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Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em> Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1903-11-02 Volume 14 Issue 2 Pages Page range in volume 29–56 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19031102 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin Che Hutbor. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. FOUNDED BY SIR Monthly.) WALTER BESANT. Vou. XIV.—No. 2 NOVEMBER 2ND, 1903. [PRICE SIXPENCE. TELEPHONE NUMBER : 374 VICTORIA. TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS : AUTORIDAD, LONDON. SN at a NOTICES. ——— +9 OR the opinions expressed in papers that are KF signed or initialled the authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless such is especially stated to be the case. Tue Editor begs to inform members of the Authors’ Society and other readers of 7he 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. — List of Members. Tue List of Members of the Society of Authors, published October, 1902, at the price of 6d., and the elections from October, 1902 to July, 1903, as a supplemental list, at the price of 2d. can now be obtained at the offices of the Society. They will be sold to members or associates of the Society only. Ss The Pension Fund of the Society. THE investments of the Pension Fund at present standing in the names of the Trustees are as follows. This is a statement of the actual stock ; VoL. XIV. the money value can be easily worked out at the current price of the market :— Cope Soe hs £1000 0 0 Tic@al Moats: 2.0... iii 500 0 0 Victorian Government 3 % Consoli- dated Inscribed Stock ............... 291 19 11 War Doan. 201 9 3 Total 3... ou, 993 Se? Subscriptions. 1903. £ sd. Jan. 1, Pickthall, Marmaduke 010 6 » Deane, Rey. A. C. 010 0 Jan. 4, Anonymous 0 5 0 » Heath, Miss Helena 0 5 0 5 Russell, G. H. ts 1 50 Jan. 16, White, “Mrs. Caroline 0 5 0 » Bedford, Miss Jessie 0 5 90 Jan. 19, Shiers-Mason, Mrs. 0 5.0 Jan. 20, Cobbett, Miss Alice ; 0p 0 Jan. 30, Minniken, Miss Bertha M.M. 1 0 0 Jan. 31, Whishaw, Fred. . 0. 10 0 Feb. 3, Reynolds, Mrs. Fred 0 5 O Feb. 11, Lincoln, C. . 0 5 0 Feb. 16, Hardy, J. Herbert . 0 5 O » Haggard, Major Arthur . 0 5 0 Feb. 23, Finnemore, John 0 5 0 Mar. 2, Moor, Mrs. St. C. . 1 0. 0 Mar. 5, Dutton, Mrs. Carrie 015 6 Apl. 10, Bird, Cp. - 0.10 6 Apl. 10, Campbell, Miss Montgomery . 0 8 0 May Lees, R. J. : Sd 20 5 Wright, J. Fondi : 0 5 0 Donations. Jan. 3, Wheelright, Miss E. 0 10.6 » Middlemass, MissJean . ~ 0-100 Jan. 6, Avebury, The Right Hon. The Lord . : as) » Gribble, Francis 010 0 Jan. 13, Boddington, Miss Helen . 010 6 30 THE AUTHOR. £ 2. d. Jan. 17, White, Mrs. Wollaston 110 » Miller, Miss E. T. . 0 5 O Jan. 19, Kemp, Miss Geraldine 010 6 Jan. 20, Sheldon, Mrs. French 0 5 0 Jan. 29, Roe, Mrs. Harcourt i 010 O Feb. 9, Sherwood, Mrs. , : 010 6 Feb. 16, Hocking, The Rev. Silas 1170 Feb. 18, Boulding, J. W. . 010 6 s, Ord, Hubert H. 010 O Feb. 20, Price, Miss Eleanor 010 0 » Carlile, Rev. J.C. . 010 0 Feb. 24, Dixon, Mrs. . 5 0 0 Feb. 26, Speakman, Mrs... 010 0 Mar. 5, Parker, Mrs. Nella 010 0 Mar. 16, Hallward,N.L. . 110 Mar. 20, Henry, Miss Alice . - 0-6 0 » Mathieson, Miss Annie . - 010 0 » Browne, T. A. (“ Rolfe Boldre- wood”) ; : _ 1 tb 0 Mar. 23, Ward, Mrs. Humphry . -10 0 0 Apl. 2, Hutton, The Rev. W. H. 2 0 0 Apl. 14, Tournier, Theodore ; 0 5 0 May King, Paul H. . : - 010 0 es Wynne, Charles Whitworth .10 0 0 » 21, Orred J. Randal : Jl 20 June 12, Colles, W. Morris . .10 0 0 » Bateman, Stringer . . 010 6 > Anon . i 0 5 0 » Mallett, Reddie 0 5 0 Oct. 27, Sturgis, Julian . 50 0 0 The following members have also made subscrip- tions or donations :— Meredith, George, President of the Society. Thompson, Sir Henry, Bart., F.R.C.S. Rashdall, The Rey. H. Guthrie, Anstey. Robertson, C. B. Dowsett, C. F. There are in addition other subscribers who do not desire that either their names or the amount they are subscribing should be printed. Se oe es FROM THE COMMITTEE. —_-—~>—+—_ AT the first meeting of the Committee held after the vacation, at 39, Old Queen Street, fifty-two new members and associates were elected. This election the Committee consider most satisfactory. The total number of elections for the current year amount now to 164. The full list of the month’s elections is printed below. A good many small matters that had been col- lecting during the vacation came up for considera- tion, but no very contentious business. The settlement of the date for the unveiling of the memorial to Sir Walter Besant was postponed until after the return of Mr. Frampton, the sculptor, from abroad. Due notice will be given to all members when the details are fixed. It was decided to invest a further sum of £90 of the Life Membership Account in the purchase of War Loan. This raises the Society’s investments to consider- ably over £800. Should no unforeseen claim be made on the Society’s resources owing either to the loss of some action or expenditure on behalf of some other matter in which the Committee feel bound to uphold the principles of the Society, the Reserve Fund ought before the end of next year to amount to close upon £1,000, The Committee decided to undertake the stamp- ing of songs at the ordinary charge for such work on behalf of those musical composers who are members of the Society. This action will no doubt be of considerable convenience to sony writers. There were one or two small cases before the Committee. It is, however, inexpedient at the present time to declare the action of the Committee. —-——+ Cases. SINCE the last month’s issue of the cases placed in the hands of the Secretary sixteen further disputes taken up on behalf of members have to be recorded. Hight referred to the return of MSS.; of these five have been successful; the MSS. having been sent to the office and returned to the author. The editors in all cases have shown themselves anxious to assist the Society’s efforts. In one of the other three cases diligent search has been made, but no evidence that the MS. reached the office exists, so although the editor has done what he could the author has no legal claim. In one of the other two a letter written by the Secretary has been returned through the dead letter office, and it has been found impossible to trace the person to whom the MSS. were sent. he final case has only been taken up during the last few days, and no answer has as yet been received. In two instances the copyright of members has been infringed. An author’s song was republished, together with music, by Messrs. Chappell & Co., who received the song with the music from the composer, and published it in ignorance of the fact that there was any copyright existing. As soon as their attention was drawn to the matter, without demur they paid the sum required by the author, and agreed to publish his name on all future copies. The second case dealt with the infringement of  i THE AUTHOR. 31 the copyright in a dramatic piece by the publica- tion of the same in story form, incident for incident, with nearly all the minor details complete. The story was issued by a well-known publishing house as a penny novelette. It would be impolitic to make any further comment on this case at present, but we hope to insert a statement in 7’e Author at a later date. On four occasions the Secretary had to ask for accounts which had not been rendered in accordance with the clause inthe agreement. These have been forwarded in due course and satisfactorily settled. One matter was for money and accounts. This has been completed by the rendering of the accounts and the payment of the amount. Another claim of money for articles published has now been amicably arranged. Lastly, a case has arisen where an author paid a sum for work to be finished by a certain date. The work has not been done in accordance with the contract, and the Secretary has the matter in hand to see that the contract is properly carried out. It is hoped that it will not be necessary to take legal proceedings. Of the cases mentioned in the last issue only three are still unfinished. One refers to a demand of a member against a paper in India. Owing to the difficulties of correspondence, and the length of time that must elapse between each letter, the matter is still left open, but the Editor of the paper in question has replied to the Secretary’s demand, and no doubt a reasonable settlement will be come to. Another case is against the firm of Messrs. Romeike and Curtice, the well-known press cutting agents. A member of the Society, who lives abroad, wrote to these agents asking that an album of cuttings referring to a book he had lately pub- lished should be forwarded to him, at the same time enclosing their fee. Not having received the album our member communicated with the Secretary, who wrote to the firm on his behalf on May 27th Jast, and on the 8th of June received an answer as follows :— “ DEAR S1Rx,—In reply to your letter of the 27th ult., re the albums of Mr.L.W. We have ascertained that they were completed and in error sent to Zanzibar. ‘We. are extremely sorry for this, and have communi- cated with Mr. W. We will at any expense procure duplicate cuttings, mount them, and despatch next week. “ Yours faithfully, “ ROMEIKE and CURTICE.” No explanation was given as to why the album was sent to Zanzibar when the member resides in Spain. Nor, in spite of this statement and of several subsequent letters written to the firm, has the album as yet been forwarded. As late as October 21st the Secretary received a letter from our member saying that it had not come to hand. _ The third case is for money due for articles pub- lished in a well-known weekly ladies’ paper. Here owing to the fact that the member of the Society lived abroad, there was some difficulty ; but the Secretary obtained from the editor, ‘after some little correspondence, a cheque on account and a promise that the matter would be finally arranged when the member returned to England and was able to send in a formal account. os October Elections. “ Airam ” : ; : Armstrong, T. P. . - 126. S. W. Baden - Powell, Major- 32, Princes Gate, SW. General R. 8S. S., O.B. Barker, H. Granville Barrett, Frank Queen’s Gate, Thwaite Rectory, Han- worth, Norwich. Beldam, George William. Boston Lodge, Brent- ford. Bell, R. S. Warren . 12, Burleigh Street, Strand, W.C. Bishop, John . “ Avington,” Hunger- ford. Blake, J. P. Bass ‘“‘Danesdale,” York Road, Southend, Essex, Boulton, Miss Helen M. . Seend, Melksham, Wilts. Briscoe, John Potter - 38, Addison Street, Nottingham. Burrows, Prof. Montagu. 9, Norham Gardens, ; Oxford. Carnegie, Mrs. Lindsay Kimblethmont, Ar- (Chameleon) broath, N.B. Clark, Arthur S. 109, Park Side, Wood- ford Green. 109, Park Side, Wood- ford Green. Cock, Mrs. Alfred(#. Cock) 2, Tregunter Road, The Boltons, S.W. Keningale Ardat, Southall. Clark, Mrs. Janet . Cook, Mrs. (Mabel Collins) Curry, Commander E. Naval and Military Hamilton Club, Piccadilly, W. Dale, T. F. New Club, 4, Grafton Street, W. Daly, Charles . 31, Drayton Park, N. “ Paul Danby ” Dutton, T. D. Springhall, Sawbridge- worth, Herts. Escott, T. H.S. . . 33, Sackville Road, Hove, Brighton. Francis, Miss Rose (Ruby Burnham, Norton, Lynn) King’s Lynn.  32 Godard, John George Graves, Charles L. . Harrison, Frederic . Hartley, Miss Elizabeth . Hawkins-Ambler, G. A. . Hodgkin, Thomas . Jennings, J. G. oJ. MY . : : Kendal, John (Dum Dum) Laverack, The Rev. F. J. Legge, W. Heneage —tLuceas, FE. V. . Mallett, Reddie Mark, H. Thiselton Parsons, E. B. Pierpoint, A. E. Romanes, Miss Ethel “Prior Salford” . ; Smith-Dampier, Miss N. Stanton, Vincent Henry . Stephens, Lucy H. G. Symons, Arthur Taylor, Harold Turner, Samuel Wharton, Leonard Cyril (Ignoramus) Wilson, Andrew THE AUTHOR. 7, Radleigh Gardens, Brixton Hill, S.W. Athenzeum Club, S.W. Elm Hill, Hawkhurst, Kent. 16, Adair House, Oak- ley Street, Chelsea, S.W. 30, Rodney Street, Liverpool. Barmoor Castle, Beal, Northumberland. The Wardenry, War- minster, Wilts. 2, Eliot Place, Black- heath, S.E. 211, New King’s Road, Parson’s Green, S.W, Raymer, near Lewes, Sussex. Harlyn Bay, near Pad- stow, N. Cornwall. Owens College, Man- chester. 41, Guildford Street, Russell Square, W.C. La Martiniere College, Lucknow, India. Pitcalyean, Wigg, Ross- shire. Twyford House, near Winchester. Trinity College, Cam- bridge. Trawsmawr Newydd, Carmarthen. 134, Lauderdale Man- sions, Maida Vale, N.W. Hampden House, King’s Cross, N.W. Haslemere, Orleans Road, Upper Nor- wood, 8.E. Brunswick House, Gayton Road, Har- row. 110, Gilmore Edinburgh. Place, _Two members alone do not desire publication either of their name or address. LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL PROPERTY. ER ee ee I.—Dumas Translations. Duar Sir,—We understand that your issue of October 1st contains some criticisms of the fees which are paid to the translators of our new edition of the novels of Alexandre Dumas, and we hope that you will in justice to us insert the following statement. An arrangement was made by us with the editor of the series, by which he undertook for a certam fee, suggested by himself, the translation of the set of novels. He offered to find competent assistants, and he proposed that we should leave the matter in his hands. We had no reason to doubt his competence or his fairness, and an arrangement was made that he should deliver to us the trans- lated books and pay his assistants out of the fees which were received from us. Shortly after the agreement was made we heard, much to our surprise, that the editor was paying his colleagues a sum very much lower than the sum which we paid him. We at once wrote to him protesting against the division of the fees, and pointing out to him that the sum he was paying was far too low. We insisted upon a higher remuneration, and in order to make things easier for him and fairer for his staff, we agreed to pay his contributors a further sum after the sale of a certain number of copies of each novel. We hold ourselves personally responsible and we shall see that such payment is made when the time comes. The correspondence is at your disposal. You will, we are sure, acquit us of any desire to induce men or women to translate books at unfair prices. We have always endeavoured to act fairly to authors, and we are bound to say that we are surprised that you should by suggestion call our fairness into question without having made - inquiries from us concerning the facts on which you comment. We are, dear sir, Yours faithfully, Mertuvuern & Co. —+——+ II.—The Case of a Lost MS. THIS case was heard, by consent, before T. Willes Chitty, Esq., one of the Masters of the Supreme Court, in August last. The plaintiff was an author, the defendant Mr. John Long, a publisher, and the action was brought to recover damages for the detention of a manu- script of a book written by the plaintiff, entitled “The New Lorelei.”  THE AUTHOR. It appears from the evidence given before the Master that the plaintiff had written several books, mostly on historical subjects, and also some short stories for magazines. On the 16th September, 1902, the author called at the offices of Mr. John Long, taking with her a typewritten manuscript of a novel which she had written, consisting of 50,000 words, called ‘The New Lorelei.” The original manuscript was de- stroyed after the typewritten copy had been made. The author offered the manuscript to a gentle- man whom she believed to be Mr. John Long, who stated that he would submit it to his reader, and let her know the result. On the following morning she received a letter from the defendant acknowledging the receipt of the manuscript, and at the foot of the letter were the following words :— * Note-—Every care will be taken of works entrusted to Mr. Long, but he cannot be held responsible for their loss in transit by fire or otherwise. Authors should keep copies of their works.” Until the receipt of this letter the plaintiff said she had never heard of the condition mentioned in the note. Not having received any communi- cation from Mr. Long, she wrote to him on the 5th December, 1902, asking what decision he had come to with regard to the manuscript, and on the 6th December received a reply from Mr. Long saying, “I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, which shall be duly considered.” Again on the 26th January, 1903, another letter was written inquiring as to Mr. Long’s decision about the manuscript, to which an answer was received dated the 28th January, saying that the letter was receiving Mr. Long’s attention. On February 5th, 1903, Mr. Long wrote the following letter to the plaintiff : “THE NEW LORELEI. “We find this MS. was returned to you on the 6th November last ‘per London Parcel Delivery Company. Will you kindly make enquiries your end?” The manager of the London Parcels Delivery Company was called at the hearing and stated that no parcel was ever delivered to the company by Mr. Long addressed to the plaintiff. Eventually it was admitted on behalf of the defendant that no one could be called to prove that the manuscript had been delivered to the company. Mr. Long’s reader gave evidence to the effect that the manu- script had been sent to him by Mr. Long to read ; and he had returned it to Mr. Long with his comments upon it. Mr. W. Oliver Hodges (instructed by Messrs. Field, Roscoe & Co.) