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Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em> Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1900-03-01 Volume 10 Issue 10 Pages Page range in volume 209–228 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19000301 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin Che #uthor, (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vou. X.—No. ro.] MARCH 1, 1900. [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. eos HE 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. eae GENERAL MEMORANDA. ERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an agreement. There are four 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, or with the advice of the Secretary of the Society. Il. A PROFIT-SHARING AGREEMENT (a bad form of 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 without the strictest investigation. (2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements in his own organs: or by charging exchange advertise- ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements. (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 ! Ill. THE ROYALTY SYSTEM. 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 the “Cost of Production.” IV. A COMMISSION AGREEMENT. The main points are :— (1.) Be eareful to obtain a fair cost of production. (2.) Keep control of the advertisements. (3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book. GENERAL. All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four above mentioned. Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author. Never sign any agreement without competent advice from the Secretary of the Society. Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp. Avoid agreements by letter if possible. The main points which the Society has always demanded from the outset are :— (1.) That both sides 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. Sea WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. 1: EVER sign an agreement without submitting it tc £ the Secretary of the Society of Authors or some competent legal authority. 2. Never negotiate for the production of a play with anyone except an established manager. 3. There are three forms of dramatic contract :— (1) SALE OUTRIGHT OF THE PERFORMING RIGHT. This is unsatisfactory. An author who enters into such a contract should stipulate in the con- tract for production of the piece by a certain date and for proper publication of his name on the play-bills. (2) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE TO PERFORM ON THE PROFIT-SHARING SYSTEM. This method can only be entered into when a fixed sum is agreed per week for cost of produc- tion. It is not a common method.  210 (3) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF PERCENTAGES (i.e., royalties) on gross receipts. Royalties vary between 5 and rs per cent. An author should obtain a percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts. Should obtain a sum in advance of rofalties. A fixed date on or before which the play should be performed. 4. Authors should remember that performing rights can be limited, and are usually limited by town, country, and time. This is most important. 5. Authors should not assign performing rights, but should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is of great importance. 6. Authors should remember that performing rights in a play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot print the book of the words. 7. Never send a copy of the play to America unless it is protected by a preliminary performance in the United Kingdom. 8. Never forget that American rights may be exceedingly valuable. They should never be included in English agreements without the author obtaining a substantial consideration. g. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced. Never admit a collaborator when once the actual work of writing the play has begun or after it is finished. ro. An author should remember that production of a play is highly speculative: that he runs a very great risk of delay and a breakdown in the fulfilment of his contract. He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully in the beginning. 11. An author must remember that the dramatic market is exceedingly limited. As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete on account of the wide range of the subject of dramatic con- tracts, those authors desirous of further information are referred to the Secretary of the Society. HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. 1. VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive 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 solici- tor, 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 Committee 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. 3. Send to the Office copies of past agreements and past accounts with the loan of the books represented. The Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. obtained may prove invaluable. 4. Before signing any agreement whatever, send the pro- posed document to the Society for examination. The information thus THE AUTHOR. 5. 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. 6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception of members’ agreements and their preservation in a fireproof safe. 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 READING BRANCH. EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this i branch of their work by informing young writers of its existence. Their MSS. can be read and treated as a composition is treated by a coach. The Readers are writers of competence and experience. The fee is one guinea. NOTICES. Ts 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. Communications for The Author should be addressed to the Offices of the Society, 4, Portugal-street, Lincoln’s-inn Fields, W.C., and should reach the Editor not later than the 2ist 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. The present location of the Authors’ Club is at 3, White- hall-court, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary for information, rules of admission, &c, FROM THE COMMITTEE. ~ I—*Tue AvuTHoR.” : T is desired to invite the attention of members | to the items in the revenue account pub- lished in the Annual Report on the expenses and proceeds of publications. These amount to a charge of £355. The largest part of this expense is, of course, due to The Author. It is not expected that this paper will pay expenses + the editing and the contributions are not paid for: there is a small charge for sub-editing: it is submitted that the paper is of the greatest use to our members. The Committee invite their  THE AUTHOR. assistance by suggestions, and by contributions bearing on the main raison d’étre of the paper. The Committee also wish to point out that, if all would bear in mind the annual subscription (which is left voluntary), the paper, with its small external circulation and its advertisements, would be a source of profit to the Society. And the Society wants money in order to be able to take up and to fight for the author, at no expense to himself, every case that should be taken up. Il.—* Tse Lirzrary Year Book” aNnD THE AutHors’ SYNDICATE. The following letter has been sent to the daily papers by the Secretary of the Society :— 23/2/1900. S1r,—In “The Literary Year Book,” which has just been published, I see the following statement is made :-— “ Authors’ Syndicate (Director, Mr. W. Morris Colles), 4, Portugal-street, Lincoln’s-inn Fields, W.C. This syndicate is managed by the Society of Authors, and full particulars of its operations may be gained by applying to the address given above.” As Secretary of the Society of Authors, I beg to inform the public through your columns that the Authors’ Syndicate is entirely apart from, and independent of, the Society, and that the Society, while ready to advise its members as to the standing of any agent, maintains a position of impartiality, and does not favour any one competent and trustworthy agent above another. I trust, as the matter is one of importance to the Society of Authors, that you will see your way to publish this letter in your columns. Yours truly, G. Herpert THRING. _ LITERARY PROPERTY. I.—Tue Avruor anp THE Epiror. EXT in importance to the relations between author and publisher stand those between author and editor, especially the editor of the magazine. It is from every point of view to be desired by the author that the magazine, especially that of the higher kind, should be supported: that it should continue to attract writers of the first rank in every subject: that it should offer an opening to those who have as yet their literary name to make: and that its columns should continue to be regarded as the best means of communication between the specialist and the 211 public. Above all things, it is essential that if any magazine is to be regarded with respect it must attract the best writers. These conditions, it is believed, do obtain in some of our better magazines, while in the more popular magazines, those which depend on fiction rather than more solid fare, the relations between the editor and his contributors appear all that can be desired. At the same time, the publication, month after month, of letters complaining of editorial dis- courtesy, delay, refusal to answer letters, refusal to forward cheques, sending mean and miserable cheques, losing MSS., defacing MSS., altering MSS., and other points, show that there are editors and magazines whose treatment of contri- butors deserves to be exposed. It is strongly felt that enough has been written and published, in the form of anonymous letters concerning anonymous editors, to show that a case can be made out to be drawn up by the Secretary and formally laid before the Committee with a view to their consideration. To go on, month after month, with no attempt made at action is simply beating the air. Mr. Thring, therefore, requests members who have already written to The Author on this subject, those who intend to do so, and those whose experience would be useful, to send him confidentially the full particulars of each case. These should include :-— 1. The name of the writer. 2. The name of the magazine, and, if it is known, that of the editor. 3. The date of the occurrence. 4. The history of the occurrence concisely. 5. Letters, agreements, &c., or copies, in proof of the case. 6. The exact nature of the complaint. He will then be in a position to draw up a memorandum on the whole subject, showing the reality of the grievances and the extent of the practices complained of. This memorandum will be laid before the Committee. It must be understood that the communica- tions will be of the most confidential kind, and that no names will be published without permis- sion of the writer. II.—Corrrieut rn Mvsic, A meeting of music publishers was held at Hanover-square on Jan. 16 “to confer with representative composers (who were specially invited to attend) as to the position of copyright owners in view of the decision of the Court of Appeal in the case of Boosey v. Whight, and as to what combined action should be taken thereon.” Communications regretting inability to attend were read from Sir Hubert Parry, Mr.  212 Stephen Adams, Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Professor C. V. Stanford, Mr. Edward German, and Mr. Edward Elgar. The writers were mostly in favour of combined action being taken by pub- lishers and composers in view of the decision, the effect of which it was pointed out was to allow the reproduction on the solian and other mechanical instruments of copyright musical works without the permission of or payment to the lawful owners of the same. After a discussion it was decided to address a letter to the House of Lords Committee on copy- right, with the object of giving effect to the views of copyright owners in respect of unautho- rised reproductions of their works on mechanical instruments. Further, it was decided that the composers and publishers generally should be invited to sign the letter in question. The meeting considered certain important points in Lord Monkswell’s Copyright Bill, as amended by the committee of the House of Lords in the session of 1899, affecting copyright in musical compositions, and appointed a sub- committee consisting of Mr. William Boosey, Mr. H. R. Clayton, Mr. A. Boosey, Mr. D. Day, and Mr. Ashdown, jun., who were to draw up a report to the section with a view to action in the next session of Parliament.