Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-11-07
THE NORTHWEST
Completion Of an Important Ameri-
can Enterprise.

1t is about one hundred years since th
first edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannia
appeared. Its earlier circulation in thi
country was very small, not 1000 sets of an
of its first eight editions having beel
sold here. Very naturally it was not locke
upon as work for American scholars, and
in its preparation. very little regard was pai
to things especially America.
The Ninth Edition began upon the sam
basis, but about the time its tenth volum
was issued, American enterprise undertook
its sale in America on the subscription plan
and already there has been placed about lO0,
600 sets, greatly exceeding its sale in England
With this great sale came the wide-spreat
discovery of the entirely "too British" char
acter of the Britannica for American stu
dents, and hence rose the demand for al
American Supplement, which would com
plete for American scholars the greatest O
all Encyclopedias. Such work was under
taken, therefore, about seven years since
and has just been completed.
PLAN OF ITS USE.
1st. The employment of eminent Amer
can expert authorities, to examine each sub
iect treated in the Britannica by Englist
writers.
I'd. To supplement every article of the
Britannica requiring it, with information i'm
portant to American subscribers.
Sd. To treat ubjects of recent develop
ment (not treated in the Britannica) where
invention, discovery, or scientific progress
made such treatment desirable.
4th. To treat of living men of eminence,
such as Gladstone, Bismarck, Stanley, Edi-
son, Blaine, etc., because the biograpy of no
living men is admitted in the Britannica.
1t is worthy of notice that, while the Brit
annica is not subject to the protection of an
American copyright, and is therefore issued
here in various editions, this American sup
plement designed to Americanize the Brit
annica) is necessarily an American enter
prise, is copyrighted, and is issued in VOL
umes exactly to match the various editions of
the Britannica; and, while costing more than
double per volume for it's issue, it is supplied
at the same price rs the Britannica.
This work has required years of labor in
its preparation, and has received the most
emphatic Endorsement of the American and
European Press, and of eminent scholars,
from which we quote few.
The New York Herald says The Ameri-
can Supplement is worthy of place by the
side of the great Encyclopaedia.
The New York Observer says: This Ameri-
can Supplement to the Britannica seems to
be all that ia necessary to round out and
complete the English work.
The Boston journal says The contribu-
tors are Americans who are noted for their
thorough knowledge in the departments up
on which they furnish information to the
Supplement. The topics have been as judic-
iously chosen as the writer's.
The Boston Evening Transcript says:-
This American Supplement will be found in
dispensible by those who are subscribers to
the original work.
The Philadelphia Ledger says:-It is full of
original work of the highest value, which no
American owner of the Britannica can afford
to be without.
The Philadelphia Press says:-This excel
lently executed work is indispensable to every
American who possesses the Encyclopaedia
Britannica.
The Cincinnati Commercial Gazette says:
We are not sure but that the four volumes
of the American Supplement will be referred
to oftener than the volumes of the Britannica
proper.
The Chicago Times says:-The list of
American contributors is very long, and it
embraces the best literary and statistical
ability of the country. The publishers have
made the Supplement in every respect the
equal of the invaluable work of which it is an
ally.
Rev. Theodore L. Cuyler, D. D., says:-"It
is a noble work."
Hon. Benson J. LOSING, LII. D., says
1T is essential to every subscriber to the
Britannica"
James Parton the Prince of the American
Biographer, says Il heartily recommend it
to all who possess the original work.
Hon. Julius H. Seelye, d. D., LII. D., says
1.-THE work is full, clear, authoritative"
Rev. Jas. H. Mason Knox, E. D., Presi-
dent of Lafayette College, Easton, Pa, says:
1.-THE Supplement to the Britannica is a
work of very great value, and to the Ameri-
can student necessary help. I recommend
every purchaser of the larger work to be sure
to possess the smaller as we'll.