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr. Barton (instructed by Messrs. Rivington & Son) appeared for the defendant. 33 On behalf of the defendant it was contended that— (1.) The defendant was a gratuitous and involun- tary bailee and only liable for gross negligence, (2.) The onus of proving negligence lay on the plaintiff, and the mere loss of the manuscript by the defendant was not evidence of negligence. (3.) By the terms of the note to the author of September 16th, 1902, the defendant was absolved from all liability. To these points it was replied on behalf of the plaintiff that— (1.) The defendant having received the manu- script for the purpose of submitting it to his reader with a view to seeing whether he would accept it for publication took the case out of the category of gratuitous bailees, because the bailment was for the benefit of both parties. (2.) The bailment being for the benefit of both parties the onus lay on the defendant to show that the loss occurred without negligence, which he had failed to do. (3.) The terms mentioned in the letter of 16th September were not mentioned when the defendant received the manuscript, and could not afterwards be forced upon the plaintiff; and further, if! the defendant wished to absolve himself from the negligence of his servants he must do so in clear and unambiguous terms, which the note did not do. The Master gave judgment for the plaintiff for £20 with costs, and observed that he would give the defendant every facility should he desire to appeal from the decision. A writer ina weekly newspaper, Zhe Sphere, has commented on this case, suggesting that the decision, if legally sound, on which he throws doubts, was morally unjust, and criticising the action of our committee in taking up the matter. We are confident that our members after reading the preceding summarised report will consider that the committee were fully justified in bringing the case into Court. A publisher is a man of business—or at any rate a man engaged in business—and as such is (as it happily proved) in some cases legally bound and in all cases morally bound to deal with property entrusted to him with ordinary business care. When he has failed to do so he will not improve his position in the eyes of the public by making an attempt which he cannot sustain by evidence, to shift his responsibility on to others. What would the feelings of the anonymous writer in Zhe Sphere be, if a watchmaker with whom he had left his watch for repair after long delay failed to produce it ? Would his higher morality prevent him from making any claim in respect of the loss ? 34 THE AUTHOR. III.—Copyright Infringement in Germany. The following particulars may be of interest to English authors :—Miss Henriette Jastrow, a German lady living in London, wrote a leading article, published in the Frankfurter Zeitung, under the heading, “‘ Made in Germany : a word to German manufacturers.” A little later she received from the secretary of the Allgemeine Schriftstellerverein (German Society of Authors) a letter, informing her that her article had been reprinted in extenso by the General-Anzeiger fiir LElberfeld und Bremen, and that, unless she had given express permission, such re-publication was an infringement of the law, for which she could demand compensa- tion. Having taken legal advice, Miss Jastrow handed a statement of her case to the public prose- cutor, requesting him to take action. That official replied that her article, not “being instructive, nor technical, nor entertaining,” did not fall under the provisions of the law, of which, therefore, its reproduction was not an infringement, Miss Jastrow, on the advice of her solicitor, appealed to the higher court, submitting that her article was instructive, technical, and also enter- taining, and the higher court instructed the public prosecutor to take proceedings. On the commencement of the proceedings the editor of the offending paper wrote to Miss Jastrow, informing her that he threw himself at her feet, and offering to pay her for the article if the pro- ceedings were dropped. Judgment was given against the editor, who was ordered to pay a fine to the State of 30 marks, and a “ Busse,” or damages, to Miss Jastrow of 100 marks (£5). The Schriftstellerverein has arranged with a press cutting agency to receive notice of the re- publication of articles written by members of the Society, and the names of the republished articles are printed in the Society’s organ, Die Feder. Members who observe unauthorised reprints of their own articles can obtain from the office of Die Feder a copy of the offending paper, and can then apply for payment. If this is not obtained on application, the Society will initiate proceedings. It is expected that members whose path has been thus smoothed should pay 10 per cent. of the money received to the Society, or 50 per cent. if legal proceedings were taken by the Society. Observations upon the usefulness of the Society would be superfluous, CLEMENTINA BLACK. 1 IV.—Denmark and the Berne Convention. Tue King of Denmark has issued a decree notifying the fact that Denmark became one of the signatories to the Berne Convention of 1886, to the additional Act of Paris, 1896, and the Explanatory Declaration, as and from the Ist of July last. ‘The law authorising this step was passed by the Rigsdag some time ago, but only came into force on the date above mentioned. Ho OUR BOOK AND PLAY TALK. ——< 1+. ROFESSOR CHURCH, F.R.S., has just com- P pleted for the Board of Education the revision of his South Kensington Hand- books on ‘“ English Earthenware” and “ English Porcelain.” ‘hey have been out of print for a year. The professor has recently published, through Seeley & Co., a new edition of the “ Portfolio Monograph on Josiah Wedgwood,” which first appeared in 1894. The same publishers have also lately issued a third edition of this author’s “Chemistry of Paints and Paintings.” A supple- ment to his “‘ Food Grains of India” has also been published. A volume entitled “ Records and Recollections ” has been printed privately to the extent of forty copies only for relatives of Professor Church. It is an autobiography illustrated by photographs of miniatures of works of art, etc., but it includes a bibliography and a list of memoirs and papers. Copies have been presented to the Bodleian Library, the British Museum, and the Heralds’ College. Sir Norman Lockyer’s address “ On the Influence of Brain-power on History,” which was delivered before the British Association for the Advancement of Science at Southport, on September 9th, 1903, is to be published in volume form by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. Professor Bertram Windle, M.D., F.R.S., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Bir- mingham, has just finished a book on the “ Pre- historic Age in England.” It will appear shortly after Christmas by Messrs. Methuen. One of the principal features of this book is that it contains lists of the major objects, such as earthworks, arranged according to counties, and lists of the principal museums in which the minor objects can be seen. At the present time Professor Windle is engaged with Mr. F. G. Parsons on a work on the “ Myology of the Mammalia,” which he hopes to get out some time next year. A new volume in the Cambridge Historical Series is “ The Expansion of Russia” from 1815 to 1900, by Francis Henry Skrine, I.C.S. (retired), author of “The Life of Sir W. W. Hunter,” etc.  THE AUTHOR. “The Expansion of Russia” has a copious biblio- graphy and index, and three coloured maps. Its price is 6s. nett. oe When Mrs. Craigie delivered her presidential address to the members of the Ruskin Society of Birmingham at the Priory Rooms, she took as her subject “ The Science of Life: Saint Ignatius and Tolstoi.” After confessing that the science of life was the most difficult subject in the world, Mrs. Craigie said, among other interesting things, that the philosophy of Saint Ignatius, reduced to its simplest form, was that man was made to serve God and save his own soul. Tolstoi, who had had exceptional opportunities for becoming disgusted with the pleasures of life and the rewards of fame, entreated men not to argue, not to analyse, but to dig in the fields. . Tolstoi found nothing but imperfections in their social organisations and immorality in their con- ceptions of life. Money was bad—was too evil even to be given away ; it must be destroyed, and work paid for with work. Those were paralysing ideas. Mrs. Craigie considered that much of the present discontent came from the artificial and unwarrantable importance of position. She saw nothing in enormous schemes of wholesale reform, but everything in attention to the individual. “ Miss Marie Corelli is at work on a new novel which is more than half finished, though it will not be published till next spring or summer. The authoress has sacrificed a considerable amount of time and money, besides giving a great deal of ‘personal hard work, to the business of saving the , old buildings in Henley Street, Stratford-on-Avon, on the side of Shakespeare’s birthplace, from complete demolition,/and considers she has won a victory over the vandals by the statement. of facts in her pamphlet, “The Plain Truth of the Stratford-on-Avon Controversy” (Methuen. Price 1s.) She has saved some genuine Shakespearean property duly authenticated by old leases and title-deeds, which would have been razed to the ground in April last but for her protest. The fight, however, which is not yet ended, has taken much of her time away from her usual work, though she has caught up with this considerably during her two months’ sojourn at Braemar. Here, _ ina quiet little cottage on “Chapel Brae,” which commands a magnificent view of the mountains and moors, she has been writing steadily, giving all her mornings to work and her afternoons to open-air exercise, and has so far proceeded with her new romance that she has commenced a second book, thus having two on hand at the same time. This double production, it will be remembered, she succeeded in when “ The Master Christian” and “Boy ” were published almost simultaneously. 35 Mr. George Gissing, who is in the South of France just now, has in hand a piece of historical | fiction which has cost, and is costing, him much | more labour than anything he has ever done. fit all goes well, it may be finished by the end of this year. 4 Mr. William Le Queux has gone to the villa he has recently bought in the vineyards on the hill-side at Lastra, overlooking Florence, and is there hard at work on a new Italian romance of the cinque- cento, which piece of fiction he has been contem- plating for two years../He has lived in Italy many years, and has devoted all his spare time to research for the historical romance he is now completing. Next year Mr. Le Queux will figure largely in the newspapers and magazines. “The Closed Book” is the title of his new novel in Chambers’s Journal. A story called “ Who Giveth this Woman” is announced by Tillotson’s Syndicate. “Both of This Parish” will ran through the pages of the Morning Leader, while he has still commissions to complete during the forthcoming year for Cassell’s Magazine, The British Weekly, and Tit-Bits. Mr. Le Queux isa steady and industrious worker, who writes every word with his pen, hates the sound of a typewriter, and finds recreation in the study of medizval parchments, in the deciphering of which he is a recognised expert. His book, “ The Ticken- cote Treasure,” which deals with ancient documents, is one of the best selling books of last month. Mr. Stephen Gwynne’s new novel, “John Max- well’s Marriage,” which has been running through Macmillan’s Magazine, is to be published imme- diately by that firm. It treats of Irish life during the period 1760—80, the scene of action being Donegal. Mr. Stephen Gwynne has also written for Messrs. Macmillan a summary sketch called “ Landmarks of English Literature,” which is in type. A volume of fishing sketches, mainly written this summer, Mr. Gwynne hopes to publish next spring. He has also arranged to do “ Moore” in the English Men of Letters Series. Miss Sarah Doudney is busy with a novel which she expects to bring out in the spring. The title is “ One of the Few.” It deals with the inner life of a single literary woman, divided between her devotion to her profession and her tenderness for an old lover. Miss Doudney, who left Oxford last March, and is now living in a pleasant sunshiny house on Old London Road leading to Portsmouth, wishes it to be understood that she writes alone, and has never been associated with a co-worker. Miss Clara Linklater Thomson, whose “ Samuel Richardson” was published by Horace.Marshalt in  36 1900, and who also contributed a little ‘‘ Life of George Eliot ” to the Westminster Biographies in 1901, has been devoting herself to the composition of school books. She has just published Parts I. and II. of “ A First Book in English Literature,” and is now engaged on Part V. of a “ First History of England,” of which four parts have appeared and are having a good sale. Miss Thomson is now acting as educational editor to Messrs, Horace Marshall. : 2 Mrs. M. H. Spielmann’s “ Littledown Castle,” a volume of tales for young people, finely illustrated by jeading artists, is just out. 5 Miss Lily Dougall’s new story is to appear first in serial form in Zemple Bar, beginning next January, and is entitled ‘The Harthly Purgatory.” Miss Dougall has left Montreal, and is now living in South Devon. Mr. Allan Fea’s new book, “ After Worcester Fight,” a companion volume to his “The Flight of the King,” is to be published very soon by Mr. John Lane. It will contain five contemporary accounts of Charles II.’s romantic adventures in 1651, a lengthy introduction dealing with the early editions of Thomas Blount’s “ Boscobel,”’ with relics associated with the king’s escape, traditions, petitions, etc., and an appendix, including an enlarged and revised Carlos pedigree, and Colonel Carlos’s will, etc. There are upwards of fifty illustrations in “ After Worcester Fight,” including many portraits of Charles and his loyal supporters, and facsimile reproductions of the quaint illustrations in some rare editions of Blount’s work, with the author’s permission. Messrs. Edwin Davies & Co., publishers, Brecon, and Messrs. Quaritch, of London, have in the press a “‘ Life of Richard Fenton, K.C., F.A.S.,” the historian, by his grandson, Ferrar Fenton, F.R.AS., M.C.A.A., to precede a new edition of the “ Historical Tour through Pembrokeshire,’’ with important additions both literary and artistic. A new children’s book by Mrs. Ernest Ames is just out (Grant Richards). It is called “Tim and the Dusty Man.” It is illustrated in colours, there being one large picture to each page. “The Tremendous Twins,” by this authoress, has gone well. Raymond Jacbern’s new books for children this season are ‘Three Rascals,’ published by Messrs. Macmillan, and ‘‘ The Scaramouche Club,” published by Grant Richards. Miss Christabel Coleridge did not undertake any original work while she was engaged on the life of Miss C, M. Yonge. She is now, however, writing a novel, which she. hopes may be completed early next year, and she continues to edit Friendly Leaves, the organ of the Girls’ Friendly Society. Miss THE AUTHOR. Coleridge also hopes to undertake some literary studies in the Arthurian romances and legends, ‘A Lady of Misrule” is the title of the Rev. Henry Cresswell’s new novel. Messrs, Chatto and Windus are the publishers. John Bickerdyke has resigned his editorial appointment on The Field, with the object of returning to his first love, Fiction. His last and fifth novel, “The Passing of Prince Rozan,” had the misfortune to be published three weeks before war was declared, with the result that it had a greater success in the States than in its native country. Many authors suffered from the same cause. Austin Clare’s new book, “Court Cards” (F. Fisher Unwin) is a romance concerning the “Little Game played between England and Scotland at the close of Centuary 16.” Lovers of the occult and mystical will be interested to hear of a new magazine, devoted to these subjects, entitled Out of the Silence—now in its second year—edited by Miss F. Voisin, B.A. The October number contained the first instalment of “The Descent,” a poem by an experienced writer, for many years a member of the Author’s Society. Mr. Arrowsmith, of Bristol, is to publish imme- diately “A Patience Pocketbook Plainly Printed,” put together by Mrs. Theodore Bent. It is very small and compact, and is for the use of travellers. Mr. Arthur H. Holmes, author of “ Gumford,’” etc., has published through Mr. T. Burleigh, at ‘2s. 6d., a volume of stories under the title of ‘“ Light and Shade.” We have received a copy of a little publication which may be useful to some of our members. It is The Book Monthly, an illustrated record, guide, and magazine for booksellers, librarians and pub- lishers, book-buyers, readers and writers. It is. published: by Messrs. Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited, at 6d. nett. Its list of “ New Books Nearly Ready,” and the classified catalogue of the noteworthy books, new editions, and reprints. of the month, meet a want, and that in a clear and concise form. Mr. Kipling’s “ The Five Nations” ranks high jamong the books recently published by members. |of our Society. Besides the popular edition, there is one on hand-made paper, limited to two hundred copies. There is also an edition of thirty copies. on Japanese vellum at five guineas nett. Mr. John Davidson’s new book (Grant Richards) entitled “The Rosary” is a miscellany of criticism, fable and parable, and other utterances in verse and prose. The Coronation Ode written for the Daily Chronicle is in it, also “ An Helogue of the Downs,” which appeared in the Anglo-Saxon. Review,  THE AUTHOR. “; We need only mention Mr. H. G. Wells’s “Mankind in the Making” (Chapman and Hall), which is attracting so much attention. It is being largely bought and widely read. We are sorry we cannot squeeze in even one extract from it. Chapter X., “ Thought in the Modern State,” has a particular interest for members of the Society of Authors. We note, among other books recently published by members, Miss Beatrice Harraden’s “‘ Katharine Frensham,” Mr. Stanley Weyman’s “The Long Night,” Mr. Fred Whishaw’s “A Splendid Impostor,” Mr. F. G. Aflalo’s “Fishes of Our Seas,” Mr. Neil Munro’s “ Children of Tempest,” the Hon. Maurice Baring’s ‘The Black Prince” (a volume of plays in blank verse), Mr. Robert Machray’s “ The Mystery of Lincoln’s Inn,” which has been running in 7ii-Bits: Miss Iza Duffus Hardy’s “ A Butterfly,” Major Arthur Griffiths’ “The Silver Spoon,” Mrs. Hugh Fraser’s “The Stolen Emperor,” E. Phillips Oppenheim’s “The Yellow Crayon,” and Mr. Sidney Pickering’s “The Key of Paradise.” Mr. Max Pemberton is writing a modern society story for the Queen, rather a novel departure for him. His play, “The Finishing School,” will, Mr. Pemberton hopes, be produced by Mr. Frank Curzon before the New Year. A dramatic version of Mrs. Croker’s novel, “Terence,” is being played in the United States with great success by Chauncey Olcott, the well- known “star.” The actor and critics are unanimous in declaring the part of Terence to be the best and most telling character Mr. Olcott has ever repre- sented. The play is drawing enormous audiences, and will be one of the chief attractions in New York during the winter season. It will probably be seen in London at a later date. Mrs. Croker’s Indian novel, “Her Own People,” which she completed last year, is to be published immediately by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett. “Man and Superman: A Comedy and a Philo- sophy,” by Bernard Shaw (Constable), is another volume by a prominent member of our Society which is attracting much attention. “Some like best the “ Epistle Dedicatory to Arthur Bingham Walkley.” Some prefer the Comedy ; others have much enjoyed the “ Revolutionists’ Handbook and Pocket Companion by John Tanner, M.LR.C. (Member of the Idle Rich Class).” “* At Home’ Recitations” has been published by Miss Ellen Collett, author of “ Play Time Poems,” “ Flower Fancy,” and other lyrics. The same author is producing a song cycle, which ‘will be sung by a well known vocalist early in 1904. Miss Mary Carmichael is the composer. Miss Jean Middlemass is publishing a novel with Messrs. Digby, Long & Co., entitled “ Till oT Death us do Part,” which will be on the market in the course of November. A book by “ Officer,” entitled “Smith of the Shamrock Guards,” has been published by Messrs. Greening & Co., at the price of 2s. 6d. The book is a drama, in a prologue and five acts, and is dedi- cated by “ Officer” “to all those officers who, like myself, abhor the disgraceful system of ‘ ragging,’” Mr. J. C. Dick has published with Mr. Henry Frowde an interesting book on the songs of Robert Burns, with the melodies for which they were written. Those who are lovers of old tunes will have much to learn from the contents of the work. /_On Thursday evening, October 8th, Mr. A. W. | Pinero’s remarkable new drama, in four acts and an epilogue, entitled “ Letty,” was produced by Mr, Charles Frohman at the Duke of York’s Theatre. Tt made a sensation. Miss Irene Vanbrugh ag Letty Shell scored another great success; so also did Mr. H. B. Irving in the part of Nevill Letch- mere. /‘The whole cast is an admirable one. ——_-+—~>—- PARIS NOTES. —+—~@—+ NE of the strongest and most interesting of () this season’s novels is undoubtedly “ Le Maitre de la Mer,” by M. de Vogiié. The portrait of the millionaire, Archibald Robinson, who appears to be governing the whole commercial world, is admirably drawn. The description of his office in Paris reveals to us at once the man. Everything in perfect order, and not a superfluous piece of furniture or ornament. The most con- spicuous object in the room is an enormous terres- trial globe. The only pictures are three portraits of Gordon, Livingstone, and Cecil Rhodes. It is only in very rare cases that a French author succeeds in depicting a typical Englishman or American. M. de Vogiié has accomplished this exceptional feat, for his American is a genuine one. Mme. Fianona, too, a young widow who plays an important réle in the story, is essentially English. There are other characters in the book which have evidently been drawn from life. There is a French explorer, who, for political reasons, has to return to his native country just as he has accomplished the task which ought to have brought him the highest honours. Then, too, thereisan Englishman, whoat first seems very familiar to us. “ Directeur d’un magazine ou il développe ses idées originales, tantét il endoctrine et stimule ses compatriotes, tantot il court le monde, approchant tous les princes, tous les ministres ; il les interroge, il leur en impose par sa liberté de langage. II a été l’un des premiers instigateurs de cet impérialisme qwil voulait pacifique, dont il  38 déplore et finit par absoudre les emportements belliqueux. ‘Il est trés particulier,’ disent en souriant les gens de sens rassis ; et leur pretention est de ne pas compter avec ses idées, avec la petite clientéle de ses fanatiques. Mais le mysticisme pratique d’Hiram Jarvis a des prises profondes sur les coeurs anglais; tel article de lui influence la Cité, les Communes, la Cour, plus que ne veulent en convenir ceux qui le suivent en le traitant d’illuminé.” The interest of the story is well sustained, and the characters are all well studied and carefully delineated, but the great charm of the book lies in the setting forth in relief, as it were, the great difference between the Anglo-Saxon and the Latin race. “Toute mon education,” says the American, “m’a appris a tenir compte du fait, a en tirer le meilleur parti pour me faire une vie plus large. Toute la mienne,” replies the Frenchman, “m’a instruit 4 mépriser le fait qui opprime lidée, a mourier plutét que de forfairé.”” The key-note of the whole book is in these few lines, and the author then proceeds to explain the difference between the two men. “Non,” he says, “ces deux hommes ne pouvaient pas se comprendre. Sous la sphére symbolique, objet de leurs ambitions et lieu de leurs conflits, ils personnifiaient le duel tragique de deux races, de deux mentalités. Tous deux brilaient de conquérir ce globe, par des voies et pour des fins différentes: l’un par son or, pour en amasser d’avantage; Vautre par son épée, pour y planter un drapeau et s’exalter aux anciens réves de grandeur que lui rappelait cet embléme. Ie Missionnaire poursuivait sa mission. ... Son patriotisme ombrageux prétendait ignorer l’huma- nité, la civilisation, et cet idéaliste prodigue ne travaillait & son insu que pour elles. Le fils des Vikings n’était pas moins sincere, pas moins fidele au dur prosélytisme appris dans sa vieille Bible, lorqu’il couvrait de ces grands mots son besoin d’aventures fructueuses ; et il disait vrai: comme le désintéressement de l’autre, son indus- trieuse rapacité collaborait au perfectionnement de ce globe, a la mystérieuse éclosion du futur ot tous deux consumaient leurs énergies contraires.” “La Vie Simple,” by C. Wagner, is an excellent book. The author is a great believer in modern progress, but he deplores the “ confusion de l’acces- soire avec l’essentiel,” which is so common an error in everyday life. He maintains that the wealthiest man may be one of the simplest of individuals, while beggars, parasites of all kinds, misers, effemi- nate and ambitious men may be entirely devoid of ‘esprit de simplicité.” “ La livrée n’y fait rien,” says M. Wagner, “il faut voir le coeur.... Un homme est simple lorsque sa plus haute préoccupa- tion consiste 4 vouloir étre ce qu’il doit étre. . THE AUTHOR. Aspirer a la vie simple, c’est proprement aspirer remplir la plus haute destinée humaine. Tous les mouvements de l’humanité vers plus de justice et. plus de lumiére ont été en méme temps des mouve- ments vers une vie plus simple. Jt la simplicité antique, dans les arts, les mceurs, les idées, ne garde pour nous son prix incomparable que parce qu’elle est parvenue a donner un relief puissant & quelques sentiments essentiels, a quelques vérités permanentes.” One of the finest chapters in the volume is entitled ‘‘ La pensée simple.” The author is an optimist, as the following lines will prove: ‘La confiance fondamentale est le ressort mystérieux qui met en mouvement tout ce qu'il y a de forces en nous. Elle nous nourrit. C’est par elle que Vhomme vit, bien plus que par le pain qu’il mange. .. . L’histoire de l’humanité est celle de l’invincible espérance. . . .1 Le pessimisme est inhumain. ... Pour se permettre de trouver mauvaise cette chose prodigieuse qui se nomme la vie il faudrait en avoir vu le fond, et presque avoir faite.” “La Paix Latine” is the title of the latest book by M. Gabriel Hanotaux. ‘“ L’Energie Francaise ”’ was the description of a tour through France and her colonies, and this new volume is the account of a journey farther afield. The author takes us from Paris to Venice, and from thence to Barcelona, Madrid, Cadiz, Oran, Tunis, Carthage, Palerma, Syracuse, and Rome. M. Hanotaux appears to be well up in the history, the foreign policy, and the political economy of the various countries about. which he writes. He is convinced that there must be a Latin Renaissance, and, after pointing out the great influence wielded by Italy, France, and Spain in the past, he shows all that may be done in the future by the “ Paix Latine.” After Pierre Loti’s “ L’Inde ” we have “ Visions de l’ Inde,” by M. Jules Bois. There is much that is interesting in this volume, but it is more a series of impressions than a detailed description of India. ‘“‘L’Année Fatale” is the title of the eighth volume of M. Ollivier’s “ History of the Second Empire.” It treats of the events of 1866, and shows up the huge mistakes which were made, and which led to the war of 1870. M. Ollivier has consulted the letters and memoirs published on the subject in Italy, Germany, and England, and has inter- viewed many men who were in a position to know all the political affairs of the times, so that this new volume throws light on much that has hitherto appeared mysterious. La Fayette’s correspondence which contains his “Lettres de Prison” and “ Lettres de |’Hxile” (1791—1801) has been published, together with an excellent biographical study written by M. Jules. Thomas.  THE AUTHOR. 39 Among the most interesting articles in the recent reviews are the following :—“ Les Origines du Roman Balzacien,” by M. André le Breton, in the Revue de Paris. “ En Pays Bouddhique,” by M. André Chevrillon, in the Revwe des Deux Mondes. In this review there is also an excellent transla- tion of Mrs. Humphry Ward’s novel “ La fille de Lady Rose.” In the Mercure de France there is a most interesting article by Arthur Symons on ‘Casanova & Dux.” The Weekly Critical Review is also publishing a very fine series of articles by M. Rémy de Gourmont on “ La Littérature Anglaise en France.” This review publishes, too, every week an article by Arthur Symons, and French readers appear to take the greatest interest in the subjects treated by our celebrated English critic. At the Francais Blanchette, by M. Brieux, has been put on again. It is the story of a young girl educated above her station in life. She finds herself out of her element in her father’s home, and goes away to seek her fortuneelsewhere. She finds out her mistake, returns to her parents, and con- sents to marry the man she had disdainfully refused some time before. The play is slight but powerful, and was as well received as when it was first produced. The Gymnase has put on an excellent piece in five acts by MM. Gugenheim and Le Faure. Itis entitled L’Epave, and takes us back to the days which followed Waterloo. Louis XVIII. reigns, and Napoleon’s faithful soldiers are in disgrace. The piece opens with a fete given by M. de Montenoi, one of the aides-de- camp in great favour with the King. His wife, Louise, is the daughter of General Faverney, one of the most devoted of Napoleon’s soldiers. He is supposed to be dead, as he was among the missing after the fatal battle. The Chevalier de Meyrargues, who had served under General Faverney, asks Mme. de Montenoi to meet him at a house kept by Fvareste Lemblin at Reuilly, one of the suburbs of Paris. Lemblin also has a café at the Palais Royal, which is a famous meeting-place for the half-pay officers of the Grande Armée. The police keep guard on this café, fearing an insurrection against the King. In the second act Mme. de Montenoi, closely veiled, arrives at the house indicated by her father’s old friend. There she learns that the General is not dead, and almost immediately he appears on the scene and reproaches his daughter bitterly for having married one of the King’s minions. He proclaims to her his plan for bringing about a Revolution, and Louise is tortured between her love for her husband and her devotion to her father. In the third act we are introduced into the bureau of Baron Chatelard, in the Palace of the Tuileries, Chatelard is going through the papers belonging to the detective service, and believes he has a case against Meyrargues and Mme. de Montenoi. Faverney, too, is there, and has taken the name of Lieutenant Landrieux. The whole affair is most complicated, and the situation extremely dramatic. Another scene takes place at the Café Lemblin. The chiefs of the conspiracy find that they have been betrayed, and Faverney suspects Meyrargues. The final scene is superb. The General is arrested, he avenges himself on Chatelard, loses his reason, and imagines himself on the battlefield just as the military music announces the arrival of the King. The piece will no doubt have great success in other countries, as there is nothing from beginning to end to which exception could be taken ; the situa- tions are extremely dramatic, and the interest well sustained. M. Calmettes and M. Dumeny are excellent in their réles. At the Opéra Comique Za Tosca has been given, arranged as an opera in three acts by MM. Illica and Giacosa, and translated into French by M. Ferrier. Atys HALLARD. a ee a os THE HANDICAP OF DISTANCE. ee ee HAVE been asked by the Editor to give the readers of Zhe Author an idea of what are the special difficulties that prevent writers at the other side of the world from obtaining a hearing in England. All these difficulties can be traced to one source, the six weeks’ distance that divides them from the market to which they desire to send their wares. Of recent years a great many articles and even some books have appeared, purporting to teach the youthful writer how he is to open the editorial oyster-shell. The advice given is on the whole sound and excellent, only much of it is quite inapplicable here. For instance, a favourite maxim common to all such literary mentors runs some- thing like this: ‘‘Don’t be disheartened, keep sending your manuscript to one magazine after another.” One