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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) 1902-02-01 Volume 12 Issue 7 Pages Page range in volume 109–132 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19020201 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin The Author. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) VOL. XII.—No. 7. FEBRUARY 1, 1902. [PRICE SIXPENCE. CONTENTS. PAGE 109 PAGE ... 120 *** ... 109 109 121 110 113 Notices ... The Pension Fund of the Society of Authors ... From the Committee ... ... ... * *** Book and Play Talk ... ... Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Property ... The Desirability of a Set of Standard Rules for Prin The Journalistic Free Lance... ... The Authors' Club ... ... ... General Memoranda ... ... ... Warnings to Dramatic Authors ..... How to Use the Society The Reading Branch ... ... ... Authorities ... ... ... The Advantages of Commission Publishing The Nobel Prize for Literature The Irish Literary Revival ... ... “Real People" in Fiction ... ... An Epitaph on a Nameless Grave ... Schoolboys and Literature ... Correspondence... ... ... ... 124 ... 125 125 *** ... 117 129 119 131 120 131 ... 120 182 PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 1. The Annual Report for the current year. 1s. 2. The Author. A Monthly Journal devoted especially to the protection and maintenance of Literary Property. Issued to all Members gratis. Price to non-members, 6d., or 58. 6d. per annum, post free. Back numbers from 1892, at 10s. 6d. per vol. 3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. MORRIS COLLES, Barrister-at-Law. 38. 4. The History of the Société des Gens de Lettres. By S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE. 1s. . The Cost of Production. (Out of print.) 6. The Various Methods of Publication. By S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE. In this work, compiled from the papers in the Society's offices, the various forms of agreements proposed by Publishers to Authors are examined, and their meaning carefully explained, with an account of the various kinds of fraud which have been made possible by the different clauses in their agreements. 38. Addenda to the Above. By G. HERBERT THRING. Being additional facts collected at the office of the Society since the publication of the “Methods.” With comments and advice. 2s. 7. Copyright Law Reform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill of 1890. With Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, the Berne Convention, and the American Copyright Bill. By J. M. LELY. ls. 6d. 8. The Society of Authors. A Record of its Action from its Foundation. By WALTER BESANT ( Chairman of Committee, 1888–1892). 1s. 9. The Contract of Publication in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. By ERNST LUNGE, J.U.D. 28. 6d. 10. Forms of Agreement issued by the Publishers' Association; with Comments. By G. HERBERT THRING, and Illustrative Examples by Sir WALTER BESANT. 2nd Edition. 1s. [All prices net. Apply to the Secretary, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W.] ## p. 108 (#504) ############################################ ADVERTISEMENTS. The Society of Authors (Incorporated). PRESIDENT. GEORGE MEREDITH. COUNCIL SIR EDWIN ARNOLD, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. A. M, BARRIE. A. W. A BECKETT. ROBERT BATEMAN. H. E. BEDDARD, F.R.S. SIR HENRY BERGNE, K.C.M.G. JUGUSTINE BIRRELL, K.C. THE REV. PROF. BONNEY, F.R.S. THE RIGHT HON. JAMES BRYCE, M.P. THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD BURGH- CLERE. HALL CAINE. EGERTON CASTLE, F.S.A. P. W. CLAYDEN. EDWARD CLODD. W. MORRIS COLLES. THE HON, JOHN COLLIER. SIR W, MARTIN CONWAY. MRS. CRAIGIE. F. MARION CRAWFORD. THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD CURZON OF KEDLESTON: | AUSTIN DOBSON. A. CONAN DOYLE, M.D." A. W. DUBOURG. Sir MICHAEL FOSTER, K.C.B., M.P., F.R.S. D. W. FRESHFIELD, RICHARD GARNETT, C.B., LL.D. EDMUND GOSSE. SYDNEY GRUNDY. H. RIDER HAGGARD. MRS. HARRISON (LUCAS MALET). THOMAS HARDY. ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS. JEROME K. JEROME. J. SCOTT KELTIE, LL.D. RUDYARD KIPLING. PROF. E. RAY LANKESTER, F.R.S. THE RIGHT HON.W.E, H. LECKY, M.P. J. M. LELY. THE REV. W. J. LOFTIE, F.S.A. SIR A. C. MACKENZIE, Mus. Doc. PROF. J. M. D, MEIKLEJOHN. THE REV. C. H. MIDDLETON-WAKE. SIR LEWIS MORRIS. HENRY NORMAN, M.P. GILBERT PARKER, M.P. J. C. PARKINSON, A. W. PINERO. THE Right Hon. THE LORD PIB. BRIGHT, F.R.S SIR FREDERICK POLLOCK, Bart., LL.D. WALTER HERRIES POLLOCK. E. ROSE. W. BAPTISTE SCOONES, OWEN SEAMAN. Miss FLORA L, SHAW. G. R. SIMs. S, SQUIRE SPRIGGE, J. J. STEVENSON. FRANCIS STORR. WILLIAM MOY THOMAS. MRS. HUMPHRY WARD, Hon. Counsel – E. M. UNDERDOWN, K.C. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT, Chairman-A. HOPE HAWKINS. A. W. A BECKETT. A. CONAN DOYLE, M.D. D. W. FRESHFIELD. SYDNEY GRUNDY. J. M. LELY. HENRY NORMAN, M.P, FRANCIS STORR, GILBERT PARKER, M.P. E. ROSE. OWEN SEAMAN, SUB-COMMITTEES. ART. Hon. JOHN COLLIER (Chairman). I SIR W. MARTIN CONWAY. I M. H. SPIELMANN, COPYRIGHT. A. W. À BECKETT, A. HOPE HAWKINS. J. M. LELY. W. M. COLLES. GILBERT PARKER, M.P. DRAMA. HENRY ARTHUR JONES (Chairman). F. C. BURNAND. A. W. PINERO. A. W. A BECKETT. SYDNEY GRUNDY, EDWARD ROSE. Sinitore_SFIELD, ROSCOE, and Co., Lincoln's Inn Fields. 1 G. HERBERT THRING, 39, Old Queen Street, S.W. Secretary-G. HERBERT THRING. OFFICES : 39, OLD QUEEN STREET, STOREY'S GATE, S.W. ## p. 109 (#505) ############################################ The Author. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT. . --- VOL. XII.-- No. 7. FEBRUARY 1ST, 1902. {PRICE SIXPENCE. --- - - - CHANGE OF ADDRESS. Nov. 21, Balfour, A. ..... Nov. 22, Risley, J. ......... Nov. 25, Walker, W. S........ 0 0 1 5 5 0 0 0 0 ha ofice of the Incorporated The office of the Incorporated Society of Authors has been removed to- 39, OLD QUEEN STREET, STOREY'S GATE, S.W. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS. Nov. 25, Vaux, P. .... Nov. 25, Lambe, Lawrence ........ Jan. 17, Prelooker, J. .... ....... 1 1 0 1 1 5 0 (0) 0 NOTICE. - FROM THE COMMITTEE M HE EDITOR begs to inform members of the I Authors' Society and other readers of The Author that the cases which are from time to time quoted in The Author are cases that have come before the notice or to the knowledge of the Secretary of the Society, and that those members of the Society who desire to have the names of the publishers concerned can obtain them on application. THE PENSION FUND OF THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS. THE following is the total of donations and 1 subscriptions promised or received up to the 17th January, 1902. Further sums will be acknowledged from month to month as they are received, as it has been con- sidered unnecessary to print the full list with every issue. Donations .. .......£1439 16 6 Subscriptions .................... 106 7 6 The Work of the Society. D URING the past month the Secretary has U taken up seven cases on behalf of members, three dealing with accounts, three concern- ing MSS., and one for money due. So far none of these have been settled, but favour- able replies have been received in the majority of cases from the publishers and editors concerned. From the former cases there are still a few out- standing which, no doubt, will be standing which, no doubt, will be settled in due course. Four cases have gone into the hands of the Society's solicitors to be carried through the Courts, one against a publisher for the amount due and unpaid on an account rendered ; two against a magazine proprietor for non-payment of the amount due to the author ; and one, a serious matter of infringement of copyright. At the Committee meeting held at the beginning of the year, Mr. Gilbert Parker, Mr. A. Hope Hawkins, and Mr. J. M. Lely were re-elected members of that body. It was decided to re- publish the inset in the January number as a pamphlet, and, where possible, with an authorita- tive statement from the editors of the magazines and papers concerned. A serious case of plagiarism was brought to the notice of the Committee, but it is impossible, as the question has not yet been settled, to say anything further on this matter. The steps taken with regard to the Nobel Prize are fully set out in another part of the paper. DONATIONS. Nov. 9, Dale, Miss ...... Oct. 10, Harrison, Mrs. (Lucas Malet) Oct. 15, Rossi, Miss L. .... Oct. 25, Potter, M. H. ............ Oct. 30, Stanley, Mrs. .... VOL. XII. 2 11 5 5 0 10 0 12 0 10 0 0 6 0 0 IV, 1wObi, L10. 11. . .. ....... ## p. 110 (#506) ############################################ 110 THE AUTHOR. . ON OR · · · · · Infelix · · · · NON SONO or error · · · · · · · · At the meeting of the Committee on January 20th, Scoones, W. Baptiste . seven new members and associates were elected, Sims, George R. i . . . . 5 0 0 making in all for the current year twenty-one Sprigge, S. S. . elections. Stevenson, J. J.. . . . . 2 2 0 Mr. A. Hope Hawkins was unanimously elected Ward, Mrs. Humphry Chairman for 1902, and it was decided by the Committee to elect also annually a Vice-Chairman. Donations from Members and Others. Mr. A. W. à Beckett was appointed to the post. Bell, Mackenzie . . . 1 1 0 The Committee, under the Rules of the Pension Bentwich, Herbert . .. . . . 1 1 0 Fund Scheme, re-elected Mr. A. W. à Beckett as Boevey, Miss Crawley. . . . ( 10 0 their nominee on the Pension Fund Committee Clarke, Cecil .. . 1 1 0 for the current year. The Society, at its general Cordeaux, Miss K. M. . . . ( 10 6 meeting, will elect its nominee in due course. Dale, Miss Nellie . 0 10 6 Notice of this will be given subsequently. Davey, Mrs. E. M. Other matters of business were conducted at E. S. B. . 0 5 the meeting, but owing to their confidential Henderson, Miss Florence character, there was nothing to report. . . . . . 5 0 Jacobs, W. W.. Besant Memorial. Kelly, C. A. . . . . 22 . Donations from Lowndes, Mrs. Belloc. Members of the Council. Maartens, Maarten . Meredith, George, President of the McKinny, S. B. G. . 1 1 Society £10 0 0 Moncrieff, A. R. Hope à Beckett, A. W. . 1 1 0 P. . . . Barrie, J. M. . 5 5 0 Polkinghorne, Miss Ruby 188 Ruby K.. , 0 5 0 Bateman, Robert Spielmann, M. H. Beddard, F. E. . . . . 2 20 2 Stanton, Miss H. M. E. Bonney, Rev. T. G. Stretton, Miss Hesba . Caine, T. Hall, amount dependent on Toynbee, William . 1 1 0 what sum required Watt, A. P. & Son .. . 26 5 0 Clodd, Edward . . . . 1 1 0 Wilkins, W. H. . 1 1 0 Colles, W. M. , . 5 0 Wilson, Miss Aphra .. . 1 1 0 Collier, The Honble. John . 1 1 0 Woods, Miss M. A. . . 1 1 0 Conway, Sir W. Martin 1 1 0 Zangwill, I. . . . . . 1 1 0 Craigie, Mrs. . 2 2 0 Dobson, Austin . . . 1 1 0 Doyle, A. Conan. . 15 0 0 BOOK AND PLAY TALK. Dubourg, A. W.. 2 2 0 Foster, Sir Michael, M. P., Freshfield, D. W. D • R. CONAN DOYLE has just published his 5 0 0 1 Garnett, Richard . 3 3 0 - important pamphlet, “ The War in South Gosse, Edmund. Africa: Its Cause and Conduct” (Smith, . Grundy, Sydney . Elder and Newnes). It is an exhaustive reply to . 2 2 0 Haggard, H. Rider . the charges made by foreign and English Pro-Boers 3 3 0 Hardy, Thomas . . against our soldiers and our statesmen in connec- 2 2 0 Harrison, Mrs. (Lucas Ma tion with the war in South Africa. The price of Hawkins, A. Hope . . 10 0 0 the pamphlet is 6d. Every public man and every Jerome K. Jerome . 220) newspaper in the country will receive a copy. Keltie, J. Scott . 1 1 0 Further, it is to be translated into five European Kipling, Rudyard 0 0 languages, and every deputy, statesman, and news- Lely, J. M. paper editor is to have a copy. The American Loftie, Rev. W. J. 1 1 0 rights have been given to the M'Clure Company on Middleton-Wake, Rev. C. 2 2 0 certain conditions. By wide, selected distribution Norman, Henry. 1 1 0 Dr. Doyle hopes to place what he is convinced is Parker, Gilbert. 3 30 the truth before every responsible person who has Pinero, A. W.. 5 5 0 repeated or believed these charges. Pollock, Sir F.. . 1 1 0 Dr. Doyle has of late been busy with his revised Rose, Edward . . 2 20 edition of “ The Great Boer War.” He means to . · · . · · · . . · · · . · · . · . · · · · . . · · · . · · . · . NOT 8106 - NCN co vs ONONCS NO CO CO O NON · · · · · . . . . . .... . . . . .... . . . co . .... . . . ## p. 111 (#507) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 111 issue in the near future a complete edition of his road of Life," " Cupid's Toll-Gate," and “ In Many novels. “A Study in Scarlet” was his first book, a Land” are good examples of the writer in his then came “Micah Clarke.” His “The White lighter moments. Company" had a great success. His world-famed The Rev. Cornelius Wetherby, late rector of St. “Sherlock Holmes,” in its sixpenny form, sold to Paul's, Old Charlton, S.E., has published through the extent of 150,000 copies in a phenomenally Skeffington & Son a book called “In the Palace of short time. Wisdom”: being some modern applications of the Mr. E. W. Hornung's new story, “The Shadow Book of Proverbs. In his Preface the author says : of the Rope," is now running in Messrs. Tillotson's In the following pages I speak of Solomon as the author Syndicate of Papers, and in Munsey's Magazine of the Book of Proverbs, by which I commit myself to no more than that which is implied in the opening words of it. across the water. It is for the critic to determine the question of authorship, It will be published by Messrs. Chatto and Windus and for the theologian to examine that of inspiration : I in England, and Messrs. Scribner's Sons in New would come in as a practical person, accepting a book which York. the Church has placed in Holy Writ, and endeavouring to apply its old-world teachings to the problems of our modern Mr. Kipling's poem, “ The Islanders," which life. Many of these papers were originally sermons ; but appeared in the Times early last month, has they have been recast into a form more suitable for private aroused a wide-spread and hotly animated dis- reading, and set free from the restrictions which the pulpit lays upon illustrations, style, and language. cussion. In fact, Mr. Kipling has raised a species of tumult among athletes. Mr. Poultney Bigelow, who went to Washington for the Annual Session of the American Historical Rita's trenchant article on the “ Vulgarity of the Association, has been invited to give a series of Age” has created quite a controversy in the addresses on the German Army and its relation to columns of the Daily Chronicle. The severity of American interests before some of the most impor- her strictures was bound to awaken criticism. tant Universities. He is due in England this month. This well-known novelist will publish her new Mr. Lucien Wolf, who is intensely interested in novel early in the spring, through Messrs. Hutchin- international politics, and whose well-informed son & Co. political articles in the Fortnightly, signed “ Dip- Miss Rosa Nouchette Carey, whose last novel, lomaticus,” are widely known, is now writing a “ Herb of Grace," is doing so well, has a new novel history of the Triple Alliance. It will be a in hand. She is not at present writing any short serious study of the diplomatic history of Europe or serial stories. during the last thirty years, and will contain a Allen Raine's new novel, “A Welsh Witch,” is chapter on the question of. alliance as raised by being published by Messrs. Hutchinson & Co., that recent events. firm having bought the copyright. Allen Raine's That the author is “ Diplomaticus” should be a previous novels, “ A Welsh Singer," “ Torn Sails," guarantee that the book will be based on first-hand By Berwen Banks,” and “Garthowen,” were material. Mr. Wolf hopes to complete it about brought out by the same firm. the middle of the year. Anthony Treherne & Co. Mrs. Alexander's latest novel, “ The Yellow will publish it. Fiend” (Fisher Unwin), has gone into a second Mr. Archibald Dunn, author of “Bridge, and large edition. The first edition was exhausted How to Play It," which has already reached a immediately. seventh edition, is publishing another volume on Mr. F. B. Doveton's “Mirth and Music,” a the same subject. It is called “New Ideas on pretty volume in green (28. 