Page:A handbook of modern Japan (IA handbookofmodern01clem).pdf/269

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LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
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istry, electricity and magnetism, engineering and mechanics, manufactures and industrial arts, metallurgy and mining, together with dictionaries and encyclopædias, enjoy the largest demand. In chemistry, Remsen is one of the popular authors; in metallurgy, Phillips's work heads the list; in electricity and magnetism, Thomson's works find the largest number of purchasers; and there is an active demand for Taggart's "Cotton Spinning." The favorite dictionary is "Nuttall's Standard Dictionary," of which the firm above named has already sold between 200,000 and 300,000 copies! Next comes "Webster's Condensed Dictionary," and even "Webster's Unabridged" sells at the rate of from 50 to 60 copies per month. The "Students' Standard Dictionary" also sells well.

Works on scientific subjects, especially new publications, are in great demand, and show the eagerness of Japanese students to become acquainted with the results of the latest investigations. In astronomy, Newcomb and Holden's popular treatise comes first. In pedagogics, Herbart is the most popular author at present. In history, Fisher's "Universal History" heads the list; in general, works on modern history are in greater demand than those of earlier periods. The greater demand for language books, among which the Otto series stands first, may have been due to the arrival of the date [1899] of mixed residence. Mathematical books are only in fair request.

In medicine, German books have practically driven

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