— The Piano, Organ, and Music Trades Journal for February. IiIl.—Tur Report ror 1899. The Report of the Committee for the year ending on Dec. 31, 1899, is now in the hands of the members. It cannot but be regarded as satisfactory. We have lost 110 members by non- payment, death, or resignation, and we have elected 216; our income from subscriptions was £1290, which means 1230 paying members. To these must be added the life members, who run up the list to something over 1400. And of the 110 losses a good percentage will certainly come back. It is, however, one of the dangers of the position that there are some members who think that, after their cases have been settled for them, the Society has done or will do nothing more for them, and that they may as well go—forgetting that if they have in any way benefitted by the Society’s action it is their duty to continue, in order that others may also be helped in the same way. It seems also unreasonable that some of those very people who derive benefit with every trans- action from the Society’s action, keep aloof from it, and even misrepresent and abuse its work. Their improved royalties, their improved accounts, the hesitation with which the hitherto unscru- pulous publisher advances the old iniquities in his THE AUTHOR. agreements and his letters: these things are entirely due to the Society, and should be recog- nised by all authors of whatever standing. It need not be a question of personal profit—there are certain writers who need not consider that side of the question. It is one of right against wrong: of light against darkness: of independence against dependence: of relf respect against humiliation. The scheme of the Pension Fund is now well before the members. It is a most im- portant departure. The Press has generally mistaken its aims. It is not to give a pension to every member as a right: it is to secure the power of giving a pension to any case in which age or sickness falls upon cne who has given good work to the world and found himself unable to make provision for the future. The report calls attention to the fact — the very important fact—that the Publishers’ Asso- ciation has not thought proper to withdraw or to disavow the monstrous “Forms of Agree- ment.” More than this, some publishers have begun to introduce the worst clauses into their agreements. It is to be hoped that the Committee may see their way to meet this attempt by warnings in the public papers. The Copyright Bill has been the subject of much consideration by the sub-committee appointed for that purpose. Mr. Thring went to Canada in the autumn as delegate to repre- sent the views of the Society. It is hoped that his mission may prove useful. The cases taken up by the Society during the year were 110 in number. Over 800 members took counsel with the Secretary during the year. One case of great importance was fought in the courts, and carried up to the Court of Appeal with success. The case establishes a very valuable precedent. Out of the rro cases, sixty-three have been successful; twenty-eight are still incomplete; nineteen were unsuccessful, generally because the author would not consent to do his part in carrying through the case. A successful year. It is hoped that the report for 1900 will show a still larger accession of members and a more general recognition of the valuable work already done by the Society. IV.—Tue “Acapemy” ComPETITION. The Academy offers prizes, six in number, of five guineas each, for the following: 1. A poem not to exceed twenty-four lines. 2. A short story of 1500 to 2000 words. 3. An essay not to exceed 2000 words.  THE AUTHOR. 4. “ Things seen,” not to exceed 350 words. 5. A paper on some city, town, or village, not to exceed 2000 words. 6. An original set of epigrammatic criticisms. The conditions of the competition are set forth in the Academy of Feb. 17 last. The prize pro- ductions will be printed in the Academy. Such a competition is interesting and should be stimulating. There is, however, some anxiety felt about the wording of one clause: “ The editor reserves the right of printing any of the other MSS. sent in.” As it stands, which of course cannot be meant, this clause gives the editor all the MSS. sent in: he may do what he pleases with them: i.e., he may, if he pleases, sell them to other papers without giving the authors anything. Tn order to make the situation clearer, as the clause stands, the editor might find himself the possessor of a large number of valuable MSS., all of which, by this clause, are his own, to do with them what he pleases. Suppose among them were 100 short stories and as many e says, all worthy of production in other journals and magazines, and representing a considerable pro- perty. The right, it will be observed, might then become very seriously a wrong. The attention of the editor has been called to the subject by Mr. Thring, and it will, no doubt, be set right without delay by a simple clause to the effect that MSS. which do not gain a prize will be destroyed unless accompanied by an addressed and stamped envelope or cover, for their return. Deas THE PENSION FUND. I. : R. W. L. ALDEN, in his “ London Literary Letter’ for the New York Times Satur- day Review, mentions the Society’s pension fund without much belief in it. Perhaps this is because he has not quite grasped the posi- tion. Why, heasks, should a man receive a pension because he has written stories? The question why a pension should, or should not, be due to avy man is a very wide one. If we all had our deserts, perhaps we should all have pensions: or perhaps no one would. What is it, however, that the Society is undertaking? Not by any means the grant of a pension to every man and every woman who has followed the literary life, but— Mr. Alden will admit that this is a very important distinction—the grant of a pension in such cases where a laborious life of conscientious work in literature has left the worker stranded in old age. There is work of many kinds which is most useful VOL. x 213 and yet cannot be made profitable: there are authors on philosophy and on science who write for a very few who buy and can understand. The popular author, it is true, ought to be able to provide for old age: he is far better off than ever he was before ; the publisher has not yet succeeded in going back to the old conditions. But there are many cases in which it has been impossible to make provision. Out of gratitude for those who have worked for our de'ight—in respect for the literary craft—let us do our best to provide such cases with an alleviation of their poverty. Mr. Alden proposes that we should insure our members as the Foresters do. This would be perhaps possible, but it is not what we intended. Nor could we offer our members better conditions than they would get outside. Then he thinks that the sum to be provided will have to be a very large one, and asks where it is to come from. First, we do not ask assistance from the public, though if assistance were offered the com- mittee would probably take it. We begin with donations amounting to about £1200 and with annual subscriptions amounting to some £60 more. Itis proposed to transfer two-thirds of the annual subscriptions to the capital fund. For £60 a year we shall read before long, I hope, 300. it we transfer £200 to the capital sum we have £100 a year for pensions added to the interest of the capital. Now—how much will be wanted ? Last year out of the whole field of literature the Royal Literary Fund found only twenty-two cases worthy of relief: and its council is by no means a “ difficult’? body to satisfy. How many cases among our members will present themselves to our committee as worthy of a pension? I believe, very few. The fund will always be growing: every year will add to the capital. Under such circumstances, and with the addition of occasional donations and bequests, such a fund speedily assumes considerable proportions. A fund, say, of £10,000 ought to go far to satisfy every deserving case. What constitutes a deserving case? A recog- nised writer on subjects which are useful but not popular: a poet or imaginative writer of distinc- tion who has not found it possible to provide for old age: a laborious and useful writer who has done good but not great-work—these are some of the cases. For instance, there died, two years ago, at the age of eighty-two, one John Saunders. He worked at literature for fifty years: he wrote novels, one or two of which are still in publishers’ lists, and contributed to literature a great deal that was sound, good work and most useful. In 1843, for example, Charles Knight produced a work containing 150 papers on “ London.” Of these papers no fewer than seventy-five were x  214 written by John Saunders. It was nearly fifty years ago, yet it isnot too much to say that after so much has been transcribed from the City records, and so many discoveries have beep made in City history, no one who takes up the subject of London can afford to neglect the work of John Saunders. His case, to my mind, is pre-eminently one which illustrates the necessity for this action on the part of the pension fund of the Society of Authors. W. B. II. It may seem premature to indicate how the pepsions accruing from the Socicty’s fund shall be awarded, nevertheless it is advisable that the point which Mrs. Alec Tweedie indicated last month be recognised. Such grants or pensions as are now available involve an application some- what in formd pauperis, and the feeling against the inevitable publicity thus entailed is so strong that I have heard a distinguished writer who, unfortunately, is not in affluent circumstances, say she would much prefer to accept the bounty which the poor law accords to the destitute. If the new pension, when available, was bestowed unsolicited on writers over sixty years of age whose work evinces certain literary qualities that the Society could recognise as such, the grant could be made to assume the aspe t of honour to a veteran which would remain such even if the pecunia accompanying it were a matter of primary or of secondary importance. It is inevitable that artists are sensitive, probably the finer the art the keener the susceptibilities of its producer. Whoso gives acceptably gives tenfold. A Wiiiine ConTRIBUTOR, PARIS NOTES. 5, Rue Chomel, Paris. « C\ALAIRES et mistres de femmes” is the S title of the latest social study published by the Comte d’Haussonville (chez Calmann Levy). It contains much interesting and valuable information concerning the work- women of France; and its title conveys an adequate idea of the subjects treated in this woik. Other authors have written at length on the same topic, picturesquely detailing the terrible temptations and dangers which daily be-et the “ petite ouvritére””’ hastening to and fro from her comfortless attic to the dreary prison- house where her youth and beauty are pitilessly consumed in the fierce effort to gratify the fantastic caprices of her richer, idler sisters— ‘the mondaines of Paris; but M. d’Haussonville THE AUTHOR. appears the only writer of eminence who views the situation froin a practical point of view, and endeavours to ameliorate the existing evil by the introduction of several beneficial and necessary amendments in the present Civil Code. ‘“ There is, on one point,’ he writes, “a contradiction between the Civil and Penal Code. The Civil Code does not permit a young girl to marry before she is fifteen years of age; whereas the Penal Code permits her to prostitute herself on attaining her eleventh year”; and even while bearing high testimony to the merits of the Parisian work-girl as a class, he ably pleads her cause, and points out the necessity of aiding and protecting her by the powerful intervention of the law. Srx New Cuauses. To attain this end, M. d’Haussonville proposes the addition of six new clauses to the existing Code in order to ensure :—(1) The legal protec- tion of every work-girl until she reaches her fifteenth year; (2) The punishment of all those persons who illegally favour her prostitution ; (3) The seeking out (under sundry restrictions) the paternity of the infant, in order to render the father pecuniarily liable in a certain degree; (4) The