6d. nett), contains Bridge.” In it the author has dealt with the many verses both musical and mirthful. Some of them points of contention at present agitating the minds should be set to music, for they are tuneful and of Bridge players. In particular, he advances a singable. There is, for instance, a charming little novel theory as to “Declarations” and “Doubling," thing, “The Rose Bush ”; there are also “ Wasted which is not unlikely to revolutionise existing Kisses," “ Christmas Roses," “ Rest Thee, Flut methods, and to result in placing these two diffi- tering Heart," “ The Poppies in the Corn," and culties of the game on a thoroughly sound and “ My Lost Lady." solid basis. “Goldielocks" is a pretty fancy, put into verse Crampton's Magazine is now in the hands of that goes with a lilt. In “ The Approach of Anthony Treherne & Co. The editor is Mr. Spring " Mr. Doveton shows that he can write a Harold Tremayne, author of “Dross” and pretty poem informed with true feeling ; while in “Reminiscences of a Gentleman Horse-Dealer.” · The Larger Hope," and "To an Orthodox Messrs. Heywood & Company, Ltd., have in hand, Friend," the author strikes a deeper note. “A and well advanced, a most elaborate subscription Tale of Two Topers” recalls Hood. “The Rail. work, which has been limited to a comparatively ## p. 112 (#508) ############################################ 112 THE AUTHOR. subjectis brilliantly given us small number of sets, the subscription being ten form the chief attraction of Japanese works of art. Their guineas. This work, “ The British Empire in the wrists are supple; the picture in their minds is sure; they have learnt it line for line ; it is merely the matter of a few First Year of the 20th Century : Its Capital Cities minutes for an artist to sketch in his picture." and Notable Men," is to be issued in two volumes, and will contain over 400 illustrations and por- " Jane Austen : Her Homes and Her Friends," traits, produced by various expensive processes. by Constance Hill; illustrations by Ellen G. Hill, There will be appendices, giving in brief form a and reproductions in photogravure, etc., 21s. nett mass of statistical, historical, and biographical (John Lane), is a charming addition to Jane information. Austen literature. In his review of the volume The compilation of the work is in the hands of (Jan. Bookman) Dr. Richard Garnett says :- (Ja Mr. W. Eden Hooper, who compiled “ The Stock “What Miss Ellen Hill is in the artistic, Miss Constance Exchange in 1900," fully subscribed at ten guineas; Hill is in the literary department of the subject. She pro- also “ The Stage in 1900.” This latter work in- fessedly does nothing but glean and piece together; there is scarcely a detail in her book which is not strictly accurate cluded amongst its supporters His Majesty the and matter-of-fact; and yet the result is a more vivid por- King, who bought it for his Sandringham library. trait of Jane Austen than we have hitherto seen. Probably The present work is under the direct patronage of this is the only way in which so shy and retiring a character H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, the Duke of can be exhibited. With such subjects, conscious attempts at portraiture become exaggeration ; the only way is to let Connaught, and a number of distinguished noble- them speak for themselves, and though Miss Austen has not men, ambassadors, and statesmen throughout the told us much about herself, the little she does say is deeply Empire. significant." In “ Barry Sullivan and His Contemporaries” In “Robespierre: A Study” (Nisbet, 168.), (Fisher Unwin; 2 vols., 218. nett), Mr. Robert M. M. Hilaire Belloc has quite recently given us a Sillard has just given us an exhaustive, accurate, companion volume to his brilliant “Danton." and extremely interesting account of a famous Though the latter subject, the “sea-green incor- actor-an actor whom some old play-goers hold to ruptible,” is not at all fascinating, M. Belloc's be the greatest tragic actor of the last half century. study is of vivid interest. It is a masterly bit of Helen Faucit declared he was the best actor with historical work on the personal side. whom she had ever played. Mrs. Archibald Little, author of “Intimate There are also accounts of all the celebrated China," etc., etc., has just published “In the Land actors and actresses of his day in England, America, of the Blue Gown" (21s.). It is profusely illus- and Australia. These volumes of reference will trated. Mrs. Little, who knows her central and be of lasting value to all who are interested in southern China, describes the state of affairs up to theatrical biography. the moment of the Boxer outbreak. There are Among the important illustrated books which chapters on unexplained riots in the west of China, have appeared recently, two are especially note- the results of missionary effort, and the advance worthy. One is “ The Confessions of a Carica of the anti-footbinding movement. Mrs. Little turist,” which is the autobiography of Mr. Harry carried credentials owing to which she was received Furniss (2 vols., 32s.). There are over three by various highly-placed mandarins. hundred illustrations, many having been made for Mr. John Murray is publishing a volume of these volumes. The author sketches his career traditional Irish stories, translated by Lady from his earliest days to his arrival in London at Gregory, widow of Sir William Gregory. The the age of nineteen, and from that time to his title of this collection is“ Cuchulain of Muirthemne.” appointment on the staff of Punch. This is a very Mrs. Edith Wharton's new story is called “The readable and entertaining book. Valley of Decision." This accomplished writer The second is “ Japan: A Record in Colour," I in Colour," he has already published “A Gift from the Grave," by Mr. Mortimer Menpes (A. and C. Black, 208. "The Greater Inclination,” and “Crucial Instances." nett). There are a hundred illustrations, carefully Mr. Thomas Hardy's “Under the Greenwood reproduced from Mr. Menpes' pictures. The Tree" is now included in the St. Martin's Library enthusiastic author's stories, criticisms of and (Chatto and Windus). Mr. Hall Caine's “The remarks on Japanese life are piquant, and striking. Deemster”; R. L. Stevenson's “Familiar Studies Of Japanese art and artists he says :- of Men and Books"; and Charles Reade's famous "We Westerners are taught to draw direct from the historical novel, “The Cloister and the Hearth," object or model before us on the platform, whereas the Japanese are taught to study every detail of their model, are also published in this series of pocket volumes. and to store their brains with impressions of every curve (Cloth, 2s, nett ; leather, 3s. nett.) and line, afterwards to go away and draw that object from An Exhibition of original Water Colours, and memory. ... It is this certainty of touch and their power to execute these bold, sweeping, decided lines that Black and White Drawings and Studies by Gordon ## p. 113 (#509) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 113 Browne, R.I., is on view at Messrs. Matthews and LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL Brooke's Bijou Art Saloon, Bradford. Mr. Gordon Browne, a son of the celebrated Hablot Knight PROPERTY. Browne (“ Phiz"), is a prolific artist. He is principally known from his contributions to Punch. He has illustrated Shakespeare, Defoe, Swift, I.-Musical Performing Rights. Bunyan, Stevenson, Scott, Pemberton, Crockett, Grimm, Andersen, etc., etc. Dexterity, charm, O WING to the fact that the performing rights refinement and humour are the distinguishing U in a piece of music are, as a general rule, qualities of his art. looked upon as of less value than the per- We understand that “ The Serious Wooing," by forming rights of a drama, it has been brought about John Oliver Hobbes, is to be translated for “La that a great many musicians and even composers Revue des Deux Mondes.” Mrs. Craigie is at are ignorant that there is any property existing in musical authorship beyond the copyright-i.e., the present engaged on a serial for Harper's Magazines. . • ' right of reproducing copies of the work. Mr. H. A. Jones's well-known comedy, “ The The reason for this peculiar state of affairs is as Liars," has been added to the edition of his plays follows: A song or piece of music obtains a large published by Messrs. Macmillan. advertisement by being played by musicians and Mr. Stephen Phillips's new drama, “ Ulysses," others, in consequence of which the composer, as a will be published in book form this month by Mr. general rule, is only too glad to get his piece per- John Lane. formed in order to obtain that advertisement, Mr. Frankfort Moore has written a one-act play, thereby securing a large sale of the copies of his which will be produced at an entertainment in aid work, on which he receives his royalty, from of the new Nurses' Home, Charing Cross Hospital, which he makes his money. to be held on 10th and 11th inst. in the Ball With regard to the drama the contrary holds, Room of the Savoy Hotel. There are also to be namely, that there is practically, no money in the tableaux designed and arranged by Messrs. George pubi publication of a dramatic piece in book form, but Frampton, A.R.A., J. J. Shannon, A.R.A., and the dramatist obtains his reward by the royalties J. M. Swan, A.R.A. Miss Viola Tree is to dance. from the performing rights. A case recently heard in the Courts (Moul v. By Royal command, Mr. Martin Harvey and his Coronet Theatre, Ltd.) brings the point again company gave a performance of “A Cigarette strongly before the public, and shows that a very Maker's Romance" at Sandringham on the evening large property may be established by the reservation of Jan. 11th. The scenery was taken from Eaton of performing rights, if musical composers chose by Hall, where a performance of this play had been a strong combination and a firm front to market given earlier in the week. The play ended shortly their wares judiciously, instead of giving them after midnight, and was a distinct success. Mr. away to the public or the publisher. and Mrs. Martin Harvey (Miss de Silva) were In England as also in Germany, it is essential presented to the King and Queen, who expressed that, if the musical composer desires to retain his their pleasure at the performance. rights, he should have a notice printed on the Before taking possession of his theatre about title-page stating that the performing rights are Easter, Mr. Edward Terry will go on a short reserved. The Musical Copyright Act of 1882, provincial tour. On his return he will appear in which is commonly known as Wall's Act, com- a new play by Captain Basil Hood. pelled this course. It was passed owing to a pecu- We understand that Miss Ethel Smyth's new liar method of trickery indulged in by a Mr. Wall opera, “ Der Wald,” will shortly be produced at that was prejudicial to the public welfare. the Berlin Royal Opera. Miss Smyth's opera, In sundry cases, however, where a German pub- “ Fantasio," founded on the play by Alfred de lisher has been asked by an English musician Musset, is in the repertory of the Weimar and desirous of performing a piece in public whether Carlsruhe Opera Houses. It has been revived he knew in whom the performing rights of the frequently. piece were vested, he has replied that he did not Madam Sarah Bernhardt's revival of Sardou's know that there was such a thing as performing “ Theodora” is proving an immense success. rights as distinct from the copyright. It is not Though it is ten years since she first impersonated likely, judging from experience, that English this rôle, this marvellous actress and extraordinary musical publishers are equally ignorant, yet it is woman seems, in the part, younger than ever. The worth while to put strongly before those members seven scenes of the play form a series of the most of the profession of musical composers the fact brilliant spectacles yet seen on the French stage. that if they chose to band themselves together ## p. 114 (#510) ############################################ 114 THE AUTHOR. they could create by their efforts, slowly yet ment, to ask for the sale of copyright and other surely, a large property for themselves and a rights, which may be most valuable, which had larger property for the younger members of the never been mentioned in the first instance, profession. If the author is not full of knowledge as to his legal position, he is led, trusting to the position of the firm, to believe that everything is in order. The attention of the Secretary of the Society II.