The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-09-29
American Literature.

tnOfs, makes the IOuOWlnR mtHuoH Vi
DR.. Smiths Bible Dictionary:
Perhaps there is no class of topics
that attracts so much Of the popular at
tention at the present moment as the
relations of science and religion. The
names Of Darwin and Huxley are as ia
miliar as household words throughout
the civilized world The Bible has al.
ways been the battle ground between
truth and error, and the discussion of
the " Development Theory" of Professor
Darwin forms an exception to the rule.
The learned Professor, to- be sure, bases
his theory upon purely scientific
grounds, but those who read his works
and discuss his hypothesis resort to the
Bible, either TO confute his statements
on the one hand, or to get inspired ar
gument upon which to rest their proofs,
on the other.
Thus it happens that the Bible is
more studied and discussed now than it
probably ever has been. The new
spirit of investigation, which has been
increasing for a generation, has directed
attention to the study of the history of
Biblical manuscripts the verihcation of
Eastern manners and customs, and
notably to the study Of Oriental
geography. The spirit of travels, so
characteristic Of our countrymen, has
led to exact descriptions of places, in
which line the late DR.. Robinson was
one Of the most successful workers. A
book lately published in England, en-
titled. "The Recovery of Jerusalem"
has given evidence, if any further were
needed, that the same spirit is rife on
the other side of the Atlantic.
1t is the purpose Of this paper to
portray, in a superficial way only, the
labors OF single man, whose works are
upon the shelves Of all well-furnished
Libraries, and are looked upon as stan
dard. We refer to Dr. William Smith,
a scholar of varied culture and marvel.
Gus powers of production. He has
written much himself; but he has done
more by marshaling an army of erudite
thinkers and attractive writer's, who,
under his guidance, have concentrated
their powers in way very much to the
advantage Of the world.
DR.. Smith is now less than sixty years
of age, having been born in London in
1914. His education was conducted at
the university of that metropolis, where
he applied himself with 50 much assid-
uity to the study of the classics as to
take the highest Latin and Greek
prizes. After passing the university he
began the study Of law at Gray's Inn ;
but, happily for the world, this course
was discontinued in consequence of his
election to the chair Of Greek Latin
and German in the college of Highbur,'
and Homerton.
In 1850 he was called to change again
and upon the duties of Professor OF
Greek and Latin Language and Litera
ture in New College, London. In 1867
DR.. Smith was made editor of Murayl
Quarterly Reuieoc. But it is not to his
labors in these spheres, important as
they are, that we desire to direct atten.
ton.
At the age of twenty -four, DR. Smith
issued a Dictionary of Greek and Ro
man Antiquities" Of which the late DR.
Goodrich said, in mis- preface to Web
ster's Dictionary, that it was "a work
Of the highest authority" 1t is not q
little remarkable that so young a scholar
should have deserved such high com
mendation from a man so profound as
DR.. Goodrich.
This was but the beginning of DR.
Smiths career, and three years later he
commenced publishing his Dictionary
of Greek and Roman Biography and
Mythology" work so extensive that it
occupied five years in passing through
the press.
His next great work was " Dction.
airy of Greek and Roman Geography
published from 1852 to 1851 This
with the two Just named, forms COM
plete cyclop@dia of classical antiquities,
almost sIperseding the important man
uals Of Adam, Potter, and Lampriere
which had up to that time been consid-
cred the highest authorities.
Having achieved these triumphs, DR..
Smith turned his attention toward
Biblical studies, and in 1860 began the
publication of his greatest work, the
Dictionary of the Bible: Comprising
its Antiquities, Biography, Geography,
and Natural History In the preface
to this the author said: 1.-The present
work is designed to render the same
service in the study of the Bible as the
Dictionary of Greek and Roman An
tiquities, Biography and Geography
have done in the study of the classical
writer's of antiquity
Within the past few years Biblical
studies have received fresh impulse
and the researches of modern scholars,
as well as the discoveries of travellers,
have thrown new and unexpected light
upon Oriental history and geography
Among the investigators to whom the
greatest credit is due, no name is more
prominent than that of the late DR.
Robinson, of New Y ork, already alluded
to, whose several trips to the Holy Land
and his careful examinations of places
gave him a vast fund of information
that was only partially recorded in hi:
printed works.
DR.. Smiths Dictionary of the Bible i.
the browning work of his life, but sc
great progress has been made in the
studies Of which it recorded the fruits
that necessity existed of new edi
ton, in which the labors of the last
dozen years should be recognized
Messrs. Hurd a IIoughton, of New