https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/291/1896-06-01-The-Author-7-1.pdf 4ab7472e75360cf27e30193c4bc270ad PDF Text Text ���������������������������� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em> Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1896-06-01 Volume 7 Issue 1 Pages Page range in volume 1–24 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 18960601 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin XL he Hutbor* (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vol. VII.—No. i.] JUNE i, 1896. [Price Sixpence. For the Opinions expressed in papers that are signed or initialled the Authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as expressing the collective opinions of the committee unless they are officially signed by G. Herbert Thring, Sec. THE Secretary of the Society begs to give notice that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and requests that all members not receiving an answer to important communications within two days will write to him without delay. All remittances should be crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery-lane, or be sent by registered letter only. _ Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on all subjects connected with literature, but on no other sub- jects whatever. Articles which cannot be accepted are returned if stamps for the purpose accompany the MSS. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. THERE are several methods of publishing by agree- ments. Thus (1) an author may sell his work for a sum of money down: (2) he may take a share of the profits: (3) he may accept a royalty. The first method is the readiest and, where a proper price is paid, perhaps the best. It involves a certain amount of risk or doubt as to the result on the part of the buyer, and a certain amount of hesitation on the part of the seller. The anthor would do well to sell through an agent. But let him beware as to his choice of agent. At a time when the production of new books involved great risks and where the possible circle of purchasers was very small, the publishers, joining together, took half the profits as a return for their risk and services. At the present time in many cases, where there are no risks, they often take two-thirds and even more of the profits, and that after setting apart a large sum for "office expenses," allowing the author nothing at all for his office expenses. In other words, it is as if a steward were to charge first for his office and desks and then to take half or two-thirds of the remainder for himself as steward's fee. Therefore the author must in every case ascertain carefully, before signing- the agreement, what proportion is appropriated under its clauses by the publisher for himself. If the author ig in doubt, let him submit the agreement to the secretary, or to one of the VOL. VII. literary agents recommended by the secretary. Above all things he must remember that in any business transaction the one who accepts an agreement in ignorance will quite certainly get the worst of it. The folly of Bigning in ignorance is the main cause of half the quarrels between author and publisher. In the case of profit-sharing agreements, remember that a very common form of getting the better of an anthor is the practice of advertising the book in the publisher's own organs, very likely magazines of small circulation. Sometimes, also, he " exchanges " advertisements with other magazines, and charges the author as if he had paid for them. In this way the publisher may put the whole profits of a book in his own pocket. One way to prevent this sharp practice is to insert a clauso to the effect that advertisements shall only be charged at the actual price paid for them. A better way, however, is to agree beforehand npon the papers in which advertisements may be inserted. As regards the right of inspeoting the books, that need not be claimed, because it exists as the right of every partner, or joint venturer. Tou have only to demand the inspection of the books by your solicitor, your accountant, or the secretary of the Sooiety. If the book is a first book, or one that carries risk, it is fair to make an arrangement for the first edition and another for the second, and following, if any. The publisher confers so signal a service upon the young author by producing his work at all—i.e., by giving him the chanae he desires above all things—that it seems fair in such a case to yield him the larger share. In a profit-sharing agreement do not let the oost of pro- duction form a part of the agreement, otherwise you will be unable to contest it afterwards. It will be wisest never to enter into relations with any publisher unless recommended by the Society. There are many other dangers to be avoided. Serial' rights; stamping the agreement: American rights: future work: cession of copyright—these things cannot possibly bo attended to by the young author. Therefore his agree- ment should always be shown to the secretary. It has been objected that these precautions presuppose a great succes for the book, and that very few books indeed attain to this great success. That is quite true: but there is always this uncertainty of literary property that, although the works of a great many authors carry with them no risk at all, and although of a great many it is known within a few copies what will be their minimum circulation, it is not known what will be their maximum. Therefore every author, for every book, should arrange on the chance of a success which will not, probably, come at all; but which may come. The four points which the Society has always demanded from the outset are:— (1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement  ## p. 2 (#18) ############################################### 2 THE AUTHOR. (2.) The inspection of those acoonnt books which belong to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the nature of a common law right, which cannot bo denied or withheld. (3.) That there shall be no secret profits. (4.) That nothing shall be charged which has not been actually paid—for instance, that there shall be no charge for advertisements in the publisher's own organs and none for exchanged advertisements; and that all discounts shall be duly entered. If these points are carefully looked after, the author may rest pretty well assured that he is in right hands. At the same time he will do well to send his agreement to the secretary before he signs it. HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. I. Wj\VEEY member has a right to ask for and to receive fij advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub- lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his business or the administration of his property. If the advice sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member has a right to an opinion from the Society's solicitors. If the case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Com- mittee will obtain for him Counsol's opinion. All this without any cost to the member. 2. Eemember that questions connected with oopyright and publisher's agreements do not generally fall within the experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use the Society first—our solicitors are continually engaged upon such questions for us. 3. Send to the office copies of past agreements and past accounts with the loan of the books represented. This is in order to ascertain what has been the nature of your agree- ments, and the results to author and publisher respectively so far. The Seoretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The infor- mation thus obtained may prove invaluable. 4. If the examination of your previous business trans- actions by the Secretary proves unfavourable, you should take advice as to a change of publishers. 5. Before signing any agreement whatever, send the pro- posed dooument to the Society for examination. 6. The Society is acquainted with the methods, and—in the case of fraudulent houses—the tricks of every publish- ing firm in the country. 7. Eemember always that in belonging to the Society you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are reaping no benefit to yourself, and that you are advancing the best interests of literature in promoting the indepen- dence of the writer. 8. Send to the Editor of the Author notes of everything important to literature that you may hear or meet with. 9. The committee havo now arranged for the reception of mombers' agreements and their preservation in a fireproof Bafe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as con- fidential documents to be road only by the Secretary, who will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers:—(1) To read and advise upon agreements and publishers. (2) To stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action npon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements. THE AUTHORS' SYNDICATE. MEMBERS are informed: 1. That the Authors' Syndicate takes charge of the business of members of the Society. That it submits MSS. to publishers and editors, concludes agree- ments, examines, passes, and collects accounts, and, gene- rally, relieves members of the trouble of managing business details. 2. That the terms upon which its services can be secured will be forwarded upon detailed application. 3. That the Authors' Syndicate works only for those members of the Society whose work possesses a market value. 4. That the Syndicate can only undertake any negotiations whatever on the distinct understanding that those negotia- tions are placed exclusively in its hands, and that nil communications relating thereto are referred to it. 5. That clients can only be seen by the Director by appointment, and that, when possible, at least two days' notice should be given. 6. That every attempt is made to deal with all communi- cations promptly. That stamps should, in oil cases, be sent to defray postage. 7. That the Authors' Syndicate does not invite MSS. without previous correspondence: does not hold itself responsible for MSS. forwarded without notice; and that in all cases MSS. must be accompanied by stamps to defray postage. 8. That the Syndicate undertakes arrangements for lectures by some of the leading members of tho Society; that it has a "Transfer Department" for the sale and purchase of journals and periodicals; and that a " Register of Wants and Wanted" is open. Membors are invited to communicate their requirements to the Manager. There is an Honorary Advisory Committee, whose services will be called upon in any case of dispute or difficulty. It is perhaps necessary to state that the members of the Advisory Committee have no pecuniary interest whatever in the Syndicate. NOTICES. THE Editor of the Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great many members did not forward to the Seoretary the modest 6s. 6<l. subscription for the year. The Editor is always glad to receive short papers and communications on all subjects connected with literature from members and others. Nothing oan do more good to tho Society than to make the Author complete, attractive, and interesting. Will those who are willing to aid in this work send their names and the Bpecial subjects on which they are willing to write P Communications for the Author should reach the Editor not later than the 21st of each month. All persons engaged in literary work of any kind, whether members of tho Society or not, are invitod to oommunioate to the Editor any points connected with their work which it would be advisable in the general interest to publish. Members and others who wish their MSS. read are requested not to send them to the Office without previously  ## p. 3 (#19) ############################################### THE AUTHOR. 3 communicating with the Secretary. The utmost practicable despatch is aimed at, and MSS. are read in the order in which they are received. It most also be distinctly under- stood that the Society does not, under any circumstances, undertake the publication of MSS. The Authors' Club is now open in its new premises, at 3, Whitehall-court, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary for information, rules of admission, Ac. Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they have paid their subscriptions for the year? If they will do this, and remit the amount, if still unpaid, or a banker's order, it will greatly assist the Secretary, and save him the trouble of sending out a reminder. Members are most earnestly entreated to attend to the warning numbered (8). It is a most foolish and may be a most disastrous thing to enter into an agreement binding for a term of years. Let them ask themselves if they would give a solicitor the collection of their rents for five years to come, whatever his conduct, whether he was honest or dishonest? Of course they would not. Why then hesitate for a moment when they are asked to sign them- selves into literary bondage for three or five years P Those who possess the "Cost of Production" are requested to note that the cost of binding has advanced 15 per cent. This means, for those who do not like the trouble of "doing sumB," the addition of three shillings in the pound on this head. In other words, if the cost of binding is Bet down in our book at eight pounds, to this must now be added twenty-four shillings more, so that it now stands at £g 4s. The figures in our book are as near the exact truth as can be procured; but a printer's, or a binder's, bill is so elastic a thing that nothing more exact can be arrived at. Some remarks have been made upon the amount charged in the " Cost of Production" for advertising. Of course, we have not included any sums which may be charged for inserting advertisements in the publisher's own magazines, or in other magazines by exchange. As agreements too often go, there is nothing to prevent the publisher from sweeping the whole profits of a book into his own pocket, by inserting any number of advertisements in his own magazines, and by exchanging with others. Some there are who call this a form of fraud; it is not known what those who practise this method of swelling their own profits call it. FROM THE COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the Committee of Management of the Incorporated Society of Authors held at the offices of the society on Wednesday, the 29th day of April, it was decided that ladies should be eligible for election on the Council of the Society. The following have been elected to the vacancies that at present exist, and have accepted their election. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. Miss Flora L. Shaw. Miss Charlotte M. Yongb. (By Order) G. H. Thring, Sec. and Solicitor. LITERARY PROPERTY. 1. —The Term up Literary Copyright in Different Countries. 1. Copyright is perpetual. Guatemala, Venezuela. Mexico (excepting the right of representation, the term of which is the life of the author and thirty years afterwards). 2. Term of Copyright is Life of Author and afterwards. 80 years.—Columbia, Spain. 50 years.—Belgium, Bolivia, Euuador, Finland, France, Hungary, Monaco, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Tunis. 30 years.—Germany, Austria, Denmark, Luxem- burg, Switzerland. 20 years.—Haiti (if copyright is held by author's children; if held by other heirs, 10 years; if by widow, for her life). 10 years.—Brazil (but only if author leaves heirs), Eoumania. 5 years.—Chili. (The Government can, in special cases, extend this to 10 years.) 3. Term of Copyright is for a certain number of years after publication, viz.: 50 years.—Holland, South African Republic. 40 years.—Turkish Empire. 28 years.—United States of America (dating from registration; a new registration secures another 14 years for author or his heirs). 20 years.—Hawa'i. 15 years.—Greece. 4. Term of Copyright is for Life and sub- sequently for a number of years, or for a certain number of years after jmblication, with a minimum. Great Britain.—Author's life and seven years afterwards, or forty-two years from publication, whichsoever is longer. Italy.—Author's life, or forty years. Duriug a subsequent forty years holders of the copyright receive 5 per cent, of profits. Japan.—Author's life and five years, or thirty- five years from registration. But copyright of posthumously registered work expires thirty years after author's death. H.