facilitation of marriage by the suppression of sundry useless formalities, &c. The fifth and sixth amendments proposed by the eminent Academician are conceived in a still more sur- prisingly liberal spirit, and read as follows, viz. : (5) De modifier les articles 1399 4 1496 du Code civil en créant, comme droit commun de la France, un régime plus respectueux des droits et des intéréts de la femme que celui de la com- munauté pure et simple, tel que l’a constitué le Code. (6.) De constituer au profit de la femme un droit sérieux sur les produits de son travail, en obtenant du Sénat le vote de la loi du 18 février, 1897, modifi¢e par la suppression du paragraphe final de l’article premier.” In spite of his disinterested advocacy of the workwoman’s rights, M. d’Haussonville is no favourer of the fashionable Feminist movement, and the reasons he gives for his non-adhesion certainly appear to justify his attitude in the matter. It remains to be seen whether his latest work will have any greater effect on the rich, laughter-loving Parisians than had of yore the plaintive murmur of Lazarus at the gate of Dives. The fact that a large number of the “ petites ouvriéres,” deftly threading their way each successive night and morning through the luxurious boulevards of the most brilliant capital in the world, actually exist on a scanty pittance of 375 francs per annum (less than a shilling a day), barbs the pathetic revelation unconsciously  THE AUTHOR. given by a young work-girl of eighteen in response to a question addressed her on the subject :— “ Dame! monsieur, bien stir qwon ne mange pas & son apaisement.” Nos Prerinrres pu SIfcLe. Highly interesting also, though in a totally different fashion, is “ Nos Peintres du Sitcle,” by M. Jules Breton. In graphic portraiture—either with pen or brush—M. Breton has few equals: witness his vivid word-limning of Delacroix, Ingrés, Rousseau, Corot, and Francais. He is especially excellent in his appreciations of those landscape masters of whom he was, at once, the devoted friend and rival. Of Corot he speaks in the following terms: “He gives to every- thing its exact significance, he puts everything in its right place — aye, he is an Athenian, softened by a touch of modern nerrosité. He was a happy creator. He himself once said, when unrolling his sketches, on his return to his studio :— “Tn front of Nature, I am a little boy ; but here I am—le bon Dieu!” “He was infallible and happy,” adds M. Breton. After a minute description of Rousseau’s per- sonality, we find this characteristic anecdote :— Théodore Rousseau was, during one period of his career, in extremely straitened circumstances. It was probably at this epoch that he was surprised by Troyon, “that other great painter,” in putting the finishing touches to one of his most exquisite productions, Le Givre. “You have painted a marvel there, my little Théodore,” exclaimed the visitor. “ Ah, well!” returned the other, “if you know any amateur who will pay down eight hundred francs for it, I wi!l pass him off this canvas.” “ You are jesting!”’ “T require that sum, you see,” explained the painter, quietly. Troyon said nothing; but, on his return home, he took from a drawer eight hundred franc notes, put them in an envelope, and despatched a messenger with the packet to his comrade. Rousseau’s response was to place the famous Givre on the messenger’s back, charging him to take it to M. Troyon. The latter vainly endea- voured to excuse himself ; he was forced to keep the canvas. “Grands artistes, grands ccurs! O belle époque toute frémissante d’enthousiasme et de générosité!” writes M. Breton, in concluding this narrative. In short, the whole book teems with similar characteristic anecdotes, souvenirs, and appreciations, sufficient to furnish ample stock- in-trade for half a dozen articles on the subject. 215 M. Kistemacckers v. Mme. BERNHARDT. That the French author will not permit his literary rights to be seriously compromised by the injudicious conduct of a contracting party is seen by the spirited action of M. Henry Kiste- maeckers (a rising young dramatist, member of the Société des auteurs et compositeurs drama- tiques) & propos of no less a personage than Madame Sarah Bernhardt. The cause of dispute was as follows: In November 1898, the celebrated actress accepted a play by M. Kistemaeckers, entitled “ Marthe,” and the rehearsals commenced on the fifteenth of the same month. For sundry valid reasons the representation of the play was twice or thrice deferred; whereupon M. Kistemaeckers—in virtue of the third article registered in the contract existing between the Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques and the directors of the théitre des Nations, which gives every author the right of withdraw- ing a play whose rehearsals have been suspended during a period of two months — repossessed himself of his play in favour of the Nouveau- ThéAtre, and boldly sued Madame Beruhardt for damages, being upheld in his action by the special committee appointed by the Société des auteurs et compositeurs dramatiques to judge the affair. After hearing both sides of the question, the First Civil Chamber confirmed the decision of the committee, condemning Wadame Sarah Bernhardt to pay an indemnity of 6000 francs, with costs. The verdict was undoubtedly just ; nevertheless, when the length of time that has elapsed between the first lodging of the complaint and the finding of the final judgment is taken into consideration, it must be admitted that the French are, occa- sionally, a patient nation. Reception or M. Paut DEscHANEL. The official reception of M. Paul Deschanel at the French Academy took place in due form. That the oration he delivered on this occasion was a monument of elegant language, elevated ideas, and flowing periods goes without saying; yet, when the first feeling of involuntary admi- ration had subsided, his irreproachable precision and faultily-faultless diction became almost oppressive. The general impression made on the hearers seemed somewhat analogous to the effect that Macaulay confessed the consecutive reading of Gibbons’ famous History invariably produced on his own mind. M. Deschanel began his speech by associating his father’s name with the thanks he addressed to the illustrious assembly who had admitted him to their body. “It seems to me,” he continued, “that it is my father, in good justice, who should be here now”; and after paying fervent tribute to the high moral  216 qualities and laborious public career of M. Emile Deschanel, he acknowleged himself a little con- soled for the neglect shown the latter by the thought that “if I would have been more happy to see him in this place, he is more happy at seeing his son there ; fur, together, we form only a single soul and a single heart!” M. Sully Prudhomme flattered the filial senti- ment thus expressed by including both father and son in his respoase. He adroitly supple- mented the eulogistic, though rather vague, portraiture given of Edouard Hervé by his successor, prefacing his remarks on the subject by the declaration that M. Deschanel had already “fully honoured the memory of this noble adversary.” He also recalled Hervé’s dignified response to Napoleon the Third’s overtures: ‘On entering the Emperor’s presence, I should be someone; on leaving it, I should no longer be anything.” “To be someone,” M. Prudhomme explained, “meant with him to conform his life to his faith, to walk uprightly ; to be no longer anything was to deviate from the straight path, were it only by a step.” M. Sarnt-Sains as AUTHOR. “Ts Saul among the prophets?” queried the bewildered Ancients; and “Is Saint-Saéns among the authors?” ask the perplexed Moderns on seeing the name of the well-known musician figuring beneath the advertisement of musical “Portraits et Souvenirs.” The book itself has not yet been offered the public; but if the whole work is on a par with the samples given of its contents, M. Saint-Saéns has produced a volume of high merit and one which justifies the addition of littérateur to his other titles. The pages devoted to discussing Antoine Rubenstein are remarkably well written, the contrast between the author and his friend being admirably defined. The first—pale, frail, and inclined to consump- tion; the second—athletic, indefatigable, colossal in stature as in talent; the pair forming together a renewal of the Liszt and Chopin legend. M. Saint-Saéns asserts that he himself merely resembles Chopin in his bodily weakness and precarious health, disclaiming any pretension of being the successor of that marvellous genius who revolutionised art and opened the way to all modern music. He humorously adds that, even in consumption, he still remains the inferior, since Chopin died of phthisis, while he has foolishly got the better of that malady. But in this compressed réswné of his ideas the charm and personality of the writer are necessarily effaced. Hence, we give the analogy existing between Liszt and Rubenstein in his own words ; THE AUTHOR. “Fin revanche, Rubenstein pouvait hardiment affronter le souvenir de Liszt, avec sa charme irrésistible et son exécution surhumaine; tres différent de lui, d’ailleurs: Liszt tenait de Vaigle et Rubenstein du lion; ceux qui ont vu cette patte de velours du fauve abbattant sur le clavier sa puissante caresse n’en perdront jamais le souvenir! Les deux grands artistes n’avaient de commun que la supériorité. Ni l’un ni lautre nétaient jamais, 4 aucun moment, le pianiste ; méme en exécutant trés simplement les plus petites pieces, ils restaient g-ands, sans le faire expres, par grandeur de nature incoercible : incarna ‘ions vivantes de l'art, ils imposaient une sorte de terreur sacrée en dehors de |’admiration ordi- naire; aussi faisaient ils des miracles.” Dramatic CENSORS. Judging from an article in the Figaro, the office of these gentlemen is no sinecure. They are expected to read in manuscript all the plays, pantomimes, and songs presented by theatrical directors or café-concert managers, in addition to daily examining and reading the programmes of the café concert-halls of Paris and its suburbs. They are also expected to be present at all general rehearsals, in order to judge of the scenic effect of the works represented, from a moral and political point of view. Even when a play is duly authorised their task is not ended. They have to be present at its first public per- formance, to ascertain that the modifications or alterations suggested by them have been carried into effect. In the year 1898, 883 dramatic plays and performances were thus examined and licensed, this number being surpassed during the first ten months of 1899. The same year the “inspecteurs des théitres ”” were likewise reported to have been present at 538 general rehearsals, or first nights; while the number of new songs examined by them is estimated at a minimum of 8000 per annum. The signing of the café- concert programmes alone represents no incon- siderable amount of work, for Paris boasts no fewer than 761 concert halls (of which 120 give daily performances), in addition to seventy-six suburban establishments of the same class; and this quite apart from the thirty-seven theatres proper over which these gentlemen exercise a vigilant supervision. Their recompense is by no means proportionate to such Herculean achieve- ments, the first and second censor receiving a salary of 6000 francs apiece, the third 3500 francs, and the fourth 2400 francs—making, in all, a total of 17,900 frai.cs. Torics or THE MontTH. : Among events of the month connected with literary and dramatic personages may be men-  THE AUTHOR. tioned :—The presentation of a golden medal to M. Emile Zola on the second anniversary of his famous letter, “J’accuse/”’ and the rehabilita- tion of the memory of M. Francois Zola by the same courageous writer ; the election of the well- known actor,4M. Constant Coquelin, to the pre- sidency of the Association de secowrs mutuels des artistes dramatiques; the conversion and admission into the outer order of Benedictines of the celebrated writer Joris-Karl Huysmans ; and the judicial disbanding and suppression of the Order of Assomptionnists in France, the said Order having printed and distributed over 630,000,000 publications per annum, mainly or political ends. DarRacorte Scort, > exe NOTES AND NEWS. HE unfortunate death of Mr. H. D. Traill