Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-14
THE CRITICS REVIEW.
A Dictionary nnd Encyclopedia in Onc-The
Great Work Now Being Published by
the Century Company-New Novels of

Dictionary and Ency yciopedin in Ope-The
Great Work Now Being Published by
the Century Company-New Novels of
More or Less Merit.
WORK that will be indispensable to the
4 scholar, the editor and the man of letters,
and of the highest value to all who read and
think is now being prepared under the direction
of Prof. William Dwight Whitney, of Yale, and
published by the Century Company. We refer
to 1.-THE Century Dictionary" which, accord
ing to the title page, is to be san encyclopedia
lexicon of the English language" 1t is to be
complete In six volumes, three of which have
already reached the editors table. Externally
the volumes are as attractive as any
books, designed for useful rather
than ornamental purposes. could well
be made The form is quarto and the binding
handsome brown leather. The number of
pages averages about 1000 to the volume; the
paper is Of good quality and the type large and
clear. The illustra tions are numerous and all
tne mechanical part of the work has been well
An examination of any page of any volume
VIII be sufficient to convince one at all familiar
with books of reference, that no such complete
or satisfactory dictionary has ever before neen
published. Examine page at random, Here
is one, at the top OF which is the word mar
monious;' half the page is taken up In den
nitions of this word, and others having the
same root till we come to the word harmony"
The origin and various meanings OF the
word occupy more than half page.
and essayists,. showing the usage of
the term IN the best literature. There are also
references to kindred words and synonyms;
ana a mention of the Harmony Society,"" the
history of which is briefly given under the def
milton of "Harmonist"
make the work what the tiIle-page indicates
an encyclopedia as well as dictionary-and
have carried out that intention with the true
fidelity that characterizes the work of scholars
in task in which pride is taken. And 'The
Century Dictionary" if completed according
to the promise given in the half already before
and publishers but the American people as
well may justly feel proud. Accuracy. deep
scholarship and the results of laborious re-
search are apparent on every page.
s.
IN "Kestell Of Greystone," by Esme Stuart
we have a ponderous volume of AL pages in
which the course of true love runs with even
more than the proverbial friction. The hero
ine Elva Kestell, aspires to the heights of
novel writing. and is mercIlessly reviewed by
the prominent young critic, Hoel Fenner. She
meets her mortal enemy, as she calls him to
herself, and with the usual promptness first
'endures, thenpities and embraces" Meanwhile
dark page In her fathers history is turned;
her lover In consequence deserts her, and In
pique she is to wed another man, in fact, is
about to plight her troth-when she falls faint
ing into the arms Of the best man and is igno-
miniously removed to the vestry room. Soon
Mr. kestell dies, having made frank and full
and makes a second application for the hand
of the fair author.
UOUR Erring Brother; or, Church and Chap
el," by T. w. Robinson, published by Frank
F. Lowell in the Lovells' International Series,
is rather formidable, perhaps. because Of the
small print or, it may be. of the subject matter.
In America we cannot understand the tremen-
dous barrier existing between these two instl-
tutions, and we are ignorant enough, or shall
we say sufficiently liberal. to think that no one
person nor church has the right of way IN this
% "Belshasxar % % B Remance ass of BabyIon.H s Dy E.
R. Roe, published by Donohue, Henneberry d
Co, Chicago. strikes us as being superfuous
from historical as we'll as literary point Of
of Daniel in the lions den to the Bible as being
more concise and decidedly more interesting.
..-
UMARIE ANToINErTE and the End of the
Old Regime" by Imbert de Saint
Amand, Is one OF the famous women of the
French Court series, ably translated by Thomas
Sergeant Perry. This book is ably written in
an easy gossipy style and brings vividly before
us the thrilling days of the famous revolution
when MADAME Guillotine" was the power be-
hind the throne.
"URITTEN in Red, or the Conspiracy in
the North Case" published by Cas-
sells, and for sale by ]. R. Weldln, price so
cents. is joint production Of Charles Howard
Montague and c. W. Dyar. The story pur-
ports to be set in Boston. and we are called on
to tremble at murders and conspiracies that
would do credit to a Western town instead of
the center OF culture. We can recommend the
story. 1t can be localized with ease and fitted
to any CITY, and we have already seen it in
contemporary and shuddered at the shadow Of a
crime so near our own dwelling.
<xr
u\7IEws and Reviews. Essays in Apprecia-
tion." by w. E. Henley, is issued in
series with Burrelps Obiter Dicta and Lang's
Letters to Dead Authors. 1t is one of the
many books about books that is becoming nee.
essary to the hurried American. We find these
books valuable. sort of literary pepsin, in fact,
that helps one to digest the vast amodnt of
hasty reading that must be done to keep up
within respectable distance of the times, but
we would agree with DR.. Holmes in wishing
that people would read he books themselves,
instead of so much about them. Published by
Scribner's Sons. and for sale by ]. R. Weldin;
price ST.
0EUNNY Stories told by Phineas 7. Barnum,"
published by George Routledge & Sons;
price so cents. We have here compendium of
useful knowledge, including jokes that
deserve respect on account of their age, and
stories that have full flavor of sawdust. We
recommend the book to those who aspire to the
heights of the trapese or the equally dizzy task
of walking in the footsteps of the Great ATeri-
can Snowman, as the worthy P. T. b. delights
in calling himself.
-
uNIIss EAToN's ROMANCE" by Richard
Allen, is g wefl-written and interesting
story of the New Jersey shore. The location
naturally admits of sea adventures, and we have
several Interesting situations and well-de-
scribed shipwreck to make the book breezy and
attractive, During the wreck Robert Usher.
the missing link In the story, Is brought ashore
by the skillful management of Burr Markham,
a man endowed with many gifts of body and
soul. but whose life has been spoiled through
another's crime. By system of psychical
rather than physical healing. the hero is re-
stored to life and reas on, and the book ends
happily in the good old way to the tune Of