—American Copyright League. The following circular has been issued by the American Copyright League:— It will be recalled that soon after the passage of the copyright bill of 1891 it 'was agreed that the affairs of the League should be left in the  ## p. 4 (#20) ############################################### 4 THE AUTHOR. hands of the Executive Council. Annual meetings, being then thought to be unnecessary, were for the time abandoned, and as there was a balance of funds in the possession of the treasurer the dues were remitted until such time as it should seem necessary to reimpose them. The activity of the council bas been twofold: 1. It has been directed through the secretary to forwarding the acceptance of the present statute by foreign countries, so that international copyright might become a practical as well as a theoretical achievement. The council believes that its efforts in this respect have contributed substantially to the reciprocal relations which now exist between the United States and the following nine countries of Europe, viz., Great Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, and efforts are still being made with Greece, Austria, Norway and Sweden, Mexico and the Central and South American republics. The council has realised that the accession of each additional country would make it more difficult to amend the law in the direction of less liberality, and the present situation would seem to be an ample con- firmation of this belief. 2. The council was instrumental at the last Congress in defeating the very objectionable bill of Mr. Hicks, and in finally arranging, with the co-operation of the Publishers' League and the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, a compromise measure, known as the "Covert Bill," which has strengthened the copyright law by abolishing excessive penalties. The present session of Congress has been pro- lific of copyright bills, a very objectionable one being that of Mr. Treloar, of Missouri, a music publisher, whose primary object seems to be to extend the manufacturing clause of the present law to music. The appended resolutions, passed at a meeting held on April 2, show the attitude of the Executive Council toward this and other bills, and indicate our conviction of the necessity of placing the League once more on an active footing. Resolved that the Executive Council of the American Copyright League declares its opposi- tion to further limitation of the principle of inter- national copyright by any extension of the manu- facturing clause. Resolved that the Council approves the bill offered by Mr. Cummings in the present congress in behalf of American dramatists, providing more adequate means for the enforcement of dramatic copyright. Resolved that the Council approves the creation of a separate copyright office as provided in the separate bill now pending before congress. Resolved that in view of the present revival in copyright legislation and of the recent attacks on the principle of international copyright, and in view of the desirability of providing at an early session of congress for a copyright commission to consider the general subject of copyright law, the treasurer is directed to resume the collection of dues, suspended after the passage of the Act of 1891, and the secretary is authorised to take steps to increase the membership of the League. By general agreement the secretary was authorised to organise the musical composers of the United States against a manufacturing clause for music. You are respectfully requested to send at once to the treasurer of the League, Mr. George Parsons Lathrop, 29, Washington-square, West, New York City, §2.00, the amount of the dues for the year 1896. It is hoped that the present opposition to the Treloar bill will succeed in staving off its con- sideration until the December session. Meantime notification will be duly given of a general meeting of the League to be held in November. Robert Underwood Johnson, Secretary A. C. L., 33 East i7th-street, New York City. April 20, 1896. atm III.—A White List. The following list is taken from the Authors' Journal (New York). It is called a White List of Editors," and is tendered as a list of editors who may be relied upon to "deal fairly and honestly with contributors." Those of our readers who contemplate an invasion of the United States may find the list useful. The Authors' Journal, it should be noted, cautions contributors. They must state when sending in MSS. that they expect payment: A. P. A. Magazine. Monthly.—San FranciBco, Cal. Appleton's Popular Science Monthly.—New York City. Arena. Monthly.—Boston, Mass. Argonaut, Ttte. Weekly.—San Francisco, Cal. Argosy. (Partly juvenile), Monthly.—New York City. Atlantic Monthly.—4, Park-street, Boston, Mass. Babyland. Monthly.—Boston, Mass. Bachelor of Arts.—15, Wall-street, New York City. Bind Cat. Monthly (short stories).—Boston, Mass. Bostonian. Monthly.—83, Newbury-Btreet, Boston. Catholic World. Monthly.—New York City. Century Magazine. Monthly.—New York City. Christian Herald. Weekly. New York City. Churchman. Weekly (religious). New York City. Cosmopolitan. Monthly.—Irvington-on-tho-Hudson, New York. forum. Monthly.—New York City. Frank Leslie's Popular Monthly.—42-44, Bond-Btreet, New York City. Golden Days. Weekly, juvenile (prices poor).—Philadel- phia, Pa.  ## p. 5 (#21) ############################################### THE AUTHOR. 5 Harper's Bazar. Weekly.—New York City. Harper's Monthly Magazine.—New York City. Harper's Round Table. Weekly (juvenile).—New York City. Harper's Weekly.—New York City. Herald. Sunday.—New York City. Home Journal. Weekly.—New York City. Independent. Weekly.—130, Fulton-street, New York City. Judge. Weekly.—110, Fifth-avenue, New York City. Ladies' Home Journal.—Philadelphia, Fa. Leslie's Weekly. 110, Fifth-avenue, New York City. Life. Weekly.—28, West 23rd-street, New York City. Lippineott's Magazine.—Philadelphia, Pa. Little Men and Women. Monthly.—Boston, Mass. McClure's Magazine.—52, Lafayette-place, New York City. Holland Monthly.—Des Moines, Iowa. Munsey's Magazine.—149, Fifth-avenue, New York City. New England Magazine. Monthly.—Boston, Mass. New York Weekly. Story Paper.—New York City. North American Review. Monthly.—New York City. Observer. Weekly (religious).—New York City. Our Little Ones and the Nursery.—Boston, Mass. Popular Science Review.—New York City. Printer's Ink. Weekly (matter relating to advertising and advertisement writing).—New York City. Prets. Sunday.—New York City. Press. Sunday.—Philadelphia, Pa. Puck. Weekly.—Mulberry-street, New York City. 8cribner's Magazine. —131, Fifth-avenue, New York City. 8t Nicholas. Monthly.—11, East 17th-street, New York City. Sun. Sunday.—New York City. The Congregationalist. Weekly.—Boston, Mass. The Ledger. Weekly.—William-street, New York City. The Outlook. Weekly.—Astor-plaoe, New York City. Times-Democrat. Sundays.—New Orleans, La. Tribune. Sunday.—New York City. Truth. Weekly.—203, Broadway, New York City. Youth's Companion. Weekly.—Boston, Mass. IV.—Canadian Copyright. We reprint in full Mr. Lea's letter on Canadian Copyright which was sent to the Times by Mr. Gold win Smith :— Philadelphia, April 10. Dear Sib,—I have looked with some interest at the Draft Act regulating the reprinting of English books in Canada, for which the Royal Assent is asked, and it appears to me that the questions involved are much larger than Mr. Hall Caine and Mr. Daldy seem to have imagined in their negotiations with the Canadian Copyright Association. To appreciate this properly it should be premised that the whole business of one of false pretences, since, under guise of legislating for the Canadian market, it is the market of the United States that is really kept in view. Every one cognisant of the book trade knows that the consumption of books in Canada is too limited to be worth the discussion which has been devoted to this measure, and that the real object of the printers, who are anxious to retain and extend the privilege of reprinting English novels, is to smuggle them into the United States in competition with the higher- priced American editions issued under arrangements with the authors as provided in the Act of 1891. There is no difficulty in effecting this in view of our long frontier, the free exchange of postal matter, and the impossibility °' excluding pirated editions imported through the mails. But for this outlet the business of reprinting English books would soaroe be worth undertaking in Canada. Sir Charles Tupper virtually admitted this when, in the Conference on the Draft Act, he alluded to the argument in its favour as "giving us, among other things, cheap literature and an industry that does not now exist." The importance of the matter to the English author and publisher, however, by no means rests solely on the diminu- tion of sales in the United States. Its most serious aspect iB the peril to which it exposes the Act of 1891, which per- mits the copyright of English books in this country, subject to the condition of manufacture here. For fifty years there has not been a copyright measure discussed in which I have not taken a more or less active part, and I am familiar with the influences which for so many years prevented the enact- ment of international copyright, and which finally secured the adoption of the existing law. So long as the labour interests opposed it there was no chance of its passage. When they were won over to its support it was adopted, though not without prolonged exertion against strenuous opposition. If it be once fairly understood that Canadian printers are enjoying an advantage which is denied to our labour and is used to its detriment, there is no little danger that the labour organisations will seek to undo the work in which they assisted five years ago; and, if once aroused to this, you know as well as I do, how respectfully their re- monstrances will be received. If you have means of warning the English interests which are threatened it would be wise for you to do so, for I am Buie that they do not recognise the danger inherent in the present and pro- spective anomalous oondition of Canadian copyright. The Draft Act seems clumsily, but is, perhaps, rather craftily, framed. Its elaborate and in some respects con- tradictory clauses are so worded as to depend greatly for their practical working upon the interpretation that may be put upon them, and the same influences which have hitherto secured legislation so curiously and defiantly disregardful of the rights of the mother oountry can safely be relied upon to obtain from the Canadian Government such construction as shall best subserve the interests of the knot of printers who seem to be all powerful at Ottawa. I hare the honour to remain very respectfully, Goldwin Smith, Esq. Henry Charles Lea. V.—The Question of Copyeight. Mr. G. H. Putnam's book of the above title, published in 1891, has just appeared in a second edition. The work is brought up to date by the addition of new material concerned with the legislation between these dates, and with cases bearing especially upon the interpretation of the American Act. The latter does not satisfy Mr. Putnam, and he renews his appeal for a commis- sion of experts to reform it, pointing out that all existing copyright systems of the world, except that of the United States, have been the work of such commissions of experts. Mr. Putnam sug- gests several amendments of the law, the principal being (1) the extension of the term of copyright, and (2) that steps should be taken as promptly as possible to remove the special grievance now existing on the part of European authors whose works require to be translated. On the latter point he proposes that the Act should voake an  ## p. 6 (#22) ############################################### 6 THE AUTHOR. exception, in the case of a work originally issued in a foreign language, to the requirement for simultaneous publication. In a chapter on the status of Canada, Mr. Putnam gives it as his opinion that when a Canadian licence is taken out only after the English or American edition of a book has been imported diu'ing successive seasons, it will prove very difficult in practice to enforce the prohibition of such importation. As to the protest of various French associations that if Canadian manufac- ture he made a condition of copyright it would be necessary to exclude Canada from the Berne Convention, Mr. Putnam says this contention seems to him well founded. "I judge, however," he continues, " that Canada will probably elect to be excluded from the provisions of the Berne Convention rather than to give up the right of making printing in Canada a condition of Canadian copyright." VI.—Copyright Law Reform. Copyright law reform appears to be in the air. It is said that the committee of the Incorporated Society of Authors are engaged in considering the (|Uestion, and Mr. Longman, in his inaugural address to the uewly formed Publishers' Associa- tion, speaks of the subject as the first that naturally must claim the attention of the associa- tion. Mr. Longman desires a copyright law easy to comprehend, liberal in its provisions to the producers of literature, universal in its applica- tion, and capable of being readily enforced. The present law has but little of these features. Bad grammar here, nonsense there, and lack of arrangement everywhere is the condition of the statute law in point of form. In point of sub- stance, the present awkward term of copyright for the life of author and seven years after his death, whichever may be the longer period, renders it very difficult in many cases to discover whether copyright still exists in any particular ease or not. The novelist has no protection against the prac- tical infringement of his copyright by dramatisa- tion, and the hist rian no protection against abridgment, while the contributor to a magazine cannot republish his contribution in a separate form without the consent of the proprietor till after the expiration of twenty-eight years. All these and many more defects in the law would have been remedied by Lord Monkwell's consoli- dating and amending bill, which passed a second reading in the House of Lords in 1891, subject to the condition imposed by the then Government that it should not be further proceeded with— po-sibly because the American Copyright B 11 had not then become law.—Law Journal. VII.—Sweden and Norway. In virtue of a royal decision of April 13, 1896, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden and Norway has informed the Swiss Federal Council, by a telegram dated the same day, that the Government has joined for Norway the International Union for the protection of literary and artistic works, concluded at Berne on Sept. 9, 1886. April 13, 1896, has been fixed as the date of accession. The Swiss Federal Council has informed the other contracting States of the accession of Norway, by a circular dated April 15, 1896. VIII.—The Paris Conference. The diplomatic conference convoked at Paris, on the 15th of April, to discuss a first revision of the Berne Convention of the 9th of Sept., 1886, concluded its labours on the 4th of May. The delegate from Haiti was unable to be present, otherwise all the contracting States were represented, including Norway, that country having joined the union two days before the opening of the conference. Fourteen other States, whicli do not at present belong to the union, sent delegates as an evidence of their interest in the work of the union. These were the Argentine Republic, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Columbia, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Mexico. Peru, Portugal, Roumauia, Sweden, and the United States of America. At the first stance a plan of procedure was drawn up, and a committee formed comprising representatives of all the States included in the union. The delegates from States which do not belong to the union were permitted to join in their debates, but not to vote. '1 he greater part of the work of the revision of the Berne Conven- tion fell to this committee, the results of their labours being afterwards put into documentary form by a sub-committee of eight members, two Frenchmen, two Germans, one Englishman, one Italian, one Belgian, and one Swiss. The conference held four seances, the committee eight, and the sub-committee six. A resume of the work done was placed before the third seance of the conference, but, in accordance with the decision of the conference, the documents will not be published until the Governments of the con- tracting States have been officially furnished with them. In the interim it may be mentioned that these documents are of three classes. The first class deals with certain modifications of the original conventions. The second class contains declara- tions interpreting various provisions of the Con- vention. The third class 1 onsists of suggestions  ## p. 7 (#23) ############################################### THE AUTHOR. 