| 299 | https://historysoa.com/items/show/299 | The Author, Vol. 07 Issue 09 (February 1897) | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=%3Cem%3EThe+Author%3C%2Fem%3E%2C+Vol.+07+Issue+09+%28February+1897%29"><em>The Author</em>, Vol. 07 Issue 09 (February 1897)</a> | | | <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455</a> | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Publication">Publication</a> | 1897-02-01-The-Author-7-9 | | | | | 209–236 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=89&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=7">7</a> | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=76&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1897-02-01">1897-02-01</a> | | | | | | | 9 | | | 18970201 | Uhc Hutbor.<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.<br />
Vol. VII.—No. 9.] FEBRUARY 1, 1897. [Price Sixpence.<br />
CONTENTS.<br />
PACE<br />
PAO«<br />
Notices, &c<br />
209<br />
Is there an American Literature?<br />
226<br />
Literary Properly—<br />
Book Talk<br />
217<br />
I. Editor and Author<br />
211<br />
Correspondence.—1. The I.S A. as Publishers. 2. Educational<br />
2. Cost of Production<br />
212<br />
Criticism. 3. A Want. 4. The County Contributor. 5. A<br />
3. Notes on Agreements<br />
213<br />
Voice from Chili. 6. Facetious Reviewing. 7. The Fiction ot<br />
4. Publishing on Commission<br />
214<br />
the Future. 8. Thirteen Copies as Twelve. 9. Presentation<br />
5. Publications of the International Bureau<br />
214<br />
Copies. 10. Reviewing. 11. Reviewing or Puffing?<br />
221)<br />
The Battle of Books in the Eariy Fifties<br />
215<br />
1 Mr. Herbert Spencer's Portrait<br />
288<br />
New York Letter. By Norman Hapgood<br />
220<br />
'Literature in the Periodicals<br />
Obitusry<br />
284<br />
NoteB and News. By the Editor<br />
222<br />
234<br />
The Byron Papers<br />
225<br />
1 The Books of the Month<br />
23C<br />
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.<br />
1. The Annual Eeport. That for January 1896 can be had on application to the Secretary.<br />
2. The Author. A Monthly Journal devoted especially to the protection and maintenance of Literary<br />
Property. Issued to all Members, 6*. 6d. per annum. Back numbers are offered at the<br />
following prices: Vol. I., io«. 6d. (Bound); Vols. II., HI., and IV., 8s. 6cl. each (Bound);<br />
Vol. V., 6s. 6d. (Unbound).<br />
3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. Morris Colles, Barrister-at-Law. (Henry Glaisher,<br />
95, Strand, W.C.) 3*.<br />
4. The History of the Societe des Gens de Lettres. By S. Squire Sprigoe, late Secretary to<br />
the Society, i*.<br />
5. The Cost Of Production. In this -work specimens are given of the most important forms of type,<br />
size of page, &c, with estimates showing what it costs to produce the more common kinds of<br />
books. Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 2s. 6d.<br />
6. The Various Methods of Publication. By S. Squire Sprigge. In this work, compiled from the<br />
papers in the Society's offices, the various forms of agreements proposed by Publishers to<br />
Authors are examined, and their meaning carefully explained, with an account of the various<br />
kinds of fraud which have been made possible by the different clauses in their agreemoats.<br />
Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 3*.<br />
7. Copyright Law Reform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill now before Parlia-<br />
ment. With Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, and an Appendix<br />
containing the Berne Convention and the American Copyright Bill. By J. M. Lely. Eyre<br />
and Spottiswoode. is. 6d.<br />
8. The Society of Authors. A Record of its Action from its Foundation. By Walter Besant<br />
(Chairman of Committee, 188§ jg 2j I4..<br />
3. The Contract of Publication ia „ „ Aust™ Hungary, and Switzerland. By Ernst<br />
Lunge, J.U.D. is. 6d. WmS&J* A"slna> a 5<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 208 (#256) ############################################<br />
<br />
11<br />
AD VER TISEMENTS.<br />
^i)e goctefg of Jluf^ors (§ncotporafe5).<br />
Sib Edwin Arnold, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.<br />
Alfred Austin.<br />
J. M. Barrik<br />
A. W. a Beckett.<br />
F. E. Beddard, F.R S.<br />
Robert Batekan.<br />
Sib Henbt Bergne, K.C.M.G.<br />
Sir Walter Besant.<br />
augustine blrrell, m.p.<br />
Rev. Prof. Bonnet, F.B.S.<br />
Eight Hon. James Bryce, M.P.<br />
Right Hon. Lord Burghclere, P.C.<br />
Hall Cains.<br />
Egerton Castle, F.S.A.<br />
P. W. Clatden.<br />
Edward Clodd.<br />
W. Morris Colles.<br />
Hon. John Collier.<br />
Sir W. Martin Conwat.<br />
F. Marion Crawford.<br />
PRESIDENT.<br />
GEOBGE MEEEDITH<br />
COUNCIL.<br />
The Earl of Desart.<br />
Austin Dobson.<br />
a. conan dotle, m.d<br />
A. W. Dubourg.<br />
Pbof. Michael Foster, F.B.S.<br />
Richard Garnett, C.B., LL.D.<br />
Edmund Gosse.<br />
H. Rider Haggard.<br />
Thomas Hardy.<br />
Anthony Hope Hawkins.<br />
Jerome K. Jerome.<br />
Rudyard Kipling.<br />
Prof. E. Ray Lankesteb, F.R.S.<br />
W. E. H. Lecky.<br />
J. M. Lely.<br />
Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.<br />
Rev. W. J. Loftie, F.S.A.<br />
Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mus.D.<br />
Prof. J. M. D. Meiklejohn.<br />
Herman C. Merivale.<br />
Rev. C. H. Middleton-Wake.<br />
Sir Lewis Morris.<br />
Henry Norman.<br />
Miss E. A. Ormerod.<br />
J. C. Parkinson.<br />
Right Hon. Lord Pirbright.<br />
Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., LL.D.<br />
Walter Hebries Pollock.<br />
W. Baptists Scoones.<br />
Miss Flora L. Shaw.<br />
G. R. Sims.<br />
S. Squire Sprioge.<br />
J. J. Stevenson.<br />
Prof. Jab. Sully.<br />
William Moy Thomas.<br />
H. D. Traill, D.C.L.<br />
Mrs. Humphry Ward.<br />
Miss Charlotte M. Yonge.<br />
A.. W. X Beckett.<br />
Sib Walter Besant<br />
Egerton Castle.<br />
W. Morrib Colles.<br />
Hon. Counsel — E. M. Underdown, Q.C<br />
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT.<br />
Chairman—H. Rider Haggard.<br />
Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mus.D.<br />
Henry Norman.<br />
S. Squire Sprigge.<br />
Hon. John Collier.<br />
Sir W. Martin Conway.<br />
Anthony Hope Hawkins.<br />
J. M. Lely.<br />
-j . ., ( Messrs. Field, Roscoe, and Co., Lincoln's Inn Fields.<br />
i G. Herbert Thring, B.A., 4, Portngal-street, W.C. Secretary—G. Herbert Thrino, B.A.<br />
OFFICES: 4, Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.<br />
-A.. IP. WATT &c sonsr,<br />
LITERARY AGENTS,.<br />
Formerly of 2, PATERNOSTER SQUARE,<br />
Have now removed to<br />
HASTINGS HOUSE, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND,<br />
LONDON, W.C.<br />
WINDSOR HOUSE PRINTING WORKS,<br />
BREAM'S BTTILZDIILSra-S, E.G.<br />
Offices of "The Field," "The Queen," "The Law Times," &e.<br />
Mr. HORACE COX, Printer to the Authors' Society, takes the opportunity of informing Authors that, having a very<br />
large Office, and an extensive Plant of Type of every description, he is in a position to EXECUTE any PRINTING they<br />
may entrust to his care.<br />
ESTIMATES FORWARDED, AND REASONABLE CHARGES WILL BE FOUND.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 209 (#257) ############################################<br />
<br />
XL he Hutbor*<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.<br />
Vol. VII.—No. 9.]<br />
FEBRUARY i, 1897.<br />
[Peice Sixpence.<br />
For the Opinions expressed in papers that are<br />
signed or initialled the Authors alone are<br />
responsible. None of the papers or para-<br />
graphs must be taken as expressing the<br />
collective opinions of the committee unless<br />
they are officially signed by G. Herbert<br />
Thring, Sec.<br />
THE Secretary of the Society begs to give notice that all<br />
remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and<br />
requests that all members not receiving an answer to<br />
important communications within two days will write to him<br />
without delay. All remittances should be crossed Union<br />
Bank of London, Chancery-lane, or be Bent by registered<br />
letter only. ^<br />
Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on<br />
all subjects connected with literature, but on no other sub-<br />
jects whatever. Articles which cannot be accepted are<br />
returned if Btamps for the purpose accompany the MSS.<br />
GENERAL MEMORANDA.<br />
IT^OK some years it has been the praotice to insert, in<br />
J every number of The Author, certain " General Con-<br />
siderations," Warnings, Notices, &c., for the guidance<br />
of the reader. It has been objected as regards these<br />
warnings that the tricks or frauds against which they are<br />
directed cannot all be guarded against, for obviouB reasons.<br />
It is, however, well that they should be borne in mind, and<br />
if any publisher refuses a clause of precaution he simply<br />
reveals his true character, and should be left to carry on<br />
his business in his own way.<br />
Let us, however, draw up a few of the rules to be<br />
observed in an agreement. There are three methods of<br />
dealing with literary property:—<br />
I. That of selling it outright.<br />
This is in some respects the most satisfactory, if a proper<br />
price can be obtained. But the transaction should be<br />
managed by a competent agent.<br />
II. A profit-sharing agreement.<br />
In this case the following rules should be attended t<br />
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which thn , » ' «<br />
duction forms a part. 0 Cost of pro-<br />
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power r.»<br />
profitu into his own pocket by charging for 'pitting ^e<br />
VOL. VII.'<br />
in his own organs: or by charging exchange advertise-<br />
ments.<br />
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for " office expenses,"<br />
unless the same allowance is made to the author.<br />
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental<br />
rights.<br />
(5.) Not to give np serial or translation rights.<br />
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.<br />
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solioitor or<br />
doctor!<br />
(7.) To stamp the agreement.<br />
III. The royalty system.<br />
In this system, which has opened the door to a most<br />
amazing amount of overreaching and trading on the<br />
author's ignorance, it is above all things necessary to know<br />
what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now<br />
possible for an author to ascertain approximately and very<br />
nearly the truth. From time to time the very important<br />
figures connected with royalties are published in the Author.<br />
Readers can also work out the figures themselves from the<br />
"Cost of Production." Let no one, not even the youngeBt<br />
writer, sign a royalty agreement without finding out what<br />
it gives the publisher as well as himself.<br />
It has been objected that these precautions presuppose a<br />
great success for the book, and that very few books indeed<br />
attain to this great suooess. That is quite true: but there is<br />
always this uncertainty of literary property that, although<br />
the works of a great many authors carry with them no risk<br />
at all, and although of a great many it is known within a few<br />
copies what will be their minimum circulation, it is not<br />
known what will be their maximum. Therefore every<br />
author, for every book, should arrange on the chance of a<br />
success which will not, probably, come at all; but which<br />
may oome.<br />
The four points which the Society has always demanded<br />
from the outset are:—<br />
(t.) That both sides shall know what an agreement<br />
means.<br />
(2.) The inspection of those account books which belong<br />
to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the<br />
nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or<br />
withheld.<br />
(3.) That there shall be no secret profits.<br />
(4.) That nothing shall be charged which has not been<br />
actually paid—for instance, that there shall be no charge fo<br />
advertisements in the publisher's own organs and none tor<br />
exchanged advertisements; and that all discount*! sha be<br />
duly entered.<br />
If these points are carefully looked after, the author may<br />
rest Dretty we^ assured that he is in right hands. At the<br />
*.;mn he will do well to send his agreement to the<br />
secretary before he s.gnsxt.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 210 (#258) ############################################<br />
<br />
2io THE AUTHOR.<br />
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.<br />
I. "T7WERY member has a right to ask for and to receive<br />
JQj advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-<br />
lisher, or any dispute arising in the oondnct of hie<br />
bnsinesB or the administration of his property. If the advice<br />
sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member<br />
has a right to an opinion from the Society's solicitors. If the<br />
case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Com-<br />
mittee will obtain for him Counsel's opinion. All this<br />
without any cost to the member.<br />
2. Bemember that questions connected with copyright<br />
and publisher's agreements do not generally fall within the<br />
experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple<br />
to use the Society first—our solicitors are continually<br />
engaged upon suoh questions for us.<br />
3. Send to the office copies of past agreements and past<br />
accounts with the loan of the books represented. This is in<br />
order to ascertain what has been the nature of yonr agree-<br />
ments, and the resnlts to author and publisher respectively<br />
so far. The Secretary will always be glad to have any<br />
agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The infor-<br />
mation thus obtained may prove invaluable.<br />
4. If the examination of your previous business trans-<br />
actions by the Secretary proves unfavourable, you should<br />
take advice as to a change of publishers.<br />
5. Before signing any agreement whatever, send the pro-<br />
posed docnment to tho Society for examination.<br />
6. The Society is acquainted with the methods, and—in<br />
the case of fraudulent nouses—the tricks of every publish-<br />
ing firm in the country.<br />
7. Bemember always that in belonging to the Society you<br />
are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are<br />
reaping no benefit to yourself, and that yon are advancing<br />
the best interests of literature in promoting the indepen-<br />
dence of the writer.<br />
8. Send to the Editor of The Author notes of everything<br />
important to literature that you may hear or meet with.<br />
9. The committee have now arranged for the reception of<br />
members' agreements and their preservation in a fireproof<br />
safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as con-<br />
fidential documents to be read only by the Secretary, who<br />
will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers:—(1)<br />
To read and advise upon agreements and publishers. (2) To<br />
stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon<br />
them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments<br />
due according to agreements.<br />
THE AUTHORS' SYNDICATE.<br />
MEMBERS are informed:<br />
1. That tho Authors' Syndicate takes charge of<br />
the bnsiness of members of the Society. That it<br />
gnbmits MSS. to publishers and editors, concludes agree-<br />
ments, examines, passes, and collects accounts, and, gene-<br />
rally, relieves members of the trouble of managing business<br />
details.<br />
2. That the terms upon which its services can be socured<br />
will be forwarded upon detailed application.<br />
3. That the Authors' Syndicate works only for those<br />
members of the Society whose work possesses a market<br />
value.<br />
4. That the Syndicate can only undertake any negotiations<br />
whatever on the distinct understanding that those negotia-<br />
tions are placed exclusively in its hands, and that all<br />
communications relating thereto are referred to it.<br />
5. That clients can only be seen by the Director by<br />
appointment, and that, when possible, at least two days'<br />
notice should be given.<br />
6. That overy attempt is made to deal with all communi-<br />
cations promptly. That stamps should, in all oases, be sent<br />
to defray postage.<br />
7. That the Authors' Syndicate does not invite MSS.<br />
without previous correspondence; does not hold itself<br />
responsible for MSS. forwarded without notice; and that<br />
in all cases MSS. must be accompanied by stamps to defray<br />
postage.<br />
8. That the Syndicate undertakes arrangements for<br />
lectures by some of the leading members of the Society;<br />
that it has a "Transfer Department" for the sale and<br />
purchase of journals and periodicals: and that a " Register<br />
of Wants and Wanted" is open. Members are invited to<br />
communicate their requirements to the Manager.<br />
There is an Honorary Advisory Committee, whose services<br />
will be called upon in any cose of dispute or difficulty. 'It<br />
is perhaps necessary to state that the members of the<br />
Advisory Committee have no pecuniary interest whatever in<br />
the Syndicate.<br />
NOTICES.<br />
THE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the<br />
Society that, although the paper is sent to them free<br />
of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very<br />
heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great<br />
many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest<br />
6s. 6d. subscription for the year.<br />
The Editor is always glad to receive short papers and<br />
communications on all subjects connected with literature<br />
from members and others. Nothing can do more good to<br />
the Society than to make the Author complete, attractive,<br />
and interesting. Will those who are willing to aid in this<br />
work send their names and the special subjects on which<br />
they are willing to write?<br />
Communications for the Author should reach the Editor<br />
not later than the 21 st of each month.<br />
All persons engaged in literary work of any kind, whether<br />
members of the Society or not, are invited to communicate<br />
to the Editor any points connected with their work which<br />
it would be advisable in the general interest to publish.<br />
Members and others who wish their MSS. read are<br />
requested not to send them to the Office without previously<br />
communicating with the Secretary. The utmost practicable<br />
despatch is aimed at, and MSS. are read in -the order in<br />
which they are received. It must also be distinctly under-<br />
stood that the Society does not, under any circumstances,<br />
undertake the publication of MSS.<br />
The Authors' Club is now open in its new premises, at<br />
3, Whitehall-court, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary<br />
for information, rules of admission, &c.<br />
Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they<br />
have paid their subscriptions for the year P If they will do<br />
this, and remit the amount, if still unpaid, or a banker's<br />
order, it will greatly assist the Secretary, and save him the<br />
trouble of sending out a reminder.<br />
Members are most earnestly entreated to attend to the<br />
following warning. It is a most foolish and may be a<br />
most disastrous thing to enter into an agreement binding<br />
for a term of years. Let them ask themselves if they<br />
would give a solicitor the collection of their rents for five<br />
years to come, whatever his conduct, whether he was honest<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 211 (#259) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
2 I I<br />
or dishonest? Of course they would not. Why then<br />
hesitate for a moment when they are asked to sign them-<br />
selves into literary bondage for three or five years?<br />
Those who possess the "Cost of Production" are<br />
requested to note that the cost of binding has advanced 15<br />
per cent. This means, for those who do not like the trouble<br />
of "doing sums," the addition of three shillings in the<br />
pound on this head. In other words, if the cost of binding<br />
is set down in our book at eight pounds, to this must now be<br />
added twenty-four shillings more, so that it now stands<br />
at J69 4«. The figures in our book are as near the exact<br />
truth as can be procured; but a printer's, or a binder's,<br />
bill is so elastic a thing that nothing more exact can be<br />
arrived at.<br />
Some remarks have been made upon the amount charged<br />
in the " Cost of Production " for advertising. Of oourse, we<br />
have not included any Bums which may be charged for<br />
inserting advertisements in the publisher's own magazines,<br />
or in other magazines by exchange. As agreements too<br />
often go, there is nothing to prevent the publisher from<br />
sweeping the whole profits of a book into his own pocket,<br />
by inserting any number of advertisements in his own<br />
magazines, and by exchanging with others. Some there are<br />
who call this a form of fraud; it is not known what those<br />
who practise this method of swelling their own profits call it.<br />
LITERARY PROPERTY.<br />
I.—Editor and Author.<br />
I^HE Committee of the Society of Authors<br />
have taken the opinion of counsel on the<br />
following point. A member of the Society<br />
sent a MS. to the editor of a magazine. The<br />
MS. was not returned, and on application to the<br />
editor by the Secretary of the Society the editor<br />
refused to hold himself in any way responsible<br />
for the return of MSS., trusting to a notice<br />
inserted amongst the advertisements in his<br />
magazine, which ran as follows:<br />
Unsolicited contributions are not returned nnder any<br />
circumstances. In case of acceptance, notification is made<br />
within a month from the receipt of the MS.<br />
