The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-27
Appleton's CyclopBdia.


The American Cyclopedia, newly revised
and illustrated, from the press of d. Appleton
& Co., Geo. Ripley and Chas. A. Dana, edi-
tors-in-chief, has articles numbering some for
ty thousand, from the pens of the ablest spec
ialists Of America and Europe, and over six
thousand illustrations maps and charts.
The publishing house of D. Appleton g. Co.
during the last sixty years has supplied the
American people with the productions of the
ablest scientific and literary scholars of both
continents. The first attempt in America at
producing a comprehensive cyclopedia was
made by the Merssrs. Appleton in 1857, and 80
great was its success and SO rapid has been the
progress in all departments of knowledge that
after lapse of sixteen years the Appletons de-
cided to revise the work and illustrate it thor
oughly, at a cost as they at first sup
posed of some 100000; but so great
had been the advancement in every depart
ment of literary and scientific research and so
through the work of the distinguished editors
and contributors that before the work was
sent to press the cost of literary and artistic
labor alone exceeded half million of dollars.
The editors exercise a constant supervision
over the work and in the second edition which
has just appeared, corrections in the letter
press have been made where necessary, and
new articles inserted, as, for example, on the
Telephone, Phonograph, &c. They have gath
cred into the sixteen large volumes true and
faithful representation of the worlds progress
in every department of human knowledge.
What is needed in these days of busy, practi-
cal life. in this age Of steam and electricity, is
not more books and expensive, cumbersome
libraries, which few at most can own, but that
the knowledge OF the world may be condensed,
systematized and made accessible to the masses.
1t is hardly necessary, then, to suggest to in
telligent readers that the possession Of such
work as the American Cyclopadia is almost
indispensable to any person or family who
would be intelligent and we'll informed. Its
value for reference and information in the
household cannot be overestimated. No per-
son, however well informed can always answer
the numberless questions presented to his mind
in reading, in conversation, in the family circle
and out of it; but having the means to inform
himself on each subject as it presents itself, by
instant reference to trustworthy cyclop adia,
he may soon become intelligent and cultured.
James Parton, the well known historian says
every home in which Appleton's cyclop@dia
is placed is benefited in the most lasting man
ner. 1t is like sending the whole family to
college,
Though the work is necessarily expensi Q,
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the purchase of the cyclopedia is the best econ
omy in the buying of books and the publishers
are now offering the work in way to enable
the humblest families to possess it.