not only robs the Society of one of its Council, but of a member who, occupying a very important and influential position in the literary world—that of editor of Literature — always gave the Society the one kind of help which could have been asked of him,-viz., a fair hearing. It is now more than a year since the publication of my book, “The Pen and the Book,” in which appeared certain figures and facts connected with the business of publishing which had previously been scattered about in the pages of The Author. Of course, this was the signal for a fierce outcry. The assailants came on gallantly, but anonymously. Their language was kept in some restraint by the editor, who invited me to reply, and accorded me the whole of the space I asked for. In this reply, assisted and supported by Mr. Thring, I was enabled to point out that the whole attack rested on wilful and deliberate misrepresentations: many of them too gross to be answered were it not for the general ignorance on the subject, and the in- capacity of people to believe that the trade of publishing can tolerate such practices as have been exposed by the Society. The result, as is always the case after such attack and reply, was an increase in our membership. For my own part I have never been able to understand why there is not more jealousy on the part of publishers in association for the honour of their trade. We expose certain facts: we have declared over and over again that these practices have nothing to do with honourable houses. Yet, when publishers meet in congress, the first thing that the president does is to state ublicly that VoL. X. 217 the Society treats all publishers as dishonest. And when their committee put out draft agree- ments in which they try on their little game of Grab in a manner both guileless and childlike, they make no reference whatever to the possi- bilities and the practice of fraud. The adver- tisement that costs nothing : the secret percentage: the cooked account: the agreement that gives everything to the publisher—of these, if you please, not one word. Nor has the committee of the Publishers’ Association ever stepped forward to repudiate the falsities by which their trade is defended and the Society is attacked. Con- sidering these things, it is perhaps as well to keep silence for a while as to “honourable” houses. As soon as a reasonable jealousy for the honour of the trade is exhibited—that kind of jealousy which would express reprobation of un- worthy tricks—even if it allowed the Universal Grab, we may return to the respect due 10 “honourable” houses. — Two months ago I ventured to point out certain views of my own on the subject of criticism, for which I have been rewarded by learning (1) that I advocate the abolition of criticism: (2) that I desire criticism to b “all praise”: (3) that I desire criticism to be placed in the hands of “ illiterates”: (4) that I refuse the right of expressing an opinion: (5) that my own novels have been sometimes praised —so that because a man’s book is spoken of well it is a shame for him to point out the glaring vices of general criticism! My position is this: The true critic must be a scho ar, other- wise there will be always something lacking ; the critical faculty is apart from the imaginative faculty : the former may, or it may not, co-exist with the latter—this has been twisted into the assertion that I would not receive Goethe’s critical work. The critic neither calls names, nor is abusive in other ways, nor gibes, nor sneers, nor misrepresents, nor again, which is very impor- ‘tant, does he simulate indignation : he is a judge, and his judgment, I said, should be “ without mercy and without bias.” Above all, a critic reveals himself by his praise. Any incompetent person can pick holes and find fault without reading a book: but, if he attempts to praise, his incompetence betrayeth him at once. Finally, I ask for the same courtesy in criticism as is expected in other professions. We do_ not find one lawyer calling another a Hooligan: Lam quite sure that no editor would permit it. But we do find the editor of the Contemporary not only permitting this abuse, but allowing the writer who stooped to this abuse to repeat him- self, and even to improve upon hiniself—in a Y  218 second article. It is now twelve months since the writer whom Mr. Buchanan calls a Hooligan, lay apparently at the point of death. From all parts of the world there flashed telegrams of inquiry— thousands of telegrams: they were proofs of the affection and the anxiety of the English-speaking race. How is Mr. Buchanan allowed, in the Contemporary, to speak of that time? Listen. It is in the February number of that most influential organ : “Sir Walter Besant avers that I have no right to speak of these things ”—I averred nothing of the kind: I said, in so many words, “Mr. Buchanan has his views and has stated them; I have mine, and I propose to state them.” My objection is not as to his statement of opinion, but as to the manner of statement, which is quite another thing. To repeat: “he avers that I have no right to speak of these things because they concern the prestige and the pocket of one who, with a publisher on each side of him, cried aloud for, and obtained, the sympathy of two continents.” So the anxiety of Kipling’s millions of friends was “ cried aloud for” by the man on the bed of sickness, through the assist- ance of two publishers! — A letter has been sent to me cut out of the Speaker, a paper which used to be associated with periodical ferocity against the Society of Authors. I really think that we ought to have been more grateful than we were to the Speaker under the old management for giving us so repeatedly the opportunity of stating our case. However, this letter is written by one who has suffered many things at the hands of reviewers, and is at length goaded into speech. He com- plains of praise and he complains of abuse: he has penned certain admirable parodies of the reviewer who abuses him and the reviewer who praises him—both, of course, without any pre- liminary reading of the book. This is the remedy proposed by the writer: When you find a reviewer who evidently knows some- thing about you and has a grudge against you, do not be goaded into writing to his newspaper or mentioning him in the preface of your next work, but rather buy up such paper of his as may be floating around London, and telephone to him to the effect that you hold it. I have known this rhethod to produce in one of our most important and most venal journals a column and a half of weighty, learned, and favourable criticism. Your publisher will, if necessary, advance you the money. Very good: but suppose one does not know, beforehand, who is going to review the book: and suppose the reviewer has no “ paper floating around London ”—what then? Besides, “paper” demands cyedit and confidence. I doubt whether the young: gentlemen who do the reviews—by THE AUTHOR. inches—have any credit or can confidence or can float any paper. command any The writer, if he sees these remarks, is invited to consider one point which, to my mind, lies at the root of the whole bad business. It is the kind of pay given by some papers. The poor man, in order to pay his way, must make so much a week, His review work goes, probably, a long way towards finding this mimimum. Now, if he is allowed three inches or even six for each book, and if he receives, say, three half-crowns for his notice of each book, it is evident that in order to make £3 a week, below which life can offer few luxuries, he must notice eight books a week. But he will probably get a longer article in addition. This more important paper will take a certain amount of work: perhaps he will give two days to it: there remain five. How many books can he read and review, even only at three or four inches each, in five days? On the other hand, by the simple process of not reading the books he can review as many as are senttohim. I knewa man once who added a guinea to his weekly income by writing a column of “reviews” of novels: there were from eight to twelve on his list and his editor liked something “smart.” We must not be too hard on the unfortunate reviewer : his paper can only pay by the l ngth of the contribu- tion; if it wants to notice all the books that are published it can only do so by giving to each the briefest possible space. The reviewer, in fact— and this is, as I said above, the keynote of the whole situation—cannot afford to read the books. A note on the Society from the Manchester Guardian (see p. 219) is pleasant reading. The writer alludes to the common charge of “ commer- cialism” brought against the Society. I would remind our members that the answer is simply this. Literary property is a very real kind of property. It belongs to those who create it. They may give it to publishers for nothing if they like—no one will object except perhaps their wives and children. They may also sit down contentedly to be “bested” by agreements which they do not understand. They may even consent to sign the Forms of Agreement which the Publishers’ Committee have prepared with so much thought- fulness and with such admirable jealousy as to the equity of the case—nothing so truly beautiful as pure equity. No one can possibly object to an author behaving in the grand style. As for those authors who have no private income and cannot afford to surrender, or to be “ bested” out of, their own property which, valuable or not,  THE represents their life work, we do our best for them. It has been pointed out over and over again that this defence of property is no more commercial in Literature than in Art, in Medi- cine, in Law, in mines, in houses—in anything. It is simply an act of common prudence. Further, it cannot be too often repeated that the literary value of a work, whatever it may be, has no necessary connection with its commercial value. The greatest book ever written, the most far- reaching in its influences, the most epoch-making, may be worth less, commercially, than a girl’s story or a Sunday-school prize. A book of the higher mathematics appeals to an audience of a few score; a book of the highest scientific importance, which may revolutionise the life of a whole people, may appeal only to a few hundreds. It seems necessary to state this simple fact over and over again. Perhaps some time or other it will be accepted for the commonplace truism that it is. We shall then hear the last about the “commercialism ” of the Society. I refer the reader to a communication on p. 224 concerning the “Method of the Future.” It is quite true that an estimate for a single book by an individual author might be much higher than that which would be furnished for a publisher who could send a large amount of work. The printer would probably try it on. But our correspondent forgets the fact that we have collected and -published a whole body of information on the subject of the Cost of Pro- duction—which was intended as a guide to the author and a protection against fraud rather by the publisher than the printer. I embodied all the latest information on the subject in “The Pen and the Book,” and anyone who wants to know what an estimate should be may go to the nearest free library and refer to the book. This book was not designed as a work bringing a money profit, and I have already, with the hope of rendering it more generally useful, pre- sented some hundreds of copies to free libraries. I am still ready to give more copies to these libraries; and if any of the members will kindly inform me of libraries in which it is not already placed, I shall be very willing to send them copies. With some such guide and a little ordinary care I do not think there is much danger of the author getting into mischief. He might refer his estimate to the Secretary, for instance. He must, of course, be very careful over his corrections, and the length of his MS. : and he must not bind more than are wanted at the outset: and he must be extremely careful over the advertisements, AUTHOR. 