The morning call., 1891-01-11
LITERATURE.

1HE STANDARD DICTIONARY OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE. X. Funk, d. D.,
general editor New York: Funk 81 Wag-
nalts). Something that is intended to sup
piahl the present standard dictionaries OF
the English language is now in course of
preparation, and it promises to give to the
people lexicon by means of which the
American pronunciation and Specification of
words shall have the preference over for
elgn. 1t will be known as Funk 81 Wag-
mars standard Dictionary, and if it carries
cut IN erect what it promises in prospectus
IL Will be hailed with delight by all who
nave desire to pronounce words according
to our system
some Of tie most notable matters or points
OF Improvement promised are the locating of
the verifying quotations by giving the name
VI tne euthor, the name OF the book, the
num per OF The page on which the quotation
may pc found, the publishers and the year
OF puolicatlon: the use, in the pronunciation
VI words, OF the scientific alphabet adopted
oy the American Phiological Association
the placing CT the etymology after and not
before the definition; placing the most i'm
poFlant current definition first and the nbso-
Iete after, or in other ords, the substitution
OF the usage for the historic order; in cases
% 3 uIspuled pronunciation, giving those pre-
teIreu Dy other dictionaries as well as those
the publishers prefer; giving $4,000 more
words than can be found in any other diction-
ary, ana III this connection it may be added
tnat no word will be admitted to a vocabulary
place until it has been passed upon by such
meu as Julius II. Seelye of Amherst Col
lege, Edward S. Sheldon of Harvard Uni
TerSlty, Edward Everett Hale, Charles A
DaEa, and Howard Crosby, ana lastly the
INDICATION by the use of upper and lower
case initial letters as to whether words in
the Vocabulary are to be written as proper
or common nouns.
he work viii contain $4,000 appropriate
quotations, each OF which will be distinctly
located as above stated. The scientific
aipnabet, by means of which the proper
pronunciation OF word may be arrived at,
Is OF lnestimable value, and the fact that
the common meaning of a word can be as
Gertalned by a man or boy of average intel
hgence in the shortest possible time is
enough OF Itself to recommend it for general
use. Ci!nglng to Old traditions may be
good, but rejecting them when they are
round TO be obsolete, incorrect or improper
Is better.
What the peorle want is what the word
means Today, either in current literature or
III ordinary conversation. In this new
"ork the order of common sense is the ac-
cepted meth d. Technical language is
avoided IN definitions as far as accuracy and
reasonable brevity will admit The verified
ana located quotations VIII he found of great
value, and III these, American will lave
preference over foreign authorities. The
Work VIII contain l75, COO words, 81 600 pages
ana nearly 1900 illustrations. 1t Will be
somewhat larger than the other standard
dictionaries, will be bound in heavy sheep
ana the price will he $40. The new work is
obtaining the Endorsement of many eminent
men connected with the prominent colleges
anu universities, not only of this country,
put OF England, as well as noted men in
other walks of life.
HE GENIUS OF GALILEE-By A. U.
Hancock Chicago: Charles II. Kerr &
90. Cloth, l2mo, 507 pages, 81 50). This is
the time that religious novels are on the in
crease, and there is no telling how far the
taste Tor this class of literature may be
carried. In this work, however the author
VINO has shown himself a close student of
the Bible, has presented a story that is pro-
foundly interesting and will be read by many
VINO nave desire for more complete one
than can be obtained by the average reader
from the verses in the holy book. The
author has divided his novel into six books
In one he traces the career of Jesus
OF Nazareth, in another lie treats of
caesar and Rome, in another he presents
the habits OF the Galileen world and the an
cient history Of the Jews. In the others he
tells the story of Sarah, of Lydia, OF Eg-
mond and other characters, historical and
otherwise. The book does not appear to
have been written in the interest of any
sect. but on the cOntla airy seems to be the
work Gt one who is entirely free from bias.
IL Is book that cannot fail to have a good
influence.
LII W AihD bOHION-Dy l1e0Ty w Goa (DOS-
ton: Lee " Shepard. Cloth. 299 pages, 81 D.
paper SO cents. The remarkable favor with
which the story of Edward Burton" an
ideal metaphysical novel, has been received
has induced the publishers to issue new
edition in paper to give it a broader circuIa-
ton. 1t is a wonderfully realistic novel in
which well-arranged love story is in
geniously used to make bright and inter-
esting discussion on a number of living
topics, including theology, ethics and soci-
ology. The various topics are presented in
brief and pungent manner aud are in
struetve. For sale at all the bookstores.
Thy NAME Is WoMAN-By Debut de
Laforest, translated by Frank Howard
Howe (New York: The Belford Com
pany). This is novel, in cloth and in
paper in which the writer. one of the
French highly sensational class, depicts a
phase Of life in country and in the gay me-
tropolis, which, while 1t may be true to
nature, Is one that had better be discussed
before some organization for the amelora-
ton Of society than pres ented to the readers
of fiction.