-Notes on Agreement Clauses. has again been drawn to this point, which is really SOME years ago a curious case was published in a very serious one, and it appears extraordinary “ the Addenda to the Methods of Publishing" issued that one of the best houses in London should con- by the Society, in which an author offered a book duct their business in such a slack way as to lay to one of the best known publishing firms in themselves open to the charge of endeavouring to London, and the firm offered to publish the book get the better of an author by methods of this for him on the royalty basis. The book was an kind. The usual excuse put forward is that the exceedingly good one, and the royalty was fair as terms settled by conversation or by letter were between author and publisher. The author con- handed to a clerk in the office to embody in the sented to the terms, and asked the publisher to agreement, and that the agreement was the usual embody them in a formal agreement. A few days printed form. This does not appear to be a afterwards he received a printed form of agree- satisfactory excuse, and the representatives of the firm must be held responsible for the mistakes of ment. This agreement, in addition to other clauses, their clerks. contained the following :- Do these mistakes ever occur in favour of the author ? We have never seen that this is the “ The copyright in this work and translations thereof, case. including all copyright, foreign, and other rights under Once more the danger of authors assigning existing or future treaties or conventions with America or other foreign countries, and under the Canadian Copyright their copyright without the full knowledge of Act, 1875, and any other present or future Canadian or what that assignment conveys must be impressed Colonial Act, and all rights of translation and reproduction, upon them. and all other Imperial, Colonial, and foreign rights which This case, however, affords an additional point now, or during the continuance of the legal term of copy- right, shall be or shall become appurtenant to the pro for discussion at the present time. It will be seen prietor of the copyright of the work, shall be the property that from the latter part of the clause quoted, the of the said publishers subject to the payment to the said publisher is entitled to 50 per cent. on the sale of author of a royalty of per cent. on the retail price of the first 1,500 copies sold, and in the shilling on the re. the author's rights. These are the minor rights tail price of all copies of the English edition sold beyond which are generally dealt with by the agent on the first 1,500 copies, and one half of any profits which behalf of the author. may be realised from the rights of translation and re- Mr. Heinemann has been objecting for certain production, or any other Imperial, Colonial, or foreign rights, which now, or during the continuance of the legal reasons to the employment of the agent by the term of copyright, shall be or become appurtenant author, and has stated that he considers the to the propietor of the copyright of the work, or from the agent's charges from the author's point of view sale of early sheets or stereotype plates of the said work in are too high. He should, however, refer to his the United States or elsewhere." own agreements, and authors will see that in the · The author, on receipt of the agreement, thought, case put before them above the publisher is asking of course, that it embodied the terms which had 50 per cent. been previously offered to him, namely, the right It is not likely, therefore, that the author will of the publisher to publish subject to an agreed ask the publisher to negotiate these rights when royalty, and was about to sign it. He, however, the agent will negotiate them at the confessedly asked the advice of the Society before taking this extravagant price of 10 per cent. step, and was at once shown the important differ- Again, as has already been pointed out, it is the ence between the original offer and the agreement. agent's business to know all the ready markets The author thereupon wrote to the publisher, and for these minor and secondary rights, and this is pointed out the difference. The agreement was not the the case with the publisher. promptly altered to conform with the original One point more. statement. There is no objection whatever to the The agent knows the value of his client's publisher stating that he would offer the author work when selling these secondary rights. The the royalty subject only to the transfer of all the publisher, as a general rule, does not know, and copyright and other rights to the firm, but it is cares less. not fair business to offer to publish a book on a Cases have been brought to this office, which fixed royalty, and then when sending in the agree- have been mentioned in The Author, where a ## p. 115 (#511) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 115 publisher has sold serial rights in a book at the paper exchanged for the right one. Then, again, ridiculously low price of £30, where an author the defendant's was a morning paper, and the sale was accustomed to obtain at least £100. The of it was practically over before the plaintiffs' was danger of conveying these rights to the publisher on sale, and therefore it could not be said to come is very great indeed. into serious competition with the plaintiffs' paper. It is bad for the author's market and it is In all the circumstances he came to the conclusion bad for the author's pocket, and reduces his that the plaintiffs had failed to make out a chance of success, as well as his rights, to a case for the intervention of the Court, and the minimum. action would therefore be dismissed with costs.-- From the Daily Graphic. III.-Is a Title Copyright ? In the Chancery Division some little time back Mr. Justice Swinfen-Eady gave judgment in the IV.-Continental Piracy. case of Willox v. Pearson.—The plaintiffs asked for From time to time members of the Society have an injunction to restrain the defendant from had sound reasons for complaining of the piracy of publishing, selling, or offering for sale a news their works in foreign countries, but have taken paper called the North Express, or under any no steps to stop this piracy, chiefly because they other title in which the word “Express " was used, feel that if the matter was carried to its final issue, on the ground that it was likely to lead the public it would not be worth while to commence an to believe that it was an edition of the plaintiffs' action in a foreign country for the recovery of no newspaper, the Evening Express, both papers very large amount. It is necessary, therefore, to being published in Liverpool.-The judge said the put before the members that many pirates do not plaintiffs were the proprietors of the Evening care to have their methods exposed, and rather Express, an old-established newspaper, with which than run the risk of such exposure will pay a was associated the Liverpool Courier. Their reasonable sum if they are worried into it, although paper was known throughout Liverpool and Lan it may well be that the author would not take cashire as the Express, and it had a large circu- action in the Courts on account of the expense lation. On December 2nd the defendant, Mr. and trouble involved. Arthur Pearson, published in Liverpool a paper Members should remember these additional called the North Express. Since that time the facts, that the Society has a correspondent in plaintiffs complained that the defendant's paper America, and that it has obtained considerable had been called out in the streets of Liverpool assistance from the Société des Gens de Lettres in as the Express, and that it was so folded and Paris, and that only last year it succeeded in ob- exposed for sale on the bookstalls and counters of taining a sum for the piracy of a story in Madrid, newsagents that the title “ Express " only was ex- by first applying to the English Consul, and then, posed to view, and that consequently in some cases through the Consular lawyer, to the pirate. people who wanted to buy the plaintiffs' paper The same member of the Society for whom the found that they had got the defendant's. The fact money was recovered in Madrid, has recently re- of the plaintiffs' paper being known as the Ex- covered a sum for the piracy of a story in Ger- press did not give them any exclusive right to many. The following is a statement of the case. that title. Sir John Willox admitted that the He sold to a German publisher the right of pub- appearance of his paper and the defendant's was lication in that country. Some time afterwards entirely different, and that there had been no another German publisher who had reproduced attempt on the part of the defendant to pass. his many translations of the same author's work paper off as the plaintiffs'. The evidence of the under the usual form of contract discovered that plaintiffs came to this, that street vendors of the the story referred to was being pirated in a defendant's paper had sometimes called out Ec- bowdlerised edition. He wrote to the author to press, and that people intending to purchase the that effect. The German publisher who held the plaintiffs' paper at bookstalls and newsagents' had rights of translation granted to the author the taken up or had given to them the defendant's right to take action in the matter, waiving any paper instead. But people who purchased news claim he himself might have in the book, as he papers were supposed to be able to read, and if was equally anxious that the pirate should be they had done so they would have immediately punished. discovered their mistake, and in the instances in The author employed the publisher who first which the customers had been deceived they had, discovered the infringement to act for him, and in fact, within a few minutes discovered their mis- through his agency obtained a sum from the take, and had come back to the seller and got the pirate. These facts are very interesting and of no ## p. 116 (#512) ############################################ 116 THE AUTHOR. little importance to members, for there is no question was going to be discussed in the Courts, the doubt that every time a member whose rights are publisher having to pay the costs of the case. infringed in foreign countries enforces those It would be presumptuous to advise a firm of rights, or exposes the action of the pirate, to that publishers on their methods of doing business, extent is the position of literary property strength- but it is surely more economical to pay the ened in the country, and it is by similar methods amounts due to authors at the proper dates that the Society gradually strengthened the position than to pay the amounts with additional sums of literary property in England, and brought to the for costs. members of the profession of letters, whether It is satisfactory to know that with the members of the Society or not, knowledge and Society's aid these matters have been settled. assistance which they had not before. THE DESIRABILITY OF A SET OF V.–Cases. STANDARD RULES FOR PRINTING. The following cutting is taken from the Daily Graphic :- M HE answers I have already received to the In the Westminster County Court the case of Churton v 1 questions contained in my article in last Calvert, Kesterton, and Co. was tried, an action by a young month's Author, p. 98, show a much more general lady living in Norwood to recover one guinea as nominal interest, than I had hoped for, in the subject of a damages for alleged infringement of copyright. The plain- tiff's case was that she wrote a tale, and gave to the Favourite standard set of rules for printing. The unanimous Magazine the right of publishing it once for the sum of desire for such a set of rules, and the many good £1, which amount she had been paid. She had since dis- wishes expressed that I may be able to formulate covered, however, that the defendants had published the one. is indeed most gratifying and will help to same tale in the Crystal Palace Magazine, and that, she con- tended, they had no right to do, as she never sold the copy. cheer me while devoting my best energies to right.--Mr. Calvert, a member of the defendants' firm, co-ordinate the very valuable suggestions which appeared, and said that his case was that the plaintiff had have been so kindly sent to me. Some of the sued the wrong people. The judge held that there was no suggestions as to details are 80 diametrically sale to the defendants of the copyright, and that the Farourite Magazine had no authority to pass the manu. opposed that I am doubtful-whatever the final script on. In these circumstances, he gave judgment for result-whether there will be any of those good the plaintiff for one guinea damages, and allowed her the wishes left for the writer, by the time the final costs of coming from Norwood. form is reached ! The action will be interesting to members of As the answers are still coming in, it is of our Society, because it was undertaken by the course impossible to give at present any analysis Committee, and because the case bears on the 18th of results. May I beg those who have not yet Section of the Act. done so, to send me their opinions as soon as they The plaintiff's contention is fully set forth. conveniently can ? For as I said in my previous The defendants maintained that the copyright was article, I should like to have sent to me at theirs under the 18th Section of the Act, as there Iddesleigh, Torquay, as many answers as possible, had been no formal agreement, and secondly, that dealing with Mr. Hart's “Rules for Compositors the plaintiff was suing the wrong person. and Readers.” As will be seen, the decision of the judge held I should be glad to have also lists of words that that there was no sale to the defendants of the are spelt in more than one way, or references to copyright, and a verdict was given for the plaintiff. such lists, as there seems a general desire to have The sum recovered was not a large amount, but Mr. Hart's “Rules” considerably expanded in the principle is one of importance. this direction : for it to contain if possible the correct spelling of all such doubtful words as Hindoo, Hindu ; yelk, yolk; and so forth. A very distinguished etymologist in a long reply Two cases have been brought by an author concludes his letter by touching upon a point against the same publisher in the course of a few which would be out of place in any rules for months. compositors only, but which is remarkably in place The first was for a small sum on an account in the columns of a paper for anthors. He allows stated, and the publisher paid the amount on the me to quote the paragraph, which is as follows:- day before the suinmons was returnable. “There is one rule to observed, which you do This second matter was for an account and for not notice, though it is of supreme importance: any further sums that might be due, and again and that is, that the author shall present his copy the publisher settled the matter only when the in such a state as to be easily legible. There is a ## p. 117 (#513) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 117 tradition among some authors, that a crabbed is the market in question a large one, but it is also writing is given to a clever compositor, and there- a remarkably wide one. It is to this circumstance fore one ought to write badly. The gross selfish- that the contributor who writes on the chance ness of this is simply shameful, and deserves entire of acceptance, instead of in response to a definite reprobation. A man who is a gentleman will commission, is indebted for the greater portion of make his copy legible for the express purpose of his income. This is because if his article be enabling the compositor to earn more wages (and declined by one paper, there are so many others to to save his eyesight]. On this account I have which he may submit it, that, sooner or later, he carefully cultivated a rather coarse kind of writing, is almost bound to find an opening for it. Editors, which I use especially for press-copy. It may not too, though possessed no doubt of “great minds," look æsthetic, but I defy anyone to misread it. most certainly do not “think alike," and it is Of course, in letters, one is not quite so careful: one of the unattached journalist's most common but here also it is highly desirable.” experiences to find that work which is declined F. HOWARD COLLINS. with and without thanks by one periodical is Iddesleigh, Torquay. effusively welcomed by others. In evidence of this I would put forward two or three instances from among a large number of such that have occurred in my own case. THE JOURNALISTIC FREE LANCE. A little time ago when the question of military (BY ONE OF THEM.) canteens was absorbing--for reasons which need not be here referred to--a good deal of public attention, I wrote a short article on the subject. CCORDING to the general consensus of The editors of eleven papers rejected it in turn, A opinion, the way of the “free-lance” being unable apparently to discern its high literary journalist is very similar to that which we merits. On its twelfth journey through the post, are authoritatively told is reserved for trans- however, it met with better fortune, for it was then gressors. On this account innumerable warnings accepted by the Pall Mall Gazette. Among the have from time to time been delivered against periodicals declining it may be mentioned the embarking on the career, and “awful examples” Westminster Gazette, St. James's Gazette, Chambers' of individuals who