University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-12-18
MODERN DICTIONARY
FILLS TEN VOLUMES
Oxford Book Begun Thirty
Three Years Ago Is Com
plete to Letter s.
PRESSMEN WERE HOSTILE
Author Has Five Million
Quotations Available for.
Use If Needed.

The dictionary is one of the most in
dispenSabIe tools. not only of the
scholar but of every person who aims
at correct and exact use OF terms.
Its evolution from the time of the
earliest historical attempt to classify
language, in the reign OF King Asshur-
banipal Of Nineyeh, in the seventh cen
tury before Christ, until the present
time. is as interesting as the progress
from the sharp stick with which primi-
tive men titled the soil to the gang
plowS that now turn over many acres
between sun and sun. All civilized ma
lions have had them but the richest
development has been in England and
the United States. In the former coun-
Try. before the eighteenth century,
they survived simply as curiosities. IN
1921 Nathan Bailey published his Uni
versal genealogical English Diction-
airy, which went through twenty-four
volumes and was the standard unit!
more than thirty years later it was
eclipsed by DR.. Samuel Johnson's fam
Gus lexicon.
Websters First Edition in 1860.
Probably no other dictionary-maker
has impressed his individuality upon
his work to the same extent as did the
latter. and the, ancient book is still
good reading. lis definition OF lexicog-
rapher as "a harmless drudge" is Il
whimsical hint at his own experience.
and in defining oats as "a kind of
grain eaten by horses and Scotchmen"
he reflected his somewhat unreason-
ing dislike if not contempt for his
neighbors of the North. Bat since his
day dictionaries nave been more I'M
personal and probably more accurate
even if less amusing. In our own c0ur-
try Noah Webster was the pioneer in
photography, his first venture being
in 1906, and more than one generation
was guided over the rough places in
our language by his spelling boks He
laid the foundations so broad that
other scholars have been building upon
them long after he passed away. and
are still doing so. Worchesters die
tionary passed through many editions,
and the Century and Standard have
been welcome additions to reference
libraries.
Oxford is Growing Enterprise.
But the browning enterprise. not yet
fully consummated, is the Oxford die
tionary, entered upon thirty-three
years ago by Sir James A. H. Murray
and Henry Bradley. The former now
seventythree years OF age. is lecturing
upon it to the people CT London. The
work of a full generation has brought
it well along into the letter - and
it is hoped that in four years more it
will reach its colophon. ii will fill ten
great volumes. and its author assures
the public that if an edition in hun
dred volumes should be required he
has the material accumulated, mas
much as tireproof building in his gar
den holds five million quotations stack
et'lp for the use of those who may de-
sire to continue these labOrs
But the language is being enriched
or at least enlarged at such a rapid
rate that dictionary-making has to be
all almost continuous performance to
keep pace with it. Perhaps we have
too many words. Some time in the
last century one Boston man said 10
another: Have you seen the new die
uonary? 1t contains fifty thousand
words. For heavens sake don't tell
Rufus Choate" was the reply. Now
the contents show many times that
and are constantly growing. and there
Is increased temptation for the modern
ChoateS TO marshal the most OF them
for the expression of the surging ideas
OF the present time.-BoStOn Tran
script.
Golden Girl" Rare Treat.