The editor further objected to the intervention<br />
of ihe Secretary, who is also Solicitor for members<br />
in tluse cases, and as such intervenes as a right.<br />
The former point is naturally one of great im-<br />
portance to everybody concerned, and counsel's<br />
opinion was asked on the matter. In the case for<br />
counsel his attention was called especially to the<br />
case of magazines as differing from the daily<br />
papers. The three questions put were as follows:<br />
1. Whether the editor is responsible when an<br />
author has not become cognizant of any<br />
notice disclaiming responsibility. If yes,<br />
to what extent responsible.<br />
2. Whether an editor would be taken to t>e<br />
responsible with reference to + L' xj<br />
cular case, as the notice is not • ^ ■<br />
a prominent place in the iuq,^, tinted 111<br />
posing that the author has n^^iiie, sUP"<br />
Seen sue11<br />
notice, and that editors under ordinary<br />
circumstances are responsible.<br />
3. If the editor who inserts a notice is not<br />
responsible unless the notice come to the<br />
cognizance of an author, on whom does<br />
the burden of proof lie'?<br />
Below is counsel's opinion.<br />
"Editor and Author.<br />
"i.I am of opinion that if a manuscript be sent<br />
to the editor of a magazine without any previous<br />
request or agreement, the editor is not responsible<br />
for its loss while in his possession unless the loss<br />
be due to some gross negligence on his part.<br />
So long, however, as the manuscript remains in<br />
his possession the editor is bound to return it on<br />
demand, and the publication in his magazine of<br />
a notice that he will not return manuscripts does<br />
not, in my opinion, alter his liability in this respecs<br />
towards an author who was not cognizant of such<br />
notice when he sent in the manuscript.<br />
"The editor's responsibility for the manuscript<br />
while in his possession is, in my opinion, that of a<br />
gratuitous or voluntary bailee, who is answerable for<br />
loss through his gross negligence, but not for any<br />
ordinary neglect. (See 1 Smith's Leading Cases,<br />
10th edition, pp. 189, et seq.) If the manuscript<br />
has been lost, the onus lies upon the author to<br />
shew that the loss was caused by the editor's<br />
gross negligence, for which alone the editor is<br />
answerable. (See Story on Bailments, 9th edit. s.<br />
410, and the cases referred to in the notes there.)<br />
"If the manuscript was in the editor's<br />
possession when its return was demanded, the<br />
editor is liable, in my opinion, to an action of<br />
detenue if he refuse to return it. Evidence that<br />
the editor received the manuscript would raise a<br />
presumption that it was still in his possession<br />
when the demand was made. But the editor could<br />
rebut that p»esumption by proving that the manu-<br />
script was lost prior to the demand. The editor<br />
would not escape liability by proving that he had<br />
improperly destroyed or wrongfully parted with<br />
the manuscript (see Jones v. Dowle, 9 M. & W.<br />
19) or had lost it through his gross negligence<br />
(see Eeeve v. Palmer, 5 C.B..N.S. 84). But it<br />
would be a good defence for the editor to show<br />
that before its return was demanded the<br />
manuscript was lost without default on his part<br />
(see 5 C.B., N.S. pp. 85-89), or in some manner<br />
which could not be ascertained. In the latter<br />
cases the editor would not be liable unless the<br />
author could adduce affirmative evidence cf gross<br />
negligence (see Powell v. Graves, 2 Times L.B.<br />
663; Howard v. Hams, C. & E. 253).<br />
"2 I ain °^ °I^n'on *na* m the particular<br />
case referred to the author sent his manuscript<br />
to tl &toT *Q ^>coraD-ce of the existence of any<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 212 (#260) ############################################<br />
<br />
212<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
such notice as that -which is in the magazine, then<br />
the editor could not successfully rely upon the<br />
notice as a defence to any action brought against<br />
him. In this case the notice would in my opinion<br />
be immaterial, but, of course, the editor might<br />
have a complete defence on other grounds, such<br />
as those I have already referred to in my answer<br />
to the first question. Ef the author saw or knew<br />
of the notice before he sent his manuscript, I think<br />
he would be held to have sent it on the terms of<br />
such notice: (see Parker v. South-Eastern Rail-<br />
way Company, 2 C. P. D. 416; Richards v.<br />
Rowntree (1894), A. C. 217). The exact part of<br />
the magazine in which the notice is inserted is im-<br />
material, except in so far as it renders it more or<br />
less likely that the author in fact saw or did not<br />
see the notice, assuming that he ever saw the<br />
magazine. I would point out that there is a<br />
reference to the notice on page 27 of the<br />
magazine.<br />
"3.I am of opinion that the burden of proving<br />
that the author was cognizant of the notice would<br />
lie upon the editor.<br />
"T. Willes Chitty."<br />
From the Committee.<br />
6. Herbert Thring.<br />
II.—Cost or Production.<br />
We are so well accustomed to assurances that<br />
it is impossible to get work done at the cost indi-<br />
cated by the Society's book, that it is hardly<br />
worth while repeating that those figures were<br />
arrived at by estimates sent in from different<br />
printers. In any case they were only offered as<br />
approximate, because a printer's bill is a very<br />
elastic document indeed. Here, however, we<br />
submit a case which illustrates the amount of<br />
belief which is to be placed in those who, con-<br />
tinually asking and receiving estimates, declare<br />
that our figures are impossibly low.<br />
Estimates were asked from three printers of<br />
the cost of composition, printing, and binding for<br />
a certain MS. The paper was supplied separately.<br />
The book was one of 440 pages, each page con-<br />
taining twenty-eight lines, and the type was<br />
small pica. The binding was to be quite simple,<br />
but what is called "handsome."<br />
Let us take first the figures given in the "Cost<br />
of Production." Very nearly the exact size of<br />
page and the type are given on pp. 18 and 19.<br />
Our page is slightly larger.<br />
1. Composition at £1 7*. 6d. a sheet of sixteen<br />
pages.<br />
2. Printing 1000 copies at 10s. 6d. a sheet; or,<br />
2000 copies (see p. 57) at 16*. a sheet.<br />
3. Paper at 16s. a sheet.<br />
4. Binding at 27*. per 100 volumes, or ^\d. a<br />
volume. (But for the last two years an announce-<br />
ment has been made regularly in The Author to<br />
the effect that binding has gone up 15 per cent.<br />
This brings the binding very nearly to 3frf.<br />
But this was an estimate for a three-volume<br />
novel. The volumes in this form are small. On<br />
p. 27 the binding of a single volume is put<br />
down at 4<f.)<br />
Now for the estimates.<br />
I. A town firm, one of the very best printers<br />
in London:<br />
1. Composing per sheet of thirty-two pages at<br />
£2 lis. per sheet, i.e., £1 5s. bd. the sheet of<br />
sixteen pages.<br />
2. Printing 1000 copies at 8.?. Sd. a sheet.<br />
3. Binding 1000 copies, ,£16 u»., i.e., very<br />
nearly 3-j"//. a copy.<br />
4. Printing 2000 copies at 14*. 2d. a sheet.<br />
5. Paper at 10s. a sheet.<br />
II. —A country firm :—<br />
1. Composing £1 js. a sheet.<br />
2. Printing 1000 at 9s. a sheet.<br />
3. Printing 2000 at 14s. a sheet.<br />
III. Another London firm:<br />
1. Composing and printing 1000 copies at<br />
£2 3«. 3|</. a sheet.<br />
2. Composing and printing 2000 copies at<br />
£2 Ss. Sd. a sheet.<br />
3. Paper at 12*. a sheet.<br />
Compare these estimates with our own figures:—<br />
Society.<br />
1st Printer.<br />
2nd Pi inter.<br />
Composition per theet 1<br />
Printing 1000 per sheet o<br />
Paper per sheet o<br />
Binding per vol o<br />
Printing 2000 copies per sheet)<br />
(" Cost of Production," p. 28) j 0<br />
S. d. £ s.<br />
7» 1 5<br />
10 6 o 8<br />
16 o o 10<br />
04 o o<br />
16 2 o 14<br />
d.<br />
6<br />
8<br />
o<br />
3 1 a<br />
2<br />
3rd Printer.<br />
£ s.<br />
£ s. d. £ s. d.<br />
1 70 2 3 3^ (for<br />
o 9 o composing and printing)<br />
o 12 o<br />
0140<br />
( composing and print ing,<br />
I 288a sheet.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 213 (#261) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
213<br />
The figures are actually lower than our<br />
■own all along the line. The estimates are in<br />
Mr. Thring's hands. They can be seen by<br />
members.<br />
It cannot be denied that if instead of one<br />
book the printers were asked for an estimate of<br />
five-and-twenty books, all these figures would be<br />
greatly reduced.<br />
III.—Notes on Aoeeements.<br />
I. LITERARY.<br />
The following agreement has been handed to<br />
the secretary of the Society. It has been signed<br />
by an author, and, like all the agreements printed<br />
in The Author, can be verified by any member of<br />
the Society who cares to inquire at the office for<br />
full particulars. The outlines of this agreement<br />
have been printed in The Author two or three<br />
times previously, as the publisher issues the same<br />
printed form on nearly every occasion. On this<br />
particular occasion the figures of the agreement<br />
are perhaps rather more in favour of the publisher<br />
than usual, owing to the author's ignorance and<br />
to the fact that he obtained no advice before<br />
signing the document.<br />
It will be seen on perusal that the publisher is<br />
to publish " an edition" of a certain work, and<br />
to sell it at the published or advertised price of<br />
10.9. 6d. per copy; this edition is to be the pro-<br />
perty of the said publisher. There is no state-<br />
ment as to how large the edition is to be, so that<br />
if the book should prove a success the publisher<br />
might, if he chose—there is nothing to pre-<br />
vent him—claim the first edition to be one of<br />
3000 or perhaps 5000 copies.<br />
Nest, the author is to guarantee at the end of<br />
nine months the sale of 450 copies at the price of<br />
six shillings, or ,£135. This amount will almost<br />
certainly cover all the cost of production, if only<br />
a small edition is produced in the first instance,<br />
and will also put a certain sum into the publisher's<br />
pocket.<br />
Keinark, therefore, that it is not to the interest<br />
•of the publisher to push the book until the expira-<br />
tion of the nine months, because he will then<br />
demand the author's money according to the<br />
agreement, and afterwards he will put in his own<br />
pocket the proceeds of every book sold. If the<br />
book is not a success, the publisher is well paid,<br />
and the author, inasmuch as he has to purchase<br />
three or four hundred copies of his own book, has<br />
to take upon himself really the publisher's duty<br />
■of putting these copies upon the market in order<br />
to endeavour to recoup his outlay. For writing<br />
the book therefore; for paying for the cost of<br />
production; and for undertaking to a 1<br />
large<br />
extent the publisher's duty, the author obtains<br />
nothing whatever; and, further, has very little<br />
probability of ever obtaining anything, if, as has<br />
been pointed out, there should be practically no<br />
limit to the first edition.<br />
Memorandum of Agreement made this day of<br />
between (publisher) of the one part, and<br />
(author) of the other part. The said publisher<br />
hereby agrees to produce in tasteful form, and publish in<br />
the usual manner at his own expense, an edition of a<br />
volume written by the said author and entitled" ,"<br />
the said volume to consist of 504 pages, crown octavo size,<br />
and to be published at ten shillings and sixpence per copy.<br />
The said author hereby agrees to be responsible for the Bale<br />
of 450 copies of the said volume, and undertakes, at the<br />
expiration of nine months from the date of publication, to<br />
purchase at the rate of six shillings per copy whatever<br />
number of copies, if any, be necessary to make the sales<br />
up to the said number of 450 oopios. This edition to be<br />
the property of the said publisher, and all proofs of the<br />
same to be corrected and returned promptly to the printer<br />
by the said author. It is understood that the copyright of<br />
the said volume is, and remains, the property of the author.<br />
As witness, &c.<br />
II. MUSICAL.<br />
The following agreement was handed to a<br />
composer by one of the best-known musical<br />
publishing houses. It was a printed form, and<br />
there appears to be no doubt, as one or two other<br />
copies of this agreement have been sent to the<br />
office, that it is the usual form handed by this firm<br />
to composers. It is in the form of a letter to be<br />
signed by the composer and to be handed to the<br />
publisher, and, like all musical publishers'<br />
agreements, which are at present considerably<br />
worse for the composer than the literary pub-<br />
lishers' for the author, it asks for everything that<br />
the composer possibly has to give, and offers the<br />
smallest of small royalties in return; the royalty<br />
not to increase with the sales if the piece is a<br />
success, as very often happens, and only to be<br />
paid after the sale of a certain number of<br />
copies, the price of which would be almost, if<br />
not more than, sufficient to cover the cost of<br />
production. On it being pointed out to the<br />
publisher that the composer would also like to<br />
have a signed copy, it was stated that it was not<br />
the custom of the publishing house, and the com-<br />
poser finally had to give up this point if he<br />
desired to see his music published. By this step,<br />
of course, the publisher obtains the whole copy-<br />
right, but does not bind himself in any way<br />
even to produce the work if he does not feel so<br />
inclined. The composer, therefore, has only to<br />
rely upon the good faith of the publisher. In<br />
this particular case there seems to have been no<br />
reason to doubt that good faith, but it is not the<br />
proper wav *° conduct a business transaction, and<br />
the sooner that musical publishers are brought to<br />
s tb>t it is necessary to have a formal contract<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 214 (#262) ############################################<br />
<br />
214<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
between themselves and the composers on reason-<br />
able terms the better.<br />
London,<br />
To Messrs.<br />
I hereby assign to you the whole of my oopyright (includ-<br />
ing the right of pnblio performance), for Great Britain<br />
and Ireland and the Colonies, in my , entitled<br />
"in consideration of your paying me a royalty<br />
of pence per copy on all copieB sold of the «ame:<br />
thirteen copies to be considered as twelve, and the firBt<br />
2O0 copies not to be subject to royalty.<br />
London,<br />
To Messrs.<br />
I hereby assign to you the whole of my copyright and<br />
right of performance for the United States of America, in<br />
my , entitled" "in consideration of your<br />
paying me a royalty of per cent, on the marked prico<br />
of all copies Bold of the same in the said country, or<br />
imported from the United States into Canada. The first<br />
200 copies not to be aubject to royalty.<br />
IV.—Publishing on Commission.<br />
There has been received a circular from a firm<br />
hitherto unknown offering terms for publishing<br />
on commission. The terms are these:<br />
1. The author to pay the estimated cost before the work<br />
goes to press.<br />
2. The publishers allow vouchers and keep open books.<br />
3. They advertise their books in a monthly catalogue<br />
which circulates 80,000 a year, or 6666 6 every month. (The<br />
repeating decimal is probably a special feature in the circu-<br />
lation.)<br />
4. The publishers reserve the right of taking the " usual<br />
discount on printing, &c."<br />
5. They acoonnt for all sales at 25 as 24, or at 13 as 12,<br />
with S percent off.<br />
6. Copies Bent out of London must have the porterage<br />
charged to the author.<br />
7. The publishers take a 10 per cent, commission.<br />
Now let us consider. The author pays before-<br />
hand, say, £120 to cover all expenses, including<br />
advertising. It is assumed that the publishers'<br />
statement of the estimate is honest. In fact,<br />
this examination of the circular is not an attack<br />
upon the bona Jides of the publishers at all. The<br />
book perhaps sells 750 copies. About half the<br />
number sold are taken by 12 as 12. It will be<br />
found that the publishers therefore, by putting<br />
down all at 13 as 12, put into their pockets, on a sale<br />
of 750 copies, a sum of a little over £3 to which<br />
they are not entitled. The 5 per cent, discount<br />
on the sale of 750 copies, taking an average of<br />
3«. 6d. a volume, amounts to j£6 i is. 3d., for which<br />
no right or reason exists.<br />
The publishers need not pay their printers for<br />
six months. They have therefore the use of the<br />
author's money for that time. And if they are<br />
dishonest they may charge the full amount, con-<br />
cealing the discount. The charge of 10 per cent,<br />
on the sales means ,£13 zs. 6d.<br />
Now let us see how the author's account will<br />
stand.<br />
£ s. d. £ s. d.<br />
Payment 120 o o<br />
10 percent commission ... 13 2 6<br />
5 per cent discount on cost<br />
of production 3 o o<br />
5 per cent 011 sales 6 11 3<br />
Alleged 13 as 12 3 o o<br />
145 13 9<br />
By sales:<br />
750 copies at 3s. 6d 131 5 o<br />
Loss 14 8 9<br />
H5 13 9<br />
The author, then, on a moderate sale of 750<br />
copies, loses .£14 8s. yd.<br />
The publishers on the other hand have some-<br />
thing pleasant out of the transaction, viz,:<br />
£ s. d.<br />
Commission 13 2 6<br />
Discount on printing, &c 3 o o<br />
5 per cent on sales 6 11 3<br />
Use of author's money for an average<br />
of 9 months at 5 per cent 4 10 o<br />
Alleged 13 as 12 3 o o<br />
<£3o 3 9<br />
Not a great sum, but these are not great people.<br />
Besides, 30 such books in the year would make<br />
quite a pretty lit;le income.<br />
V. — Publications of the International<br />
Bureau.<br />
The Berne International Bureau for the Pro-<br />
tection of Literary and Artistic Property has re-<br />
quested us to mention that—■<br />
The International Bureau for the Protection of<br />
Literary and Artistic Property replies to requests<br />
for information sent to it by its official organ<br />
Lc Droit d'Auteur, if the question is one of<br />
general interest; by letter, under cover, when<br />
the question is of a private nature.<br />
The following documents can be procured<br />
from the International Bureau. All questions<br />
respecting the protection of literary and<br />
artistic property are, at the present date,<br />
much more generally studied than they have<br />
been for the last ten years. Of this fact, which<br />
is well known, we have a proof in the great<br />
number of requests addressed to us for informa-<br />
tion as to where it is possible to obtain the official<br />
documents relating to the history of the founda-<br />
tion of the Literary and Artistic Union. We<br />
believe that we shall be doing a service to<br />
all that are interested in these questions, as well<br />
as to those journals whose readers are concerned<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 215 (#263) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
2'5<br />
about them, by publishing here a list of the docu-<br />
ments for sale at our Bureau. These are the<br />
following:<br />
1. The "Actes" of the three international<br />
diplomatic Conferences held at Berne in the<br />
years 1884, 1885, and 1886, to fix the terms of<br />
the Berne Union. Three numbers, large paper,<br />
stitched, in wrapper. 1884, eighty-nine pages;<br />
1SS5, eighty-one pages; 1886, forty-four pages.<br />
2. Copies of the "Convention d'Union,"<br />
Sept. 9, 1886; official edition in two languages,<br />
German and French.<br />
3. Complete file of Le Droit d'Auteur, each<br />
year stitched in wrapper.<br />
4. Conspectus of the wishes expressed by the<br />
various Congresses and Assemblies since the foun-<br />
dation of the Union, stitched in wrapper. 1896,<br />
twenty-three pages.<br />
5. Studies on divers questions connected with<br />
the revision of the Berne Convention. Special<br />
edition of the principal articles which have<br />
appeared on this subject in Le Droit d'Auteur,<br />
1896, seventy pages.<br />
In addition the Bureau will send gratis to any-<br />
one asking for them the following Studies, which<br />
have been separately printed:—<br />
1. The relations existing between the Berne<br />
Convention and the Swiss law respecting literary<br />
and artistic property on the one hand, and the<br />
treaties concluded on the other hand by Switzer-<br />
land. A Conference by Professor A. d'Orelli,<br />
eight pages.<br />
2. The codification of the laws respecting the<br />
protection of author's rights in Great Britain.<br />
Twenty-five pages.<br />
3. The fundamental principle of the Berne<br />
Convention. Four pages.<br />
Hie official documents relative to the recent<br />
Paris Diplomatic Conference will not be placed<br />
at the disposition of the public until after the<br />
ratification of the Acts adopted at Paris, which<br />
will take place in the spring of next year.<br />
We may add that the Bureau of the Union for<br />
the Protection of Industrial Property, a bureau<br />
which is under the same management as our own,<br />
sells the Acts of the Paris Conference, 1880,<br />
1883; Rome, 1886; and Madrid. 1890, at which<br />
the Convention of March 20. 1883 was either<br />
