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The Author
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<em>The Author</em>
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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=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&collection=&type=&tags=&exhibit=&date_search_term=&submit_search=Search+For+Items&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.
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1890–1914
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The-Author-Issues
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1896-11-02
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7
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6
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117–144
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18961102
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XL he Hutbot\
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.
Vol. VII.—No. 6.]
NOVEMBER 2, 1896.
[Price Sixpence.
CONTENTS.
General Memoranda
Literary Properly—
1. A Book on the Law of Copyright
2. The Average Return
Notes from Paris. By R. H. Shorard ...
New York Letter. By Norman Hupgood
The Church Congress and Fiction
PA(!E
... 117
... 119
... 119
... 119
... 122
... 124
The Russian Press Bureau
Notes and News. By the Editor
Book Talk ... •
Literature in the Periodicals
The Berne International Literary and Artistic Congress
Prize Competitions
PAOK
... 124
... 198
... 127
... 129
... 131
... 144
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.
1. The Annual Report. That for January 1896 can be had on application to the Secretary.
2. The Author. A Monthly Journal devoted especially to the protection and maintenance of Literary
Property. Issued to all Members. Back numbers are offered at the following prices:
Vol. I., ior. 6(7. (Bound); Vols. II., III., and IV., 8s. 6d. each (Bound); Vol. V., 6s. (>,/.
(Unbound).
3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. Morris Colles, Barrister-at-Law. (Henry Glaisher,
95, Strand, W.C.) 3*.
4. The History of the Societe des Sens de Lettres. By S. Squire Sprigge, late Secretary to
the Society, i*.
5. The Cost of Production. In this work specimens are given of the most important forms of type,
size of page, &c, with estimates showing what it costs to produce the more common kinds of
books. Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 2*. 6d.
6. The Various Methods of Publication. By S. Squire Sprigge. In this work, compiled from the
papers in the Society's offices, the various forms of agreements proposed by Publishers to
Authors are examined, and their meaning carefully explained, with an account of the various
kinds of fraud which have been made possible by the different clauses in their agreements.
Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 3*.
7. Copyright Law Eeform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill now beiore Parlia-
ment. With Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, and 8JV A'PPen4lx
containing the Berne Convention and the American Copyright Bill. By J. a* -tMt. ^>'re
and Spottiswoode. is. 6d. A>
8. The Society of Authors. A Record of its Action from its Foundation. By
(Chairman of Committee, 1888—1892). 1*. * NV
9' ^ Lun?e° J.U-^M011 in Qerman?' Austria< Hungary, and Switzer.\ \^
## p. 116 (#152) ############################################
11
AD VER TISEMENTS.
g>ociefp of Jluf^ors (gncorporateb).
8ir Edwin Arnold, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.
Alfred Austin.
J. M. Barrie
A. W. 1 Beckett.
P. E. Beddard, P.E.S.
Robert Bateman.
Sir Henry Bebgne, K.C.M.G.
Sir Walter Besant.
augubtine blrrell, m.p.
Rev. Prof. Bonnet, P.E.S.
Right Hon. James Bryce, M.P.
Right Hon. Lord Burghclere, P.C.
Hall Caine.
Egerton Castle, F.S.A.
P. W. Clatden.
Edward Clodd.
W. Morris Colles.
Hon. John Collier.
Sir W. Martin Conway.
P. Marion Crawford.
A. W. 1 Beckett.
Sir Walter Besant.
Egerton Castle.
W. Morris Colles.
( Messrs. Field
Solicitors—
PRESIDENT.
GEOBGE M33EETJITH
COUNCIL.
The Earl of Desart.
Austin Dobson.
A. Conan Doyle, M.D
A. W. Dubourg.
Sir J. Eric Erichsen, Bart., F.R.S.
Prof. Michael Foster, F.R.S.
Richard Garnett, C.B., LL.D.
Edmund Gosse.
H. Rider Haggard.
Thomas Hardy.
Anthony Hope Hawkins.
Jerome K. Jerome.
Rudyard Kipling.
Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S.
W. E. H. Lecky.
J. M. Lely.
Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.
Rev. W. J. Loftie, F.S.A.
Sir A. C Mackenzie, Mus.D.
Prof. J. M. D. Meiklejohn.
Counsel — E. M. Underdown,
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT.
Chairman—H. Rider Haggard.
Hon. John Collier.
Sir W. Martin Conway.
Anthony Hope Hawkins.
J. M. Lely.
Roscoe, and Co., Lincoln's Inn Fields.
Herman C. Merivale.
Rev. C. H. Middleton-Wake.
Sir Lewis Morris.
Henry Norman.
Miss E. A. Ormerod.
J. C. Parkinson.
Right Hon. Lord Pirbright.
Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., LL.D.
Walter Herries Pollock.
W. Baptists Scoones.
Miss Flora L. Shaw.
G. R. Sims.
S. Squire Sprigge.
J. J. Stevenson.
Prof. Jas. Sully.
William Moy Thomas.
H. D. Traill, D.C.L.
Mrs. Humphry Ward.
Miss Charlotte M. Yonge.
Hon.
Q.C.
Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mus.D.
Henry Norman.
S. Squire Sprigge.
( G. Herbert Thbing, B.A., 4, Portugal-street, W.C.
Secretary—G. Herbert Thring, B.A.
OFFICES: 4, Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.
J±. IP. WATT &c SOILST,
LITERARY AGENTS,
Formerly of 2, PATERNOSTER SdUARE,
Have now removed to
HASTINGS HOUSE, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND,
LONDON. W.C.
WINDSOR HOUSE PRINTING WORKS,
BBBAM'S BXJIJ_,IDI2SrC3-S, ZE.C.
Offiees of "The Field," "The Queen," "The Law Times," &e.
Mr. HORACE COX, Printer to the Authors' Society, takes the opportunity of informing Authors that, having a very
large Office, and an extensive Plant of Type of every description, he is in a position to EXECUTE any PRINTING they
may entrust to his care.
ESTIMATES FORWARDED, AND REASONABLE CHARGES WILL BE FOUND.
## p. 117 (#153) ############################################
Zhc Hutbor*
(Hie Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.
Vol. VII.—No. 6.]
NOVEMBER 2, 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 MEMORANDA.
FOB some years it has been the praotioe to insert, in
every number of the Author, certain " General Con-
siderations," Warnings, Notices, Ac, for the guidance
of the reader. It has been objected as regards these
warnings that the tricks or frauds against which they are
directed cannot all be guarded against, for obvious reasons.
It is, however, well that they should be borne in mind, and
if any publisher refuses a clause of precaution he simply
reveals his true character, and should be left to carry on
his business in his own way.
Let us, however, draw up a fow of the rules to be
observed in an agreement. There are three methods of
dealing with literary property:—
I. That of selling it outright.
This is in some respects the most satisfactory, if a proper
price can be obtained. But the transaction should be
managed by a competent agent.
II. A profit-sharing agreement.
In this case the following rules should be attended to:
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro-
duction forms a part.
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the
profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements
VOL. VII.
in his own organs: or by charging exchange advertise-
ments.
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for " office expenses,"
unless the same allowance is made to the author.
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental
rights.
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights. .
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or
doctor!
(7.) To stamp the agreement.
HI. The royalty system.
In thiB system, which has opened the door to, a most
amazing amount of overreaching and trading on the
author's ignorance, it is above all things necessary to know
what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now
possible for an author to ascertain approximately and very
nearly the truth. From time to time the very important
figures connected with royalties are published in the Author.
Readers can also work out the figures themselves from tho
"Coat of Production." Let no one, not even the youngest
writer, sign a royalty agreement without finding out what
it gives the publisher as well as himself.
It has been objected that these precautions presuppose a
great success for the book, and that very few books indeed
attain to this great succeSB. 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 Bides shall know what an agreement
means.
(2.) The inspection of those account books which belong
to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the
nature of a common law right, which cannot be 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 8haU he no charge f or
advertisements in the publisher's own oTSfM1* 9114 ""v 11vL
exchanged advertisements; and that ^ AKbco^6
duly entered,
If these points are carefully look;e^
rest pretty well assured that he ia jJj ^JiV" ^je* ^ \»
samo time he will do well to
sscretary before he signs it.
,1
## p. 118 (#154) ############################################
118 THE AUTHOR.
SOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.
I. Ij^ VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive
|U 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 Counsel's opinion. All this
without any cost to the member.
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright
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 Secretary will always be glad to have any
agreements, new or old, for inspection and noto. 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 document 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. Remember 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 have now arranged for the reception of
members' agreements and their preservation in a fireproof
Bafe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as con-
fidential documents to be read 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 upon
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 all
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 all 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 the 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. Members 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 neoesBary 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 Secretary the modest
6s. 6d. 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 can do more good to
the Socioty than to make the Author complete, attractive,
and interesting. Will those who are willing to aid in this
work send their names and the special 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 the Society or not, are invited to communicate
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
communicating with the Secretary. The utmost practicable
despatch is aimed at, and MSS. are read in the order in
which they are received. It must 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, &c.
Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they
have paid their subscriptions for the year? If they will do
this, and remit tho 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
following warning. 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, whethor he was honest
## p. 119 (#155) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
119
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?
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 Bums," the addition of three shillings in the
pound on this head. In other words, if the cost of binding
is set down in our book at eight pounds, to this must now be
added twenty-four shillings more, so that it now standB
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 npon 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.
M
FROM THE COMMITTEE.
T the meeting of committee, Wednesday,
Oct. 14, sixty-two new members were
At the same meeting a resolution was passed
"that the deep regret of the committee 011 the death
of Mr. George Du Maurier should be communi-
cated to the widow and family.
It was ordered that the translation of the
report of the International Congress of Berne,
made for the committee by the Eev. F. Cresswell,
should be published in the Author, with such
omissions as might be found advisable.
(By order) G. Herbert Thring.
contains ten chapters—on history of literary
copyright, unpublished works, literary copyright
by statute, dramatic copyright, musical copy-
right, engravings, paintings, drawings and photo-
graphs, sculpture, international copyright, and
colonial copyright. Though these are contained
all within a hundred pages, the arrangement of
the book, and the references to the 260 or so
cases cited in the course of the author's com-
ments, are as convenient as they could possibly be
made. The rest of the volume is taken up with
a reprint of the statutes from 1734 onwards.
Mr. Cohen has made no attempt to discuss what
the law ought, to be, "although its present con-
dition is generally admitted to be unsatisfactory."
"But, as there seems no immediate pi'ospect of
reform," he hopes that his book may be of use to
the profession as well as to those interested In
this branch of the law. The book is published
at 7s. 6d. net.
n.—The Average Return.
I have been favoured by a firm of publishers
with an accurate return of the circulation of
a certain book. It has enjoyed a large cir-
culation, and it was issued in the customary
manner, viz., with large discounts to wholesale
buyers and exporters. The returns are extremely
instructive. One notes that, while we have been
recently informed that the "bulk" of books go
to the wholesale distributors, these figures show
that the retailers take very nearly 50 per cent, of
the whole. They also show that 3.V. 6d. is very
properly assumed as a very fair average. Now
publishers differ one with another: but their
little differences are mostly known. Perhaps
booksellers will be good enough to send a few
accounts, so that the practice of every firm of
any importance may be ascertained, and, if neces-
sary, published. W. B.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
A
LL the correspondence of the mouth is held
over till the next number in consequence
of pressure on our space.—Ed.
LITERARY PROPERTY.
I.—A Book on the Law of Copyright.
"TT^HE Law of Copyright, with an Appendix
I of Statutes," is the title of a work by
Mr. B. A. Cohen, Barrister-at-law, which
has just been published by Messrs. Jordan and
Sons, 120, Chancery-lane, London. The work
> .NOTES FROM PARIS.
always envied those fortunate pen-
men who are able, undisturbed by any
event, to perform their reuular and daily
IrHAVE
men who are ' able,
event, to perform their reguiai ^
tasks with the promptitude and V«ncUWl lately
machine. It is a faculty which, YdcVi «
for myself, I never possess^ footM * a this
is my firm belief cannot W
is the opinion of M b eV
often ha! to Ag**** Wf J
inertia, willingV** UttOto^ ^ uc...^
## p. 120 (#156) ############################################
120
THE AUTHOR.
out any hope that one could school oneself into a
practice so remunerative. Alas! the misery that
one feels, as day after day goes by and never the
mind wakes up, with that awakening which man
feels in every fibre. It is a temporary paralysis—
one knows this, yet one is always haunted by the
dread that it will last for ever; that the field is
not merely lying fallow in the sun, but is, from
exhaustion, barren and shall never bear harvest
again. I have just passed through such a period.
Enfin, here we are again.
I have been told that inquiries have been made
at the Home Office about the uniform, or Court
dress, which the Poet Laureate, by virtue of his
ofrue, is entitled or expected to wear. Was there
ever any such uniform r One has not heard of it
in this century at any rate. Neither Southey nor
Wordsworth had one, nor Lord Tennyson. Yet
that is no reason why there should not be one,
especially when the Laureate is supposed and
expected to perform functions at Court.
This reminds me that it was on one sohtary
occasion only that Wordsworth wrote to the order
of the Court. When he accepted the Laureate-
ship it was with the express stipulation that he
should perform none of its irksome duties. In
u aking this stipulation, or rather in refusing the
post until it was made, he had poor Southey in
mind. Southey grinding out his odes with tears in
his eyes and the perspiration on his brow, com-
forted only by the thought that the salary
attached to this post was sufficient to pay the
premium of the life insurance policy which he
had taken out for the benefit of his family. The
only occasion on which Wordsworth was com-
manded to perform the duty of his office was
when the Prince Consort was to be installed
as Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, and
there was wanted an ode for the festival. Seeing
how strongly Bishop Wordsworth, the poet's
cousin, had opposed the Prince Consort's election
to this office, it strikes one that high irony
overhung the order that was dispatched to Eydal
Mount. It came at a most unpropitious time,
just at the time, indeed, when the poet's daughter
was dying, and one who was present has described
to me with what distress it was received. From
his table to the sickroom, from the bedside of his
dying daughter back to his table, the unhappy
poet walked, and never was poetry on a less
inspiriting subject written under more dispiriting
circumstances. As a matter of fact it was not
written, at least Wordsworth did not himself
alone write more than a few lines of it. Just
when, in utter despair at the hopelessness of the
task, he was about to give in, Quillinau offered
to help him. The two poets sat up most of the
night "poeting." Quillinau wrote most of the
ode, which was put to music, and was printed on
white vellum.
The correspondent of the Time* at Chris-
tiania during the Nansen festivities was Mr.
