The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-21
The c..tury cye,eres,. or Names.

The Century Cwlopcdid NJ Names, a round.
ing-out and completion Of the Century Die.
ticpary, has just been published by the Century
Company. In appearance, II corresponds out
wardly and inwardly with the six volumes Of
the Dictionary, and in effect forms part OF that
valuable work.
Concerning the contents OF the book the editor
says in his preface; In character Il Ia prinari-
ly dictionary Of proper names. giving their or
biography and pronunciation and such explana-
ton of them rs Ia necessary for their identified
ton; and, secondarily, condensed encyclopedias
irfits somewhat fuller treatment THAN that of
the dictionary Of several thousands OF the more
important articles. The range of names to
be included was practically unrestricted since
the object sought was not the presentation of
any special class. but general account Of all the
names excluded, by their nature, from the larger
work, so far as this was possible within the pre-
scribed limits The only condition OF Insertion
has been that the name should be one about
which information would be likely to be sought"
In putting into practice the principles laid
down, the editor has aimed, seemingly, TO help
those persons who, possessing the Century Die
tionary. are destitute of all other literary aids;
but he has overlooked the fact that persons
owning or needing encyclopedia Of names would
have or have access to other reference books;
and in his attempt TO help the ignorant he has
ignored the wants Of those better educated.
The biographies Of living persons are valua-
BILE, and probably could not be obtained, even by
the erudite, elsewhere than in the graveyard"
obituary box OF newspaper. The biog-
raphies Of many Of the famous dead are excel
lent, but much space Ia taken up with lives
easily obtainabe elsewhere by any person likely
to own a cyclopedia. For example, the lives
of all the Henrys of England are set forth. al
though they may he found as well in any Eng
lish history. In fact. 1t is in its for bogra-
phics that the cyclopedia makes its greatest
error; for In many cases works which should
have had separate entries are mentioned only In
connection with their authors. Thus John
Halifax, Gentleman" Is mentioned only under
Mrs. Craik's name.
Again, there Is an inconsistency in tho treat
ment of subjects and In their alphabetical ar
rangement while Tom Hughes's book is entered
as tom Browns School Days" Dlbdin's
famous song must DO looked for under Bow
ling, Tom" "Dudu" is described thus: I'm
Byrons Don Juan pensive beauty of seven
teen" Either she should have been omitted
entirely or something more should have been
said. So, too, mention is made Of the "Parc
aux Cerfs." but tho Tour de Nesle is not named.
The Queen Of Great Britain is called the
Queen" and the painter Of the Return from
Balaclava" is called Mrs. Butler. although her
proper title for nearly nine years has been
Lady Butler" Dates are omitted in n manner
exasperating In G book of reference, or when
given, they are not sufficiently exact, and we
have found at least mistake in entering q
title: Hawthornes story, 'Rappacini's Daueh-
ter" is entered as Doctor Rappacini's Daugh-
ter" an error which. as TO that entry, destroys
the books value.
Still. these are blemishes in a great work, and,
though important. do not injure 1t vitality. They