drawn up or revised; the file of Propriety Indns-<br />
tricllc, 1885-1896; and the first volume of the<br />
•' Reeueil " of laws and treaties respecting indus-<br />
trial property, which has just appeared.<br />
VOL. VII.<br />
THE BATTLE CF BOOKS IN THE EAELY<br />
FIFTIES.<br />
TINHERE W'IS a bookselling question fifty<br />
I years ago a good deal keener than that of<br />
to-day, yet bearing some points of resem-<br />
blance to it. An article appeared in the West-<br />
minster Review of April 1852, entitled "The<br />
Commerce of Literature." The writer, it trans-<br />
pired shortly afterwards, was Mr. John Chapman,<br />
a young and enterprising publisher and book-<br />
seller in the Strand, who was also proprietor and<br />
editor of the Westminster Review. The tax upon<br />
paper and upon advertisements; the duty on<br />
foreign books; our anomalous literary relations<br />
with America; and the conditions of book dis-<br />
tribution, were all questions which Mr. Chapman<br />
passed under lengthy and minute review.<br />
Mischievous Profits to Booksellers.<br />
The bookseller supplied his customer without<br />
commission, and depended for his profit on a<br />
discount to be obtained from the publisher.<br />
This system was the parent of innumerable con-<br />
flicts and trouble. "The nominal discount allowed<br />
to the trade," wrote Mr. Chapman, " i.e., by the<br />
publisher to the bookseller, is 25 per cent.; more-<br />
over, twenty-five copies are charged as twenty-<br />
four, and in cases of low-priced books thirteen as<br />
twelve, or seven as six and a half." The great<br />
publishers also held annual or semi-annual sales<br />
—attended by the " select booksellers of London<br />
and Westminster "—with the accompaniments of<br />
dinners and wine. Provincial booksellers were<br />
rigorously excluded; and on these occasions the<br />
remainders, or unsold copies of publications which<br />
had ceased "to sell" at their original prices, were<br />
offered on reduced terms, or sold by auction, while<br />
new works, often even before they had been<br />
issued, were offered at 10 and 15 per cent, below"<br />
the trade price, with the advantage of long credit.<br />
These enormous profits—varying from 2: to 40<br />
per cent., besides the twenty-fifth or thirteenth<br />
book — tempted enterprising men to offer a<br />
portion of this discount to private purchasers in<br />
order to increase their connections and the<br />
amount of their returns. But to do this was to<br />
fly in the face of<br />
A Formidable Pha.la.nx op Monopolists.<br />
Indolent tradesmen, publishers who wished to<br />
add to their vocation that of retail booksellers,<br />
and, lastly, the book merchants of Paternoster-<br />
row, all had inducements to extinguish competi-<br />
tion. These last-named, whose chief source of<br />
strength lay in the fact that the partners of the<br />
greatest publishing houses in London were also<br />
extensive book merchants and retail vendors,<br />
B B<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 216 (#264) ############################################<br />
<br />
2 1 6<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
supplied the literary institutions and libraries—<br />
hence the loss of this branch of trade would be<br />
more serious to them than to the small book-<br />
sellers, who di 1 not purchase on such advan-<br />
tageous terms, but whose competition might<br />
prove nevertheless injurious. At this point we<br />
must turn back to 1774, in order to get the incep-<br />
tion of the idea of cheap books and free trade<br />
in selling, and by consequence, the beginning of<br />
an opposing association to keep up prices. In<br />
that year James Lackington began business<br />
humbly, with only five pounds, but in a few<br />
years his annual sale grew to 100,000 volumes,<br />
and he was invited to attend the trade sales.<br />
"When first invited to these trade sales," he<br />
says in his "Memoirs," "I was very much sur-<br />
prised to learn that it was common for such<br />
as purchased 'remainders,' to destroy one-<br />
half or three-fourths of such books, and to<br />
charge the full publication price, or nearly<br />
that, for such as they kept on hand; and<br />
there was a kind of standing order amongst<br />
the trade, that in case anyone was known<br />
to sell articles under the publication price, such<br />
person was to be excluded from trade sales; so<br />
blind were copyright holders to their own interest."<br />
Lackington reflected that if some of the books<br />
were not worth six shillings, they were worth three<br />
or two; and he resolved not to destroy any books<br />
that were worth saving, but to sell them off at<br />
half or quarter of the publication prices. In spite<br />
of strenuous opposition in the trade, his husiness<br />
prospered enormously; and the Booksellers' Asso-<br />
ciation sprang into being in 1806 to prevent the<br />
spread of the practice he had initiated. The<br />
operations of this body of monopolists, which saw<br />
many ups and downs, had a certain rude<br />
thoroughness. About 1830, for instance, they<br />
hired spies to discover by what means booksellers<br />
on the "black list" succeeded in purchasing<br />
through indirect channels those books which were<br />
denied to them directly by the publishers. The<br />
spies followed such booksellers as pertinaciously as<br />
their own shadows. In Aug. 1831 a party of the<br />
defaulters" sallied forth, and Mr. Bounds (the<br />
secretary of the combination) and his accomplices<br />
were immediately on their track. "Cabs were<br />
taken to the river, where they embarked, the spies<br />
with them, and were carried as far as Calais, where<br />
for some days the four travellers took up their<br />
quarters at the Hotel de 1'Europe. They then<br />
adjourned to the Hotel d'Orleans at Boulogne,<br />
where they rested three days, and then took<br />
flight again for Dover. Here the booksellers<br />
separated in order to perplex their pursuers, one<br />
of whom lost his cue by intoxication, while the<br />
other on reaching Hythe gave up the chase and<br />
returned to London to report his proceedings to<br />
the committee, which, it is said, having on this<br />
occasion expended <£8o only to be defeated,<br />
reluctantly determined to discontinue the costly<br />
system."<br />
The Laws: Inconsistency and Casuistry.<br />
Nearly the whole trade, however, comprising<br />
about 2400 persons, signed an agreement to<br />
observe the arbitrary laws of the combination,<br />
and though a powerful blow was dealt it in<br />
Professor Babbage's work "On the Economy of<br />
Machinery and Manufactures," it rallied, and in<br />
1849 a warning was issued—signed by Longman,<br />
Brown, and Co.; Simpkin, Marshall, and Co.;<br />
Whitaker and Co.; and Hamilton, Adams, and<br />
Co.—to such booksellers as bad been acting con-<br />
trary to the regulations for the guidance of the<br />
trade, agreed to at the Albion Tavern, Oct. 3,<br />
1848. This had not much effect, however, and at<br />
a general meeting in Exeter Hall, on July 12,<br />
1850, the following declaration was drawn up to<br />
be signed by every bookseller residing within<br />
twelve miles of the General Post Office, before he<br />
could be allowed to trade with the subscribers.<br />
It was signed by 1200 booksellers:<br />
1 at. That we will not supply books at trade price, except<br />
to those who are in possession of a ticket. Special trades<br />
dealing occasionally in books connected with their trade,<br />
may be supplied with such books at trade price, at the<br />
discretion of each bookseller.<br />
2nd. That, as a general rule, no greater allowance than<br />
10 per cent, for cash be made to private customers uncon-<br />
nected with the trade or with publishing.<br />
3rd. That, as a general rule, no greater allowance than<br />
15 per cent, be made to book societies.<br />
4th. That we will not advertise, or ticket, at less than the<br />
publication price copyright books, unless bond fide second-<br />
hand or unless depreciated by the publisher, or such as<br />
are notoriously unsuccessful.<br />
We mutually agree that any one systematically acting<br />
contrary to these regulations, after remonstrance, shall be<br />
no longer considered entitled to the privileges of the trade.<br />
But the law-makers failed to keep their own<br />
Jaws. The chairman himself (Mr. J. M. Richard-<br />
son at that time) admitted that he supplied books<br />
to the Society for Promoting Christian Know-<br />
ledge, and that the latter re-sold them to its<br />
members at cost price. Another prominent<br />
member supplied books to one of the colleges at<br />
25 per cent discount. A third supplied the books<br />
to form the Bank of England library at a similar<br />
discount; and so on. Several Glasgow booksellers<br />
would on no account be guilty of selling a hook<br />
under its published price, but to be equal with<br />
their neighbours who had no such scruples, they<br />
fell upon the following expedient:—" If a person<br />
asked one of them for a book, published at 2s. 6d.<br />
for example, it was offered to him at that price,<br />
but if he objected that he could get it at 28. else-<br />
where, the vendor at once overcame the difficulty<br />
by cutting open a few leaves of the volume, or if<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 217 (#265) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
217<br />
it chanced to be cut when published, by allowing<br />
a drop of ink to deface it—the conscientious<br />
bibliopole being able to regard it in that condi-<br />
tion as 'second-hand,' and therefore holding<br />
himself entitled, according to orthodox principles,<br />
to sell it at a reduced price!"<br />
The Effect upon the Author.<br />
Mr. Chapman's contention on the ground of<br />
the public interest, was that booksellers were<br />
willing to accept less profit than was allowed<br />
by the regulations, and therefore to sell books<br />
at a cheaper rate. How vitally the author was<br />
affected by the system of distribution that pre-<br />
vailed, may be seen readily from the single<br />
case of Mr. Babbage's book, one of those upon<br />
which the writer based his article. The retail<br />
price, 68., on 3052 copies, produced =£915 121.<br />
Of this sum ,£266 os. 1 id. was paid for printing,<br />
paper, and taxes on paper and advertisements;<br />
£61 os. lod. was the publisher's commission; and<br />
the author received £283 6s. lid., thus leaving<br />
the enormous sum of .£305 3*. 4c?. to be divided<br />
among the wholesale and retail booksellers. The<br />
booksellers therefore received £21 16s. 5f/. more<br />
for distributing it than the author received for<br />
writing it!<br />
The Times on the Controversy.<br />
The facts of the dispute were placed before<br />
the readers of the Times, which immediately<br />
followed up Mr. Chapman's article. The great<br />
journal could not discover any valid reason for<br />
"this anomalous interference with the free course<br />
of competition and the natural operation of<br />
trade," and did not hesitate to call the methods<br />
of the publishers "an organised system of<br />
coercion." It had been argued in justification of<br />
the existing practice that it commanded the assent<br />
of the vast majority of the trade, but the Times<br />
dismissed this argument as invalid, because in<br />
the face of such absolute powers as the Book-<br />
sellers' Association possessed over its members it<br />
was plain that the number of those venturing to<br />
dissent would be exceedingly few. A great many<br />
letters poured into the Times within the next few<br />
weeks. Messrs. Longman, Brown, and Co. and<br />
Mr. John Murray wrote jointly, saying that the<br />
Association was not a publishers' association, and<br />
that as publishers they were no further interested<br />
in it than so far as it had been supposed to pro-<br />
mote the solvency of the trade and the prosperity<br />
of literary speculations. Mr. Richard Bentley<br />
took quite the contrary view, remarking that a<br />
glance at the list of the members of the committee<br />
of the Association would show that, with nrobably<br />
two exceptions only, it consisted of ]>ub]jshers aU<*<br />
the wholesale book merchants of Put,,* , ^ row,<br />
vol. vii. trnost«r-r<br />
"who are interested in the maintenance of<br />
monopoly."<br />
Fifteen per cent, quite Sufficient.<br />
Mr. Murray stoutly maintained that 25 per<br />
cent, was not too much to allow the book-<br />
seller. Nevertheless Messrs. Bickers and Bush,<br />
Leicester-square, one of the most constant oppo-<br />
nents of the Booksellers' Association, promptly<br />
proved that as a matter of fact they were con-<br />
ducting their business satisfactorily on 15 per<br />
cent, discount. Mr. Sydney Williams, Henrietta-<br />
street, was one of a number who gave similar<br />
testimony. And two months later, after the Times<br />
had in one of its articles estimated the discount<br />
at 33 per cent., "Parvus Julius," writing from<br />
Lincoln's-inn, said that even this was "con-<br />
siderably understating" it. He added:<br />
Retailers always get twenty-five copies of the larger<br />
works at the price of twenty-four copies. Of pamphlets<br />
they get thirteen to the dozen. Thns, for 100 books sold<br />
over the counter at 10*. each the retailer has only paid<br />
96 times 7«. 6d.; his outlay is JE36, and his return .£50. A<br />
profit of ill4 on ^36 is equal exactly to 385 per cent.<br />
Energetic Steps taken by Authors.<br />
On May 4,1852, a meeting, numerously attended<br />
by authors (and a few booksellers who had<br />
smuggled themselves in as spies), was held at<br />
Mr. Chapman's, 142, Strand. Mr. Charles Dickens<br />
took the chair. Amongst the men distin-<br />
guished in literature and science who were<br />
present were Professors Owen, Newman, and<br />
Ansted, Mr. Babbage, Mr. Tom Taylor, Dr.<br />
Lankester, Dr. Arnott, and Mr. Crabbe Robinson;<br />
and letters concurring in the views of the<br />
meeting were read from Mr. Carlyle, Mr. John<br />
Stuart Mill, Mr. Gladstone, M.P., Professor de<br />
Morgan, Mr. James Wilson, M.P., Mr. Cobdeu,<br />
M.P., and others. From this meeting there arose<br />
the definite steps taken which ended in abolition<br />
of the trade restrictions. Five resolutions were<br />
adopted, declaring that free trade ought to be<br />
applied to books as to all other articles of com-<br />
merce; that the principles of the Booksellers'<br />
Association were not only opposed to Free Trade,<br />
but were tyrannical and vexatious in their opera-<br />
tions, and had the effect of keeping the prices of<br />
books much higher than they would otherwise<br />
be; and that the retailer, not the publisher,<br />
should determine the retail prices.<br />
Mr. Gladstone on the Trade.<br />
Mr. Gladstone had already denounced the<br />
Booksellers' Association as unjust in principle<br />
and injurious in practice, and he wrote Mr.<br />
Bentley that only feelings of personal regard had<br />
restrained him from taking more public steps in<br />
the matter. He furnished a practical eomni'Mvt<br />
on his own words by supplying certain mn-c m-<br />
11 h i<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 218 (#266) ############################################<br />
<br />
2l8<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
firming booksellers with his pamphlets on Italy,<br />
which his publisher—being a member of the<br />
combination—could not sell to those persons.<br />
But at length Mr. Gladstone took "more public<br />
steps." In his speech in the House of Commons<br />
on May 12, 1S52, during the debate on the Paper<br />
Duty, he said he did not believe there was any<br />
article for which the public were called on to pay<br />
a price so high, in comparison with the actual<br />
cost of production, as books. The system of the<br />
bookselling trade was a disgrace to their state<br />
of civilisation. With the exception of the works<br />
of certain distinguished authors—with the excep-<br />
tion of such cases as Macaulay's "History of<br />
England"—new publications in an enormous<br />
majority of cases scarcely ever passed the sale of<br />
500 copies. An immense proportion of those that<br />
were published did not pay their expenses at all;<br />
and he believed the number that passed the sale<br />
of 500 copies was certainly not more than some-<br />
thing like 5 per cent., or, at any rate, not more<br />
than from one-twentieth to one-tenth of the whole<br />
number produced. The Government could do a<br />
great deal for the removal of the evils; not so<br />
individuals. "If a particular person who has<br />
a work to publish says, 'I will fix the price of<br />
this work at one-half the ordinary charge,' he<br />
merely makes a victim of himself without in<br />
the slightest degree affecting the state of the<br />
market, or without acting sensibly on the demand<br />
fur his own book. The book societies and<br />
circulating libraries are not sensibly affected<br />
by the price of the book being more or less;<br />
and consequently the natural healthy play which<br />
ought to regulate the price which the books<br />
ought to fetch and the price of books in general—<br />
the operation of those principles is totally inter-<br />
cepted by this system, which has been so long in<br />
action."<br />
A Symposium of Authors.<br />
A circular inviting the opinion of authors was<br />
issued on April 30, 1852, by Messrs. John W.<br />
Parker and Son, and about a hundred replies,<br />
embracing the views of every branch of intellec-<br />
tual production, were received and afterwards<br />
published. This was the question that was put<br />
to them:<br />
If a retail bookseller, of ascertained credit and respect-<br />
ability, applies to your publisher for copies of any book in<br />
which yon are directly or indirectly interested, which he is<br />
ready to purchase on the terms at whioh the publisher has<br />
offered them to the trade at large, but with the avowed<br />
intention of retailing his purchases at a smaller profit than<br />
that provided for between the wholesale rate and the retail<br />
price fixed for single copies, do you consider the intention<br />
to sell at a low rate of profit a good and sufficient reason<br />
why the publisher should refuse to supply him with books<br />
which he is ready to purchase and to keep in stock at his<br />
own risk r<br />
The authors almost unanimously replied, " No.""<br />
There were only three exceptions, and these were<br />
not very pronounced in any direction. The<br />
following are a selection of replies:<br />
J. S. Mill.—I think that there is no case in<br />
which a combination to keep up prices is more<br />
injurious than in the sale of books; and I wish<br />
success to the [" rebel "] booksellers in their resist-<br />
ance to the trade regulations which restrict their<br />
liberty of selling books at a low price.<br />
Alfred Tennyson.—I am for free-trade in<br />
the bookselling question, as in other things.<br />
Charles Dickens.—No; most certainly not.<br />
Thomas Carlyle.—My answer to this "ques-<br />
tion," for my own interests, and for those of the<br />
world, so far as I can see them, is decidedly " No,,<br />
it is not a sufficient reason "; and, indeed, I can<br />
see no issue, of any permanency, to this contro-<br />
versy that has now arisen, but absolute free-trade<br />
in all branches of book-selling and book-pub-<br />
lishing.<br />
Goldwin Smith.—The intention to sell at a low-<br />
rate of profit does not appear to me a good and<br />
sufficient reason why a publisher should refuse to<br />
sell a book to a respectable retail dealer.<br />
Herbert Spencer (after answering "No,"<br />
added) :—On the contrary, believing, as he does,<br />
that every reduction in the cost of distributing<br />
books must inevitably extend their sale, and by<br />
so doing increase authors' profits, Mr. Spencer is<br />
of opinion that a publisher will best serve<br />
authors by giving the underselling retailer every<br />
facility.<br />
Charles Darwin.—As an author of some<br />
scientific works, I beg to express strongly my<br />
opinion thai, both for the advantage of authors<br />
and the public, booksellers, like other dealers,<br />
ought to settle, each for himself, the retail price.<br />
Charles Kingsley (having answered " No,"<br />
added).—The gain deducted from the profits of<br />
booksellers by the cheap plan will go—First, to<br />
the consumer: and I suppose there can be no<br />
doubt that if a book be good and right it is good<br />
and right that it be sold as cheap as possible.<br />
Next, to the producers—under which term I<br />
include, not only authors, but publishers.<br />
Professor Newman.—It appears to me trans-<br />
parently equitable that a publisher who at all<br />
sells books to a second party should allow that<br />
party to be the sole judge at what prices the<br />
books shall be again sold; and that every attempt<br />
to control one another's sales is inconsistent with<br />
the nature of property, confounds men's notions<br />
of right and wiong, and can lead to nothing but<br />
waste of valuable goods, capital, and time, of so<br />
serious a nature that evasions and duplicity will<br />
be widely used as a partial remedy for so great<br />
an evil.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 219 (#267) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
Dr. Lindley.— I am of opinio;! that, the<br />
retailers of books should bo free to fix for them-<br />
selves the profit they require, and that it is<br />
unwise and unjust that publishers should inter-<br />
fere in the matter. I believe that it is impossible<br />
to name any considerable branch of trade, except<br />
bookselling, in which that interferenci is even<br />
attempted.<br />
Professor Craik.—In so far as the point<br />
involved in your "question" rests upon purely<br />
