Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13

4 STANDARD DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH
LANGUAGE. under the supervision Of Isaac X
Funk, DID. Eiitor-in-Chef; Francis A. March,
Consulting Editor: Daniel S. Gregory. Managing
Editor. Volume II. New York: Funk & Wag-
nails Company.
Every promise made as to the Standard
Dictionary has been more than kept by the
publishers of that remarkably complete
product of some of the worlds most gifted
photographers. Few people have any
thing like an accurate idea as to
the vast expenditures of money and
energy necessary to such a wonderful COM
pilation of words and word-meanings as
Funk & Wagnalls have placed on the mar
ket. Two hundred and forty-seven special
ists-some original investigators, some edi-
tors-have been engaged in the requisite
labor. many Of them for a period of about
five years; nearly a million dollars was in
vested by the Funk Wagnalls Company
before a completed copy was ready for sale.
That the results justify, in a literary sense,
and will justify financially, can hardly be
doubted; there must be popular apprecia-
ton of the most practical sort. People who
have any use for dictinary are not likely
to be content with less than the most COM
prehensve and most recent; the Standard
claims $1,000 words that are not to be
found in any other dictionary.
OF the special features Of this dictionary
much might be said, for the two handsome
ly-bound volumes are rich in matter such as
has not heretofore been common in diction-
aries The definitions are direct and clear,
the pathological work has been nationally
conservative, the pronunciation rules have
every appearance of strength, the tables,
the quotations, the synonyms and anto-
ny ms, the proper names and the compounds
are all dealt with broadly and in a fashion
agreed by eminent scholars to be unexcep-
tionable. In the appendix is a great guam
tity of valuable Information, such as peo-
| pie have been accustomed to seek IN die
| tionary appendices, but have not always
| found therein. One feature not approached
by rival publications is the illustrative
| feature, the lithogIa phic plates being works
of art of exceptionally fine finish. The
| Standard is deserving of it's name.
THE REAL CHINAMAN. By Chester Holeombe,
| ton and Acting Minister Of the United States
| at Peking. Illustrated. New York: Dodd'
Mead & Co. Washington: Brentano's
Close association with the Chinaman in
his home has given Mr. Holcombe oppor-
trnities for study, of which he has taken
intelligent advantage, and the printable re-
suits are to be found in one of the most in
teresting volumes on the Chinaman ever
placed before the public for its edification.
| The details are uncommon1y attractive in
the manner of their presentation. while the
descriptive work is considerably above the
average. There does not appear to be any
seeking after or display of1he ref1nements
of highly-polished literature; merit that
cannot be too highly commended in books
OF this class. Mf. l1OlcOnnDe luSiStS INA
his volume Is neither a defense, apology
criticism or panegyric, but is rather ar
| explanation; he Is convinced that the rea
Chinaman is almost unknown. Therefore
this book; which iss"an effort to outline
with a few broad sweeps of the pen, the
Chinaman as he is"
SOUTHERN 1TERATgsRRE FRoM 1879 TO 1895. !
Comprehensive Review. WITH Copious Extract
| and Criticisms. For the use of schools and tn
| general reader. containing al appendix with
full list of southern authOrs.o BY Louise Manly
Illustrated. Richmend: 3. f. johnson Publish
ing Company. cf
A very interesting compilation that suf
fers considerably from the frequent ap
pc arance of ancient. inappropriate and in
correct illustrations which were used, it 4
to be presumed, for the purpose Of adding
to the books popularity, but which mus
have the reverse effect OF the compilation
nothing but good can be said: 1T has grea
value, and will be highly regarded by stu
dents of the south, and by those who nee'
the aggregated information for referenc
purposes
FOUR AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES. Harvard, h
. Charles Eliot Norton; Yale, by Arthur 7: Hat
bia, BY Brander Matthews. New York: Harpt
Brothers. Washington: Woodward 4 Il
throp.
Very little Of ancient history Is to
found in this excellent volume. but Their
is abundance of interesting fact as to pres
ent administration, and sufficiency o
criticism to make the reading matter 81