The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-12-04
AN ESSAY

The dictionary ought to be one of our
dearest and most intimate friends. For
consultation it has some ndvanta,res over
flesh and blood. You cannot ALWAYS con-
suit Il living friend. There are times
when we want Information, while we are
not willing to reveal TO living friend
the ignorance or stupidity which an in
terrogation might imply, and which re
might ridiculc to our shame and discom
future. But the dictionary silently an.
swers our questions, and reminds us
OF that Being who has said: 'If any of
you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men literally, and M
braideth not; and iJ shalt be given him.
For the dictionary gives literally to all
inquircrs, and "upbraideth not Con-
sequently every man should keep his die
tonary ut his elbow. as a silent. sure. and
unspeakably useful monitor. But, among
the many, what dictionary shall we use?
You want that one which can give YOU
the most and the best information. One
single fact will turn your attention i'm.
mediately to the Standard Dictionary 1t
cost $500, goo, or nearly million dollars.
No other dictionary ever cost so much.
therefore the presumption at the start is
chat no other can be so good. We are
told that one single page, that of the Solar
Spectrum, cost $1,000; and several other
pages cost upward of $4,000 each. Evi.
IDENTIFY the makers of this dictionary de.
tcrmined to spare no expense to obtain
the information which they sought. 1t
has many other advantages Consider
this 1t has $4,000 more words than any
other dictionary in our language This
consideration alone is sufficient to pro-
duce decision in its favor; for, suppose
you consult any other dictionary about
hoo nUntN tN-.f s,n Il
can give with regard to them absolutely
no reply. The Standard gives definitions
written by specialists. The owner of
Funk n Wagaall's dictionary has Il COM
plete library of forty one special dictiona-
ries. 1t had no less than PAT editors and
specialists. These remarks would weigh
heavily againsta dictionary written with
some care; but in this case they are
massed against nothing: for, as to these
words, other dictionaries do not give YOU
Il line. 1t is the standard in science he
cause it is the only dictionary in which
all industrial terms are defined III accord
ance with modern practise and the latest
applications of science. 1t is the standard
authority on Biblical and religious sub
jects, because the ablest scholars in every
department of Bible research define the
words which show the progress of inves.
tigation, and men of recognized authority
in the different denominations and sys-
TENS OF religion define the words which
give expression to separate beliefs. This
is n feature never before attempted in the
construction of II dictionary, gives to the
work IL degree of authority which cannot
be claimed for any similar publication. For
the first time in II dictionary a serious
attempt has been made to reduce to Il
system the compromising of words. If
you want to know when to use n hyphen
In IL compound word, the Standard Die.
tionary is the only systematic work on
the subject. 1t has Il wide range of quo
tations. These were selected from nearly
two millions furnished by over five hum
dred readers. The Standard Dictionary
is the joint product of educators from
upwards of one HUNDRED leading univei ST.
ties and scientific societies of the world
1t contains sixty six thousand synonyms,
and is the only dictionary that contains
antonyms. But, to enumerate further
might tire the reader, and it is impossi-
BILE in this brief article to enumerate all
it's advantages. | wish, however to call
special attention to the illustrations of
this book. They far excel any others [
ever saw. think the page giving illus
trations of precious gems is one OF the
most beautiful | ever saw in any book.
In reading and studying the Bible, |
wished for just such representation as
This page gives of the high priests breast
plate. The other gems are pictured so
beautifully and artistically that you al
most think you could pick up one and eX-
anime it. might write similarly of the
illustrations of birds, flowers, decorations
of honor. etc. But, instead of long emu
meraSions, perhaps it will be more efrec-
tive TO give you an example of actual eX-
pcrience in the use of the book \ short
time since | was reading in Carlyle
History of the French Revolution, and !
came to this sentence in vol. 1st, book
V, p. 1872, edition of Thomas y. Crowell
Il Co., ~ ~, List to the brool of that
royal forest voice The writer was
speaking of the voice of the great Mira
beau. Now, that word, brool, was 4 new
word 10 me; and searched all the lexl-
cons, glossaries etc, that | had. and
failed 40 find it Then | went to il large
bookstore in the city and searched there.
| still failed. for then they did not have
the Standard; they have gotten one since.
Then l went to IL second hand bookstore
and searched; but | could rot find the
word. had seen notices of the Standard,
and knew that it claimed to have -, ZOO
more words than any other dictionary.
So paid visit to friend in the city
who possessed II copy of the Standard.
When ! went in, said: 81 have come
this morning to test your dictionary the
Standard. He said. 'What word do You
wish to see said, 'the word brool. y
He said he knew nothing about the word,
but he added. II have the Century Die
tionary also. So while | looked ut the
Standard, he looked ut the Century.
Then, and only then was | successful.
The Standard gave IL good definitions; but
the Century Dictionary did not contain
the word ut all So here You have a test
of experience. Buy the Standard Die