economical or commercial grounds, it plainly will<br />
not bear arguing. The only thing that a person<br />
interested in the sale of any kind of production<br />
or commodity can desire or care for, with a view<br />
to its pecuniary returns, is that the sale, at a<br />
given price, should be as extensive as possible.<br />
So long, therefore, as the retail dealer giv ;s me<br />
or my publisher our own price for the books<br />
which he purchases, we have nothing more to<br />
ask. His rate of profit, let it be as low, or, if<br />
you will, as inadequate as it may, does not affect<br />
ours.<br />
Professor Ansted, F.R.S.—I say most dis-<br />
tinctly and emphatically No. I cannot distin-<br />
guish any difference between the tradi in books<br />
and other articles; nor do I see what possible<br />
advantage can be gained to authors or the public,<br />
nor inde :d to the bookselling trade itself in any<br />
branch, by putting restrictions on the mode<br />
which any retailer may think the best of dealing<br />
with purchases he may have made in the fair<br />
way of business.<br />
Charles Babbage, F.R.S.—I consider the<br />
purchaser of any of my works is fully entitled to<br />
sell them at any price he may find most con-<br />
venient.<br />
The Dean of Hereford (Very Rev. Richard<br />
Dawes).—I think every retail bookseller ought<br />
to be allowed to sell at any rate of profit he<br />
may think proper.<br />
Lieut.-Gen. Sir Charles Napier, G.C.B.—<br />
No!<br />
Dr. L. Schmitz.—No, I do not; I believe that<br />
such a retail dealer will increase the sale of the<br />
work, and thereby benefit both author and<br />
publisher.<br />
Dr. Forbes Winslow.—I think the attempt<br />
to make the retail bookseller sell at a price<br />
previously agreed upon by the large trader is an<br />
unjust and tyrannical proceeding, and must, if<br />
acted upon, very materially limit the circulation<br />
of books, and consequently injure a'l classes of<br />
the community.<br />
G. Cornewall Lewis, M.P.—It appears to<br />
me not desirable that the publishing booksellers<br />
should attempt to enforce upon retailers the<br />
exaction from their customers of f]j) £UH retail<br />
price originally appointed by tbeij^ C! e8f if the<br />
retailers ai-e willing- t) sell to the public at a less<br />
price.<br />
Leigh Hunt (after apologising for delay).—<br />
But I was anxious to make myself better<br />
acquainted than I was with the details of the<br />
"Question," in order that I might add the<br />
remarks desired of me, and so give all the<br />
strength I could to my approval of that spirit of<br />
free trade and cheapness in literature, in which I<br />
hid already expressed my hearty concurrence to<br />
Mr. Chapman.<br />
Archdeacon Hone. — I think that the<br />
removal of thi restriction imposed on the book<br />
trade by a combination of publishers and retailers<br />
would issue in the increased sale of books.<br />
The Commission of Inquiry.<br />
The resolutions adopted by the afore-mentioned<br />
meeting of authors, as well as the re [dies to<br />
Messrs. Parkers' question, were placed before a<br />
Commission of three gentlemen, to which at<br />
length the publishers agreed to submit the issue.<br />
This consisted of Lord Campbell, the Dean<br />
of St. Paul's (Dr. Miliuau), and Mr. George<br />
Grote. Both sides were to state their cases, but<br />
a hitch occurred to the original meeting, as only<br />
the representatives of the Association appeared.<br />
The " undersellers " wrote that they had not had<br />
sufficient notice. On May 17, however, both<br />
parties came before the Commission at Stratheden<br />
House. The following geutlemen were present:<br />
"Uxdei!sellers." — Messrs. Bush, Bickers, W. Teg?,<br />
and Jjhn Chapman, of London; Mr. Perrin, of the firm of<br />
Horge and Perrin, of Manchester; and Mr. Griflin, of<br />
Glasgow.<br />
Booksellers' Association.—Mr. W. Longman (the<br />
Chairman), Mr. Murray, Mr. J. H. Parker (.Ox'ord), Mr.<br />
Pickering, Mr. Beilby (Birmingham). Mr. Douglas (Edin-<br />
burgh), Mr. Taylor (of Mr. Hatehard's), Mr. R. B. Seeley,<br />
Mr. J. J. Miles, Mr. Rivington, Mr. Bohn, and Mr. S. Low<br />
(Secretary to the London Association).<br />
Mr. Longman, in his speech defending the<br />
Association, said its object was to destroy com-<br />
petition in the retailing of books, and insinuated<br />
its disinterestedness by remarking that those who<br />
would most benefit by competition would be the<br />
aforesaid "book-merchants," who had big capital<br />
and every facility for doing business on a large<br />
scale. He was convinced that Lackington's<br />
system of underselling was totally different from<br />
that of the present day; it was extensively prac-<br />
tised in Lackington's time, and met with the<br />
approbation of the publishers. Mr. Lackington<br />
bought " remainders,"—the copies of unsuccessful<br />
books which remained on the publishers' hands—<br />
and sold them at a reduced pricii If the Book-<br />
sellers' Association ceased to exist, Mr. Longman<br />
feared thit not a little confusion and ruin would<br />
ensue; but he l.elieved it would be u:ces?ary for<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 220 (#268) ############################################<br />
<br />
220<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
a time to let events take their natural course.<br />
The retail booksellers, unless they speculated,<br />
only received 25 per cent. A reduction of the<br />
allowance had been recommended, and that<br />
appeared to him the best suggestion that had<br />
teen made, but it would be attended with very<br />
technical difficulties.<br />
The Association Condemned.<br />
The result of the inquiry was a complete victory<br />
for the " free traders." The Commission decided<br />
that the regulations were unreasonable and inex-<br />
pedient, and contrary to the freedom which<br />
ought to prevail in commercial transactions.<br />
The consideration that weighed most with the<br />
Commission was the peculiar mode in which<br />
in the book trade the wares to be disposed<br />
of were distributed. They recognised that there<br />
was a great advantage to literature in having<br />
respectable booksellers' shops in London, Edin-<br />
burgh, and Dublin, and all work was thereby<br />
made known more efficiently than by advertising.<br />
"But," continued the report, " the existence of a<br />
larger number of retail establishments than is<br />
necessary to supply the commodity to the public<br />
has an evident tendency to raise the price to the<br />
consumer; and, according to all experience, the<br />
demand will increase as the price is diminished<br />
(though not perhaps to the extent contemplated<br />
by some of the more ardent opponents of the<br />
'regulations')."<br />
In accordance with this decision, the Book-<br />
sellers' Association was dissolved—for this was<br />
the understanding with which its representatives<br />
approached the Commission (although the" under-<br />
sellers," on the other hand, had distinctly refused<br />
to alter their system of business even should the<br />
decision of the Commission go against them,<br />
while the authors also had taken up the position .<br />
that a compromise was impossible). The dissolu-<br />
tion took place after a stormy debate on May 28,<br />
1852. On June 19, the Scottish Booksellers'<br />
Protective Association followed suit—surlily.<br />
Clearing the Air.<br />
Immediately afterwards there appeared in<br />
Frasers Magazine a remarkably able review of<br />
the whole dispute, under the title "The Makers,<br />
Sellers, and Buyers of Books." This writer also<br />
demonstrated, by facts and figures, that the<br />
Association's system was for the benefit not<br />
of the retail bookseller, but of the wholesale<br />
purchaser. He agreed, too, with Lord Campbell<br />
that "the bookselling trade will have the best<br />
chance of flourishing without any special regula-<br />
tions of any sort." Only after the decision of<br />
Lord Campbell and his colleagues did the<br />
Athenmim give its opinion, which had been kept<br />
in type, but of which it had withheld publication<br />
on hearing that the question was to be considered<br />
by a conference arranged by the parties themselves.<br />
The Athenwum came to the same conclusion<br />
as the Commission. Merely to reduce the dis-<br />
count, it wrote, would be a waiver of the whole<br />
question. "The sole, simple, and safe principle<br />
seems to be, in this as in all other cases, leave the<br />
buyer and the seller to arrange terms between<br />
themselves." Ou June nth the Times repeated<br />
the old arguments in favour of free trade, because<br />
it assumed from evidences before it that the pub-<br />
lishers were extremely ill-satisfied, and more<br />
desirous of reviving their system under another<br />
name than of acquiescing in the deliberate<br />
opinion of their own selected arbitrator. The<br />
Tilarm on this score on the part of the Times was,<br />
however, unnecessary, for seeing this article, Mr.<br />
Bevis E. Green, who had been chairman of a<br />
meeting of the principal publishers held on the<br />
previous Saturday, at once communicated to the<br />
Times the following resolutions proposed at that<br />
meeting by Mr. Thomas Longman, and unani-<br />
mously passed:<br />
1. That the meeting declare that they have no intention<br />
of taking any steps to oontrol the dealings of the retail<br />
booksellers with the public.<br />
2. That this meeting consider it probable that it may be<br />
expedient before long to rednce the retail prices and trade<br />
allowances on some books already published.<br />
3. This meeting are not prepared at present to recom-<br />
mend and pat in foroe the second resolution.<br />
"I unwillingly intrude myself on the public,"<br />
Mr. Green added, " and trust that, as the question<br />
now appears to be at rest, we may receive that<br />
valuable support from the public Press which is<br />
so important to all concerned in the publication<br />
of books."<br />
NEW YORK LETTER.<br />
New York, Jan. 15.<br />
THE increase in the number, scope, and<br />
excellence of the critical journals is one of<br />
the most noticeable signs in the literary<br />
field just now. A new monthly has just been<br />
born, the Month, published by the editors of the<br />
Critic, and made up of matter which appears in<br />
that weekly. It is reported that the admitted<br />
object of the new periodical is to compete<br />
directly with the Bookman, which has had great<br />
influence in starting up other periodicals since<br />
the American edition sprang into being some<br />
two years ago. Nothing is said in the Month<br />
about the Critic, probably from a realisation of<br />
the danger to the circulation of the weekly made<br />
by the fact that a reader can now get most of the<br />
contents of four numbers of the weekly for<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 221 (#269) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
22 1<br />
10 cents. To-day's mail brings the first number<br />
of the new Chap-Booh, in which it enters the<br />
field of the critical journals, while keeping its<br />
own features. It is no longer noticeable for its<br />
smallness, being in its new form about the size of<br />
the Saturday Review. Magazine editors in New<br />
York treat this little Chicago venture with more<br />
consideration than would be expected for a<br />
periodical not free from callowness, and the<br />
reason they do so is that they realise that it has<br />
in it something vital and sincere, although as yet<br />
crude. It occupies its new fie'.d alone, and has<br />
every promise of success. With these two signs<br />
of increased interest in literary criticism should<br />
be put the Book Buyer, which has been a mere<br />
advertising pamphlet for Charles Scribners' Sons<br />
until the last two numbers, have brought it<br />
decidedly into the field of the magazines. It<br />
adheres more strictly to book subjects than the<br />
Boohman, but it has variety, and intends to have<br />
more, containing not only criticisms of current<br />
works but general literary essays. The last two<br />
numbers have had signed reviews by the most<br />
prominent literary critics of America. Taking<br />
the birth of these periodicals, all of which are<br />
practically new, with the increase in the output<br />
of literary essays by the publishing houses, one<br />
is justified in concluding that the taste for<br />
criticism in America is rapidly growing. The<br />
literary daily which sprang up here a few weeks<br />
ago, called the Daily Tattler, died in a fort-<br />
night, partly because it was too flippant, the<br />
danger to which many of our newest publications<br />
are falling in the desire to escape dryness. The<br />
newspapers also show the tendency to give more<br />
and more attention to comment on literature.<br />
The New York Times, which has had several<br />
disastrous years, is, under new management,<br />
gaining thousands of subscribers a week, and<br />
improving rapidly in all departments. It pub-<br />
lishes now a special supplement on Saturday,<br />
which is really a separate paper containing book<br />
reviews, literary gossip and editorials on purely<br />
literary matters ; and the Sunday edition contains<br />
an illustrated article on some book. The other<br />
papers give more and more space to reviewing,<br />
and one of the editors of the most sensational<br />
dailies in town said the other day to me that he<br />
believed the Times showed a clear foresight of<br />
the coming popular demand in its emphasis of<br />
literature and art.<br />
Opposed to this increase in papers which aim<br />
at the interest of culture, however elementary,<br />
must be put the ever-growing number of flashy<br />
monthlies. Some new; some made °ver out °^<br />
magazines which found respectabi^ and twenty-<br />
five cents a failure, and decided ' frV ror ten<br />
cents and a larger if lower a ~ce. The<br />
inventor of the ten cent system, and the man<br />
who carried it out with remarkable ability, Frank<br />
A. Munsey, who has kept his magazine in the<br />
biggest circulation of any monthly in the country,<br />
has just started a new venture somewhat in the<br />
field of the Ladies' Home Journal. His success<br />
with the public has been so great that his ideas<br />
may be worth quoting. In the advertisements<br />
of his new venture he asseits very frankly the<br />
principles on which he appeals to the reading<br />
public. "This house is somewhat noted for<br />
doing things quickly. An idea, and, presto, the<br />
thing itself! A few days ago the Puritan was<br />
a conception ; to-day it is a fact. This is the way<br />
we do things. It is dramatic. There is a hum<br />
about it that is an inspiration. Hurried work<br />
does not show the effect of the polishing stone;<br />
but to be alive—a tangible fact—with imperfec-<br />
tions, is better than to be a polished idea that<br />
has no life, no place. The Puritan is here—this is<br />
the concrete fact."<br />
"We like to read from pictures—to get the<br />
story from pictures. It is quick, easy, dramatic.<br />
The salient points are seen instantly; the mind,<br />
in a flash, fills in the detail, and the reader has<br />
the story—all he desires of it, in these rapid<br />
transit days. Picture-reading to the reader is<br />
what shorthand is to the stenographer.<br />
A note in the December number of The Author<br />
about the duties of majazine editors calls to<br />
mind the fact that Mr. Alden, the editor of<br />
Harjiers Magazine, follows a course directly<br />
contrary to that of most of our editors. The<br />
others read only those contributions which have<br />
passed under the eyes of their assistants. Mr.<br />
Alden, in order to keep up more thoroughly with<br />
what the people are writing about, and also to<br />
form his own judgment on any new note sounded<br />
in the work of some unknown writer, has only<br />
the purely illiterate contributions sorted out for<br />
him, and then glances at all the others, after<br />
which he hands the ones which are neither<br />
certainly good nor certainly bad to an as>istant<br />
to sort out, leaving the final decision for himself<br />
on a second reading.<br />
In the correspondence which has been pub-<br />
lished for some weeks in the Dial of Chicago on<br />
the subject of American Literature, there has<br />
been a general agreement that when the great<br />
American novel appears, the novel which is to<br />
have at once general importance and distinct<br />
local characteristics, politics will be one of its<br />
main themes; a description of that part of<br />
American history which consists in the formation<br />
of a new political life to harmonise with new<br />
social and physical conditions. It is also said by<br />
most of the writers on this subject that the novel<br />
will be democratic, and ethically representative of<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 222 (#270) ############################################<br />
<br />
222<br />
the a union.<br />
a civilisation based upon Puritanism. All the<br />
suggestions are of necessity vague, but they all<br />
reflect an opinion, widespread among our serious<br />
thinkers, that if this country ever has a national<br />
literature it will be made out of an original<br />
treatment of our .special social and political<br />
conditions.<br />
Some New York importers fear that the free<br />
importation of books devoted to scientific research<br />
is in danger at this time of proposed tariff revi-<br />
sion, as the lahour unions, not appreciating how<br />
small is the sale of these books, the importance<br />
of which is mainly to the student, seem to be<br />
stirring themselves for an attack on this section<br />
of the present law. The following circular was<br />
sent out on Nov. 27:<br />
"To Collectors and other Officers of the<br />
Customs:<br />
"The attention of (Xficeiu of the Customs is<br />
invited to paragraph 410 of the Act of August<br />
28, 1894, which is as follows:<br />
Books, engravings, photographs, bound or unbound,<br />
etchings, music, maps, and charts, which thall have been<br />
printed more than twenty years at the date of importation,<br />
and all bydrographic charts and scientific books and<br />
periodicals devoted to original scientific research, and publi-<br />
cations issued for their subscribers by scientific and literary<br />
associations or academies, or publications of individuals for<br />
gratuitous private circulation, and public documents issued<br />
by foreign governments.<br />
"It has been represented that books aud<br />
periodicals not strictly 'devoted to original<br />
scientific research' have been admitted to free<br />
entry, under too broad a construction of para-<br />
graph 4io; the Department accordingly notifies<br />
Officers of Customs that the terms of the law must<br />
he carefully observed.<br />
"The Solicitor of the Treasury advises the<br />
Department that, in his opinion, the words<br />
'scientific books and periodicals devoted to<br />
original scientific research' relate to new dis-<br />
coveries in the field of science, and do not include<br />
text-books, compilat ous and discussions of scientific<br />
subjects already understood.<br />
"This construction of the law is concurred in<br />
by this Department.<br />
"Charles S. Hamlin,<br />
"Assistant Secretary.<br />
"1896. Department Circular No. 158. Division<br />
of Customs."<br />
This circular is generally believed to have been<br />
caused by the influence of the typographical<br />
unions, and although in itself it is of compara-<br />
tively little importance, it shows the activity of an<br />
influence which will undoubtedly do all it can<br />
during the reconstruction of the tariff to increase<br />
the duties on books.<br />
Norman Hatgood.<br />
NOTES AND NEWS.<br />
ri^HE opinion of Mr. Chitty, Q.C., will he read<br />
B with considerable interest by editors of<br />
magazines and journals. According to this<br />
opinion an editor does not protect himself by the<br />
usual announcement that lie will not be responsible<br />
for the safety or the return of MSS. sent to him.<br />
It is, of course, quite clear that some way must be<br />
found out of this impasse. My own sympathies<br />
are entirely with the editors, l>ecause I know<br />
something of the mass of "stuff" that is poured<br />
in upon them from all quarters. In the case of<br />
journals which have a limited circulation, the<br />
return postage of MSS. and the extra clerical<br />
expense in sending them back, are a serious con-<br />
sideration. The difficulty is this: An editor<br />
generally depends to a certain extent on contribu-<br />
tions uninvited; out of a hundred things sent in,<br />
he finds one that he is aide to accept: the other<br />
ninety-nine he has to reject. Shall he throw<br />
them into the waste-paper basket, or shall he<br />
send them back to the contributor? Generally he<br />
does tli3 latter, but demands very proper] v stamps<br />
for return postage. Sometimes he announces that<br />
he does not ask for outside contributions, and<br />
that he will not send them back. And now this<br />
opinion informs him that he has no right to take<br />
up this position. Fortunately, The Author is a<br />
paper whose aims and ruison d'etre are so limited<br />
that the editor is not overwhelmed with MSS.<br />
We are bound by our Articles of Association to<br />
protect and define literary property in every way,<br />
and to throw light upon every dark place dis-<br />
coverable—these aims do not much encourage the<br />
casual outsider. However, as I said above, my own<br />
sympathies in this matter of MSS. rejected are<br />
entirely witli editors, and I hope that they may<br />
find a way out.<br />
What right has publisher or editor to alter,<br />
add to, or omit any part of an author's manu-<br />
