The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-11

and newspapers, were searched by
large corps of trained readers for eX-
cerpts illustrative of the use of words
defined in this dictionary. Although
occupying less space in the Standard
than in the Century, the quotations OF
the former are fully equal in aptness
and variety to those of the latter, and,
it seems to us, are upon the whole bet
ter chosen. The large recognition
given in them to American authors
and American journalists is note
worthy characteristic which ought to
stimulate our home writers to increased
excellence of literary workmanship
The meanings of stem word defined,
we have next its compounds and varia-
tions; its synonyms, given with excep-
tiOnal care and fulness, and-features
unique in this sdlctionary-its antonyms
and propositions Three other points
of excellence remain to be noted con-
cerning this book. Under each word
term subject to wide variation we are
presented with u table that epltomiZes
The whole subject at one glance. Take,
for example, the word element"
Following its exhaustive treatment as
u vocabulary word, we see page table
of chemical elements showing first the
name of the element, with its pronun-
ciatlon indicated; second, its deriva-
ton; third, its chemical symbol;
fourth, its atomic weight, revised by
Frank Wigg esworth Clarke, chief
chemist of the United States geological
survey; fifth, its specific gravity;
sixth, its fusing or melting
point indicated in both centigrade
and Fahrenheit degrees; seventh, its
valence; eighth, the date of its dis
covery; ninth, by whom discovered:
and lastly, where and how found, This
is only one of perhaps two hundred
group tables in the Standard dictionary.
yet it gives at glance almos, the
whole of chemistry, and required in
its compilation aud correction, the eX-
penditure of many thousand dollars.
This grouping of allied words is feat
ure exclusively belonging to the Stand
ard dictionary. A second exclusive
feature is what is known rs its word
finding feature. We will suppose that
person wishes to learn the name
of muscle or bone In some portion
of the human body. BY turning to the
word muscle or the word "bone,"
skeleton diagram of the human body
will be found underneath it, with every
muscle and every bone indicated by
figures. These figures correspond with
the figure in key just below the dia-
gram. Thereby, even if one did not
know single term in anatomy, he
could ascertain the scientific name of
any part Of the human system by
merely turning to the dictionary and
tracing out its location on the "wOrd
finding diagram" This applies as
well to animals and plants and, in fact,
to almost anything capable of division
into many parts. The third rare cha
racteristic of the Standard dictionary
is the remarkable excellence of its illus
trations, two of which, the two-page
plate showing foreign decorations in
colors, aud the plate showing rare
gems, are believed to be without equals
in the annals of bookmaking. Indeed,
the book, from mechanical stand
point, is not open to criticism and
would deserve, had we the space,
ample and detailed praise.
In hurried fashion we pass finally to
the scholarship represented in this
latest inventory of the English Ian
guage. In every other respect the
book is worthy of almost incorporate
applause. AS to its editorial standards,
there will naturally be less unanimity
of opinion. The Standard dictionary
has been prepared at cost, in all de-
partments, so the publishers tell us, Of
$l.Q00,00O. 1t has had as its editor in
chief, Rev. DIR. Isaac X. Funk; as its
consulting editor, DR.. Francis A.
March; as its managing editor, with
general supervision over the detailed
work Of compilation and printing,
Rev. DIR. Daniel S. Gregory; and as as
sociate editors, John Denison Cham
plin, Arthur r. B0stwick and ROssiter
johnson. In addition to this working
force, there were more than 200 special
lists, each Of worldwide repu alton in
his particular field, to whom technical
and class words were submitted for
definition. The list of these special
contributors far exceeds that employed
in the preparation of the Century die
tionary; and if each has performed his
work thoroughly, the aggregate result
ought to be greatly superior, in point
of accuracy and thoroughness, to any
other English dictionary in print. We
do not pre- lend to pass on this point.
Time, comparison and everyday
usage by experts must determine it.
With respect TO terms used in metal
lurgy, mining and mining engineer
ing we have the home verdict of
Rufus J. Foster, one of the editors OF
the COliery Engineer, that the Stand
ard dictionary is exceptionally accurate
and thorough. The few and brief
comparisons that we have personally
made between this dictionary and the
Century, concerning words that be-
long particularly to the printing end
newspaper craft sustain this pledge of
competent preparation. AS to the
general vocabulary of the book, while
it may have been distended somewha
beyond the limits of relentlessly crili-
cal approval, it has as its authority for
this amplitude the high sanction of q
committee of reference he ded by
Charles A. Dana and including such
eminent authorities as Edward Ever
EFT Hale, James o. Murray, Julius
II. Seelye, Edward s.. Sheldon
and William G. Wilkinson. The
only word of censure that we
have heard passed on the Stand.
ard dictionary is, for the most OF
US, a recommendation namely, that
it has had the courage to give all the
live words of the language during the
period of their vitality, instead OF
waiting in supersensitive fear, as some
lexicographers do, until the words are
dead and worthless before vouchsaling
them admission. If the first voume
of the Standard dictionary, which