7 for the future. The resolutions adopted in the documents of the first and second class will, when ratified, provide amongst other things for the protection of posthumous works, aud for some more efficacious control over the reproduction of matter published in newspapers and periodicals. Authors belonging to countries not included in the Union will be treated similarly with those belonging to such countries in respect of works published for the first time within the territory of the union. The right of translation will be pro- tected as long as that of reproduction, if the translation appears within ten years of publica- tion. The next conference is to take placj at Berlin between six and ten years hence.—From Le Droit d'Auteur. NOTES FROM PARIS. APARAGRAPH in the "Literary Gossip" of the Athenseum of last week drew atten- tion to a very sad case of distress into which one of our oldest women of letters in England has fallen. The lady is just eighty- three years of age, and has been known in the Republic of Letters for the past sixty years by the name of Mrs. L. E. Warren. Her books on "How to Dress on ,£15 a Tear, as a Lady," by a Lady, and "How I Managed my House on =£200 a Year "—the text-books of parsimonious aud pin-money-begrudging husbands—are very well known and must have had an enormous sale. Until quite recently Mrs. Warren was editress of the Ladies' Treasury, a monthly published by Messrs. Bemrose. The death of this publication has deprived Mrs. Warren of her only source of income. She has, moreover, been ailing for some time past, and altogether her position is a very sad one. Cannot we of the Authors' Society do something for our confrere? I was speaking of her case the other day in the Authors' Club and several gentlemen who were present said they would gladly contribute a subscription to any fund raised on her behalf. Could such subscrip- tions be received at the office of the Author? Mrs. Warren is a wonderful woman, bright, energetic, in spite of her ailments and the weight of her fourscore years. She was at work all day, for she made it a rule to read through every manuscript that was submitted to her. She "discovered" and brought into prominence, through the Ladies' Treasury, more than one author and authoress who are now basking in the sunshine of popular favour. She had also the kindness always to write to unsuccessful contri- butors to explain why a manuscript Jj^j been VOL. Til. rejected, to suggest improvements, to point out the writer's weak points, and so on. The pay- ments made by the Ladies' Treasury were very small, but Mrs. Warren had obtained from the publishers that payment should be made to each contributor as soon as the manuscript had been accepted, a practice of which she was greatly in favour. "Authors can't afford to wait" she used to say. Now shall this good old lady have to wait for a little help from her more prosperous brothers and sisters in the profession? On referring to the Athenseum again, I see that subscriptions are invited by Miss Ellen T. Masters, Mount Avenue, Ealing. One of the most successful monthly dinners -in Paris is that held by the Socie'te' de la Plume et de TEpee, a friendly association for the purpose of a monthly meeting and dinner of some of the most prominent writers and officers in France. Can one imagine such a club in England? Would the "Rag " care to co-operate with the authors? I don't think so. In France, where, as in England, the pen is mightier than the sword, the author has usually this superiority also over the soldier, that he can make a much better use of a sword. This has been demonstrated over and over again in duels between officers and men of letters. Few French officers know how to fence, most French authors do. The British Club in Paris is now a fait accompli. It had been talked about for years, and it was only, thanks to the energy of Mr. Rowland Strong, the present secretary, that it was definitely brought into being. Mr. Strong, who is one of the most successful English journalists on the Continent, has recently taken to authorship, and I understand that Mr. John Lane has in preparation a novel of Parisian life from his pen. An extremely interesting publication, which is appearing in periodical parts here, is La Revolu- tion Franraise, which is filled with illustrations of that stormy period. The text is supplied by the best authorities on the subject. I read with much interest an article contributed to the last number by M. Jules Claretie, the director of the Comedie Fran9aise. It is entitled "Napoleon et la Comedie-Francaise en Italie," and shows that it was Napoleon who first organised those pro- vincial tours which are a feature of the profes- sional life of the company of the French State Theatre. By a decree dated July 10, 1806, Napoleon, King of Italy, ordered that two com- panies recruited from the company of the Theatre Francaise should perform in Italy in order " to familiarise the peninsula with the genius of our masterpieces and to spread the kno-wleQge of our language-" Every detail is characteristic^  ## p. 8 (#24) ############################################### 8 THE AUTHOR. arranged, and provision is made in the decree for a subsidy of 160,000 francs per annum for the main- tenance of these companies. Mile. Rancourt was appointed manageress, and under her manage- ment the two companies toured in Italy for six years, until . . . well, subsequent events. A most interesting article could be written on the relations between Napoleon and the authors. For our profession he had a very sincere contempt, yet he also took to it in the end. It is true that most of the authors, from Chateaubriand down to, say, Goldschmidt (author of " The Secrets of the Cabinets"), behaved with little dignity in their conduct towards the all-powerful emperor, who, we • find, was always disgusted with their alternate flattery and vituperation. Meneval relates that every day scores of books were sent to the Tuileries for his master's notice, and that Napoleon used to judge them mainly by their titles, in which respect he was not alone in the reading public. Out of twenty books, he would perhaps select one, the rest would be bundled into the fire. The one would be lipped open with the emperor's fore- finger and thrown away as soon as he had finished with it. If he happened to be driving when the book was done with, it would go out of the window, and so much the worse for anybody who happened to be walking near. One had heard of harmless promeneurs who received volumes at their heads in this way, as the imperial barouche dashed by, and so abject was the subjection of people in those days that books thus obtained became in many libraries the most highly-prized volumes. One excellent idea Napoleon had, which, however, his native parsimony prevented him from carrying into execution, and that was to have printed and bound in a uniform and portable form all the books in the world's bibliography which he most liked, and this for carrying them with him on his excursions de par le mondc. The same idea has come to many since Napoleon, and—as an instance known to me—in the library of the Quillinans in Ambleside there used to be a number of volumes, lavishly produced, at the private printing-press of a bibliophile baronet, who in this way did honour to his favourite authors, a hobby which cost him close upon £ 100,000. Paul de Kock's " Memoirs" have recently been unearthed in Paris, and are at this moment being prepared for simultaneous publication in England and America. They are very interesting, and full of anecdotes concerning the men of the century. Paul de Kock only saw Bonaparte once, and that was by favour of his friend the leader of the orchestra at the Tuileries. Paul de Kock had expressed a wish to see the Emperor, and his friend said to him, "Join my orchestra for one morning and you can glut your eyes on him, as we sit just opposite the Emperor's pew." "But I don't know one note from the other," said de Kock. "Never mind," said the maitre de chapelle, "I'll lend you a cornet-a-piston and you can pretend to play it." This was done, and thus Paul de Kock got a good view of the Emperor, whom he describes in very graphic language. Paul de Kock's father was guillotined under the Revolu- tion, and his mother very nearly shared his fate. Fouquier Tinville had already ordered her off to the Conciergerie, when little Paul, then a baby at breast, touched the tiger's heart by some babyish trick, and Tinville consented to leave the citoyenne at liberty until the "young citizen had been weaned." In the meanwhile Fouquier Tinville was weaned—of his taste for blood. A French author who has just returned from London speaks with some amusement of the way in which the English booksellers, and especially the clerks at the railway bookstalls, ticket the books offered for sale, much in the same way as the enterprising butcher or poulterer, or haber- dasher tickets his goods. Thus one reads of one book, " Good Reading," of another " Favourable Review," or " Good Notices," of a third " Much in Demand," or "Reading Well." In no way is the commercialism of the craft in England more clearly brought home to one. For myself, the other day, at the bookstall at Whitehaven, I was looking at a 6d. edition of one of Charles Reade's admirable novels when the clerk tried to clench the bargain by saying "Excellent value, sir." So, no doubt, it was, but why should such shop terms be applied to works of genius. No doubt the time will come when, casting aside all pretence of being artists, authors will push their wares as do all other manufac- turers. They will advertise directly, instead of indirectly, and the biggest literary fortunes will go to those who advertise best and most exten- sively. I foresee the time when the daily papers will teem with the advertisements of "Dash, the cash author," and I have imagined a whole series of effective announcements. Ad exemplum. "Dash for Value. Read and Compare." "Dash for Value. More Reading for your sixpence than offered by any other Author." "Dash for Value. Dash's Penny Novelettes are the best Cure for Insomnia, Melancholy, Headache, and Indigestion." Thingummy would, of course, compete, some- what in this style: *' Thingummy for solid British fiction. No morbid French materials used. All goods warranted home-made." "Thingummy for pure reading. Thingummy's  ## p. 9 (#25) ############################################### THE AUTHOR. 9 novels are supplied free from adulteration with pessimism, sensuality, and suggestiveness." "Thingummy for the Breakfast-table." '■ Thingummy for the Drawiug-room." "Thingummy for the Knifeboard." "Thingummy for the Table de Nuit." I think to live to see these things. Indeed, they seem in the immediate future. Nor is there any reason why they should not be. I notice a paragraph that is going the round of the English press to the effect that M. Felix Faure and M. Alphonse Daudet are the latest recruits in France to teetotalism. Who is it who invents these stories? Each week one reads in the paragraph papers lies as deliberate as absurd. I suppose that there are some people who earn a living by supplying paragraphs about celebrities, and find it easier to invent statements than to supply facts. I know of a " fake" con- cerning Count Robert de Montesquiou-Fezensac, the poet, which has been going the round of the press for the past four years. It alleges that the count has a number of tortoises in his study, whose shells are inlaid with costly stones, the scintillations from which as the tortoises crawl about inspire the poet in his work. Who can invent such stories? Robebt H. Shebabd. NEW YORK LETTER. New York, May 16. MR. EDWARD ARNOLD sailed for England last Saturday, after a few weeks spent here in looking into the results of his venture of establishing an agency for the sale of his books in America. His experience has been the same as that of other English houses. The agency was established last July, and the results of the first year have been fairly satisfactory, but the firm will at once begin to carry other lines, especially American books, as soon as they can get them. All the publishing houses find that the cost of carrying a large line of books is so much less in proportion than that of carrying a small line, the fixed charges being so much the same, that they make an effort to get all the business they can. The books of Mr. Arnold which had some sale this year are, " Fire and Sword in the Soudan," by Slatin Pasha, which has been their most successful book; "A Little Tour in America," by Dean Hole, who is popular here; "Twelve Hundred Miles in an Ox Wagon," by Alice Balfour; Walter Raleigh's "Robert Louis Stevenson;" Tollemache's "Benjamin Jowett; " Frederick Harj^Qp's " Early Victorian Literature;" and Colo^ Colville'a "Land of the Nile Springs." It is doubtful, however, whether more than two of these books had more than a limited sale. The spring list of the Macmillans shows, leaving out translations and classics, thirty-nine American books and twenty-seven British books. In novels nationality, most publishers agree, makes no difference; a few, however, say that there is a better demand for a novel because it is British. Most British novels have some sale here. After novels, the British books that have the most sale are a few text books; not many have any sale, but when they do sell the sale is likely to be large. Stopford Brooke's " Primer of English Literature" is an illustration, and certain editions of the classics and certain books of mathematics sell largely. The effort which is often made to work over a British text book for the American trade rarely succeeds. One notice- able thing is, that the English houses here tend to have the preference in certain works of scholar- ship, the sale of which is small everywhere, and is increased somewhat by being handled by a house which may also sell a few copies in England. For instance, the special historical studies of Harvard University are published by Longmans, Green, and Co., and the similar series of Columbia University studies are published by Macmillan. Letters written by your correspondent to some of the leading publishers and booksellers and dry goods dealers, who handle cheap books, brought out some results about the market. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, who pro- bably sells more cheap books than any other dealer in the country, says: "Cheap editions of 'Scarlet Letter,' 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and books that may be classed with them, outsell many times over the most popular recent books either British or American. Whether a book is of American or foreign author- ship, is not a question that has any influence in selling; it is a fact to which the ordinary buyer seems to be entirely indifferent. Of the new publications, the sales of ' Ian MacLaren's' books have largely eclipsed all others in our business this year." A. C. McClurg and Co., the principal booksellers of the west, say: "We are in receipt of your favour of the 2nd inst., asking for an idea of the comparative sale in Chicago of 'Trilby,' or other high-class English fiction, and the recent repriuts of the 'Scarlet Letter.' 