cheerful writer, speaking from his own experience, thinks that till an article has been declined by at least forty editors it would be pre- mature to throw it aside as wholly unsuitable. He _ gives instances of articles of his own which had been finally accepted after as many as twenty-six and thirty-seven postal journeys. How would that work out for the colonial writer? A manu- script cannot possibly make its trip to England and back under an average of thirteen weeks, that would make four journeys in a year. It would take six and a half years to try twenty-six editors, 40 and ten years to reach the limit of forty. How many magazine articles would retain their fresh- ness all that time ? how many would be lost in transit ? and what a Fortunatus’ purse would be needed for postage! All the ordinary obstacles that meet the young English writer, little disagree- ments about payment, the loss of manuscripts, and, more serious and more common than all, the logs of photos, are multiplied tenfold by distance. As in Newton’s law, the personal importance of a con- tributor to an editor certainly varies inversely as the square of the distance which separates them. Then editors are human: they can get so much on the spot that they think twice before accepting an article if it has to be returned to Australia for any trifling alteration or abridgment. They hesitate still longer before they give an order for work to be executed so far away. I for one hardly blame them, though when I see the superficial work, studded with inaccuracies of fact and quite un- Australian in spirit, which passes current for Australian news in the daily press and in magazines, I feel that English readers as well as Australian writers suffer from a great deal of mutual misunder- standing. If an editor should desire to make enquiry as to the Lona fides of anew contributor, he very often does not know how to go about it, and prefers to take no risks. An instance of this puzzle-headed- ness of the average English editor was made public some time ago. When the bubonic plague first broke out in the Australian ports, a young man, a journalist, who happened to be going to England shortly afterwards, wrote a sketch on the methods pursued to extirpate infected rats, of which he had been a witness here. The sketch may have been a poor one, but two at least of the various London editors who refused it gave definite reasons of another sort. One said that he had not heard that plague had seriously attacked Australian cities, and in any case he did not see that the subject particularly coneerned readers in London. London! the greatest port in the world! he last to whom it was offered before being torn up, remarked that he no more believed in the bubonic plague rat than in the delirium tremens snake. An enquiry at the docks or at the School of Tropical Medicine might have enlightened him. “Ah! but,” says some one, “think of De Rougemont.” I do think of De Rougemont, and would reply to my critic that in his case it was just because some one did not know where to enquire or did not trouble to enquire that his huge canards were let locse on England. The first task is to get your manuscript inserted. That accomplished, in matter of payment the colonial author is at the mercy of his editor to a degree of which the English resident can have no conception. An editor or proprietor can pay THE AUTHOR. anything he likes, he can pay nothing, and except to members of the Authors’ Society there is no practicable remedy. These two difficulties sur- mounted, there remains the third, the greatest of all, though it will probably strike some of you in quite a comical light : To see his own article in print. With contributions published in newspapers, the odds are even if he ever does. But what matter, I hear it suggested, to any one past the stage of the youthful and trembling aspirant. This matter, that not only is the difficulty of obtaining fair remuneration thereby complicated, but in newspaper work all the practical educative effect of seeing where the editorial blue pencil may have been used is lost, of noting what in the editorial eye—that is, in the last resort, in the English public eye—are the telling points in his article or his story. Again, unless he belongs to a press-cutting agency, and few young writers can afford that luxury, he misses many opportunities of seeing letters, literary notices and other criticisms upon his work or his opinions, Is all this no loss ? One last pin-prick is inflicted by the Australian postal system. Not only is the normal rate of postage to and from England on both letters and manuscripts heavy, but English correspondents do not realise this, and the amount of mail matter that weekly reaches Australia with deficient postage is incredible. The “more to pay” may be any- thing from 1d. to 5s. or more. The errors made are two. Letters are sent at English inland rate, both as to weight and amount. Manuscripts and photos are sent closed up, or letters are enclosed in open manuscripts, the whole perhaps weighing several ounces, to be surcharged on delivery at double letter rate, or 5d. per half-ounce. It is clear then that a writer resident in Australia cannot carry out the maxim to look after his own affairs. He must entrust his manuscripts to another. Someworry their friends, but that can only be done occasionally. There remains the literary agent, as to whose ability and disinterestedness opinions vary. Buta trustworthy agent who would make a speciality of Australian work and advertise the fact in Australian newspapers, giving proper references, would find no lack of clients. There is one thing the literary agent cannot do for another, and that is, make the slight but often important alterations in phrasing, that render an article attractive in a particular quarter. But if he did everything short of that the Australian writer would be in a less disheartening position than he generally occupies to-day. If the desirable literary agent with an Australian connection is going to materialise shortly, he will be by so much the more useful if he has relations with New York. The best class of American editors, with due respect to English editors, pay  THE AUTHOR. 4} their contributors much higher rates than prevail in England, and are scrupulously punctual, prompt and business-like in their dealings. Atick HENRY. Melbourne, Australia. ——_—_—_———_+—<—___— REALISM IN FICTION. UST as there are preternaturally respectable self-elected custodians of public morality who would ruthlessly destroy undraped statues, and consign to the flames every picture in which the nude figure appears, so there are other kin- dred spirits who would have each book faithfully descriptive of life’s seamy side burnt by the com- mon hangman and its author branded as an outlaw withont benefit of sanctuary. If the world were an earthly Paradise, men and women angels deprived of wings, no necessity for thinkers to treat of subjects other than the most idyllic would arise. But the merest tyro emanci- pated from paternal tutelage is brought face to face with problems calculated to induce grave reflection, though he may not find it expedient to discuss them in “‘ polite society,” as soon as he knocks unbefriended at the gloomy portal of life. Were the least communicative citizen of the world in Christendom to describe a portion only of what he has seen with his own eyes and heard with his own ears, he would be in a position to publish a volume infinitely more shocking than any effort in the realms of fiction ; for the wildest flights of a novelist’s imagination would collapse before the sombre actualities of human depravity perpetrated without cessation in countries which it is our graceful method to label Christian. It must be remembered that authors do not ‘manufacture their records in order to convince the irresponsible. The hoyden’s giggle, the hobblede- hoy’s guffaw, the prude’s snort, and the prig’s scowl, they, as a rule, completely ignore in their mental calculations. There are passages in Shake- speare, nay, in Holy Writ itself, whose repetition provokes only insensate manifestations from listeners of such mould. The machinery of the brain once set in motion cannot be retarded or stopped out of consideration for the susceptibilities of a class intellectually too microscopic for the author’s eye to perceive. Realism in fiction! And why not ? To advocate evil, to deck it with perfumed garments and price- less gems, to make it alluring and seductive is one affair—the affair of the minor poet. To expose its horrors, to foreshadow retribution inevitably attendant upon its heels, to strip it naked, to lay bare its festering sores so that spectators shudder, inwardly resolving to avoid the delusive phantasm at all costs—surely this partakes rather of the nature of a great moral lesson than of a wanton invitation. Descending to a rather lower level of argument, the writer of this slight plea of justification for the existence of realism in fiction directs attention to the obvious inconsistency of those who oppose it on a basis of public morality ; seeing that, while reporters are permitted to enlarge at their own discretion (subject to editorial sanction) upon loathsome criminal and divorce evidence, it is both unjust and unreasonable to forbid novelists to exercise their pens upon matter incomparably less crudely offensive. Let guardians of universal purity, who would blush to be caught perusing realistic novels, explain why, not infrequently, they flock to the Law Courts during the hearing of cases of particularly obscene or atrocious sensationalism. Let them account for the presence of English- women at these ghastly lecal entertainments, if the sensibilities of the feminine gender are indeed and in very truth so ultra-refined that they must needs be protected from literary moral contagion. Now a writer never obliges anybody to purchase his alleged outrages upon public decorum. How- ever pernicious his wares may be stigmatised by his enemies, they must be sought by those desiring to become familiar with their contents. Disap- proval of them would be, surely, more effectually expressed by withholding assistance to their sale, a course of action decidedly simpler than that of an enactment of bell-men’s vé/e, and a free advertise- ment for the very works they profess to abhor. Those wretched raids made by the police from time to time upon booksellers retailing reprints of Aristotle and unexpurgated editions of volumes never intended by their creators to be handled by any save intelligently appreciative students—under which head disgusting small boys and sly kitchen wenches emphatically do not come—strike the present writer as being egregiously illogical, inas- much as they tickle curiosity concerning knowledge it is their presumed motive to suppress. When the history of current literature arrives at something approaching elaborated form, two men, both of them grim, frank, inflexible realists, will be distinguished as stars of the first intellectual magnitude amid a whole constellation of dim and shadowy contemporaries—Zola and Tolstoi. The first lived to be honoured in the capital—London —where he had been venomously attacked and his publisher prosecuted. Passing phases, either of acclamation or oppro- brium, leave about as much trace behind as the wind, of which, indeed, they mainly consist. 42 Authors who conscientiously believe in holding up the mirror to life may boast the advocacy of no less stern a moralist than the redoubtable r. Johnson. e “ Books,” said he, “ without the knowledge of life are useless, for what should books teach but the art of living?” eatin, pretence, mock-modesty, and hum- bug, both in literature and life, no doubt prevailed in his day as they prevail in a far more aggravated form in our own. : In confirmation of Dr. Johnson’s dictum, we observe Schopenhauer declaring in his “ Essay on Education”: “The most, necessary thing for the practical man is the attainment of an exact and thorough knowledge of what is really going on in the world. .. . In getting such a knowledge of the world, it is as a novice that the boy and youth have the first and most difficult lessons to learn ; but frequently even the matured man has still much to learn. The study is of considerable diffi- culty in itself, but is made doubly difficult by novels, which depict the ways of the world and of men who do not exist in real life. But these are accepted with the credulity of youth, and become incorporated with the mind ; so that now, in the place of purely negative ignorance, a whole framework of wrong ideas, which are positively wrong, crops up, subsequently confusing the school- ing of experience and representing the lesson it teaches in a false light. If the youth was pre- viously in the dark, he will now be led astray by a will-o’-the-wisp ; and with a girl this is still more frequently the case. “ They have been deluded into an absolutely false view of life by reading novels, and expectations have been raised that can never be fulfilled. This generally has the most harmful effect on their whole lives.” Let antagonists of realism in fiction swallow the above excerpt from the conclusions of a man pro- found in reflection and clear in articulation, and, as the morsel digests, consider whether, after all, it is so laudable an undertaking to inculcate in books, lessons hereafter to be disproved by experi- ence ; to hoodwink innocence and impose upon ignorance. ; In the interests of commonsense, let them medi- tate upon the absurdity of execrating realism in fiction so long as newspaper editors and pro- prietors are free to sell, like hot rolls, editions detailing infamous cases, and popular fancy rapa- ciously seizes upon such putrid messes of realism in life. In an age when no man’s private affairs are respected by the skulking spies of an advanced press, and a gallant soldier may be driven to death by their hateful interference, it is but THE AUTHOR. childish work to assume pious horror at the un- conventional honesty of certain writers. Considerations of cant apart, the ruling of a character so unimpeachable as was that of Dr. Johnson, ‘Books without the knowledge of life are useless ; for what should books teach but the art of living?” must carry weight with open- minded adjudicators upon the question before us. Meanwhile the position of those individuals who would insist on compelling novelists to pen glorified halfpenny novelettes for the delectation of senti- mental servant girls ; or preposterous “‘ romances ” to glut the appetites of mental striplings; or fatuous “revelations” of a “high life,” to which their exponents have never by any chance been admitted, for the special and particular enlighten- ment of a worthy social substratum professing a righteous spirit of austerity towards everybody and everything pertaining to the “ upper ten,” yet per- versely delighting in nothing better than in feast- ing upon its imaginary sayings, doings, manners, and habits—all of which delude their unsophisti- cated readers into “an absolutely false view of life ”—is identical with that of the cranky bigots who scream when they behold a classical or mytho- logical picture, and avert their eyes at the un- abashed apparition of a piece of Grecian sculpture. L. Haruinerorp Norra. ig MAGAZINE CONTENTS. ges BLACKWOOD’s MAGAZINE. An article on Russia and Japan. Reviews— Mr. Morley’s Life of Gladstone. Mr. Whibley’s monograph on Thackeray. Mr. Henry James’ biography of William Wetmore Story, The War in the West. By Martini. An article on the Fiscal Question. The first instalment of a story by Hugh Clifford, ‘ Sally : A Study.” Musings without Method. A Perilous Ride. By Pilgrim. THE CORNHILL MAGAZINE, Good Living. By Laurence Housman, The Fond Adventure. Part I. By Maurice Hewlett. Blackstick Papers, No. 7. By Mrs. Richmond Ritchie. In Guipuzeoa, III. By Mrs. Woods. A Son of Empire. By Hamilton Drummond, The Queen’s Brooch: A Postscript. By Sarah Sisson. Chateaubriand and his English Neighbours. By the Rev. D. Wallace Duthie. A Rodeo in Southern California. Vachell. Mark Macintosh’s Lyrical Monologue. “Cock.” By F. 8. Provincial Letters. By Urbanus Sylvan. Midnight in Cloudland: An Experiment. By the Rev. John M. Bacon. By Horace Annesley Made at the XIII.—A House in Hertfordshire.  ‘ THE AUTHOR. The Sorrows of Mrs. Charlotte Smith. By Viscount St. Cyres. : The Countess and the Frying-pan. By M. E. Francis. FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW. Pinchbeck Protection. By Autonomos. Mr. Chamberlain : The Protagonist and the Future. By Calchas, Economic Prejudice against Fiscal Reform. By L. L. Price. The Political Poetry of Mr. William Watson. By G. K. Chesterton, The Alfieri Centenary. By Count Rusconi. Tribe and Family. By Andrew Lang. The Alaskan Boundary. (Some opinions of those who cross it.) By Elizabeth Robins. The Education Act in the New Parliament. Macnamara, M.P. An Old-World Governess. By D. W. Rannie. The Austro-Hungarian Deadlock. By Maurice Geroth- wohl, Thackeray as a Reader and Critic of Books. Melville. The Question of Korea. By Alfred Stead. Behind the Scenes of Scottish Politics, Wallace, LL.D. The Woman at the Crossways. Lalla Radha and the Churel. By T. J. By Lewis By William By Fiona Macleod. By Laurence Hope. Theophano: The Crusade of the Tenth Century (Chapters iii., iv. and v.). By Frederic Harrison. Correspondence. By Ernest Marriott. (EK. A. Poe and Dr. Russel Wallace.) LONGMAN’S MAGAZINE. Nature’s Comedian (Chapters ix., x.). By W. E. Norris, The Nemesis of Froude. By A. L. First o’ May. By Ben Bolt. Young Russian and Young Englishman. Clayton. The Fairy Pipers. By Duncan J. Robertson. Old-fashioned Accomplishments. By Clementina Black. The Justice of the Mountains. By Frances MacNab. Canada in the Sixties—III. By Paul Fountain. On a Cuban Ingenio. By Naranja Amarga. The Disenchanted Squirrel. By Netta Syrett. At the Sign of the Ship. By Andrew Lang. By N. W. THE PALL MALL MAGAZINE, Master Workers——VIII. The Rt. Hon. J oseph Chamber- lain, M.P. By Harold Begbie. Joseph Chamberlain: The Orator and Debater. By Spencer Leigh Hughes. Autumn near London. By William Hyde. Porlick’s Theory: A Complete Story. By Mayne Lindsay, Real Conversations.— VII. With Mr. Sidney Lee. By William Archer. The Wish. By Marie Van Vorst. Sand-Daisy: A Story. By Eden Phillpotts, Recollections of the Chatsworth Theatricals. Trevor. The Wild Dream of Morris Ellison: A Story. By Frederick Wedmore. My First Stag—and Some Others. Karr, M.P. The Queen’s Quair: Book II. (Chapters i., ii.). By Maurice Hewlett. The Rhymer: A Poem. By H. D. Lowry. In the Cause of Science: A Story. By Gerald Maxwell. Say, But a Kiss: A Poem, By G. A.J. Cole. Literary Geography: The English Lakes, II. By William Sharp. By Leo By Sir Henry Seton- 43 Edmund Rostand. By Felicien Pascal. James Abbott McNeill Whistler, By Wilfrid Meynell. The Palace of Sleep : A Poem, By Maria 8. Steuart. The Vineyard (Chapters xiv., xv.). By John Oliver Hobbes (Mrs. Craigie). The Round Table: The Stone Age. Watson. Over the Sea: A Poem. By H. B. Marriott- By Charles Marriott, THE WORLD’s Work. The Right Hon. Earl Spencer, K.G. (Special Portrait.) The March of Events. (With-full page Portraits of the Right Hon. Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., M.P., and the Right Hon. H. 0. Arnold-Forster, M.P.) The Month in Polities, By the Editor. Peace or War in the Far East ? By the Editor. The Hope of Temperance Reform, 3y the Editor. Mr. Chamberlain’s Case and its Answer. Alaska and its Prospects, By William R. Stewart. (Ilustrated.) Railway Motor Cars. By H. G. Archer. Municipal Milk. By C. Ww. Saleeby, M.B. The Day’s Work of a Ship’s Captain, (ustrated.) Preparing an Atlantic Liner for Sea. (illustrated.) The Worm Disease among Miners. By J. Court, L.R.C.P. Making a Protective Tariff, By Chalmers Roberts, Life in the Zoo. By R. I. Pocock. Cillustrated.) Cold Storage and Ice Making. By R. M. Leonard, (llustrated.) The Scottish Granite Industry, Cillustrated.) The Art of Memory. By Eustace Miles. The Work of a Lady Health Lecturer. took. A Daily Newspaper for Madame. Gladstone the Worker. The New Poultry Movement. Cillustrated.) The Story of Irish Lace. 3y E. M. Leahy. Clustrated.) The Books of the Month. (With Portraits of Mr. Richard Whiteing, Mrs. Fuller Maitland, Mr. Cutcliffe Hyne, Mr. H. G. Wells.) The World of Women’s Work. Among the World’s Workers, (Ulustrated.) (Illustrated.) By William Diack, By Clarence By Alfred Harmsworth. By Home Counties, TO — TRADE NOTES. ae The Primrose Press. “The Primrose Press,” we understand, is the name of a new publishing house which is being started under the management of Mr. Allen Upward and Mr. L. Cranmer Byng. J. C. Nimmo, Ltd, The first meeting of the creditors and contribu- tories under the winding-up order made against John C. Nimmo, Limited, was held on Oct. 9th at the offices of the Board of Trade, in Companies Winding-up, Carey Street, Lincoln’s Inn.—Mr. Winearls, Assistant Receiver, read his report.— The Official Receiver was appointed liquidator to wind up the company. 44 WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCERS OF BOOKS. —+——+ — ERE 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 sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be obtained, But the transaction should be managed by a competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of the Society. Il. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of agreement). In this case the following rules should be attended to: (1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro- duction forms a part without the strictest investigation. (2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise- ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements. (8.) 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. This is perhaps, with certain limitations, the best form of agreement. 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 the truth. From time to time very important figures connected with royalties are published in Zhe Author. IV. 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. (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.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright. 0 a 8 WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. Seige Sang ee 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. THE AUTHOR. 8. 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 contract for production of the piece by a certain date and for proper publication of his name on the play-bills, (b.) 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 (7.¢.. 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 (0.) 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 one-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 United States 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 authors desirous of further information are referred to the Secretary of the Society. —_—_—+ <> —___—_—__ WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS. — ITTLE can be added to the warnings given for the assistance of producers of books and dramatic authors. It must, however, be pointed out that, as. a rule, the musical publisher demands from the musical composer a transfer of fuller rights and less liberal finan- cial terms than those obtained for literary and dramatic property. The musical composer has very often the two rights to deal with—performing right and copyright. He  THE AUTHOR. should be especially careful therefore when entering into an agreement, and should take into particular consideration the warnings stated above. Oa HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. oe i. VERY member has a right toask for and to receive K 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. The Secretary of the Society is a solicitor, but if there is any special reason the Secretary will refer the case to the Solicitors of the Societv. Further, the Committee, if they deem it desirable, will obtain counsel’s opinion. All this without any cost to the member. 2. Remember that questions connected with copyright and publishers’ agreements do not fall within the experi- ence 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 uo benefit to yourself, and that you are advancing the best interests of your calling in promoting the independence of the writer, the dramatist, the composer. 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 in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements, Fuller particulars of the Society’s work can be obtained in the Prospectus. 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 with publishers submitted to them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit them for interpretation and explanation to the Secretary of the Society. 8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. This must be done within fourteen days of first execution. The Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members, 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. 10. The subscription to the Society is £4 1s." per annum., or £10 10s. for life membership. 45 THE READING BRANCH. —+—~ EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this N branch of its 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 Readers are writers of competence and experience. The fee is one guinea, —>— + NOTICES. —_1~>+__ HE Editor of Zhe 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 5s. 6d. subscription for the year. Communications for Ze 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. Oo Communications and letters 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. AUTHORITIES. oe We are glad to print under “ Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Property,” a letter from the firm of Messrs. Methuen & Co., explaining their position in the matter of the Dumas Translations. We have seen the correspondence referred to in that letter. The firm seem to have dealt with the question promptly and vigorously. We give publicity to this letter with the more pleasure as our opinian of the transactions of this firm and its bearing towards authors has in the past always been favourable. It should, however, be remembered that publishers must bear the responsibility for arrangements made 46 in their name and under their authority. — It is their duty to guard their reputation from criticism by making sufficient stipulations with those whom hey employ. We aes tad letters from other authors touching this same question. The need for farther criticism is at an end, but it may be interesting to state a few facts concerning the price that ordinary trans- lation work will obtain in the market. ; As a rule, the pay is by no means lavish. In consequence, many translations are done in a hurried fashion and in an unsatisfactory manner. The remuneration given varies between 10s. and 5s. per thousand words. Sometimes for special technical work or translations of special difficulty, even a higher figure is received, but the mean may be taken at 7s. 6d. A well-known firm always pays 9s. In consequence, its translations are done with care, and gain a corresponding reputation in the book market. We print below an article dealing with the United States Market. The subject must be one of great importance to all British authors, and the experience of members of the Society would be interesting reading. We shall be much obliged if those authors who have been in the habit of obtaining these rights, would forward some facts for the advantage of the other members of the profession. It is with much pleasure that we chronicle at the same time a marked difference that has occurred in the forms and terms of agreement of some of the best known publishing houses during the last three or four years, in spite of the draft agreements issued by the Association to which these firms belong. In one case, for the first time, we have seen the publisher accept as one of the terms of the contract a clause undertaking to “gecure the American Copyright on behalf of the authors, and further, if the book was finally placed onthe United States Market through his (the Pub- lisher’s) agency, agreeing to accept as his share of the result merely the agency fee, 10 per cent. This is indeed an advance, as prior to this, the lowest commission charged was 25 per cent., and many have asked for half profits for negotiating the United States Market. Our exultation was somewhat marred a week later by an agreement with the same firm asking for 333 per cent. THosE members of the Society who care to have a photographic reproduction of the Memorial to Sir Walter Besant will be able to obtain the same from the Autotype Company, 74, New Oxford Street, W., at the price of 10s. 6d. each. THE AUTHOR. OBITUARY NOTICE. ——1—~ + — T is our sad duty to chronicle the death of one of the most distinguished members of the Society and a member of the Council. Pro- fessor W. E. H. Lecky died on Thursday, October 22nd. He was a distinguished scholar, a thoughtful philosopher, but above all a laborious and impartial historian. His “ History of Euro- pean Morals” brought him the well deserved praise of all intelligent and serious students ; and his fame as a writer was further enhanced by his monu- mental work on the “Highteenth Century of English History.” Every subject he took under his consideration he treated in a broad spirit, from the standpoint of the upright judge unswept by party passion and class bias. As a historian, and litterateur, his death must be a sad loss to all those members of the Society who are sincerely interested in the fellowship of the profession. But not on his position as an author alone does his claim to fame rest ; he was a Member of Par- liament for the University of Dublin, and in 1897 was elected a Privy Councillor. From his position as Member of the House of Commons he used his best endeavours to bring forward a bill for amending and consolidating the law of copyright. Finally, he obtained the fullest public recognition of his work when he was appointed one of the original members of that most exclusive order— The Order of Merit. —_—_— ENGLISH AUTHORS AND THE UNITED STATES RIGHTS. ———>+ HE wider the Copyright Protection the larger a nation’s literature. Before there was any copyright for British authors in the States or for United States authors outside their political combination the works of the former in pirated form were printed and read everywhere, while authors—citizens of the United States—save with afew striking exceptions, did not exist ; and the United States literature was a tree of stunted growth. The United States publishers, owing to an honourable understanding among themselves that if one firm reproduced a British author no other firm should interfere with his profits, found that piracy paid, and the would-be United States authors found that the remuneration of literature did not suffice to purchase the bare necessaries of life. In fact the almighty dollar was the moving factor  THE AUTHOR. to the gain of the one side and the loss of the other. What then was the cause of revolution, of the change in policy from this restrictive pro- tection and limitation ?