Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-05-27
Johnson's Now Universal Cyclopsotlia.

eral description Of tins great work, but
were unable to particularize any of the |
subjects at that time; but havl:g given q
careful examination of the first volume,
aud comparing it with Appleton's, we
are now prepared to give our readers an
intelligent opinion of Its merits; but we
hardly know which to admire most, the
work, as a specimen of book manutac-
ture, the comprehensive and practical
character Of the plan, the wonderfully
thorough but concise character Of the
articles, or the completeness with which |
the whole ground, both in science and
art, is covered In the selection of con-
tributors.
The work is dedicated to Horace
Greeley, to whom it is said to have owed
Its origin to suggestion made by him at
some time dur,ag the last years of his
busy life. The Whole history aud orig in
Of tho production is ably presented in
the Publishers Announcement, with the
firms name attached then comes the Pre-
face, which clearly defines what the work
is and what it has done to make it an
authority: it is signed by President Bar
nard and Professor Guyot, thereby
doubiy voucLing for the accuracy of the
statements therein set forth. The first
volume contains the first five letters of
the alphabet, and has just 19,943 subjects,
while Appleton's in reaching the same
point has only 11,O71, a difference of9,s72
subjects in favor of Johnson's, and the
same ratio is preserved throughout the
work. Under the head Of "Abbrevia-
tons" we find nearly eight columns, num-
bering nearly two hundred more abbre-
viations than can be found in any other
cyclopedia; under this heading IN Cham
bers, it says, "hardly any In use in this
country" The next important article
that came under our notice was "Absli-
ton Of Slavery" by Horace Greeley.
Near the last mentioned article are
Abstinence Total" and "Abyssinia," Civ
Ing an account Of the English Abyssinlan
war. In Chambers we find nothing
from Abyssinia later than 1867. One
would naturally think that an american
Cyclopedia. published since our civil
war, that pretends to be revised edition
also,. would mention such subjects as
Abolition, Alabama Claims, Bomb, Bonn
bardment, Emancipation Proclamation,
Flag Officer, Forage, Freedmen's Bureau,
Franco-German War, Free Trade, Fugl.
tive Slave Law, Income Tax, Interna.
tional Law, and scores of other articles
which relate to and grew out Of the re-
bellion. The article Acoustics" in
Chambers Cyclop@dla is only one col.
and at the latter end of the article it says
In recent times but little has been done IN
this branch Of Physics"! Johnson's has
nearly seven of its large pages, soritten
and signed by Prof. Ogden N. Reed, Civ
ing description of the photograph, etc.
"Acld, Albumen, Alcohol, Anil!ue
Antimony, Arsenic, Beer, Bread, Bro
mine, Butter, Caffeine, Calico Printing
Cellulosc, Celluloid, CSllodion, Dyeing,'
and kindred topics are ably treated under
The new nomenclature by Prof. Chandler
the greatest chemist in America.
Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, North
and South America" are all in the hrs
volume, each covering large number Of
pages, accompanied with msgnifcen
copper plate maps drawn by Prof Guyot
and engraved especially for this work
The map of North America does not var!
but about = halfinch in size from that il
the latest edition of Mitchell's Atlas ant
is by far moro elaborate in detail. Th'
article "The EARTH" by Prof. Guyot, i
very complete, it being divided into diff
:: ferent topics by italic headings, which
= bv the way is the system adopted in al
, the specia! subjects in this great work
! an idea original with the publishers, ant
> never before attempted In any cyclop@dia
any writer or business man can at onc'
see the advantage of this. Every Stat
in the Union is deliberately treated, Civ
ing accurate and reliable statistical ant
other matter as regards the geography
| geology, agriculture, education, religion
population, politics, ETC., ending with
: list OF governors and dates of serving
from the time the State was incorporated
l. up to the present time; also gives tn
electoral and popular vote for Prssiden
5 and Vice President, from George Wash
+ linton forward to the latest official docu
mcnts. Every city in the United State
has been written by some great specials
: q resident of the place, and every count
: and every township has been aceuratel
and carefully given. We discovered
town in Maine of only four inhabitants.
OUR drug stores are now supplied wit
Malt Bitters," the new Food Medicine whic
e has done so much good and comes so high
recommended. TRY it. It NAV save Won heay