script? In my own view, none, if the work<br />
is signed. It seems impossible to believe that<br />
any Court of Law would hold that he has the<br />
right of making changes except in work that is<br />
unsigned. If a writer offers an article to a news-<br />
paper or journal which is accepted by the editor<br />
us an anonymous contribution, or if he writes<br />
an anonymous article, say, as a member of the<br />
staff, he has no reputation to make or to lose<br />
by this piece of work. Moreover, the editor<br />
assumes the whole responsibility for the article.<br />
The contributor, to put the thing plainly, sends<br />
in a piece of work which may be altered or<br />
finished, or changed in any way that the respon-<br />
sible editor pleases. But when a paper or a book<br />
is signed, everything is different. The reputation<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 223 (#271) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
223<br />
of the author is concerned in it; he presents hi-;<br />
work as his, all his, and no other's. He sells, or<br />
gives, the right of publishing this MS. as his;<br />
he does not invite, nor would he accept, the<br />
degradation of having his work corrected.<br />
This position has been repeatedly taken up in<br />
these columns. It is, however, greatly to be desired<br />
that the question should be heard in a Court of Law.<br />
Meantime, here is a case which happened recently.<br />
The author, a well-known novelist, arranged for<br />
the serial right of a story in a certain periodical.<br />
The story was to appear in the magazine first,<br />
anonymou-ly; but in volume form afterwards.<br />
The editor had to deal, therefore, with an anony-<br />
mous work which might seem to give him the<br />
right of alteration. But, as the work was to<br />
appear afterwards with the author's name, it was<br />
only anonymous for so many months. Therefore<br />
the author would have had to explain that the<br />
differences between the volume form aud the<br />
serial, if any, were due to the editor and not<br />
made with her consent; and that she had not<br />
invited the editor's corrections, and did not<br />
admit his literary superiority or his power of<br />
improving her style.<br />
Now when the proofs came in, she found that,<br />
certain alterations had been made. She refused<br />
absolutely to accept them. She said that she had<br />
sent in a MS. to be used for a certain purpose,<br />
exactly as it left her hands, and that she neither<br />
invited, nor would she accept, any "improve-<br />
ment " offen d by the editor. She therefore for-<br />
bade the publication of the story in its amended<br />
form, and took away the MS. to another publisher,<br />
who brought it out in his magazine. She might<br />
perhaps have insisted on the publication of the<br />
story as agreed upon: in that case the matter<br />
would have been taken, very usefully, into the<br />
Courts. Meantime, novelists are warned against<br />
such alterations. The name of the magazine is<br />
with Mr. Thring.<br />
The following is from the Literary World of<br />
Jauuaiy 15:—<br />
May I be allowed to put on record, through the<br />
columns of your paper, my indignant protest against the<br />
alteration by publishers of the text of an author's book<br />
without his knowledge or consent 1 There are five editions,<br />
dated 1895, of a book which I wrote thirty-two years ago<br />
now offered for sale by a certain firm of publishers,<br />
in which four outrageous alterations have been made<br />
in the text for tho purpose of suiting certain en-<br />
gravings introduced into the more expensive editions.<br />
On page 207 ten lines are inserted giving Robin the<br />
character of a mean and contemptible rascal which is<br />
■entirely at variance with the spirit of my story. Page 334<br />
has had three lines taken out and three inset.j j which<br />
confuse the narrative in a ridiculous q,. ' On<br />
page 41S an incident has been wholly revereej1 0 ^ what<br />
I wrote; while upon page 479 eleven lines have been<br />
cut out t> introduce a pi'ture which has nothing what-<br />
ever to do with the text. The story H thus twisted<br />
altogether from the purpose which I originally designed.<br />
The question, never yet decided, is whether a<br />
publisher who has bought the copyright of a book<br />
has bought the right to publish any part or<br />
parts of it, to omit portions, to insert portions—<br />
in a word, to alter as he desires.<br />
Suppose, for instance, a publisher in possession<br />
of the copyright of Shakespeare's sonnets. Would<br />
he be allowed to alter the lines; to take out<br />
phrases which he disapproved; to add lines<br />
which chinged the sonnet into .something non-<br />
descript? Suppose a publisher owning the<br />
copyright of Tennyson. Would he lie justified<br />
in publishing a Tennyson "improved" by a<br />
scribe in his own office? The thing is absurd.<br />
Why, then, is it less absurd when a lesser than<br />
Tennyson is concerned? The principle is the<br />
same, whether the author is at the top or the<br />
bottom of the ladder. But the question has<br />
never been decided in a court of law. Surely it<br />
is time to get it decided. Meanwhile, the tempo-<br />
rary remedy is for the author to insert a clause<br />
in the agreement that the right of publishing<br />
means publishing as a whole and without altera-<br />
tion or omission of any kind.<br />
The reading of tho L?eds people is shown jby<br />
the returns of the Free Libraries, Fiction, of<br />
course, heads the list. The most popular authors<br />
are Marie Corelli, Dora Russell, " Rita," and Mrs.<br />
Hungerford, among th 3 factory girls and the<br />
middle class of pe q>!e. Coming to the men, who<br />
seem numerically of less importance than the<br />
women in Leeds, "Trilby," of which twenty<br />
copies are on the shelves, is never left on the shelf<br />
for ten minutes; Stanley W. ymau and Conan<br />
Doyle are the next favourites. Annie S. Swan is<br />
a good second to Marie Corelli. Leeds people do<br />
not read poetry at all. Crockett and Maclaren<br />
and Barrie seem to be under a cloud. It will be<br />
only temporary. Hardy's earlier books are in<br />
great request. "Ouida" is forgotten. But—to<br />
repeat—Marie Corelli leads the .way. "More<br />
books of Marie Gondii's a e being lead at this<br />
moment than of any oLher novelist, living or<br />
dead." -■-<br />
It is the part of the complete critic to explain,<br />
and to account for. the popularity of a writer.<br />
Now the most popular writer of the day, who<br />
changes from year to year, is one X. Why?<br />
What qualities are those which create such a<br />
popularity? Weakness? No. Silliness? No.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 224 (#272) ############################################<br />
<br />
224<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
Vulgarity? No. A w.'ak, or silly, or vulgar<br />
writer never becomes, therefore, popular. Why,<br />
then, is this X. popular \ No critic so far has<br />
ever considered the question. It is no answer to<br />
fay that people like skimble-skamble stuff;<br />
because they do not. They will not have it.<br />
Tennyson, Scott, Longfellow, Marryatt, Dickens,<br />
have always had an immense hold upon the<br />
people. Their work is not skimble-skamble stuff.<br />
The critics, when a writer becomes popular, have<br />
got to explain why. Then let them tell us what<br />
qualities has this X. in common with these<br />
writers? I put aside altogether the theory that<br />
what the people desire is vulgarity and clap-<br />
trap. If that is what they want, why, I repeat,<br />
are the authors above-named in such request and<br />
popularity?<br />
The case lately brought before the courts, which<br />
was concluded by Mr. Stead's offer to submit<br />
extracts to the publishers, is a really remarkable<br />
example of the prevalent belief, not only that<br />
literary property does actually belong to the<br />
publisher, but that it must belong to him. Now, if<br />
he buys it, of course, it belongs to him: but if he<br />
administers it on terms agreed upon it ought not,<br />
and need not, belong to him. Arbitrarily to<br />
assume that property belongs necessarily to a<br />
steward or agent—to argue on the assumption<br />
that it must belong to him—would be remark-<br />
able if it were so treated by a newspaper; it<br />
becomes more remarkable still when it is so<br />
treated by a judge, by counsel, and by every-<br />
body concerned. Besides, apart from the pecu-<br />
niary part of the question, has the author nothing<br />
to say as to reprinting portions of his own<br />
work? Surely the author is the person most<br />
concerned. His reputation depends upon the<br />
faithful presentation of his work. Yet no one<br />
in this case suggested that the author had any-<br />
thing whatever to do with the business. One<br />
would like to ask the counsel concerned if they<br />
think that the publisher really ought to have and<br />
to hold, and is entitled to have and to hold, literary<br />
property created and originally belonging to the<br />
author.<br />
The secondhand booksellers not only under-<br />
stand their trade, but have also of late introduced<br />
a few allurements or temptations for the collector.<br />
A favourite dodge is to advertise "first editions."<br />
Now one who really collects has no notion of col-<br />
lecting for a fall, but for a rise. How many first<br />
editions of the present current literature will have<br />
the slightest value in twenty years' time 'i One<br />
says this without in the least wishing to under-<br />
rate the writers of the present day. They now<br />
command the ear of the reading world. Do they<br />
expect to command the ear of the reading world<br />
in twenty years to come? Anthony Trollope was<br />
no mean writer in the sixties; he commanded the<br />
ear of an enormous circle of readers. Who would<br />
care to purchase at a fancy price, as believing<br />
that it will run up in value, the original edition of<br />
any one of his novels? There are many other<br />
names whom it would be cruel to mention, in<br />
their day greatly popular, but now subject to<br />
that law of selection which takes one or two of our<br />
author's works and consigns the rest to oblivion.<br />
Nay, these gentlemen still set down in their cata-<br />
logues at a hi«hprice first editions of books ten or<br />
twenty years old, and now as completely forgotten<br />
as if they had never been written. But I sup-<br />
pose your genuine collector passes them by.<br />
We have on several occasions spoken in these<br />
columns on the folly of paying for publication.<br />
A correspondent (in the January number of<br />
The Author) touches the true reason when<br />
he points out the overwhelming desire of a<br />
man, who has made a book, to present it to the<br />
public. He wants to be heard. He thinks that<br />
if he gets a chance, he too will run over the-<br />
face of the habitable globe like Du Maurier with<br />
"Trilby." It is no use trying to keep him back:<br />
he must publish : he will pay. Therefore he pays;<br />
but does he publish? Let us consider. A con-<br />
sideration of the facts may lead him to understand<br />
that he pays: but he certainly does not publish.<br />
To publish means not only printing and bindin,g<br />
but also offering to the world. How is a book<br />
offered to the world? By the booksellers, by<br />
the libraries, by the advertisements. There<br />
is no other way. If a book is not so-<br />
offered it is not published. Now, what happens?<br />
A MS. is submitted to publishers to whom as a.<br />
class we have always accorded the natural desire-<br />
to acquire the right of publishing good work.<br />
Three readers, one after the other, decline this-<br />
MS. That ought to be enough. Unfortunately it<br />
is quite true that readers have been known to-<br />
make terrible mistakes; it is understood that they<br />
do not at all times understand what people want;<br />
perhaps a nvstake has been made over this MS..<br />
Therefore the author listens while a proposal is<br />
made to him. He accepts; he pays beforehand,<br />
and he pays through a feature not intended for-<br />
the process; his book is ready. Then? Then—<br />
nothing. The booksellers will not take it; the<br />
libraries will not take it; in most cases it is not<br />
seriously offered to booksellers; it is not adver-<br />
tised: in a word, it is not published. We come<br />
to another question; if it is not published, if it<br />
is not produced, if it is not offered, if it is not<br />
distributed, if it is not circulated; what is. done-<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 225 (#273) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
225<br />
. to it? It is shelved until the pretended publisher<br />
writes a curt letter explaining that he cannot<br />
have it taking up costly room upon his shelves.<br />
Then it is sold as remainder stock at nothing a<br />
volume: and thus the end of a dream. But it is<br />
no use telling the aspirant these things. He<br />
wants a chance; he pays a hundred pounds; and<br />
he gets no chance; not the faintest chance.<br />
Now I will tell this dreamer how he can get<br />
his chance. He must find a printer who will<br />
undertake his work at reasonable terms; he must<br />
undertake to pay for printing and binding on<br />
easv terms — say with six months' credit; he<br />
will bind, however, only a few copies to begin<br />
with; he must then print a circular describing<br />
the work, designed for booksellers; he must<br />
offer copies on sale or return on liberal terms;<br />
where a country bookseller takes copies the<br />
author must advertise ; he must advertise a little,<br />
feeling his way as the book goes; he must issue<br />
it to the trade from his own house unless he can<br />
arrange with his binder; he must send it for<br />
review to a chosen list of London and country<br />
papers, remembering that the dailies are by far<br />
the best friends of literature as regards<br />
advertising; and, after a year or so of this<br />
amusement, if he is still out of pocket, he will<br />
certainly find that he has done a great deal better<br />
with his book than if he had paid his hundred<br />
pounds down to the man who made him so<br />
"favourable" an offer.<br />
The note from the Daily Chronicle on the<br />
Byron letters serves as a reminder that letters<br />
belong to the person who writes them, and not to<br />
the person to whom they are written. The<br />
latter, of course, may say that the paper is his,<br />
and the ink: he may put them away and lock<br />
them up: in this way he may prevent their<br />
publication. He cannot, however, publish them<br />
himself without the consent of the heirs and<br />
executors of the writer, nor can he forbid their<br />
publication. Let us have patience; in another<br />
generation or two there will be less sensitiveness<br />
as to private details. Would Shakespeare's great-<br />
great-great grandson care very much about that<br />
alleged drinking bout which hastened the end of<br />
the Stratford Bard? I think not.<br />
'• Mr. X." proposes (see the January number)<br />
that the leading men and women in letters<br />
shall agree to boycott all editors vrh0 do not<br />
pay on accepting an article, aurj veep tne<br />
author waiting for months or ^ * The<br />
first difficulty is that even if ill the > a men<br />
and women of letters did agree to such an act of<br />
association it would not make the least difference<br />
in the world to the editors of magazines, because<br />
they can get on pretty well without the leading<br />
men and women of letters. Not these—not the<br />
historians, poets, novelists, dramatists, who stand<br />
in the front rank—keep the magazines supplied,<br />
but quite another folk. In fact, these celebrated<br />
people are not generally wanted at all. The writers<br />
to whom the editor very naturally looks are<br />
the experts in the subjects—scientific, political,<br />
economical—which are at the moment before the<br />
world. Next he looks for travellers who can<br />
discourse on the countries at the time most before<br />
the world. The things of the day arranged, he<br />
has the choice of an immense number of articles<br />
offered to him by people who desire, above all, to<br />
appear before the world. A great many can write<br />
cleverly and attractively within their range.<br />
One of our greatest historians, Sir John Robert<br />
Seeley, who died a year or two ago, hardly<br />
ever wrote in any magazine. One could mention<br />
other great names whose record is unconnected<br />
with any magazine, or only occasionally connected<br />
with one. When these great writers send an<br />
article to a magazine it is generally by invitation.<br />
They do so in entire ignorance of the character<br />
of the editor, who, on the levels on which these<br />
scholars write, is not likely to be one of the kind<br />
objected to. Boycotting, in fact, is impossible<br />
and impracticable, even if it were desirable. My<br />
correspondent laments that he is not independent.<br />
Then, to speak plainly, he must put up with<br />
the consequences of dependence, which involve<br />
waiting upon the will and pleasure of the editor.<br />
Here, however, is another way. How would it<br />
do to inform the editor courteously that the con-<br />
tributor is grateful at being accepted, but that<br />
'his circumstances oblige him to offer the editor<br />
no more than three or four or five months of<br />
delay. If the editor does not see his way to<br />
accepting such a limitation of time, he will send<br />
back the contribution, with no bad feeling or<br />
angry words, or quarrel, on either side at all. If<br />
the editor really desires the paper he will accept<br />
the limitation or propose another. And this is<br />
the only solution of the grievance that seems to<br />
me feasible. Walter Besant.<br />
THE BYEON_PAPEES.<br />
INTEREST has been excited by the announce-<br />
ment which comes from the legal repre-<br />
sentatives of the Byron family. The effect<br />
of it, of course, is that they mean to "exercise<br />
their right of controlling the publication" of any<br />
new Byron letters or documents. In other words<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 226 (#274) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
they say " yon must not publish anything which<br />
Lord ov Lady Byron may have written unless you<br />
first have our approval."<br />
There have been signs for some time back that<br />
we are hastening towards a Byron boom, when<br />
any fresh material would be keen reading for the<br />
public. It was important to understand the full<br />
meaning of the official announcement—what was<br />
behind it—and accordingly light has been sought<br />
in a quarter likely to be well informed. What<br />
was gathered? The executors of Lord Byron were<br />
Lord Broughton and Mr. Kinnaird. After their<br />
deaths their authority descended to others. The<br />
names of the present holders of that authority one<br />
did not learn. Similarly, stewardship over any<br />
documents Lady Byron may have left is repre-<br />
sented to-day. Speaking generally, and taking<br />
both Lord Byron and Lady Byron, a variety of<br />
material his been in the possession of the family.<br />
Other material is known to be scattered about—<br />
letters written by the Poet or Lady Byron—<br />
and over these it is now proposed to exercise the<br />
right of approval so far as publication is con-<br />
cerned. That is to say, if a man writes a letter<br />
to any person, that person does not secure the<br />
least ownership in the contents. What was<br />
written remains the writer's, although the paper<br />
and the ink are nece'sarily the property of the<br />
receiver.<br />
So the law was explained; and when the<br />
writer of a letter dies his ownership in its con-<br />
tents descends to his executors. Here we havo<br />
the position in reference to Byron correspondence,<br />
and the reason why the legal representatives have<br />
made their intimation is simple enough. They<br />
wrish to protect the memory of the Byrous from<br />
any misapprehensions or misunderstandings—to<br />
obviate the publication of unauthorised or<br />
unauthenticated Byronia. Since Byron's death,<br />
for instance, two distinct sets of forgeries are said<br />
to have been palmed off upon the world as true<br />
Byron letters. Again, neither Byron nor Lady<br />
Byron would have cared, perhaps, to have some<br />
of the letters published which they did .write,<br />
One sees, therefore, the iutended effects of the<br />
announcement, and the line of law upon which it<br />
is based. As to the latter, it appears that an<br />
instance in point aro.-e only a few years ago in<br />
reference to the proposed publication of some<br />
Bulwer Lytton letters, and then the rights of the<br />
executor were duly upheld. It will be curious<br />
to see how the Byron renaissance is affected by<br />
what may. perhaps, be describe! as an ultimatum<br />
of considerable dimensions.—Daily Chronicle,<br />
Jan. 25, 1897.<br />
IS THERE AN AMERICAN LITERATURE?<br />
rTYHE Dial writer. Mr. Pattee, who pleads<br />
J for American literature as distinct from<br />
British, or, as he calls it, English litera-<br />
ture, seems to me to confuse things. No one, for<br />
instance, would claim a great poem written by<br />
an American in the United States as belonging<br />
in any sense to this country. No one has ever<br />
claimed Lowell, Longfellow, Holmes, Emerson,<br />
Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe, or any<br />
other great American writer, as belonging to the<br />
literary history of this countrv. On the con-<br />
trary, we are ready to acknowledge all that Mi-.<br />
Pattee claims for them—that they are distinc-<br />
tively American; their atmosphere, their con-<br />
