New-York tribune., 1903-07-07
NEW. PUBLICATIONS.
IA Condensation of a Great Die
tiOndru.

When the Dictionary of Nation Biography"
was completed. in its sixty-third volume, ii
seemed as il the editors and publishers Of that
great work of reference had done all that was
necessary TO deserve the thanks of mankind.
But they were not content. They published
three supplementary volumes. and, as though
these were not enough It announced that
the late George Smith. who had started the
whole enterprise had designed a scheme for
packing its inf; ite ches between the covers
Of single volume. his Ind. and Epitome"
edited by Mr.. Sidney Lee, has just been pub
nshed by the Macmillan Company, and it proves
TO be, in its way. notable piece OF work
the long series Of volumes which II represents.
II runs TO nearly fifteen hundred pages, printed
IN double columns of fine Typography, the
names OF the Brtons commemorated alone ap-
pearing in dark faced type of ordinary size.
There are 30.37S separate articles in the book.
These are the work of a responsible staff the
list Of contributors containing the names OF
several well known men OF letters. The book,
according to the preface. literally reflects in
brief and bald outline the results embodied in
the Dictionary and Supplement" and it does
more than this. Like the Dictionary. It makes
fits appeal, to a certain extent, literary
grounds. Many of the brief biographies here
can claim to have literary quality, II excellence
OF form counts for anything. For those who
cannot own procure access to the Dictionary,
and. for that matter, for the busy man
who has the sixty-six volumes his shelves,
this mrst prove an indispensable book for con-
venient reference.
Mr.. Frank Jesup Scott has produced in his
''Portratures Of Julius Cesar" Oongmans,
Green & Coz a monograph just good enough
TO make wish that it were a great deal
BITTER. The writing of the book has been TO
him a labor Of love, and we fully appreciate
his zeal and industry. But, for all that he has
inspiring a theme, he is only mildly interest
ing in the treatment which he gives to his de-
cidedly interesting facts. He is capable of
alluding to Canoya as the greatest Of modern
sculptors in rivalling the glories Of Greek an
tique." At the end of one of his chapters he
reproduces. because he thinks it is a fine ideal
ization," photograph found in a shop at Blos,
marked Julius Caesar. and adds, Il think 1t IS
copied from a famous French painting have
somewhere seen, but cannot recall where or by
whom" It is not in this casual fashion that
q book on the portraits OF Caesar should be
written. But let US be grateful for what MI
Scott has accomplished. He has catalogued
some fourscore statues and busts, he has writ
Len a very creditable chapter on CaesaTs life,
and his numerous illustrations, given IN good
half tones should undoubtedly prove or value
TO the student and collector. The fronusplece
and reproduction at the back OF the pook
show us two busts of his erO, which he author
has himself modelled. They seem, like several
other examples given in the volume. little
irrelevant yet they have certain interest IN
dicating as they do that Mr.. Scott can con-
oeive Of Caesar in a becomingly lofty spirit. We
NAV note his reference to the impossibity,
curious enough of finding many portraits or the
great man in Rome itself, and his hypothesis
as 10 the reasons for me rarity OF authenuc
rortraitures of julius Caesar. He surmlses
that the hordes from the North who sacked
Rome doubtless had traditional memories OF
their conuueror. and took special pleasure IN
demolishing all breakable souvenirs OF him. Inc
later demand for marbles to be burned to make
ou,cklime for mortar, and for bronzes TO De
,,sed in the making Of bell metal probably also
,,,,ributed to the destruction OF works of art
,raserzing the lineaments of Caesar. hnal
cause of the disappearance OF Roman ousIs anu
statues Mr Scott finds in the overrunnine OF
Asia Minor Constantinople. Greece EgypI anu
Carthage by the wave Of Mahometanlsm' with
its hatred of images as representing Kino OF
idolatry.
1,,,srv one who is familiar with the early Colo
,iaI history of New England knows what nooie
yrorlk Jobn Eliot did in mastering the ola1ec's
~ the abortgines and translating the Biole LOT
fbe latter One OF the most valuable acnleNe
Of
Of Hartford. was his compilation of dictionary
II the Natick tongue. This has just been printed
under the auspices of the Bureau Of Ethnology
,n Washington after revision by DR.. Albert .
Catschetz of that institution A short intro
duction TO this volume has been written oy hu-
ward Everett Hale. who says that TrumpuHs
~, constitutes the most important contrtbu-
,io, IN the scientific study Of Elots Bible which
has been made since that book was published"
More attention is given to the missionary than
the dictionary maker by DR.. Hale, but the trib-
,te which is offered to the former VIII open
many people's eyes to Eliot's scholarship.
A catalogue of the fishes of New-York State.
r,repared bv Dr.. TarIeton H. Bean, has been is
sued under the auspices Of the New-York State
Museum by which il is designated Bulletin No
60 The number Of species here described Is
3,5 Of whic. 2l7 are marine 131 fresh water and
Il ascend rivers from the sea to spawn Within
few years four species not formerly known have
been discovered and it is probable that more
extended investigation OF inland waters would
reveal others. Dr. Bean is careful 10 say that he
regards the work as incomplete Nevertheless
il contains vast amount Of interesting ma
teriaL The arrangement and phraseology are
strictly scientific but popular names accom-
many the geological anu the work is indexed
for both While the value Of illustrations is
fully appreciated by the author, time was not
available for their preparation and any one
who consults this catalogue Will scarcely need
Them A study Of the building stones Of New-York
State is a matter of much economic importance
With view to putting available knowledge on
II subject in the hands Of the public. papers are
being issued by the New-York State Museum.
Bulletin No. 81 relates to the quarries now pro-