—again the dollar. Some keener sighted Yankee watching the market saw his opportunity, and by a process of underselling disturbed the family party, till pro- fits were cut down to nothing, and the trade generally began to realise that piracy at first so profitable was now a failure. Then came about that combination of author and publisher which, backed by the capital of the latter, was able by a stubborn political contest to bring about that alteration in the United States Copyright Law which gave the right of protection under restric- tions to the work of foreigners. This commercial transaction was covered with the beautiful cloak of upright dealing to the foreigner. But whatever the alleged motive—and there were many put forward—the publisher could now again produce the work of the. foreigner at a profit, and he proceeded to do so. Owing to previous piracy the author who had not the unbounded felicity of being a citizen of the United States had for many years held the literary market, and to him the United States tradesman naturally turned in the first instance. British authors accordingly found that they now had a double market, from each of which they could obtain their deserved profit, and the trade evolved itself along customary lines and under natural laws. By degrees, however, the United States authors found that this alteration from the protective copyright of former days to the freer trade of a broader law raised their efforts in the wage market. They could now obtain a fair return for their work. They were not undersold by the pirated brain work of the foreigner, but they were struggling in equal competition with other nations, and a good work had an equal chance in the United States as in the British Empire and among European nations. Many accordingly began to write in earnest for a livelihood where formerly a few had written for love. Gradually, and as a natural sequence, the publisher awoke to this fact. He found the United States author was more easily dealt with than his brother across the Atlantic—he knew less of the value of literary property—that the delay in correspondence was less, and that the United States public had a natural leaning towards those who described in feeling terms their own patriotic ideals, or lashed unfeelingly their own patriotic vices. Accordingly where one name was known in literature in a few years there were ten, and the foreigner appeared to be losing ground. For this latter fact there was another cause. Hitherto the 47 United States publishers had been looking to the British author and had been competing for the purchase of his wares, deeming them the best to supply the market, now they looked to the United States. The British author failed to grasp the fact. It is necessary therefore—to use some oft- quoted words—that he should “wake up.” He does not want to write better stuff; it is only given to the few to be “among the gods.” But he does want to see that his wares are better marketed as far as the United States is concerned. For this purpose it is essential to lay bare a few faults and suggest a few remedies. Sir Walter Besant has often pointed out that it is in no way derogatory to a writer to obtain the best market for his wares. Nor need this latter point in any way detract from his artistic effort. There are two ways in which authors can deal with the United States market. (1) Direct, (2) Through an agent. As the first method is most important it is necessary to consider the means an author should employ in order to obtain an opening. It is feared that some authors have allowed matters to glide along too smoothly and prefer to: lose the market by leaving the matter in the hands of the middleman—the publisher or the literary agent—rather than bestir themselves. It is essential that an author should at once grasp the fact that the United States market is of consider-. able value, is worth a struggle to obtain, and when obtained is worth holding ; that the United States magazines pay for serial use, in many cases. larger sums than the English magazines ; that the. United States book market is almost as equally pro- ductive, from a financial point of view, asthe English.. There are those authors who, cursed with the artistic temperament, and full of the loathing for: all business transactions, are unable to carry: through their®own negotiations _ satisfactorily. For these an agent is necessary. But for those— and there are not a few—who are blessed with cool business heads, the best method of dealing with these rights is by going direct to the United States publisher or United States editor. As. there must be some delay in the correspondence, even when the publisher or editor has an office in, London, the author should take care to begin early in trying to place his work—some time before- he commences to try and place the book in England. Instead of leaving these negotiations. . to the last minute, as is the common practice at. present—a practice which cannot but end in failure—he should take time by the forelock. He: should not be disheartened by refusals, but should continue with even greater persistence than he would, did he desire English publication only. His energy must increase commensurately with his. 48 difficulty. It is almost certain that if his work has any value he will at last obtain his reward. There are, no doubt, some books which are suitable for the English market only, but these are the exceptions. Many kinds of literature appeal to the whole world. : When an offer has been made, then it may be worth while to put the agreement before the secretary of the Society of Authors for advice and counsel. Further, as there must necessarily be some delay owing to the distance between the United States and the British Isles, it is advis- able to deal in the first instance with the best known publishing houses and the best known magazines. For although the terms of the agree- ment may not be altogether satisfactory, and though it may be impossible to alter them in detail owing to delay, yet a bad agreement with a trust- worthy house might be more worthy of acceptance than a better agreement with a doubtful tradesman. British authors should not however abandon weakly an important term in the contract merely on account of delay. They should endeavour to make their arrangements so that a little delay will not invalidate their position. Above all things they should persist and insist. In considering the second method, the different forms of dealing through an agent must be enumerated and considered. Firstly, it is possible to deal through the United States literary agent, who will deal with the United States publisher. Secondly, to deal with the English agent who deals with the United States publisher. Thirdly, with the English agent who deals with the United States agent who deals with the United States publisher. Fourthly, with the English agent who deals with the English publisher who deals with the United States publisher; and lastly, with the English publisher who acts as agent and deals with the United States publisher. As has been pointed out already, the system of dealing direct is, on the whole, the soundest, but if an agent has to be employed, it is best for the author to obtain a trustworthy agent in the United States, and request him to attend to the matter on his behalf. An agent on the other side can deal direct with the publisher, and loses no time between the rejection by one publisher and the transmission of the MS. to another. He should not, save under exceptional circumstances, be allowed a free hand to accept any terms without the author’s sanction. Although agents, no doubt, have large knowledge of the trade, they are not always infallible. There are not many literary agents in the United States, but there are one or itwo whose work has been thoroughly satisfactory. An author should avoid if possible an agent who also acts for English publishers. THE AUTHOR. Under the next three headings the question of the English agent is raised, and there is no doubt that he cannot work so successfully in obtaining the United States rights as his fellow-trader in America. Firstly, if he is dealing with the American publisher direct, the same difficulties arise which are bound to arise when the English author deals with the United States publisher direct ; but there is this additional difficulty, that as the English agent is also trading the English rights, hemay some- times be tempted, if he has obtained a particularly beneficial English contract, and wants to settle the matter out of hand, to waive the question of the United States. He is very often guilty of delay, commencing the United States negotiations sub- sequent to or simultaneously with the disposal of English rights. It was necessary to warn the author of this fault when dealing direct, but an agent ought to know the dangers. Heis appointed for this sole reason to overcome these difficulties, and make the rough places plain. Whatever means he may attempt to satisfy the author’s objections, still his failure is blameworthy. If he is dealing through a United States agent then comes the ques- tion of double agency fees ; and if the English agent charges 10 per cent., there is generally a 5 per cent. additional charge for the American agent as well. One middleman is bad enough, but when negotiations are carried through two middlemen, the matter is complicated. For the same reason it is a mistake to allow the agent to leave the United States rights in the hands of the English publisher ; but in addition, firstly, it is the English agent’s duty to try to obtain the United States rights—he should not shift that duty on to the back of the publisher. Secondly, the English publisher generally makes excessive charges when he acts in this way ; and thirdly, his financial interests are not in accord with those of the author, as it often pays him better to sell an edition in sheets to the United States, or to sell stereo plates, than to obtain the copyright in that country. If therefore an English agent is employed, the author should insist that he should keep the work in his own hands, and should not create a second middleman ; that he should endeavour to place the American rights before he markets the rights for the British Empire, and under the Berne Convention ; that he should persist in his efforts and not weakly give way with some specious excuse, as agents are some- times inclined to do, owing to the greater trouble involved. Lastly, there is the case of the English publisher acting as agent and dealing with the United States publisher. Why this course is unsatisfactory has to a certain extent been already propounded; yet there are other reasons. Firstly, the English  THE AUTHOR. publisher not infrequently asks 50 per cent. of the profits resulting from his negotiations, work for which an agent would charge 10 per cent. Secondly, it often pays him better, as stated above, to sell sheets or stereo plates to the United States, rather than to make fan effort to secure the copyright ; and lastly, the publisher is employed under a licence from the author to put the book on the English market, and to use his special knowledge of the English trade, and ordinary agency busi- ness does not come within his range, or if it does, is not the main object of his existence. He will therefore, apart from other reasons, not give his full attention to this part of the work, and will not put that thoroughness into it which is absolutely essential, should the British author desire to obtain the full returns that are due to him for his labours. Finally, it must be again repeated that if English authors are failing in their efforts in the United States market, the fault lies with them and with them alone. It is not that the United States literature is on a higher basis than that produced in England, but it is because the author, either owing to his artistic temperament, or owing to the lack of energy in the agent he employs, is weakly turning away when it is essential that he should make a specially strenuous effort. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the English author will look well to it, and will ‘‘ wake up” to the realities of the situation. A, ©. B. THE TRUTH ABOUT AN AUTHOR. —-—— +. I.—The Struggles of an Unpublished Author. FEW months ago Mr. William Heinemann published a book entitled “The Journal of Arthur Stirling.” It purported to be a record of the struggles of a young American poet who had written a blank verse tragedy which had been rejected by some six or seven publishers, At length in despair of acquiring the fame he sought, the author tied a weight round his body and dropped into the depths of the River Hudson. The following obituary notice appeared in the New York Times. STIRLING, ARTHUR—By suicide in the Hudson River, poet and man of genius, in the twenty-second year of his age, only son of Richard T, and Grace Stirling, of Chicago. The publication of the “Journal” in America caused a sensation. Since its introduction to this country its authenticity has been called into 49 question. But whether or not the book is what it claims to be, the actual experiences of one particular individual of literary proclivities in his struggles to obtain a hearing, the fact remains that it makes a most pathetic piece of reading, and if ** Arthur Stirling” was of mere mythical substance, it is none the less true that his alleged experi- ences are the record of scores of young writers of merit, who know what it is to have drunk deep of the cup that falls to the lot of the persistently rejected. No less is it true that the book is a document that will form a text for many an editor and publisher from which to draw a salutary moral lesson. As an over-much rejected novelist, the writer of the following has tasted all the ignominy which was the inheritance of “ Arthur Stirling.’ Hopes raised, fears, weeks and months of weary waiting, dreams of success ruthlessly dispelled, have been his: lot again and again. “ Arthur Stirling” gave up the struggle when his work had been rejected some half-dozen times ; the present writer’s only novel has been refused by no less than twenty-seven publishers ! He still remains to tell the tale. No doubt the reader will exclaim, “If twenty- seven publishers have rejected the manuscript it is highly probable that it is not worth publish- ing!” Having only read so far, such a comment is justified. But the writer has no doubt that before the end of his story is reached he will be able to prove otherwise on the testimony of the publishers themselves. Ten or twelve years ago the writer was a more or less successful contributor of articles and short stories to the popular monthly magazines. Evi- dently his work gave pleasure—(perhaps to none more than himself)—for he was the recipient of some scores of letters from strangers, testifying to the interest that they, as readers, had taken in the productions of his pen. Among these letters were: several which strongly urged him to write a novel. The young author was flattered, but he doubted his own powers for such an undertaking. At this critical moment he received a letter from a friend, a popular novelist, urging him to undertake the- writing of a book. His ambition was fired, and he determined to make a longer essay in fiction than he had hitherto thought of. That well-meaning letter from his novelist friend has been to the writer the innocent cause of the misery of years ! The novel decided on, it only remained to evolve it, place it on paper, and send it to a publisher. The work was carried out with much burning of midnight oil during a period covering long months, until the end of a year saw the completion of what the author considered a masterpiece, in one hundred and thirty thousand words, and a young man pale: and haggard but triumphant. 50 The manuscript had now to be typewritten. This meant what to its author was a ‘considerable sum of money. But he had reckoned on this, and by exercising a certain amount of self-sacrifice he had saved the necessary six pounds. _ In due time the novel was typewritten, revised and corrected. A leading London publisher was selected, the maiden effort carefully and lovingly packed and sent off with a polite letter. = ‘And now followed some anxious weeks of waiting. This time had its joys, for in it the novelist built a hundred castles—not more substantial than those in Prospero’s dream. Every day his darling book was with him in thought, every day he made schemes for future work. At length, one morning, the postman brought a letter, bearing on the outside of the envelope the favoured publisher's address. The author went white with joy. His trembling hand tore off the cover, and he read the following :— “ DEAR SIR,—I am returning your MS. entitled ‘ by parcels post. While thanking you for allowing me to read it, I regret to say that I do not feel justified in under- taking its publication. ’ ” “ Yours truly, The manuscript was duly delivered by parcels post. The fair sheets of foolscap had become curled and soiled. “This,” thought the author, “‘ will probably prejudice my novel in the eyes of the next pablisher to whom I send it, and who may thus have reason to think that it has already been read and rejected.” A hot iron and a piece of india-rubber made it respectable once more, the wretched publisher’s label was scratched off the brown paper wrapping, another was pasted on in its place, and the parcel was a second time committed to the post. The weeks of waiting that followed were more anxious than the last ; there might be more than one foolish publisher in the world. Too true. “Mr. regrets that he is not able to accept Mr. ’s story entitled ‘— . While the novel has certain points of merit it appears to fail in construction. It is also much too long. The MS. is returned herewith, with thanks.” Here was a blow, but a reason was given. Youth requires much to daunt it. The author determined to have an expert opinion on his work. That excellent institution, the Society of Authors, gives practical advice on young writers’ manu- scripts for a moderate fee. The story was posted to the secretary, and in due course was returned with the following notes :— “The Reader of ‘———,’ after careful consideration, has come to the following conclusions. In the first place the story is much too long, novels of 80,000 to 100,000 words are generally the most acceptable length. Secondly, the weakest point of the story lies/in the lack of artistic con- struction, But artistic literary construction can be acquired THE AUTHOR. —in fact must be acquired if the author wishes to write successful fiction, The Reader advises Mr. — to study the novels of Guy de Maupassant, the best of which are models of literary construction. He has pleasure in adding that he considers that Mr. ’s story is well-written, and evinces distinct promise. There are dramatic moments and scenes of very considerable power. The scenes are also well handled. Moreover, the novel contains many passages of considerable value and strength, and the inci- dents themselves are welltold. The knowledge of ‘ charac- ter’ displayed is deep and effective (this is particularly so in the case of the characters X and Z ), and the Reader must add that the author