ditions are American j no Englishman would<br />
have written quite in their way: their speech<br />
betrayeth them. But what is the language in<br />
which they write? It is English, the language<br />
that grew up in this island, in the southern part<br />
of this island, which is called after the name of<br />
that southern part; the language which is spoken<br />
by five great Republics and one Kingdom : or, if<br />
you please, the language spoken by two great and<br />
powerful Confederations. Unless, therefore, one<br />
of these Confederations changes its language, its<br />
literature will continue to be, first and above all<br />
things, that of its language. Cannot American<br />
literature be content uot to be tied by apron<br />
strings, as Mr. Pattee puts it, to its mother, but<br />
to be an independent branch; perhaps destined to<br />
be the greater of two branches, perhaps destined<br />
to be one of five or six branches of the noble<br />
literature which we call English 'i There are no<br />
more illustrious ancestors that the American poet<br />
can desire than those which he possesses. They do<br />
not make him dependent on the place where they<br />
flourished: they are his possession, while Byron,<br />
Tennyson, Browning,are in no sense his possession,<br />
any more than Lowell and Longfellow are the<br />
possessions of Swinburne and Austin Dobson.<br />
Did not Professor Brander Matthews put the<br />
matter plainly and sufficiently when he claimed<br />
that English literature covers all that is written<br />
in the English language, while that by no<br />
means gives English literature to England,<br />
whose modern literature is British? There<br />
is, in a word, the local and current literature,<br />
most of which is ephemeral and fleeting : there<br />
are many thousands of books p\iblished every<br />
year in this country which never get beyond the<br />
narrow seas, and are, indeed, not much wanted<br />
within those limits. Good or bad, they make<br />
up modern British literature: a very few,<br />
which are demanded all over the world by those<br />
who speak the common langu<ge, form English<br />
literature. R. L.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 227 (#275) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
2 2 J<br />
EOOK TALK.<br />
MR. W. D. HOWELLS says that " there is<br />
no American poet who has done so much<br />
as James Whitcomb Riley to define the<br />
familiar America of most Americans, or to reveal<br />
the heart of our common life in terms of such<br />
universal import and appeal." Mr. Whitcomb<br />
Riley is a poet belonging to the same school as<br />
the late Eugene Field, of Chicago, the author of<br />
the lovely lyric "Little Boy Blue."<br />
Auer his bibliography of Robert Browning's<br />
works, which has been appearing in the Atkenieum,<br />
Mr. Thomas J. Wise is about to compile those of<br />
Lord Tennyson and Robert Louis Stevenson. He<br />
make.* an appeal for the loan of material, parti-<br />
cularly lists of magazine and newspaper articles<br />
by Stevenson. Mr. Wise's address is 15, St.<br />
George's-road, Abbey-road, St. John's Wood,<br />
Loudon.<br />
Mr. Herbert Flowenlew will very shortly pro-<br />
duce a satire under the title of " The Tenth Muse"<br />
(Fisher Unwin). Later on in the spring lie will<br />
bring out a novel, the name of which is not yet<br />
advertised, through Mr. John Lane.<br />
"The Dreams of Dania," a tale of Irish life,<br />
by the Rev. Frederick Langbridge, will be<br />
published shortly by Mr. James Bowden. It run<br />
last year in the Leisure J/our as a six months'<br />
serial.<br />
"The Three Daughters of Night" is the title of<br />
a new novel by Derek Vane, just published by<br />
Messrs. Hutchinson. This is the author's most<br />
important work since " The Sin and the Woman,"<br />
a story that excited a good deal of interest and<br />
some controversy on its appearance two or three<br />
years ago.<br />
A volume of the letters and speeches of the late<br />
Farl of Carnarvon is being prepared by Sir George<br />
Svdenham Clarke for publication under the title,<br />
'•The Defence of the Empire."<br />
Miss Marie Corelli's new novel, "Ziska," will<br />
appear from Mr. Arrowsmith's on the 15th inst.<br />
Mr. Crockett's new novel, "Lad's Love," will<br />
In? published a fortnight hence by Messrs. Bliss,<br />
Sands, and Co. It has appeared serially in a<br />
condensed form, and is spoken of as not having<br />
much " dialect," although it is a Galloway story.<br />
Mr. A. Hilliard Atteridge, who acted for a<br />
London paper as special correspondent with the<br />
British forces in the recent Soudan campaign, is<br />
about to publish, through Messrs. Innes a book<br />
011 the subject, entitled "Towards IfJ^j-tourn."<br />
Maps, portraits, and illustrations f 0rji the<br />
author's photographs will be given. 1<br />
There is to be a new volume of detective<br />
stories by "Dick Donovan" very soon, entitled<br />
"The Chronicles of Michael Danevitch" (who<br />
is supposed to belong to the Russian secret<br />
police). Messrs. Chatto and Windus are the<br />
publishers.<br />
The firm of C. Arthur Pearson, Limited,<br />
announce that they will greatly extend their book-<br />
publishing trade, and among their enterprises will<br />
be a series of volumes at 2s., by leading English<br />
authors, which will include travels, autobio-<br />
graphies, &c, as well as fiction. Mr. G. B.<br />
Burgin is to take charge of this development of<br />
Messrs. Pearson's business.<br />
Mr. Gladstone's complaint of the quality and<br />
the cost of modern uookbiuding has been followed<br />
up by enquiries made on behalf of the Stationer,<br />
Printer, and Fancy Trades Register, which<br />
publishes the opinions of Mr. R. Birdsall, North-<br />
ampton, Messrs. Kelly and Sons, London, and<br />
Mr. J. Rosenbluth, Edinburgh. Mr. Birdsall lays<br />
the blame on bad paper rather than bad glue.<br />
It would be interesting to know, he says, what<br />
proportion, if any, of linen fibre is now to be<br />
found in, say, fifty samples of modern printing<br />
papers. The only difficulty in so binding a book<br />
that it will lie open is the quality and thickness<br />
of the paper, some paper being so stiff and thick<br />
that no treatment will make the books lie flat.<br />
As to the cost, says Mr. Rosenbluth, "if you<br />
would ascertain what publishers pay for binding<br />
it would no doubt surprise you to know that<br />
books can open at all." Messrs. Kelly say that<br />
if material is less reliable to-day than it was fifty<br />
years ago, the workmanship is better.<br />
This trade organ, by the way, in speaking of<br />
Smith, Elder, and Co. v. Stead, remarks that<br />
reviews may serve three purposes: (1) first,<br />
though not foremost, to warn readers from bad<br />
books; (2) to excite interest in books, and lead<br />
readers of the review to read the book itself;<br />
(3) to act as a substitute for the volume under<br />
notice. Our contemporary, of course, thinks that<br />
the sooner the last course is stopped the better.<br />
It expresses, too, the idea which a correspondent<br />
originated in The Author some months ago,<br />
namely, that "perhaps it would be the best<br />
course for the review editor to consult the book<br />
publisher or copyright holder before he makes any<br />
questionable extracts."<br />
A novelette by Richard Wagner, entitled " A<br />
Pilgrimage to Beethoven," is being published by<br />
the Open Court Publishing Company. Few<br />
persons are aware, says the announcement, that<br />
Wagner devoted himself to belles let ties. This<br />
little volume, selected as a type of his literary<br />
productions, is a rare story, and gives, under the<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 228 (#276) ############################################<br />
<br />
22S<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
#uise of a mythical conversation with Beethoven,<br />
Wagner's own views of musical art.<br />
Dr. Nansen's book is to be called "Farthest<br />
North." Captain Sverdrup, who had charge of<br />
the Fram after Nansen left her, will supply an<br />
appendix to the book.<br />
Mr. Louis Becke will is <ue another volume of<br />
South Sea stories during the spring.<br />
Mr. Brayley Hodgetts has placed with Mr.<br />
Macqueen a story entitled "A Russian Wild-<br />
flower,'' which will appear soon.<br />
Mr. Clark Russell's new story, "The Last<br />
Entry," will be published by Messrs. Chatto<br />
and Windus. Mr. Russell has been remarking,<br />
in connection with the correction of his proofs,<br />
that printers can never be trusted with the lan-<br />
guage of the sea.<br />
Among other announcements of Messrs. Chatto<br />
and Windus are " Three Partners," by Mr. Bret<br />
Harte, and "A Missing Witness," by Mr. Frank<br />
Barrett.<br />
Mr. Leonard Merrick's story, entitled "Oue<br />
Man's View," will be published by Mr. Grant<br />
Richards, a new publisher.<br />
Miss Jessie Middleton, a journalist, has in<br />
preparation for early publication an edition of<br />
the poetical works of James Clarence Mangan,<br />
the Irish poet.<br />
From the new volume of Mr. J. H. Slater's<br />
"Book-Prices Current," we learn that from<br />
December, 1895, to November, i8q6, 47,268 lots<br />
of books were disposed of, and the amount<br />
realised was £80,111. This shows an average of<br />
£1 13*. lod. per lot, as compared with £1 11s. 4<Z.<br />
in 1895, ,£ 1 8s. 5<7. in 1894, and £1 6s. "jd. per<br />
lot in 1893. The reason of the increase, says<br />
Mr. Slater, is not that prices were in the aggre-<br />
gate much higher, but that a few very extra-<br />
ordinary aud extremely valuable books contributed<br />
so lavishly to the grand total that it was raised<br />
to the extent of several thousand pounds above<br />
its proportionate, and therefore normal, level.<br />
Amongst these were one imperfect copy of the<br />
first edition of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales,"<br />
printed by Caxton about the year 1478, sold for<br />
£1020, and another for £1880, which raised the<br />
average on the whole year's sales by as much<br />
as i*. 2d. Still, Mr. Slater thinks that books of a<br />
certain kind are selling rather better than they<br />
have done for some time past, and this change is<br />
due to the improvement in the state of trade.<br />
He points out this year again that among the<br />
classes of books which have fallen on evil days<br />
are the manufactured "limited editions" of<br />
contemporary authors, usually poets and essayists;<br />
they have absolutely vanished.<br />
Mr. B. Fletcher Robinson, who wrote the<br />
volume on " Rugby Football " for Messrs. Innes's<br />
Isthmian Library, has undertaken the general<br />
editorship of this series of books on sport,<br />
resigned, owing to the pressure of other work,<br />
by Mr. Max Pemberton.<br />
The fund for the Huxley memorial is now<br />
about £2900, which has come from all parts of the<br />
world. The full-sized model for the statue, on<br />
which Mr. Onslow Ford, R.A., is engaged, is well<br />
advanced; and the t rustees of the British Museum<br />
of Natural History at South Kensington have<br />
accepted the offer of the statue itself, which will<br />
be in marble. The nature of any additional<br />
memorial must largely depend upon the amount<br />
still to be subscribed. Professor G. B. Howes,<br />
Royal College of Science, South Kensington, S.W.<br />
is the hon. secretary.<br />
To his numerous contributions to the study of<br />
Early and Middle English, Dr. Sweet is adding<br />
a " Student's Dictionary of Anglo-Saxon." The<br />
head words are given in plain modern English,<br />
and brevity and conciseness have been aimed at<br />
throughout. The Clarendon Press will publish<br />
the work.<br />
Two important books about Africa are announced<br />
by Messrs. Methuen, namely, by Sir H. H.<br />
Johnston on " British Central Africa," and by<br />
Captain Sidney Hinde on " The Fall of the Congo<br />
Arabs." The latter is au account of the Belgian<br />
expedition to the Upper Congo.<br />
At a general meeting of the London Library<br />
the committee received authority to borrow<br />
£25,000 to cover the expenses of reconstructing<br />
the library. The number of members has<br />
increased in eight years from 1600 to 2380.<br />
The death took place recently of Mr. Robert<br />
Harrison, who was formerly secretary and libra-<br />
rian to the London Library, and in that capacity<br />
assisted a great many famous writers—Thackeray,<br />
Carlyle, Charles Reade, Kingsley, George Eliot,<br />
Lord Lytton. When writing " The Virginians,"<br />
Thackeray came for a Life of General Wolfe.<br />
"I don't want," he said, "an historical account<br />
of his career, Lord Mahon's book gives me that,<br />
but I want something that will tell me the colour<br />
of his breeches." The most conspicuously<br />
original man among them was Carlyle, Mr.<br />
Harrison told the Librarians'Conference in 1891:<br />
He often visited tbe library. His conversation was most<br />
amusing, fall of extravagant and exaggerated statements,<br />
and always ending with a loud langh, apparently at himself.<br />
He need the library books extensively for his later works,<br />
and was guilty of the reprehensible praotice of writing on<br />
the margins of their books. HW remarks were never<br />
meaningless, bnt chiefly consisted of corrections of dates<br />
or errors in the text.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 229 (#277) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 229<br />
COBRESPONDENCE.<br />
I.—The I. S. A. as Publishers.<br />
IS not the idea contained in the concluding<br />
remarks of Julie Sutter's letter feasible and<br />
worth close consideration? It seems almost a<br />
■duty for this Society to show the world of letters<br />
how a book should be turned out on true business<br />
lines, with every detail square and above board, no<br />
false parade at the start, no mystifying accounts<br />
at the finish. Such a departure could not fail to<br />
furnish a most excellent model. And why should<br />
not the venture prove lucrative as well? That<br />
the opportunity would be welcomed by members,<br />
I imagine there can be no manner of doubt.<br />
This old bird's eyes are growing a bit filmy. He<br />
hopes they may yet be gladdened with a sight of<br />
the inscription, I. S. A., upon many a title-page.<br />
According to Julie Sutter there are certain<br />
valuable hints in respect of literature " made in<br />
Germany" which are by no means to be despised.<br />
Let us hasten to consider them for our mutual<br />
advantage. Old Bird.<br />
Authors' Club, S.W., Jan. 9th, 1897.<br />
II.—Educational Criticism.<br />
As a University graduate, taking almost as<br />
great an interest in the cause of education as if<br />
I were personally engaged in that profession, I<br />
was very glad to read some recent letters in your<br />
journal on the subject of educational criticism;<br />
for it is difficult to form any idea of the amount<br />
of injustice perpetrated in this branch of litera-<br />
ture. Some time ago, the Spectator had some<br />
sensible letters commenting on the absence of<br />
rancour in the English political world; it were<br />
much to be desired that we could likewise speak<br />
of the absence of rancour in the educational<br />
world, but, unfortunately, such is not the case.<br />
Just as there is no branch of literature in which<br />
so much log-rolling is going on, so there is none<br />
in which so much relentless hostility is prevalent.<br />
It is true that, as your correspondent, "Fair<br />
Play," has pointed out, intelligent people will<br />
systematically disbelieve any virulent educational<br />
criticism; but, unfortunately, there are still some<br />
innocent readers who implicitly believe them, and<br />
others who are always inclined to accept the bad<br />
rather than the good. But the worst feature of the<br />
evil is that the whole department of educational<br />
criticism is brought into discredit by the ubiqui-<br />
tous educational log-roller, although there are<br />
still some honest and impartial educational critics.<br />
It is hard to see how the evil is to be eradicated,<br />
but the only practical remedy lies in the hands of<br />
editors, to whom your first corresjoadent on the<br />
subject, signing himself an "Education^ ^uthor,"<br />
has addressed a sensible warning. If they made<br />
a practice of rejecting all acrimonious and person-<br />
ally insulting criticism on educational works, they<br />
might succeed in putting down an abuse which<br />
causes so much mischief, and inflicts so much<br />
pain. _^^o__ B.A. (Oxon.)<br />
III.—A Want.<br />
A correspondent writes :—" S. G." asks in the<br />
last number, " Is it not time that we had a good<br />
German-English Dictionary?" There is a great<br />
probability that the want will be supplied. I<br />
have just seen announced that the celebrated<br />
Germanist Dr. Daniel Sanders has undertaken to<br />
compile the German-English part of Professor<br />
Muret's excellent "Encyclopodisches WSrterbuch<br />
der Englischen Sprache" (published by Langen-<br />
scheidt at Berlin), and that the first Lieferung<br />
will be issued by the beginning of this month.<br />
Professor Sanders combines profound scholar-<br />
ship with the knack of producing thoroughly<br />
practical books, and so it may be confidently<br />
expected that his German-English dictionary<br />
will supply the desideratum.<br />
IV.—The Country Contributor.<br />
May I call your attention to a want that is<br />
greatly felt among contributors to magazines<br />
who live in the country and abroad.<br />
Supposing we have from fifteen to twenty<br />
articles out at a time, we are obliged to buy from<br />
fifteen to twenty magazines weekly or monthly, as<br />
the case may be, till we see our work in print.<br />
Sometimes we are obliged to look out for more<br />
than a year before we are rewarded, so you may<br />
imagine how little profit remains.<br />
Are there none among your readers who for a<br />
small fee would undertake to make a weekly visit<br />
to a reading-room in town and look up our articles<br />
for us? We should be grateful.<br />
A Well-wisher.<br />
V.—A Voice from Chili.<br />
I am too far away, and generally too much in<br />
"the wilds," to keep in touch with the Society,<br />
but it may interest my fellow members to learn<br />
that in this little Republic they have a good<br />
precedent for claiming more liberal terms in<br />
regard to postage of printed matter.<br />
For the encouragement of literature all news-<br />
papers, magazines, and pamphlets are posted<br />
free in Chili; so that in the most out-of-the-way<br />
parts the press of Valparaiso or Santiago can<br />
be obtained by arrangement at face value.<br />
Letters may equally be re-addressed again<br />
and again without extra charge. In the cities<br />
letters are posted for 2 centivos, while from one<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 230 (#278) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE A UTIIOR.<br />
end of Chili to tli<* other they only cost<br />
5 centivos, or little over Jr/. When it is con-<br />
sidered that the length of Chili is about 2400<br />
miles, the advantages to the people of the<br />
country can be better appreciated. It is true<br />
that the working of the system is not equal to<br />
the intention. But England can say nothing as<br />
to this so long as the penny postage principle<br />
has been persistently ignored in practice, and in<br />
place of the rich and populous centres paying for<br />
the less populous extremities, no facilities—<br />
postal or telegraphic—are extended without local<br />
guarantees. We may hate given the world the<br />
lead, but it has passed us hopelessly in liberal<br />
treatment of Press and people. This will remain<br />
so long as the country is robbed, by a monopoly,<br />
of thrte millions sterling anuually, which belongs<br />
to the people for increased facilities.<br />
W. Anderson Sjhth.<br />
.Coronel de Chili, Dec. 16, 1896.<br />
VI.—Facetious Eeviewino.<br />
Has not the individual who uses a responsible<br />
calling as a vehicle for the advancement of his<br />
own facetiousness been somewhat lightly treated<br />
by those who have of late propounded their views<br />
upon the duties of critics? No one who takes the<br />
trouble to follow the methods of latter-day bouk-<br />
dissection can be blind to the existence of a<br />
school worked upon these offensive lines at the<br />
expense of the unfortunate writer. Most of us<br />
appreciate genuine humour. When, however, we<br />
supply the opportunities for the misplaced efforts<br />
of other.-, the relish for it is distinctly bitter.<br />
Few, perhaps, will dispute the fact that such<br />
notices are, in themselves, clever and amusing.<br />
But are they criticisms at all in the accepted<br />
sense? To employ the literary scalpel for the<br />
selfish purpose of slashing and wounding seems<br />
to me an altogether mischievous abuse of power.<br />
Yet such is surely only too often the practice of<br />
many reviewers of the class I venture to condemn.<br />
One experts advice rather than ridicule from the<br />
conscientious examiner. When he sacrifices his<br />
talents upon the altar of smartness the result is<br />
undignified. It is not a pleasant reflection that<br />
the stories we are weaving in serious inood may<br />
prove mere pegs for the facetious critic's sallies.<br />
Authors' Club, S.W. Cecil Clarke.<br />
Jan. 19th, 1897.<br />
VII.—The Fiction of the Future.<br />
As the editor shows himself so ready to throw<br />
open the columns of The Author to correspon-<br />
dence, I should like to elicit the ideas and<br />
opinions of those of our members and others<br />
competent to form an opinion on a question which<br />
has frequently occurred to me of late, and which<br />
