The morning call., 1891-04-26

DICTIONARY MAKNG-H. II. X, Freeport.
Cal. 1t Is claimed that standard dictionary of
the Chinese language, containing about 10000
characters, most OF them hler0glyphIc or rude
representations, somewhat like the signs OF the
zodiac, was perfected by Pa-out-she who lived
about 100 b. G. II this be true Mr.. Pa. OUTSIDE
is entitled to the distinction of having "made the
first dictionary" There are records of various
Latin and Greek dictionaries from the time of
Varro. born b. Z. 116. down to the great English
dictionary by Samuel johnson, which appeared
in 1755. ApropOs of your second question: show
did he (Nho compiled the first know all about
making dictionary OF the English language cor
rectly?" the Q, c. quotes: "a full and complete
dictionary OF great literary language can be
compiled only by great labor, patience knowledge
and skill, employed for many years in collecting,
correcting, adjusting and completing the labors
CT many previous generations OF workers. Such
dictionary should include all the words OF the
language. AS a great library cannot select books
and publications, he must collect and preserve
all without regard to their apparent value or
worthlessness for 1t Is impossible to foreteIl
What may be valued In future times or what
may be required by its readers for completing
their researches, so complete and standard
dictionary should make no choice Words oDso-
lete aud newly coined, barbarous. vulgar and
affected temporary, provincial and local, be.
longing 10 peculiar classes, professions, pursuits
and trades should all find their place-the only
question being as 10 the evidence for their eX-
istcnee." The object OF the first lexicOeraphcal
labors In England was TO facilitate the study OF
the Latin language and blllngual dictionaries
had become common. while those designed for
merely English readers were rare and
meager productions One OF the earliest
Of the latter was that of DR.. John
explaining 50S0 OF what were esteemed The
hardest words" Subsequent works were those
OF Thomas, Blount 1880, Edward Philhns,
nan1pW NJ
than Baliey's Q726), In which the first at.
tempt was made to give complete cOec.
was long IN high renule, having passed through
at least" tweniy.seyeD editions. An interviewed
copy OF folio edition OF Balley's dictionary was
the repository of the articles collected by DR.
johnson In preparing his dictionary, which an.
peaIed In 1855, after eight years OF arduous Ia
Dor; he introduced the plan OF illustrating the
tracied from the best OF authors Dr. Noah
Webster was engaged lhirty-sx years OIL his
American Dictionary OF the English Lam
guage." the first edition Of which was issued in
New YORK In 1928.
SUPPRESSED Journalism. H.. City. Ban
croft, In his " History of California" (page 3I2.
volume 24), and referring to the memorable dav
Oh which the news was received OF President
Lincoln's assassination, says of events occurring
In San Francisco: Nothing more fitting could
be thought OF than that those newspapers which
had encouraged treason should be DESTROYED and
TO this work The people lent themselves with a
Will -Four years OF patient tolerance of too great
freedom OF speech was reVenged by demolishing
number OF newspaper offices. II was a spon.
taneous expression which was not checked until
the Democratic Press, owned by Beriah Brown;
the Occidental. owned by Zachariah Mont.
gOmerY; the Monitor, Journal which was
then owned by J. A. Brady; the Franco-Amerl-
cain and the News Letter were destroyed. The
Echo du Pacfque would have received the same
treatment but Tor the fact OF its press being In
The Alta building, which would have shared In