has distinct power asa descriptive writer. Where he fails is in the very elements of successful novel writing ; and the Reader’s advice to Mr. — is that he should reconstruct, rewrite, and con- siderably curtail his story. Mr. has the ability, and his success depends entirely upon himself.” : Youth was cheered. Apparently only hard work and proper discernment were in the author’s way to success. He placed his manuscript aside for six months and studied Maupassant. The story was reconstructed, entirely rewritten, and shortened to about half its original length. The author gave the nights and holiday afternoons of nearly two years to the work, but the giant’s task was accom- plished, and the novel was again despatched to the Reader of the Society of Authors. His reply came as follows :— : “ The Reader congratulates Mr. on his successful accomplishment of that most difficult enterprise—the rewriting of a novel. The ending of the story is undeniably effective, and the whole novel seems to the Reader to move swiftly and strongly from opening to close.... The Reader would strongly advise Mr. to devote himself at once to a new novel, in which he should try to do even better work.” Once more joy! Once more hope! To Publisher Number Two the manuscript was again despatched. Three weeks later it was returned : “Mr, ——— has read Mr. ’s rewritten story with pleasure. It is a more concise and better book than it was, and it is certainly astory of merit. Mr. thinks that it would be well spoken of by reviews, but owing to the unsatisfactory state of the literary market, he doubts if its sale would be sufficiently great to render it com- mercially successful. Heis much obliged to Mr. for allowing him to see the MS, again, which he is returning by parcel post.” But was “merit” to be smothered at birth for the want of a foster-parent? No, it should seek one elsewhere. Two months later the novel came back once more. The author was becoming bold and hard of heart. He wrote for a reason of the rejection : “Tt is not our practice to give reasons for the rejection of MSS. We may say, however, that we do not at present feel justified in taking up the work of new authors. Our Readers allagree that the story is very well written, but we do not feel that it would be likely to be as popular as its merits deserve. We returned the MS, reluctantly.” Despair now suggested itself. Yet while there was a publisher in London who remained untried,  THE AUTHOR. : there should be no fainting heart. The next firm written to politely declined to read the novel as “the supply of fiction was greater than the demand.” It was therefore offered to a young and enterprising house. This firm kept it some five or six months before sending it back : “ Our Reader informs us that the book has many qualities, but not qualities that would be likely, in the present depressed condition of the market for books—and especially for fiction—to attract to it a sufficient amount of attention to enable a publisher to sell the thousand or so copies that are essential.” And so the heartbreaking work of despatching the story and receiving it back continued for years. Sometimes the MS. was returned with a polite note of refusal, sometimes a few words of appreciation and commendation were offered, and thankfully received. In nearly all cases where reason for refusal was given, the excuse was laid to the account of the bad state of ‘the literary market.” At length the author decided to seek new fields. He sent his novel to a popular newspaper that makes a feature of publishing serial stories. Three months later the now familiar answer came : “The novel is most carefully written, but we prefer stories of strictly modern days. Always glad to read any story you may write.”—Editor About this time the would-be novelist received a letter from his friend, who, in the course of it, remarked, “if you at any time decide to write a novel, and desire ‘a friend at court,’ send the MS. on to me and I will forward it to ———” (a publisher), “who is a friend of mine.” Here was hope again! ‘The story was des- patched, with a note of thanks for the offer. Four months later the novelist wrote : “ My DEAR , [am sorry—very sorry to tell you that I have been unsuccessful in placing your novel. I have read it myself, and think that with a few touches it ought to go well. But, as you know, there is such a little chance for new writers nowadays. Everything tends towards keeping fiction in a narrow and successful ring. Publishers abso- lutely refuse to risk money over new authors, while with the favourites all they write sells before it is published—or at least is ordered by the trade, which is the same thing. If your story was published bearing the name of a well- known author it would sell, whereas with your name being unknown to the trade as that of a novelist, I dare say that the novel would hardly repay the publisher for the printing. “Yet it seems a pity for such a good story to remain in oblivion ! “ Both and (here is inserted the names of two publishers) say that they won’t risk a penny on new authors. Shall I send the MS, back, or what shall I do with it? ” “ Yours ever, ———-— This was the last straw! The author replied that he did not much care what his friend did with the MS. : he might make pipe-lights of it, or give it away. 51 It has come back ! So ends the story of an unpublished author of “merit,” and so does mere cleverness—wanting the name of popularity—find no favour with Dame Fortune. How obtain a hearing? The multitude will not hear you because they know you not, neither do they wish to know you. And yet, if they would but listen ———-! No, they will not —the twenty-seven publishers have decided. When no hand is extended to help him the young novelist must devise other means to gain a hearing, or perish. He may present his work to some pub- lisher or editor (if he will have it) for the sake of the advertisement its publication may give him, or he may pay a publisher to produce his work. Other- wise he may sup on leek and remain, like the present “writer, Unwept, UNHONOURED AND UNSUNG. ee ot II.—The Struggles of a Published Author. THERE are aspects of the literary life other than those presented in “The Truth about an Author.” The pleasant experiences of the writer of that book belong to the exception, not to the rule, and certainly they do not square with my own. My literary career has been an unceasing struggle, in which every advantage had to be fought for ; each advance was contested and had to be won, and the merit of one book in no way assured a reception for the next. In fact the reverse happened, for with each success it became increasingly difficult to place another book. My grandfather wrote books which were issued by the leading publisher of his day ; my father wrote books which were published by a newer house, but I have not been able to place anything with either firm. Practically I started without knowing any publisher or editor, determined simply to make my way by the quality of my work. [ have written a few novels and six other books ; all have been well received by the Press; all are considered successful. One is in the reading room of the British Museum, another has been trans- lated into various Huropean languages, and published in half-a-dozen countries; of another a pirated edition in the Japanese vernacular has been issued at Tokyo; some have sold as well in America as in this country, and one is in its seventh English edition. I could paper the walls of my study with different very flattering notices news- paper critics have wasted upon my work, and I have perhaps a score of more or less disparaging reviews. All my books have attracted notice. Several times I have fancied myself near real pecuniary success, believing after so much praise had been lavished upon one book that I should 52 find the search for a publisher easier, be. offered work by editors, or, at least, get some sort of salaried post on a periodical. : My latest book was the first of mine to be issued simultaneously in distinct editions in England and America. In both countries it had excellent publishers who advertised it generously ; it was noticed on the day of publication and much praised ; the daily newspapers gave it a column, and of the literary weeklies some devoted as many as six columns to the book; extracts from it appeared in almost every periodical from the Family Herald to the Quarterly Review, both included ; the public responded. With so much fame and the book selling, I thoucht it a fit moment to approach publishers and editors for future work. The result was dis- appointing. ‘Twelve book publishers refused abso- lutely to consider anything ; fifteen others would not entertain a work on the subjects I suggested, one because he had published a book on a cognate topic, another because he was going to do s0, a third because he had never done so—any excuse served to complete the vicious circle. The net result was that two firms, quite third-rate in the trade, answered by inviting me to “ submit ”’—an abominable word—my manuscript. One then stated that he liked what I offered, but declined to publish it on any terms ; the other has the work under consideration still. The Press Syndicates refused my overtures. Of the editors of periodicals eight declined to consider any serial from me; thirty others rejected various offers I made them of articles, services, etc. ; three only stated as a reason that my price was too high. The net result was—one short article accepted, and four intimations that I might “submit” MSS. which, if used, would be paid for at scale rate, which was not specified. For all practical purposes of making a livelihood by writing, I am in exactly the same position I was before my “ great” book was published. In itself the pecuniary value of literary fame is nil. It issomething which is worth more to any- one else than it is to the literary worker. For instance, my fame has brought me an offer from a firm of German manufacturers who, if only I will cease writing and will travel about to get information for them, will pay all my expenses and reward me with a high salary. I detest Germans and I abhor trade, but I do like getting informa- tion, and I want that salary very badly. If a British or an American firm offered it I would close at once, and then anybody who wishes to possess a first-class reputation might obtain one ready-made and cheap from a writer who has never had any use for it. ARTIFEX, THE AUTHOR. AN EDITOR’S LETTER BOX. 1 YE Editor of the “ New York Bookman,” in his interesting paragraphs “Chronicle and’ Comment,” publishes some letters which show a pleasing variety in the correspondence that comes to him as he sits in his editorial chair. He says, “Tg it not more pitiful than humorous that so many simple souls come to such an unfeeling con- fessor in his unadorned confessional and lay bare their very hearts and reveal their desires and hope- less aspirations?” and later, “When a busy man has given a half hour of his valuable time to dictate a word in season to a youth who will never be able to write, as even a blind man could dis- cover, and receives no more thanks for his pains than this, one cannot wonder that he grows indifferent :— “ Dear sir, your crazy ; i ean right, you don’t know what your talking about. Your a d—— fool and your old paper aint no good anyhow. i no good potry wen i see it, and my prose is excellent to, having bin criticised by the best. Their is those who strive to keep us from getting to the front where we belong, but it aint no use. So ile take your old paper and throw it in the fire and ile tell all my frens to do the same. All editors are fools anyway. Your a bigger one... .” Another style of writer sends him the follow- ing :— “ Please do not return this story to me if you do not want it as I do not wish my wife to know that it has been rejected. She would laugh so at me.” We fear that writers under this category are not a few. What again is to be said of the woman from Kansas who, when told that the Editor’s payment was ten dollars a thousand, writes to say that she would rather stick to chicken raising, as it would take her so long to write a thousand stories. The Hditor not infrequently received letters from would-be suicides :— “ Unless you except this pome by leven o’clock thursday morning i will jump into the hudson river.” There is no doubt that such letters are written. We have heard of similar cases in the English Literary Market, but so far, we have never heard of the suicide. Of another kind of writer we have also had experience this side of the water, the half educated, sentimental, romantic woman who considers herself a genius, and sits down and fills reams of paper to the distraction of her family with no benefit to herself. We quote the Editor of the “ Bookman’s” experience of this kind of person :— “Tam most ambitious to appear in the leading magazines and papers throughout the country, and if you like the first hundred thousand words of my novel, | will send you THE AUTHOR. the rest as soon as it is completed. I am working hard on it now. My husband idles his days away. He will not work, but is only too willing to sleep, and I have to do something to support the family. Iam conscientious about my literary work, and I feel sure that I was cut out to be an author. I cannot afford to pay the express charges on my story, so send it at your expense. If you return it— and oh, I pray you won’t !—please prepay the package, for we are very, very poor. I have been writing ever since I was a child, and I am now forty-three years old, but I have never had anything published either in a paper or in a book. But I know I am just as big a genius as , only I have never had the chances he has. We have had hard bacon for breakfast so long that I’m tired of it; so please hurry my check if you accept my story, as I would like a change of food, and also I would like to surprise my indolent husband.” The same date the Editor received a letter from the irate mother which we have also taken the liberty of reprinting :— “Dear sir,—By this mail, I understand that my daughter, who is married, is sending you a pleading letter—I know it must be pleading for she has been writing them for years—and a big manuscript. I beg you to believe that it will be the greatest kindness if you will pay no sort of attention to her story or her letter. She is the mother of three young children, and while her husband does all he can to support her and them, he cannot earn very much, owing toa heart weakness. She should take in washing, as I have had to do, and try to help out by that instead of by writing fool stories. She has always had an idea that she was a great author, and we cannot keep the pencil out of her hand, although we hide it and the paper pads ton, If she would spend more time in doing honest sensible work instead of wasting her days in composing novels that I know are trash, she would be better off. So please don’t answer her request, and don’t encourage her in any way. I am her mother, and I know. “ Yours in all sincerity.” It certainly is more pitiful than humorous. We can only hope that the Editor will continue in his kind and praiseworthy efforts. To many, no doubt, his communications come as a gleam of sunshine. Where there is real hard work, where there is really a painstaking effort, a favourable comment will go a long way to smooth the toil- some path. But while human nature is humanly natural, the other side, which is pitiful, cannot fail to come to the fore. But let us not despair. Finally the Editor, after considering so many letters as the companions of MSS., is inclined to think that as a rule the letter is a superfluity, and that Editors generally can do better without them. ——— THE HORSE IN FICTION. <> rYN\HE coming of the motor-car seems likely to displace that noble animal, the horse—in Enrope at all events—from the high posi- tion he has held’ for innumerable centuries. Is this proud, generous, and most useful beast, the 53 friend and ally of warriors and of princes, to be relegated to obscurity, to fade out of existence? In all sincerity one may hope not! What a history has been his! The Bible, in glowing words, has set forth his renown ; poets and writers in all ages have sung his prowess ; he has aided in the winning of great battles, the conquering and overrunning of vast countries ; his achievements, whether in peace or war, have been as innumerable as they have been glorious. Yet, though poets and novelists have in countless works written in vague and general praise of the horse, when one begins to delve into particulars, one realises that the writer of fiction has, as a rule, been always rather shy of this subject. The novelist and the poet have not, one begins to discover, much real acquaintance with horses and horsemanship, and a survey of the literature of the last century almost convinces one that writers, as a class, prefer to leave the achieve- ments of the noblest of all domesticated animals rather severely alone. Few creators of romance have, in fact, cared to particularise on a subject which, adequately dealt with, offers many attractions. Byron, it is true, strikes a stirring note in the poem of ‘‘ Mazeppa,” that spirited and romantic set- ting of an old Polish or Cossack tradition. Byron gathered his materials for‘‘ Mazeppa”’ from Voltaire’s ‘* History of Charles XIT.,” and makes his hero, the aged Hetman of the Ukraine Cossacks, recount his terrible ride to Charles on the night following the disastrous battle of Pultowa. According to Byron, Mazeppa, a young Polish gentleman, detected in an intrigue with the wife of a Count of Podolia, is seized, bound to the back of an unbroken horse fresh from the wilds of Ukraine, and driven forth into the forest and the wilderness. The tale is finely told in Byron’s best manner, yet, when one begins to inquire closely into the particulars, one finds that poetical licence has been somewhat too freely made use of. For two days and nights, according to Byron, Mazeppa’s steed carries him in a career so headlong that even the tireless wolves which pursue them are left behind. Now wolves, it is well known, will run down the best horse in the world ; while any one who is acquainted with horses and their capabilities, will bear out the writer in his affirmation that no horse ever foaled could pursue a rapid flight, unchecked, for forty- eight hours. However, at the end of that time, even the steed portrayed by Byron begins to flag. He swims with his burden across a mighty river, and presently sinks down upon the Ukraine steppe, where Mazeppa is rescued and unbound by natives of that wild district. Among these people the hero makes his home, in years to come rising to the position of Hetman or Prince of the Ukraine Cossacks. 