Benham, a brother of the Benham of the Author's
Club, whose loss we all so much regret. Poor
young Benham, who had written some excellent
plays, used to say that the troubles of the drama-
tist only began when he had finished writing his
play. He referred, of course, to the difficulties
of placing the work, of satisfying managers and
actors, and so on. I could not help remembering
his words, when the other day I heard of the
difficulties which were met with by Alexandre
Dumas Jih, when he was trying to get his " Dame
Aux Camelias" acted, a piece which has since
been played in Paris alone more than one thousand
times. It was first read to Dumas pi-re, who
accepted it enthusiastically for the Theatre His-
torique, which he was then managing. Unfor-
tunately, a fortnight later the direction Dumas
failed for want of capital. It was next read by
Hostein, who returned it to the author, sans
reflexions. It was next offered to the directors
of the Gymnase, but they refused it on the ground
that they were playing "Manon Lescaut," and
could not produce, as its successor, a play of
similar character. Dennery read it next, for the
Theatre Historique, but did not see his way, &c.
Paul Ernest, next, accepted it for the Vaudeville,
but went bankrupt before he could produce it.
Then Dcjazet read it, but declined it because she
did not like the part of Marguerite. Dumas
then took it to Lecourt, the new lessee of the
Vaudeville. A week later he found it lying
in his concierge's lodge. It had been re-
turned without a word. Finally, H. Worms
induced Bouffc, Lecourt's successor at the
Vaudeville, to accept it. Dumas' difficulties
were, however, by no means over. The censor,
M. de Beaufort, refused to licence it, and adding
insult to injury said to the expostulating young
dramatist, " And we are rendering you a service
iu refusing our permission; the public would not
stand more than the first act." However, after a
year had passed, Dumas pvre was able to interest
M. de Moray on his son's behalf; Moray saw the
censor, and the veto was withdrawn. The piece
was finally produced for the first time on Feb.
2, 1852. One knows with what success. I com-
mend this true story to those whom disappoint-
ment discourages.
Why will English people insist on abbreviating
Monsieur into "Mons."? I see "Mons. This"
or " Mons. That" every day. It is a barbarism.
No Frenchman writes Mons. He either writes
Monsieur or M., occasionally Mr. When people
write to me as " Mons." I always answer them
## p. 121 (#157) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
I 2 I
as " Mist." It is just as usual an abbreviation.
And in the same way a good means of stopping
people from misspelling one's name is to give
them tit for tat, to misspell their names in
exactly the same way as they have done, either
by doubling a letter or omitting one. If per-
sisted in as long as one's correspondent persists
in his carelessness, it points a moral. I once had
a correspondent named Murray, who used to
bestow an extra " r" on my name. I cured him
of this spendthrift habit by similar liberality.
Three or four letters addressed " Murrray" effected
the cure.
Whenever I am in Berlin, I go and put a few
flowers on Chainisso's grave. I was much dis-
tressed last month when in Berlin to find this
grave in a terrible state of neglect, overgrown
with weeds, the stone fallen down; so changed
from when I had seen it last, that I had difficulty
in recognising it. One cannot understand such
neglect, for Chamisso is still a favourite poet in
Germany, and it is right he should be. There
are exquisite lines in his "Frauen-Leben," and
many of his other lyi ics are part and parcel of
one's mental pleasure-house. So a fuss was
made in the papers. I hope it has done good.
Chamisso must not be forgotten.
Chamisso was a Frenchman by birth, but
educated in Germany, lived there and wrote in
German. I have in idle moments speculated on
the questions which are raised by this circum-
stance. Would Chamisso have been a poet if he
had remained in France? What poetry would
he have written? How far does language
stimulate poetry!' We all know Schiller's
lines:—
Weil ein Vera dir gelingt in eino gebildeten Sprache
Die fur Dich dichtet mid denkt, glaub'st Da sohon Dichter
zu sein.
But what / want to know is how far a lan-
guage thinks and poetises for one. I do not
think I ever could have rhymed in Norwegian,
which is also an "educated language" (eine
gebildete Sprache), and I am quite certain as to
my certain failure in Polish. But leaving such
small beer out of the question, will you wonder
with me what would have happened if Madame
Shakespeare mere, before the birth of William,
had migrated to the Hague or Amsterdam—say,
for better prospects in the glove trade—if
William had been bom there, had been educated
there, had learned to speak, to write, to think in
the fat, sluggish language of the Netherlands?
What would have come of it? Or if Poe instead
of turning Westwards had gone to E.S.E. and
become a Hungarian. So I wonder, and puzzle,
and think.
Another fraternal partnership has been arranged
in the republic of letters, to wit, between Paul
Marguerite and his brother. No more literary
work is to appear signed " Paul Marguerite." A
"collective" signature has been registered. I
regret to say that I do not remember it, if indeed
I ever knew it. Then why talk of the matter at
all, being so ignorant? Well, people like Paul
Marguerite and all his works. He appeals to the
middle classes; his books sell; he makes so many
thousand francs a year, and so, and so, one ought
to appear, at least, to know something. And what
I know is that Mr. Paul Marguerite has taken his
brother into literary partnership, and that the
firm will sign .
I am so sorry that a cracked inventor, hungry
for publicity, is annoying poor old Jules Verne.
You must have read all about it. The inventor
imagines that Verne pourtrayed him in a recent
novel, and is now suing the old gentleman for
libel. There are no libel laws, pour ainsi dire, in
France, and the inventor in question knows very
well that he can obtain nothing but the adver-
tisement. On the other hand, it seems cruel that
so old a man as Jules Verne, who is a cripple,
should be disturbed in his laborious life for such
purposes.
Did I ever tell you, by the way, that Jules
Verne has never earned more than =£800 a year in
his life?
I began this letter by writing about people of
the pen who have the faculty of working every
day with the regularity and promptitude of a
machine. Did you know that Saint-Beuve, of
the Lundis fame, used to work every day from
6 a.m. to noon, year in, year out, with a cup of
milk and a croissant for all sustenance in the
meanwhile. Afternoons he used to meander, and
was a p.m. Hyde to his a.m. Jekyll. It was a
curious contrast. One notorious afternoon, he,
who had been a sage and a gentleman in the
morning, became an ass and a cad. I refer to
that Good Friday on which he asked Prince
Bonaparte to dinner at a fashionable restaurant,
and had roast j>ork, and so on, at table; such
bad taste. But in the mornings he was steadfast
and regular, although his work shews no sign
of inspired steadfastness and regularity. It reai8
as inspired.
is totally unknown \ l°U ^ ^ d%0^aKT
is as well known * 5°*Hj, ***** fe^l
about it. NoK \***tj\&*> JgrJT
them. \me*. .» so i0^K^°
## p. 122 (#158) ############################################
122
THE AUTHOR.
NEW YORE LETTER.
New York, Oct. 12.
THE Harpers have already sold the first
edition of the number of the magazine con-
taining the first part of "The Martian," a
very unusual thing, and the issue was an extra-
ordinarily large one. The second edition is now
out. They are naturally proud of Du Maurier's
success in America, which they think has been
greater in every way than it has been in England.
Mr. J. Henry Harper said, in conversation last
week, that he believed it would be the last great
success of a three-volume novel in England. He
believes the success due much more to real
literary merit than to novelty, and cites Du
Maurier's remark to him, that he was not a new-
writer, but one who, in his dialogues in Punch,
had all his life been writing stories in which
chapters were condensed into paragraphs.
Mr. Harper said in the same conversation that
Du Maurier was particularly fortunate in having
no early inferior works on hand to throw on to
the market after his sudden success. He men-
tioned Stephen Crane, the young American
novelist, now on a short vacation in England,
whose fame was made by the "Bed Badge of
Courage," and immediately dimmed by the pub-
lication of all his earlier efforts. Mr. Harper also
spoke of certain English novelists as possible
examples of the same error.
The habits of Mr. Alden, the editor of Harper's
Magazine, throw some light on the question of
large circulations. The Harpers believe, as do
the editors of our other leading magazines, that
the postal laws have much to do with making
their success possible, even in England indirectly,
because they need to be established here in order
to publish there more costly magazines than they
could on circulations no larger than those they
have abroad. But Mr. Harper said, in the same
conversation, that the most general explanation
that could be given of the success of any one
magazine in this country was its keeping in close
contact with various classes of people in all
parts of the country. Mr. Alden not only reads
the letters written to the firm and to all of his
friends about the contents of the magazine, but
he looks over the enormous mass of manuscripts
rejected by his subordinates, in order to find out
what subjects people write about, what ones are
attracting them. He finds this one of the most
effective ways of watching those waves of interest
in special branches of literature which sweep
over the whole country, or part of the country,
at various times. The mass of the people who
submit contributions are poor writers, but intelli-
gent readers, typical of the class to which the
magazine appeals. Mr. Harper said that, in
choosing fiction, the only question considered was
the general goodness of the story, but that, in
choosing general articles, the amount of space
given to subjects of local interest and the amount
given to things of more interest abroad were care-
fully fixed.
The sub-committee of the Committee on
Patents, which has the Treloar Bill in charge—
Mr. Treloar, of Missouri, B. L. Fairchild, of New-
York, and H. C. Kerr, of Ohio—will meet in this
city immediately after the election, and will report
to Congress soon after it gets together. George
Haven Putnam believes that in the Committee
on Patents there is a small majority in favour of
the Treloar Bill, but no efforts are being spared
by the various societies interested in defeating
this obstruction to international copyright to do
what they can to get the Morrill and Bankhead
Bills passed instead.
W. D. Howells, who has a habit of discovering
a new writer every few months, has brought into
prominence Paul Lawrence Dunbar, a young
negro poet; the discovery of the past month.
Some time ago he published on his own account,
with the help of a friend, a volume of poems
called "Majors and Minors," and after Mr.
Howell's article on him Dodd, Mead, and Co.
accepted a volume called " Lyrics of Lowly Life,"
which appears this month. The young writer,
who is but twenty-three, is the son of a slave
and a freed woman, and is now in charge of an
elevator, writing in his spare moments. The
poems have originality and a certain freshness,
but no qualities that promise importance. The
writer is now becoming known to tho country on
a lecturing tour conducted by Major Pond. Mr.
Howell's discoveries during the last ten years
have made famous many young men and women
who have sunk back into obscurity again. At
one time, for instance, everybody talked about
Ironquill, the Kansas poet, now forgotten, who
also was fresh and local and sincere, but no
writer of verse. "The Negro in America," by
Fred. L. Hoffman, published by the Macmillan
Company recently, is an elaborate attempt to
show that the black race has such bad moral
qualities that it is doomed to extinction on this
continent.
Mr. Howells writes a good deal too much.
There are few of his readers who do not prefer
his earlier works. Besides his books he writes
much for the newspapers without discrimination.
A few weeks ago he had a long illustrated article
on current literary topics in the New York
World, one of the worst sensational papers in the
country. This example from the leading novelist
caused a certain amount of hostile comment.
## p. 123 (#159) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
123
The future of the essay in this country is a
subject about which there has lately been an
■uncommon rush of discussion. Mr. Charles
Dudley Warner began with a protest against the
too lenient tone of newspaper reviewers, and
since then a number of the periodicals have
treated the subject of criticism from various
points of view. The Chap-Book has been
making a speciality of it through several issues,
giving in its notes its own opinion that literary
criticism has been killed here by the lack of
demand for it, and now, when an editor invites it,
be is unable to get it, especially the kind in which
attention is given to form. Several writers have
answered this statement in the Chap-Book and
elsewhere, among those writing in the magazine
itself being Maurice Thompson and Brander
Matthews. Mr. Matthews takes the view that
criticism has never been good anywhere, but that
it is better in America now than it was in the
days of Poe, or at any other time, although by
the custom of reviewing all the leading books
of leading publishers the conditions are made
harder than they are in Prance. H. S. Stone
and Co. will publish shortly a volume of essays
"taken from the Chap-Booh, and thus test their
theory that there is a larger demand now for the
essay than the conventional publishers believe.
It is noticeable, however, from the announcements
of the leading houses, that more essays than ever
before are to appear during the coming year,
th-ere being hardly a house that does not have at
least one volume of them. Stone and Co. are
making a special attempt in building up their
new business to bring new writers to light.
Their last discovery is George Ade's "Artie,"
which is full of more or less accurate Chicago
slang, already somewhat known there through the
newspapers. Another Chicago house, Way and
Williams, also brings to notice a new writer,
I. K. Friedman, with "A Lucky Number." Mr.
Matthews, by the way, who is one of the most
ardent believers in national spirit in our litera-
ture, begins the book which the Harpers issued
last week, "Aspects of Fiction," with an essay
on " American Literature." The volume contains
some of his best work, notably an essay called
"The Penalty of Humour," in which a very high
place is given to Mark Twain.
George Santayana's "Sense of Beauty" was
published last week by the Scribners. Its value
as a philosophical treatise on aesthetics, with less
bias and a better combination of philosophic aud
artistic interests than has often been given before,
is exceptional, but from a literary point of view
the greatest attraction of the book is in the style,
which for smoothness and delicacy without pre-
cociousness probably has not its equal among
▼OL. VII.
recent American books. One interest of the
writer's attitude towards life is the mixture of
classical training and taste with a thorough belief
in the artistic possibilities of our contemporaries'
conditions. A passing reference to that one
among the American poets who in his appeal to
the more intelligent of his countrymen has to-day
no rival, unless it be Emerson, thus sums up the
secret of Whitman's power:
"But occasionally the beauties of Democracy
are presented to us undisguised. The writings
of Walt Whitman are a notable example.
Never, perhaps, has the charm of uniformity in
multiplicity been felt so completely and so
exclusively. Everywhere it greets us with a
passionate preference; not flowers but leaves of
grass, not music but" drum-taps, not composition
but aggregation, not the hero but the ave/age
man, not the crisis but the vulgarest moment;
and by this resolute marshalling of nullities, by
this effort to show us everything as a momentary
pulsation of a liquid and structureless whole, he
profoundly stirs the imagination."
The annual meeting of the National Conven-
tion of the American Association of News-
dealers, Book-dealers, and Stationers, held last
week in Boston, called attention again to the
inroads made by the great department stores on
the business of those news-dealers who sell not
only periodicals, but novels, political pamphlets,
and other lines of books. The department stores
often sell them much under the ordinary market
rate. Various efforts have been made to prevent
this, and an attempt was made to induce the pub-
lishers to refuse to sell to these stores, or to sell
at the same price as they asked for small orders.
Nothing has come of it, however. The complaint
is the same that is being made by retailers in all
branches against this new system of immense
shops, which seems to be steadily absorbing the
whole field.
Still another volume of Emily Dickenson's
poems is just out, by Roberts Brothers, resulting
from a new discovery of posthumous poems. The
demand is steadier and larger for these poems
than for those of any other American, even
Longfellow. As was especially emphasised by
the English critics, her form ig most remark-
able for its defects, and xtufortft* ifc *° t
be hard for a foreigner F boW *°UC
delicate local Bavour * XI to see in be*
abstract thought, WV,: , ,er<i ia botO 1 -^e*
Englandism in it JJJ es8euCe 0*
allusions
On the list of
\Sx<>
ITeri^nf S5>PfV
illustrates ag^*V\Y. \WT» »tt
ft
## p. 124 (#160) ############################################
124
THE AUTHOR.