have done so in defiance of Journal, Daily Mail, and Morning Post. In the such counsels are continually being dragged into same way, the Pall Mall Gazette has declined a publicity which they themselves would willingly contributions which have subsequently appeared in shun. Even such past masters of the craft as the the Westminster Gazette, and Vanity Fair has said late Mr. Grant Allen and Robert Buchanan had no an uncompromising "No" to matter that the good words to say for it, although each of them World has hospitably said “Yes” to. Similarly for many years derived from its practice incomes with regard to the magazines. Two articles of which to the majority of “free lances" must mine were successively rejected by Pearson's, seem beyond the dreams of even twentieth century Cassell's, the English Illustrated, and the Windsor. avarice. The former, for example, once placed it When I sent them to the Strand, however, they on record as his settled conviction that, so far were promptly accepted. Again, stories declined as financial results are concerned, the sweeping by the Royal have been purchased by Harmsworth's, of a crossing offers better prospects, while the and articles that the National Review has printed opinion of the latter on the same subject was have first suffered rejection at the hands of the scarcely more encouraging. It is little matter Contemporary. Why these things should be I do for wonder, then, that when the average man not profess to be able to say: there are more learns that some friend or acquaintance of his important problems in life to engage one's atten- has plunged into the maelstrom of “free-lance tion. Consequently, when some few weeks ago journalism," he straightway laments him as Black and White published an article of mine that irrevocably lost. had been declined by twenty-six other periodicals Now, with all deference to public opinion—which, in turn, I did not think it necessary to question as a free lance myself, I naturally hold in the the editor as to his reasons for accepting it. highest esteem--I cannot help thinking that in To the proprietor the most important matter this particular respect it is somewhat prone to with which to concern himself is to see that his be unduly pessimistic. The flood of periodical paper pays its way; to the free lance it is to see literature shows no sign of abating-rather the that it pays its contributors. That the two classes reverse, indeed, is the case and there is con- of individuals are not in common accord on this sequently a large market for the unattached point is—to people in my position, at any rate- journalist to carry his wares to. Then, not only distinctly regrettable. A result of this is that ## p. 118 (#514) ############################################ 118 THE AUTHOR. instead of there being one rate of remuneration however, they hold a contrary opinion, the reverse for all work of the same description, there are a is the case. dozen or more. Again, in some editorial offices, Although the exact amount of remuneration the rule is to pay by the thousand words, in others which the chance contributor will receive for his by the line, in others by the page, and in others, work when accepted cannot be stated, it is, Dever- again, “ by arrangement.” Exactly what may be theless, quite possible to say what he may fairly meant by this last I have never been able to discover. expect in the majority of instances. The follow- The results of its operation, too, are so curiously ing, for example, are the prevailing rates in those unequal that they would seem to call for some periodicals in which my own work has appeared :- explanation. Thus, from the Strand and Harms. National Review, £1 per page; Literature, £3 worth--in each of which the system is in force--I per page ; Strand Magazine, £22s. to £6 per have respectively received twelve guineas and four 1,000 words ; Pall Mall Magazine, from £3 38. guineas for articles of precisely the same length. In per 1,000 words ; English Illustrated, Harmsuorth, the case of another monthly magazine where the “by and Royal Magazine, from £2 2s. per 1,000 words; arrangement” rule also obtains I was once offered Windsor Magazine and Chambers' Journal, from in payment of the story with which I brightened £1 11s. 6d. per 1,000 words; the World, Vanity its pages, the originals of the four pictorial outrages Fair, Pall Mall, Westminster and St. James's Gazette with which it had been “illustrated.” Presumably, pay by the column, the rate varying from £2 2s. in the editor proposed to requite the artist by presents the case of the Pall Mall, to 12s. 6d. in that of the ing him with my original manuscript. In the note St. James's. With morning papers the rule seems which accompanied this novel form of remuneration, to be to pay by the column for articles of any the editor-evidently scenting a possible unwilling- length, and by the line for paragraph matter. In ness on my part to fall in with his ideas—blandly the case of the former the average scale is £2 2s. remarked that the drawings in question were worth per column; at any rate, this is what I have at least ten guineas. My reply to this was that, received for contributions to the Daily News, as I only valued my story at half this amount, I Daily Chronicle, Daily Mail, and Daily Express, could not conscientiously accept anything that was while for paragraphs one may count on draw- so much in excess of this, and concluded with an ing threepence a line from the Westminster application to be favoured with a cheque for the Gazette, and half this amount from the Chronicle smaller sum. Instead of readily acquiescing in so and News. reasonable a request, my correspondent curtly As may be imagined, the readiest market for intimated that my views were preposterous.” the free lance is undoubtedly afforded by those Of course I may have been wrong, but I remember journals which may be described as belonging to thinking that this sort of thing was scarcely the Bits class, nearly all of which pay a fixed rate calculated to foster the formation of those friendly of one guinea per column. The scale is not unduly relations which should always exist between the extravagant, but then the standard of literary members of literary circles. From a second excellence demanded by the editors of these monthly magazine the only description of payment journals does not make any great strain on the that I was ever able to extract for a contribution writer. Indeed, the practised journalist soon duly published therein took the form of twelve comes to regard these periodicals as a species of copies of the number containing my effusion. “sink” into which he can (with the certainty of Again, the editor of a third periodical for which I receiving a guinea for it) drop, whenever he feels once wrote an article paid me some very handsome inclined to do so, a column of matter which the compliments on what he was good enough to more " literary” papers would sternly refuse to see characterise as its “delightful style.” When, any merit in. It takes some little time, however, however, I suggested-after a considerable interval to acquire the knack of writing for Queer Bits and --that a cheque would be more easily negotiable, papers of similar genre, and one's early experiments he seemed to take it as a personal reflection upon in this direction are almost certain to meet with himself. He even went, indeed, the length of failure. Strange though it may seem to say so, remarking that he was “hurt” at my “impor- there is, nevertheless, a distinct art in writing, in tunity.” That I also might be “hurt" by his a manner that shall suit the limited intelligences declining to requite my efforts in cash did not of their readers, attractive articles on "How the seem to enter into his calculations. As the free- King has his Hair Cut” or “ Busmen's Big Break- lance journalist does not, as a rule, embark on his fasts,” etc. It is an art, too, that the free lance career as such merely for the benefit of his health, should strenuously strive after, for its acquisition this question of payment for his work is an means a weekly income which, though small, is extremely important one. When editors are in none the less welcome. harmony with this view, all goes well ; when, (To be continued.) ## p. 119 (#515) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 119 THE AUTHORS' CLUB. He has been touched—'tis my impression This painter of the urban Past By pangs too tender for confession M HE January dinners of the Authors' Club After the Country, free and vast. have been exceedingly successful. These Piccadilly flowers we cherish On January 13th, under the chairmanship of In high Parnassian glens have grown ; Mr. M. H. Spielmann, Mr. F. C. Gould, the cele This fountain in St. Martin's Parish brated caricaturist and assistant editor of the Runs here from woody Helicon. Westminster Gazette, was the guest of the evening. And we remember great Apollo Mr. Spielmann, in proposing his health, drew a Once took a hireling's wage and task, pleasing picture of his art, stating that his ridicule To teach us bards a trade should follow, was kindly, and his satire without malice. He And lyric Hermes wear a mask. also put before those present Mr. Gould's great versatility and imaginative power. Taking his St. Paul himself—for all his frenzies- caricatures of Mr. Chamberlain for example, he Made goat-skin Tents to admiration : pointed out that Mr. Gould bad represented him Spinoza's Spectacles and Lenses in over one hundred different forms. Earned him the right to speculation ; Mr. Gould made a pleasant speech in reply, and And so some need or necromancy, pointed out the difference between the political Some Destiny (I do protest), cartoonist of the present day in England and other Veils, to our gross and purblind fancy, countries. On January 20th Mr. Austin Dobson was the The rank and lustre of our Guest : guest of the evening, and Mr. Herbert Trench the Pan from his mighty forest roof- chairman. The chairman dealt exhaustively with Pan to our humble Board has strayed ! Mr. Austin Dobson's work, and pointed out the We heard him piping far aloof, excellence in finish in the art of which the club's But here he comes in masquerade ! guest was such a prominent master. He finally And though, no doubt, his godship’s proof read a poem which he stated he had received from Under this board might be displayed, the secretary of the club, the title of which was We cannot see the cloven hoof “ To Austin Dobson, Esq., begging that he would That represents the Board of Trade ! write a play.” We have pleasure in printing the poem below. The authorship of the poem has For Pan, when he'd a mind to spark it, not been declared. The secretary's lack of imagina- Would hie from Alps and pastures down tive power being so well known, he was reluctantly And fiddle in Verona market forced to disclaim authorship. Or lead a hornpipe through the town. Mr. Austin Dobson made a neat little speech* in And so our Bard, who will not jeopard reply, and a very pleasant evening was completed The name that to a god belongs, by his reciting a ballad of his own. Assumes the ribboned Watteau shepherd TO AUSTIN DOBSON, ESQUIRE, BEGGING THAT And fobs us off with dainty songs. HE WOULD WRITE A PLAY. Ah, if he chose to drop this magic- Show himself PLAYWRIGHT ! Sweep the stage A fool might think (and what is worse is With comedies and humours tragic, Some of the stupid wise have said it) How rich were we, and rich this Age! That Austin Dobson's perfect verses Achieve no more than courtly credit ; The Pen that gave us Porcelain Scenes and Ballades on satin, now, at leisure, As though the delicate enslavement Could give us pathos like Racine's, and Wherewith he keeps the Town in thrall Satire like Plautus’ at its pleasure. Ended with suburbs and the pavement Retired at last to sylvan Arbours, About St. James' and Whitehall. Change, Sir, the lute for louder Chords ; , Exchange your Board of Docks and Harbours But one, at least, who closelier reads him, Sees through the sober cit's disguise For triumpbs on still greater Boards : The passion of the heart that leads him, Sir, write us Plays ! Take sock and buskin !- The living Pan that in bim lies. Steele comes to life-Rise, Goldsmith's heir ! Cyrano's windbag stick your tusk in, * Note, see page 122. And be our Congreve-our Molière ! ## p. 120 (#516) ############################################ 120 THE AUTHOR. GENERAL MEMORANDA. SERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an agreement. There are four methods of dealing with literary property : I. 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. II. 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! III. 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." IY. A Commission Agreement. The main points are : (1.) Be careful 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. Waaa (2.) The inspection of those account books which belong to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or withheld. 3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for PLAYS IN THREE OR MORE ACTS : (a.) 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. (5.) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF PERCENTAGES on gross receipts. Percentages vary between 5 and 15 per cent. An author should obtain a percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts in preference to the American system. Should obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed date on or before which the play should be performed. (c.) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF ROYALTIES (i.e., fixed nightly fees). This method should be always avoided except in cases where the fees are likely to be small or difficult to collect. The other safeguards set out under heading (6.) apply also in this case. 4. PLAYS IN ONE ACT are often sold outright, but it is better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely important that the amateur rights of onc-act plays should be reserved. 5. Authors should remember that performing rights can be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and time. This is most important. 6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is of great importance. 7. 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. 8. Never forget that AMERICAN RIGHTS may be exceed. ingly valuable. They should never be included in English agreements without the author obtaining a substantial consideration. 9. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced. 10. 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, and that for a novice the first object is to obtain adequate publication. As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete on account of the wide range of the subject of dramatic con- tracts, THOSE AUTIJORS DESIROUS OF FURTHER INFORMA- TION ARE REFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY. HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. N EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com petent legal authority. 2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for the production of a play with anyone except an established manager. 