Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-27
4 CHARMING BOOK.

L orem0St among those Ola Stories
which have served to excite the mirth
Of successive generations Of school
children stands tie time-honored tale
of the Scotchman who was found by
friend .poring over the pages Of the
dictionary, and on being asked how he
liked it, replied, ooh, weel the stories
are Draw, but they are unco short"
But the dictionary Of to-day IS as
unlike that of twenty years ago as the
butterfly is unlike the worm. 1t has
burst from its former dull respect
ability into the glory of a picture gal
lery. In learning, in extent, In every
thing it has made vast advance; but
with its illustrations it enters new
sphere of attractiveness.
4 relative of mine, who prides him.
self upon his fine collection Of books,
drove up to my door the other day. I
asked him to step into the library"
His eyes opened a little, I fancied,
with an amused look, as if he wonder
ed whether [, with my meager salary,
was going to set up rivalry with him.
He entered the room, looked around
with some apparent surprise, and said,
Library ?" ''Certainly," said T.
"Where are the books % Here,
said I, pointing to !" Webster" which
stood proudly on a shelf, alone, for the
reason that | had nothing to place be-
side it. "Many volumes in one
"What have you on botany? ?" said he.
Webster [ replied, with illustra-
tons Of all the various plants. y
"W hat have you on Mechanics ?"
"Webster, said [, and | turned to the
engraving Of the turbine wheel, and of
various other machines. "Well,' said
he, "you have, to be sure, in Webster,
smattering Of almost everything, but
have you now. Let's see your au-
thorities en- my theology" [ turned
the pages of Webster and showed him
the pictures of the noted characters of
mythology, and sketches Of their lives.
II believe: after all, J" said he laughing
tlIdi SUu bdNG q ilDI Gi
And really, my Webster is a wonder
to every one who examines it for the
first time. The horse fancier is pleased
to find clear picture of his favorite
animal, marking out the pastern,
withers and other parts known only to
horsemen. Ny boy, who reads South
Africa adventures and goes to hear Du
Chaillu, is delighted to have a repre-
sentation Of the kleeneboc and gorilla,
and of many animals peculiar to DR..
Livingston. IF silhouettes are in
vogue. we are able to see an example
of them in the dictionary, with a good
account of the history of the world.
When we are reading OF the crusades,
we find pictures Of theknights as they
appeared in the holy wars. The mar
rative Of the French Revolution is
helped out by a picture of the gull.
lotine. The amateur fisherman reco.
nizes in the pages Of Webster the ia.
miliar countenances of the cod, halibut
and blue fish, as we'll as many less ia
nous inhabitants of the deep. 7 he
terms Of architecture, which constant
~ occur in our reading. are explained
by pictures Of the different parts, of
building in all the various styles, Of
the present and other periods The
boy who is hankering after boat
and what boy is not-is delighted &c
find five inch engraving Of ship,
with explanations Of all the parts, and
when his attention is called-as it al
ways is-to water-wheels, he finds all
he wants in Webster.
Indeed the book gives us in many
instances more than we ask When we
look for flHbeg, we find not only a
picture of that article of dress, but a
full length Scotchman, who appears to
display the fllibeg in actual use. I'm
der the head of shepherds crook
we are treated to an engraving not
only of the crook, but Of the tradition
al shepherd also. with several sheep
and the usual village spire visible be-
yond a fowery mead.
Whenever, now, I see a friend out
shopping, I ask him what be wants.
If it is picture book for Edward, ]
direct his attention to Webster IF ii
is an encyclopedia for Uncle James,
point him to Webster. IF it is some
thing to please an invalid, [ recon-
mend Webster IF it is Christmas
present for his wife, I urge him to get
Webster, Webster unabridged and
illustrated. 1t is never failing de-
li@ht to every one