English branch-Louses are very rapidly extending
their American publications.
Kipling, who has been shared by four pub-
lishers, is now to be issued in uniform editions
by the Scribners, by subscription, in the
"Thistle" edition; also containing Stevenson
and Barrie. Norman Hapoood.
?»•««■
THE CHURCH CONGRESS AND FICTION.
THE Church Congress, as usual, devoted
some of its time to the discussion of the
modern novel. The Dean of Rochester
led off with the conventional joke about not being
thrilled by the hero's hairbreadth escapes, because
we know that he has got to live till the end of the
volume, at least. The novel of adventure is not
the only kind of novel, to begin with. But the
real answer to such talk is, that if the writer is a
good story-teller and knows how to hold his
reader, no such consideration can enter the mind,
which is entirely absorbed in the story. If it is not,
then the reader is defective on the side of imagina-
tion, or the writer is no true story-teller. This
concession once made to the gallery, the Dean
addressed himself to the subject of books immoral
and indecent. On the topic he spoke with force,
but with some exaggeration. One might argue
that certain books which he would call immoral
were not advanced by the author with the design
of teaching immorality, but that of exposing
evils. Then would arise the greater question as
to the limitations of art meant to be exhibited.
Or one might point out with perfect truth, first,
that the really popular authors of the day are not
immoral at all; and that books which must be
admitted to be immoral have had for the most
part a limited sale.
Canon Ainger spoke with greater originality
and much greater weight.
The evil of such books was generally not in
their grossness or in the deliberate " making the
worse appear the better reason." The danger
too often of the book was in ostentatious pre-
tensions to morality; only that it sets itself to
teach a new morality of the author's own, an
invention, an advance and refinement on the
ethics of the Gospel. But there was another
class, not so distinctly mischievous, but scarcely
less so indirectly—viz., the novel which parades
itself as the champion of religion and morality
against a Godless age, and attracts its readers by
spurious sentiment, spurious eloquence, spurious
philosophy, and, it must be added, a total absence
of humour. This kind of book sold by the
hundred thousand. The >nly remedy for a taste
of this sort was improvement of education and/
the old-fashioned method of the cultivation of the
true religious sense. Great thoughts come from
the heart, and true cultivation of the heart quite
apart from book learning would teach men to-
distinguish the real from the spurious even in
the domain of literature. He would recommend
his clerical friends never to recommend "shoddy
romances" simply on the ground that they are
ostensibly on the side of faith and morals; Non
tali mtxilio. He sometimes felt tempted to reply
to some lady champion of our creed as Sir Peter
Teazle replied to Mrs. Candour—" Madam, when
I tell you the lady they are attacking is a par-
ticular friend of mine, I hope you will not take
her part."
.».«:
THE RUSSIAN PRESS BUREAU.
OFFICIALDOM in Russia grinds slowly, and!
likewise grinds exceedingly small. Nothing
could well surpass the minuteness with
which every detail relating to the special corre-
spondents at the Coronation was arranged and
supervised by the Russian Press authorities. To
begin with, every journalist and artist had to-
forward his five photographs to the Press Bureau
last March. These were stamped and counter-
signed and deposited in various archives, one
being eventually returned to the owner on his
arrival in Moscow. This was inclosed in a neat
little leather portfolio, and bore a label with the
correspondent's name and paper, granting him
permission to pass without let or hindrance, and
generally to obtain information. It was supposed
to be shown on demand, but in addition more-
obvious means were taken to ensure the recog-
nition of pressmenandartists. Thosewhowereduly
accredited were given a gilt and enamel badge to
be worn in the button-hole, and a yellow ticket
for insertion in the low-crowned top-hat of the
droshky driver for the time being. Armed with
these credentials the brethren of the brush and
pen were free to come and go where they liked,
into the Kremlin, the Imperial Palaces, and else-
where behind the scenes.
The festivities and ceremonies were concluded
in Moscow about the beginning of June, and now,
at the end of September, the various newspaper
representatives have been pleasantly reminded
that the Russian Government has not forgotten
them. With the characteristic thoroughness
which marks the proceedings of the Muscovite
bureaucracy, a packet has been forwarded to each
pressman and presswoman, containing a silver
medal, a silver token, two diplomas or certificates
in Russian, a pamphlet in French giving
## p. 125 (#161) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
125
the names of all the writers, artists, and photo-
graphers carefully classified, and a list, also in
French, of these foregoing five items. The medal
is not quite as large as a florin, and bears on the
obverse the Emperor's head with his titles, and
on the reverse the Imperial crown with the legend
"Koronovan v Moskvye (crowned in Moscow),
14 Maya 1896." Attached is a piece of blue
ribbon of the St. Andrew order. The silver
token is somewhat smaller, and bears on one side
the Imperial Crown and cyphers of Nicolas and
Alexandra, wit h the motto " V nami Bogh" (God
with us). The other side is similar to the
medal.
The diplomas set out at some length the
occasion of the presentation of the medal and
token, and authorise the donee, whose name is
spelt in his own language and in phonetic
Russian, to wear these decorations.
La3tly, the catalogue gives elaborate particulars
as to the 250 correspondents. Of these 97 were
Russian, with 47 artists, 15 of whom were
members of the Academy of Fine Arts, the famous
Repin being one of the number. Of the foreign
Press representatives, France headed the list with
24, England and Germany came next with 18
a-piece, and America sent 7. The other nation-
alities contributed 2 7 altogether. E ven Japan was
represented by Mr. Asahina Ohisen, editor of the
Tokio Nichi-Nichi Shimbun, and by another
pressman. The list concludes with the names of
57 Russian and foreign photographers authorised
to take views.
The whole affair is a marvel of elaboration, as
indeed were the arrangements at the Press
Bureau in the Rakhmsinovski Pereulok at Moscow
at the time of the Coronation. These final
souvenirs, the despatch of which had been care-
fully timed to take place during the Tsar's visit
to Great Britain, will long be treasured by those
who were fortunate enough to be present at one
of the greatest spectacles of the century.
Arthur A. Sykks,
Special Correspondent at the Tsar's
Coronation.
NOTES AND NEWS.
AT the last—the fortieth—annual meeting of
the Birmingham Literary Association,
the President, Mr. J. J. Moffatt, seized
the opportunity to advance a few plain truths on
the position and the work of the society. We
gather from his remarks: first, that the society
numbers 250 members: that they hold debates
VOL. VII.
and fortnightly meetings: that these meetings
have not been, of late, numerously attended:
that the society gives every year two prizes to
the Midland Institute: and that, in his opinion,
the society should do something more tangible
and definite for literature. He proposed, for
instance, the foundation of a lectureship on
English Literature.
The question raised by this address is not
whether Birmingham has, or has not, done any-
thing for the "encouragement" of literature,
but what literary societies as a rule might, or
could, do. It seems to me that they could do a
very great deal for the creation and the mainte-
nance of sound and wholesome taste: for the
cultivation of the poetic side of a time too prac-
tical: for the suppression of the froth and
frivolity that is now read in such vast quantities
and bought up so eagerly. This kind of work
could be carried out in many ways: by lectures:
by discussions: by courses of reading: by ex-
aminations: by scholarships and prizes. Young
people want that kind of direction in their
reading which will lead them up to the levels
where it becomes impossible to read a book
badly written, creeping, vulgar. Such work
carried on in a great city like Birmingham might
in a short time revolutionise the reading of the
people.
Another function of the Literary Society might
be very useful, and so far it has never been
attempted. It is this: the reviews of books which
appear in many provincial papers are mere worth-
less notes, written hurriedly by some young
reporter who simply has no time to read the
books. It is well if he does not carry off his
ignorance of the book by some ill-bred and spite-
ful snarl. Of course there are many exceptions
to this apparently sweeping statement; and there
are many provincial papers where the literary
department is as well looked after as the political
or the local. The proposal, however, is that the
Literary Society should take over the literary
department of local papers, and should furnish
them with reviews of selected books, carefully
written, by members who would undertake to read
the books and to chat pleasantly over tne""
contents. A bad, vulgar, or immoral book-would
be passed over in silence unless it became
occur. The Liter'* J*^ ™uld f>?«-
pay the reviewer Rt!I ™% 8u0^4' V tP ^
ordinary pay of Q****^ \
the scheme, W £0-
paper would ^ ^ ^ ^ ^"Ltat* V^5
duction to wlx ^ ^\k te^ ^ ,£P Q%
would order t^^V^ >^ ot 60, » 0,
## p. 126 (#162) ############################################
126
THE AUTHOR.
ask for them at their libraries. To increase and
spread abroad the demand for good books is surely
an object worthy the attention of every Literary
Society.
A Literary Society, especially in a huge city
like Birmingham, should be missionary in its
character, and aggressive. It should stretch out
its arms in every direction: it should endeavour
to reach with its lectures and its courses of
reading every class—the shop boy and the shop
girl: the working man and the working woman:
it should have centres and branches and local
secretaries: it should teach history and social
economics: it should take poetry to the people:
it should encourage the young people to read
good books by examination and prizes: it should
teach them what good writing means: it should
encourage them to attempt, themselves, the
expression of their thoughts.
Would it not, further, be possible for such a
society to affiliate itself with the Society of
Authors? It could do much for our Society in
its own centre; we could do much for that society
"by our own organisation and the help of our
members. .
The number of members elected on Wednes-
day, Oct. 14th, was, as has been announced
elsewhere, sixty-two, which is extremely satis-
factory. It is always found thai after one of
the usual series of letters in the papers abusing
and misrepresenting the Society, an increased list
of candidates appears at the next meeting of
committee.
Meantime, how are these new members consti-
tuted? Out of the sixty-two new members there
were twenty-one novelists; the rest represented
various other branches of literature. The weakest
branch so far as our meml>ers are concerned is that
of education. Yet it ought to be the strongest,
because there is no kind of literary property more
real and more valuable than that of education.
At the same time there is none which wants more
light and more exposure. The deferred royalties:
the miserable royalties: the wretched sums
advanced: call aloud to be dragged into the light.
Of course, there are other reasons, in educational
books, why an author desires publication. Yet
in this, as in every other branch, every man who
has property to be administered should take care
that his estate is administered, or sold, on
business principles. Tor this reason let the
educational writer come to the Society, When
the educational sub-committee, now sitting,
has sent in its report we shall perhaps be in a
better position to command the confidence of
these writers.
A most amazing letter appears in a paper
which, it appears, advertises for stories. We
learn from the editor's note that the writer of the
letter has "conveyed" a story from another
paper, changed the title, put his own name at the
end, and sent it in to the editor. Apparently,
either before or after publication, the editor dis-
covered the thing, and, very naturally, complained.
The conveyancer writes a letter in which he
explains his methods. The claim that he might
crib a story which was not "reserved"—what-
ever that may mean—is really delightful: "You
do not actually advertise for original stories, and
the source from which 'A Ghostly Smoker'
was derived, namely, 'A Ghost that Smoked,'
was taken from the halfpenny novelette 'The
Mayflower,' and as it had no mention of being a
reserved story, I cannot altogether understand
why you are holding me up to public ridicule,
especially in view of the fact that some journals
accept short stories non-original if no reserve
rights exists, and it is difficult to draw the line
where no reserve rights are mentioned. With
reference to the short stories I sent you in, for
example, 'Nora,' &c, the plots resemble those
they were taken from, but the reading is altered,
and in this respect tales which appear, and con-
tinue to appear occasionally, have their origin in
the same way: in a love story, for instance, the
beginning and ending is generally practically the
same."
We shall probably hear a good deal more of
this kind of thing. The journals which advertise
for short stories can now be reckoned by the
hundred. Many of them pay fairly well for their
MSS. There are a great many ladies who live
and make reasonably good incomes by writing
short stories. Some of the papers have a large
staff of ladies upon whom they mainly depend;
from all quarters we hear of clerks, working
girls of all kinds, young and old, driving the pen
in the attempt to make an addition to their
incomes in this way. In fact, story-telling must
be recognised as one of the professions of the
day. There is so great an abundance of short
stories buried in the past and present pages of
magazines and journals: there is so great a
temptation to disj in these mines for plots and
characters and situations, that we must not be
surprised to hear of wholesale pilfering. Fortu-
nately, the greater the success of this subter-
ranean work, the more it is published in papers
of wide circulation, the more likely it is to be
detected; some one or other is sure to find it out
and to proclaim it. Meantime, one would suggest
a simple means of dealing with such a case, pro-
vided that the editor did not prosecute. It is to
## p. 127 (#163) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
127
send the name and address of the offender to the
secretary of this Society, to be by him sent to
every editor in London.
Sir Walter Beaut will be interested to learn that Mrs.
Cowden-Clarke's experience of publishers has been "most
agreeable. Contrary," she says, " to the prejudiced opinion
sometimes expressed that authors and publishers are often
antagonistic in their transactions, I hare invariably met with
courtesy and kindliness. Ever since an interview I once
had with Lord Byron's John Murray, another that I had
with Mr. Colburn, I have been treated with consideration,
and even with amiability."
The above is a cutting from an evening paper.
I cut it out and reproduce it here because it is a
model of muddleheadedness from beginning to
end. This good lady, Mrs. Cowden-Clarke, says
that though there is a "prejudiced opinion " that
authors and publishers are " often antagonistic"
in their transactions, yet she has been always
treated with courtesy. Who denies the courtesy?
"What has that got to do with the unsettled
questions between author and publisher? It is
the very essence of business that it must be con-
ducted with courtesy. And why should I be
interested to learn that this lady has been treated
with courtesy? What has the critic got into his
head? My friends have been bringing to light
and publishing, so that all may read, the whole
business of producing a book. This has roused
th.e wrath of certain persons who prefer the works
of darkness. But they may still remain deeply,
be-autifully courteous. They may be as courteous as
Castilians, even when they present an agreement
based on an assumption of the author's absolute
ignorance. oi_
The following sums have been received by Miss
Ellen T. Masters, of Mount-avenue, Ealing, in
response to her appeal on behalf of Mrs. Eliza
Warren, since the publication of the last list.
The total amount now reaches ,£57 4*. yd.
£. *. d.
Forrester, Mrs. .. o 10 6
Turing, Herbert,
Esq. (per) o 7 6
£. s.
Parr, Miss (per)... o 1
West, Miss 1 o
d.
0
o
Walter Besant.
BOOK TALE.
AN interesting announcement is made by
Messrs. Bell of a book on the late
William Morris as an industrial and
decorative artist, which they hope to have out by
Christmas. The writer is Mr. Aymer Vallance,
a disciple of Mr. Morris, and he will give thirty
to forty full-page plates and other illustrations,
for which all branches of Mr. Morris's work—in
tapestries, carpets, wall-papers, stained glass, &c.