1. D VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive D advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub- lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his business or the administration of his property. If the advice sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member has a right to an opinion from the Society's solicitors. If the case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Committee will obtain for him Counsel's opinion. All this without any cost to the member. ## p. 121 (#517) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 121 ' Communications for The Author should be addressed to the Offices of the Society, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W., and should reach the Editor NOT LATER THAN THE 21st OF EACH MONTH. All persons engaged in literary work of any kind, whether members of the Society or not, are invited to communicate to the Editor any points connected with their work which it would be advisable in the general interest to publish. 2. Remember that questions connected with copyright and publishers' 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 a copy of the book represented. The Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The information thus obtained may prove invaluable. 4. BEFORE SIGNING ANY AGREEMENT WHATEVER, send the document to the Society for examination. 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 independence of the writer, 6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception of members' agreements and their preservation in a fire- proof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as confidential 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 to give advice concerning publishers. (2) To stamp agreements an readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements. 7. No contract should be entered into with a literary agent without the advice of the Secretary of the Society. Members are strongly advised not to accept without careful consideration the contracts submitted to them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit them for inter. pretation and explanation to the Secretary of the Society. For the Opinions expressed in papers that are signed or initialled the Authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or paragraphs must be taken as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless such is especially stated to be the case. COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTEKS ARE INVITED BY THE EDITOR on all subjects connected with literature, but on no other subjects whatever. Every effort will be made to return articles which cannot be accepted. THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY begs to give notice that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and he requests members who do not receive an answer to important communications within two days to write to him without delay. All remittances should be crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered letter only. 8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. must be done within fourteen days of first execution. Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members. This The AUTHORITIES. 9. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from referring matters to the Secretary of the Society; so do some publishers. Members can make their own deductions and act accordingly. THE READING BRANCH. CEMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this 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 term MSS, includes NOT ONLY WORKS OF FICTION, BUT POETRY AND DRAMATIC WORKS, and when it is possible, under special arrangement, technical and scientific works. The leaders are writers of competence and experience. The fee is one guinea. TE must tender our apologies to the members of the Authors' Society for the late appear- ance of the January number of The Author. The Christmas holidays were, to a small extent, responsible for this, but the reason of the serious delay was owing to the fact that the final proofs were lost in the post on their way from our printers' London office to their printing works in the country. It became necessary, therefore, to correct a second set. Should any palpable errors or mistakes occur in the articles, we trust that the members will treat the matter with kind forbear- ance, as in some cases it was impossible to correct the final proofs from the original corrections sent in by the correspondents. NOTICES. THE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest 58. 62. subscription for the year. The way of the author is hard. The follow- ing conversation between a noted patron of all the arts and master of none, and a celebrated author largely read by subscribers to Mudie's, bears witness to this fact. “It is true," said the person of high ## p. 122 (#518) ############################################ 122 THE AUTHOR. ideals, “ that you have attained prosperity by your There may be many explanations of this curious writings, but you have produced nothing that will coincidence, seeing how translations of foreign live.” “Well," answered the comfortable litterateur, books sell in England ; but one point strikes us at "when it came to a question of which should live, once as probable, namely, the fact that so many myself or my writings, I didn't hesitate to sacrifice Germans can read English and speak English my writings.”—The Week Enit. fluently, that they prefer reading their English novels in the original Tauchnitz edition, rather than in any other form, however good, whereas There seems to be a very nice dispute arising the average Englishman, nothing versed in foreign between Monsieur Jean Richepin, the French author, and Mr. David Belasco, the American play- tongues, prefers to read a translation. wright. In a few words the position of the case is as follows, as far as can be gathered from the state Mr. Austin Dobson's remarks with regard to the ments of either party which have appeared in the Academy in his speech at the Authors' Club have papers. been wholly misreported. What he, in fact, said Monsieur Richepin says that he was engaged to was : “ We have managed to build up a not write a play, and was to receive certain sums in unimportant Literature in the past without the payment; that he wrote the play, which Mr. Belasco assistance of an Academy of Literature, and I stated was unsuitable ; but the amount was paid think we can do without it in the future. I am according to the contract. Subsequently Mr. by no means satisfied that in the best Academy the Belasco produced a play on the same subject which most deserving authors would be members, and is practically Monsieur Richepin's play. I fear that it might become a field for wirepulling Mr. Belasco states that the Frenchman was and intrigue." asked to write a play from ideas of his own (Mr. Belasco's), but when he had written the play it was unsatisfactory, although the money was paid LIFE: AN ANSWER. under the contract. Mr. Belasco then proceeded to write a play on his own ideas. “A LITTLE PAUSE." Monsieur Richepin says he will bring an action. But must I pause ?—in this dim plain ? From this very scanty evidence it is bardly Where clouds return after the rain : possible to draw any conclusion, even if it were And blinding mists numb heart and brain. right so to do when an action is pending. We A pause for thought ? But thought is pain. trust, however, that the dispute will come before A pause for prayer? My prayers are vain. the Courts, as matters of this kind are of extreme I take my pilgrim's staff again. importance. M. It constantly occurs that complaints come to the offices of the Society on similar lines, but as The above has been forwarded by a well-known sufficient evidence has been lacking to warrant writer, a member of our Society. A thought taking the matter into Court, nothing has hitherto suggested by the few lines printed in last month's been done. We can but refer dramatic writers to Author. the warnings which are constantly printed in The Author. A new method of publishing, entitled “ The Unit Warning 9 runs as follows : Library," is going to be tried in the London “ Agreements for collaboration should be care market Books are to be vublished, so we gather fully drawn and executed before collaboration has from a pamphlet before us, in the ollowing commenced.” manner :- If the agreement had been sufficiently carefully Every sheet of twenty-five pages is to cost id. drafted, it would have been impossible for either There will be an extra cost for a paper cover of id., party to have made use of the other's ideas on the or of cloth binding 5d., or leather binding 10d. lines put forward. Thus, if the book consists of 250 pages, it can be purchased by the public in paper binding for 6d., A very interesting article has appeared in 5d. for the printed matter and id. for the cover. The Literature from the pen of Herr Lutz, the Stuttgart size of this new publication will be 41 inches by publisher, with regard to the circulation of 65 inches. It is stated that this size is convenient translations of English works in Germany, and it to handle, easy to carry about, and not unworthy will be seen that in none of the cases put forward of a place on the library shelf. has the circulation reached a thousand copies. Every new departure in the publishing world ## p. 123 (#519) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 123 must necessarily excite the curiosity of authors.' and one which we hope to deal with at some future In some ways, however, this form of publication date in The Author. The second point is, if will not affect the modern author, as it appears an academy is advantageous, is it possible to divide that only the classics are going to be brought out literature into the literature of science and the under this system. This limitation is, no doubt, literature of imagination, thus necessitating two wise. To publish the works of modern authors on academies instead of one ? the unit system would be impossible, certainly at The academy whose proposed charter is at such a low price as fd. for twenty-five pages. present lying before the King deals with the From the artistic point of view also, it is literature of science, and certainly from the names objectionable to buy the outcome of the artistic supporting the petition, it would appear to be the brain at so much per piece. Books from new strongly held opinion that such an academy would authors cannot be valued in this method any be a benefit to the scientific side of the literary more than a picture can be bought by the square profession, which is composed of a much larger inch. If you are dealing with the classics, you number of workers than that which deals with are practically dealing with equality in value ; but imaginative writing. in the case of modern publications this would not It will be a matter of some import to follow be the case. what opposition there is to the charter, and on We await with interest the result of the what arguments such opposition is based, so that experiment. should there at any time be reason for a similar movement towards an academy of imaginative literature, it may be possible to deal with the We see by an extract from the Dundee Courier difficulties of the subject by experience. The that the Aberfeldy Literary Society has waxed arguments for and against are no doubt numerous. strong in debate over the following subject : There are a great many people who will tell you “Which is the greater : the Author or the that the Royal Academy has not been a benefit to the artistic profession, and that it does not Inventor" ? represent the true artistic spirit in England. No After an interesting discussion, the inventor doubt there are many who will argue the opposite. carried the day by 15 to 14. This is indeed a The same question has been discussed with regard blow for authors, and we fear that the country to the French Academy. which has produced Scott and Burns shows a sad Here also we shall await the result with falling off. The discussion of the Aberfeldy considerable attention. Literary Society will no doubt have a bad effect on the Scottish book trade in the coming year. Peebles will perhaps follow suit, and carry We see that the American Authors' Society have a similar motion by a larger majority. If this changed the name of their periodical to the event should take place the pens of Barrie, American Author. Imitation is always the Crockett, Ian Maclaren, Neil Munro and others sincerest form of flattery. will hardly suffice to stem the tide of popular In the first issue of this magazine under its new feeling, and the desertion of towns like Glasgow, title there is an article giving out the aims of the or even Edinburgh, may be the result. The Scots Society. These aims appear to be, with one very must look to their laurels. The odour of the important exception, the aims of our own Society, inventor's financial success may taint the pure the exception being that no legal work is undertaken intellectual atmosphere of the country. at the expense of the American Authors' Society. As all our members know, a legal opinion from the Society's solicitors can always be had gratis, and further, that all expenses for accountant's We have read the article that appeared in the charges, counsel's fees, and actions carried through Times with regard to the movement for the the Courts are very often entirely defrayed out of formation of a British Academy. Any subject our funds; but the sanction of the Committee dealing with literature naturally calls for the has to be obtained in the first instance for such fullest consideration from all members of the expenditure. Authors' Society, and of necessity, one that deals The American Society is very clear on the with such important branches of literature as question of publishers' accounts, endeavouring to history, philosophy, and philology. arrange with publishers to insert in their contracts One great subject for consideration is how far with authors the following points : an academy is an advantage in assisting the art to “(a) Semi-annual accounting and settling for which it belongs. This is an abstract question, books sold. ## p. 124 (#520) ############################################ 124 THE AUTHOR. on 200 (6) The opening of the publishers account publisher, and the publisher considers it quite as books for examination by authors or their saleable as any of the author's previous works, I counsel. do not think he would print a smaller number of Keeping of the record of sales, so that there copies than had been sold of the writer's latest will easily appear : (1) the amount of book ; but taking the figures as they stand, it can paper used in printing of books ; (2) the beshown that even if the whole of an edition does not number of books printed ; (3) the number sell there is still a profit, and a not unreasonable one. of books bound ; (4) the number of books For instance, if a commission publisher with a given away for introductory purposes, and knowledge of the author's circulation, as suggested, to whom, and the number given away to prints an edition of 2,000, he would be naturally the press for notices, and to which papers ; disappointed if only 1,200 sold. Yet the figures (5) the number on hand.” would turn out as follows: We fear that, however good the intention of the £ 8. d. American Society may be, it will be impossible for 1,200 copies at 38. 4d. 200 0 0 it to make equitable arrangements on these points, Less : Cost of production and advertising £ s. d. unless the Society can show publishers, by the as quoted in former article ...... 135 1 8 effect of one or two successful actions, that these Publisher's.commission 15 per cent. points are essential to any fair contract. So long ............ 