INTRODUCTION

THE Forty-first Edition published in February 1932 introduced a virtually new Pears' Cyclopaedia, for the whole of this world-famous book of reference was revised and re-edited. A larger and clearer type was adopted, and whilst many of the sections were completely rewritten, all were most carefully checked. Yet the character of the book is unchanged, for Messrs. Pears realise that it is to its character that its enormous popularity in the past has been due. This popularity is evidenced by the fact that over

Three and a Quarter Million

have been sold--a number sufficient to fill 84 miles of bookshelves!

An important feature of this publication is that it is revised, and current matter brought up to date with each succeeding issue. Although the present volume is a more important work than formerly, it is withal still a handy book of reference of nearly 1,000 pages crammed full of just the kind of knowledge required by the General Public, and usually only to be found in Encyclopaedias occupying several volumes.

The book consists of five groups :--

GROUP 1 contains information of the day which is constantly being revised; such as--

• DICTIONARY OF EVENTS
• DICTIONARY OF PROMINENT PEOPLE
• OFFICE COMPENDIUM

The Sub-sections in turn contain all the latest facts regarding important happenings all over the world, from the remote past till the present day. Interesting information about thousands of people past and present whose names are always recurring in everyday conversation, particulars relating to the Insurance Acts, Postal Information, Tables of Precedency, Law of Intestacy, Stamp Duties, Weights and Measures, and a host of other items of necessary knowledge.

GROUP 2 contains information that the Business Man chiefly requires--

• GAZETTEER OF THE WORLD
• ATLAS OF THE WORLD (revised with each Edition)
• DICTIONARY
• SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS

This latter Section consists of a collection of the various definitions of some thousands of words in common use, with their opposites, and is a most useful adjunct to letter-writing, and incidentally invaluable to the Cross-Word Puzzle enthusiast.

• DICTIONARY OF BUSINESS

Contains business and legal terms closely associated with the world of commerce.

GROUP 3 is for the Schoolboy and Student, and contains Sub-sections on

• GENERAL INFORMATION

A perfect storehouse of useful knowledge relating to matters of interest in History, Science, Music, Architecture, etc.

• CLASSICAL MYTHOLOGY

Stories in brief of classic characters in the ancient Grecian and Roman literature;

• STUDENTS' COMPENDIUM

A most important collection of items absolutely essential to the Student, and information relating to the professions, which is helpful to those choosing a career.

• WIRELESS

An up-to-date treatise on this most important subject, with numerous diagrams.

GROUP 4 is essentially the Woman's portion, and gives information on :--

• THE TOILET
• COOKERY
• MEDICAL DICTIONARY
• BABY'S FIRST YEAR

GROUP 5 gives almost all you need to know about outdoor subjects and recreations, such as

• GARDENING

The amateur gardener's ready reference book on Flowers, Fruit and Vegetables.

• PHOTOGRAPHY
• SPORTS AND PASTIMES

Contains rules of the principal indoor and outdoor games, and measurements and diagrams of the ground, etc. for the most important outdoor sports.

• POULTRY AND CAGE BIRDS

A practical guide to their rearing and management, with special advice about egg-production for profit.

• DOMESTIC PETS

Tells you of most of the things you want to know about: Cats, Dogs, Goats, Monkeys, Rats, Mice, etc.

And last, but not least, an invaluable

• READY RECKONER

For Schools the Cyclopaedia is pre-eminently valuable, not only on account of the Dictionary of about 15,000 words in general use, but by reason of the wealth of historical facts contained in the General Information, Events, Ready Reckoner and Weights and Measures, and more particularly by reason of the new Students' Compendium giving French and Latin verbs and the very useful information relating to the many professions and how and where to apply for entry into them. This is quite a new feature which Messrs. Pears venture to think is a very important addition to this book.

In conclusion, the Editor always welcomes corrections and suggestions and would like to thank the many users of the Cyclopaedia in all parts of the world who have helped Messrs. A. & F. Pears to keep it a thoroughly up-to-date and easily comprehensible book of reference for the general public.

THE EDITOR.