seems to me of importance, namely, What is the<br />
present position of the English novel and the<br />
immediate future of English fiction?<br />
That we are in a state of transition and that<br />
the end of the nineteenth century brings with it<br />
the end of an era in fiction, that we are moving<br />
towards something different, appears to me to be<br />
the case. But whither are we tending?<br />
The long-laboured :md long-winded efforts- in<br />
fiction of some of our still most highly respec ed<br />
forefathers and foremothers, running into two<br />
or three hundred thousand words, and culmi-<br />
nating in or gravitating into the old yellow-back<br />
which was to be seen in every other reading<br />
young lady's hand, as characteristic of the mid-<br />
Victorian epoch of fictional literature, has become<br />
a thing of the past, and possibly the ancient<br />
yellow-back relegated to the retirement of the<br />
museums as examples to the young of what their<br />
grandfathers and grandmothers once read. The<br />
"three-decker," which has had a highly cieditable<br />
innings and done good service in its day, is now<br />
condemned, and will very soon no more meet<br />
modern requirements than Nelson's gallant old<br />
ship the Victory, now lying in Portsmouth<br />
harbour, will stand by the side of modern fast<br />
cruisers and ironclads. I can tell what won't be.<br />
I can tell that these forms of fictional literature<br />
will be things of the past. But what will take<br />
their place?<br />
Fiction, in some shape or form, the reading<br />
world will hunger for, and will pay for, and will<br />
have. The detective story has had its run. The<br />
noble red man enthralled the imagination of our<br />
schoolboy days, the untrodden wilds of Africa<br />
have been tapped of wonderous romance, our<br />
own social life has been depicted in all its<br />
forms. But what must be the next craze? What<br />
form will it take? is what I ask, and what I<br />
don't know, unless, if I may hazard a suggestion,<br />
we follow on American lines—short, crisp,<br />
original, thrilling, tragic, like everything else in<br />
the United States. But this would open a wider<br />
question than I can hope for a moment to be<br />
allowed space to discuss.<br />
One thing: it seems to me that the greater and<br />
increasing speed at which we live will render<br />
impracticable and intolerable to the patience of<br />
readers any but shorter or more exciting books,<br />
and these, of course, only of one-volume length.<br />
That serial publications will continue to absorb<br />
vast quantities of fiction there can be no doubt.<br />
But what besides? T. W. D. L.<br />
VIII.—Thirteen Copies as Twelve.<br />
In the January issue of The Author my old<br />
friend Mr. Tuer, who writes on this subject,<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 231 (#279) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
231<br />
appeal's to have misunderstood my letter which<br />
was published in your December number. My<br />
complaint was that the majority of publishers in<br />
rendering an author his royalty accounts pay him<br />
no royalty on every thirteenth copy, on the<br />
grounds that when a bookseller orders a dozen<br />
copies they have to give him a copy in.<br />
It is no doubt a fact that while many book-<br />
sellers are unable to order a dozun copies of any<br />
particular book, they, to put it in bookseller's<br />
language, secure the odd copy by sorting up<br />
various books; that is, they take a mixed dozen<br />
and are given a thirteenth volume of some kind<br />
in. At the same time publishers, particularly the<br />
smaller firms, undoubtedly sell a certain number<br />
of copies in ones, twos, and threes, in which < ase<br />
there is no thirteenth copy given away. The<br />
author is thus, one might almost say, defrauded<br />
of his royalty on a certain number of copies, and<br />
there also comes in the very important question<br />
whether the publisher is entitled to refuse to pay-<br />
royalty in those cases where he "gives away,"<br />
as he terms it, a thirteenth copy to any person<br />
ordering a dozen copies of one book, or of various<br />
books.<br />
I hope Mr. Tuer, and othars who may have read<br />
the letter, will understand that J was not running<br />
a tilt against the system of (to use Mr. Tuer's<br />
word) "bribing" the bookseller to take a dozen<br />
copies by giving hiin an extra one in; and in<br />
defending that system he has, if he will forgive<br />
me saying it, entirely missed my point. To<br />
include a few extra articles in the price (or to<br />
sell at a lower price, which is the same thing)<br />
when a large quantity is taken, is a common<br />
practice in most trades, and there is nothing un-<br />
reasonable in it. In the publishing trade the<br />
custom of handing to a bookseller thirteen<br />
volumes when he pays for twelve, seems to me<br />
unobjectionable, except so far as it gives the<br />
publisher an opportunity of declining to pay the<br />
author one-thirteenth of the royalties to which he<br />
is entitled. The arrangement seems to me not<br />
only primitive but unbusinesslike. In almost any<br />
other trade—that of the baker perhaps excepted—<br />
the thirteenth copy would be done away with in<br />
favour of increased discount on large orders.<br />
The bookseller is not really given a copy; he<br />
is sold the books at a lower price in considera-<br />
tion of his taking a certain number.<br />
I trust I have made it quite clear that both my<br />
letter and Mr. Hutchinson's remark referred not<br />
to transactions between publisher and bookseller,<br />
but between publisher and author, and that I<br />
was justified in applauding Messrs. Hutchinson's<br />
system of, when rendering royalty accounts,<br />
ignoring the fact that they give thirteen copies as<br />
twelve to the bookseller, on the grounds that the<br />
thirteenth copy is a matter of business between<br />
the publisher and bookseller, and does not<br />
concern the author. I am glad to know that in<br />
this opinion they do not stand alone.<br />
The whole subject, I would venture to sug-<br />
gest, might with advantage be discussed and<br />
settled by the new Association of Publishers and<br />
our Society. John Bickerdyke.<br />
IX.—Presentation Copies.<br />
The following correspondence should be of<br />
interest to readers of The Author. Blankton is<br />
really one of the wealthier quarters of London.<br />
Mr. " X. Y. Z." is strongly of an opinion that to<br />
comply with such a request would be not only<br />
weak-minded but wrong—his reason appears in<br />
his letter:<br />
From the Blankton Free Public Library<br />
(supported by J'oluntary Contributions) to<br />
X. V. Z., Esq.<br />
Dear Sib,—I am writing in the name of the committee<br />
of the above Institution to ask if you will kindly help us<br />
with some of your books, as a free gift. Finding they are<br />
asked for, but unfortunately owing to over small subscrip-<br />
tion list, being a voluntary library, the funds will not<br />
permit ns to purchase. All previous efforts to obtain<br />
assistance from the rates have proved unsuccessful. We<br />
have over 600 free readers, and could increase our number<br />
considerably if we bad more books. As many noted<br />
authors like yourself have most generously helped us, I<br />
trust that we may not appeal to you in vain to aid us to<br />
distribute good literature among the people, who cannot<br />
afford to buy books for themselves.—I am, dear Sir,<br />
The Librarian.<br />
Reply of X. Y. Z., Esq.<br />
Dear Sir,—1 have carefully considered your request<br />
for books. It seems to me that Blankton people should<br />
have the rudimentary public spirit necessary to support a<br />
free library adequately. I fail to see why I should atone<br />
for the meanness of the local ratepayer. I entirely respect<br />
your motivea, but I believe your methods are unsound.<br />
The more successful your library the less need (parsimony<br />
will say) for assistance from the public funds.—Yours<br />
faithfully, ^ X. Y. Z.<br />
X.—Reviewing.<br />
Unquestionably "Annabel Gray" is right to a<br />
certain extent. I know that in certain cases the<br />
editor in giving out a book to the reviewer<br />
reminds him that the author is a friend, and this<br />
ev' 11 when the policy of the paper is a perfectly<br />
honest one in matters of notice. There are<br />
probably few journals so completely organised<br />
that there is entire independence in the respect<br />
of reviewing. A journal for which I used at one<br />
time to do some reviews, the Nation, of New<br />
York, had a rule which was observed as rigidly<br />
as possible, never to give a book for review to a<br />
member of the staff who was either a friend or<br />
an en- my of the author, but it was impossible<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 232 (#280) ############################################<br />
<br />
232<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
to refuse to raview a book by a friend of the<br />
editor, and difficult to prevent this fact from<br />
influencing the mind of the reviewer. But if<br />
thi friendship involved also the giving of the<br />
advertisement to the paper it would be still more<br />
difficult to stop the quid pro quo, viz., a shade<br />
in the review. The translation of personal friend-<br />
ship into interested relation is so easy ihat it is<br />
difficult to draw any line of demarcation. The<br />
direct praise of a book because of the advertise-<br />
ment is, I should think, very rare with any journal<br />
of sufficient character to exercise any influence on<br />
the public, but there is a fonn of log-rolling in<br />
reviewing which is equally dishonest, and which,<br />
to my personal knowledge, has been in one<br />
eminent case tried with preat success. Several<br />
friends of the author, in more or less intimati<br />
relations with several hading journals, secured<br />
the reviewing of the book, and were provided<br />
with early proof-sheets of if, so that th«y had<br />
leisure to prepare elaborate reviews before the<br />
general public or the Press at large had a sight<br />
of it. Their reviews were all printed at the<br />
earliest moment possible after the issuing of the<br />
book, and before any unfriendly critic had a<br />
chance to say a word to stem the torrent of<br />
laudation which was set in motion by the clique.<br />
The consequence was, naturally, the impression<br />
on the public of an unanimity of approval which<br />
was far from being the fact. W.<br />
XI.—Reviewing ok Puffing?<br />
Most persons who care anything about<br />
literary criticism, and who reflect upon its<br />
condition in England to-day, will agree with<br />
your correspondent, Cecil Clarke, that "signed<br />
criticism" is desirable if any improvement is to<br />
be hoped for. But—and I have some know-<br />
ledge of the facts—I believe this change to bi<br />
imperative, not because unsigned criticism gives<br />
an opportunity for personal spite and malignity<br />
on the part of the reviewer, but because the<br />
present system of "puffs," by dishonest, incom<br />
petent "critics,'" is infinitely more injurious to<br />
anything that can be called literature, than the<br />
wholesale slashing and slaughter of the critics of<br />
yesterday. The argument that signed criticism<br />
by Jones or Smith would have no weight, may be<br />
disposed of in an instant. At the present<br />
moment with whom does the greater mass of<br />
reviews have any weight? Not certainly with<br />
any person of scholarship, taste, and acquaint-<br />
anceship with letters in England, France,<br />
Germany, and Italy. This body of readers<br />
attaches no more weight to the " notices" of one<br />
paper than another, and knows that on an<br />
average they are pretty much on the same level.<br />
When, as occasionally happens, the name of<br />
Professor Dowden, or Professor Hutchinson, or<br />
Mr. Hale White is appended to a review, no<br />
matter where it appears, the attentive considera-<br />
tion of those persons whom the French called<br />
lettres, is immediately secured, and the same<br />
process takes place when reviews appear unsigned<br />
by men of critical judgment and scholarship.<br />
This, however, only affects a small section of the<br />
reading public; whereas the puffing system<br />
carried on by most papers affects the mass of<br />
readers, and is no doubt responsible for the<br />
national taste in fiction at this moment. Books<br />
are puffed, either because the publishers are good<br />
advertising customers, or because the authoress<br />
meets the editor in society, or because she (or he,<br />
as the case may be) is a friend of the critic; or<br />
because the eminent Mr. So-and-so (also a friend)<br />
has described a volume of mediocre painstaking<br />
essays in extravagant language, and the "critic"<br />
is too ignorant or too timid to express an honest<br />
contrary opinion.<br />
For example, a few weeks ago a journal-—I<br />
will not say at what period in the day it appears<br />
—exhausted language to puff a second-rate<br />
cleverish novel. It was a lone: review, nearly a<br />
page long. Yet the glaring untruth to life—and<br />
what is more important to all artistic propriety?—<br />
which is to be found in the figure of a country<br />
servant who talks "epigrams" precisely of the<br />
same quality and order as the authoress's own,<br />
were never even hinted at. Now this review is<br />
not taken, as it ought to be, as the expression of<br />
opinion on the part of a young gentleman who<br />
verv likely had the privilege of talking to the<br />
brilliant and possibly handsome authoress the<br />
night before at dinner, but as the deliberate<br />
record of a paper with some literary reputation<br />
and tradition, and, per se, carrying authority and<br />
weight. Had the review been signed, it would<br />
be easy in future for persons of discernment to<br />
know what value to attach to the literary opinions<br />
of the critic responsible for it; and to discriminate<br />
between the reviews of this individual and those<br />
of better-informed and more impersonal members<br />
of the staff—a great gain all round. Here is<br />
another instance. There has appeared this season<br />
an edition of some of Hans Auderseu's stories<br />
which, though containing the actual incidents<br />
of the original, are, owing to the version in which<br />
they are given, nothing but a travesty of the<br />
exquisite art of this poet. Now I have taken the<br />
trouble to collect the "reviews" that have<br />
appeared; and I find amongst some twenty not a<br />
single comment upon the production of this<br />
version, so remote from the beauty of the real<br />
Andersen, but, instead, interjections about its<br />
being a "charming gift book " and the like. It<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 233 (#281) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
233<br />
is perfectly clear not only that these critics,<br />
attached to highly respectable papers with literary<br />
reputations, have never read the German version<br />
of the stories, but that they are furthermore<br />
unacquainted with the perfect rendering of them<br />
by Dr. Dulcken.<br />
Now why should persons wholly unacquainted<br />
with the elementary knowledge of their crafts-<br />
manship be entrusted with the functions of<br />
criticising? We cannot all be classical scholars,<br />
but surely, at least, the man or woman who<br />
gets up to criticise even the most trumpery<br />
modern novel should have some standard to<br />
which to refer; and how can he (or she) do this<br />
without a prolonged and persistent study of the<br />
best that has been written, at any rate in English,<br />
French, German, and Italian, and with some<br />
acquaintanceship, if only gained by translation,<br />
of the spirit of classical literature? Why should<br />
there not be an examination for the critic upon<br />
the book he is going to review with some such<br />
questions as these ?—<br />
What is bis age?<br />
What are his favourite authors?<br />
What are his chief studies?<br />
Does he ever read any literature prior to the birth of<br />
Tolstoi and Ibsen p<br />
Does he dine ont with authors and authoresses: and is<br />
he on terms of friendship with the fashionable ones?<br />
Is he usually honest in the expression of his opinion?<br />
F. H. L.<br />
MR. HERBERT SPENCER'S PORTRAIT.<br />
ALETTER from Mr. F. Howard Collins<br />
appeared in the Times on Jan. 6, com-<br />
municating the address of congratulation<br />
which had been forwarded to Mr. Herbert Spencer,<br />
and the reply of the latter to the same. Mr. Collins<br />
added: "I am happy to be able to state that<br />
Mr. Hubert Herkonier, R.A., has expressed his<br />
gratification at being asked by the committee,<br />
and has consented to undertake the painting of<br />
the portrait. An account, entitled 'The Herbert<br />
Spencer Portrait Fund,' has been opened at the<br />
western branch of the Bank of England, Burling-<br />
ton-gardens, W., to which donations may be sent."<br />
The following is the address •.—<br />
The Camp, Sunningdale, Dec. 16, 1896.<br />
Dear Sib,—We, the undersigned, offer you our cordial<br />
congratulations upon the completion of your "System of<br />
Synthetic Philosophy."<br />
Not all of us agreeing in equal measure with its conclu-<br />
sions, we are all at one in our estimate of the great<br />
intellectual powers it exhibits, and of the immense effect it<br />
has produced in the history of thonght; nor are we less<br />
impressed by the high moral qualities which have enabled<br />
you to concentrate those powers for so many years upon a<br />
purpose worthy of them, and, in spite of all obstacles, to<br />
carry out eo vast a design.<br />
To the many who, like us, have learned to honour<br />
the man while profiting by his writings, it would be a<br />
satisfaction to possess an authentic personal likeness of the<br />
author. It has therefore occurred to us that the occasion<br />
might be appropriately marked by requesting you to<br />
permit us to employ some eminent artist to take your<br />
portrait with a view to its being deposited in one of our<br />
national collections for the benefit of ourselves and of those<br />
who come after us.<br />
We hope that your health may be benefited by the<br />
leisure which you have earned so well, and that you may<br />
long continue to enjoy the consciousness of having com-<br />
pleted your work.<br />
The above address was signed by eighty-two<br />
of the leading men and women in the sciences<br />
and literature in the Kingdom. Mr. Herbert<br />
Spencer replied as follows :—<br />
"2, Lewes-crescent, Brighton, Dec. 19, 1896.<br />
"My dear Hooker,—If, as may fitly be said, the<br />
value of congratulations increases in a geome-<br />
trical progression with the eminence of those<br />
offering them, I may, indeed, be extremely<br />
gratified by the accumulation coming from men<br />
standing so high in various spheres. And an<br />
accompanying pleasure necessarily results from<br />
the good wishes expressed for my health and<br />
happiness during my remaining days.<br />
"The further honour offered has caused in me<br />
some mental conflict. Eight years ago, to the<br />
inquiry whether I would sit for a subscription<br />
portrait to be painted by Millais, I replied nega-<br />
tively, assigning the reasons that the raising of<br />
funds to pay the costs of conferring marks of<br />
approbation had grown into an abuse; that the<br />
moral coercion under which contributions were<br />
in many cases obtained was repugnant to me;<br />
and that I objected to have my known and<br />
unkuown friends asked to tax themselves to the<br />
required extent. These reasons survived, and,<br />
swayed by them, I recently sent a copy of the<br />
letter in which they had been stated to the<br />
gentleman with whom the proposal now made<br />
originated, thinking thereby to prevent further<br />
trouble. I was unaware to how large an extent<br />
the proposal had been adopted, and how dis-<br />
tinguished were the numerous gentlemen who<br />
had given it their support. I now find myself<br />
obliged either inconsistently to waive my objec-<br />
tion or else rudely to slight the cordially-expressed<br />
feelings and wishes of so manv whose positions<br />
and achievements command my great respect.<br />
Between the alternatives there seems to be practi-<br />
cally no choice. I am compelled to yield to the<br />
request made in so sympathetic a manner by<br />
signatories so eminent, and at the same time<br />
must express to them through you my full sense<br />
of the honour done me.<br />
"I am, my dear Hooker, sincerely yours,<br />
"Herbert Spencer."<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 234 (#282) ############################################<br />
<br />
234<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
OBITUARY.<br />
SIR TRAVERS TWISS, Q.C., D.C.L., the<br />
eminent jurist, died on Jan. 14, in his<br />
eighty-eighth year. His works included<br />
"A View of the Progress of Political Economy<br />
in Europe since the 16th Century," "The Law of<br />
Nations in Time of Peace," "The Law of Nations<br />
in Time of War," and " The Black Book of the<br />
Admiralty."<br />
Mrs. Hungerford died at Bandon, Ireland, on<br />
the 24th ult. She was the author of over forty<br />
novels, besides numerous short stories and maga-<br />
zine articles. Her literary career began when,<br />
as a young wife of eighteen years of age, she wrote<br />
"Phillis," which Messrs. Smith and Elder pub-<br />
lished on the strong recommendation of Mr. James<br />
Payn, their reader. "Molly Bawn," the novelist's<br />
second venture, had a great success, and all<br />
through the subsequent years Mrs. Hungerford<br />
had a constant public for her books. Among<br />