30 0 0 - 165 1 8 as it does not support by action those cases in A royalty of between 9 and 10 per which the publishers act contrary to its advice to c ent. on 1,200 copies.......... £34 18 4 the author, so long, we fear, it will be an inefficient Again, the publisher produces an edition of 3,000, protector of the profession. and sells only two-thirds. It has not even published, so far, an American The figures work out as follows: “Cost of Production." A book essential to every £ 8. d. author, not only if he is dealing on the antiquated 2,000 copies at 3s. 4d. 333 6 8 half profit basis, but also if he desires to calculate Less : a fair division of profits in the form of royalties. Cost of production and advertis. £ . d. ing as quoted in former article 177 2 6 Publisher's commission 15 per cent, on £333 6s. 8d.............. 50 0 0 227 26 THE ADVANTAGES OF COMMISSION A royalty of between 17 and 18 PUBLISHING per cent. on 2,000 copies ...... £106 4 2 And finally, 5,000 copies are produced, and M R. MACLEHOSE has not apparently 3,300 only are sold. grasped the main points in the article 3,300 copies at 38. 4d. ............ 550 0 0 on « Commission Publishing” which ap- Less: peared in the December number of The Author. Cost of production and adver- it is sy enough to produce instances in which tising as quoted in former £ $. d. article .................... ........... 256 1 8 this form of publishing will not pay, (1) by over- Publisher's commission lo per estimating the length of the novel, or (2) by cent. on £515 ........ 77 00 underestimating its circulation. It would not be 333 1 8 worth the while of a publisher who is prepared to A royalty of over 20 per cent. on issue a povel on a fifteen per cent. commission, and 3,300 copies. Say £217 0 0 run the risk of any loss entailed through sales These royalties are better as a whole than most failing to cover the cost of production and adver- authors are in the habit of receiving. So that if tising, to “ take up” a novel by an author whose the publisher's judgment fails, and the author is average circulation is under 2,000 copies ; and it unfortunate, the profit is still considerable, and was on this understanding, and this alone, that the the advantage with the author.. figures were given. It would be necessary for the Mr. MacLehose seems to believe that the length author to show the past statements of his sales of the average six-shilling novel exceeds 96,000 received from his former publishers, and the com- words, and says that he took up at random ten mission publisher would naturally be guided by popular novels, and that they each contained about this information in giving the printing order, and 150,000 words. Mr. MacLehose must have picked not by the length of the manuscript, as Mr. MacLe- up “at random" novels like “ The Eternal City," hose appears to think. “The Master Christian,” and “Sir Richard Cal- We all know that authors frequently drop in mady,” all of which are particularly long. In the their circulation ; but if a writer, whose average course of business I read a very large number sale is, say, 5,000 copies, sells a new novel to a of manuscripts and novels, and long experience ## p. 125 (#521) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 125 teaches me that a novel 150,000 words in length is the opportunity or unwilling to respond in a suitable spirit quite the exception, but a novel of 96,000 words is to the invitation offered by the Swedish Academy. Such a response is highly desirable, both as a recognition of the a fair average. courtesy displayed by the communications made to Mr. Mr. MacLehose says that I have forgotten “that Gosse, and as an assertion of the position of British an author always makes corrections in his proofs.” literature. This is a fact which no one connected with the I am, Sir, your obedient servant, publishing business is likely to forget, and in my ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS, estimate allowance was made for this item in the Chairman of Committee, Society of Authors, cost of composition. 39, Old Queen Street, S.W., Jan. 6. THE MAN WHO SUPPLIED THE FIGURES. The committee thus suggested immediately came into existence, and held its first meeting at 39, Old Queen Street, on Tuesday, the 14th inst. Dr. THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE.' Garnett was in the chair, and both Mr. Gosse and Mr. Austin Dobson spoke. Lord Avebury was appointed perpetual chairman to the committee, N the 3rd of January Mr. Edmund Gosse Mr. G. Herbert Thring was made secretary, and wrote to the Times on the subject of the the names of Mr. Arthur Christopher Benson, Mrs. prize of about £8,250 awarded each year John Richard Green, Mr. R. B. Haldane, M.P., for the most eminent work in pure literature by K.C., and Sir Robert Giffen, K.C.B., F.R.S., the Nobel Committee of the Swedish Academy. were added. The committee, after discussion, Mr. Gosse had been communicated with by two determined to recommend a certain person of prominent Swedish academicians as to the reasons the highest eminence to all those persons in of the total abstention of England from all com- Great Britain who appear, under the Nobel Will, petition for this prize, which in 1901 was awarded to be qualified to vote for the prize of £8,250 to the French poet, M. Sully Prudhomme. A which will, in November, 1902, be awarded by the correspondence on this subject was opened up in Swedish Academy. As all votes must be received the Times, in which Lord Avebury, Professor in Stockholm by the 1st of February, time was very Sylvanus Thomson, Mr. A.C. Benson, of Eton, and short. The committee, however, acting with great others took part, and it was also ventilated in the promptitude, drew up a circular which was sent to Daily Chronicle. There was great confusion in the each member of the Council of the Society of public mind as to the regulations of the Nobel Authors, and also to each professor of English Prize, which are highly complicated, and, aided by literature in the universities and principal the Swedish academicians, Mr. Gosse gave fresh colleges of Great Britaip. To these circulars a information in successive letters to the Times. very general reply was received, and the voting On the 8th of January the following letter papers were forwarded to Stockholm by Mr, Thring appeared in the Times :- well withiu the necessary margin of time. “Sir,- The committee of the Incorporate Society of These circumstances, and the correspondence in Authors have been in communication, through me, with the Times, have awakened an immense amount of Mr. Edmund Gosse, on the subject of his letter which attention in the Swedish capital. The Swedish appeared in your columns on the 3rd. As Mr. Gosse indi- Academy, which has to run the gauntlet of a great cates, the time available for organizing any expression of opinion is now very short, but it has seemed to the com- deal of local criticism, made Mr. Gosse's letters mittee to be a case in which they might and ought to take the subject of an official communication to the action as the representatives of a very large and already Stockholm newspapers, and it is quite certain that organized body of British authors. Accordingly at their there is no chance of a repetition of the total neglect meeting to-day they decided to appoint a committee of their members for the purpose of considering (and if thought of English opinion which was so uufortunately proper) of submitting and supporting names of British men manifested in 1901. of letters with claims on the attention of the Nobel Com- mittee of the Swedish Academy. Invitations to serve on this committee are being sent to the following gentlemen :- THE IRISH LITERARY REVIVAL, Lord Avebury, Mr. James Bryce, M.P., Mr. Lecky, M.P., Dr. Garnett, C.B., Mr. Thomas Hardy, Mr. Austin Dobson, BY JOHN TODHUNTER. and Mr. Edmund Gosse—and it is hoped that they will be able to give their services. They are empowered to add to their number any persons qualified and willing to give their “MT HE West's awake, the West's awake!” assistance, whether members of the society or not. In the future, and as the existence and conditions of the This line of the “Young Ireland” poet Nobel Prizes become fully known, it may be expected that of '48, Thomas Davis, was prophetic of other bodies in this country will address themselves to the more complete awakening of the national similar action ; but for the purposes of the immediately spirit in Ireland which has followed upon the ensuing awards the appointment of this committee will at least serve to show that our writers are not unmindful of “Home Rule” agitation of more recent times. ## p. 126 (#522) ############################################ 126 THE AUTHOR. To understand the true scope and meaning of the bribery and corruption, was the consummation Literary Revival--but one aspect of that greater of the policy which ignored the unconquerable movement which seems to be the beginning of a strength of the Irish national spirit, and attempted true Irish Renaissance—it is necessary to take a the exploitation of the country for the advantage bird's-eye view of Irish history. What is that of “ English interests.” The nett result has been “Great Enchantment,” to adopt the picturesque dismal failure. The chronic, and in the main phrase of Mr. Standish O'Grady, which has held successful, agitation following on the Union, and Ireland spell-bound for a thousand years, and the extension of the franchise in both countries, has, from which she is perhaps now at last awaking ? however, done much to open the eyes of all sensible Ireland is the land of an arrested civilisation. Englishmen, and to convince them that “ force is In the early centuries of Western Christianity she no remedy" for the “disaffection" of the Irish. was in the van of progress; the great missionary What seems to me to be a most healthy and nation, the evangelist and teacher of Europe. hopeful aspect of the present literary revival, of The Irish Christian civilisation, developed out of which the germs are to be found in the similar a much earlier pagan one, was destroyed in its one which accompanied the agitation of '48, is adolescence, with its learning, literature, and art. that love of Ireland is now not so constantly A nationality, however strong—and Irish nation- expressed merely in terms of hatred of England. ality was strong enough to absorb and assimilate In much of the work now being done England her invaders when they obtained a footing on her has retreated into the background of the national shores-must remain in a semi-organised con- consciousness. We are beginning to delight in dition until it achieves a stable political system. our own country, to think our own thoughts, and This the Irish people never quite succeeded in dream our own dreams, without reference to achieving. It remained in a ganglionic condition, England at all. Ireland is happier in her mind without a governing brain. The Scotch, with a now that the political nightmare has crossed the long line of hereditary kings, were enabled to Channel, to brood over the towers of Westminster. preserve their independence until the crowns of First.—There is the enthusiastic revival of the England and Scotland were peacefully united Irish language under the auspices of the “ Gaelic under a Scottish prince. The High King of all League" and the “Literary Societies.” It had Ireland was never practically the sovereign lord almost died out, but is now rejuvenescent, and has of all the tributary kinglets who nominally owed apparently come to stay. him allegiance, for a sufficiently long period to Secondly.—The “ Irish Texts Society," under establish his power as a hereditary monarch ; and the presidentship of Dr. Douglas Hyde, is doing when Brian Boru and his sons fell at Clontarf in good work in the editing of texts with translations, 1014, founding no dynasty, the last chance of and in the preparation of a much-needed “ Handy political organisation was lost. In the century Irish Dictionary.” and a half between this event and the Norman Thirdly. — The study of Irish History goes invasion, Ireland, without a settled government, briskly forward. Classes for this have been formed had receded rather than advanced in civilisation ; in connection with the Irish Literary Society" ; with the Danes, defeated by Brian, established and a standard History of Ireland based on con- under their own leaders in the maritime cities temporary documents, each period to be under- around her coasts. taken by a writer making it his special study, is The English conquest begun under Henry II., projected ; though as yet not much has been done, as and still abortive, has kept the country in chronic such an important piece of work will involve much discontent, and England in political insecurity. time and labour. Ireland has been the most dangerous “possession" Fourthly.-National music, dancing, and games of the British crown ; always in sullen endurance are being cultivated by the “ Gaelic League" all of English misrule, with frequent paroxysms of over Ireland and in London. The “ Feis Ceoill," agitation, conspiracy, and insurrection. Her a musical festival held annually in Dublin and development along national lines was checked, Belfast alternately, is also doing good work in while no real assimilation between the two antago- attempting to encourage musical composition, and nistic nationalities resulted. The old learning, the to raise the standard of vocal and instrumental old literature, the old art were strangled ; only performances in Ireland. poetry and music lingering on, like flowers run Fifthly.—Some steps are being taken to improve wild, after the garden in which they flourished the condition of the schools of art and public was laid waste-stray survivals of her arrested libraries in Ireland. civilisation. Sixthly.