'Uncle Tom's Cabin,' or other leading American novels. We would say in reply that our statistics are confined to the sales of this house, but as the record of our sales wo»lQ doubt- less be an estimate 0f the comparative oi  ## p. 10 (#26) ############################################## IO THE AUTHOR. these books in this Western country, we submit you the following: Sola. Cheap American reprints:— Altemus and Dream Life in 189S Donoghue <fe Henneborry (at 25 %) 1100 Editions House of the Seven Gables „ „ 2225 Scarlet Letter „ „ „ 2325 Uncle Tom's Cabin. „ ,, „ 4050 Since publication 1-25 Ed. 5710 Bonnie Brier Bush in 11/94 -25 „ 8000 ,, 13,710 Trilby 9/94 at 1-75 „ 15,000 Prince of India , 8/93 at 2-50 the Bet 26,100 It should be noticed that McClurg and Co. sell the more expensive editions to the small dealers, but these small dealers buy the cheap reprints from the publishers. "Trilby "has sold over 200,000 copies in this country. Probably the various cheap editions of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," issued by the house which owned the copyright of the book during the past few years, before the copyright ran out, have aggregated over 230,000; and the copies of the "Scarlet Letter" 480,000, although there have been various other cheap editions of the same books on the market since the copyright expired. The attacks which have been made on the present copyright law in this session of the Legislature, and the various letters which appear about the Canadian copyright law, have led to some sharp criticisms of our present copyright law by the papers which have most weight in literary matters. One of them says, that our law of 1891 in a half-way measure, that will never be safe from attack from ignorant legislators and self-seeking publishers; that the United States is still classed with Russia by the rest of the civilised world in this matter; and that there will be no peace and no justice until we accept un- reservedly the Berne Convention, and put literary property on the same basis as other property in private and international law. Charles Scribners' Sons have begun a series of stories by English authors parallel to the series of American authors published by them. The Scribners have bought all of Robert Louis Stevenson's works which were owned by Stone and Kimball, of Chicago, and now have the right to the publication in this country of all of Stevenson's works. The books acquired from Stone and Kimball are "The Vailima Letters," "The Amateur Emigrant," " The Ebb Tide," and "Macaire." The Scribners publish this spring "Cinderella and Other Stories," by Richard Harding Davis, one of our most popular writers of short stories. On the dissolution of Stone and Kimball, Mr. Kimball takes the business to New York and Mr. Stone keeps the Chap Book in Chicago. Next to this magazine, the success of the past year among the periodicals has been won by the American Bookman, which is practically without connection with the English Bookman, using only its Paris letter. It already has a circulation equal to that of the Critic and the Nation together, although it has existed but little over a year and is not cheap, as magazines go here now, costing 15 cents. Its success has been largely due to the vivacious editing of Professor H. T. Peck, and, perhaps, partly to the custom of having all of its articles signed. The Harpers will issue next month "Tales of Phantasy and Pact," by Brander Matthews. H. C. Bunner, one of the foremost of the young American poets, died this week. On the appear- ance of some of his books in England he was highly praised by Andrew Lang, and Austin Dobson expressed the opinion that he was the most promising American poet of his generation. Mr. Dobson also wrote a poem to him. A new volume of his stories will be published this summer by the Scribners, called "Urban and Suburban Sketches." It will be illustrated by A. B. Frost. In the fall the Scribners will publish a volume of his poems, called "Ballads of the Town," illustrated by C. J. Taylor. Mr. Bunner was born in 1855; he came to New York as a boy and was a clerk. His first writing was for the Arcadian, a shortlived literary weekly. After that he did some reporting for a daily paper and then became connected with Puck soon after its foundation. This was the first comic paper which succeeded in America, and showed that the frequent statement that there were no types in America to make a comic paper possible here was inaccurate. Mr. Bunner became editor of the paper, and made a great success of it. The circulation is now somewhere over 40,000. He published also poems, novels, and plays, the last being the work of himself and Brander Matthews, who is left his literary executor. His "Airs of Arcady," published in 1884, had a very unusual sale for a book of poems. "Studies in Story Telling" were published in London in 1885; they were the joint work of Mr. Bunner and Mr. Matthews. He has since then published several volumes of New York stories, the most popular being "Short Sixes," 1890, and "More Short Sixes," 1894. N. H.  ## p. 11 (#27) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. 11 NOTES AND NEWS. EETURNING- to Mr. Longman's address of last month, a few observations may be made on that part of the address which concerns ourselves. Mr. Longman speaks of the diversity of interest which always exists between buyer and seller. Now, there are three methods of publishers' agreements, only one of which is that of buyer and seller. In the other two—share of profits and royalty—there is, as has been pointed out by learned counsel in these pages, a c/itasj-partnership, a joint adventure, in which the author is not a seller nor is the pub- lisher a buyer. The legal meaning of this joint ad- venture, which involves an open hand, open books, open vouchers, must never be lost sight of. As regards selling and buying, that is a method which is perhaps more to be commended than any other, provided the author receives a proper price for his book, because it prevents any subsequent ill-feeling. The new Society, according to the President, will not interfere in any agreement between author and publisher. Yet, if model agreements, such as the President proposes, are framed and adopted by us as well as by the Society of Publishers, no other agreements will be accepted by any author, and so there must be interference. Apart, however, from the pro- posed model agreements, what about agreements which are obviously designed to entrap the author? How about an agreement which gives the pub- lisher the power to swamp the whole of the profits in advertisements for which he pays nothing: as in his own magazine with a trumpery circulation of two or three thousand, or in other magazines where advertisements are exchanged? How about that delightful trick where the author is asked to accept a certain royalty which is to be "reduced by one-half if the book is sold at one- half the published price?" How about royalties deferred for many thousands of copies? It is very much to be desired that the Society of Publishers may have an early opportunity of expressing its opinion on these and similar practices. ^ Mr. Longman drew attention to the trade in contraband books. He was not, probably, aware that this Society has already taken steps to stop it in the Colonies, and that vigorous action has been taken in consequence. He dwelt also upon the condition of the bookseller. For my own part I am convinced that the only way to help the bookseller is to lower the trade price. Nothing else will help him: the discount system is fairly established and cannot be overthrown: people will not pay more for their books. a]re»dy VOL. VII. they pay too much. There are three persons engaged in the book trade: the author who sits down and writes the book: the bookseller who stands up and sells the book: the publisher who sends it out and collects the money. Who ought, in common fairness, to get the most out of it? Obviously, the first and second. Who does get the most out of it? Take, once more, the familiar book which costs a shilling and is sold by the trade for 4«. 6d. On a royalty of twopence in the shilling the author gets is,: the publisher is. 6d.: the bookseller sometimes a good deal less than is. Oh! but there are the publisher's office expenses. Well? And there are also the bookseller's office expenses; and there are also the author's office expenses. The obviously weak point in the programme of the new Society is the announcement of the council that they will not interfere with the preliminary agreement. If Mr. Longman would read the Committee's book, "The Methods of Publishing," he will understand that by far the most im- portant question for the author to consider is the rescue of his book from the thousand-and- one traps which have been set for it by certain persons, of whom some are members of hjs Society. Amid these dangers the author ought surely to be able to count upon the assistance of the Society of Publishers. Another weak point is that in the book trade it is quite possible to get on without a publisher at all. For my own part I like to reform rather than to sweep away, Yet it is perfectly certain that whenever authors choose they can go straight to the booksellers, and that if booksellers please to elect a leader who has got a head upon his shoulders, they may conduct the whole of the publishing business for themselves without the intermediary of a publisher at all. What would be the result of this arrangement? In such a case as we have just taken the author and the bookseller would have 3s. 6d. to divide between them. If the author took 2s. it would be equiva- lent to a royalty of 33 per cent., while the bookseller would take is. 6d. where he now gets from 8c?. to is. I do not say that this will be done to-day or to-morrow: but that it will be done, as soon as authors and booksellers really understand the simplicity of the arrangement, I have no doubt whatever. But, it may be objected, how about young authors? How about new pro- jects? Everything would go on just exactly as at present, only that this leader with a head on his shoulders would, with the representative of our society, stand for all the publishers in London. I ain indebted to the Newsagent a,l(} Book- sellers' for a few- remarks, which appeared  ## p. 12 (#28) ############################################## ia THE AUTHOR. first in a Nottingham paper, on the recent dinner of the Booksellers' Provident Institution. "A banquet of this sort," says the writer, "makes a pleasant little truce in the great war between authors and their middlemen, but it is only a truce. The war will be resumed with renewed fury as soon as the fictitious amiability induced by a hearty meal has had time to evaporate. Authors will go on wanting as much as they can get, and grumbling if they do not get it; and publishers will go on giving as little as possible, and growling if they have to give more. And the fact that successful authors spend a pleasant hour or two in telling their publishers how nice they are, does not do away with the sterner fact that the publishers have their own battle to fight, and do not appear at all nice to beginners." Publishers, in fact, are purely business men; no one ought to resent or can deny this fact. This is common sense. It is better, how- ever, to use the after-dinner speech for kindliness than the reverse; a maxim which has not always been observed by publishers towards this Society at these dinners. It was very pleasant for Mr. Crockett to praise the followers of the publishing trade. If he meant to be taken as speaking from his own experience, one would ask him: (i) how many publishers' agreements he has received? (2) If he remains with his first publisher? (3) If not, why he left him?—this is a very important question; and (4) Why he finds it best to make use of the assistance of an agent? But the speech was post-prandial, and may be accepted in the kindly spirit in which it was meant. Meantime we shall go on keeping the light turned full upon the meaning of agreements and the shares of proceeds under various royalties. I am much obliged to a correspondent for an account of his experience with a theatrical agent. It is, briefly, this. He sent a MS. to an agent in answer to an advertisement. He received in return an offer to read a play for two guineas, furnishing the author with an opinion upon it: or a farce or short piece for one guinea. He further offered to use his best endeavour to place it for a commission of ten per cent. These terms appearing reasonable, my correspondent sent up the play, The opinion was quite unfavourable, but the agent thought it might be rewritten as a short piece, and offered a second opinion without another fee. Nothing could be fairer than such an offer. In fact, my correspondent has no complaint to make at all: it is true that he has received more favourable opinions as to his work, but opinions differ, and perhaps the agent's reader is better qualified to judge than others. But the question which is put in this letter is this. Will a manager receive and consider a play on the recommendation of this agent? I should incline to think, at first, that such a recommendation would carry with it only the weight of the agent's name, whatever that might ■be. For instance, if it were known that he had furnished other managers with good pieces, his name would undoubtedly carry weight. Apart from that consideration, I should say that the use of an agent would be the introduction of business methods: copying letters: seeing to the return of the MS.; knowing what theatres were in want of a new piece: what theatres the play might suit: how it might be written up: and so forth: he would also be useful to managers in weeding out hopelessly bad MSS. It is quite conceivable that a manager would save himself trouble by taking all his plays through an agent's hands. He would be relieved of a mass of hopeless rubbish: he would not have to pay readers: and he would have placed in his hands only MSS. worth reading. In the Revue de Paris for May appears a paper called "Un Romancier Anglais" by M. Hugues Rebell. The "Romaneier Anglais" is Mr. Robert Sherard, who has furnished this paper with its Paris Letter for some time. The paper is, as may be guessed, appreciative, taking up Mr. Sherard's novels in turn. In justice to our correspondent the concluding paragraphs are quoted: "C'est avec un art tout special, procedant par demi-teintes successives et par lentes gradations que Robert. Sherard nous depeint ses hcros. II n'a point cette brutalitc de certains ecrivains qui nous decouvrent completement leurs personnages des le commencement de leur livre; il leur laisse longtemps ce clair-obscur au milieu duquel les hommes nous apparaissent tout d'abord dans la vie. Puis le visage s'illumine peu h pcu, sans pourtant venir jamais en pleine lumiere. Ainsi ceux qui nous entourent gardent-ils dans l'ombre jusqu'a la mort, quelques parties d'eux-memes. Un sentiment de picte humaine porte l'ecrivain a respecter ce mystere des etres et a. nous les montrer pudiquement voile's. "Mais si nous ne savons pas tout d'une physionomie, ce que l'auteur nous en laisse entrevoir est d'une admirable nettete" de dessin. Dans ces romans qui, ii l'exception de Un Honneur troque, sont de rapides recits, ayant l'allure vive d'un conte de Maupassant, l'auteur joint aux dons d'analyse et d'evocation des Anglais le gout, la sobriete, la vigueur de 1'esprit latin. "Cette union des deux genies a produit des  ## p. 13 (#29) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. 