Editorialana. 95
ENCYCLOPEDIA AMERICANA.
The latest and one of the best
encyclopedias to appear is that known
as the Encyclopedia Americana, published
under the auspices of the
Scientific American Company and edited
by Frederick Converse Beach
and a corps of competent assistants. It
comprises sixteen large volumes
and is produced in the best mechanical
and typographical form with
copious illustrations, maps, tables,
etc. One of its excellent features is
that the articles on leading subjects
are written by well-known and
acknowledged authorities over their
subscribed names. This gives the
topics thus treated an unusual
attraction and value. The article on Ohio
is contributed by the Honorable Daniel
J. Ryan, Ex-Secretary of State
and trustee of the Ohio State
Archaeological and Historical Society. It
goes without saying that Mr. Ryan has
produced a most scholarly, read-
able and comprehensive chapter. The
article would occupy some fifty
pages of an ordinary 12 mo. book and
treats tersely of the typography,
hydrography, and geology of the State,
its natural resources; material,
industrial, agricultural and other
productions, its educational and charit-
able institutions; its development and
government. The portion devoted
to the history of the Buckeye State from
earliest pre-state times to the
present is a recital particularly
satisfactory and interesting. Few, if any,
students are better versed in the
history of Ohio than is Mr. Ryan and
in the compass of a few thousand words
he has given in clear and logical
sequence the brief events in the
remarkable and romantic narrative of
the emerging of the great and powerful
Ohio Commonwealth from the
early days when La Salle (1669) on his
journey of adventure discovered
the Ohio River and ascended its waters
from the Mississippi to the site
of Louisville. Mr. Ryan's chapter is the
best sketch of Ohio "in a nut
shell" we have yet seen in any
publication.
GOVERNMENT OF OHIO.
The Government of Ohio, its history and
administration is a new
volume just issued from the press of the
Macmillan Company of New
York and written by Wilbur H. Siebert,
professor of European History
at the Ohio State University; author of
the Underground Railroad from
Slavery to Freedom. This little volume
is an admirable and reliable
compendium of the history of the State
and the structure and machinery
of its government. It deals with the
growth of the government, begin-
ning with Ohio as a part of the Northwest
Territory and following the
events that led to the organization of
Ohio as a state. Chapters follow
in logical order concerning the
character of the state constitution, citizen-
ship, suffrage, local governments of the
state, the administration of jus-
tice, control of economic interests,
management of public finances and
96 Ohio Arch. and Hist. Society Publications.
so on. Professor Siebert is a careful
and painstaking student and has
exercised discriminating judgment as to
what is necessary for the proper
educidation of his subject. He gives
under each chapter the list of
authorities which he has consulted or
which may be further examined
by those who desire more exhaustive
study of the various topics. The
book is accompanied by an excellent
appendix giving a chronological
outline of the historical events
incident to the development of the state,
beginning with the land grant of King
James in 1609 and leading through
to the last event of importance in 1904
when the new school code was
enacted by the legislature. There is
also a complete text of the ordi-
nance of 1787 and the enabling act of
1802, constitution of 1851, etc.
The book is thoroughly indexed and will
be of incalculable interest not
only to the historical and economic
student of Ohio but particularly to
teachers. It comprises one of the series
of handbooks of American gov-
ernment; 308 pages with map of Ohio
giving counties, railroads, etc.
Macmillan Company. 75 cents.
THE QUEST OF JOHN CHAPMAN.
John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed
was an eccentric and
unique character who first appeared on
the Ohio River about 1790 in a
boat filled with appleseeds. His plan
was to go in advance of the settlers
planting orchards through the wilderness.
This strange and philantropic
vocation he followed for some 25 or 30
years. His earlier career is
shrouded in mystery but is made romantic
with the tradition that he was
early disappointed in love. He was a
character of much ability in some
directions and exercised in his peculiar
way a serviceable influence upon
the forest pioneers among whom he
wandered.
Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, the eloquent
pastor of Plymouth Church
has chosen John Chapman as the hero of a
fascinating and beautiful
narrative entitled "The Quest of
John Chapman." Says Mr. Hillis in his
preface: "Save Col. Clark, he
(Chapman) is the most striking man of
of the generation that crossed the
Alleghanies." Sir Walter Scott thought
it a matter of moment to his countrymen
that some one should preserve
the story of that old man who went
through the cemeteries rechiseling
the names of dead heroes. But this
scarred old hero of our republic is
a thousand times more fascinating than
Old Mortality or the heroes of
the Nibelungen Lied." Mr. Hillis
with a vivid and artistic imagination
and in the most felicitious and charming
English initiates his narrative
in the Town of Redham, New England, at
the time of the departure of
Mannasseh Cutler and his party for their
journey to the Ohio wilder-
ness. John Chapman is the son of the
village minister and has given his
heart to Dorothy, a daughter of Col.
Durand. The latter is a prowd,
high-spirited, influential gentleman who
objects to the alliance of his daugh-
ter with John. Col. Durand and Dorothy
are members of the Ohio Com-