—There is a very promising effort, in the There is the history of Ireland in a nutshell. “Irish Literary Theatre," to create a national The “Union," procured by the most shameful Irish drama and school of acting. ## p. 127 (#523) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 127 This is not an exhaustive list ; but may serve It has idioms and constructions that seem to have to indicate the importance of the tributary forces been blown into the hearts of poets by the wind of which have, within the last ten years or so, given a mysterious inspiration, sowing seeds of sorrow vigour and volume to the great national revival, and passion and humour. It is still the language and which tend to make it permanent and pro- of lyrical poetry undivorced from music, and only gressive. waits for the art of the poet to mould it into new Of all these forms of activity the most astonish- and beautiful shapes. ing and significant is the revival of the national The heart of Thomas Davis would rejoice if he language, since Elizabeth's time under the ban of had lived, like his friend Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, penal laws, and in the nineteenth century fast to see the national movement of the present day, becoming extinct. A national language is the in which Sir Charles himself has played his part. voice of a nation's life, and it is a true instinct He was one of the founders of the “ Irish Literary which has led Irish Nationalists to make this last Society," and its first President; and he also pro- struggle to revive the old Irish tongue as the jeoted and edited the “ New Irish Library" of vehicle of modern Irish thought and feeling. twelve small volumes by various authors, dealing “ The language,” says Thomas Davis, “that grows with Irish history, biography, literature, and music; with a people, is conformed to their organs— the first of these being a reprint of Davis's mingled inseparably with their history, is fitted “Patriot Parliament,” with an introduction by beyond any other to express their most profound Sir Charles Duffy himself. thoughts in the most natural way. To impose Space does not permit me to say much about the another language on a people is to send their work of the “ Irish Literary Society," which, with history adrift among the accidents of translation, its monthly lectures, its original nights,” its con- to tear their identity from all places, to separate certs, its conversaziones, and its classes for the them from their forefathers by a deep gulf. ... study of history and language, has done much to To lose your native tongue and learn that of the unite Irish men and women of all classes and shades alien is the worst badge of conquest—it is the of opinion resident in England, for the pursuit of chain of the soul.” a common object. “In 1872 the language seemed dead," says So far I have dealt only with the broad lines of Mr. Fahy, in a lecture lately delivered at a meeting the Literary Revival; I must now say something of the “ Irish Literary Society"; and he goes on about some of the work done by the writers it has to tell how the present revival came about. In produced. I am sorry I am not able to criticise July, 1893, the “Gaelic League" was formed, its anything written in the Irish tongue, but must object being : “ The preservation of Irish as the confine myself to the work done in English, which national language of Ireland, and its extension Dr. Hyde regards as a prosaic and decadent lan- as a spoken tongue; the publication of existing guage ; yet there is now a vigorous and interesting Gaelic literature, and the cultivation of a modern literature in English, in both prose and verse, Irish literature in Irish.” There are now over two in sentiment, and dealing with Irish subjects. hundred branches of the league, and the effects of The political poems connected with the Parnell their work are already evident. “Names of streets movement are legion ; but most of them are news- and railway stations appear in Irish. Irish paper verses, often spirited and good of their kind, advertisements, leaders, and stories appear in but of ephemeral interest. Mr. T. D. Sullivan, papers. Concerts altogether of Irish songs are whose “God save Ireland” has become a sort of held. Sermons are given and public prayers are Irish national anthem, has written several smart offered in Irish. Irish speeches are given on skits, terse and to the point, in a light satiric vein platforms, and one was attempted recently in of his own, his verses being always neatly turned. Parliament.” I may add that plays have also But the tragic muse of the movement was Fanny been written and performed in Irish. At the Parnell, a sister of Charles. From a poem of hers “Irish Literary Theatre,” this year, a play in Irish, entitled “Post Mortem,” I quote a few stanzas, to “The Twisting of the Rope," founded on a short which her early death in 1882 gives a pathetic story by Mr. W. B. Yeats, and written by Dr. interest :- de, was most successfully performed; "Shall mine eyes behold thy glory, () my country? Dr. Hyde himself taking the principal part, assisted . Shall mine eyes behold thy glory by an amateur company of members of the “ Gaelic Or shall darkness close around them ere the sun-blaze League.” Dr. Hyde has also written many songs Break at last upon thy story? in Irish, and he and others are laying the founda- “When the nations ope for thee their queenly circle, tions of a modern Irish literature. Trish, with an As a sweet new sister hail thee, Shall their lips be sealed in callous death and silence elaborate metrical system of its own, has never That have known but to bewail thee? lost the innocence of the primitive imagination. ## p. 128 (#524) ############################################ 128 THE AUTHOR. “Ah ! the tramp of feet victorious ! I should hear them “ Our creed is this : "'Twere better starve 'Mid the shamrocks and the mosses, Than live by others' loss or dole, And my heart should toss within the shroud and quiver, And better fail than pathway carve As a captive dreamer tosses. Through fraud and wrong to wished-for goal ; " I should turn and rend the cere clothes round me, That soon or late the right shall win, Giant sinews I should borrow, The weak grow strong, the mighty fall, Crying, . O my brothers, I have also loved her, The wicked perish in their sin, In her lowliness and sorrow.' The wronged on God not vainly call.'” · Let me join with you the jubilant procession, Whether the Irish live up to this counsel of “Let me chant with you her story ; Then contented I shall go back to the shamrocks, perfection much better than their neighbours may Now mine eyes have seen her glory.' be questionable. The bitter struggle for existence Mr. Francis A. Fahy, whose name I have men- is happily tempered by sympathetic helpfulness tioned in connection with the “Gaelic League,” has among the strugglers in England as in Ireland, also written some political poems, vigorous, sincere, where such family feeling as Mr. Faby has described and full of faith in the future of Ireland. The in his “ Trish Molly 0 !" 18 so often found among one small volume he has published contains some the peasantry. excellent work. The first poem in the book But enough of politics. The best work of the “ Dreoilin " (pronounced Drole-yeen, and meaning movement is not in its political satire ; and Mr. the wren), under which signature many of his Fahy's best things are his songs, which have that poems first saw the light, strikes the keynote of true singer's lilt in them so rare nowadays. Like the whole in the first verse : Mr. Graves, whose poems are better known in England, he has written many songs to old or new “My name is Dreoilin, I'm the smallest of all the birds That pour forth their notes on Irish hill-side or in grove; Irish airs. Like Mr. Graves, he has the art of Light is my song, though my thoughts are too deep for writing singable words. He is a great writer of words, love songs, of which “ Little Mary Cassidy " and My lay is of land, and of light, and of life, and love.” “The Ouid Plaid Shawl,” with their Irish note of The poem briefly recalls many memories of the humorous tenderness, are perhaps the best known. loves, sorrows, and sufferings of the Irish people— His “Irish Molly ()!” a narrative in ballad form, things he has himself seen and brooded over ; but tells how an Irish girl, on the death of her father, ends with a note of confident hope. emigrated to make a home for her family, dying In his political poems his stern sincerity and when she had met them once more. It is a common sense keep his imagination sane. He is charming poem, admirable in its simple directness remarkably free from the besetting sins of Irish of expression. Out of many songs of great merit patriotic poetry, sentimentality and flatulent I have only space for one. “ Drimmin Dhu,” the eloquence; and when he strikes his blows tell. He title of an old Irish melody, means “The Black does not regard the Irishman as an immaculate Cow.” In the original it was a lamentation for and ineffectual angel, and “the Saxon” as a devil the death of the cow ; in Mr. Fahy's poem the incarnate. Such vapid lines as these of a former lamentation is for the cow's mistress : generation are not in his manner : “On our side is virtue and Erin, “She's gone, oh Drimmin Dhu, that loved you dear, On theirs is the Saxon and guilt." No more at milking time her song you'll hear; Your kind, fond mistress now lies cold and low, From his “ We're not the same,” in which he Oh, Drimmin Dhu declish, mo bhron go deo ! * contrasts the ideals of the two nationalities, English and Irish, satirising the seamy side of the benevo- "Oh, fair her young face looked that day of pride When with you, her portion small I called her bride ; lent English filibuster, I quote a few stanzas : No King I envied then on earth below- “ We're not the same, we're not the same- Oh, Drimmin Dhu declish, mo bhron go deo! In thought, or mind, or soul, or heart; Our likenesses are but in name, “ Who now, my Drimmin Dhu, our joy will be ? We're severed as the poles apart. The world is desolate, for you and me, We've both our theme of rightful pride, Life's lost for evermore its summer glow, We've both our cause for blush of shame, Oh, Drimmin Dhu deelish, mo bhron go deo! But here our paths diverge, divide- We're not the same, we're not the same. “Oh, voice of gentleness ! oh, looks of light ! “Our creed is not the Briton's creed- Oh, heart of tenderness, noon, morn, and night! Soon, soon, in search of you, from earth I'll go, Of barter keen and money lent, Oh, Drimmin Dhu declish, mo bhron go deo?” With roots deep down in selfish greed, And branching wide in cent. per cent. ; With maxims smooth of .might makes right,' (To be continued.) 'He keeps who can-he takes who needs,' 'Woe to the weak in life's tough fight, * Pronounced : “On, Dhrimmin Dhoo dheelish, mavrone And Nothing like success succeeds.' udh-yeo !”-“Oh, dear black-cow, my grief for ever!" ## p. 129 (#525) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 129 “ REAL PEOPLE IN FICTION.” nil nisi bonum is a discarded axiom, even in these days of the whitewash brush. If it is legitimate to write novels dealing with the seven- teenth century, it is equally legitimate to deal with the eighteenth, and if with the eighteenth, why not with the nineteenth and the twentieth ? M HE author of the article on “ Real People in Surely the sorites must apply. So, too, for 1 Fiction,” which appeared in the last number the one thing hinges upon the other, must of The Author, has issued a useful warning to the argument apply when considering ques- writers of a certain class of novel ; but there are a tions of general interest as the subject matter of few points arising out of his little essay upon which novels. If one may write tales of adventure round some comment may not be unacceptable. the Boer war, one may write them round the It is not unfair to say that his remarks apply kidnapping of missionaries by brigands, or round more particularly to a very inferior type of novel. the coronation, or may write sociological stories There are many writers who, by giving verbal round conscientious objection or the collection by portraits of their acquaintances, recording their Methodists of a million sovereigns to commemorate actual words uttered in situations analogous to the dawn of a new century. Neither in subject those employed in the stories, and using their nor in period is there any precisely defined re- imagination only to the extent of giving these striction imposed upon the novelist, and it is acquaintances fictitious names, are simply follow difficult to see why, if in the adoption of some ing the line of least resistance, quite regardless of contemporary event as the theme of a story the at what point they may ultimately arrive. To introduction of contemporary personages is in- such as these Mr. Armstrong's words of warning volved, there need be any other objection than may be useful, but if numerically they are a large that already indicated of some conséquent limita- class, artistically they are an insignificant one. tion in the use of their creative faculty. It would The mere fact that they do thus follow the line of be easy to particularise, but the point is doubtless least resistance predicates a lack of imagination sufficiently clear. and of that creative power which distinguishes the It is when one leaves the historical or quasi- good from the bad novelist. historical novel and comes to those dealing only But, on the other hand, there are a not in- with modern social life that the issue becomes more considerable number of authors, who must be vague, and it is, of course, to the writers of these taken seriously on their merits, in whose books that Mr. Armstrong primarily refers. The value characters are drawn from life and presented of this class of story when well done, whether for under the thinnest of disguises. Are allt hese purposes of satire or of throwing light upon our to be included in your contributor's indict- times, or again of mere amusement, will hardly be ment? Not necessarily; not even if the result. questioned. An author who is a master of tech- ing picture is not so flattering as a less honest nique, and possesses a sense of humour in addition photographer might make it by judicious touching to the seeing eye, can do as good service with his up. pen as Du Maurier or Tenniel or Phil May have Consider, for instance, the historical novel, done with their pencil. Was Du Maurier less intended not only to interest as a story, but good because he employed his own family as to throw light upon a period or an event of models than Phil May, who individualises types ? general interest. "In all these books characters This is not to suggest any comparative estimate of are, of course, taken from life, and the question the merit of their work ; it is merely asking the arises, On this side of what point in time are question à propos of the use by the one of real stories dealing with historical facts to be ruled people who were known to a wide circle of ac- out of order? quaintances; and the general verdict can be There is scarcely any law-with the possible readily anticipated. exception of the law of copyright-in which there Moreover, the question might be wisely limited is so much latitude of interpretation as the law of so as to exclude caricature; wisely, because the libel. But in practice it works tolerably well, and limitation serves to clear the atmosphere. It no novelist of average ability need live in a state might be difficult for a satirist who desired by of chronic apprehension of its terrors. The ridicule to kill some grotesque fashion to escape a chronological point, therefore, on the hither side charge of having caricatured some more or less of which novelists must not use real people as well known exponent of the cult, but he might be figures in their books, is not a legally ascertained held entitled to an honourable discharge if while one. Nor, again, can it be fixed by the date of achieving the object he had in view his caricature death of the real persons concerned. De mortuis were artistically well done ; but books of this sort ## p. 130 (#526) ############################################ 130 THE AUTHOR. are a class apart, and it is seldom that a Dunciad amount of good feeling in the world as it is, but is required. also a vast amount of practical common sense But to the abstract question of the legitimacy which gets its own way in the end. of the device of employing real people as characters in fiction, it would seem that for all practical CRANSTOUN METCALFE. purposes the answer is sufficiently simple. The justification of a work of art must always be its own artistic qualities, and no amount of mere technique can compensate for lack of the imagina- tive or poetic power which ought to prompt the artist to expression, or atone for lack of taste. I think one of the reasons why writers of fiction “ Taste,” it is true, is a word as difficult to be are so constantly accused, whether rightly