54 Sir Walter Scott understood horses probably a good deal better than did Byron, and in the “ Lady of the Lake” Fitzjames’s chase of the stag, roused in Glenartney Forest, is with a first-rate horse feasible enough. Fitzjames, however, appears to have been a more enthusiastic hunter than he was a good horse-master, and having overridden his good grey from Glenartney to the shores of Loch Katrine, the generous beast yields up its life, and “stretched its stiff limbs to rise no more.” Scott, however, paints an incident that still occasionally happens, even in fox-hunting, and his knowledge of the grdund described, and of the limits of a horse’s endurance, have prevented him from depict- ing the impossible in his spirited account of the great run with a Glenartney stag. Harrison Ainsworth’s well-known description of Dick Turpin’s ride to York almost rescues “ Rook- wood” from the region of rather cheap melodrama. Turpin, of course, never performed the ride in question, a ride, as Ainsworth describes it, prob- ably far beyond the limits of any single horse’s endurance. Nevertheless, so well is the famous highwayman’s gallop described, and so much pains has the novelist displayed in the management of this part of his tale, that good Black Bess and her immortal course will probably live in fiction to delight schoolboys for generations yet to come. Among English novelists, Whyte Melville cer- tainly knew more about horses and their capa- bilities than any other. In “ Katerfelto” he has made the highwayman’s grey nag, of which. John Garnett becomes possessed, almost as much the hero of his tale as the man who bestrides it. The hunt on Exmoor is excellently well done, and Katerfelto’s leap for freedom, a leap which saves his master, and is the undoing of Parson Gale and his black gelding, Cassock, is admirably set forth. The stallion Katerfelto, according to Whyte Mel- ville, is never again captured, and becomes the semi-feral progenitor of much of the moorland pony-stock of West Somerset and North Devon. There may be, as Melville hints, some substratum of truth at the bottom of this romance. ‘‘Sata- nella” is another of Whyte Melville’s tales, which mingles the fortunes of a handsome black mare with the story of a beautiful but ill-starred woman. Among other famous horsemen and horses of fiction, Starlight and his good nag, in “ Robbery Under Arms,” naturally occur to one; while the great ride of Umslopogaas, so graphically set forth by Rider Haggard in “ Allan Quatermain,” is an excellent piece of work, strong, exciting, and not ‘overdone in colouring. Taken as a whole, how- ever, fiction is somewhat surprisingly poor in a domain where it might have been expected to reap many laurels, and horses and their feats have been but little utilised. THER AUTHOR. Turning from the realm of fiction to that of — hard facts, one recalls three great and marvellous rides. First, that of the Welsh Knight of the Shire, who rode up to London, on the spur, from his own home to record his vote in favour of that Act of Succession which established the present dynasty on the throne of Britain. The squire reached Westminster literally in the very nick of time, and his casting vote decided the fate of the Stuarts and the rise of their Hanoverian cousins. One of the greatest of all historic rides was that of young Robert Carr from London to Edinburgh, to carry to James the First the tidings of the death of Queen Elizabeth. Carr’s ride, accomplished practically without rest or respite, on relays of horses, still stands to the present day as one of the finest of all achievements in endurance and horse- manship. Sir Harry Smith’s ride from Cape Town to Grahamstown, on the outbreak of the Kaffir War, in 1834, is beyond all doubt one of the most striking feats in horsemanship ever recorded. He accomplished the distance—610 miles—in six days, picking up raw, grass-fed Cape ponies as he went along, and accomplishing his journey success- fully during the height of the hot weather season. Browning’s imaginary gallop with the good news from Ghent to Aix pales effectually before this very real and wonderful performance of the fiery veteran, Sir Harry Smith. H. A. BRYDEN. ee THE ONLY WAY. — a HIS book is harmless. It is also colourless. It is full of platitudes, and appears to be written by one who has some knowledge but no sympathy. It is not likely to inspire genius. It is not likely to spread any literary disease. The impression it makes is lack of impression —it inspires no ideals. That the book is written with some knowledge is evident from the quotation of current prices and certain reliable information of the contents of the better-known magazines. There are some minor hints on technique which expose the expert. The facility of the whole work inclines one to think that though the author has trodden the path to success, he has not been assailed by the thorns and brambles that clog the footsteps of the ordinary literary tramp. He has in consequence become * “How to Become an Author,’ by Arnold Bennett, (C. Arthur Pearson, Limited.)  THE AUTHOR. didactic and narrow. He looks upon his road as | the only road, and cannot help his fellow wayfarer 4) to overcome his difficulties. That the author inspires no ideals is clear from his view of modern journalism, which he asserts has attained its present perfection in a well-known halfpenny Daily. The spirit of this method speaks through the author as follows: “‘ Let us decide whether our readers—not as they ought to be, but as they actually are—will read and be interested in this thing.” The freelance, he assures us—not in these words —ought to write down to his public ; and again, “He must put away all sentimentality about the art of literature and the moral mission of “journalism.” This sort of advice may be successful in turning out a fair hack, but not a real live author; but these wise saws are no good if the practical advice does not help the would-be author further. Again, his opinions about fiction and other -methods of becoming an author may or may not be true—that is neither here nor there. Stories are not written, books are not composed by rule. Tot homines, quot sententie, is still a good motto, but when these wise sayings have been read, is the teacher convincing, or does the tyro’s mind at the end of this book appear like Lord Rosebery’s slate —without a mark upon it, absolutely clean ? The practical side of the book is unsatisfactory, and the remarks on the technique of literary work, the business of placing the book on the market, the prices paid for modern literature, and the thousand and one pitfalls to be avoided are sadly deficient. ‘We must protest also that only one reference is made to the Authors’ Society, and that in no liberal spirit. Mr. Bennett does not appear from the published list to be one of that body. Though he knows of its existence, he is ignorant of the work it does and of the information at its command. In the journalistic portion he men- tions some books which may be useful to beginners, but does nct care to refer to the valuable, confi- dential, and practical help offered by the Society. In his advice to producers of books he states, “ In selecting publishers for experiment, the aspirant should begin with the best and work downwards in the scale of importance,” but where is the information to come from? Who are the best publishers? The writer is evidently not aware that some firms whose names loom large to the public are utterly unsatisfactory to the author. Here again there is no mention of the Authors’ Society. Only when touching on the question of contracts for books (he makes no attempt to discuss con- tracts with editors, perhaps rightly), after some 55 interesting suggestions, he states, “The aspirant with a legal turn who wishes for further informa- tion should join the Authors’ Society, which pub- lishes a highly interesting and intricate literature on the relations between writers and publishers and all the dreadful possibilities thereof.” If the author had dealt with his subject in any other way than facile superficiality this book might have sufficed, but his method is so full of omissions when he writes with the air of finality that from the business standpoint his view may lead beginners far astray. For instance, “The aspirant should not trouble much about American (he means United States) copyright. It is exceedingly difficult to obtain American copyright of a first book. But if by a happy chance it can be obtained, so much the better.” Because it is difficult, therefore the fledgling need not trouble. The United States market is in many ways a bigger financial gain than the British, therefore, so far from not troubling, the tyro should strain every nerve for success. We are glad to see that he has noted one well- known publisher who settles libel actions at his own discretion, but at the author’s expense. Who- ever he may be, our adviser states “that this is manifestly wicked.” In conclusion, the work can only be expressed by a series of negations. It is not a good book ; it is not practical. It lacks depth. It is a series of omissions. Sir Walter Besant’s “‘ Pen and the Book” is still by far the best work at present on the subject, in spite of ‘‘ How to Publish,” “‘ How to Write for Magazines,” and many similar effusions. A second edition is sadly needed. If the author is a member of the Society then there is no apology needed for these strictures. If not, he should study the work it does, and remember that authors who personally stand in no need of direct assistance must yet directly profit by much of its work, done at the expense of its members. BR. ULE eg CORRESPONDENCE. —_—>—-+— A Lirerary FRAUD. I. Srr,—All I can say about Mr. Isidore G. Ascher’s admirable letter under the above heading in your 56 last issue is that I, for one, would be very glad of an opportunity of writing books at a living wage for rich people desirous of literary celebrity. Naturally, I detest the notion of permitting other persons to batten on my brains : but I detest still more the notion of becoming useless and idle in the workhouse. ae You see, now (when every Gajo, Titio, and Sempronio writes), it is quite impossible for every- one to get published. ‘Then debt, duns, the dead whiteness of a gardenia replacing ruddy health on one’s child’s face, the awful aspect of friends whose eyes say, “I hope to God you're not going to ask me to do anything for you,” harass and benumb and acidulate the boycotted writer, who naturally catches at any straw in the current which is sweep- ing him to perdition. It is not fame, it is not justice which he wants now, but a roof and daily bread. No; I do not think one ought to denounce as guilty of fraud the hacks who sell their brains. They do it, not for pleasure, but from necessity. Their motive is the honourable one :of Indepen- dence. Blame the crow who wears the peacock’s tail, as “a disgrace to literature,” etc., if you will, but do be merciful to the poor peacock. Yours truly, A. Hack. — + II. Srr,—I cannot quite understand Mr. Ascher’s indignation against the “ ghost” system. What does it matter whether the twaddle given to the world under a popular name has been written by a money-grubbing celebrity himself, or by some talented unknown person who is thus enabled to get the living he could not, perhaps, otherwise obtain ? No decent author would ever allow his, or her, name to appear over another person’s work, and those who are sufficiently degraded to allow it must be punished by the knowledge that their “ghosts” are as competent as themselves. If they have any amour propre at all this should gall them; and if the public cannot detect any difference between the work of its idols and that of industrious employees, then the public certainly deserves to be taken in. Finally, if the poor “ghost” can only get his work in print this way, why grudge him the joys of authorship beneath what is, practically, a pseudonym? As things go, with a huge mass of readers devoid of literary taste and craving only “names,” the employment of journeymen seems to me rather a good arrange- ment. The true man of letters knows that his THE AUTHOR. work can be done by himself alone, and why should he care if the charlatan makes a fortune, through which some needy quill-driver benefits ? Yours truly, M. L. P. ——~—+— THINGS THAT MATTER. Srr,—I notice in your last issue a list of the so . contents of various magazines, and I think this <i; would be a useful feature of The Author, providing =<" it appears regularly and includes all the articles =... in the periodicals mentioned. It is impossible to «!“' subscribe to every magazine, and writers who ~ travel, as well as your readers residing in the - country and abroad, will welcome such a list as => you give, since it contains information not elsewhere readily obtainable. 5 It occurs to me that your “Trade Notes” would — ° be more valuable if you made a point of mention- ing well in advance of publication the issue of new > periodicals—of which doubtless you receive, or can = « get, the earliest trustworthy information. What — writers wish to know is the scope of a pro- — jected magazine, and who will edit and who ~ publish it. Subsequently there might be published — in The Author the ‘ Notice to Contributors,” as supplementary to the list you have issued separately. Mention might be made also of new firms of — ™ publishers and of new publishing companies Several firms of book publishers have commenced business recently, but of them there has not been ~ a word in Zhe Author. Of new publishing com panies there are many more, and a list of these — might be given, with such particulars as will enable writers to form an adequate idea of the © scope of the enterprise projected. In September, for instance, the following were registered at Somerset House :—African Publications; British — Sports ; English Illustrated Magazine ; Enterprise — Publishing Co.; Folkestone Chronicle; Index © Advertising Co. ; Press Picture Agency; Smart Set ; Sphere and Tatler ; Studio Press; World of — Billiards ; all with limited liability, and with a ~ nominal capital of from £500 to £200,000 each. Some, doubtless, are of no possible use to any © member of the Society, but of them such particulars — might be given as will enable each reader to judge - whether or not they are, or may be, of service. ; I have no doubt the secretaries of all newly formed companies will be ready to furnish readers of The Author with information of interest to writers and readers. Yours faithfully, Broap-NIs. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 14 Issue 02 (November 1903) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 14 Issue 02 (November 1903) Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1903-11-02-The-Author-14-2 publications The Author