—have been requisitioned. The volume will be
entitled "The Art of William Morris: An Illus-
trated Record," and, in addition to other features,
Mr. Temple Scott is preparing for it a bibliography
of practically everything which Mr. Morris
wrote.
The title of Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy's
new novel is "The Royal Christopher." It is
announced by Messrs. Chatto and Windus for
next week.
Mr. Gilbert Parker has completed a new story,
which will be called "The Pomp of the
Lavilettes."
Dr. Conan Doyle's new work, " Rodney Stone,"
will appear this month.
Mr. Kipling's volume of poems, "The Seven
Seas," is almost due from the publishers, Messrs.
Methuen.
A story by Mrs. Aylmer Gowing, entitled
"Goods of Gold," will be published in a few days
by Messrs. White.
Mr. Hardy is revising his story " The Pursuit
of the Well-Beloved." It will not come out until
the spring, and will then be the last volume in
the collected edition of his Wessex Novels pub-
lished by Messrs. Osgood.
"A Pyschic Vigil," the work of an anonymous
hand, is among the books announced by Messrs.
W. H. Allen and Co.
A novel of Yorkshire village life, by "Mary-
Beaumont," the author of '• A Ringby Lass," will
be published this autumn by Messrs. Dent.
Miss Violet Hunt has completed a story
entitled "The Way of Marriage," and Miss
Winifred Graham one called " A Strange Solu-
tion," both of which will be published by Messrs.
Chapman and Hall.
Mr. J. S. Fletcher has written a historical
romance of the Civil Wars, entitled "Mistress
Spitfire," which will be published bv Messrs.
Dent,
Messrs. Chapman and Hall are publishing soon
a volume of travel through Sa\tb.alien and the
remoter parts of Sihpria ~ a "The New
Siberia," by Mr. Har^f Lr of " ^
Pekin to Calais by lLaMt'aut lorks-
Mr. Israel ZaL^ *** & t
stories dealing » on » *V *J
East, and ont ^Mfc <M S^C^
mas number o£ v»*fcttt Tf\\A ;« &e
by Mr. Arth^ ^ ««." a fpj*
ElkinMathe^ ^ > V*
## p. 128 (#164) ############################################
128
THE AUTHOR.
Mr. William Koberts is writing upon the art
sales which have taken place at Christie's well-
known auction rooms. The work will be in two
volumes, with many illustrations, and one of its
chief purposes is to indicate the various ups and
downs of the numerous English and foreign
schools of paintings for the past century and a
and quarter. It is to appeal to the general reader,
and Messrs. Bell hope to publish it in December.
Lord Roberts' volume of Indian reminiscences
will appear this month. It will contain portraits
of Lord Clyde, Lord Napier, Sir James Outram.
and others.
Gen. Sir Evelyn Wood is publishing, through
Messrs. Bell, a work on "Achievements of
Cavalry."
A book about the Indian Mutiny is being
published soon by Messrs. Kegan, Paul, and Co.,
edited from Gen. Alexander's MS. by Mr. F. W.
Pitt. The title is "Incidents in India and
Memories of the Mutiny ; with some Account of
Alexander's Horse and the ist Bengal Calvary."
A history of the Monastic Orders has been
written for English readers by the Rev. F. C.
Woodhouse. and will shortly appear from the
house of Wells Gardner, Darton, and Co.,
entitled " Monasticism, Ancient and Modern."
"On Southern EngUsh Roads," by Mr. J. J.
Hissey, will be published this season by Messrs.
Bentley. There will be a route map, and nume-
rous illustrations from the author's sketches.
A new uniform edition of the novels by Mr.
James Baker, author of "John Westacott," is
being prepared for issue by Messrs. Chapman and
Hall. This author also will appear with a novel
of the fifteenth century during the present season.
Mr. Sidney Pickering has written a novel
which will be published shortly by Messrs.
Lawrence and Bullen, entitled "Margot."
Great activity prevailed in the book world
during October. From Sept. 22 to Oct. 21
there were published (according to the lists in the
London papers) 455 books, exclusive of annual
volumes of periodicals or books in foreign lan-
guages. The number is distributed sectionally
as follows:—Fiction, 162; Theology and Philo-
sophy, 49; Poetry, 23; Biography and Auto-
biography, 22; History and Politics, 20; Edu-
bation, 17; Art and Belles Lettres, 17; Science
and Natural History, 10; Travel, 10; Medical, 2;
Reprints, new editions, and translations, 86;
Miscellaneous, 37.
Dr. Richard Garnett is editing the Public
Library Series, which is one of Mr. George Allen's
enterprises. The following volumes have been
arranged for: "Library Construction and Archi-
tecture," by Mr. J. J. Burgoyne; "The Free
Library," by Mr. J. J. Ogle; "Library Adminis-
tration," by Mr. A. W. Robertson; "The Prices
of Books,"* by Mr. H. B. Wheatley.
Mrs. Warren Clouston is the writer of a volume
on " Early English Furniture," which Mr. Edward
Arnold will publish. It will have a number of
illustrations of work done by the English cabinet-
makers of olden days.
"Prehistoric Man and Beast" is the title of a
new work by the Rev. H. N. Hutchinson, the
author of " Extinct Monsters." It will be pub-
lished by Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co., with a
preface by Sir Henry H. Howorth, M.P., and
drawings by Mr. Cecil Alden.
The Glasgow Newsagents' and Booksellers'
Union has resolved to allow discounts on
magazines no longer. Henceforth the full
publishing prices will be charged.
Mr. Edward Pennington, a Scottish journalist,
is writing a book on Sam Bough, who was a
well-known figure in Edinburgh art circles of his
day. The work will deal entirely with the
artistic side of the painter's life.
Dean Farrar's new book, "The Bible: Its
Meaning and Supremacy," will be published
immediately by Messrs. Longmans.
Authors who observe the remarkable cheapness
of paper will be interested in the following note
from the New York correspondent of the Daily
Mail: "One of our leading paper experts has
organised a mammoth stock company for starting
paper-making on American lines near London.
The capital is all subscribed, and important
developments will follow. Attention will be
chiefly devoted to paper for newspapers, but
calendered papers will be a speciality. The stock
is held by leading paper men here. Experts have
been reporting on the situation in England ever
since the World's Fair, where the scheme had its
inception. It is claimed that the American mills
will be able to undersell English manufacturers,
and to supply a superior article. I will cable
details in a few weeks."
The second volome of "Literary Anecdotes of
the Nineteenth Century," by Dr. Robertson
Nicoll and Mr. T. J. Wise, will be published
shortly. Among the contents will be a hitherto
unpublished tale by Charlotte Bronte; a review
of Mr. Meredith's "The Shaving of Shagpat,"
written by George Eliot in the Leader; and a
number of letters by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
which have not previously been published.
A volume of verse by the late distinguished
scientist, Mr. G. J. Romanes, is to appear from
## p. 129 (#165) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
129
Messrs. Longmans on an early date, with an intro-
duction by Mr. Herbert Warren, the President of
Magdalen College, Oxford. The same firm have
also a collection of essays by Mr. Romanes on
their list of forthcoming books.
Mr. William C. Hazlitt promises some new
material concerning Charles Lamb and his sister
in his volume to be published shortly by Mr.
Elkin Mathews, entitled, "The Lambs; Their
Lives, their Friends, and their Correspondents."
Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co. will publish in
the course of November a one-volume novel
(price 6*.) entitled " Drifting," by Archie Arm-
strong.
Mr. Henry Charles Moore has been awarded
the £200 prize offered by Messrs. Partridge
and Co. for the best story sent into them. It is
a story of adventure in Burraah, and will be pub-
lished as a serial in the Osborne.
George Moore. Cosmo-
Pi.. T. Q. C. Speaker for
F. Reginald Statham.
I. Bookman
LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS.
Copyright Reforms. The New Saturday for Oct. 24.
A Question in Copyright. "Nullum Tempos Occurrat
Honestati." Letter in the Spectator for Oot. 10.
American Criticism To-Day. Brander Matthews.
Chap-Book for Oot 1.
Criticism. I. Zangwill. Inter alia in "Without Pre-
judice." Pall Mall Magazine for November.
Sensation Novels. World for Oct. 24.
The Legitimate Uses of Fiction. Ingrad Harting-.
Girl*' Own Paper for November.
The Moral Idea in Fiction.
polie for October.
The Moral Idea in Fiction.
Oct. 17 and 24.
The Real Robert Elsmere.
New Review for October.
Copyright At Home. W. Morris Colles.
for October.
What to Read. Addresses by Sir Arthur Arnold and
■Sir Theodore Martin. The Daily Chronicle for Oct. 19
and 21.
Journalism as a Profession. Fred Wilson. West-
minster Review for October.
The Photographic Copyrioht Union : Its Position and
IProspeots. The Photographers' Record for October.
Books as Comforters of the Soul. Spectator for
Sept. 26, and ensuing correspondence on Oct. 3, 10, and 17.
Browning's Theism. Josiah Boyce. The New IForld
for September.
Love-Lore from Abbotsford. Two hitherto unpub-
lished letters of Sir Walter Scott's. Girls' Own Paper for
November.
The Sir Walter Scott Memorial. Lord Lothian.
Letter in the Times for Oct. 7.
The Decline of the Political Novel. Glasgow
Herald for Oot. 10.
Re-reading. Spectator for Oot. 24.
Fashionable Life in Fiction. British Review for
<Oct. 24.
Penny Dreadfuls. Correspondent to the Daily
Telegraph for Oct. 23; leading article Oct. 24.
The BOOKSELLING Question. Letter by "Ex-Pub-
lisher " in the Publishers' Circular for Sept. 25; by " Good-
will " in Oot. 3.
William Morris. Walter Crane. The Progressive
Review for November.
George du Maurier. R. C. Lehmann. Speaker for
Oct. 10.
Humour in Poetry. National Observer for Oot. 24.
The Boy in Fiction. The New Saturday for Oct. 3.
The Sale Dinner. The Daily Chronicle for Oct. 24.
Revelations of an Album. (Containing reminiscences
of Charles Beade and other writers.) Joseph Hatton.
The Idler for October.
Notable Reviews.
Of L. R. Farnell's "The Cult of the Greek States."
Franklin T. Richards. Academy for Oct. 17.
Of Walter Pater's " Gaston de Latour." Athtnieum for
Oct. 17.
Of '• Ian Maclaren's" "Kate Carnegie and Those
Ministers." Professor Marcos Dods. British Weekly for
Oot. 22.
Of the Carrow Library Catalogue (" Bibliotheca Norfol-
ciensis "). Eastern Daily Press for Oot. 22.
Of B. A. M. Stevenson's "The Art of Velasquez."
Athenicum for Oct. 24.
The law of Copyright, says the New Saturday,
is at present in a condition of muddle; and the
task of clearing it up, so that no author would be
left in doubt as to his rights, would be worthy the
best efforts of a great statesman. The presump-
tion is strong, says our contemporary, that the
new Copyright Bill drafted by the Society of
Authors, the Publishers' Association, and the
Copyright Association, while useful in its way,
"will not be found to provide for that final
settlement of all vexed questions which commends
itself to the thorough-going advocates of reform."
Although it is a step on the right road:
Idealists would like to see a large measure, arranging,
among other things, to make copyright perpetnal, so that
the writer of a popular book might have as good a chance of
founding a family as the compounder of a popular
patent medicine.
This same question of the perpetuity of
copyright is raised by "Nullum Tempus Occurrat
Honestati " in the Spectator. The correspondent
believes that if a writer leaves his copyright to a
college on trust for the charitable and educational
purposes of the institution, the copyright is
thereby made perpetual. But suppose a writer,
wishing to provide f or his Vidcm or children by
leaving them his copyright ilk »nd *3
thereupon keep the ffl *?*
before its time to WW tffl, 81* hcu, M
making a presejXTj J^re ■ Can M >K
college, prevent U<* ^rk\^ n <fe
from expiring 'J* foe uv" 0 tf>
should WvS*. «f*J?- ^ « &
## p. 130 (#166) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
it for nineteen years to his widow, and then in
perpetuity to a college?
The need of competent criticism is felt more
sharply in America to-day than ever before, says
Mr. Brander Matthews. But there has been no
falling off; on the contrary, there are more honest
and capable critics in the United States now than
there were in any period of the past. Really
great critics, he observes, have always been
very scarce everywhere ; far scarcer than great
novelists or great dramatists. The important point
of his article is its emphasis of the desirability,
and observance of the growing popularity, of the
signed criticism. One of the chief reasons, he
says, why criticism is finer and more influential
in France than it is in either Great Britain or
the United States, is that the critic in France
warrants his opinions with his signature, saying
boldly what he has to say about another man's
work, with no mask of skulking disguise.
Authors of experience know the immense superi-
ority of the signed to the unsigned book review,
and so does the general public. The practice is
spreading, and in time may become general:—
It will have the disadvantage, of course, of putting an
increased premium ou the work of the writers who have
well-known names; but, after all, the writers with the well-
known names are probably those who best deserve to be
*^»own. And, on the other hand, it will have the advantage,
I think, of increasing the class of writers who are not
multifarious as the ordinary newspaper reviewer is now
forced to pretend to be, but who have educated themselves
in one or more specialties. It will aid in developing critics
who may fairly be called experts in poetry and in fiction.
Mr. Zangwill also touches on the subject of
criticism, which may be, he says, an inductive
science. With this distinction, however—that the
critic must be a judge as well as an analyst.
The power of recognising colours or of counting legs is
common to mankind; the power of recognising fine humour
and true poetry belongs only to the few; and criticism can
only be made scientific by the hypothesis of a great critio,
whose palate is accurately sensitive, who sums up the taste
of the highest spirits of his day much as a great poet sums
up their emotion or intellect
But the critic can at any rate judge by genres,
tasting every book by the standard of its own
aim. He has a right to demand form, but no
right to object to any form the author may
choose. Passing on to define the naturalistic
novel, Mr. Zangwill says that from the artistic
standpoint, naturalistic novels must be primarily
gauged not by the truth in them, but by the
art in them. There is only one test. Do they
stimulate? Then they are art despite all their
science! Do they depress > Then, whatever else
they are, they are not art. In short:
Every novel that deals truly with life is naturalistic—in
fact, the word novel should mean the " naturalistic novel"
—any other kind of story should be classified as romance.
Mr. Zangwill, finally, might be replying to^some
of the criticism made in the Church Congress
discussion on literature, when he say that " a book
is not a thing that has a definite self-existence ;.
it needs the co-operation of the reader's mind."
While the World is extolling the virtues of the
sensation novel, and saying that at the present
moment in the largest and best sense it holds a
popularity which has never been greater, Mr.