others, these included " The Duchess," very popu-<br />
lar in America, "Portia," " Airy Fairy Lilian,"<br />
"Rossmoyne," "A Life's Remorse," "Under-<br />
currents,'" "A Born Coquette," "Lady Patty,"<br />
"Nor Wife, nor Maid." Only three weeks ago<br />
Mrs. Hungerfcrd's last published book, a col-<br />
lection of (ales entitled "An Anxious Moment,<br />
&c." appeared; but two finished stories remain<br />
which it had been arranged should appear this<br />
spring. Mrs. Hungerford, who was twice married,<br />
was the daughter of the late Canon Hamilton,<br />
rector and vicar choral of St. Fanghnan's Cathe-<br />
dral, Ross Carberry, county Cork, one of the<br />
oldest churches in Ireland. The cause of death<br />
was typhoid.<br />
Mr. Frederic John Mouat, M.D., F.R.C.S.,<br />
LL.D., who died at Kensington, on Jan. I2tb,<br />
was president of the Royal Statistical Society<br />
from 1890-92, and member of the Senate of<br />
Calcutta University. He was the author of " An<br />
Atlas of Anatomy, with descriptive letterpress<br />
in English and Hindustani," "A Manual of<br />
Anatomy," and other works, and was joint author<br />
of "Hospital Construction and Management,"<br />
"Prison Ethics and Prison Labour," &c.<br />
A historian of India passed away in Mr. James<br />
Talboys Wheeler, whose works included "History<br />
of India," in four volumes; "Shorter History of<br />
India and the Frontier States," and " India under<br />
British Rule." Mr. Wheeler was Assistant-<br />
Secretary in the Indian Foreign Office during the<br />
Viceroyalty of Lord Lawrence, and afterwards<br />
held the post of secretary to the Chief Commis-<br />
sioner of British Burma.<br />
Mr. Robert Harrison, the Librarian of the<br />
London Library, (76), had lived about ten years<br />
n Russia in early life, and was well-informed<br />
upon Russian literature. He wrote a small book<br />
entitled "Nine Years in Russia"; and, in con-<br />
junction with the late Mr. Gostwick, " The Out-<br />
lines of German Literature." He also edited.<br />
Mackenzie's " Universal Dictionary of Biography."<br />
Sir Isaac Pitman, the inventor of phonography,<br />
died at Bath on the 22nd, aged 84.<br />
The Rev. Thomas Arnold, Northampton, (8o),<br />
was the author of "Education of Deaf Mutes:<br />
A Manual for Teachers."<br />
Miss Isabella Blackwood (85) was the eldest<br />
daughter of the founder and editor of Maga, and<br />
recollected Sir Walter Scott dining at her father's<br />
house at Newington.<br />
The venerable French geographer, M. Vivien de<br />
St. Martin, has died at the age of 94.<br />
LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS.<br />
Twenty Years of Reviewing. Professor George<br />
Saintsbury. Blackwood's Magazine for January.<br />
The Question of Reviewing. Opinions of authors in<br />
the Westminster Gazette for Jan. 7, 12, 15, 18, 19, and<br />
22; The National Observer for Jan. 19.<br />
Non-Literary People. The Spectator for Jan. 16.<br />
Victorian Literature. Andrew Lang. Good Words<br />
for February.<br />
Literary Recollections. Professor F. Max MiiUer.<br />
Cormopolis for January.<br />
William Morris: The Man and His Work. William<br />
Sharp. Atlantic Monthly for Deoember.<br />
Thackeray's Haunts and Homes. Eyre Crowe, A.R.A.<br />
Scribner's Magazine for January.<br />
A Brilliant Irish Novelist (William Carleton). G.<br />
Barnett Smith. Fortnightly Review for January.<br />
Novels of Irish Life. Macmillan's Magazine for<br />
January.<br />
Mr. Charles Lamb of the India House. Macmillan's<br />
Magazine for January.<br />
Hk.n 11 ik Ibsen. R. H. Shcrard. Humanitarian for<br />
January.<br />
The New Realism. H. D. Traill. Fortnightly Review<br />
for January.<br />
Coventry Patmore. Arthur Symons. The New Review<br />
for January.<br />
Professor Saintsbury delivers himself as the<br />
Old Reviewing Hand. Except that he once<br />
refused a book in Syriac, because he does not<br />
know the language, and that he has always<br />
declined books on the currency, he has written<br />
reviews of all kinds of work. He has had twenty<br />
years' experience, but he says that it is only at<br />
the end of the journey that a man becomes a<br />
really qualified reviewer. It is very fascinating<br />
work, and he is as sure that there is an Art of<br />
Criticism as he is that there is no Science in it.<br />
Specialist knowledge is not, as a rule, necessary<br />
or even desirable in the critic. There is at the<br />
present moment a little too much reviewing. The<br />
individual review, and even the "chorus of<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 235 (#283) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
235<br />
reviewers," indolent or otherwise, has lost some<br />
of its old authority. "Reviews come out so<br />
thick and so fast that any mark made by a single<br />
one on that elastic target the public apprehension<br />
is quickly effaced by others." Here is what<br />
Professor Saintsbury thinks is demanded at the<br />
present day:<br />
Fewer reviews; greater concentration of power and<br />
authority in those that are given; something like despotism,<br />
provided it be vigilant, intelligent, and benevolent on the<br />
part of the editor; better training in the history and methods<br />
of criticism in general literature and knowledge.<br />
The critic's business is in the main that of<br />
judging, not the man or the merits of the man so<br />
much as the work and the nature, rather than<br />
the merits or demerits, of the work. The blame<br />
and the praise will occur, but they are rather<br />
accidents than essentials of the critic's function.<br />
For the rest, Professor Saintsbury regards the<br />
mere "account rendered " as the worst review of<br />
all; though it is rivalled by the kind which<br />
simply makes the book a peg on which to hang<br />
the reviewer's own reflections, grave or gay. In<br />
all the varieties, however, ignorance, as usual, is<br />
more to blame than malice, and not ignorance of<br />
fact so much as what may be called ignorance of<br />
art.<br />
Some rather despairing views of the criticism<br />
in vogue have been elicited by the Westminster<br />
Gazette. Mr. David Christie Murray, for<br />
instance, has come to the conclusion that in the<br />
lump the criticism of fiction is hopelessly incom-<br />
petent or incurably dishonest. Perhaps a score<br />
of journals, he says, offer a real aid to judgment.<br />
Hundreds more are quite outside the sphere of<br />
sordid influences, but are manned by people who<br />
follow the lead of the critical smasher, whose<br />
business it is to make false coin pass for U'ue.<br />
"Edna Lyall" wishes that the rompte-rendu form<br />
of review were abolished, and helpful criticism<br />
take its place. Mrs. Sarah Grand has been<br />
astonished by the bias, the absence of anything<br />
like dispassionate consideration, and the utter<br />
want of discrimination shown by most of her<br />
critics; and she is sorry to say that she has also<br />
been horrified by their want of honesty. On the<br />
other hand, Mr. Crockett, Mr. Hall' Caine, and<br />
Mr. Blackmore express themselves generally<br />
satisfied, the last declaring, however, that the<br />
reviewer's first duty is to the public. Mr. Le<br />
Gallienne regards log-rolling. <r la Leigh Hunt,<br />
as desirable; but he differentiates between<br />
this and dishonest reviewing. Mr. Ian Mac-<br />
Laren thinks reviewers should be a distinct order<br />
in the- profession of letters, and that their<br />
reviews should be signed just as a report by a<br />
scientific expert is signed. Mr: Lends Hind, Mr.<br />
Henry Norman, and Mr. Clement Shorter, as<br />
literary editors, pronounce upon the cire which<br />
is taken to secure fair reviews and to detect<br />
merit. Log-rolling, says Mr. Norman, simply<br />
wouldn't pay; editors don't go to sleep in these<br />
matters, and if a reviewer of a reputable paper<br />
puffs a bad book, he is likely to hear of it very<br />
soon from his editor. Mr. Hind, the editor of<br />
the Academy, in the same way, is almost inclined<br />
to deny the existence of log-rolling altogether.<br />
Mr. Shorter, however, says the force of circum-<br />
stances is all too strong for us to get quite rid<br />
of it.<br />
Among ready suggestions of defect which<br />
crop up in all these letters, the most notable is<br />
that which comes at the same moment from Mr<br />
George Gissing and Mrs. Sarah Grand—namely,<br />
the reviewer's habit of quoting sentences uttered by<br />
a character in a novel as though they came from<br />
the author himself. "In one little story of mine,"<br />
says Mrs. Grand, "a very pompous character<br />
talks of a sound having 'penetrated to the inner-<br />
most recesses of audition.' One reviewer tore<br />
this passage from the text and quoted it as an<br />
example of my own execrable style, with a com-<br />
ment on the prica which he stated I received for<br />
such stuff." Mr. William Archer, unlike most of<br />
the other authorities, thinks the practice of<br />
pluralism is to be viewed with a certain suspicion;<br />
for, as we all have likes and dislikes, it is<br />
extremely unfair that the reviewer who has in<br />
one paper c.illed a book bad should take advan-<br />
tage of his influence to do the like in five<br />
or six other papers. Mr. Oswald Crawfurd<br />
suggests that reviews should be written<br />
from a less superior standpoint—authors being<br />
human beings, and reviewers not absolute gods.<br />
Mr. George Manville Fenn wishes, for one<br />
thing, that the reviewer could grasp the fact<br />
that a novel is often written to suit the needs<br />
and clientele of some particular magazine, and<br />
to appear in serial form. Mr. Max Pember-<br />
ton t'e:irs that there is a good deal of dishonest<br />
work done in the shadow of anonymity, and<br />
suggests that where a review is very bitter it<br />
should bear the signature of its author. "A<br />
Literary Editor" explains the difficulties of his<br />
office. He says that the residue of books—the<br />
crowd of novels and poems by altogether un-<br />
known people which remain after the others have<br />
been divided into their classes of history, science,<br />
novels by well-known writers, and so on—are<br />
generally dealt with by a more or less haphazard<br />
selection being made, the preference being given<br />
to the books of well-known publishers or to those<br />
which have been well advertised by the puff<br />
preliminary. And it. does not pay a reviewer to<br />
carry out the ideal of reading a large number of<br />
books for no purpose beyond the purely negative<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 236 (#284) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
one of ascertaining that they are not worth<br />
reviewing. A writer in the National Observer,<br />
finally, upholds the class of reviewers for per-<br />
forming well a thankless task, and says they<br />
will assure you that they have to read 'so much<br />
trash that when a well-written and able book<br />
comes their way they are almost reduced to tears<br />
of thankfulness.<br />
THE BOOKS OF THE MONTH.<br />
UNDER this heading it is proposed to give<br />
a monthly return of all the books worthy<br />
of being called books published during<br />
the month, excluding the little story books, &c.,<br />
which swell up the enormous total of books<br />
returned in the annual list.<br />
[December 24 to January 23—135 Books.]<br />
Allen, G. Historical Guide to Florence. 3 6 net. Richards.<br />
., Historical Guide to Paris. 3/6 net.<br />
Anonymous. Watch-Song of Heabane the WitneBS. 10 fi. Murray.<br />
Austin, A. The Conversion of Winckelmann, Ac. 6 - Macmillan.<br />
Bax, P. B. J. The Cathedral Church of St. Asaph, ft - net. Stock.<br />
Beardslev. Aubrey. A Book of Fifty Drawings. 10 6 net. Smitbers.<br />
Benson, E. F. The Babe, B.A. 6 - Putnam.<br />
Bewes, W. A. Church Briefs. 18 - net. Black.<br />
Bickerstaff, J. B. Philomath Triumphant, 4c. 1 - net. Andrews.<br />
Blackmore, E. The British Mercantile Marine. 3 6. Griffin<br />
Blaikie,W.G. Thomas Chalmers (Famous Scots Series). 16. Oliphant.<br />
Bolt, Ben. Anthony Jasper. 2 - Unwin.<br />
Bo wen, H. W. International Law. (/- Putnam.<br />
Braddon. Mrs. London Pride. Simpkin. Marshall.<br />
Breton, F. The Black Mass. f. - Hutchinson.<br />
Burroughs, J. (Selections). A Year In the Fields, t - Smith. Elder.<br />
Cartwright, Mrs. E. A Slight Indiscretion. 1- Unwin.<br />
Cberbullez.V. With Fortune Made (tr. M. E. Simkins). fi - Hutchinson<br />
Colls, W. L. Pictorial Photographs (18 Plates). 21- Kegan Paul.<br />
Conder, C. B. Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. 10H9-1291. 71\.<br />
Palestine Exploration Fund.<br />
Crane. S. The Black Riders, and other Lines. Heinemann.<br />
Crawford, J. H. Summer Days for Winter Evenings. Macc(ueen.<br />
Croker, B. M. Beyond the Pale. Chatto.<br />
Crump. A. Wide Asunder as the Poles. 6 - Longmans.<br />
Clodd, E. Pioneers of Evolution. 6 -net. Richards.<br />
Collectanea, Third SerieB (Professor Burrows, editor). 21, - Frowde.<br />
Craggs, J. U. Heavy Trial Balances Made Easy.'.' 6. Scientific Press.<br />
Dawkins. G. H. Present-Day Sires and the Figure System. H. Cox.<br />
Diet, of National Biography—xlix. Robinson—Russell. Smith, Elder.<br />
Duggan, J. The Life of Christ. 6/- Kegan Paul.<br />
Duryea, A. S. P. Sir Knight of the Golden Pathway. 5 - Putnam<br />
Dutton. Thos. Obesity. Its Cause and Treatment. It! net. Kimpton.<br />
Eales.S.J. Msbillon'B "St. Bernard "—iii..iv. 12- net each. Hodgej.<br />
Emerson. P. H. Ca.ibs. the Guerilla Chief. 6 - Nutt.<br />
Evans, E. E. Ferdinand Lassalle and Heleue von Donnizes. 1 -<br />
Sonnenachein.<br />
Eyre-Todd, G.. editor. Scottish Poetry of the 18th Century—v. -<br />
Glasgow: Hodge.<br />
Fletcher, J. S. God's Failures. S <> net. Lane.<br />
Fyne (N'eal). Tbe Land of the Living Dead. 3 6. Drane.<br />
Gardner, E. A. Handbook of Greek Sculpture—ii. 5 - Macmilltn.<br />
ciibbon. Edward. Autobiographies and Letters. 316. Murray.<br />
„ J. C. The Ambassador of Christ. Washbourne.<br />
Gissing, A. Tbe 8cholar of Bygate. HutchinBon.<br />
Gregor. N. T. History of Armenia. 3/- J. Heywood.<br />
Harland, M., and Herrlck, C. T. National Cook Book. 7 fi. Unwin.<br />
Harper, A. P. Pioneer Work in Alps of New Zealand. 21 - net.<br />
Harria, J.C. Sister Jane. 6,'- Constable.<br />
Haycraft, T. W. Executive Powers in Relation to Crime, fi -<br />
Bulterworth.<br />
Hazlitt, W. C. Four Generations of a Literary Family (The Hazlitts).<br />
31 fi. Redway.<br />
Henty, G. A. The Queen's Cup. 15-net. Chatto.<br />
Howetson, G. H. The Strike, and Other Poems. 5- Putnam.<br />
Higgs, H. The Physiocrats. 3 fi. Macniillan.<br />
Hoffman, Professor, editor. Every Boy's Book of Sport. Routledge.<br />
Holm, A. History of Greece (from Gorman)—iii. 'I - net. MacTifllan.<br />
Hungcrford, Mrs. An AnxiouB Moment, &c. 8(6. Chatto.<br />
Hunter. Sir W. W. The Thackerays in India. 2 6 net Frowde.<br />
Hutcbeson, J. 0. Young Tom Bowling. 5/- Warne.<br />
Ibsen, H. John Gabriel Borkman (tr. W. Archer). Heinemann.<br />
James, C. The Finger and the Ring, fi,- Ward and Downey.<br />
Johnson, J. C. F. Getting Gold; a Practical Treatise. 8 6. Griffin.<br />
Keashey, L. M. The Nicaragua Canal and the Monroe Doctrine.<br />
18.- Putnam,<br />
Keightley, S. B. The Last Recruit of Clare's. 6 - Hutchinson.<br />
Kingidev. Mary H. Travels in West Africa. 21 - net. Macmillan.<br />
Kirby, W. F. A Handbook to Order Lepldoptera—iii. 6/- W.H.Allen.<br />
Lang. A. Pickle, the Spy. 18;- Longmans.<br />
Langdon, W. E. Application of Electricity to Rail. Workings. Spon.<br />
Larchey, L. Narrative of Capt. Colgnet (tr. Mrs. Carey). 3/6. Chatto.<br />
Leach, A. F. English Schools at Reformation. 12 - net. Constable,<br />
^eakc, F. Historic Bubbles. Suckling and Galloway,<br />
Xentzner, K. Short Hist, of Danish Language. The editor, at Oxford.<br />
Lepsius, L. Armenia and Europe (ed. J. R. Harris). fi,-<br />
Hodder and Stougbton.<br />
Lindsay, J. Recent Advances in Theistlc Philosophy of Religion.<br />
12 6 net. Blackwood.<br />
Lorimer. G. C. (ed.). People's Bible History. 20 - Christ. Com. Co.<br />
Lowe, C.E. Cyclopaedia of Musicians and Musical Events. 2 - Weekes.<br />
Lydekker, R. (editor). The Royal Natural History. Warne.<br />
Macalister. R. A. S. Ecclesiastical Vestments. Stock.<br />
MacDonagh, M. Bishop Doyle, J.K.L 2 - Unwin.<br />
Marmery, J. V. Wit, WiBdom, and Folly. Digby, Long.<br />
Martin, Mrs. H. Gentleman George. Hurst and Blacken,<br />
Maurier, George du. English Society (Sketches). 12 6. Osgood.<br />
Miller, Esther. The Sport of the Gods. 6 - Innes.<br />
Morgan, Sir G. O. Eclogues of Virgil in English Hexameter Verse.<br />
4 C net. Frowde.<br />
Morrison, W. D. Juvenile Offenders. I',- Unwin.<br />
Newton, A. A Dictionary of Birds—Part iv. 7 6 nM. Black.<br />
Ogle. W. Tr. of Aristotle on Youth and Old Age, Ac. 7 fi. Longmans.<br />
Paullan (L.). The Beggars of Paris (tr. Lady Herschell). Arnold.<br />
Peek. H. (editor). The Poetry of Sport. Longmans.<br />
Peel. Sir R. A Bit of a Fool. 6 - Downey.<br />
Phillpotts, E. Lying Prophets. 6 - Innes.<br />
Phillpson, J. The Art and Craft of Coachbuilding. Bell,<br />
i'hilpot, Mrs. J. H. The Sacred Tree. 8 6 net. Macmillan.<br />
Post, M. D. Strange Scheme* of Randolph Mason. 8 fi. Putnam.<br />
Powell, Q. H. Animal Episodes and Studies in Sensation. 3 6 net.<br />
Redway.<br />
Putnam, G. H. Books and their Makers during the Middle Ages—li.<br />
Putnam.<br />
Renton. A. W. Law of and Work in Lunacy. Stevens and Haynes.<br />
Revnolds, Sir J. Essays and AddiesseB. 12/- net Macmillan.<br />
Rideal, S. Water and its Purification. Crosby, Lockwood.<br />
Risley, J. S. The Law of War. 12/- Innes.<br />
R. V. The Sentimental Vikings. 2 6 net Lone.<br />
Roberts, Lord. Forty-t >ne Years in India. 86/- Bentley.<br />
Roliettson, J. M. The Saxon and the Celt (Sociology). Univ. Press.<br />
Robinson, Percy. Relics of Old Leeds. Batsford.<br />
Romanes, G. J. Essays (edited by C. L. Morgan). 6 - Longmans.<br />
Rushington. W. L. Shakespeare an Archer. Liverpool. Lee.<br />
Sabbab, J. M. Fanti Customary Laws. 21 -net. Clowes.<br />
Salkeld-Cooke, H. Reprobatus, or the Journey of Death a -<br />
Church Printing Co.<br />
Sanders, N. A Comedy of Three. 1, - I'nwin.<br />
Sargant, A. Brownie (with music and illustrations). Dtnt.<br />
Scholey, H. Electric Tramways and Railways. 2 - Paasmore.<br />
SchwartzkopfT, P. Prophecies of Jesus Christ (tr. N". Buchanan*. •> -<br />
Edinburgh : Clark.<br />
Sen, Sun Yat. Kidnapped in London. 1 - Bristol: Arrowsmith.<br />
Sergeant. A. The Idol-Maker. 6/- Hutchinson.<br />
Sharp. Win. Madge o' the Pool, and other Tales. 2 6. Constab'e.<br />
Shuckburgh, E. S. History of Helvetian War. 1, 6. Clsy.<br />
Soldene. E- My Theatrical and Musical Recollections. 10 fi. Downey.<br />
Street, G. S. The Wise and the Wayward. 4 6 net. Lane.<br />
Stuart-Glennie, J.S., editor. Greek Folk Poesy—ii. IOC. Nutt.<br />
Tarliell, F. B. History of Greek Art 6 - Macmillan.<br />
Taylor, H. O. Ancient Ideals. W - Putnam.<br />
Thompson, N. (}.. and Cannan, F. L. Figure Skating. Longmans.<br />
Tirard, N. Diphtheria and Antitoxin. 7 6.<br />
Trobridge, O. By a Way They Knew Not. Spiers.<br />
Tubeuf, K. Diseases of Plants induced by Cryptogramic Parasites<br />
(tr. W. G. Smith). IS - net. Longmans.<br />
Tweedale. V. "And They Two ." 3(1 Redway.<br />
Tytler. Sarah. Lady Jean's Son. 6/- Jarrold.<br />
Underhlll, F. T. Driving for Pleasure. 28/- net. Heinemann.<br />
Warriner, John. National Portrait Gallery of British Musicians.<br />
14 - net. Simpson Low.<br />
Watson, R. S. Hist, of Lit. and Philos. Soc. of Newcastle. 21 - Scott.<br />
Watson. William. The Yoar of Shame. 2.6 net Lane.<br />
Watt, W. A. Theory of Contract in its Social Light. 3- Edin : Clark.<br />
Wenall. W. With the E-d Eagle. 6/- Chatto.<br />
White, u.,.v Strange, E. F. (editors). Canterbury Cathedral. 1 6. Bell.<br />
.. Salisbury Cathedral. 1 S. Bell.<br />
Wflemann. J. P. Brazilisn Exchange. Wilson.<br />
Willis, J. C. Manual and Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and<br />
Ferns. Clay.<br />
Wundt, W. Outlines Psychologv (tr. C. H. Judd). Williams & Norgato.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 236 (#285) ############################################<br />
<br />
AD VER TISEMENTS.<br />
iii<br />
IR/IE^IDir ABOUT MARCH.<br />
THE LITERARY YEAR-ROOK<br />
1897<br />
EDITED BY<br />
FREDERICK G. AFLALO, F.R.G.S., &c.<br />
An Exhaustive Book of Reference for all Writers and Readers<br />
of Books.<br />
AMONG THE CHIEF FEATURES ARE :-<br />
A Critical resumi of the past year's Literature, by Krnest Rhys.<br />
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of a number of Distinguished Authors.<br />
The Year's Obituary, with Portraits.<br />
A New and Complete Calendar for Literature.<br />
Some Account of the Chief Literary and Scientific Clubs, and Learned Societies<br />
and Institutions in the Kingdom, with their Addresses.<br />
Directories of Authors, Publishers, and Booksellers.<br />
A Directory of the chief Free, Public, and Subscription Libraries in Great Britain<br />
and Ireland.<br />
Pz-actical Information in connection with the Reading Rooms of the British Museum,<br />
Bibliothkque Nationale (Paris), and Knnigliche Bibliothek (Berlin).<br />
Articles on various Literary matters.<br />
Information concerning the Production of Books and the Processes in Illustration.<br />
&c, &c, &c.<br />
About 300 pages, crown 8vo., cloth, 3s. 6dm<br />
It is hoped that this volume, which deals with every matter of practical interest to<br />
the Literary World, will supply a long-felt want.<br />
LONDON:<br />
GEORGE ALLEN, RUSKIN HOUSE, 156, CHARING CROSS ROAD,<br />
AND OF ALL BOOKSELLERS.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 236 (#286) ############################################<br />
<br />
AD VER TISEMENTS.<br />
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♦ LEGAL AND<br />
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