Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-04-20
ApPLETON'.S NEW AMERICAN CYCLO

The fifteenth volume of Appleton's New
American Cyclopedia, the last but one of this great
national work, has appeared, and bears evidence
in its bulk and condensation of the great pains
that have been taken to Incorporate all the vast
amount of information that has accumulated, with
out too much sacrif CHG the old, and without ne
cessitating An extension Of the work beyond the
number of volumes contemplated. The difficulty
of this undertaking has increased as the work has
approached the limit fixed to its extent, but it has
been admirably overcome by constant care and
vigilance to prevent the waste of line Of precious
space. This volume contains in its SIS pages prob
ably larger amount of accurate and valuable in
formation than was ever before put in the same
space. 1t begins with the title "Shomer" and ends
with "Trollope," thus covering about one and a
half letters Of the alphabet leaving all the rest to
be covered by the last volume. 1t is impossible in
moderate limits to specify, with any approach to
completeness, the great variety of its contents.
They include great deal of scientific value and in
terest presenting the latest results from the best
scholars on such topics as "Signal Service, "Slk,
"Siver," Sound, Spectrum, ""Spectrum Anal
ysis, "Starch, ""Steam, "Stcamboilers," "Steam
Engines" etc. "Sun," "Sugar," "Strength of Ma
terias, "Steel," Telegraph" Telescope" ETC.
etc. Many of these articles are illustrated, and
contain Information Of practical and popular, a:
we'll as scientific interest. With the fullness
we find articles in natural history, with illustra
tons Of plants and animals, which add greatly tc
the zest Of the reader. The geographical and his
torical titles are also very numerous, including
"Siam," "Siberia," "South Carolina "Spain,
"Sprngfeld," "Sweden, Switzerland" "Syria,
"Iennessee. "Texas," and many others. These
are always very full in typographical, historical
statistical and other information, and show evil
dcnce of great care and research in their prepare
ton. There are certain other specially histori-
cal subjects, such as the 'Thrty Years War;
"Iichborne Trial." etc. In biography, too, the
titles are very numerous, and among the subjects
are Sddons. Sidney, Sismondi, Smith, Smollet,
Socrates, Sparks, Spencer, Stanton, Taleyrand.
Taylor, Thackeray, Theirs, and scores of others
of greater or less note. The articles on medical,
legal. and miscellaneous subjects are contributed
by the most competent writers in each department.
Among the miscellaneous topics worthy of spec lal
mention are 'Sisterhoods, Catholic and Protes-
tant, Societies, Literary and Scientific "Small-
pox," "Spiritualism "To,al Abstinence" and
many more. A glance at the list Of contributors
only serves to confirm the impression obtained
from an examination of the pages of the volume
in various parts; namely, that no labor, care, or
expense, is spared to obtain the very best results.
We quote few names merely to illustrate this
statement. Professor Huxley furnishes the arti-
Gle on Species; Professor Proctor those on Spec
trum Analysis, Stars, Sun, Telescope, Transit, and
others in Astronomy; Professor Cleveland Able,
those on Storms, Snow, etc.: Professor E. IL.
Clarke il Materia Medica; Professor Dalton and
others, those in Physiology; Judge Cody, many
legal articles; Professor Hilyard, that on Tides
Professor Kneelapd, those in Natural History,
and so ON; the very best authorities being en-
poyed in every department requiring special quail
iications. We need only to repeat an opinion Of
ten expressed before, that the American Cycope-
dia when completed viii be by far the most useful
and valuable work Of the kind in existence for the
American scholar, student and practical man, and
as nearly perfect the fullest resources. the most
untiring vigilance, and the best ability could
| make it.