George Moore writes in Cosmopulis that the
English novel has never stood up to the great
moral questions as Shakespeare stood up to them,
in " Lear," "Macbeth," and "Othello," and that
by consequence it has never produced a novel of
the first order. For the test of an essentially,
great novel is that it deals with primary moral
ideas, and judged by this test prose fiction began
with Balzac, and has been continued by Flaubert,
Tourgueneff, and Tolstoi:—
If the reader will turn from Balzac to his favourite Saxon
novelist, Fielding or Thackeray, he will find there men and
women admirably observed in their superficial appearanoes;
he will find men and women depicted as we see them; each
will be Btamped with his or her age, and with the habits
and customs of his or her class. But the emotions which
move them will be always secondary emotions. . . .
That we do not express ourselves as openly as Fielding is-
an unimportant literary accident. The essential is that the
Saxon discovered the materialist novel in " Tom Jones," and
liked it so much that he has gone on producing it ever since.
"Ex-Publisher," writing on the congested con-
ditions of retail bookselling, which is "not really
abnormal," says the time seems to have arrived
when the publishers should seriously consider as-
to the adoption of the "sale or return" system
in some modified form.
The two new letters by Sir Walter Scott concern
his son's love affairs, principally asking an exten-
sion of Christmas leave from the lad's regiment
in order that these might be arranged.
Journalism, if it is to be judged by the salaries
paid its members, must take rank with the-
unskilled trades, says Mr. Fred. Wilson. So he
would have the profession form a mutual and
protective society, the Institute of Journalists not
being, in his opinion, an effective body.
A writer of penny dreadfuls champions the
cause of the fraternity, which it appears possesses
a small Association. This literature he calls a
"really high-principled form of amusement."'
The highwaymen and harum scarum lads depicted
therein are never found triumphant in the end:
on the contrary, they are all either stabbed or
otherwise disposed of in a proper manner." The
Daily Telegraph, in whose columns the letter
appears, advises the Association to keep pegging
away in the cause of virtue, and, if possible, to let
their high moral aim appear even more conspicu-
ously than at present.
## p. 131 (#167) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
l3'
THE BERNE INTERNATIONAL LITERARY
AND ARTISTIC CONGRESS.
REPORT OF THE BERNE INTERNA-
TIONAL LITERARY AND ARTISTIC
CONGRESS, held from the 22nd to the 29th
August, 1896. *
Translated from Le Droit d'Auteur, organe offioiel da
Bnrean de 1'Union internationale pour la protection des
oeuTres litt<5raires et artistiques. Neuvii-me anni;e. No. 9,
page 118.
I.—General Survey.
THE annual congresses of the International
Literary and Artistic Association follow,
but do not resemble one another. This
assertion may appear trivial, but the fact is of
profound significance. It is, in reality, a con-
sequence of circumstances of some importance—
the condition of the international protection of
copyright (a condition which is ceaselessly alter-
ing), the nature and origin of the works laid
before the Congress, and finally the choice of the
place of meeting.
The previous congresses, especially those of
Milan, Antwerp, and Dresden, have resembled a
preliminary general review of forces. They were
organised with a view of drawing together im-
pressive assemblies of authors, and artists, and
also in order that the authors and artists might
for-mulate their claims in a satisfactory manner;
because the revision of the Berne Convention
seemed to be imminent. All their reports bore
evidence to one solid central aim, which was to
bring the compact of union to a state of perfec-
tion as quickly as possible. The Dresden Con-
gress, the first held in the German Empire, was
especially important, both on account of the
large attendance of German authors and pub-
lishers, and also on account of the general pro-
clamation of the "desiderata" of authors of
every language and of various shades of opinion.
This year the situation was changed. The
diplomatic conference at Paris had, in the spring,
undertaken the difficult task of bringing forward,
necessary changes in the constitution of the
union, and, until its decisions should be definitely
sanctioned, an interval of rest seemed indis-
pensable.
Berne enjoys the honour of being the seat of
the International Bureau of the Union, and
Berne, which one of the speakers at the Congress
was kind enough to designate the citadel and
sanctuary of international protection of intel-
lectual works, showed itself deserving of the
choice by exactly hitting, as it seems to us, the
* Compare the Author, August, 1896, page 56. (Trans-
lator's note.)
happy mean of a welcome exempt from display,
but full of cordiality, and of a friendly hospi-
tality without ostentation.
II.—The Work of the Congress.
The business sittings of the Congress were held
in the " Salle du Conseil des Etats." These sittings,
of the usual number of eight, were of a very
laborious character, so that it was found possible
to complete, under the firm and able guidance of
M. Pouillet, almost the whole programme, although
it was a very long one.
In this sketch of the labours of the Congress
we shall follow the order of the connected subjects
as they appear in the arrangement of resolutions
adopted, rather than the order of the sittings.
We place first the reports, which consisted simply
of records, and were of the nature of minutes.
Report upon the Labours of the Paris
Confcrence.
The Conference having at its first sitting
appointed its officers,* and having listened with
interest to the addresses of welcome of a number of
delegates, commenced its agenda with the study
of a subject of the highest moment, the revision
of the Berne Convention by the Paris Diplomat it-
Conference. M. Georges Maillard, who had been
one of the secretaries of the Conference, succeeded
in laying open judiciously, but perfectly clearly,
the particular situation iu which the Conference
found itself placed, the nature of the arrange-
ments which it adopted, the legal and practical
results obtained, and finally the moral effect of
the gathering upon the countries outside the
Union. Basing his remarks on the last chapter of
his printed report, the speaker gave an analysis
both of the proposals and of the amendments
presented to the Conference. This resume was the
occasion of the adoption of a resolution t in which
an expression of the satisfaction caused by the
marked improvements obtained is skilfully con-
nected with an express k 11 of regret that other
reforms had been postponed. As the Paris
Conference itself expressed a hope that the Berlin
Conference might issue a standard form of the
term of convention, the Association also declared
its intention of devoting itself next year t0 ^e
preparation of new directions which nnS^J^L
tea «f
followB :—Presidents of Jj(
dent of the Confedeti
■-Ouour
the Confederation.
Dieroks
dents
bOTg Appeal >V>^5
t See .
## p. 132 (#168) ############################################
132
THE AUTHOR.
taken into consideration by diplomatists when the
date of the reunion of the second Conference
arrived.
Legislative action in the Countries belonging to
the Union.
The successive ratification of the decisions of
the Paris Conference by all the contracting
countries, as well as the preparation of ulterior
progressive revisions of the Berne Convention,
are intimately connected with the legislative
evolution which is taking place in the different
States. The Association accordingly at every
Congress directed its attention to the new de-
velopments in the legal world. This subject
was treated at Berne in the following manner.
M. Osterrieth reported first of all upon the
movement which is at the present time in
Germany preceding a revision of the internal
laws of the Empire respecting copyright. The
Government intends to undertake this revision at
an early date. The report contained useful infor-
mation respecting the divergent views of German
authors and publishers who are asking for a
more satisfactory or more profitable legislation.
On the other hand M. Poinsard explained the
effect of the new ordinance on the Principality of
Monaco respecting copyright, dated June 3, 1896.
This ordinance set an example to be followed, as
it was the first to realise some of the reforms
adopted this spring at Paris.* M. Poiusard's
statements were particulary interesting, as the
author of the revised text, M. H. de Roiland,
Attorney-General of the Superior Tribunal of
Monaco, was present at the sitting, and was able
to add some additional explanations, particularly
respecting the complete protection of serials
(romans-feuilletons) and of novels. During the
sitting M. de Rolland also presented to the
Congress the Prince of Monaco's invitation to
hold the next reunion in his Principality. This
invitation was accepted with thanks, and the
nineteenth Congress of the Association has been
fixed for next April.
This is the place to add that the Hellenic
Government had charged Dr. Kebedgy to repre-
sent it officially at the Berne Congress. This
was an evidence of the importance which the
Greek Government attached to being directly
informed of labours in which the Association is
at present engaged, for which there is a parti-
cular reason. A new law respecting copyright
in intellectual works is under consideration in
Greece, and Dr. Kebedgy, who took an active
part in the discussions on several occasions,
* For the text of this ordinance, and some remarks sug-
gested by it, see Droit d'Auteur, 1896, pp. 89 and 93.
entered into the question of how far, in his opinion,
his compatriots would be able to go in the way of
protecting copyright.
Finally, M. Porumbaro, delegate of the
Athenaeum of Bucharest, briefly explained the
situation in Roumania. In his opinion a
revision of the national legislation ought to
precede the accession of his country to the Union.
In his capacity of member of the Roumanian
Parliament it is his intention to urge parliamen-
tary measures for the removal of difficulties.
We have thus insensibly approached another
point in the programme.
The means of obtaining new adherents to the
Berne Conference.
M. Maurice Maunoury having been prevented
from attending the Congress, the conclusions of
the report which he had prepared on this subject,
and especially with reference to the European
States, were presented by M. Maillard. These
conclusions, completed by some useful additions
from M. Poinsard, speak for themselves.* The
local organisation of centres from which infor-
mation may be diffused, and of an efficient
propaganda, is a matter for private or united
energy. At the same time, if it is desired to
persuade the diplomatic authorities of certain
countries to labour principally to bring new States
into the Union, and not to conclude private
treaties bearing on literary questions (except in
such cases as make accession to the Union
temporarily impossible), the result must, to a
very great extent, depend upon personal relations
with the authorities or with their representatives,
and upon private influence. However, as the
report observes, there is something which the
Association itself can, as a corporate body, satis-
factorily carry into effect. That is an investiga-
tion of the causes which in each country stand in
the way of an accession to the Union, an examina-
tion of the situations of the publishing trade, and
of the methods of piracy. It will be necessary to
draw up nothing short of monographs respecting
the state of the law in the several countries
respecting the cause and origin of various
restrictive enactments; respecting the local needs
in the way of translation; of dramatic represen-
tation; of musical performance, &c; in a word, to
individualise the knowledge of the actual state of
things in the different countries so as to make
all action in the interests of the Union more
practical.
For several years past M. Darras has, with the
assistance of M. Eisenmann, drawn up very
accurate reports "on legislative action with regard
* See below A, II.
## p. 133 (#169) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
'33
to copyright in the three Americas." M. Darras
was not this year able to come to Berne, nor to
draw up his report; and M. Ernest Rothlisberger
was therefore entrusted, with the delivery of an
oral report upon the same subject. He reviewed
all the events of importance in this department
which have taken place since the last Congress
at .Dresden, whether in English America (the
Canadian law—suggestion of Mr. Hall Caine), in
the United States (suggested legal projects of
Messrs. Cummings, Hills, and Treloar), or in
Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa-Rica,
Columbia, Venezuela, Brazil, the countries which
have signed the convention of Montevideo, and
the Argentine Republic. It was at the conclusion
■of this report that the Congress adopted a
resolution amounting to a vote of encouragement
and symjmthy for the valiant champions of
international copyright in the United States.*
The Congress heard with particular satisfaction
of the progress which our cause has made in
Mexico, in Costa-Rica, and lastly in the Argentine
Republic, where it was eloquently defended by
M. Cane, minister of that country at Paris.f
ifeans of assuring compliance with the terms of
the Berne Convention in countries belonging to
the Union.
The Association perseveringly pursues a double
aim ; on the one hand, the territorial extension of
the Union; on the other, a constantly more
perfect and easier compliance with the provisions
of the Berne Convention. Concerning the second
of these two aims not less than six reports were
prepared.
Literary works. — Respecting the protection
accorded these works in the countries which have
signed the Convention, M. Ollendorf, the Paris
publisher, showed in his report that the various
stipulations of the Convention are, on the whole,
very scrupulously observed in the States in ques-
tion. But in cases when difficulties arise abroad,
or when it is necessary to apply to the tribunals,
there is always some hesitation about the means
which it may be best to employ. For this reason
M. Ollendorf proposed the establishment in every
country of a legal office "composed of lawyers
belonging to all nationalities, and entrusted with
the duty of enlightening and guiding their com-
patriots in cases of external lawsuits, as well as
with that of staving off litigation." After a full
discussion the Congress agreed to this, in this
sense, that the Association will exert itself to find
in each State competent and trustworthy lawyers
* See below B, IV.
+ It is the intention of Le Droit d'Auteur to publish
shortly the very instructive report on the Paris Conference,
Addressed by M. Cane to his government.
who will, in their own country, take up the causes
of foreign authors whose interests may be in-
fringed.*
M. Ollendorf pleaded also for the suppression
of the guaranty judicalum solrif in cases relating
to literary and artistic property. The Congress
was unanimous in regarding this guaranty as an
anti-liberal measure, contrary to the spirit of the
Convention. But as the matter is connected
with the question of obtaining in one country
guarantees for the execution of judicial sentences
in another, it was decided to make the point the
subject of further investigations.];
Dramatic icorks. — The report presented by
M. Beaume, which was full of accurate data
respecting the treatment of rights of dramatic
representation, proved much less optimistic than
that of M. Ollendorf. According to M. Beaume
the protection accorded to dramatic works leaves
much to be desired. This is not only in conse-
quence of the omissions and restrictions of the
Convention (Article 9), nor only in cousequence
of the unfavourable provisions of the laws of
certain nations (for example those of Switzer-
land), but also owing to the practices of dramatic
managements, conducted on purely commercial
lines, and also in part owing to the absence of
organization amongst authors. M. Beaume
considered that the best means of securing
general protection, at least in the countries
belonging to the Union, was that the dramatic
authors should follow the example of the French
dramatic authors, who, united in a society (the
prosperity of which is astonishing), have suc-
ceeded in protecting perfectly even the interests
of their foreign confreres who pay the same
percentages. In the course of the discussion,
M. Hildebrandt, the delegate of the German
Literary Society, § remarked that the French
dramatic authors, instead of applying to his
society to watch over the rights of representation
and translation in Germany, sold their rights
out and out to the directors of German theatres
who came to Paris, and so lost all further control
over their work. He therefore warmly advo-
* See Resolution A, III.
t Caution judicatum solvi. Caution in Trench 1»* 00"f"
sponds with Caution in SWtfoYi 1 , «iuivalenl <»
Guaranty in English law. G^*' W
one person binds hhnaeYf ,Uuara,% is a conW* ^ act
in the case of the failuj* J? W * * *° J**
it is to do the thine. „! ot Bom« otw r,ets<>»*_ xfr***
it is to do the thing „„ ot BomO otW xfl*#>* „
himself is generally8 ^^anteed, P° 0Tl
person who is Prim*-^ the *Hr*K . v„At»^ -flit1- tt*
the form of judio^^ WwB J lU m W^iV^i tfi
surety becomes g*£ »
i Seriftstelle^.^ ^
/
## p. 134 (#170) ############################################
134
THE AUTHOR.
rated the international federation of societies
founded for the mutual protection of the rights
of authors. An investigation respecting the
foundation of such societies was accordingly
declared desirable.
