The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-12-19

tirely distinct work. One might not care
for the Century Dictionary; he certainly
would wish to own the Century Cyclopedia
of N imes.
What does this cyclopedia contain7 The
names OF all persons OF note-poets his
torians, authors, statesmen, inventors, engi-
neers, explorers, painters, sjul ptors, sing
ers, actors, divinlties and psychological
names; planets, constellatiO rs and stars;
characters in legend and tradition, noted
persons in fiction, In poetry, in plays; lite =
airy pseudonyms, names OF folk lore nick
names, families and dynasties; continents,
countries, provinces, states, cities of an.
tiuuity and modern times; seas, bays, rivers
and islands-comprehend indeed the
area of research as broad as the universe,
and az varied and extensive as time. This
cyclopedia names every event in history
wars, battles, charges, rides, plots treat.
les, parliaments, rebellions, commissions,
parties, confert noes, congresses, leagues,
alliances, DEGREES, ordinances councils,
political organic atoms, legislative acts,
political incidents; noted books, secular
and religious; songs, operas ana oratorios;
noted ships, yachts, horses, races. Any
person, event, incident, achievement in the
broad domai of the world, and in all line,
which is important or interesting, has been
gathered into this balance, and all are ar
ranged in continuous alphabetical order,
like the words in dictionary
Sixty thousand names are included in the
Cyclopedia. In the treatment OF these
names the aim has been TO furnish just
those items of information which she in.
qurer is seeking. The central facts relat-
ing to the names are given in large type,
and in smaller type such further informa-
ton as the limitations OF space permit. The
main facts and important dates are given
without comment, and space is apportioned
according 10 their relativei Importance The
largest space is necessarily given to persons
and places, biography and geography.
This work has been done methodically
All the known sources OF information have
been searched and their treasures secured.
Co npetent scholars, specialists, trained in.
vestigators, have had in hand the task of
producing this Cyclopedia. Years have
been consumed in the labor and vast sum
of money expended. The result is that any
fact or bit of information that may be
sought in ninety-nine instances in every
hund red will probably be found in this vol
failing in about eight times in ten to find the
thing sought.
The book gives also the pronunciation OF
names. The scheme adopted Is substan-
TALLY that of the Century Dictionary. 1t is
very desirable and very satisfactory to
have the pronunciation of names set forth
in accord ance with ths la est and highest
authority. Another point of great value to
the student of etymolOgy is the giving of
the derivation of words when it will be
helpful.
The work is undoubtedly subject TO the
limitations as to perfection and complete
ness that human infirmity ever imposes on
human efforts. The question of excluding
matter is often harder to settle wisely than
the question Of admission. The compilers
may have made mistakes in drawing the
line. There may be mistak IS of omission
as well as of commission. The reader of the
present generation who should see refer
ence to the Trent Affair " in a newspaper
article or public document would find in
this cyc Opedia the facts of that event of
the civil war; il he should read of the
Kozta Affair."" an episode vitality affect
ing the relations of this century with Aus
tria generation ago, the cyclopedia would
give him no light on this affair, which in
volved one of the essential principles of
American freedom and citizenship. The
Trent and the Kozta affairs were of nearly
equal importance. Why should one be
taken and the other left? The name of
Samuel Morey, the Inventor in whose name
Fulton's claim to priority of invention of
the steamboat has been sharply challenged,
and to whose life and inventions Appleton 8
American Biography gives over column of
merited space, is not given. Evidently
these are mistakes of omission. The Gu
rious reader or critical reviewer might find
others in this or that department of FACT or
information, but, as we have said, in ma
jority of instances so great as to render the
exceptions scarcely worthy of note, the
searcher will find in this splendid produc-
ton of the book max srs' skill and research
the object of his quest if it rises in impor-
lance above oblivon's dead.sea level. We
cannot too str ougly commend the Century
Cyclopeda of Names to very favorable con-
sideraton.