13 ceuvres parfaites. Le temps n'est plus 011 Carlyle demandait a l'Allemagne toute sa pensee. Les rudes et puissants ecrivains du Nord se rap- prochent chaque jour davantage d'un art qui cclaire et purifie leur talent, met l'ordre et l'harmonie dans leurs idees. Sans doute le scjour a Paris, le voyage a Naples n'auront pas ete inutiles a Sherard. II y aura pris ce sens de discipline et d'elegance intellectuelle necessaire a tout ecrivain et dont les plus severes moralistes ne se peuyent passer." Here is a complaint which is unfortunately too common. An author consented, without the necessary safeguards, to a half profit system. His book, in his own opinion, was insufficiently advertised: day after day he looked into the lead- ing organs, and found no advertisement of it at all. This seeming neglect made him sore and suspicious—perhaps with cause: perhaps without. When the accounts came in he found that his book was charged with an expenditure of ,£30 on account of advertising. Where? It was not stated. There were no profits. Enraged at this return, he tore up the accounts and threw them in the fire. Now, consider the natural result of thus destroying the accounts and refusing to proceed with the business. So long as this man lives that publisher will have an enemy who will persistently accuse him of eharging for advertisements for which he himself paid nothing, and of ruining the chances of his book for the sake of making an iniquitous profit. This, one readily understands, will be bad for that publisher in proportion to the author's influence and position. But there is the other side to be considered. The author has no real proof—none whatever—of his charge, and if the publisher chooses he may bring an action against him for libel in order to show that there was no foundation for the charge. Now, would it not have been better for both sides had that author done what we are always praying him to do—put the accounts into the hands of the secretary? Then, if the publisher had treated his author honourably, the fact would have been proved, easily and trium- phantly, by producing the vouchers. In any case the secretary would have compelled him to give details; and so, whatever the result, the matter, instead of becoming an incurable festering sore, would have been cleared up one way or the other in a day or two. The following figures are interesting, taken with the agitation about Canadian copyright. They are taken from Le Droit d'Auteur:—Canada annually exports books and other printed matter to the V»lue of about 90,000 dollars. The actual ^ures in 1893-1894 were 92,487 dollars and 84,566 dollars respectively. More than one-half of this sum is earned by exportation to the United States, in 1893 to the value of 57,586 dollars, and in 1894, of 50,000 dollars. On the other hand the United States, between July 1, 1894, and June 30, 1895, exported to Canada works to the value of 522,917 dollars. And it is remarkable that this is nearly one-fourth of the whole value of the printed matter exported by the United States within the same twelve months, 2,316,217 dollars. The following paragraph was written before the "Notes from Paris" were received. Let it stand as an independent appeal. Mrs. Eliza Warren, the veteran authoress and one of the pioneers of women's journalism, was, until the end of last year, fulfilling the duties of editress of the Ladies' Treasury, in spite of her eighty-three years of age. Owing to the discon- tinuance of this magazine and other circum- stances over which she has no control, Mrs. Warren is sadly pressed by pecuniary troubles. She has passed her long life in working for others who are unable now to help her. Owing to the infirmities attendant on her advanced age, Mrs. Warren is no longer able to support herself by her pen as has hitherto been the case, and some of her literary friends are endeavouring to raise a fund to relieve her remaining years. Contribu- tions, however small, to the Eliza Warren Fund, will be gratefully received by Miss Ellen T. Masters, Mount Avenue, Ealing, and it is hoped that the large public that once gained help from her practical writings on housekeeping, cookery, and domestic economy, will now come forward and give her that assistance which she so greatly needs. ]iD Literature and scholarship are represented on the Birthday list by four names out of ninety- one; those, namely, of Max Midler, Renouf, Fitch, and the Royal Astronomer at the Cape. Professor Max Midler is not the first Oxford Professor to receive the distinction of the Privy Council. The same honour was bestowed o» the late Montagu Bernard in recognition of hu services in the settlement of the A labama claims. Thehonours bestowed upon the great Egyptologist, the distinguished chief in the Educational Depart- ment, and the Astronomer at the Cape, have been received with great satisfaction. By these dis- tinctions the English speaking world is reminded that learning and literature ate brandies oi human endeavour worthy °^ shjjP54* ^e national honours. Art, J^ic, an^cfe 1- ing, architecture, and JJJ g» 6t «ft»\ta*«al lines must wait till next- ^ «."  ## p. 14 (#30) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. The Secretary, Mr. 6. H. Thring, has compiled froin his own experience, now extending over four years, notes which it is hoped will cover the whole field of agreements: what the various clauses should mean and what they do mean. These notes are illustrated by examples of actual agree- ments—that is to say, agreements actually offered by publishers to authors. He will very willingly give the names of the firms in question to members of the Society who may wish in their own interests to learn them. This must bo by application at the office. I would urge upon every member of the Society to look through these columns and learn, perhaps for the first time, how complicated are the difficulties which surround the subject. Even to learn these difficulties cost the committee many years of work and investiga- tion. Nor can we be certain yet that we have dragged the whole of them to light. Walter Besant. MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION. FOR many years past it has been the habit for publishers to draw up the agreements between themselves and the author, as also nearly all the printed agreements have been prepared from the point of view of the former, it is a matter of considerable importance to put before the author the ways and means to protect his own property in these agreements. The first thing to consider is, What rights of an author are these agreements to cover? The author's rights consist of, first, book rights (under which head are included translation rights); and, secondly, serial rights. In the dealings between author and publisher, the book rights alone are generally involved. These rights, then, must be protected. It is, first, clearly necessary to show the author how he can deal with these rights; and, secondly, to put forward fully the nature of such rights. The book rights may be dealt with in four different ways: — 1. By an agreement for sale outright, which system will convey the copyright, and thus include the serial rights. (N.B.—This is the only form which will cover the serial rights by implication.) 2. By an agreement for sale on commission. Under this method the author pays for the cost of production. 3. By an agreement for profit-sharing. On this basis the most usual agreement is a half share of profits. 4. By an agreement for payment by royalty. By which is meant a payment of a certain percentage on the published, or advertised, price of each book sold. All other agreements that have come to the notice of the Society do not differ from these forms, except in combining the principles of two or more of these agreements into one. Generally such combination is to the disadvantage of the author. (See "Methods of Publishing.") In considering the nature of the author's book rights, as dealt with here, it will not be necessary to discuss the question of the nature of copyright, for, with the exception of Method No. 1, the copyright is always, and ought always to be, retained by the author. It is sufficient to state that in Method No. 1 the author gives up all his property without limit or restriction, in considera- tion of a fair sum as an equivalent. The book rights, then, comprise the following sub-divisions and limitations: 1.—Sub-division by Country. It is possible, and often necessary, to divide the right of publishing thus, to (1) Great Britain; (2) America; (3) the Colonies and Dependencies of Great Britain; (4) each Colony separately; (5) the Continent; (6) the United States, &c. In addition, under this heading, should be included the rights of translation into different languages, and in consequence the publication in translation form in different countries. 2.—Limitation by Time or Edition. It is possible to limit the right of publishing, first, to a certain number of years, or, second, to a certain number of editions. The first should, as a general rule, be avoided, as it enables the publishers of the book, if still selling towards the end of the term, to print more than they can sell within the period, and therefore to go on selling the book after the limit assigned. It thus practically prevents the author from trans- ferring his rights except at a heavy pecuniary loss; for it has been decided in the courts that a publisher with a time limit has a right to con- tinue selling the stock in hand at the expiration of such limit, but not the right of reprinting. A time limit is, however, of considerable advan- tage to the author in case he should be desirous of collecting his works into the hands of one publisher, or of otherwise reconsidering his position. If, therefore, the author should be desirous of placing a time limit in his agreement, he must be careful by a suitable clause to protect himself from the danger pointed out above. The second is absolutely essential in educational, technical, scientific, and other works of similar  ## p. 15 (#31) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. nature that require, through change of ideas and discoveries, to be brought up to date periodically. The author should be able to renew the control of his work. 3.—Limitation by Form of Publication. That is, qua works of fiction published in England, limitation to the three volume, 6*., 3*. 6d., &c, forms. (Other countries have also recognised forms, America has i\ dollar, Ac), qua, other books to the various prices common to the trade. It should be remarked that all the sub-divisions in No. 1 are capable of the limitations 2, 3, and vice versa, all the limitations under 2 and 3 are capable of sub-divisions in No. 1. Thus the book rights are capable of being divided into a great number of minor rights, though in matter of practice they are generally only divided into the following: (1) Great Britain; (2) the Colonies and Dependencies; (3,) the United States; (4) the Continential (Tauchnitz); (5) Translation Rights; (6) Limitation by Editions; (7) Limita- tions by Form. The author has now before him the nature of his book rights, and he must be sure before signing an agreement that he is quite clear that the por- tion of those rights he is giving away coincides with those rights that he desires to transfer. Forms op Agreement. It will be necessary to give a few general notes and hint 8 on the diverse methods of dealing with book rights. This article will not trespass on the ground covered by the "Methods of Publishing," which treats of the subject in detail, but will merely give a cursory view of the systems to be avoided, and will, when necessary, reter to the above mentioned book. In pointing out methods and clauses to be accepted with caution, it does not follow that agreements containing none of those here referred to are therefore perfect. Faults of commission are so much more easily discovered than faults of omission. Before entering further on the question of these agreements, an author should clearly under- stand that the assignment of the right of publishing, even if it continues so long as the legal term 0/ copyright, is not an assignment of copyright. The verbal distinction may be slight, but the legal distinction is large. The contract for publication is a personal contract. To give one of many differences, in a bankruptcy, if a publisher held the right to publish, the contract would terminate, if he held the copyrjgjjj fae book would become an asset of the ba^KrUpt estate. The sale of copyright is very much to be condemned, and it is only admissible in the case of "sale outright"—a method of publishing, not uncommon, which must be adopted with great hesitation and only with the advice of experienced persons. Some writers, however, hold that the best method of publishing is to sell the literary estate outright, making sure that the price given is such as to cover all reasonable chances of success. If an author desires to capitalise his rights, let him do so only after ascertaining, as carefully as possible, what those rights mean. It should be incidentally mentioned that it is practically useless, from a pecuniary point of view, to publish any work of fiction on commis- sion, and indeed to pay anything towards the production of this kind of literature. But com- mission agreements are not only useful, but sometimes essential, for books of a technical nature; and in the case of these books, if the system is carefully managed, the result to the author in the end is perhaps more satisfactory than any other form of publication. In publishing on commission the author should take care before entering into the contract— 1. That the cost of production is only that which will be actually incurred. 2. That he can prevent charges for advertising where no money is paid. 3. That he can keep control of the advertising, the amount to be expended and the papers chosen for the advertisements. 4. That he can check the charges made for corrections. (For further details see " Methods of Publish- ing," p- 63.) It may be of use, however, to print a letter of agreement, which came before the Society, and can be ranked under this head. A Proposed Agreement. "Dear Sir,—I have made a calculation respect- ing your MS., and shall be willing to publish it on the following arrangement in two volumes: "I will take the entire responsibility of its production, and the working expenses upon myself, including advertisement, if you will arrange to be responsible for 250 copies at the trade price of 12s. 6c?., or whatever number of copies is needed to bring the sale up to the quantity, if it has not been reached six months after the date of publication; the published price being 21*. Thus, if we are unfortunate enough, to sell only 150 copies, I sa^^d ask «o^Vo 100 at the price named, v. -^e "Vy you would not be troubled fcvrtWT lD^wtttVB? pavment. The plan is one tWsC tte^°^ worked upon, and is an « <&» * *  ## p. 16 (#32) ############################################## i6 THE AUTHOR. author is not responsible for the initial expenses of production, advertising, reviewing, Ac, and all sales during the time specified go to the reduction of his liability, and, if the work is fairly successful, it is published without expense to the author. "If this proposal meets with your approval, kindly let me hear from you, "Tours faithfully, "X." The preceding letter is not a letter written specially for one case, but is a formula. Others almost exactly the same have been before the Society from the same publishers again and again. Let us consider exactly what this means. The author is invited to guarantee 250 copies of the book at 12*. 6d. each. That is to say, the author guarantees a sale amounting to 156/. 5*., so that the publisher on these figures is certain— the book being one of average length for such a price—of a good profit in any event. By this means, too, the author's and publisher's interests are at opposite poles. It is the pub- lisher's interest for the first six months not to push the book, so that he may obtain all the author's cash as under the agreement, and subse- quently to push the book that he may obtain all the profit. If the book proves worthless—it will be observed that nothing is said about the merits of the case —it is certain not to reach the sale of 250. But suppose the book turns out to be good and to have a sale of 1000, 2000, anything, what then becomes of the profits? It does not appear from the letter that the author is to have any share at all in them. But, perhaps, there was to be a subsequent letter providing for the division of profits. As far as the letter goes, if the sale reaches or exceeds 250 copies, the author neither makes nor loses any money. If it falls short, he pays the difference. In some cases the publisher has been requested to state what share of profits the author is to have: a letter conies back, again a formula, that he will pay 10 per cent, after the sale of the first edition. No mention is however made of the number of the edition, and 10 per cent, is an absolutely ridiculous royalty when the author actually guarantees the cost of production. The third method is that of profit sharing. This method cannot be too strongly condemned on account of the complicated statement of accounts which is generally rendered. To an ordinary individual publishers' accounts are most difficult to understand, and in some cases are intentionally made so. (See "Methods of Publishing," page 29, half profit system; page 75, advertisements; page 83, author's corrections.) Even when the bona fides on both sides is indisputable, cases of difference of opinion are likely to occur. Either the book is over adver- tised, or advertised in the wrong papers, and therefore the profits are reduced; or the book is under-advertised and the sales thereby curtailed. Again, the amount charged for corrections, which it is almost impossible to check, may lead to a feeling of distrust, where especially (for a profit- sharing arrangement is a gwasi-partnership) there should be confidence. The writer of technical books of all sorts should beware of this form of agreement, as publishers often put forward this method of publishing as equitable where there is some risk of the sales not covering the cost of production, or of the book going slowly. If, however, the author desires to publish under this system he should obtain before entering into an agreement an estimate of the cost of produc- tion from the publisher. To this he should add the sum to be agreed upon in advertising, over which he should retain some control, and an approximate amount for author's corrections. After reckoning the total that would arise from a reasonable sale of the work, he should see whether there could be any profit left to be divided. The words "incidental expenses" are often inserted in a half-profit agreement, referring to the cost of production. This term is very un- satisfactory, and should if possible be struck out. As, however, some publishers will not enter into an agreement on this basis without demanding some deduction for office rent, expenses, &c. (the charge of "office expenses" has been fre- quently combatted in the Author), it may some- times be found policy to yield on this point. In such a case the difficulty ought to be met by some fixed sum, say 5 per cent, on the cost of produc- tion of the book. This, though the best attain- able, clause is still unsatisfactory, as it con- travenes the great basis of all agreements between the author and the publisher, namely, that their interests should if possible be in common. Office expenses, of course, if they are considered by one of the three persons concerned with the sale of a book, should bo considered by all. The fourth method is that of royalty. This is the simplest and most convenient form of agreement, the accounts are clear and easily understood, and to check them involves but little labour. The system of deferred Royalty. 