Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-17
Making :. Dictionary.
HOW NJ EMILE I.TTTRE BROUGHT FORTH TIE
FoETY-FIEST IMMORTAL.

GPArsian.l
In volume which he has Just publish.
ell under the title "Eludes Il Glanures,
Mr. Lttrc gives us the history of his die
tionarv 1t WIS in lSli that the great
savant signed a contract with HachettC
for the publication of Il ''DIctionnairt
historique, ctymolugique ct grammatical
de Ia langie franchise. Tins dictionary
comprises four enormous volumes OF
abont twelve hundred pages each, three
coIYuns 10 the page, and supplement
f6a, iiIs another volume. u took Mr
Iit,rc thirteen wears to complete Tins
stnpcndoUs work, from 1853 So 1872. He
saws: My wife and daughter, witnesses
Of my troubles, heartily offered me Ia
come to my aid. This domestic arrange
ment had AN advantage over the employ
ment OF strangers that | valued highly.
for these aides of new kind were ever at
my side, questioning me about thai which
puzzled them and receiving Immediately
and on the spot the necessary instrnc-
tons. | had arranged matters So that by
Il wise economy could allow myself the
luxury Of two domicies one IN the
country, the other in the city. My
country home was 1T Nenil- LEROY Seine
ct-Oisel, little, old house, a garden of II
third of II heciarc. well planted, produc-
ing fruits and vegetables, which, as IN the
case of the old man in Virgil, ddpiGUs
McasdS OncraJW incmptiS. There, iii II
half-solitude, my village being far from
the road Of the general Partisan Sunday
visitor, | could dispose of my hours. |
used to rise at in the morning That is
late. exclaims the reader, for busy man.
But wait While my bedroom. at the
same time my workroOm, WAS being made
II said before that my house was old and
SMALL used to go down to the ground
floor, taking with me some work or other.
Thus 1T was that among other things /
made the preface to my dictionary. The
Chancellor d'Aguesscau had taught me
not to disdain the moments that appeared
of no special Importance. He wns the
man whose wife always made mm wait
for his dinner ami who, presenting her a
book, SAID: There Is the work of the mo
ments before dinner At . o'clock, |
went up stains again and corrected the
proof that had Just come III. This occn-
patton brought me to the hour of dejcn-
er. At | o'clock sat down To my desk
again. and until , in the afternoon did
NY NilHlt III illt -iblillit ttS 'NdN'lHiS,
which society had elected lnc in 1S,J, and
to the Journal of which | felt in duty
bound to contribute regularly. From >
10 Il o'clock ! took the dictionary IN hand.
Al t. / descended for dinner and my wife
unlike Nine dAguessoau, did not make
me wait. ! thod"ht about an hour at
dinner sufficient The prccept not to
work mentally Immediately after meals
has been recommended. | have alwnys
iniringel upon this recommendation nf
ter finding ont that | did moi suffer by
REASONS of this miractinn. II was su
much time gained, So much suatrhrd from
the necessities of the body. Having gone
mp to my study again at ! O'Clock, | re-
sunci my dictionary and did not leave IT.
\ tit-t relay brought me to midnight,
/ when my family lctired The second
! brought me to = IN the morning Goner
| ally my daily task was finished at that
! hour. Ii 1t WAS not | prolonged my
studies and more than once, during long
days, put out my lamp and continued my
work at the lscak of day. These mcu
! brations we've not without some recon
| pense. \ nightingale had established itG
! home in II little alley Of linden trees cut
/ ting my garden. 1t filled the silence ot
/ the night and of the country with its Inn
] pd and r-soundlng voice. Oh, Virgil
how could you, you, author of the ','eor
/ plcs. how could YOU nuke IL death song,
! t1iesrdbVo rtpDtcn, of such GLORIOUS
suunds2'