The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-31

A BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY. By Rev.
Charles Hole, b. A. (Trinity College,. With
Additions and Correcuons. BY William A.
Wheeler, NJ. A. New York; Hurd Il Hough-
ton. Agents: j. B. Lippincott Co.
The task Of preparing universal biographical
dictionary is one OF the most difficult which
literary man can undertake. If he eaborates the
details of the lives of each noted person, he may
spread his work to such a size as TO conceal the
defect of omission, but when he merely decides to
give the years of the birth and of the death OF all
wellknown persons of all ages, the danger of
every idler being able to recall some name which
has been found unnotced is great. There is
nothing more easy in such case than to find
fault, and nothing more difficult than to make
even an approximately complete work. As a
general rule only particular division of hstori-
cal characters are undertaken, but Mr.. Hole
went to work to fulfil the task of covering the
whole ground, and he has succeeded far beyond
the most sanguine expectations. He built up a
vast compendium of general kno Wedge cover
ing some four hundred closely printed pages
and comprising over twenty thousand names.
Such was the work as it came from the British
author.
Ii is disagreeable task for an American re-
viewer to decide in favor of foreigner and in
opposition to his countryman. Yet we must
confess that more unjust introduction than
was signed by Mr. W. A. Wheeler cannot be
conceived. While in general terms he talks
about the great industry, research, and general
accuracy" OF the original author, yet he at once
plunges into my improvements, corrections and
additions. He states that he added one hun.
dred American names, and mentions dozen
in alphabetical order. He states that he added
some European names, Omitted and gives us
ten all of which could have been omitted and not
missed. I'm not few instances / have beer
able 10 supply missing dates; while of date,
enormously giyen or marked as doubtful
have corrected or verified still
larger number" 1t will thus be sear
that Mr.. Wheeler calls the readers atten
ton to the defects Sights all the merits. anC
takes as much honor to himself as possible
When it is remembered that Mr.. Hole COMPLIED
twenty thousand names, into what insigni6canc
does Mr.. Wheeler's hundred additional sink! o
all the dates filled up and corrected, we have nj
testimony except Mr. Wbeeler's own words. a
he gives us no means of distinguishing tn
original from the revised. Under the crcuu
stances, we cannot but accuse the America
editor of arrogatmg to himself undue credit, an
detractlrg unjustly from the hard-earned homo
OF Mr.. Hole. To the latter gentleman belong
by far the greater part, if not all the credit
the work. We will not sound Mr.. Wheeler
praises; lie has done so too freely himself.
We must give to Mr.. Hole the praise for fu
nishing us with as valuable work as has falle
under our nouce, when we remember its siz
small volume, almost what may be terme
pocketsize, it is perfect epitome of learning
1t should be constantly on hand, as it will /
ever useful and may be needed at any momen
1t is plainly and substantially bound by Hurd
Houghton, and for sale by ]. B. Lippincott
Co., of our city.
BEYMNsTRE. Novel New York: Carleton.
pleasantly told tale OF no particular meri
except that 1t does not partake of the sensation