Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-24
Book Notices.

JOHNSON'S UNIVERSAL CYCLIC
PAEDIA. A New and Enlarged Edition.
Charles Kendall Adams, L. l.. d.. Presi-
dent OF the University OF Wisconsin.
t,ditor-in-Chief. Assisted by n Corps
OF Thirty-slx Editors. Composed OF the
Ahlest and Most Distinguished Scholars
In the United States and of Eminent
Specialists in Both Europe and America
Illustrated with Maps. Plans. and En-
cravings Complete in Eight Royal
Octave Volumes OF 900 Pages Each. Pub
lshed by the a. J. Johnson Company
Bond street, New York.
This cyclopaedla, which was made for
busy men, on lines originally suggested
by Horace Greeley, first appeared in 1874.
and, because of its completeness, con-
ciscress, and reliability. at once took
leading place among works OF reference.
Its editor-in-chief was the late Presi-
dent Barnard. OF Columbia College. Ten
or twelve years later the work was re-
vised so far as It could be done while
retaining the original plates. and ne
cessary supplemental matter was added.
SO rapid. however, is the progress or our
literary necessities, the accumulation OF
important facts, and the general advance
In human knowledge, that II soon became
evident that only Il complete ana tho-
roughgoing revision could keep the cyclo-
paedla up TO the standard which had
been set lor II, and early in 1892. 1t was
decided to undertake this work. The re-
vision was placed IN the hands OF Charles
Kerdall Adams, LII. D., president Of the
University of Wisconsin, as editOr-in-
chief. VITA him were associated thirty
five eminent scholars (scme OF them Nir-
ginlans), including four members of the
original staff, and 10 these the various
DEPARTMENTS of the work were assigned,
each availing himself Of such contribu-
tors and assistants as were found ne
ccssary. The distinctive Characteristic
of the original Johns0n's Cyclopaedia
was that all It's more important articles
were given personal authenticity by
having them signed by their author
names. thus placing before the reader the
authority and responsibility for the state
ments made In the revised edition the
same method has been followed, and It's
pages therefore, possess a degree OF au-
thority, which II would be impossible for
them TO have otherwise.
In its typographical execution and APP
pearance the new Johnson reaches a
high degree OF excellence. The size OF the
page IS increased. permitting the use OF
a larger and clearer face Of type. The
maps have been carefully revised, and
their number increased, and Illustrations
are SO used as 10 supplement the in
formation given In the text without need
iessly encumbering the pages or IN
ereasing their number.
THE LITERARY-SHOP AND OTHER
TALES. by James l.. Ford, author OF
Hypnotic Tales" Or Dodd's School.
The Third Alarm" &c. New York:
Georga II. Richards &c Co. 29S paSs.
Smart" in TIE sense Of clever is the
word that best describes "The Literary
Shop" The author has been through the
shop" and has familiar acquaintance
with many other writer's who have had
similar experience. In n caustic style he
discusses the Development Of literature
from Bonn ianism" to the magazine or
the present day, and lets us into many Sc
crets OF the shop. According to Mr.. Ford
numerous manuscripts are rejected, not
because they are devoid of merit or be-
cause, as some persons suppose. each
editor has his favorites, but simply for
the reason that the editors are prajudiced
against certain subjects. He rasps some
OF these editors in a most satirical way.
but admits that there Is business in
their pr JUDGES.
Mr. Ford has a good and encouraging
word for the reporter. and handles with
out gloves the class of readers who praise
magazine articles at the expense of news
pager work for no other reason save that
the objects Of their lsudation happen to
appear In magazines. What he terms the
N andacity OF magazine literature, several
examples of which he cites, comes in for
sharp raps. Bonnerianism and the BON
merriam period are references TO the great
and good editor" Of the New York Ledger
for whom the author seems to have
kindly feeling. although he makes him
the target for some of his most irritating
shafts. Those who have read The Reve-
ries OF the Bachelor and backlog
Studies" will thank Mr.. Ford for his
treatment Of these productions.
"Other Tales" which occupy about a
third of the volume, contain some good
hits, but in the main they are too extraVa-