1. After cost of production has been covered. 2. After the sale of a certain number of copies are dealt with in "Methods of Publishing," pp. 48 to 62. Here it need only be said that the first of these  ## p. 17 (#33) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. '7 methods is absolutely inadmissible as involving all the objections of the profit-sharing arrange- ment, and that the second is only admissible if the royalty is proporti aiably increased after the sale of the stated number, and if the author is sure that the publishers stipulate to print a larger number than the number stated on which no royalty is paid. Now that some stand has been made to sell books at a net figure, authors should he careful that their royalty is paid on the published price, and that the book is not going to be sold net. Fifteen per cent, on the published price of an ordinary six-shilling book is equivalent to 18 per cent, on a net book at 5*. Every author who cannot command the highest scale, should, however small the royalty offered him, stipulate for an increase with increased sales. The system of a royalty increasing with the sales is equitable to both parties, and the author thereby avoids being dependent on the "gene- rosity" of the publisher if the sales are large. There are no doubt some royalties which cannot be increased, or in other words some authors, on account of their popularity, can demand the highest royalty from the beginning. An example of an increasing royalty would be, say, 10 per cent, of the published price on the sale of the first 500 copies, 15 per cent, up to 1000, 17! after the sale of 1000, &c, &c. This form of payment by royalty is very con- venient for educational works. It may be doubt- ful whether an educational book will be taken up by the educational centres—if it should fail to be accepted the book can only stand a small royalty. Should the work, however, meet with the approval of teachers, it will sell in its thousands, and the returns will be great. A suc- cessful educational work, for instance, has a far greater circulation than any popular novel. As agreements have been from time to time offered where the royalty decreases with the increased circulation, it is only necessary after the former statement to mention that such an arrangement is worse than absurd. If the book is a prize book in the book lottery, the author will reap a proportionate return, and no publisher who is desirous of dealing fairly with authors will object, when the book is selling in its thousands, to paying the author accordingly, but it must be under agreement. Agreements. It has been thought advisable to print one or two forms of agreement in full, so as to shoW what are the clauses disadvantageous ^ foe author. A publisher is certainly within his rights in making any stipulations and terms he pleases. It is for the author, before acceptance, to ascertain what they mean. The following is a verbatim copy of a printed agreement. "Memorandum op Agreement made this day of 189 , between (hereinafter called 'the author,') for himself, his executors, administrators, and assigns, of the one part, and (hereinafter called the 'publishers') for themselves, their executors, administrators, and assigns of the other part. Whereas the author is the proprietor of copyright in a work at present entitled which he has requested the publishers to publish on the terms and conditions hereinafter appearing. It is hereby agreed between the author and the publisher, as follows:— "1. That, subject to the hereinafter payments, the author hereby assigns to the publishers the exclusive light of printing and publishing the above work in serial and book form in Great Britain, its colonies and dependencies, in the United States of America, and in English on the Continent of Europe, and in all other countries, unless, and until rights are assigned as in clause 7 thereof. "2. That all details as to the time and manner of production, publication, and advertisement, and the number and destination of free copies, shall be left to the sole discretion of the publishers, who shall hear all expenses of production, publica- tion, and advertisement, except the amount (if any) by which the cost of corrections of proofs, other than printers' errors, as per printers' invoice, exceeds an average of 5*. per sheet of sixteen pages of printed matter, which amount shall be borne by the author. "3. That the published price of the first edition shall on publication be (say 6s.) per copy, but the publishers shall have power in their discre- tion to alter the published price of any editions as they may think fit, and sell the residue of any edition at a reduced price or as a remainder. "4. That the pub ishers shall deliver to the author, ou the 29th day of September of each year, a statement of the number of copies sold, whether singly, or in editions or remainders, and whether in the British Dominions or elsewhere during the year before the preceding 30th day of March, with the price or prices at which such copies were sold. "5. That the publishers shall, at the time of delivery of said statement, pay to tV^e *u^or on all such copies sold after i QJL at al^. c Ytf^ published price, a royalty ^sJoK" \m1lv lished price, and on all suc-K • ca «vt ^ "Vv^ their published price, a ^fT, V»< <95aV  ## p. 18 (#34) ############################################## i8 THE AUTHOR. on the net receipts of such sales; and on all copies sold as remainders, that is, below one quarter of the published price, the royalties shall be per cent, on the net receipts of such sales. In calculating such royalties thirteen copies shall be reckoned as twelve, and no royalties shall be paid upon any copies presented to the author, or others, or to the Press, or upon copies destroyed by fire. The publishers shall pay to the author on publication the sum of £ in the place of royalty on the first iooo copies sold. "6. That should the publishers issue a special edition for sale in the British Colonies and depen- dencies only, they shall pay to the author, on all copies of such sold, a royalty of per cent, on the net receipts of such sales, payable as and when provided in clause 5 hereof. "7. That the publishers shall have the sole right to sell or assign the Serial, American, Colonial, Continental, Translation, and Dramatic rights in the above work, and the publishers shall pay to the author one-half of the profits from the sale of the same, such accounts to be payable as and when provided in clause 5 hereof. In the case of stereo-plates, electro-plates, or shells with rights being sold, the net profits of their sales, after deducting the invoiced cost of their production, shall be received, divided, and paid over in the same way. "8. That the publishers give no guarantee of securing the copyright outside of the United Kingdom, and do not bind themselves to issue special Colonial or Continental editions, or to sell serial, translation, or dramatic rights. "9. That the author shall be entitled to receive on publication presentation copies of the first edition of the work, and shall have the right to purchase further copies for personal use at half the published price, net. "10. That when any edition of the said work has beeu sold out the publishers shall not be bound to reprint it; but if the publishers shall not within one month after receiving a written request from the author decide to publish a further edition, the author shall be at liberty to make such arrangements as he thinks fit for the publication of any further editions, provided he takes over the moulds, stereo or electro plates, or other similar plant used for the above work, at their net cost as per iuvoice. "11. That the author guarantees to the publishers that the said work is in no way what- soever a violation of any copyright belonging to any other party, and that it contains nothing of an objectionable or libellous character, and that he and his legal representatives shall and will hold harmless the publishers from all suits, and all manner of claims and proceedings which may be taken on the ground that the said work is such violation, or contains anything objectionable or libellous. The author undertakes to execute on the request of the publishers any document or documents to confirm the transfer of any of the rights defined in the clauses 1 and 7 hereof, and to take all proceedings necessary to enforce his copyright in the British dominions, and else- where, on receiving a suitable indemnity against costs (if any). The author shall allow his name to be used in all such proceedings, and in a:l formalities necessary for registration of copy- right." Comments on the Agreement. Take first the statement of the parties to the agreement and the recital. It is a great mistake to contract with the executors, administrators, and assigns of a publisher. Publishing is a personal contract. This has been decided in the courts, and this position ought to be maintained. It is of the utmost importance to an author that the contract should not be assigned, and that in case of bankruptcy or death he should again have the right of choosing his publisher. The recital also is amusing, " a work which he (the author) has requested his publishers to publish 011 the terms and conditions hereinafter appearing." Did he make the request joined with these terms and conditions'( He could hardly have been so foolish, he knew nothing of these terms and conditions until they were thrust down his throat. Clause 1. Under this clause the publishers ask for all the book rights, all over the world, which is a great deal, but that is not all. They also ask for the serial rights all over the world. In addition to being publishers, then, they are thus at liberty to act as authors' agents and syndi- caters. The remuneration they ask for this will be considered below. There are a few rights still left to the author, and these it will be seen are secured under clause 7 to the publishers. Under this clause the author assigns nearly all his rights. Do the publishers undertake to do anything? Certainly not. In clause 8 this will be further explained. They do not even undertake to pub- lish an English edition, but have only bound the author to assign them the right to publish. Clause 2. If they had undertaken the publica- tion of an English edition, they have not bound themselves to time. This is extremely important. They might wait until they got rid of all the serial rights in England and America, or, if the author was unknown, until he made his name and thus they would get an enhanced sale at low terms, or, lastly, if the book was an educational or other technical work, they might keep an author in check while they ran a more successful man and thus hold control of the market. The manner of  ## p. 19 (#35) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. »9 production, publication, and advertisement is left to the publishers. This if read with other clauses might be fair. The unfairness appears, however, as the reader proceeds, and will be explained. Corrections.—The amount to be borne by the author for corrections (i.e., beyond 5*. per sheet of sixteen pages) is considerably larger than is ordinarily charged; 10s. and 15s. per sheet of sixteen pages is the more common arrangement. In any case the clause is badly drawn, because it does not explain what is the meaning of 5*. a sheet. What is the connection of shillings and corrections? Clause 3. The manner of publication was left in the hands of the publishers. This would be correct if it was subsequently agreed and the author knew that an edition was to be produced at a certain price. But this is not the case. The publishers can alter the published price and, take note, "can sell the residue of any edition at a reduced price or as a remainder." Clause 4 is a distinctly bad clause, as by this arrangement the publisher may retain the author's money for the benefit of his own business for over a year. The accounts are made up annually and delivered six months afterwards, when payment is made. It is possible, if the book, say, is pro- duced in April, and the largest sales take place during April and May, that the author's money will lie with the publisher until September year, nearly fifteen months. Clause 5 refers to the work evidently uf a young author, but it is the form of the clause more than the payment after 1000 copies that is so objection- able. It must be remembered here especially that under clauses 2 and 3 the manner of publica- tion and price of the work were left to the discretion of the publishers. If they therefore publish, and then sell below half price under the agreement, they can pay the author on the net returns instead of on the published price. In fact, < ases have been known to occur where the large-t sales of the book to the public libraries were made below half price, and accounts ren- dered accordingly. All that part of the clause which refers to lhe payment of royalty on copies sold below half price should be rejected. The clause is altogether badly drawn, and should in a proper agreement be remodelled. Clause 6, as it at present stands, without any price being inserted, is fair. Copies are sold to the Colonies in sheets at cheap rates, and payment is then made by a royalty on the net returns. The ultimate fairness of the agreement depends, of course, upon the amount of royalty. Clause 7 is another remarkable clause. Under clause 1 it will be remembered that the publishers obtained nearly all the rights the author possessed. Under clause 7 they claim the right to sell and assign the remainder of those rights, and, as they are only acting as agents, it would be thought that they would only make agency charges, that is, from 10 to 15 per cent, on the returns, but on the contrary, they demand jo per cent. Even should the author dramatise his work, and should it be successfully produced at a theatre, he can only do so with the publishers' consent, and then he will have to pay the publishers 50 per cent, of all the returns he gets. Should a foreign author offer him a sum down for the translation, he can only sell with the consent of the publishers, to whom again he must pay half the returns. Clause 8. It will be remembered that under clauses 1 and 7 the publishers obtain all the rights (with the exception of the bare shell of copyright) that the author had to sell, and it will be also remembered that the publishers did not undertake to publish or in fact do anything. In clause 8 the publishers expressly state that they give no guarantee of securing the copyright out of the United Kingdom, and do not bind them- selves to issue special colonial or continental editions, or to sell serial translations or dramatic rights. Perhaps it would be too much for the author to ask them to guarantee this, but they do not even bind themselves to make the attempt to do their best for the book generally. Clause 9 is, perhaps, the only clause which needs no comment. Clause 10 only refers, reading it with the agree- ment on the whole, to the publication of the English editions. All the other rights are still to be retained by the publishers under the agreement, that is, dramatic translations and other important matters of this kind. With regard to the English book rights, it is, perhaps, a reasonable clause with the exception of the latter part. The author should certainly not bind himself to take over what might be useless stereo-plates and similar plant (the latter appears very indefinite) "at their cost price." If they are taken over it should be at a valuation. Clause 11. The first part of this clause can be accepted as the ordinary guarantee clause, and the latter part is merely formal, and binds the author to do what he has undertaken. The financial side of this agreement has been omitted, but if the royalties that were actually proposed and agreed to were inserted, it would have been possible to write two or three more very eloquent and interesting paragraphs on the subject. Q. H. Thring. (To fee continued.)  ## p. 20 (#36) ############################################## 20 THE AUTHOR. MR. PUTNAM ON EARLY BOOS PRODUCTION. THE first volume of Mr. George Haven Putnam's work on "Books and Their Makers during the Middle Ages " has just appeared in New York and London (G. P. Putnam's Sons. ios. 6c?.). A previous work by him dealt with the relations between author and public in the classic ages; in the present one the story is taken up from the fall of the Roman Empire. Part I. of this volume is devoted to Books in Manuscript, and Part II. to The Earlier Printed Books. This brings the history from 476 to 1600; and in the volume to follow the work will be completed, namely, to the close of the seventeenth century. We are shown here, to begin with, how that intellectual interest was maintained during the social disorganisation of the early middle ages—for seven centuries after the fall of the Roman Empire—in the first place by the scribes of the Roman Church: "the incentive to literary labour being no longer the laurel crown of the circus, the favours of a patron, or the honoraria of the publishers, but the glory of God and the service of the Church." Then comes an account of the work of the Universities in the production of literature, following which the services of the earlier printer-publishers of Europe, and the revolution after the invention of printingin 1450, are dealt with. The author is loud in admiration for these early printer-publishers, and remarks that when at one time we see the presses of Aldus in Venice devoted almost exclu- sively to classic literature, those of Basel and Nuremberg to the work of the Church fathers, in Paris editions of the Scriptures being multi- plied, and in London a long series of romances and fabliaux being produced—" we may under- sta> d that we have to do not with a series of accidental public selections, but with the results of a definite purpose and policy on the part of capable and observing men, a policy which gives an indication of the nature and interests of their several communities, while it characterises also the aims and the individual ideals of the pub- lishers themselves." The publishing work of Aldus, says Mr. Putnam, while it does not give us precedents for royalty or copyright arrange- ments, is nevertheless very important in the history of property in literature: Aldus was able, by combining skilled editorial labour with seleoted classics, to create a great literary property, which needed only distributing macbinery and a peaceable Europe to beoome commercially valuable. He set the example also, for Italy at least, of securing privileges in each of the Italian States possessing any literary centres, and although he was not always able to prevent piratical reprinting on the part of his competitors in Florence, or even always to keep out of other cities in Italy the piracy editions from Lyons, he accomplished something towards the ideal of a copyright that should hold good for Italian territory. He even had hopes of securing, through the authority of the Pope, a system of copyright that should prove effective in all Catholic States, and it was not until long after Aldus's death that the attempts to establish a Catholic copyright system were given up by publishers as practically futile. Mr. Putman therefore places with the earlier printer-publishers the credit for securing the preliminary recognition of property in literature; and they bore also, he says, the chief burden of the long contest for the freedom of the Press from the censorship of Church and State, which in certain communities had appeared likely to throttle literary production altogether. "I can but think," he continues in his preface— I can but think that the historians of literature and the students of the social and political conditions on which literary production is so largely dependent, have failed to do full justice to men like Aldus, the Estiennes, Froben, Koberger, and Plantin, who fought so sturdily against the pretensions of Pope, bishop, or monarch to stand between the printing-press and the people, and to decide what should and what should not be printed. The author expresses a hope that in the near future some competent authority may prepare a history of copyright law, in doing which these volumes may be useful. His purpose has been, he says, to present a study of the conditions of literary production in Europe prior to copyright law; and the copyright legislation of Europe may be said to begin with the English statute of 1710 known as the Act of Queen Anne. BOOK TALK. JOHN BICKERDYKE," author of "A Banished Beauty," "Days in Thule with Rod, Gun, and Camera," &c, has just published a new novel called "Lady Val's Elope- ment" (Hutchinson and Co.). He has also in the press a book on the " Wild Sports of Ireland," which he will publish through Mr. Upcott Gill. The district which occupies the greater part of the work is the Shannon with its lakes. The book will be illustrated 'by photographs taken by the author. The subscribers' price is 3*. 6c?. a copy, to be obtained of Mr. Upcott Gill, 170, Strand, London, W.C. Two new volumes of verse are announced. One by Miss A. C. Macdonald, called "Lays of the Heather;" the other by E. M. Pledge, called "Loving Whispers." Both will be published by Elliott Stock. Mr. George Morley's "Leafy Warwickshire" has been doing well, and winning good opinions. In his new venture he does not desert Warwick-  ## p. 21 (#37) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. shire. It is to be a book of pastoral stories called "In Rustic Livery." There are four stories. The publishers will be Messrs. Dent and Co., Aldine House. The book is dedicated to the author's friend, Mr. Eden Philpotts. The Eev. W. B. Wallace has just published a volume of stories entitled "The Clue of Ariadne," a dramatic story: "Princess Aseneth," another of the stories, is a metaphysical romance dealing with some of the problems of life and death from a platonic standpoint. The Roxburghe Press are the publishers. No. 27 of the Humanitarian League's well- known series of publications will be on the vaccination question, by Mr. Joseph Collinson, who has written a good deal about the subject. Mr. Collinson's convictions are on the side of those who doubt and distrust the practice, and he advocates the total and immediate repeal of the compulsory law. Under the title "Missarium Sacrificia" the Rev. N. Diniock has compiled a volume of English divines, in respect of the claim of the " massing priest" to offer Christ for the quick and the dead, to have remission of pain or guilt. The work, which will occupy between 200 and 300 pages, will have an extended introduction by the compiler, and will be published by Mr. Elliot Stock. The same firm announce "The Super- natural, a Rational View of the Divine Word and the Dual Nature of Man," by Katholikos, with an introduction by Prebendary Reynolds. Messrs. Bliss, Sands, and Poster request us to state that they have moved to 12, Burleigh-street, Strand, Sir George Newnes's old offices, where the Strand Magazine was born. The name of the firm will in future be Bliss, Sands, and Co. The fantastic theme of a book by Mr. W. H. Pullen, which Messrs. Dent will publish imme- diately, is a trip from Mount Olympus to London. It is called " Venus and Cupid." "A School for Saints" is the title of a new story by John Oliver Hobbes, which is about to appear. It will also be adapted for the stage as a three-act comedy. Mr. Jaakoff Prelooker, the lecturer on Russia, and the author of "Under the Czar and Queen Victoria," has written a novel entitled "Palasha and Masha—Two Sisters," which Messrs. Nisbet are to publish. The Rev. P. H. Ditchfield has written "The Sorceress of Paris: A Tale of the Days of Richelieu," which Messrs. Sampson Low and Co. will publish. Among early volumes of fiction to appear will be a story of society life by Sir W. Nevill Geary, entitled "A Lawyer's W"ife"; "Neta for the Wind," by Miss Una Taylor,- and "Gold," a Dutch-Indian novel by Miss Annie Linden. These will be published by Mr. Lane. Mr. John C. Kenworthy has a short story in the press of the Brotherhood Publishing Company, entided " The World's Last Passage." The author brings his tale to a head with certain conclusions upon life and death, which are said to be treated in a somewhat novel manner. Any one having letters of Mrs. Browning is asked to lend tbem to Messrs. Smith Elder and Co., the publishers, for use in a collection which is being prepared for publication by Mr. F. G. Kenyon. The second volume in Lane's Library, a new series of fiction, issuing of course from the Bodley Head, will be "The Sentimental Sex," by Miss Gertrude Warden, and the next "Gold," by Mrs. Annie Linden. Mr. Theodore Watts Dunton makes an announcement regaiding the unpublished pceins, by Rossetti, in his possession. He is m;iking arrangements to publish within the present year "Jan Van Hunks" and the "Sphinx Sonnets." The former of these will show a new and, he thinks, unexpected side of Rossetti's genius. Mr. Dunton, moreover, is engaged writing Rossetti's life, as to which he says, "I shall be able, and honestly al»le, to paint a much more cheerful picture of him that any that has yet been painted." Dr. Traill has put together a series of articles written during a couple of winter tours in Egypt, the last of which he finished just before the advance into the Soudan commenced. The book is called " i'roni Cairo to the Soudan Frontier," and will be published by Mr. Lane in a few dd.ys. The first three volumes in a series of Harvard Historical Studies are about to be published by Messrs. Longmans—namely, "The Suppression of the African Slave Trade to the United States of America, 1638-1870," by Dr. E. B. du Bois; "The Contest over the Ratification of the Federal Constitution in Massachusetts," by S. B. Har.ling; and " A Critical Study of Nullification in South Carolina," by D. F. Houston. Mr. Mackenzie Bell has ready for publication his volume on Christiana Rossetti, in which there will be many personal recollections. Three hitherto unknown manuscripts by Charlotte Bronte will be offered for sale by Messrs. Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodge this month. The first was written in 1830, when she was only fourteen years old, the second in 1833, and the third in 1836. Until recently they were in the possession of a descendent of the family residing in the West of England. A. number of Pope and Swift letters are also to ty> disposed of by Messrs. Christie on the 4th  ## p. 22 (#38) ############################################## 22 THE AUTHOR. vast., namely, the letters addressed by Pope to William Fortescue between the years 1730 and 1744, and those of Swift to Charles Ford, Esq., 'besides some written to the same gentleman by Pope, Parnell, and Gay. Swift's letters cover the period between 1713-36, and are ten in number. Mr. Augustine Birrell, Q.C., M.P., has put into book form the popular lectures on the duties and liabilities of trustees which he delivered some time ago in the Inner Temple. Messrs. Macmillan will publish the work. An edition of "Res Judicata," by the same author, will be published shortly by Mr. Elliot Stock in a style correspond- ing with the new edition of '■ Obiter Dicta." Mr. Andrew Lang is editing the Poems of Burns and revising Lockhart's Life of Scott. The former is to be out for the Burns centenary next month, and the new Lockhart will appear in the autumn. A new edition of Burton's " Anatomy of Melan- choly " is being prepared by Mr. Aid is Wright. Mr. Wright will trace the references, and verify the quotations employed in the classic. Mrs. Macquoid will publish her travel book, entitled "In the Volcanic Eifel," in a few days (Hutchinson and Co.). Mrs. Macquoid h.is been assisted by her son Mr. Gilbert Mac- quoid, and it is illustrated by Mr. Thomas R. Macquoid, R.I., with many drawings. This interesting and beautiful region is very little known by the British tourist; yet it is easy of access, and the hotel accommodation is reasonable. Mrs. Macquoiil's book should open up a new held for the Briton on holiday. Except for the author's sake one would wish that it might remain unknown. It may bo considered as a favourable sign of the advanced stage which the study of German has attained in this country that a fourth edition should have been required of Goethe's "Iphigenie auf Tauris," published by Prof. Buchheim at the Clarendon Press, with an Introduction and a complete Commentary. In the former the editor takes great pains to show that the critics who found fault with Goethe because he did not represent real Greek characters in his drama, are utterly wrong, since the poet had no intention whatever of writing a play in the spirit of antiquity. We are also pleased to find that Lessing's delightful comedy, "Minna von Barn- helm," provided by Dr. Buchheim with bio- graphical and critical Introductions and annota- tions, has reached a seventh thoroughly revised edition. A second and enlarged edition of " The Pocket Guide to Cycling," by Mr. Ernest M. Bowden, has just been issued, and contains, besides a good deal of additional literary matter, a large number of illustrations. The book is of a purely practical character, and the first edition, though not illustrated, was exceedingly well received by the cycling world. A new volume of Nature Sketches, by Mr. Percy Standing, is announced bv Mr. Elliot Stock, under the title "On This High Wold." The studies are arranged in the order of the seasons, and relate to a well-known district in the north country. Mr. D. F. Hannigan, the translator of Flaubert's " La Tentation de Saint Antoine," is engaged upon translating the same writer's "Bouvard et Pccuchet " for Mr. H. S. Nicholls, of 3, Soho-square. His historical story of Ireland during the Jacobite period, called "Luttrell's Doom," is published by Messrs. Moran and Co., of Aberdeen. The article in last month's Westminster Review on "The Victorian Age of Literature and its Critics," is also by the same author. It was stated in last month's Author that Tuer's " History of the Horn Book" was in three volumes. It is in two, not in three. The work has proved highly successful. Mr. R. Andom sends a copy of his new book entitled "Industrial Explorings in and Around London" (James Clarke and Co.). Out of the innumerable industries which are carried on in this great city, he lias given us an account of twelve, with details as to the processes, which are certainly new to most of his readers. "London and Country Rambles with Charles Dickens," by Robert Allbut (Sheppard and St. John), contains eight excursions to various parts of London and other places taken from Dickens's novels. The book shows a considerable amount of research and verification. Mr. Sam Wood forwards a copy of his " Random Rhymes" (W. R. Massie, Barnsley). Let him speak for himself: Let us be friends: wo may not now be more: Your silent glances make but poor amends For all my pain. If nougbt will love restore, Let us be friends. Love to my heart its fire no longer lends: 'Tis chilled and hardened to its very core: No quickening beat your presence now attends. Yet would I not forget the joys of yore; And now that Fate has worked its cruel ends, Shake hands and smile: for my sake, I implore, Let us be friends. Mr. Mackenzie Bell publishes (Ward, Lock, and Bowden) a second edition of "Spring's Immor- tality and other Poems." We venture to congratu- late the author upon the success of his work. Mr. Elrington sends us his " Guide to Youghal." Intending tourists to Ireland will please make a note of it.  ## p. 23 (#39) ############################################## THE AUTHOR. 23 Mr. Charles Moore Jessop, physician to St. Pancras and Northern Dispensary, publishes a pamphlet called "Dress and Health," an Appeal to Antiquity and Common Sense. The essay on "Dress and Health" is prefixed by one on "The Value of Fluid Meat Food." CORRESPONDENCE. I.—Grab-alls of Literature. Here is another instance of shabby treatment under this head. From time to time I have con- tributed sketches to a country journal without ever receiving any remuneration. After the appearance of the last, I wrote to the editor suggesting that some payment would be appre- ciated. I also reminded him that my name had been long since removed from the free list of the paper. He replied that the articles had always been looked upon as gratuitous, but that if I sent them an occasional sketch the proprietors would reinstate me upon their free list. As the sub- scription is, presumably, 6*. 6d. per annum, 1 declined this generous proposal as- being scarcely proportionate. The rest is silence. Cecil Clarke. Authors' Club, S.W., May 18. LT.—Postage of Proofs. For I know not how many years it has been my habit to wrap up corrected proofs—leaders and articles for a newspaper—put a string around them and address, without cover, affixing a half- penny stamp. This month our sagacious post- office has discovered that corrected proofs without one syllable of personal matter or allusion therein, of course, are "in the nature of a letter," and it makes an extra charge of a penny. An unusually wide experience of post-offices in Europe has convinced me that ours, at this time, is unequalled for stupidity and backwardness. This is the latest example. _ u. A Journalist. III.—Does a Good Review Help a Book? In " Notes and News" of the last number of the Author, there is a paragraph on the reviewing of books and its advantage to the author. Now, I have often wondered whether good reviews of a book increase the sale or not. I admit that it is a cheap form of advertisement; but I firmly believe that a real good slating increases the demand for a book six times as much as a favourable critique. I have written several novels, and out of nearly two hundred reviews of them. tnat I have seen, there have not been six really unfavourable ones, about twenty were neutral and stereotyped, the remainder were distinctly commendatory. Though my books have never been reviewed in the Times, they have been noticed in nearly all the leading London journals, including those of a literary character. I was so pleased with the praise given to one of my works that I had extracts from the reviews reprinted, and sent several hundreds of copies to my friends. I do not think they increased the sale by half a dozen. In my opinion the circulation of a book is principally in the power of the circulating library. The works of a well-known author are ordered in large quantities, and people ask and read " X.'s last," because it may very likely be discussed in conversation, and everyone likes to be up to date. Only one copy is taken of the unknown author's book, and if there be a demand for it, and it is not available, the librarian is always ready with an excuse, and offers " X.'s last" as a substitute. In the town where I am known, my books have a certain vogue, and have been added to the stock of the libraries. I took one of them from the book- shelves a short time ago and examined it; it had been rebound, many pages were missing, it was dirty, dogeared, and full of marginal notes and interlineations, all of which was very gratifying to the author. "This book seems to have had a fair amount of wear," I remarked to the lady librarian. "Oh, yes, it is almost always out," she replied. "Why don't you get a new copy? Many pages of this one are missing," I suggested. "We never increase our stock more than we can help," tshe answered, aud I fancy that is the general rule. I am not an embittered man. I write books because it gives me pleasure to do so, though it costs me greater labour than most authors, as I have not received an academic education. I think, however, I have been mainly encouraged to continue writing by the very favourable reviews my books have obtained. C. H. LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS, The Literary Commercial. Manchester Quarterly for April. Colour Sense in Literature. J. Havelock Ellis. Contemporary Review for May. On the Kind of Fiction Called Morbid. Vincent O'Snllivan. Savoy for April. The Victorian Aoe of Literature and its Critics. P. F. Hannigan. Westminster Review for May. Leigh Hunt. F. Warre Cornish. Temple Bar for Jnne. Modern Norwegian Literature.—I. Bjornstjerno Pjornson. Forum for May.  ## p. 24 (#40) ############################################## 24 THE AUTHOR. Matthew Arnold. G. W. E. Ruaaell. Commonwealth for May. Humoub in Fiction. Professor Tyrrel. Saturday Review for May 23. The Gospel According to the Novelists.—HI. George Eliot. W. J. Dawson. Young Man for June. A Fresh View of Dean Swift. Wm. Barry, D.D. Contemporary Review for May. Some Memories of Hawthorne.—IV. Rose Haw- thorne Lathrop. Atlantic Monthly for May. Letters of D. G. Bossetti.—I. 1854. George Birk- beok Hill. Atlantic Monthly for May. Hermann Sudermann. Atlantic Monthly for May. Haunts of the Poets: The Emerald Isle and Moore. Edwin Lester Arnold. Atalanta for June. Notable Beviews. Of Professor Nettlesbip's "Lectures and Essays." Athemeum for May 2. Of B. Le Gallienne's " Betrospective Beviews: A Literary Log." Saturday Review for May 16, Spectator for May 16. Of "The Paget Papers." Times for May 6. Of Stevenson's "Weir of Hermiston." Times for May 27. There is a void in a literature for the commercial man, according to a writer in the Manchester Quarterly. Mr. Wilcock begins by joining literature and commerce in partnership; it was not always so, he says regretfully, but now certainly iiterature is a money-making business. But, on the other hand, if a man took the present teachings of literature into his commerce, they would ruin him. Unless he be a rich man, those beautiful ideals which evolve from good reading must remain creatures of reverie. "The lessons of poetry, the conclusions of our deepest, thinkers, are at variance with the customs of trade." A special literature, therefore, is wanted for the literaiy commercial man. Mr. Wilcock explains the want, and how it can be met: In all the glorious realms of literature the commercial man finds nothing set directly to the circumstances created by the nervous excitement of this material age. The complica- tion of interests, the entanglement of principles, nay, the constant endeavour of men to create new principles to fit the occasion have not yet been grasped by the literary world. ... A genuine commercial literature must be produced by men direotly engaged in commerce, who daily and hourly can turn a moral mioroscope upon humanity as it works under an infinity of influences in commerce, and who see a "sort of dry and flat Sahara crowded with petty grotesque malformations, phantoms, playing meaningless antics." Meaningless they would indeed appear to the non-practised eye, but to him who knows what passes for commercial tact and smartness, full of intent and method. Mr. Wilcock rates highly the importance of the literary commercial man in the future. The old haphazard mode of doing business is killing itself out, he says, and men need more than money-bags to go to market with. Individual character is the backbone, and " the development of character is the aim of literature." With him lies the improvement of commercial customs and the com- prehension of right principles. A precise test as to whether latter-day art has degenerated is offered, writes Mr. Havelock Ellis, by the colour sense in literature. The evidence of this test by no means furnishes support for the the theory of decadence. "On the contrary, it shows that the decadence, if anywhere, was at the end of last century, and that our own vision of the world is fairly one with that of classic time, with Chaucer's and with Shakespeare's. At the end of the nineteenth century we can say this for the first time since Shakespeare died." In bringing forward this test, Mr. Ellis claims that it has two uses at least: It is first an instrument for investigating a writer's personal psychology by defining the nature of his (esthetic colour vision. When we have ascertained a writer's colour- formula and his colours of predilection, we can tell at a glance simply and reliably something about his view of the world which pages of description could only tell us with uncertainty. In the second place it enables us to take a definite step in the attainment of a scientific (esthetic, by furnishing a means of comparative study. By its help we can trace the oolours of the world as mirrored in literature from age to age, from country to oountry, and in finer shades among the writers of a single group. The writer of the article selected a series of imaginative writers, chiefly poets, from the dawn of literature to our own day, and noted the main colour words that occurred in their works, and how they were used. He presents tabulated results of this inquiry. Mr. D. F. Hannigan differs from Mr. Frederic Harrison in estimation of the Victorian age of literature. No greater novelists have appeared in England than our best writers of fiction during the last two decades, he says; and as for the materials of romance, they were never more plentiful — witness Jamieson's raid into the Transvaal and Nansen's apparently successful discovery of the North Pole. "What we most need," says Mr. Hannigan, " is a better educated public, who will be able to appreciate literature as literature-—a thing rendered unfortunately very difficult, owing to the appetite for sensa- tionalism and the prevalence of half-knowledge, which is of course only another word for super- ficiality." Mr. Vincent Sullivan appeals for greater tolera- tion to be shown to the unusual in fiction, to the man who introduces the thin presence of death. He is alarmed that "nowadays we seem to nourish our morals with the thinnest milk and water, with a good dose of sugar added, and not a suspicion of lemon at all." Dr. Birbeck Hill contributes in the Atlantic the first of a series of articles in which the letters written by D. G. Rossetti to Mr. Allingham— personally most interesting lights on the poet's character—are given.  ## p. 24 (#41) ############################################## A D VERTISEMENTiS. iii Demy 8vo., with Map and Illustrations, price 10s. 6d. AN AUSTRALIAN IN CHINA: Being the Narrative of a Quiet Journey Across China to British Burma. By G. E. MOEEISON, M.B.C.lvr. Kdin., F.R.G-.S. ** Mr. Morrison la an Australian doctor who has achieved probably the most remarkable journey through the Flowery Land ever attempted by a Christian ... He was entirely unarmed and unaccompanied, save for the coolies who carried his baggage. Such a journey—three thousand miles in length—could not fall to present many curious customs and as many curious people. But It is owing entirely to Dr. Morrison's graphic manner of description, and his acutely keen observation, that his travels are such a reality to the reader. This portly volume Is one of the most interesting books of travel of the many published this year. It is frank, original, and quite ungarnished by adventitious colouring."—St. James's Budget. "One of the most interesting books of travel we remember to have read."—European Mail. "A very lively book of travel. . . , His account of the walk of 15<10 miles from Chungking to Burma, over the remotest districts of Western China, Is full of interest."—The Time*. "Dr. Morrison writes crisply, sensibly, humorously, and with an engaging frankness. . . . There 1b not a page he has written that is not worth the perusal of the student of China and the Chinese."— The Scotsman, "By far the most interesting and entertaining narrative of travel in the Flowery Land that has appeared for several years."—The World. London: Horace Cox, Windsor House, BreamVbuildings, E.C. RECENT VERSE. LYBICS. By Dr. J. A. GOODCHILD. Cloth lettered, price 5s. NOBTH COUNTRY BALLADS. By HENBY TODD, Price 6a, TALES IN VEBSE. By Dr. J. A. GOODCHILD. Cloth lettered, price &s. SONGS OP THE CASCADES. By EEL VrKING. Fcap. 8to., cloth boards, 3a. 6d. SONGS OF THE PINEWOODS. By ARTHUR CAMP- BELL. Price 3a. 6d. THE FAIREST OF THE ANGELS, and Other Verse. By MABY COLBOBNE-VEEL. Fcap. 8to., cloth boards, 8s. 6d. 44 Some of the shorter lyrics are much above the average, being clear in thought and musical in expression. The merits of the collec- tion are considerable.11—The Bookman. THE WANDERER IN THE LAND OF CYBI, and other Poems (188S-93). By CLIFFOBD BBOOKS. Fcap. 8vo., cloth boards, 3s. 6d. POEMS. By THOMAS BARLOW. Crown 8vo., bevelled boards, gilt edges, price 6a. POEMS. By LEWIS BROCKMAN. Crown 8vo., cloth boards, 6a. 44 The ballads are full of the spirit and directness of style proper to the ballad.11—Saturday Review. 11 Mr. Brockman is a writer of good poetic mettle, and no doubt the reading world will hear more of him yet."—Glatgcne Herald. "The graceful smoothness of Mr. Lewis Brockman's poems."— Daily Tthgraph. "He is decidedly inventive, and often highly imaginative . . The element of originality pervades the book. . . ■ His long poem, 4 Ronald's Cross,' is well sustained ... it is like the plaint of the 'Mariner,1 and it holds us."— Queen. 14 A reader who values cultured sentiments and flawless versiflca. tion will find much to admire."—Scottmmi. London: Horace Cox, Windsor House, Breom'» Buildings, E.O Crown 8vo., cloth boards, price 6s. HATHERSAGE: A Tale of North Derbyshire. BY CHARLES EDMUND HALL. Author of " An Ancient Ancestor," &c. London: Horace Cox, Windsor Houae, Bream's-buildingB, E.O. Royal 8vo., price 16s. not. Sporting Days in Southern India: BEING REMINISCENCES OF TWENTY TRIPS IN PURSUIT OF BIG GAME, CHIEFLY IN THE MADRAS PRESIDENCY. BY Lieut -Col. A. J. 0. POLLOCK, Royal Scots Fusiliers. WITH NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS BY WHYMPBR AND OTHERS. CONTENTS.—Chapters I, II., and HI —The Bear. IV. and V.—The Panther. VI., VII., and VIII.—The Tiger. IX. and X.—The Indian Bison. XL and XII.—The Elephant. XIII.—Deer (Cervidaj) and Antelopes. XIV.—The Ibex. XV. and XVI.— London; Horace Cox, Windsor Houae, Bream's-buildings. E.O. Boyal 8vo., cloth, profusely illustrated, price 12s. 6d. net. TEXAN RANCH LIFE; WITH Three Months through Mexico in a " Prairie Schooner." By MARY J. JAQTJE« London: Horace Oox, Windsor House, Bream's-buildings, E.O. Crown 8vo., cloth boards, 3s. 6d. Crimean & other Short Stories. BY WILLIAM .A-IDDISOIN". CONTENTS. — An Adjutant's Adventure: an Episode of the Crimean Campaign—From an Uuseen World—Characteristic Stories of Boyal Personages—The TBar'B Axe—An Indian Legend Modernised —A Love Test—Atta; or. The Circassian's Daughter—Father Con- fessor—His Word of Honour (from the German)—Dearer than Life— A Polish Princess—The Evil Eye: a Story of Superstition—The Parson'B Daughter—Old Love Never Busts. London: 'Horace Cox, Windaor Houae, Bream's-buildinga, E.O.  ## p. 24 (#42) ############################################## iv AD VER TISEMENTS. THE TEMPLE TYPEWRITING OFFICE. 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Super-royal 8vo., price 20s., post free. CROCKFORD'S CLERICAL DIRECTORY 1896. BEING A STATISTICAL BOOK OF REFERENCE For facts relating to the Clergy In England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Colonies; with a fuller Index relating to Parishes and Benefices than any ever yet given to tho public. Crockford's CLERICAL DIRECTORY is more than a Directory: it con- tains concise Biographical details of all the ministersanddignitaries of the Church of England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the ColoniOB; alBO a List of tho Parishes of each Diocese in England and Wales arranged in Rural Deaneries. T w ENTY-EIGHTK ISSUE. Horace Cox, Windsor House, Bream's-buildings, E.C. Printed and Published by Horace Cox, Windsor House, Bream's-buildings, London, E.C. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 07 Issue 01 (June 1896) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 07 Issue 01 (June 1896) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <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> Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1896-06-01-The-Author-7-1 publications The Author