New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-02
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A DICTIONARY OF CLASSICAL ANTIGUA
TIES.

. CONCISE DICTIONARY OF GREEN, AN, AND
R0MAN ANTIoUITIEs. Based on Sir W Nra'ine
s SIN Results r 81 Modern Research Edited by
s9s cornish n viceProyostt Fl EfSn
GOsge ak M9 ROM UHe the Best examples Of An
cient Art. Octave. pp. vi. szs' 'e'i' lava
y, ~. characteristics and value OF the great
dictionary Of Sir William Smith. upon VIM
NJ Cornish's book is based. 1t is unnecessary
~ sneak 1t has long held the first place aI''one
english classical dictionaries In spite OF '''e
49,. ,ha. Cor over forty years no changes were
MAZDA in the stereotyped plates THESE years
,,,..,.r coyer what is perhaps the most frui'-
o., or,oa IN tho study Of classical arch@oiosy'
Durne this time large and important aou'uo"'
.ora made 70 the previous collections ol !"
sor,nt,ons: exploration Of the sites OF Ivy
>,,,canaa Tiryns. Olympia and many o'hei'
odded wonderfully 10 our knowledge Oh eve.
nbase Of ancient Greek and Roman iilo
history: while the literature OF the suo1eo' -
creased with equal rapidity. Accorolne'S'
new edition Of the book. designed 10 incorpoi"'e
,h,s neu, material and to exhibit the latest COZ"
clusions OF archaeological science was u"u''
taken bv Sir William Smith. and the nrst Voiu'ie
Was nuhnshed in 1890. II is this edition 'na'
Mr. cornish has condensed and abridged an"
all that has been said in praise OF the
merits NJ the larger book can also be salu u
the smaller 49,
Tho task Of ahridgment was not an vas! V"'
but II has been successfully Accomplished MANY
Of the original articles are far from perieC' III
arrangement or lucid in statement Wh'ie o''e's
are IN spite OF their length. alreaoY :" oo'
so,soa that II must have been peculiarly diff
Acult n cut them down In numper Oh o"seS
,,,-.o,,,a have heen much easier TO write entirely
heer done Examination Of many pages OF MI
Cornishs hook however, shows that abridsmen'
has heen the rule. and that the work Of con
densstion has been very sklfuny executed III
nearly all cases the essential facts have oeen
retained with but little that is unessenuaI
while - I, must be admitted that the occasional
,l,,nass ~ the stvle in which the material
thus intelligently chosen is cast pe'rays 'he
rrocass ~ cutting IL can also he said that the
,rd,v,duel statements are clear and exact aho
,bA arrangement Of the details as rule ad-
,oirebls Indeed many Of the articles in me
"Cono,se Dictionary will give the ordinary
-.adar a FAR better understanding Of the sun
.acts n, which they treat than the correspond
ing articles in the larger book In point ol
Typographical form and accuracy. also the work
anpears 10 deserve hearty commentator. Inc
nrintng OF Greek title-words IN Greek chdIa'-
tors however. is 10 he regretted. since IT tends
70 make the book less useful 10 those 10 Whom
Greek is unfamiliar
Mr. Cornish 1t should be added has not re-
str,cted himself TO the labors Of mere abridger'
b,,t has also made independent scholarly contrl-
buttons 10 the book both in the way OF material
and ~ editorial judgment. The eight or more
wears that have passed since the last EDITION OF
Sir William Smiths Dictionary was compiled
have heen almost as fruitful in notable dis
coveries and new views the preceding dec
AIDES and these materials. we are informed
have heen. as far as possible. incorporated -
q statement that Is justified by the tests that
we have been able to apply. Editorial lnde-
nandence also has been shown In the rearrange-
mont Of much scattered material under general
topics. which adds greatly TO the convenience
and effectiveness Of the book. Notable instances
are the articles on architecture, dress and com
age The illustrations well selected and
abundant and contribute much to the under
standing Of the text In brief. this work is al
nirah e in every respect. and is far and away
tho hest sinele-volume dictionary Of classical
autiouities that can be placed in the hands OF
the student 1t will also fiji well the place or
work ~ reference in classical archaeology In any
general library.