219 An evening paper informs us that a certain author, whose name need not be reproduced, on finding himself for the moment without resources, boldly faced the situation and asked to be admitted to the workhouse and to go on working there on the completion of a book which already approaches completion. It was perhaps as good a thing as he could do, provided he did not mind the companionship and was prepared to face the memory of it, and wanted a quiet place for work. Meantime, as he is a writer of some repute and has held appointments of various kinds, all requiring special ability, was it not possible to send in an application to the Royal Literary Fund? Watter BESANT. Pec ON THE SOCIETY. HE Manchester Guardian of Feb. 17 speaks of the Society in the following terms : “The annual report of the Society of Authors for the past year, which has just been issued to its members, shows a flourishing state of affairs on which the Society may justly congratulate itself, Its success is, for that matter, a boon— although often an ignored one—to all who write for their livelihood. The Society is an eminently practical institution, and the reproach of being solely concerned with the commercial side of literature, which one hears at times brought against it, simply shows that those who bring it have never troubled to inquire what the position and aims of the Society really are. The numerous cases of injustice to authors which the Society has taken up during the past year—in one case going as far as the House of Lords in order to get a definite ruling on a point of importance in the relation of authors and publishers—show how useful a work it is doing, in spite of all the attacks that are made upon it by people who ought to know better. The razson détre of the Society of Authors is to be a kind of trade union for writers, through whose existence they may assert their rights in the case of dishonest or sweating publishers. It is clear that it has met a want. ee “Tt ig not surprising that a body which thus acts as a safeguard to the author should have over 1200 members. The wonder is that so many authors should still stay out of it and lose no opportunity of jeering at it because its motives are frankly businesslike and its canons of litera ture incline to commercialism. Sometimes the temptation, we confess, is hard to resist; but we are ashamed of having yielded to it when we THE 220 consider how excellent the work of the Society, as set forth in this report, really is. The Com- mittee are quite right in pointing out ‘to those members of the profession who are not members of the Society that they are reaping indirectly the benefits resulting from the work and labours of the Society, and to the more successful writers who are not members that they are gaining substantial benefits from the moneys expended. by other and sometimes poorer members of their craft The pension scheme, on which we have already commented, is the chief novelty in the report. We have little doubt that it also will have a stimulating effect on the membership.” — ON TYPEWRITERS. T is now some months since a letter was sent to The Author about the position of Type- writers. For various reasons this letter has been held over. The writer advocated the employ- ment of the individual typist who works at home, instead of sending the work to an office. She claimed for this plan the very decided advantage of cheapness. She asserted that 9d. a thousand words was good and sufficient pay, provided there was no middleman and no office. She further pointed out that the chief reason why girls do not get on at such work is want of education. That is the preliminary equipment which is absolutely necessary, and cannot be crammed. Shorthand may be learned very cheaply. ‘Of three typists, one taught herself shorthand, and had five shillings’ worth of teach- ing on the typewriter when she bought it; one paid £5 for instruction in shorthand ; and one was taught at very small cost by aclerk employed during the day.” She gives the evidence of one who works at home. “A friend of mine, well educated, finding teaching in schools decidedly paid at ‘ starvation wages,’ though she spoke French and German fluently, took a course of shorthand and type- writing lessons at Pitman’s, paying, I think, £10, till proficient. In less than five months she obtained a good appointment—3os. a week, hours g till 6, and on Saturdays till 2. “As to private work, I know of the case of a well-educated gentlewoman who eighteen months ago found herself suddenly under the necessity of earning money. She paid a small sum for twelve lessons from a private typist, was proficient at the end of ten, bought a typewriter, spent £5 in advertising, and has never lacked for work. She bas a thorough knowledge of Latin, French, and some German, and earns enough by copying AUTHOR. authors’ MSS. at od. a thousand to live com- fortably. Iam quite sure, from the experience of others as well as my own, that 9d. a thousand need never mean ‘starvation wages,” _whatever the proprietors of expensive offices may say. I myself have to refuse nearly as much as I take, though I constantly employ an assistant.” And the letter concludes as follows, omitting those parts which refer to previous discussions : “ Tf, for any reason of her own, a woman chooses to do her work at home instead of being an employee in an office, for many an obvious advantage, and finds it profitable to copy our MSS. at 9d. a 1000, it certainly seems to make for the greatest good of the greatest number that she should have the od. rather than that we should pay ts. or 1s. 3d. to a smart office that (as I know to be the case) she should receive at the most 7d. and pay travelling expenses, and lose her freedom and privacy while the office scores the margin, for what profits neither the worker nor ourselves. “Moreover, she has a personal pride and stake in her work, and, so far as my experience gors, does it infinitely better than the experimenting beginner or the indifferent employee. « Typewriting and stenography are likely to be always with us. It may bring happiness and relief from anxiety into many a harrassed life, if authors will combine to send work into the workers’ homes, instead of (to save themselves a little trouble) despatching it to the much advertised office. It is work that can be done by the elderly, the delicate, the cripple, those incapable of going out in all weathers or at all hours; and those whose conscience obliges them to pay more than the ‘starvation 9d.’ will probably be allowed to indulge the desire. I can confidently recommend two of the typists who advertise (at 9d. a 1000) in The Author.” rec A NOTE ON RUSKIN. (From the Chicago Dial, Feb. 1, 1900. I [ IS work done in the field of art. criticism has called forth an enormous amount of discussion, in the form of both approval and dissent. At first, his opinions exci ed'violent antagonism ; then, for a period, the force of his - eloquence seemed to carry everything before it; then, again, a marked reaction set in, and a deliberate effort was made to belittle his achieve- ments and minimise his influence. We do not think that the two parties to this controversy  have ever joined issue fairly and squarely. We may allow the justice of much that has been said by his hostile critics—by Mr. Stillman, for example, and Dr. Waldstein—yet admit almost to the full what has been claimed for him by the most earnest of his champions. Both parties are right, in some sense. For the attack, we may say that his specific judgments were often wrong, that his bestowal of praise was exaggerated beyond all reason, that his advice to painters was frequently impracticable, and that his influence upon contemporary artists was slight. But for the defence we must also say something. We must say, for example, that he made the general English public think more seriously about art than it had ever done before. We must say that his writings opened eyes by the thousands that had hitherto been blind, and, if those eyes did not see just what he would have had them see, they were at least opened to some kind of truth that would not have been revealed to them at all except for his influence. We must say, also, that he gave to the pursuit and study of art a dignity that it had never known before, by virtue of his constant insistence upon the relation of art to morality, his unalterable deter- mination to judge of artistic work from other standpoints than the narrow one of technique, and the prophetic fervour with which he pro- claimed the gospel, not of art for art’s sake, but of art for the sake of man’s temporal delight and eternal salvation. . . . : In a word, the balance of Mr. Ruskin’s teach- ings, whatever specific vagaries they may embody, will rest upon the side of progress, of ethical inspiration, of worthy human activity, of all that is desirable for the uplifting of the race. In this belief, we would earnestly recommend the most extreme of his books, even “ Unto this Last” and the many volumes of the “ Fors Clavigera,” not indeed as the best food for untrained minds, but as a helpful influence to the cultivated intelli- gence, as a needed corrective for all that is unspiritual and materialistic in the thought of the age. Their essential teaching is at one with that of the great leaders of men’s ethical and religious thought, and their perversity of utterance no more than an accident powerless to work last- ing injury. The gift of communion with such a spirit is one of the most precious that literature can offer, and a deep sense of gratitude, of reverent affection, is what remains to us unshaken, after all possible exceptions have been taken, after all needful allowances have been made, when we think of the great work and the noble life that have ended in the closing yeir of the century to which they have lent so imperishable a lustie. THE AUTHOR. 221 SOME THOUGHTS UTTERED. Coe is not always a vice, for itis often only a weakness. Hate of others: often poses as love of truth. The best kind of truth and the rarest is the kindest. Oritics are of two main kinds—helpers or hinderers. The only perfect critic is Tue CrEaTor. New truths fare ill in old temples. Religion, even when not quite on the right side, is yet on the heart side. Duty is only another name for Divinity. Oveurt is more God-like than Must. Truth can no more be justly measured by proof than by taste or by wish. Taste changes less than temptation—the father of fashion. Truth is almost as invisible to vanity as to vice. Art is a common cross between Man and Nature. What science labe!s, art often only libels. Art expresses far more than it ever explains. To appeal best to our race, scence must marry sentiment. Some women, in trying to outdo all men, only undo themselves. Human law is a common mean between justice and nonsense. It is generally easier to end laws than to mend men. Were progress nursed only by popular vote, it would never be reared. The sanest will give and take only the best advice, but they are not yet born. While wondering why wisdom wanes, most of us forget ourselves. When the best seems past, we have begun to die. Chivalry is no more peculiar to males than to Mankind. Mothers form a sex by themselves —lik2 the angels. Courage, an essential of all life, in love. In ideal love there is no imperfect tense. Life is a positive, growth a comparative, and love a superlative revelation. Marriag+ may die with bodies, but love must live with souls. Justice is the true husband of love. Finuay GLENELG. is best found Pees  222 THE AMERICAN AMBASSADOR AT THE AUTHORS’ CLUB. N | R. CHOATE, the American Ambassador, was last evening the guest at a dinner of the Authors’ Club, held at the Club, Whitehall-court, London. Mr. Gilbert Parker presided over a very large gathering, which included in addition to the American Ambassador, Mr. James Bryce, MP., Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, Mr. Frankfort Moore, Mr. W. UL. Courtney, Mr. E. T. Cook, and Sir Martin Conway. Mr. Choate, in reply to the toast of his health, said he came there partly as a reader and partly as a representative of one of the greatest reading communities that had ever existed. He knew of no relation of any other body of people so important to authors as that of readers, and it was the fact that they on the other side of the Atlantic were entitled to rank very high in this relation of readers to authors. In the first place the people of the United States constituted the vast majority of the English-speaking peoples of the globe, and they all knew very well, they asserted it every day, that the majority must rule, at least they must be assigned a paramountcy as between authors and