The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1883-07-12

TRUMAN &COOPER, MANITOwOC
THE GREAT SALE OF THE AMER
ICAN CYCLOPEDIA.

The inclination of the American people
for practical knowledge is well exempli-
fed by the remarkable sale in this country
of cyclopedias and other digests of
information. The publication of the
first edition of Appletons' american
Cyclor@dia" was begun in 1857, and the
revised edition in 1873. The entire
aggregate number of volumes printed
has been one million four hundred and
.Jtg-raifae thousand 1iUe hundred and
fifty Q,459, 500, making an average,
there being sixteen volumes to set, of
ninty-one thousand two hundred and
twenty-five sets. This is certainly very
remarkable sale of work of the magni-
tude and cost of the american CycIo.
p@dia." Ii we add to this the sale Of
the Index and Annual volumes, tae
number is increased to 1,722 100. A
careful estimate of the sale.,. in different
styles of binding, shows that the public
have expended for this Cyclopedia, in
ciuoine .ne Annual volumes, oUer ten
Hie.ttiOn dollars.
A significant fact connected with this
large sale is that these books have not
been bought by distinct class. They
have not been the rich mans luxury, or
merely gone into public libraries as
books of reference. It has been q popu-
lar distribution. They have found their
way into the houses of the middle classes
to the pastors study and the lawyers
office, the merchants library and the
farmers parlor, the mechanics workshop
and the students book. shelf, and have
been the means in many instances of
enabling ambitious young persons to lay
the foundation of good general educa-
ton. They have been bought by heads
of families in order to crafty not only
their own love of knowledge, but as an
aid to their boys and girls in their
studies. 1t is impossible to measure or
fully estimate the vast good that CYCLIC
pedia at the home Jareside confers the
stimulus 1T giUes to study and reflection,
the 2'oaoer 1t has of not only gratifying
intelligent curiosity but Of a,Uakino
interest IN thousand themes; for in
the passion of learning, a6ove oil thi,aqs.
increase of appetite grSaos 6y ao1at it
feeds on" The ip,1nense practical ad-
vantage of books of this character bes
become 30 generally recognized that a
cyclopadia has come to be looked
upon by every man of intelligence as a
necessary article of his household.
The extensive popular distribution of
the American Cyclopedia" is fact of
which we may be nationally proud. 1t
is unparalleled in the literary history of
the race, and it may be questioned
whether it would be possible in any
other land. There must pre-exist a
system of general education, wide
intelligence, and a native thirst for
knowledge; and it would not be possible
in any country where the mass of people
are not prosperous, or where there is not
an eager desire to rise in life, or in q
community where it is not generally
recognized that ignorance is the sole
barrier to fame and fortune.
Mr.. FL. P. Carver is visiting Manitowoc
for q few days in the interest of D.
Appleton & Co., of New York, and is
meeting with success. We trust that
man. more of our citizens will profit by
this opportunity to get ''large and well
selected library" Any one wishing to
learn the facts in relation to the cyclic
pmdia, plan of the work, mode of deliv-
ering, ETC., will receive prompt attention
by addressing Mr.. Carver at Madison
Wis.