Painting, Sculpture, and Engraving.—M.
Yauuois, who defended the theses of the report of
M. Fleury (who was absent), made similar
remarks respecting painting, sculpture, and
engraving. The slightly modified conclusions
drawn from this report expressly enunciate the
ideas of a coalition of authors, and of the
fouudat ion of a syndicate of the different national
associations with a view to maintaining (before
the tribunals) the rights of reproduction, and
more particularly those belonging to members,
and declared to be intrusted to their society.*
Musical tcorhs.—The report promised by M.
Souchon was not presented, as he had not been
able to come to Berne. His absence was
unfortunate, as it was much to be desired that
some authorised voice should proclaim the
incontestable rights of composers, and at the
same time should furnish information concerning
the possibilities of the reoeptiou of percentages,
and the constitution of the society of authors,
composers, and publishers of music. An open
discussion ou this subject, to which the Swiss
Press was especially looking forward, would
certainly have dissipated a great many misunder-
standings.
Architectural works.—M. Ch. Lucas was able
to interest all his hearers by his speech in favour
of the cause which he has defended for years—the
legal protection of architectural works. His
brief statement bristled with facts. He pointed
out why the legal protection of designs was
insufficient, why the architect ought to be
guaranteed against rebuilding and reconstruction,
and where certain decisions of the French tribunals
were open to criticism. Whilst making some
remarks in explanation of the unfavourable
attitude of German legislation as regards the
claims of architects, M. Lucas declared categori-
cally that there could be no question about the
protection of such work as was, in the places
where it existed, absolutely without originality.
After this the resolution in favour of the protection
of architectural works which were really indivi-
dual, new, and in effect artistic creations, met with
no opposition.f
Photographic works.—The report of M. Taillefer
was read and supplemented by M. Davanne.
After a brief allusion to the somewhat different
views of the German photographers, M. Davanne
concluded with a repetition of the wish that
photographs should be placed in the same rank
with other works of art. Complete protection
was still claimed for them, because the measure
of protection assured by the Paris Conference
(protection to the extent secured respectively by
the laws of the different States belonging to the
Union), though large, still left a scandalous
disparity.*
The Compliance tcith Conditions and Formalities
in the Countries belonging to the Union.
M. Ernest Rothlisberger had prepared a
detailed report upon this complicated subject.
The report was a little dry, but of great assistance
towards a just and easy realisation of what an
author's rights, in the conventional and legal
sense, are. The exercise of these rights depends,
in the Union, only upon the accomplishment of
the conditions and formalities prescribed by the
internal legislation of the country in which the
work is published. Compliance with this simple
rule proves, in practice, difficult, on account of
the difference of the laws of various nations.
M. Rothlisberger, after having drawn a distinction
between conditions and formalities, first of all
enumerated the former. They turned out to be
more numerous than is generally supposed. After
this he explained the formalities, that is to say,
registration, and legal deposit of copies of the
work, so far as these are connected with protec-
tion of copyright. For this purpose he classed
the States belonging to the Union into four
groups:
1. Countries in which there are no formalities.
2. Countries in which formalities are the excep-
tion.
3. Countries in which formalities are the rule,
but neglect of them does not affect the author's
rights.
4. Countries in which they are obligatory,
under the penalty of loss of copyright.
The working of the formalities (delay, place,
authority, fee, certificate, legal consequences) was
rendered clear by comparative tables. Starting
from this base M. Rothlisberger claimed for
authors of the countries belonging to the Union
a number of facilities for the accomplishment of
these formalities within the jurisdiction of the
Union. In his opinion these facilities should not
be sanctioned de lege ferenda by new enactments,
but should logically result from a liberal interpre-
tation of the Convention. We cannot here enter
into the grounds of the speaker's demands. But
the resolutions passed on the subject are suffi-
ciently explicit.! We shall mention only two
* Resolutions B, III., b.
f See Resolutions B, a.
* Resolutions B, b.
t Resolutions A, III.
## p. 135 (#171) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
i35
modifications which the Congress made in the
propositions laid before it. M. Rothlisberger
desired that it should be remembered that the
Berne International Bureau could take the steps
necessary to procure for the persons interested
the certificate sanctioned in Article 11, paragraph 3,
of the Convention. This certificate shows that
the formalities required by law have been com-
plied with. This privilege of the Berne Bureau
was recognised by the Diplomatic Conference of
1885: (Actes, p. 37). But the Congress, going
still further, decided to express a formal desire
to the effect that the Bureau should be itself
charged to deliver the certificates in question.
Further, M. Rothlisberger had proposed to
request, by a desire of the Congress, that the
authorities of those countries in which the legis-
lation does not make the copyright of any works,
or the copyright of certain classes of works,
depend upon special conditions or formalities,
should have the goodness to make special official
declarations to this effect, so that the International
Bureau may transmit these declarations to the
persons whom they may concern. The Congress
adopted a resolution in accordance with which it
is the province of the Berne Bureau to take the
steps necessary to procure the declarations in
question.
Finally M. Rothlisberger declared himself,
on principle, in favour of the complete suppres-
sion of all formalities if they in any way tend to
obstruct either the genesis of the author's rights
or their protection. Because, on every occasion
when registration, or legal deposit of the work,
is prescribed by a law respecting intellectual
property, the legislator, in search of something
to ensure the regular accomplishment of these
formalities, yields to the temptation to deprive
the author, who does not comply with the legal
requirements, of the power of taking legal action,
or even, in many countries belonging to the
Union, deprives him of all rights in his work.
It will be only in the case of this rule of the loss
of rights disappearing from the Statute-books of
the countries in question, in consequence of a
revision of their internal laws, that it will be
possible logically to renew the request adopted
at the last Dresden Congress in favour of the
suppression of all conditions and formalities a?
necessary for international protection. According
to M. Rothlisberger, whose arguments we cannot
lere produce, the establishment of good national
bibliographies would amply suffice to give civil
rights to^literary works. As for artistic works,
they are almost everywhere dispensed from the
formalities; a fact which proves that the desired
reform (the disappearance of formalities from the
domain of copyright) is perfectly realisable.
An entirely different opinion was upheld by
M. Lucien Layus, who presented a report
entitled "On Legal Deposit" (" Du depot
legal"), in which he gave, in a concise form,
much interesting information concerning the
origin of this formality. The deposit of copies
was instituted for reasons of the most different
kinds: with the aim of enriching national
collections; in order to furnish a proof of date,
that might determine the duration of the copy-
right; as an assistance to the police ; and for the
protection of public order. However, in the
countries where the law of legal deposit exists,
but where compliance with it is incumbent on the
printer, a number of inconveniences arise, incon-
veniences affecting both the copyright and the
national collections. The necessity of a reform
is manifest, and with a view to obtaining this
reform M. Layus recommended the adoption of
three resolutions. In his opinion the legal deposit
thus reformed, and reformed first of all in France,
represented a measure which should be recom-
mended to all States. In conclusion, his report
contained the following passage: "It is to be
desired that the obligations of registration and of
legal deposit by the publisher should be at an
early date adopted by all the countries in which
this is not at present the rule."
The Association had adopted contradictory reso-
lutions on this subject. At one time it had
voted in favour of the extension of the obligation
of legal deposit to all countries of the Union,
adding a resolution that this deposit ought to be
independent of the author's copyright. (Barce-
lona. Antwerp.) At another time it had been
in favour of the suppression of all formalities in
the international administration. (Dresden.) It
was necessary to decide frankly by a resolution in
favour of the formalities or against them.
Several votings which took place in the course of
the sittings proved that the partisans of the
abolition of formalities, whose opinious were
confirmed by criticisms of the defectiveness of the
present system of legal deposit, had at their com-
mand a considerable majority.
The only solution of the situation, possible
appeared to be a division condemning one or tne
other of the two systems. This extremity. ^ow"
ever, was avoided, thanks to the rit °^ con"
ciliation which animated hruV. *.i *P ,.fpiS8 and
.ich animated both U A .rress
the authors of the reports. at ^ C° utoP°8ed,
to add to the resolutions VfV- < V ^M118 *riipra'
the one adopted at the l^J/\ctl
met*1
of Publishers.
influence *f ^opy^^^ %^ ^ $r ^
other hand, he was T^^Vfc , „»*
• movements in the ^\<$
/
## p. 136 (#172) ############################################
136
THE AUTHOR.
might be desirable in the countries where the
deposit is statutory, and to vote for the resolutions
under discussion, limiting their effect to these
countries. The whole Congress seemed at last to
be agreed to admit that the formalities might be
local or national measures of internal order, but
that it would be best to put an end to the
entanglement of such measures with the recogni-
tion and administration of the author's copyright.
Should any State desire, for whatsoever reasons,
to prescribe registration or legal deposit of
literary works, or of certain artistic works, let it
determine all these details by special enactment,
but not in the law concerning intellectual pro-
perty. Copyright ought to be respected without
the authors being obliged to comply with any
formalities whatsoever.
These important decisions were arrived at
without opposition. It may, therefore, be hoped
that this question will not again appear amongst
the agenda of a literary or artistic Congress.
Newspaper Copyright. (*)
The brief but precise report of M. Paul Gave
laid down as a principle that no literary compo-
sition, inasmuch as it is an intellectual product,
ought to be reproduced without authorisation,
even though it may first have appeared in a
newspaper. It miglit be quoted, provided always
that the quotations did not degenerate into dis-
guised piracy. What, however, was to be said
about the protection of news? These were the
facts: "Certain newspapers put themselves to a
great expense in order to secure interesting tele-
grams, and to have correspondents in every
locality (often in localities at a great distance)
where remarkable events were taking place. The
news which they thus procured was openly,
shamelessly pillaged. Such things were to be
found as periodicals created for this very purpose,
periodicals appearing a few hours after their eon-
temporaries, and borrowing from them the whole
of their telegrams and news, obtained at a great
expense, and thus offering a recapitulation of
everything useful and interesting published on the
same day. Such things were to be found as pro-
vincial papers whose editors, living in the capital,
telegraphed or telephoned complete articles pub-
lished in the leading journals, and did not scruple
to reproduce these same articles twelve or eighteen
hours before the other journals, those that had
been pillaged, could reach the towns where the
piracies appeared."
It was, however, important to distinguish
between mere news (information brutale) based
upon a simple fact, and given without any intel-
* De la propriety littt'raire en mativre de presse.
lectual labour (which might be reproduced
freely), and news in which some personal
element appeared, the result of labour and of
literary composition, and so capable of being
protected like any other writing.
An animated and brilliant discussion followed
the reading of this report. M. Albert Bataille,
delegate of the International Union of Journalists'
Societies * founded at Buda-Pest in last July.f
unfolded, in an erudite speech, listened to with
the greatest attention, the transformation through
which modern journalism is passing—the dis-
appearance of learned articles, and of didactic
elements, and the predominance of news, of
"impressions," new, rapid, well-written and well-
balanced. It was against the pilfering of this
sort of intelligence that journalists demanded
protection without the necessity of asserting that
their copyright was reserved. Hitherto, by means
of the present Convention at Berne, and its
revised Article 7, protection had been afforded for
"what was least journalistic, the literary
portion ;" % for the future every individual article
ought to be protected by formal declarations—
with a solitary exception. In the interests of the
influence which the newspaper ought to exert, it
was desirable that political articles, as well as
speeches, should be freely reproduced and left to
public discussion, unless this was expressly
forbidden. With respect to mere news, especially
that communicated by telegraphic agencies, it
would be perhaps right to ask for an " industrial"
protection, on the ground of illegal competition,
or, perhaps, a protection for twenty-four hours
might be instituted, as at the Cape. There was
here no question of the protection of intellectual
property, but only of the protection of priority of
information.
All the subsequent speakers declared that the
Association was disposed to continue its investiga-
tions of these questions (investigations which
had been commenced in Paris and London), and
to support the journalists in their claims. M.
Wauwermans, at the same time, called attention
to the fact that the legal protection is often very
wide, but the journalists never make use of it
against the abuses of which they are the victims.
At least in Belgium the French journals whose
articles are reproduced imhesitatingly, and even
with the signatures removed, never institute legal
proceedings, and never even ask for a mention of
the source from which the borrowed matter may
come. Other speakers opposed the free repro-
duction of political articles, without exception,
and demanded that they should be treated as
* Union Internationale des Associations de presse.
t See Droit d'Auteur, 1896, pag-e 97.
X " Ce qu'il y a de moins journal, la partie litteraire."
## p. 137 (#173) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
137
any other articles. The journalist ought to
be the master of his own work. Finally, as it
was shown that different usages respecting news-
paper publication prevailed in different countries,
it was resolved to set aside the two points under
discussion for further consideration.* The
assembly was unanimous in declaring the neces-
sity of protecting all written matter appearing in
a newspaper.
The Rights of Collaborateurs.
This question, introduced by M. Georges
Harmand, also called forth ample discussion.
In general, his report, carefully studied and
supported by evidence, was warmly approved.
This report treated in succession of the definition
of collaboration, a definition which the Congress
decided to reject; the rights of collaborateurs,
equal in the absence of any agreement to the
contrary; principles established for the publica-
tion of the completed work, in case of refusal to
publish on the part of one of the collaborateurs;
the cession of collaborateurs' rights; the funda-
mental principle of the indivisibility of the work;
the distinction between works produced by
collaboration and collective works; the duration
of the collaboration.
A strong opposition was raised against a view
which M. Harmand wished to see adopted
respecting the expiration of the rights of collabo-
rateurs. It was admitted that so long as one of
them lived he ought to exercise all rights in com-
bination with the heirs of deceased coilaborateurs.
But, further than this, M. Harmand supposed
that, in the case of a work produced by collabo-
ration, there might be several periods of duration
of copyright, each one dating from the decease of
one of the collaborateurs. The heirs or assigns
of each of these deceased collaborateurs would
thus lose their rights at the expiration of a
certain time reckoned from the decease of their
particular collaborateur. To whom then would
the totality of the rights revert? M. Harmand
was of opinion that, as by degrees the rights of
the other collaborateurs, or of their assigns,
lapsed, the survivor ought to acquire all the
rights, and that his share of the emoluments
should be augmented by those belonging to the
collaborateurs who predeceased him. He took no
notice of the heirs or assigns of the survivor.
The opposition, taking their stand upon the
ground that a work written in collaboration is
indivisible, and that all rights in it are equal,
carried a resolution to the effect, that the rights of
all heirs of such collaborateurs as have pre-
deceased others, subsist together jointly until the
one limit of copyright calculated from the death
* BeBolution C, in.
of the collaborateur who last remains alive shall
have been reached. Only in the case when there
are no heirs of a deceased collaborateur, the share
belonging to this collaborateur should be distri-
buted amongst the other collaborateurs or their
assigns. Thus no part would be without an
owner, nor could be pocketed by theatrical direc-
tors, S)-c., who were making payments to the
collaborateurs.
