary
accents arc given. The Greek words
that occur are not printed without accent
as before.
A great deal more of science is given.
Tie scientific names of most animals and
plants are given. The names of many
important genera have their place in the
vocabulary. Scientific terms are 50 ac-
curatcly defined that the dictionary will
often he found more convenient than n
scientific treatise. Tie Illustrated ha:
digcstcd and swallowed all possible CLOS.
saries-cvcn to the most obscure and
rare terms.
Besides the dictionary proper, arc the
accessories. The memoir of Webster re.
MAINS | suppose, as before. Next come.
a brief history of the English language
by Prof Hadley of Yale. l expect much
from it, but really have not looked at it.
The Principles Of Pronunciation and Or
thography-32 quarto pases,-wout
make quite little volume, and vaua-
bic one.
But the most remarkable new feature
is the explanatory and pronouncing vo
cabulary of noted names of Gc;i ious per
sons and places, etc. The "ctc." mean
some not fictitious. Mother Goose, fol
example, was the mother-in law of rhos
Fleet, printer, IN Boston, who married
Elizabeth Goose. lie became furious a
the poetry and music with which he
mother treated her first born, published
her "Melodics" from slrite,-and did well
"Kitchcn Cabinet brings in the nam,
of Francis l.. Blair. Comprehend" up
: pears as it taken from a certain Ports
mouth paper without credit; it is only an
other photograph Of the same sitter. ''Mis
souri, Compromise" occupies nine lines
Omnibus hill" thirteen. There are cx
amples of fictitious names of noted rcali
ties: " Orphcus G. Kerr (oiiicc secker),
: Fanny Fern" "Artemus Ward" "Doe
sticks of late of yore, "Pctcr Pin
dar," Philisides," ''Decanus," and "Va
nessa," here reveal their names. "Ju
Mus is ascribcd to Sir Philip Francis
and rightly, as most now think.
All the important character of Shake
speare, Scott, Dickens, Dante and Goethe
are given. "The gay Lothario" is there
and everybody else | have looked saw
, "Box and Cox" and " Monsieur Ton
) SON" Who were they! | know Of II,
man save Prof. Moffat of Princeton VIII,
) can dispense with this vocabulary. III,
used to be my only resource for just thi
information.
The pronouncing vocabulary of scrip
F turc names, taken from the previous eli
ton, is followed by one adapted to the
Douay Bible for the Romish Church
Greek and Latin proper names revised
The geographical names are preceded b,
f new and valuable explanatory Index o
r prefxes, Examinations and formative sylla
i bles. "Port and Mouth" arc giver
IN many Language, but no light is thrown
on Picataql amua. Wrong: find it il
the next vocabulary" great deep river.
The common English christian names
their Specification and their equivalents il
other languages, is new and much needed
commend it most earnestly TO all parents
of newborn babes. Let them pay tn,
f price of the book, (Sl2-in gold less thai
/, $6-the cheapest book ever made yet,
, sooner than name child without its aid