New-York tribune., 1900-12-15

ment in all its different lines. For example,
zoology was placed in the hands OF Professor
Elliott CoUes, OF the Smithsonian Institution
late professor OF anatomy in the National Medi-
cal College and author OF many works on birds.
II was impossible for Professor COues personally
10 write all the articles this important depart
ment, and he assisted, therefore. by five
other scholars each Of whom aided him in
part Of the large field OF zoology. The same
principle OF one scholar in charge. with assist
anoe from other scholars. carried out in
botany, geology, electricity. logic. astronomy,
biology and every other department Of knowl-
edge. The contributors who built up this work
numbered many hundreds. Probably no other
work ever published in America had such an
array OF scholars behind II"
The first publication was made between 1883
and 1891. and consisted of six volumes. Much
OF the matter contained in these volumes was
encyclopedia in its nature. but they were pub
Hshed under the simple title of the Century
Dictionary. When the work was completed il
received the more comprehensive title under
which il is now published-''The Century Die
tonary and cyclopedia." In 1894 additional
part appeared under the title Of The Century
Cyclopedia OF Names" The matter was entirely
encyclopedia, and the work contained about
fifty thousand titles In 1898 the beautiful maps
which are an important feature Of the work
were published. and the present work contains
al that was in the Century Dictionary. as we'll
as al that was in the Cyclopedia OF Names and
the Atlas, all thoroughly revised and with much
additional and later material
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia was
q necessity when the work was begun. Other
existing publications OF similar character had
become inadequate because Of their defects, and
because Of the remarkable increase OF English
speaking people. AT the opening Of the cen
tury," the compilers OF the Dictionary say,
French was spoken by about 81 100000 people;
German, by 100000: Russian. by 100000;
Spanish. by 100000; Italian, by 100000,
and English, by 2l0OO.OOo. To-day English is
the language Of about 100000 people. The
mass OF English speakers comprises the most
energetic and most progressive Of modern men
and the leaders in science. art. literature, poll
les, commerce and colonization. These facts.
he immense increase in our knowledge and the
expansion OF English speakers. together with
The inadequacy of existing works Of reference,
at once made clear why the Century Dictionary
should be compiled"
The aim of the editors was 20 bring the full
ness Of the collected knowledge within the reach
o. every one. The work is therefore the re-
sponse Of scholarship 10 the demands Of an age
requiring fun, complete and instant information
on every subject.
IN all the years Of their work there were
always kept IN view. First. the compilation Of
an entirely new work, which should not copy
the blunders OF its predecessors, but which
should be new from beginning 10 end and on
original lines Most works Of reference hereto
Tore published have been in large measure COM
piled from preceding works. even copying errors
sno transmitting knowledge long out Of date.
several iudicrous cases were discovered in which
mere typographical error had been transmit
leo rom reference book 10 reference book for
over a century. We give one case &s an ex-
ample Of several Pope. in one Of his poems.
hao written:
There solemn vows and holy offerings paid
10 all the phantom nations OF the dead.
his printer however, Joined together the two
words phantom aud nation, and printed the line
me phantomnatlyn Of the dead Some early
ny Pope. meaning the making OF phantom.
inserted II in his dictionary and defined II as an
loslon- Every subsequent edition for a hundred
ysafs blinoly copied this stupid error. so that
Ile Century is the first work published since
ropes time 20 give the line as the poet actually
wrote II.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia" is
therefore new work. In Il all the thoughts
aho Ideas which have sprung into prominence in
Hs last few years. the new inventions and
processes, the discoveries OF science and ex-
pofaiion, IN short, all those various manifesto
uons OF thought and action which have dis
esleuished our generation, are given in their
proper scope
me second principle. never lost sight Of was
= produce work which should comprehend
tAr as possible all knowledge and answer