readers and as to everything else that related to the English tongue. There were 351 towns in the State of Massa- chusetts. In those, with the exception of seven, the public had the use of public libraries pro- vided at the public expense. In those libraries there were three and three-quarter millions of volumes—about a volume and a-half for each inhabitant of the State—and the circulation in twelve months amounted to seven and two- third millions, or three volumes for each inhabi- tant—men, women and children, and babies in arms. Could they point to any other country under the sun in which that state of things could be said to exist? And was there not a reflex action of the readers upon authors as well as of the authors upon the readers? Might it not be owing to some such relation as that that in these last sixty years there had been authors of such eminence in America? Massachusetts, to which he had been referring in connection with this free libraries’ movement, had, however, only led the way, for the last report of the National Bureau of Hducation to which he had had access showed that there were 4000 free libraries in America, containing more than 33,000,000 of volumes. He alluded to the “teachableness” of the people who spoke the Hnglish tongue, as was THE AUTHOR. shown by the work of Captain Mahan, an American, and Mr. Bryce in England. Captain Mahan told Great Britain of her wonderful sea power and discovered some of its elements of weakness. Mr. Bryce went to America and studied their institutions, and produced a work descriptive of them which was without an equal in our whole history on the other side of the water. He gave them praise where they were entitled to praise and blamed them where they were subject to blame, and they were very ready to follow his suggestions and to go to work to supply a remedy. It was this “teachableness” of all people who spoke the English tongue that constituted their great power in the present and their great prospect for the future. This English tongue had done an immense thing for them on both sides of the water. It had welded them into one homogeneous and united people, speaking with one voice and acting with one will to work out their destiny, and it had done the same thing for the widely-spreading members of the British Empire—as they had an example in this very year—(cheers)—making them one people, united for the common liberties of all. (Renewed cheers.) And what had it not done—this same English language—for all who spoke it? It had given them their highest aims and their highest ideals. It had taught them to love liberty and to be devoted to law.—Daily Chronicle, Feb. 20. CORRESPONDENCE. IL—Tuer STanparp oF ENGLISH ORITICISM. AY I be allowed to endorse “ Retired’s ” statements regarding English reviews in your last number. I have not been writing for many years, but have been fortunate enough to win for myself a certain position as specialist on some important literary questions. When I publish a book I am secure of a fair number of notices, both English and conti- nental. But, as a rule, the English notices are not worth the paper they are printed on. With very few exceptions they are written by critics who do not possess even an elementary knowledge of the subjects concerned. I could name without difficulty half-a-dozen men, not unknown to literature, who would be perfectly competent to review my work, and whose criticism would be of real value to me, but I only know two journals (one with a restricted circula- tion) which will send my books to such expert critics. On the other hand, in France and Germany alike I am certain of receiving such ’  THE AUTHOR. criticism: I have had a book, dismissed in a few absolutely foolish lines in a leading London literary paper, reviewed at pages’ length in competent foreign reviews, and that not once alone. “ Retired” is perfectly correct in saying that the standard of foreign criticism is far higher and more conscientious than English. There are many of us who would infinitely rather receive competent, even if unfavourable, criticism than ignorant praise. ScHOLAR. Il.—Tue Proression or LireERATURE. For my part, although one of the most unfor- tunate of writers, I find it very hard to under- stand the strange a'titude of Annabel Gray and some others (“‘ X.,” for instance, on page 70 of the August issue) towards their profession. Whilst making a living out of it (a thing which many hundreds of doctors and lawyers have great difficulty in getting out of their professions), they never cease to rail bitterly at the profession as beggarly and contemptible. ‘“ X.,” indeed, even goes the length of denying that it is a profession at all. Note the reasoning! Because any outsider with the requisite ability can come into the profession of literature, therefore it is no profession! Well, “every waiting barrister, every idle doctor, every half-pay captain ’—in short, “every outsider with a” brush and palette can “cut into the work” ofa painter: ergo, there is no profession of painting! Also, “ every outsider with ” eight fingers and two thumbs can “cut into the work’’ of the pianist and organist, the violinist, &c.: ergo, there is no profession of music, and Paderewski is only a mountebank, not a member of a reputable profession! Once more: “every outsider with” legs and arms can “cut into the work” of the actor: ergo, there is no profession of acting! Might I be permitted t» point out that early in his controversy with the Editor of The Author “X.” gave his own case away completely? The gist of the Editor’s contention is given in this sentence from page 15 of the June issue: “I maintain that Literature, as a profession, is no more precarious than any other.” And what did “X.” say in reply? Why, on page 21 of the same issue, he declared: “The editor is always saying that the man of letters can do as well as the doctor or barrister, and seems to think this means something.” I should imagine it did mean something—viz., the point at issue. ‘‘ Sooth to say,” he proceeds, “it means nothing, for the poor barrister and poor doctor are miserably poor indeed.” Here “ X.” clearly admits that the man of letters can do as well as the barrister 223 or doctor. away. Annabel Gray tragically asserts that “the dark powers that thwart and destroy are always merci- less to the poor and gifted . . . Mr.Croskey’s own experiences and confession area case in point.” Now, Mr. Croskey has himself told us that he is not rich, and there is no doubt whatever that he is gifted: yet the ‘dark powers,’ yea! those self-same hideous “dark powers” have not been “merciless” to him, for they have permitted him to “place work with four good publishers and three good magazines.” I have myself seen excellent work of his in the English Illustrated Magazine and in Chambers’s Journal. And JI have not a shadow of a doubt that so soon as Mr. Croskey can produce enough work equally good, he will succeed as an author. If he does not eventually succeed I for one shall be very much surprised. And in so doing he gives his case Perry Barr. IIl.—Wrirtine ror THE MAGAZINES. I have to tender my sincere thanks to “An Editor” for his kindness in answering my query. Is he not, however, just a little bit ruthless in saying that the article “On Writing for the Magazines’? in the December issue represents wasted time? To methatarticle was interesting and eminently useful. And I earnestly hope that we shall have the promised article dealing in a similar manner with the lighter magazines. It is perhaps almost needless to say that after this I shall not continue to be purely a MaGazinE STRUGGLER. 1V.—EnveLorpes WANTED. I have no grievance to bring forward, but only a suggestion to make. I send off (and receive back again) a fair lot of MSS. in a year, and my soul is grieved because of envelopes. What I desire to do is to keep my MS. flat. Now, like most people, as I imagine, who write, I use common foolscap, 13in. by 8in. To send this off quite comfortably what [ need is a bag-shaped envelope of smooth paper, reasonably strong, with lots of gum, and half an inch or even an inch of room to spare all round, say 133in. by 8{in. or gin. {should not mind paying 5s. a hundred for them, if I could only get them right, but I don’t see them in the Stores’ list, and the nearest thing Ican find in Oxford is 12in. by ropin., te., at once too short and too wide. Will not some int lligent stationer get out an article to supply the want and call it “Author's size”? Tl warrant him it would sell. R. B. T, —  854 V.—Tur Mernhop or THE Furure. As one who has had some experience of print- ing his own books—I mean of getting them printed at his own expense—I feel most strongly that an author has almost as much painful experi- ence to acquire in this matter as in connection with what must be considered ordinary publish- ing. Tt is an unfortunate fact that the ethics of trade are not at all those generally recognised by honourable men who are not engaged in com- mercial transactions. Speaking to a pripter recently I remarked that it appeared to be con- sidered quite honest to charge exorbitantly where the person paying had no knowledge of trade prices or where the work done was not easily controlled, and he, with perfect frankness, admitted this was the case, adding ‘“ Some things we have to take in competition at very low prices, and we make it up on others.” At my own actual cost I have learnt that com- posing, corrections, machining (including the question of sheets of sixteen, thirty-two, and sixty-four pages), paper and binding, each and all furnish opportunities for fraud upon the unsus- pecting author who ventures to embark upon the production of his own work. In some cases where the name of the firm would apparently ensure honourable treatment I have come to the conclusion that there is no greater security than with an unknown house, and this because the real control of the business, including the levying of charges, rests not with those whose well-known and perhaps highly respected names attract, but with managers whose first object it must be to show profits. I will add nothing on the “small difficulties that keep arising whilst the book is printing,” referred to by “X.” in The Author of Feb. 1, beyond a reminder that such difficulties are to be expected. But to what end do these remarks lead? To this, viz.: That if ever the “Method of the Future” is to realise its full advantages it will be necessary that authors should not merely pay directly for their own printing, but the printing should be done at their own works. With any considerable adoption of the “Method of the Future ” by members of the Society, it would be perfectly easy to form a small limited liability com- pany and set up a printing establishment under a capable manager, to which members of the Society might with perfect safety commit their work without fear of being victimised and without that waste of valuable time which has now to be expended by anyone of business habits who would protect himself, however feebly, from, I will say, the danger of fraud, Vik AUTHOR. Perhaps we may sdhie day reach this end! { am in a position to bring a respectable amount of regular annual printing ! The Society of Authors has been wrongly accused of saying that all publishers are rogues. Lest to this there should be added that I now initiate a statement that all printers are also rogues, I hasten to disclaim anything of the kind. There are probably as many honest printers as there are honest members of other trades—honest, I mean, not merely in the eyes of the law, but in reality, Tf, however, the ethics of trade are really as I have suggested, then, quite apart from personal experiences, it cannot be expected that authors will, exceptionally and invariably, find them- selves associated with printers of unusual virtue. A. B. [But see p. 219.—Ep. | VI.