The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-20
A GREAT LITERARY ENTERPRISE.

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA: Be-
ing a complete study of the Hebrew
race and its achievements from the
earliest to the present time. with lib-
eral biography and numerous illustrh-
tions TO consist of T. volumes, aggre-
eating 5000 large pages, of which vol
un,es one and two are now ready. Pub
lished by the Funk " Wagnals COM
pany and sold by subscription
Six years ago DR.. Isadore Singer, a
graduate of the University of Vienna
and a scholar of high standing and ex-
ceptional personal enterprise, con-
ceived the idea of compiling an en-
cyclopeda which should set forth ade-
uuately what the Hebrew race had
done in the various fields Of its activi-
ties--what great men 1t had given to
history, what scholarship it had
evolved and the part it had played In
poetry and the higher arts as we'll as
in finance, commerce and government.
Throughout Europe the anti-Semitic
feeling was then running high. and
though DR.. Singer endeavored with
great persistency to interest his CO.
rcligionists in his project, by repre-
senting that its accomplishment would
have a wholesome educational infiu-
SHCG, Jne IOTeSeeU Heeu vi NoIkHlS
fund exceeding half million dollars
deferred them from Offering practical
encouragement. In despair, DR.. Singer
came to New York. and while riding in
a street car saw an advertisement of
the Standard dictionary, then just
completed. This led him to consult its
publishers, the Funk & Wagnals COM
pany, with the result that they finally
decided to finance the enterprise.
The details of organizing an enter
prise of this character and magnitude
would form interesting reading II we
had the space for 1t. They are set
forth fully in the publishers announces
ment, which may be had on applica-
tion. Suffice it to say that more than
400 European and American scholars
had to be engaged to contribute mate
rial in their special fields. while in Or
der to digest and synthesize these spe-
cial contributions and plan and execute
the scope and myriad details of the
work. an immense editorial staff had to
be employed and organized. 1t took
three years and great many thousand
dollars to produce the first volume. An
interval of one year sufficed for the
production of the second, which carries
the alphabet to the middle of the let
ter "B." Hereafter volumes may be
expected to appear more frequently, as
the machinery of production works
more smoothly.
We do not feel competent to write
critically upon this great enterprise,
bat Jewish scholars who have exam
ined the published volumes attentively
say that the encyclopedia will mark an
epoch in the advancement of Hebrew
culture as we'll as set the race Alright
in the judgment of those who have
never had fair means Of studying its
historic merits. 1t should be said. by
the way, that the aim of the work is
not to excite controversy but simply
to collect and collate historic facts.
The cooperation in the contributing
and editing features OF many Christian
scholars of International reputation
constitutes, il it were needed, an assur-
ence of fairness which will prevent
misconception Of purpose. AS feat
of bookmaking, Funk & Wagnalls have
certainly made this their master work.
1t should have place in every refer
ence library.