Thus amended, the principles adopted respect-
ing collaboration were considered by the Congress
deserving of being incorporated in the laws of the
various nations as being the expression of the
wishes of authors of all kinds of works.*
The Rights of Creditors over Intellectual Works.
According to M. Albert Vaunois the author has
a double right over his creation. He has a
pecuniary right, which is a commercial matter.
And he has a moral right attaching to his own
persou. So long as the author lives his moral
right is indisputable, and precludes any inter-
ference 011 the part of others. If he has not
alienated his right no one can put himself in his
place or deprive him of his property by a forced
execution. The creditors have no claim except
upon the profits resulting from agreements freely
made by the author. After the death of the
author, measures taken for a forced execution of
claims upon his rights should be pleaded before
the tribunals in the presence of his heirs, or of his
executors.
These ideas of M. Vaunois's, extremely bold
ones regarding a subject to which very little
attention has been hitherto paid, a subject
also very insufficiently investigated by legis-
latures and judges, met with a somewhat
vigorous resistance. That manuscripts could
not be seized by creditors, nor, in general,
unpublished works (even after a man's death),
and that, therefore, much more uKiinished
works could not be seized, was universally ad-
mitted. The creditors ought not to be able to
obtain possession of these works with a view to
publishing them against the will of the author or
his heirs. But after the work had been pub-
lished, there was not, in the opinion °^ manv
speakers, any particular reason for mtilctin8 *ue
creditor, who might also deserve coBsl^erati°n'
nor for giving the autbor the Uei4 o£
exceptional privilege, likeW \n , n, teaewtt1
against him. As a Ker^J^™*5 *L
—o — r< ■ \ v.. a rtJP
between the moral right » a w&6 ojV ,
seemed not very clearly ^ ^ ytf^J^leL
the preliminary labou^ ^fovfe^ £ \ \
* Besolutions B, II.
f See hia draft of a
7
## p. 138 (#174) ############################################
'33
THE AUTHOR.
'Congress accordingly voted that this question
.should be referred to its next meeting.*
The Type for Reproduction.
M. A. Davanne devoted himself to several
problems, which have at present been but little
examined, " with the wish of seeing them studied
and solved." His tiactate was entitled, "The
Ownership of the Type, and more particularly of
the Phototype, or Photographic Negative: an
Attempt at some Definitions."
According to M. Davanne the term "type"
ought to be applied to every work, and to every
mechanical instrument which serves for obtaining
from an original manifold reproductions resem-
bling it. The original constitutes the definite
realisation of the author's conceptions, and the
reproduction, distinct from the copy, is a repre-
sentation of the original by various means.
Often the " type" is itself the original (as in the
case of etchings or photographic negatives); at
other times it is formed in imitation of the
original (composition of type, die, mould).
When the copies are to be numerous the instru-
ment for reproducing them is multiplied by the
fabrication of counter-types (stereotype, electro-
type, transfer from engraved plates to litho-
graphic stones, and casts of casts).
Who is the owner of the type? Basing his
views upon the example of letterpress printing,
M. Davanne replies to this question thus: The
owner of the material type is the person who has
made it. The right to use it, or the right to
allow it to lje used, belongs to the person who has
-ordered it. The right to destroy it belongs
equally to both persons. M. Davanne next
■■applied these principles to the ownership of a
photographic negative, making an exception of
those cases where there are express or tacit
understandings to the contrary, cases which are
numerous. Kegarding portraits, M. Davanne
maintains that the customer has no right to
demand the surrender of the negative, and that
the photographer has the right to refuse to sur-
render his negative, because he has the right to
-destroy it. At the same time this right equally
belongs to his customer. In certain cases the
customer tacitly agrees to surrender the right to
make use of the negative, especially if he is
paid to be photographed. Finally, M. Davanne
examined the case of a tacit agreement permitting
the customer to demand the surrender to himself
-of the negative.
Of the Lapse of Copyright.^
In his report devoted to the lapse of copyright,
* Resolutions C, II.
+ " Do domains pnbii-," i.e., cf the palli: ownership of
•terary property.
M. Ed. Mack, (a specialist in all that concerns
the duration of copyright*) first of all established
a delicate distinction between the rights of the
public, a right to the enjoyment of an intellectual
work, and the lapse of copyright, which he
characterised as an expropriation of the heirs or
assigns of the author, for the benefit of any one
who chose to turn the author's works to his own
profit, so long as this person simply conformed
with the rules of the open competition of the
market, a state of things which sometimes led to a
diminution of the price the public pay for the
work. Having reviewed the enactments of various
Legislatures on this subject, M. Mack examined
the provisions of the Italian law, which sanctions
a second period of protection, during which, after
the lapse of the author's right, the public pay the
author a certain sum. This system appeared to
him to present great advantages. If the practical
aim of a unification of the various laws respecting
the duration of copyright after death were
pursued, M. Mack was in favour of Jifty years
after death; at the same time his own preferences
were in favour of an absolute copyright of eighty
years dating from the publication of the work.
But—and herein lay the originality of his pro-
position—after the lapse of this first period of
of eighty years, the author's copyright ought to be
extended to a hundred years, or even to perpetuity
on condition that the previous exclusive right to
reproduce should be transformed into a right to a
royalty, a kind of payment on the part of the public.
This plan is already partly followed by the Society
of French Dramatic Authors, who receive per-
centages even for works of which the copyright
has lapsed. The public right to become possessed
of works after the lapse of copyright could not bo
too much curtailed. Its consequences were bene-
ficial neither to the public nor to contemporary
literature.
As M. Mack had declined to ask for a vote
upon the conclusions at which he had arrived, the
debate upon the best period for the duration
of copyright took place at the time of the con-
sideration of the draft of a normal law prepared
by M. Maillard.
Draft of a Normal Laic.
To avoid misunderstanding, it was, in the
opinion of the author of this draft, necessary to
explain exactly both the origin and the aim of his
proposal. At the Dresden Congress M. Maillard
presented a work in which he had, in accordance
with previous votes of the Association, formulated
the principles on which a unification of the various
national laws ought to proceed. The "principles
of legislative uniformity" were to constitute a
"See Droit d'Auteur, 1894, p. 11.
## p. 139 (#175) ############################################
THE A UTHOR.
i39
sort of programme for the champions of copy-
right, the " platform" of a propaganda destined
to lead popular opinion in countries where the
reform of the local legislation is contemplated,
and to give the efforts of authors and artists the
unity of aim indispensable in their struggle for
their aims. In conformity with the resolution
adopted at Dresden, these principles have been
transformed by M. Maillard into a draft of a law
w-hich might serve as a base for the work of
unification. The suggested draft is essentially
perfectible, and it will be easy to modify it from
year to year, in accordance with the results of
further investigations, or in accordance with the
march of ideas. The draft thus gives the mini-
mum protection respecting which agreement is at
present possible amongst the nations who have
signed the Convention; and it embodies the ideal
whole of what it is possible to hope to see before
long in international dealings. "It must be
understood," M. Maillard adds, "that we do not
pretend to offer this document as the only legisla-
tion acceptable in each country. Where a suffi-
cient legislation or jurisprudence already exists
we do not ask for any immediate change. . . .
But wheresoever the desirability of a new law is
admitted by the national representatives, we
should like to see all the new laws based upon
some common norm. Given the same funda-
mental ]>rinciples, similar enactments would be
passed, whilst the details might be left to be
settled in such a manner as not to be distaseful
to the feelings of the individual nationalities."
This draft drawn up to serve as a "norm for
legislative reforms" was discussed at several
sittings, whensoever an occasion presented itself
during the debates on various reports, and more
particularly at the last two sittings. We give
below the text as it appeared at the close of the
deliberations. This will make it unnecessary for
ua to enter into a detailed account of the debates,
and we shall mention only some of the leading
tendencies of these discussions.
The draft speaks of "literary and artistic"
works, an expression which some wished to see
altered into "intellectual" works, whilst others
desired that it should be complemented by the
express addition of " scientific works." It would
be right to inquire how far it might be possible
to protect even the scientific ideas of learned
men.
Respecting Article 1 of the draft, M. Hilde-
brandt demanded a more precise wording, some
more exact fixture of the limits of rights, such as
would not interfere with the liberty to hiss a
melody in the streets, nor hamper the rights of
circulating libraries. There would be a risk of
endangering the revision of the German law if,
in determining the author's rights, the criterion
of financial advantage * was not adopted. Re-
speetingtheperformance of musical works,it would
be desirable, in order to avoid specific difficulties
in Alsace-Lorraine, and in Switzerland, to take
percentages only from societies receiving pecu-
niary advantage from the performance. To this
M. Maillard replied that this was interpreting
his words in an exaggerated manner; but that at
the same time it was light to protect not only the
pecuniary interests but also the moral rights of the
author; to protect not his work only but also his
person, so that he could if he chose completely
forbid the reproduction of his work. He insisted
that it was above everything necessary to sanction
a principle, making allowance for the restrictions
which might have to be introduced in various
countries, on account of local and temporary
needs; for example, in such cases as workmen's
choral societies, &c. At present it was necessary
to find some wording which took account on the
one hand of the pecuniary interests, and on the
other hand of the moral right of the author.
Respecting the duration of copyright, the Con-
gress, after a long debate, voted for that of
eighty years after death. Those in favour of
fifty or thirty years after death were in a minority.
However, some members handed in a declaration
that in their opinion the period of eighty years
was too long. Only a few votes were given in
favour of an equal recommendation of one
hundred years after publication. In fact it
seemed undesirable to propose at the same time
t wo solutions of this question. Besides, the second
plan presupposed the legal deposit of the copy to
prove the date of publication, and, when it
applied to several corrected editions of the same
work, would lead to inconveniences. The calcu-
lation of the period of copyright from the death
of the author, though not altogether free from
objection, seemed to present a better foundation
for legal uniformity.
Accordingly the Congress resolutely suppressed
all the provisions of the draft relative to the
necessity of "legal deposit" preceding civil or
penal proceedings, as well as those concerning
the legal deposit of posthumous works, whose
copyright is to last eighty years. date oi
the publication of these works co\x\A \>e e*8^
established by proofs in accordance w*Vi cO1*11001-1
law, in the same manner as tW rW ^ , t>u^
cation of artistic works ia ^ oi &c, U, a
present established. '111 P^t, 0t *
After the above modifi.c^., ^
the draft was substantiaV^^WS VaA w^-u
in which th^Hv ft^^V^
resolution
$ SI s
Wirthschaftliche JTutrun^ ^^^PS&fc
## p. 140 (#176) ############################################
140
THE AUTHOR.
gratitude to M. Maillard for the work which he
had laid before it.*
The following is the text which will be recon-
sidered at Monaco:
Article 1.—The author of an intellectual
work f has the exclusive right to publish it, and
to reproduce it by whatsoever process, in what-
soever form, and for whatsoever purpose.
Under the term literary or artistic works are
understood all enunciations of written or spoken
thought, dramatic, musical, and chorographic
works, and all the works of the graphic and
plastic arts.
These works remain subject to the present law
whatsoever may be their merit, the use to which
they are put, or their object.
The official acts of public authorities, and
judicial decisions, cannot be made the subjects of
a cojjyright.
Article 2.—Copyright exists during the whole
of the life of the author, and extends to eighty
years after his death for the advantage of his
heirs and assigns.
Article 8.—The copyright of anonymous
works lasts for eighty years from the date of
the first publication of the work. This right is
exercised by the publisher so long as the real
author does not make himself known.
If the author should make himself known
before the expiration of eighty years the work
ceases to be anonymous, and the duration of the
copyright is prolonged in accordance with the
terms of Article 2.
Works which appear under the name of an
ideal person will be treated as anonymous
works.
Article 4.—A work produced by collaboration
is indivisible.
In case of disagreement amongst the eollabora-
teurs the tribunals are competent to determine
the time and manner of publication.
The rights of the assigns of a collaborateur
who has predeceased another exist until the expi-
ration of the period of eighty years after the
death of the last surviving collaborateur.
In the absence of heirs or grantees of one of the
collaborateurs his share falls to the other eollabo-
rateurs or to their heirs or assigns.
Article 5.—The legitimate editor of a posthu-
mous work has the exclusive right of reproduction
for a period of eighty years from the date of the
day of the first publication of the work.
By posthumous works are meant intellectual
works which have never been published during
the life of the author with his consent.
* Resolutions C, I.
f (Euvre d'exprit.
Article 6. — Every reproduction, whole or
partial, made without the author's consent is
illegal.
Translation, dramatic representation,* and
musical performance^ without the author's con-
sent, are similarly illegal.
Equally illegal are also, without the author's
cofsent, reproductions which exhibit abridge-
ments, enlargements, or modifications, such as
adaptations, dramatisations, transformations of
dramatic works into novels, musical arrange-
ments, reproductions by another art, &c.
Article 7.—The author is presumed to have
authorised analyses and partial citations of his
work made for critical, polemical, or educational
purposes, the name of the author and the source
being indicated.
In addition, speeches made at the public
debates of deliberative assemblies, or at public
assemblies, may be reproduced for the purpose of
conveying information.
Article 8.—Writings which have appeared in
the newspapers or in periodical miscellanies are
protected in the same manner as all other intellec-
tual works.
Article 9.—The right of reproduction is inde-
pendent of the ownership of the original (manu-
script or work of art) the transfer of the
original does not therefore of itself convey a
transfer of the rights of reproduction, and vice
versa.
The cession of the author's rights (right of
publication, dramatic representation, musical per-
formance, translation) is always to be interpreted
restrictively.
The author who has ceded bis rights of repro-
duction retains, so long as he has not abandoned
his quality of author, the right to prosecute
pirates, § to watch over the reproduction of his
work, and to oppose all alterations made without
his consent.
The author who has ceded the material object
which constitutes his work has the right to
oppose all public exhibition of the work if it has
been modified without his consent.
Article 10.—Every reproduction which is
illegal according to the terms of Article 10,||
whether reproduction of a published or of an
unpublished work, constitutes the crime of
piracy.
Those who knowingly sell, expose for sale, or
introduce into foreign countries for commercial
* Representation.
t Execution.
X L'objet mate'riel (mannicrit on ceuvre d'art).
§ (Jontrefacteurs.
|| Sic. Query, Article 6. (Si.r read as dir). Translatoi's
note.
## p. 141 (#177) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
141
purposes pirated objects, are guilty of the same
crime.
Article ii.—The author or his assigns can
require the police to seize objects alleged to be
pirated, as well as to seize the plates, moulds, or
matrices, and other utensils which have served,
or are intended to serve specially for the fabrica-
tion of such objects.
In the case of a representation or performance
the authors can proceed in the same manner to
the seizure of the whole of the receipts.