—A ScriBBLER’s SUGGESTION. Think not, dear sir, that I desire our all-wise Parliament to pass a measure imposing a heavy import-duty on all Australian and American stories. Perish the thought! I am no protec- tionist, but an honest freetrader ; and if the home product cannot hold its own, let it (say I) go to the wall. But why, oh why, will not editors send it to the wall more promptly ? Why should they perform the unhappy despatch with such long- drawn enjoyment of the agony inflicted ? As I have said, I desire no protectionist legisla- tion. But what say you, sir, to an Authors’ Compensation Bill (to be brought in by the present Government) compelling editors to pay for all contributions kept over one calendar month? Do you not think that this would be but a reasonable and modest compensation for injuries inflicted >—that the Act would, in fact, be merely complementary to the Workmen’s Com- pensation Act? In the event of editors objecting to such an Act, what have they to say to the proposition that we authors should send out at the same time about half-a-dozen typed copies of a MS.? By thus dealing with tardy editors by the half-dozen, we might succeed in testing the majority of likely markets inside of twelve months. True, there’s the possibility of two editors accepting the same contribution; but that would only be a very slight inconvenience to set against the inconveni-- ence at present endured. .  THE AUTHOR. BOOK AND PLAY TALK. R. STANLEY LANE-POOLE has finished his “ History of Egypt in the Middle "~ Ages under Mohammedan Rule,” which will be published by Messrs. Methuen as the sixth volume in the series edited by Professor Flinders Petrie. “The Devil’s Kitchen,” a new novel by A. B. Louis will shortly appear through Messrs. Sands and Co. The scene of part of the story is laidin Wales, and one of the leading charaters is a pub- lisher. Miss Montgomery Campbell’s new story entitled “ Uncle Ben’s Where’s, or Friends all round the Wrekin,” published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, has attracted much attention and been warmly welcomed by those seeking for books suitable for parochial libraries and girls’ and women’s clubs. It isa story dealing with rural life, the scene, as the sub-title denotes, being laid in the picturesque county of Salop. Mr. D.C. Lathbury’s new paper, hitherto known as the Tribune, has had to change its name, and will now be called the Pilot, a weekly review of ecclesiastical and general politics, literature, and learning. The first number will be published on Saturday, March 3, price 6d. Mr. Richard Pryce’s new novel “J ezebel,”’ now running through the pages of the Gentlewoman, will be published by Messrs. Hutchinson and Co. A new novel by Annabel Gray, entitled “ The Mystic Number 7,” is now in the press and will shortly appear. The title depends upon the occult nature of the plot, and the tragic end por- trays the wages of sin. “ Boadicea, and Other Poems,” by Mrs. Aylmer Gowing, has recently been published by Messrs. Kegan Paul and Co. The volume contains an heroic drama constructed on classical lines of one motive and action, simplicity and directness; a series of poems for recitation, and several sonnets. A series of little encyclopedic primers is about to be published by Messrs. Dent, beginning with a volume entitled “ Introduction to Science,” by Dr. Alexander Hill, Master of Downing College, Cambridge. Dr. Sweet will write a volume on “The History of Language,’ Dean Spence one on “The History of the Church of England,” Professor Jenks “The History of Politics,’ Mr. E. G. Gardner “ A Dante Primer,’ and Mr. Basil Worsfold “ A History of South Africa.” “A Divine Venture, and Other Stories,” by Fiona Macleod, is about to be published by Messrs. Chapman and Hall. 225 A new book of stories by Dr. Conan Doyle (who is leaving England for ambulance duty with the troops in South Africa) will be published shortly under the title of “ The Green Flag.” A Milton Library is being formed in Milton Cottage, Chalfont St. Giles. Mr. Charles Gerring, secretary of the Notting- ham Sette of Odde Volumes, has now completed the work on noted booksellers and printers which he has been engaged upon for some time. Students of modern English history will be inte- rested to hear that the selections from the private journal of the Right Hon. John Evelyn Denison, Speaker of the House of Commons for twenty-five years, and afterwards Lord Ossington, has now been published by Mr. Murray. The volume was issued for private circulation last September. It is improbable that the biography of Professor Huxley will appear before the autumn. “Hurrah for the Life of a Sailor!” is the title of the forthcoming work by Admiral Sir William Kennedy (Blackwood), who has served in the Navy for fifty years. “Allen Raine” is issuing, through Messrs. Hutchinson, a new Welsh story called “ Garth- owen.” Mr. Stanley Weyman’s “ Sophia’ this month. A Yorkshire story by Miss Emma Brooke, entitled “The Engrafted Rose,’ has just been published by Messrs. Hutchinson. An interesting plagiarism is reported from New York, Messrs. G. P. Putnam’s Sons having been deceived by a young man who represented himself to be an unpublished author in sore straits. The following notice issued by the firm speaks for itself : G. P. Putnam’s Sons regret to have occasion to announce to the reading public that the story recently published by them under the title of ‘‘ Aboard the American Duchess,” a story purporting to be the work of an American author who writes under the name of George L. Myers, is a plagiarism of a story published some years back by Mr. Headon Hill, of London, entitled, ‘The Queen of Night.” Mr. Hill’s material has been appropriated by the American writer, such appropriation constituting a wrong against the English author and his publishers, and also, of course, the American publishers, who accepted as an original work the story ‘The American Duchess.” The publishers are making this announcement in order to cantion American readers against the purchase under a wrong impression of the story issued under the title of “ Aboard the American Duchess.” “Mr. Myers” had, of course, changed the scene of action of the story from London to New York. Messrs. Putnam, in view of the blunder, have sent an honorarium to Mr. Hill, notwith- standing that his novel was not copyrighted in the United States. ’ will be out  226 Histories of South Africa are, of course, the order of the day just now. Another one will be published immediately by Messrs. Methuen. It deals with “The Boer States,’ and the author is Mr, A. H. Keane, whose point of view in the work is stated to be that of an onlooker. The very important housing question in London is the subject of a book by Mr. Alfred Smith, of the County Council. It will be published by Messrs. Sonnenschein. Miss Nora Hopper’s new volume of verse, “Songs of the Morning,’ and Mr. Thomas Cobb’s new novel, “ Scruples,” will both be published on March 6 by Mr. Grant Richards. A volume of sketches of theatrical life by Mr. George R. Sims will be published shortly by Messrs. Chatto and Windus, under the title, “ Without the Limelight.” Mrs. Patrick Campbell has revived ‘‘ Magda” at the Royalty. She will afterwards produce a version of M. Edmond Rostand’s “ Les Romanes- ques,” by George Fleming. It will be called “The Fantasticks.” There is only one female character in the play. Mrs. Lewis Waller opened her spring tour at the Coronet, Notting Hill, on Feb. 19, with a new play in four acts adapted by Mr. H. A. Kennedy from Mr. Hardy’s romance, “Tess of the D’Urbevilles.’ Mr. Hardy has written to the Times stating that he has authorised no such , dramatisation. “Bonnie Dundee,” Mr. Laurence Irving's five- act drama, will be produced by Mr. Robert Taber at the Adelphi on the 1oth inst., with Mr. Mackintosh as King James. A copyright performance was given at the Court a few weeks ago of “The Queen of tie Roses,” by Mr. Alfred C. Calmour. This is the three-act comedy which Mr. Daniel Frohman is about to produce in New York. Mr. Martin Harvey is preparing to give at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre M. Maeterlinck’s one- act play “ Aglavaine and Selysette.” Mr. Wyndham will produce the English version of “Cyrano de Bergerac” at Blackpool on March 5, with Miss Mary Moore and Mr. Alfred Kendrick as chief supporters. After visiting other provincial cities, the play will be presented at Mr. Wyndham’s new theatre about the middle of April. “The Likeness of the Night,” a four-act play by Mrs. W. K. Clifford, has been performed for purposes of copyright at the Avenue, Mr. Charles Hawtrey and Miss Lily Hanbury taking the prin- cipal parts. THE AUTHOR. Mr. W. L. Courtney and Mr. Joseph Comyns Carr are writing for Sir Henry Irving a drama on the massacre of St. Bartholomew. The produe- tion of the play is expected about May. Mr. F. R. Benson opened his Shakespearian season at the Lyceum before a numerous audience on Feb. 15 with “Henry V.” At the close of the play Mr. Benson spoke of the kindness shown to Mrs. Benson and himself since they both acted under Sir Henry Irving on these boards long ago. The new comedy by Mr. Haddon Chambers, which will be produced at the Criterion, is called “The Faithless.” The Globe will be re-opened on the 17th by Mr. Richard Lambart, when “ A Broken Halo,” by Mr. Charles Thursby, and ‘‘ Nurse,” a comedy by Miss Clo Graves, will be produced. At the Shaftesbury an American company under Mr. George Lederer will open on April 2. = e<e OBITUARY. R. H. D. TRAILL died suddenly in Mi London on Feb. 21, only a week after the revised and enlarged edition of his dialogues of the dead, “The New Lucian,” had been published. Mr. Traill’s career in journalism and authorship was a very full one. He con- tributed to the Pall Mall Gazette and to the S¢. James’s Gazette when Mr. Greenwood edited these journals; and subsequently wrote for the Saturday Review, the Daily Telegraph (of whose staff he became a member), and the Observer, which he edited for a time. When Literature was founded in Oct. 1897, Mr. Traill was. appointed editor, and the best of his energies have since been devoted to establishing that journal in the high position it now enjoys. Both to the English Citizen and the English Men of Letters series Mr. Traill was a contributor, his: monograph on Sterne being especially noteworthy.. Among other works, he wrote “ Re-captured Rhymes,” “ Saturday Songs,” biographies of Sir John Franklin and Lord Cromer, and edited the important “ Social England” series published by Messrs. Cassell. Mr. Traill was in his fifty- eighth year. Sir Wittram Hounrer, the distinguished autho- rity and writer on India, died on Feb. 7, in his: sixtieth year. Before he was thirty Sir William Hunter became Director-General of Statistics, and was entrusted with the task of directing @ statistical survey of the whole Indian Empire. In the production of the “Imperial Gazetteer of India” and of the detailed accounts of the sepa-  THE rate provinces he spent twelve years. His “ Brief History of the Indian Peoples” has been trans- lated into five vernacular languages. Only last year was published the first volume of his “History of British India,” which he intended to complete in several volumes. The obituary of the past month also includes Mr. JoserpH Cowen, the famous proprietor- journalist of the Newcastle Chronicle and ex- M.P.; Sir William Duguid Geddes, author of “The Problem of the Homeric Poems,” and other works, Professor of Greek in the Uni- versity of Aberdeen from 1855 to 1885, and afterwards Principal; Miss Harriet Parr (“ Holme Lee’) a writer of stories chiefly for the young, who died at the age of seventy-two; Mr. Ernest Dowson, the poet, whose new volume of verses had been announced for early publication ; Mr. Andrew White Tuer, F.S.A., of the Leadenhall Press, author of “ Bartolozzi and His Works,” “Old London Street Cries and Cries of To-Day,” &c., who died on Feb. 24, at the age of sixty- one; and Mr. Francis Harvey, the well-known bookseller of St. James’s-street. eS BOOKS AND REVIEWS. (In these columns notes on books are given from reviews which carry weight, and are not, so far as can be learned, logrollers.) Ture War in Soutu Arrica, by J. A. Hobson (Nisbet, 7s. 6d. net), deals with the origin and consequences of the war, and its chief value, says the Daily Chronicle, “is to be found in the fact that the writer was an eye-witness to much that happened at a critical moment, and at the very centre of political disturbance.” Certain parts of the yolume “ savour strongly of the political pamphlet. Others _are so fair in statement and record that they seem almost to undermine some of Mr. Hobson’s own conclusions.” Other journals discuss the controversial aspects of the question dealt with in the volume. EIGHTEEN YEARS IN THE KuHysBuR, 1879-1898, by Colonel Sir Robert Warburton, K.C.I.E., &c. (Murray, 16s.). “The very virtues of the man,” says the Times, “ will probably militate to some extent against the popular success of his biography,’ but “ what these pages lack in literary form they gain in evident sincerity of purpose.” ‘ All through this interesting volume,” remarks the Daily Tele- graph, “ we have a spectacle of constant devotion to duty, not always, perhaps, rewarded to the measure of its deserts.” Tue ImpmRIaAL RusstsNn Navy, by Fred T. Jane (Thacker, 30s.), is an analysis of the Russian policy by sea. The first half of the book, says the Spectator, is “an interesting history of the growth of the Russian Navy from the time when Queen Elizabeth lent a boat to Ivan the Terrible.’ Inthe second part the author deals with more general questions. ‘“ On the Chinese question, and, indeed, on the whole matter of our relations to Russia, he talks much admirable common-sense.” The volume “fills a distinct. gap in our naval literature,’ says the Daily AUTHOR. 227 Chronicle. ‘Mr. Jane’s views, based on personal inquiry in Russia, are those of one competent to judge,” and “ they are worthy of close and earnest attention.” Tur FrRANco-GerMAN WAR, 1870-71, by officers who took part in the campaign, translated and edited by Major- General Maurice and others (Sonnenschein, 21s.), presents, says Literature, “a consecutive history of the war, intelli- gently and graphically described.” It ‘is well worth reading, and the lessons which it teaches are still of value, chief amongst them the lesson that no bravery can avert defeat if the officers are careless in times of peace, or if the bonds of discipline are relaxed in deference to popular clamour.” America To-pay, by William Archer (Heinemann, 6s), is accorded “the highest praise” by the Daily Chronicle as being “the best plea for the true Anglo-American under- standing that has been given us by any English man of letters.” Mr. Archer’s travellers’ gossip ‘“‘ has the merit of being thoroughly sane and wholesome,” and “his sympathy is always active and his criticism is always temperate.’ ‘The work is the result of the author’s recent visit to the United States, and consists of ten “observations” and four “reflections.” Mr. Archer's impressions of America, says Literatwre, “are chiefly notable for their determined optimism.” ‘The literary reader will be chiefly interested in the essays on American literature and the American language with which the pleasant little volume concludes.” Nigerra, by Charles Henry Robinson, M.A. (Horace Marshall and Son, 5s.), is ‘‘ an attractive little book,” says the Daily News, ‘‘ by a traveller and a scholar,” containing a general sketch of the events that have led to the founda- tion of Nigeria, of some results of the company’s rule, the existing situation and the problems of the future. The Spectator refers to it as ‘‘a very informing and a very entertaining book,” and adds that Canon Robinson’s account of the Hausas is the most important part of the volume. Ix vue VALLEY oF THE RHONE, by Charles Wood (Macmillan, 10s.) is a “ delightfully illustrated antiquarian and archeological book of travel.” “‘ Mr. Wood is also an artist in manners and customs,” and one is uncertain, says the Spectator, * whether to admire the descriptions of archi- tecture and scenery, or the iuimitable dialogues, more; on the whole, the latter being the rarer gift, we must value it more.” ' Apvancep AvusrraLia, by William Johnson Galloway, M.P. (Methuen, 33. 6d.), treats, says the Guardian, ‘‘ only of the most modern and least romantic aspects of tke southern colonies. Perhaps its most interesting chapters are those which describe the scheme of old-age pensions now actually in force in New Zealand”; while the author’s account of the federation movement is “ lucid and instruc- tive.’ The Daily Chronicle calls it a “well-balanced and informing review ” of political questions. TeNNYSON AS A RELIGIOUS THACHER, by C. F. G Masterman (Methuen, 6s.) “‘ may be added to the rapidly filling shelf of Tennysonian literature,” says the Daily Chronicle, “ with the certainty that it will be consulted again.’ ‘“ Packed with thought,” it represents only one side of Tennyson’s genius, “but it represents that side thoroughly,” Mr. Masterman’s treatment of the Tennysonian philosophy being “not only intelligent, it is even searching and illuminating.” Literature speaks of the book as con- taining ‘‘ much food for thought on those great subjects the echoes of which so often mingle and harmonise with the name of Tennyson.” Lawextn’s Rematns, by H. B. (Vincent, Oxford, 2s. 6d.), induces Literature to say that ‘‘ perhaps, since the days of 228 the Ozford Spectator, nothing more amusing has come from “Oxford, at any rate in prose,” than this book, It “is more -easily read than described, but it may be said to be a satirical biography of an imaginary Fellow of an imaginary College.” The Times says it is ‘a delightful effort of sus- tained irony. Its object is to make fun both of the folly, which is so rampant, of writing unnecessary lives of unimportant people, and also of the less engaging qualities -of the latter-day don.” Tur UNPUBLISHED LEGENDS OF VIRGIL, collected by Charles Godfrey Leland (Stock, 3s. 6d.),‘‘ embodies much -ancient Italian tradition,” says the Literary World, although “¢ we never know what is tradition, and what is Leland.” “The work is consistently entertaining’”—‘‘ an excellent volume, full of interest and full of fun.” The Daily Chronicle says “ these popular traditions may be regarded .as a pleasant sequel” to Comparetti’s volume on “ Virgil in the Middle Ages.” Tur Hesrew TRAGEDY, by Colonel C. R. Conder (Bla :k- “wood, 38.), begins with Abraham crossing the Euphrates and ends with the Christianity of the early ages. The history of the Hebrews assumes in Colonel Conder’s hand, says the Spectator, ‘a reality which it often lacks. At the same time we never lose the sense of the separation between it and all other national histories.” Lucran, THE SyRIAN Satirist, by Lieutenant-Colonel H. W. L. Hime (Longmans, 5s.), is spoken of by the Daily ‘Chronicle as a “ most scholarly and interesting mono- -graph.” SavroLa, by Winston Spencer Churchill (Longmans, 6s.) is described by the Spectator as a “clever and interesting book, which is, above all else, the revela- tion of a masterful and audacious personality.” It gives a picture of Court life in an imaginary European State of to-day. The scene is laid in the capital of Laurania an imaginary republic with a seaboard on the Mediterranean, where the autocratic government of the President ‘‘ has only ‘Jed toa recrudescence of the discontent stamped out at the close of the Civil War five years previously.” Mr. Churchill “‘ wields a vigorous pen, he displays a genuine rhetorical gift of expression, his characters are boldly outlined and his incidents well planned.” ‘Its abundant cleverness is manifest throughout,” says the Daily Telegraph ; the Daily Chronicle regards the book as a very promising work ; and Literature says the story is “ well and briskly told, and not without some clever touches of character.” Foituy’s Corner, by Mrs. H. E. Dadeney (Heinemann, 6s.) is—up to Feb. 5—the best novel the Daily Chronicle has read since Christmas. ‘And we shall be pleasantly surprised if we read a better this side of Haster.’ The main motive is “the first passion of a woman for an ‘anworthy man outlasting, and not depleted by, the proof of unworthiness ; and always showing itself stronger than the most obvious self-interest.” Literature describes it as “a delightful novel; a comedy in fiction, with the tragic note, certainly, but with the proper comedy ‘curtain’ on the ‘happiness of the hero and the heroine.” SHAMELESS WAYNE, by Halliwell Sutcliffe (Unwin, 6s.), ‘is described by the Spectator as “ a very fascinating book.” A blood feud is the principal theme ; and “ as for the super- matural element, the phantom dog hardly strikes the reader as supernatural at all, so well does it blend with the wild narrative.’ The Daily Telegraph recommends the book to “‘all lovers of an exciting and well-told story,” adding that it will “undoubtedly be one of the books of the year.” This “vivid and luring romance of the York- -shire moors” is written, says the Daily News, “ with a vigour that never flags, and that carries the reader along ewith it.” THE AUTHOR. A Secret or THE NortH Sx, by Algernon Gissing (Chatto and Windas, 6s.), finds its principal note, says the Daily News, in “the wild rough life of the Northumbrian sea-coast, combined with a family feud of Corsican intensity.” “The book, powerful as it is, is one that everyone will not appreciate, but, per contra, the appreciation of those who do like it will be very marked.” ‘‘The very winds of the North Sea coast,” says Literature, “seem to blow over the rival farms,” in these pages; and the spirttuelle Kittiwake is recommended to the reader “as a first-rate little heroine.” Tue Lost ConTINENT, by Cutcliffe Hyne (Hutchinson, 6s.), “is fertile of thrilling situations,” says the Daily Chronicle. “The events that happened in this story happened a very long time ago, as long ago, in fact, as the days when Atlantis was a flourishing continent and its cultured inhabitants talked airily about the European savage.” Phorenice (as Empress of Atlantis) is “ very well done. She is a real woman beneath her trappings, and we are not at all sorry to have made her acquaintance.” QuzER-SrpE Srorius, by James F. Sullivan (Downey, 6s.), is a volume in the humorous vein, than which, the Spectator says, “no more effectual antidote to the prevalent depression has been given to the world in a literary form this winter.” The sketches are “extremely amusing,’ and “ presuppose no familiarity with the course of recent thistory or the technicalities of public life.” In Lonpon’s Hart, by George R. Sims (Chatto and Windus, 3s. 6d.), has been “read right through” by the Spectator, ‘and most of those who take it up will do the same.” ‘Asa substitute for witnessing one of Mr. Sims’s melodramas on the Adelphi boards, we can cordially recommend the perusal of ‘ In London’s Heart.” Tre Heart or THE Dancer, by Percy White (Hutchin- son, 6s.), a tale of “new men and old acres,” in which a decadent poet and a brilliantly-distinguished soldier are rival suitors for the hand of a fascinating actress, is, says the Spectator, “a great deal better written and more inte- resting than most modern society novels.” “It may be noted that in attributing to his heroine supreme excellence alike as sioger and dancer, Mr. White has no precedent in the annals of modern music. Bat the violation of proba- bility will be readily overlooked in a clever and entertaining book.” Tue Sky Priot, by Ralph Connor (Hodder and Stoughton, 6s.) is no way, says the Guardian, belonging to the class of what are distinctively called “ religious novels,” but it is “one of that rare order of books which are. not only very good to read, but which the reader instinctively feels the better for haviug read.” In the district known as the Foothills, lying immediately beyond the great prairies and in the shadow of the Rockies, ‘the author has been fortu- nate in finding a scene which has the delight of novelty.” Donna TERESA, by Frances M. Peard (Macmillan, 6s.), “has very decided charm,” says Literature, and “is well worth reading for the characters of the two sisters and its admirable pictures of life in Italy.” Another figure is Wilbraham, the lover of both sisters. ‘‘ There is, a8 perhaps there should be,” says the Guardian, “the dagger of an Italian socialist to end it all tragically, and it is noticeable that Teresa only forgives, and never loves, Wilbraham.” Fro, by Max Pemberton (Hodder and Stoughton, 6s.), is a romance turning on a projected mésalliance between Austrian prince and opera singer, which it is the object of the princely family and their myrmidons to prevent at all hazards. “The reader,” says the Daily News, “is kept in a state of perpetual excitement and suspense from begin- ning to end”; while the Daily Telegraph calls it “a very readable story, pleasantly told.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 10 Issue 10 (March 1900) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 10 Issue 10 (March 1900) Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1900-03-01-The-Author-10-10 publications The Author