New-York tribune., 1878-02-07

Mr.. Answor'h r. Spoford is of the busiest
Librarians in the land, but he has found time for an
ambitious and toilsome undcrtaking-the cOmpila-
tion of a worlds almanac for Use III the United
States Years of experience in the Congressional
Library have taught him the value of a reference
book that combines the elements of the States
mans Yearbook" " the "Almanach de Gotha,
"McPherson's Handbook of Politics." and such
manuals as THE TRIBUNE ALMANAC. Accord
ingly he has compiled from these and other sources
the most comprehensive, if not the most compact,
manual of political statistics and miscellaneous in
formation issued in this country for many day.
The title of this work, which comes to us freSh
from the press, is the American Almanac
The British Almanac " and "Whtakers Almanac"
are invaluable rcference-books for Brtons the world
over, but they are not specially adapted for the
American public Mr.. Spoficld's book is a store
house of statistical financial ard political informa-
ton relating not only to the United States but to
all nations. Every Librarian has his hobbies, and
we are not surprised to find the compiler of vol
ume of l2O pages frequently in the saddle. The
chapter entitled "A Brief History of Almanacs," the
elaborate table giving the ages of notable persons
from f,sOp to Gladstone. and the article on The
Curiosites Of Statistics" illustrate the habit of
hobby.rding. But there are so many features which
are of general interest, such as the chapters on
"Strikes Past and Present." How the French Paid
the Thousand Millions" "The Commercial Crises
of the Century in England" "The Silver Money
Question:" and "The Electoral System" that we
have not the heart to question the authors judg-
ment. The most serious defects of the work are
faults of arrangement by which kindred topics
have been separated, owing to what the printers
term the "exigencies of the make-up;' and tho
table of contents would be more useful if there
fewer titles. But we find so much of which to APP
prove that it is ungraci0us task to point out the
flaws. We hope that this manual will be well re-
ceived by the public. So capable and painstaking a
man as Mr.. Spoford ought to be encouraged to re-
peat and better the experiment.
II is noble feature of our city, that an appeal oc
behalf of an unselIish enterprise for the geLerai
good is rarely made without evolling response.
Since The TRIBUNE has called attention to the fact
that a part or even the whole of the Castellani
Cole etion may be secured at this late hour, the
trustees of the Metropolitan Museum have been in
formed by a lady, who withhods her name for the
present that she Iill contribute the magnificent
sum of $4,000 for the purpose. As in addition,
there arc number Of subscriptions for $1,000
$500 and other sums, Immediate and vigorous
effort may yet for us the unequalled majolica
collections but there must not be moments delay
for an expert packer from the house of Chenuc. in
Paris has already arrived in this city, for the
express purpose of removing the Castellani treas
ures. We narrowly escaped losing both the Cesnola
collections and it is to be earnestly hoped that al
who are both able and willing to join in the present
work will announce themselves to the trustees
without waiting to be called upon
Definitions of domestic felicity are always IN
ordcr We ara indebted for new one to Mr. Philll