New-York tribune., 1901-10-26

individuals not widely known 20 fame. but II
covers vast field in compact and COM
plete a manner that criticism on this score is
quite estopped. 1t does not pretend TO give
critical biographies but merely the facts
IN the lives OF the persons mentioned. The
sketches indeed. 10 justify the pictur-
esque comment quoted IN the preface 10 tho
effect that they are careful. accurate. no bou-
Quets bricks" The present revision shows
a marked Improvement over the original edition
OF 1899. The biographical pages are increased
by more than four hundred. the by
nearly three thousand. A valuable feature OF
the revised volume is the list OF books OF the
authors whose names given Authors and
artists have a considerably larger representa-
ton than in the first edition.
Charles Morriss Handy Dictionary Of Biog-
raphy" can scarcely make good the claims
which the compiler puts forward in his preface
as confning itself TO famous men, eliminating
hundreds OF names which not one person in a
III Dusand is likely 10 look for" offering sketches
long enough to give intelligent idea OF the
careers Of the subjects included. and COM
bining accuracy OF information with con-
venience in use and practical value. We find
many entries which not one person IN thou
sand would be likely to look for-Turklsh
Egyptian and Persian potentates. and generals
a special fondness for There is a noticeable
lack Of balance and proportion in the space al
lotted; on opposite pages. for instance. Khosroo
King of Persia from 531 TO SO A. D.. rejoices In
about three times the amount assigned to Rud-
yard Kipling. There mistakes IN proper
names such as 'Zwingle." Alfred Russell Wal
lace and Father "Damiens" that seem mex
cusable in a reference book and there are
errors of statement in some of the biographies.
as when Beethoven IS said to have written
many operas" Handers birth Is put In 1854.
and he is said to have composed Moses In
Egypt" These are chance shots, but they seem
to invaldate the books claim to what should be
one OF the indispensable qualities of work Of
reference. accuracy.
The sixth volume OF Larned's History for
Ready Reference" is in the nature Of sup
plement to the other five. which form a com
plete compendium down TO the year of the pub
ucation of the last volume. 1895. These six
years in the words OF the editor. have been
filled with events so remarkable and changes so
revolutionary in political and social conditions
that the work has seemed to need an exten-
sion 10 cover them. This volume, accordingly.
takes all the lines of historical record where
they were dropped in the early volumes. and
carries them to the end of the nineteenth CEN
tury, and beyond II. into the opening months
of the present year. The record in the most
important articles closes In April. The same
general plan has been followed as in the earlier
volumes The accounts Of the events treated
are given In the words of contemporary writers
whom the editor regards as the most responsible
And authoritative.
Many of the articles are OF comprehensive full
srss Such are those dealing with the Spanish
American War and its sequences. the Boer
par the Chinese insurrection the Dreyfus agi-
| tstion, the death OF Queen Victoria. various
archaeological discoveries in the East and the
more notable discoveries in science. The value
| OF the work is enhanced by the numerous
teaties laws and other Official documents that
| are quoted in full The system OF cross refer
ences is elaborate and complete.
| T. B. Brownies annual newspaper directory
has a great Of information about news
papers In most countries OF the world except
| the United States. The publisher states the inn
possibility in the space at his disposal of giving
| even a representative list chosen from the
twenty thousand journals published In this