The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-07-08
About CyclOpediaS.

The country goes crazy on various subjects
at intervals, and there is no greater de-
lusion than the average Cyclopedia, or COM
pendulum of Unival knowledge. All such
books should be scrutinzed closely, and no
one should invest large sums in such puolica'
tions, without first carefully looking into the
merits OF the book and enqulring If the book
is the one which the prospective buyer most
needs. If the book is one which the citizen
needs let him not forget that in few years
after publication all Encyclopedias are, to a
large extent, out Of date. All those articles
on scientific subjects will be supplanted in
few years by later and better books Take Tor
instance, the subject of "Electricity." If II
man wants as much as hundred pages on
his subject, he should buy book on that
particular subject, and not buy book that
contains perhaps a hundred pages on a nun
dred different subjects for which ne h'ls h'
use.
As TO choice of Cyclopedias: 1here are
many publications claiming to be OF greaIes'
value TO the citizen, but those when are lhos'
commonly found in our libraries are the Bit
anpica and Chambers Encyclopaedia.
For the majority OF American citizens
Chambers Encyclopedia is better than the
britannica. The cost Of Chambers is 81 %
volume, or SIS for ten volumes, bound In calf
The Britannica contains twenty-five or thir-
ty.fiye volumes; is an old publication, with
an addendum; costs a large sum Of money;
is filled with articles able enough In them
selves but, as a rule, not of special interest to
the average American citizen, while great
per cent Of them are so nearly out Of date as
to be almost worthless.
The American Encyclopedia is the book for
the American citizen, who is able to spend
hundred dollars on single book. The Amer
can Encyclopaedia gives reliable sketches OF
all the important battles Of the war, together
with notable historical incidents connected
with men and things in the stormy DAYS ol
the Republic. Otherwise, too, the book Is
prepared for the American citizen. IL gives
him the information OF his own country, and
his own people which he may need or which
may be most useful to him.
For some reason unknown to US, there a
sentiment that minifes home and magnifies
distant countries. On this presumption-as
we'll as on the fact that the Britain MICA men
have been more energetic in getting rid OF
their stock, which if not already out of date,
count for the greater sale of the less valuable
Britannica than has been found for the better
and more useful book-the American Ency-
clopaedia-which can be had at a lower price.
Pride in ones own country-even II the
books were of equal value-should prompt
the American citizen to buy the book which
would give the best and truest history of his
own country.
When we recollect that all these books are
out Of date In few years it is astonishing
that so much money is invested in them.
The average citizen in this country needs
books Of reference, and they should be wisely
selected A good dictionary is necessity
but, like the Encyclopaedia If 1t was printed
twenty years ago, (though 1t may contain
much that is truly valuable,) it Is more or less
out of date.
Situated as this editor is, with limited ed
ucation, and engaged in the newspaper work,
we find books of reference necessity and q
part of our outfit for the work in which we
are engaged. We have Worcester's and Web
sters Unabridged Dictionaries, and the later
and larger books-Funk & WagnalPs Stand
ard Dictionary. Besides, we have the Amer
lean Encyclopaedia and Chambers Encyclo-
paedia. Together, they cost considerable
amount OF money, but we would not do with.
out any one OF them.