The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-16
rrroin the Providence Journs'J
Tho ahtucse encyclopaedia.

we notice in our foreign exchanges that
as,ar ranch labor and patient investigation
the Chinese Ency cloI adia has at last been
npbIshed. We have no hesitation In
saving that Il II valuable work, for the in
formation IL contaips, dealing with all sub
iects of popular interest, has increased It's
sjze uutil In the completed edition IT num-
bers more than five thousand volumes. The
price OF the great work Is seven thousand
i've hundred dollars, and .hls price is not
considered exorbitantin IN the Flowery King
dom. :,
We have nothing TO say about the price,
except that it seems high to us, who are ac-
customed to cheap publications. and to con-
densed trestIses on science and art and lite-
ratpre, which rarely cost over twenty-five
cents. In our section OF the world. and in
the cecrity 6f our times, this mortal life
reckoned in the Bible count at tbreescore
and ten years-hs been quickened so much
by steamboats, and railroads and telegraphs
and telephones that the age Of the psalmist
seems TO be small item to man who Is en-
gagged in multiiarious affairs. Cotton, wool,
iron, prices current, and quotations In wall
street occupy our attention during The pass
ing weekdays, and in those hours of the
night which we do not devote Tor recreation
aud health or imaginative dreams. ehave
no leisure for long trea'ises and large DOCKS.
We are here to-day and gone Tomorrow,
and before we can pause To think ana look
back on our past lives, and the moral PM
losophy they iIculcatc, the chance Is gone.
and the roundabout OF Cowper's jackdaw
has come 10 an end.
But we nevertheless consider the Chinese
Encyclopadia a valuable work. Some scbol-
fnr literature
nav follow its Investigations and may add
something to the worlds knowledge. but
on this continent the circulation OF so large
a work would hardly pay for its pnblica-
ton. The attention OF the people is devoted
To newspapers which chronicle the fatal ac-
cidents OF each day, and 10 short compen-
diums OF the progress OF art and science,
theology, and moral philosophy. Noluml-
nous books which speak merely of The past
are OF small account. The age Is constantly
shouting "QM uiue?" and who goes
thereyv and when il sleeps at night 1t keeps
one eve open for periurbatlOns in the heav-
ems and on earth, and one car alert for the
sound of fire-bells. In this part OF The
world time runs on bicycles and locomo-
tiyes, and the man who stops to adjust his
suspenders or tie his shoe is in danger OF
wheel on his track.
Our new Minister to China, when he gets
fairly settled under the shadow OF the DIS
toric wall, II he has no leisure TO examine
the teachings OF the sages Fohi and ConIu-
cius, may, nevertheless, find time 10 iooK
over the pages OF the Chinese EncycloE9ola.
He will miss many things which bave been
familiar TO him, and which we who remain
in bi- civilized home still enjoy-the vest
Pocket Series, the Breecbes Combinations.
Beadle's Dimes, and other varieties OF
literature. Naturally he will turn 10
the Encyclopedia; and il he may not
be able to see the full force OF
those yoweIs and cOns0nants, when are
mixed up in the popular tongue in a
perpendicular sequence, he may gatner
from the curious records something whicn
will help and guide him in his mlDisterlal
labors. The mandariDs fourishing their
long tails will give him assistance, out OF
regard TO that genial writer in Engiand'
who taught them in the story OF BABE bow
TO roast the delicate Chinese pig, ana re-
solve the blossoming OF its youth INTO
cracklings for the imperial table. WDat-
ever he finds and whatever he does, we
have no hesitation in saying, will be applied
IN the interests OF knowledge ana OF ma
tional rights. And rs the oriental publish
ers OF the Encyclop9dla nave neHieSl'o -
send us its five thousand volumes lor spe'
cial notice in our column OF books, we ieaVt
the work to Minister ADgclPs sole 1ude
ment. trusting that in due time we shal
hear from him his opinion OF It's various
! contents.