The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-04
A Universal Library.

It is not given to all the workers in the
paths OF literature to win both famo and for
tune. There are men who toll for years
without expectation Of popular praise, and
of these the most Jealous and unsellish are
they who prepare the compendiums and
books OF reference which, in this day OF uni
versal information, if not of universal know
ledge, play an important part in every we'll
regulated literary household. Living, as we
de, at high pressure, it is impossible to
master even the broad outlines OF all The
ologies and isWs Of the century. But rest
less curiosity, spirit of emulation, anu the
exigencies of society, politics and trade
impel every citizen to be in readiness to eS-
plain and comprehend every moos point
which a word or an event may bring to his
attention. These considerations apply with
equal force to the merchant the professional
man and the mechanic; for every day prac-
tical questions arise which cannot be
answered ofY-hand, but which, if books OF
reference are nigh, may be made an impor-
tant means of adding to the stock OF useful
knowledge and technical information.
What is most needed, then, is work
which will embrace the most important facts
upon every subject, so arranged that any
one of them may be easily found, and pre-
pared so carefully that it may be accepted
as q standard authority. Such work is
the New American Encyclopedia" edited
by Charles A Dana and George Ripley, and
published by D. Appleton & Co., OF New
York, firm honorably pre-emincnt, for the
reason that no work has issued from their
presses containing any abuse or SANDER OF
the South, as well as because OF their muni-
ficent donations of money and OF books to
the cause Of Southern education.
The "New American Encyclopedias" has
been prepared at cost of 100000, and
presents a panoramic view Of all human
knowledge, rs it exists at the present mo-
ment. 1t treats Of all the branches of Art
and Science, of Agriculture, Commerce and
Manufactures, Law, Medicine and Theology,
Biography, History and Geography, as we'll
as Political Economy and General Litera-
ture. In word, it is library in itself,
wherein are e1pounded and discussed all
matters human and inhuman, from Shakes
pearc to a locomotive. And the whole work
is thoroughly impartial. Between religions,
men and institutions the balance is held
with an even and impartial hand. The work
has been prepared with scrupulous care,
several hundred writers having been engaged
in the different departments. AS it stands,
it is model Of taste, learning and cheap
ness-a work which covers the whole wide
field Of knowledge, and does full justice
to the claims, resources and genius of our
own sunny South-a work, we may add,
which the Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, in q
recent letter, pronounces superior to all
other Encyclopedias, and which Bishop
Beckwith styles ''the most valuable treasury
Of general knowledge now before the
public"
The "New American Encyclopedias" is
:3mplete in sixteen volumes, and is sold by
subscription only. Alr. ]. c. Derby, of Au-
susta, Ga, has been appointed general
Southern agent for the publications OF D.
Appleton IS Co., with special reference to
their great Cyclopedia To this well known
and responsible gentleman, who may now
be found with his Charleston agents, Walker,
Evans & Cogswcll, subscriptions may be
sent.