or defined as “gentleman”; but its significance here wrongly, of “putting real people into their books” is obvious. If in a novel describing life in London is partly owing to the conviction-deep-rooted as the to-day there is not a word which can hurt the forest oak—in the minds of unimaginative persons feelings of, or cause the slightest pain to the most that character is only a servile photograph from refined and sensitive man or woman alive at the life. They do not believe, and it seems improba- moment, it may be argued that the author has ble they ever will believe, that a study of character committed a very venial offence if, as we watch the may be a creation. figures moving in the pretty comedy, we turn with Many persons have explained to me at enormous a kindly smile to our neighbour and say, “Ah ! length that every person in my own stories must there is So-and-So.” And the belief that the be taken from among my acquaintances, because author's good taste finds its equivalent in the good in the cood that was the only way to make characters seem taste of his unconscious model is not born of lifelike. unreasoning optimism. The price every public When I lived in the country the unimaginative personage pays for his public character is a certain among my friends discovered, to my embarrassment, limitation of his private rights, and not many when I brought out a book, that each individual public personages would resent being used to point in it, hero and villain alike, dwelt within a radius a moral or adorn a tale, provided the moral be of five miles from our front door. I remember a sound, and the tale be told with propriety and friend saying to me reproachfully, “ We all saw at taste. once that you took Mrs. Alwynn (a tiresome person) For the author who has no taste there always from Mrs. — And we all say that it is not the remains the law of libel. For the rest there least like her." is an unwritten law which is pretty generally It certainly was not. understood. For a vulgar success of scandal no When Mrs. Clifford produced her brilliant novel, detestation is too intense, no condemnation too “ Aunt Anne," several of my relations wrote to me severe ; but many people would regret a condition in great bitterness to protest against my ruthless of things which would prevent the publication of, delineation of my own great-aunt, who had but say, “ The New Republic.” recently “passed away." They had recognised Aunt It inay not be inopportune to add the suggestion Anne at once; and there is no doubt the “ Aunt Anne ” of the novel bore a certain resemblance to that a more serious danger to literature than the this relation. use of real people in fiction is the employment of fiction in the biography of real people. It is I at once wrote back, and so did my father, to always pleasant to be in good company, and Lord explain that that clever book was not written by me. Rosebery will doubtless value this tribute of (I only wish it could have been.) But approval of his recent wise words on the subject. Relations convinced against their will There is too much romance in biography nowadays, Are of the same opinion still. and no one need lament the decay of imagination in face of what is called “ personal journalism." They were not for a moment deceived by the feeble Some of the writers of these biographical personal falsehoods into which I had even dragged my remarks are magnificent liars. Lord Rosebery hitherto respected parent. And they remained made some suggestions as to the method of dealing convinced that I was the author of “ Aunt Anne.” with the crime, and regretted that his reforms They died thinking so. were Utopian. Many people are of opinion that MARY CHOLMONDELEY. any Utopia would be an exceedingly dull place, but if this discussion can be carried on a little further, it is more than probable that it will have a beneficial effect. For there is not only a vast ## p. 131 (#527) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 131 AN EPITAPH ON A NAMELESS GRAVE. standpoint a man was better equipped if he had some command of that instrument with which all Ούνομα μοι· τί σε τούτο; πάτρις δε μοι· ες τι δε τουτο business has to be done-his own language. Κλείνου δ' είμι γενους· ει γαρ αφαυροτάτου; Mr. Bernard Shaw also spoke. He was, as one Ζήσας δένδοξώς έλιπον βίον· ει γαρ αδοξώς και would have expected, an optimist for pessimistic Κείμαι δ' ενθαδε νυν τίς τίνι ταυτα λέγεις ; reasons. He thought that boys cared nothing for PAULUS SILENTIARIUS. books, "and a very good thing too.” That boys should know less about literature now than they did My name and country were—what's that to thee ? formerly he held to be impossible; but this he in no My birth was noble-what, if it were low? wise deplored, as there was a great deal too much With fame I lived, then died—what, if without ? reading done. “Why should boys,” he asked, “be I now lie here—who to whom speaketh so ? expected to read Wordsworth, one of the dullest J. M. LELY. men who ever lived ?" And he hoped that the class mentioned by Mr. Storr would long remain in ignorance of “Locksley Hall.” The desire to teach SCHOOLBOYS AND LITERATURE. literature, Mr. Shaw maintained, arose from the habit of book fancying, or collecting, which was A T the well-known King Alfred School in just as useless an idiosyncrasy as pigeon fancying, A Hampstead a discussion was lately held on and led to such absurdities as the banning of split the question—vital to authors of the infinitives, though it was the genius of the English near future—whether the study and love of litera- language to split everything. Fanciers always ture were decaying in schools ; by which the opener wanted to force their particular fancies upon other of the discussion explained himself to mean boys' people, and so it was with the literary fancier : schools, though at the King Alfred School boys and but Mr. Shaw declared that no one had any right girls stand on an equal footing. to force any education upon a child, except techni. It appeared that there were both optimists and cal education, in the sense of education that would pessimists in the King Alfred Society, especially be useful. Latin and Greek used to come within pessimists. Mr. Francis Storr, who took the chair, that category in the days when everything that had and spoke with all the weight of many years to be read was written in them ; but that was not experience of practical schoolmastering, was for the the case now, and the teaching of those languages prosecution, and gave recent and gloomy instances was only supported by the fraud of pretending that of a class of big boys (average age seventeen), not they were necessary to the understanding of English, one of whom had ever read “Locksley Hall," nor and the “ hallmark of a gentleman,” Every other had any appreciable knowledge of Wordsworth. form of education should be the spontaneous out- “ With him” was Mr. Edward Rose, who read a come of a child's character. To talk of forming a paper on school papers. He had examined the child's mind was an outrage, and Mr. Shaw gave magazines of many schools, as Eton, Harrow, Win- it as his experience that teachers were more de- chester, Rugby, Marlborough,Shrewsbury, St. Paul's, moralised than any other class, which he supposed to .Dulwich, Tonbridge, Ipswich, and so forth, and had be due to their continual contact with defenceless tabulated the results of his investigations. A priori, minds. Their only justification, he said, lay in it had seemed likely that schoolboys cared less for the necessity for the grown-ups to defend themselves literature now than they did say thirty years ago; against the young, lest the latter should turn the a posteriori—after examining the magazines—it world upside down ; so they deceived them until appeared certain. His a priori reasons for thinking they became grown up themselves, and joined the this decline and fall probable were, first, the enormous ranks of the deceivers. interest now taken by boys in “paper athletics "— It need hardly be said that the King Alfred for example, the study of averages and the contents Society did not, as a body, accept Mr. Shaw's views : of newspapersentirely devoted to sport—and second, indeed, Mr. Ernest Rhys put in a formal protest the amount of time now taken up in schools by more against their spirit, and the Headmaster of the obviously “paying” subjects, such as modern lan- School—Mr. John Russell—spoke some wise and guages and physical science. His proofs of actual hopeful words on the side of the optimists. He decay were drawn from theschool magazines, written said, among other things, that the increasing demand by the boys themselves, which formerly were in the for good cheap literature—which was, as he believed, main literary reviews, but had now become for the largely purchased by boys-seemed to be the evi. most part mere reports of cricket matches, concerts, dence of a continuing love for it. He had always and other school news. And Mr. Rose ended by found that if a master approached literature in a protesting against the purely utilitarian view of spirit of sincerity, and not of convention or dog- education, while he added that even from this matism, recognising, for instance, that some parts ## p. 132 (#528) ############################################ 132 THE AUTHOR. even of Shakespeare were very dull, and would read literature with his pupils in that spirit-guiding the youthful taste rather than dictating to it—he would have no difficulty in interesting them. And so, with a measure of hopefulness, the King Alfred Society ceased for the moment to consider how much its children cared for literary things. CORRESPONDENCE. “A Winter Pilgrimage ') takes credit to himself for the identification of Golgotha with Skull Hill,' not knowing, it would seem, &c., &c.” I have not seen the paragraph referred to by the reviewer, but if it can be construed in such a sense, I beg that it may be contradicted in your next issue of The Author. My real attitude on the matter of the site of Calvary will be proved sufficiently by the extract which I append. Why the writer of the notice, in the teeth of the text of the book with which he was dealing, should choose to make so peculiarly unpleasant an imputa- tion upon myself on the sole strength of a paragraph he had read in The Author, is a question which I will not discuss, since to do so without irritation would not be easy. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, H. RIDER HAGGARD. Ditchingham, 3rd January. AUTHOR AND LITERARY AGENT. DEAR SIR,–I cannot accept without protest “Omega's” statement, endorsed by Mr. Heinemann, to the effect that “authors are all in competition against one another.” Publishers may be animated by the competitive spirit ; each one is naturally anxious to secure the greatest number of popular writers ; this is business, and publishing is a com- mercial affair — it is highly interesting, and few ways of money-making are more agreeable to men of taste, with a certain courage in speculation, But the “sales” of one author are in no way affected by the success of his confrère. M. Anatole France is not consumed by envy, we may be certain, because Paul Bourget has a larger public than the creator of “Monsieur Bergeret"; nor do both gentlemen join in a common hatred of Zola, who can beat them magnificently any day in the matter of editions. All educated readers read these three authors; the sentimental half-educated, who can- not understand the irony of Anatole France, read Bourget only; every class of reader can find some- thing in Zola. Each one of these writers knows perfectly the particular group he is addressing, and the idea of rivalship between them is ridiculous. I could tell a hundred instances where English authors me have taken trouble, and written reviews, to assist publications already more successful, financially, than their own, and they have so written, not in obedience to a forced or Quixotic impulse, but because they appreciated the books, and wished to shed to add a specialist's praise to the less critical commen- dations of casual readers. Yours faithfully, PEARL MARY TERESA CRAIGIE. FROM "A WINTER PILGRIMAGE," PAGE 310, IST EDITION, BY H, RIDER HAGGARD. “This is the case, put briefly, but as clearly as I can set it out. It is not for an amateur like myself upon the strength of only two examinations, although these were careful, to be dogmatic, or express any positive opinion, and I express none on this or other disputed sites and matters connected with the Holy Land. How can I. who, lacking an extended experience of these problems, must rely mainly upon my powers of observation and de- duction, such as they may be, to guide me to the truth? I only venture to point out, not knowing whether or no this has been done in works already published, that, as I saw it in the year 1900, the surface of this cliff has a quaint and ghastly resemblance to a human skull. Taken in connec- tion with the traditions of that place, with its undoubted suitability to the dread purposes of public death, and with suitability to the dread pu the name by which the true spot was known, wherever it may have been, I submit that this resemblance is, to say the least, exceedingly suggestive." " P.S.-Since despatching the above letter I have looked through the chapter in my book headed “ Gordon's Tomb and Golgotha." I find that it contains the following already quoted :- already quo “ This, at least, is sure, that if the true Calvary was where many believe it to have been, among them myself, on the traditional site of the Place of Stoning.” (p. 305.) "But if the true Calvary was just without the wall on the borders of the Mahommedan cemetery, as think Otto Thenius, General Gordon, Colonel Conder, Doctor Merrill, and many more.” (p. 306, 1st edition.) Now this “true Calvary” whereof I speak is the same as the “Skull Hill ” of the identification of which, with the site of the Crucifixion, the reviewer suggests that I have taken the “ credit." How much credit I have taken to myself can be gathered from these extracts (to which I have added the italics only).-H. R. H. REVIEWING_NEW STYLE. SIR, -Among a packet of reviews of my book * A Winter Pilgrimage,” received by me this morning, is one which appeared in the Pall Mall Gazette that contains the following passage :- “It is to be inferred from a paragraph in this month's Author that he (that is, the writer of ## p. 132 (#529) ############################################ ADVERTISEMENTS. 111 SALE OF MSS. OF EVERY KIND. Literary Advice, Revision, Research, etc. ARRANGEMENTS FOR Printing, Publishing, Illustration, Translation, etc. THE LITERARY AGENCY OF LONDON, 5, HENRIETTA STREET, W.C. G. H. PERRIS. C. F. CAZENOVE. TYPEWRITING COMPANY, Oswald House, Queen Victoria Road, Coventry. Typewriting of every description, from Ninepence per Thousand Words (including good paper). Specimens on application. Special Work undertaken (not necessarily for publication); neatly and carefully executed in Two Colours, at Special Charges. 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Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 12 Issue 07 (February 1902) Subject The topic of the resource The Author, Vol. 12 Issue 07 (February 1902) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006979390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006979390</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1902-02-01-The-Author-12-7 publications The Author