Article 12.—The manager or director of
public entertainments must be furnished with the
previous consent in writing of the author or of
his assigns.
Article 13.—The sale of pirated objects, as
well as that of plates, moulds, or matrices, and
of other utensils having served, or being intended
to serve specially for the fabrication of such
objects, shall be declared to be for the profit of
the author.
In the case of illicit performances or represen-
tations, the receipts seized shall be granted to the
plaintiff in the proportion of the part of the
representation or performance which his work
formed.
The whole to be without prejudice of the fullest
damages.
Article 14.—The present law applies to all
authors, whatsoever their nationality, and in
whatsoever place the work may for the first time
have appeared.
Agreement with Publisher*
M. E. Pouillet had elaborated twelve "Prin-
ciples of legislation respecting the agreement with
publisher," which, in his opinion, are of a nature
to meet with the approval of all, inasmuch as
they take all interests into consideration. In
accordance with his own proposal, this subject
was postponed. It is at present being studied in
several quarters, and in France in particular atten-
tion must be turned to the law pro^josed by
M. Vigne d'Octon, against which also two
speakers declared themselves emphatically during
the sitting.
The Congress concluded its labours by voting
its thanks to the Swiss Press, and especially to the
Berne Press, for the attention paid to its labours,
and for the perfect exactitude of the reports pub-
lished.
Appendix I.—Resolutions voted by the
Berne Congress.
A.—Administration of the Union.
I.—Present and future revision of the Berne
Conveution.
• Contract d'editioii.
1. The Congress while registering with grati-
tude the resolutions adopted by the Paris
Conference, expresses its desire that they may be
as soon as possible confirmed by the Governments.
2. At the same time regretting that the
interests of composers and publishers of musical
works, of journalists, of architects, and of photo-
graphic artists* have not obtained all the satisfac-
tion which they might legitimately have hoped,
the Congress expresses its desire that the prepara-
tion of new provisions respecting these questions
may be placed upon the agenda of the next
Congress.
II. —Preliminary steps towards the extension
of the Union by the accession of other States.
The Congress expresses its desire—■
1. That the literary and artistic societies of
every country within the Union would do their
utmost to pave the way for the accession of other
non-unionist countries, by organising in these
countries centres from which information may be
diffused, efficient propagandas, and active com-
mittees charged with the task of creating a move-
ment of popular opinion in favour of the Conven-
tion of 1886.
2. That the Association should prepare careful
statistics respecting both the present situation in
these countries, and the me;ins by which they
could Ihj pursuaded to improve the position of
foreigners by protecting their intellectual labours.
3. That at each Congress a report should be
presented giving an account of the efforts made,
and of the results obtained in each country, and
indicating what the Association might do to
attain the aim pursued by the local committees.
4. That unionist countries, whilst pursuing as
their principal aim the extension of the Borne
Union, should do their utmost to multiply parti-
cular treaties between themselves and non-
unionist countries.
5. That in all these treaties, whatsoever they
be, made between unionist and non-unionist
countries, it should be stipulated that the latter
undertake to join the Berne Union within a given
time, and that as short as possible.
III. —Formalities.
A. Respecting the countries in which the
formality of legal deposit is prescribed by the
national laws, the Congress expresses the follow-
ing desires :—■
1. Immediately upon the publication of any
printed work, two copies ought to be deposited for
the national collections. In the case of prints,
music, and other productions, except printed
matter in the strictest sense, and published sepa-
rately, three copies should be deposited.
* A.uteur$ de Photographie.
## p. 142 (#178) ############################################
I 42
THE AUTHOR.
The deposit should be accompanied by a
detailed description, made in the form at present
in use in each country. A certificate of deposit
should be given to the depositor free of charge.
2. It will be incumbent on the publisher of the
work to make the deposit, or, failing the pub-
lisher, ou the author. The printer shall not be
required to deposit excepting in the case of works
appearing without name of either author or
publisher.
3. The copies so deposited ought to be perfect,
and in the condition in which they are ordinarily
sold; or, if they are not intended for sale, an
intimation of that particular circumstance should
be made.
4. The neglect of the formalities ought to
have no influence upon the copyright of the
work, and should in no case involve the loss of
the author's rights, nor the loss of the right to
proceed in a court of law in the case of the
infringement of these rights.
H. With a view to increasing the facility of the
accomplishment of the formalities within the
actual area of the Union the Congress is of
opinion—
I. That evidence of compliance with the requi-
site formalities in the case of the original work,
in the country in which the work has its origin,
is sufficient to secure in the rest of the Union
protection for other forms of publication or of
reproduction in which the work may appear.
2. That the fact of having complied with the
formalities required of an assign in the country
in which the work originated should constitute
sufficient proof of the status of an assign.
3. That the copyright cannot lapse in other
countries within the Union until after the longest
limit of time allowed for the performance of
formalities in the country in which the work
originated shall have expired.
4. That the author's exemption from formali-
ties in the country in which the work originated
ought to be respected in other countries.
5. That the production of a certificate, proving
that the prescribed legal formalities have been
complied with, ought to be limited to the case
when this compliance has lx;en disputed by the
opposite side, and that the words, "the case
occurring," * employed in Article 11, paragraph 3,
of the Convention ought to be interpreted in this
sense.
In addition the Congress expresses its desire—
1. That the Berne International Bureau may be
intrusted with the delivery of the certificates
required by Article 11, paragraph 3, of the
Convention.
* he cas e'ehvant.
2. That for the countries where the Legislature
does not make the enjoyment of the author's
rights dependent upon conditions or sj>ecial for-
malities, whether in the case of all intellectual
works or in the case of certain kinds of intel-
lectual works, the International Bureau may
obtain official declarations to that effect.
C. With a view to the future revision of the
Berne Convention and as a matter of principle
the Congress declares it to be desirable—
1. That the regulations respecting the formali-
ties of registration and of legal deposit should no
longer appear in laws respecting the copyright of
literary and artistic works, but should be the
subjects of special enactments.
2. That paragraph 2 of Article 2, and para-
graph 3 of Article 11 of the Berne Convention
should be suppressed, and that in the future no
formality should be requisite for the international
protection of the author's rights.
B.— Various Jiesolutions.
I. (a) Architectural works.
The Congress expresses its desire that architec-
tural works should be protected by all the legis-
lations and by all the international Conventions in
the same way as all other artistic works.
(b) Photographic works.
The Congress renews the expression of the
desire already expressed at previous Congresses
that, as regards protection, photographic works
may be put upon the same footing as all the
other graphic arts.
II. Rights of Collaborateurs.
(a) The Congress is of opinion—
1. That collaborateurs have equal rights in
the completed work, both regarding publication
and regarding the division of the profits resulting
therefrom.
2. That in the case of a refusal to authorise
publication "on the part of one of the collabo-
rateurs, hi; can, at the demand of the others, be
compelled by a legal decision to allow the publica-
tion of the completed work. Nevertheless, he
may require the publication to take place without
his name appearing, or without his being required
to participate either in the expenses or the profits
of the said publication.
3. That the surviving coUaboratour has the
right to exercise, for the whole period during
which the law extends the copyright, all the rights
of publication, in union with the heirs of deceased
collaborateurs.
4. That the rights of the assigns of a colla-
borated who has predeceased his fellows extend
to the expiration of the period of copyright deter-
## p. 143 (#179) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
H3
mined by the decease of the last surviving
collaborateur.
In the case of one of the collaborateurs having
neither heirs nor grantees, his share passes to the
other collaborateurs or to their assigns.
(b) The Congress expresses its desire that all
legislation respecting collaboration should embody
these principles, and that a unification of the
legislations on these bases should be effected at
an early date.
III. Organisation of Protection.
Foundation of societies and of legal offices.
(a) The Congress entrusts to the Association
the task of considering the formation in every
country of societies which may render the same
services as the French societies of authors and
composers.
(b) The Congress expresses its desire—■
1. That a society of painters, sculptors, and
engravers, entrusted with the protection of the
rights of its members, should be founded in every
country of the Union.
2. That the members belonging to such
societies should bind themselves not to cede the
right of reproduction of their works except
through the agency of the Society.
3. That these societies should reciprocally
support one another in resisting infringements of
the rights of their members.
(c) The Congress entrusts to the Association
the task of taking the measures necessary to
establish legal offices in every country, with a
view to studying, and, if necessary, watching the
diversities affecting intellectual property.
IV. Amelioration of the laws of the United
States.
The Congress with pleasure takes official cog-
nisance of the efforts made by the Copyright
Leagues of the United States to combat the
attempts which are at present being made to
restrict the law of 1891; and it applauds the
promises which the Leagues make to continue
their struggle to obtain amelioration of this law.
C. Future Labours.
I. Draft of Normal Law.
The Congress, approving in principle the pro-
ject of the unification of copyright laws, intrusts
the standing committee of the Association with
the task of preparing, against the next Congress,
a final revision of a normal law.
At the same time the Congress tenders its
warmest thanks to M. Georges Maillard, the
author of the draft, and expresses the hope that
he will undertake the report upon the final
scheme.
II. Definition of the Author's moral and mate-
rial Rights.
The Congress being of the opinion that the
question of the rights of creditors cannot be
settled until a clear distinction has been
drawn between the moral rights of the author
and his rights to material profits resulting from
the sale of his work, expresses its desire that the
Association should, against the next Congress,
make an investigation of the definition of the
moral and pecuniary rights of the author, and
should draw from the distinction between the two
any logical consequences that may ensue.
III. Newspaper Articles.
The Congress reserves for the consideration of
the Committee of Works of the Association the
question of the protection of political articles.
Also the Congress expresses its desh-e that the
protection of news, independently of its form,,
should be set down amongst the agenda of the
next Congress.
rV. "Caution Judicatum solvi." *
The Congress, being resolutely in favour of
the suppression of the Caution "Judicatum
solvi," accompanied by measures fitted to secure
the execution of sentences from one country to
another, expresses its desire tha this question may
be reconsidered, and placed among the agenda of
the next Congress.
V. Type for Reproduction.
The Congress expresses its desh-e that the
Association shoidd consider the general definition
of the type for reproduction and investigate the
rights connected with it.
Appendix II.—Bibliography of the Berne
Conference.
1. The "Bulletin de l'Association litteraire et
artistique internationale. Juillet, 1896" (Official
Report of the International Literary and Artistic
Association. July, 1896), contains the following
works:
(a.) "Principes d'uue legislation sur le contrat
d'edition" (Principles of Legislation respecting
the agreement with publisher), by Eug. Pouillet.
(Two pages.)
(6.) "Essai d'un projet de loi international"
(Draft of a normal law) respecting international
copyright, by Georges Maillard. (Four pages.)
2. The following Reports, which will be sub-
sequently collected into a volume, have been
presented in accordance with the programme of
the Congress.
(a.) "Examen des travaux de la Conference
* See above, '< Literary Works," page 133 (note).
## p. 144 (#180) ############################################
i44
THE AUTHOR.
Paris" (Report upon the labours of the Paris
Conference), by Georges Maillard. (Fourteen
pages.)
(b.) "Des moyens d'assurer l'application de la
Convention de Berne dans les pays adherents"
(Means of assuring compliance with the terms of
the Berne Convention in countries belonging to
the Union) in the case of—
I. Literary works, by Paul Ollendorf. (Three
pages.)
II. The right of representation of dramatic
works, by A. Beaume. (Eight pages.)
III. Painting, sculpture, and engraving, by
Georges Fleury. (Three pages.)
IV. Photographic works, by Andre Taillefer.
(Three pages.)
V. Compliance with conditions and formalities
in the countries belonging to the Union, by Ernest
Rothlisberger. (Twenty-eight pages.)
(c.) "Mouvement legislatif dans les pays de
l'union" (Legislative Action in the countries
belonging to the Union)—
I. Germany, by Albert Osterrieth. (Three
pages.)
II. Monaco, by Leon Poinsard. (Four pages.)
(d.) "Des moyens d'obtenir de nouvelles
adhesions a l'Union de Berne" (The means of
obtaining new adherents to the Berne Conven-
tion), by Maurice Maunoury. (Four pages.)
(e.) "De la propriete litteraire en matiere de
presse" (Newspaper copyright), by Paul Gaye.
(Three pages.)
(/.) "Etudes sur les droits des eollaborateurs
dans les ceuvres de la pensee" (The rights of
eollaborateurs in intellectual works), by Georges
Harman. (Eleven pages.)
(</.) "Du droit des ercanciers sur l'oeuvre
intellectuelle" (Tlie rights of creditors over intel-
lectual work), by Albert Vaunois. (Three pages.)
(h.) "Du depot legal" (On legal deposit),
suggestion for the reform of the present law, by
Lucien Layus. (Five pages.)
(».) "Du domaine public pour les ceuvres
littt:raires et artistiques" (Lapse of copyright
of literary and artistic works), by Edouard Mack.
(Eleven pages.)
(//.) "De la propriete du type, particulierement
du phototype ou cliche photographique" (On
the ownership of the type, and more particularly
of the phototype or photographic negative), an
attempt at some definitions, by A. Davanne.
(Eight pages.)
3. Pamphlet distributed at the Congress, " Die
Frage nach dem Eigentum am Negative" (The
question of the ownership of the photographic
negative), by Bruno Meyer (nineteen pages), a
reprint from Deutsche Photoyraphen-Ze'duuy
(German Photographic Journal). 1896.
PRIZE COMPETITIONS.
IT has been suggested by a correspondent that
a great many people—men and women—for
whom the higher flights of literature are
impossible, or for whom an opening and a begin-
ning are ardently desired, would be greatly helped
by information as to the prize competitions con-
tinually offered by magazines and country papers.
These competitions are sometimes for stories, and
sometimes for essays, biographical sketches, verse,
or papers on some practical subject. Since the
Society of Authors, and therefore its organ, exists
for workmen in every branch of letters, the sug-
gestion has been adopted, and it is proposed to
publish, month by month, a list of prize compe-
titions. Since, again, there are so many writers of
stories for magazines and journals as to constitute
a profession by itself, it is hoped that readers of
the Author will put this list into the hands of
those to whom the information will prove useful.
£10 10*. each for original stories accepted, to
cover five weeks, about 2500 words for
each instalment.—Editor of the Weekly
Herald, Glasgow.
£1 is. each for original stories accepted, complete
in one instalment of about 2500 words.
— Editor of the IVeehly Herald,
Glasgow.
£5 5«. for best original short story; minimum
2000 words, maximum 3000. Not later
than Dec. 31.—Editor of the Osborne
Magazine, 9, Paternoster-row, London.
.£5 5*. for best original biographical article;
dealing with famous living English men
or women; minimum 2500, maximum
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The Author, Vol. 07 Issue 06 (November 1896)
Subject
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<em>The Author</em>, Vol. 07 Issue 06 (November 1896)
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1896-11-02-The-Author-7-6
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The Author