NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 19

NEW PUBLICATIONS.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA— ITS FASCIJiTATIONS. SECOND NOTICE. The new Encyclopedia Britannica makes a unique appeal to the book-lover, quite apart from its attraction to the scholar or its merely utilitarian qualities. In the category of books that are "no books," Charles Lamb included many that are not only useful but indispensable. They offended his testhetic perceptions, not only on the literary side but the mechanical, littlo or no regard ueuall\ being given in such, necessary publications as directorie« or. blue-books to those artistic details in printing and binding which go far to enhance the pleasure and pride with which the genuine book-lover regards the contents of a woll-seleoted library. When the invention of cloth binding revolutionised the craft by dislodging the old-faehioned heavy calf and pigskin, there grew up what ha* alniobt grown to a traditiou— a kind of sombre livery by which theological, scientific, and- "learned" books in general might almost at sight be distinguiehed from works more distinctly literary in intention, while a heavy monotony of the printed text went" far to confirm the impression of "stodginess." Modern inventions have often been the reverse of improvements, especially in paper, for which the ■enormous demand is responsible for fibrelesa substitutes of such a character as to make the name of pape» almost a misnomer. To the enterprise of some American publishers ib due certain books, clumsy and heavy, on depressingly gray paper, consisting chiefly of clay, which, especially when printed, ac is frequently the case, from "blunt type" or worn-out stereo blocks, complete Browning's ideal of all that is to be shunned by those who love a good book. 'Little leas objectionable are those oa the highly-polished papers "faced" with china-clay and malodorous size, liable, at the least access of damp, to consolidate into a block. Only fit for most ephemeral work is the wood-pulp stuff that turns -.yellowish-brown in sunlight, and soon falls to powder. The good, etoufc, oldfashioned linon-pulp papers — even the best-^-though still made, are too costly for most purposes. But now comes in the finest- and most important invention in modern paper-making — a great and genuine advance. It is the result of a series, of experiments inaugurated less than forty yeais ago in England by the Clarendon Press, resulting In the beautifully white and opaque " India" paper, hitherto used chiefly for Biblee, and wonderfully thin and- tough. Only lately has }fc been accessible to "the trade/ and it is chiefly through its use for the eleventh edition of the Encyclopedia, Britannica that this great work has v become appropriate to any mane library —not only as a valuable book in itself, but as a con/enient and treaeured ornament. - ' ' It is nofc only because the Encyclopedia is thereby reduced to one-third in weight, bulk, and.tfie shelf-spacb it occupies (those who prefer' the old imposing stout-paper fashion may still obtain it) tliatit has now developed into a bpok that most emphatically .ia a tbook. •Iroifa 1768 to 1802 six' sucetssive ptapnetariee carried on , the -work in successive editions as an,prdinary busings undertaking, and in its latest form, puened by a syndicate, while the jenterprise was' conspicuous, the commercial ;^*. W fu almoßt aggressively emphasised. VJfltn. the transter of the concern 'to the Cambridge University, the motive of the whole enterprise has, changed its cen- .-££?£ iTE^fi-j-leadzJig" thought has ,Ueen to bring, the -broad humanity of the Dniver•lfcy, with its garnered stores of knowledge, art, and wisdom, into diregt and immediate touch with the English-speak-ing people of all the world. For this purpose it acquired a medium offering 'facilities such ac n6 other could afford, 1 and to gain its single aim it' has laid its splendiu printing and 'publishing re? sources under contribution, and the methods of the University syndics differ widely— sometimes almost to the point of contrast from those of the private syndicate. It seems probable tnat the great work of which the" uation has" long been proud, has now found its permanent/ home— at all events bookloveis will hope so. First of all, as it never was before, the" book is emphatically a work of genuine literature— a book to be read, appealing to th» xeader as strongly as to tne student. It thus reaches a wider field. It w remarkable that its crowning advantage of ready access depends on an advance in the publishing art so recent that it formed no part of the first plan, and the labours of the editorial staff were well advanced before the happy suggestion was made' that the "India." paper might with advantage b« turned to account. Mow than any other feature has this made the eleventh edition the book for the home. At the same time, from the new outlook the editorial btafi has been abla ti> ta,ke and has taken of the world and its educational requirements, it has been able co to send forth ' its book— a library in itself— that for the first time it makes appeal to all. Not only is the work as well adapted to the women-folk of the home as to the head of the household, but it should reach the intelligent scholare iv then "standards," whose studies in any given branch it can supplement, and whose reading it may go far to direct. The universities have been always noted for beautiful books— a pleasure to thft eye. Notably since the days of William Morris, and particularly in the last few years, have the principles underlying typographic harmony and legibility been studied as a science. To the trained eye, the new Encyclopedia w in the lorefront. Any one comparing the- page with the old "Rees" or the preceding "Britannica" could not fail to note, though unable to define, marked improvement. A score of minor details, which in th« aggregate make. reading a pleSaure, 'unite to the reader's advantage, and with no reduction of useful matter. On the contrary, there is economy of space, for it is computed that the twenty-nine volumes contain forty million words, or two million more than the thirty-five volumes of the tenth edition. As one of many examples of attention to detail, vie might point out the admirable harmony between the beautiful roman type used in the text and tne equally beautiful Greek character where Greek words or phrases are used. Hebrew and other "orientals," by the way, which are not helpful to thj> average reader, are very moderately used, the words being usually transliterated iiito ordinary italic with the requisite diacritics. On the whole, the re-written Encyclopedia, appealing no less to the aesthetfc than the intellectual faculties, is an ideal book for the book-lover. No longer need ho journey to a shelf, lift down with both handa and convoy to a table or desk, a volume weighing between seven and eight pounds, repealing the process if any cross-reference is required. This book may be .at the Bide of his easiest chair j he can with one hand take any voluniß from the book-stand, and hold in one hand as he reads — even folding it double, pamphlet-fashion, without danger, if he so choose. There in no separate book of maps*- each map, large or small, ie just \vnere it is wanted, as are tho ill ustrations. There is no attempt to make tho Encyclopedia a picture-book ; lmt in each caao where illustiaUon,.Jii,.ie-. Suired tho most suitable graphic method as been used, and rich colour piuitiii^

brightens such subjects as "Heraldry"' and "Illuminated Manuscripts. " In the bibliographic notes to all the important articles, the work is a valuable key to the whole circle of knowledge en which il treats ; and wo feel sure that those who have begun to* make use of *.he book will fall under its fascination, and ere long form the Encyclopedia habit, besides being tempted into beaten tracks of study hitherto neglected or flowery paths of literature before unknown