https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/494/1904-06-01-The-Author-14-9.pdf 515fa9c76424bd8a8847b4b064e66219 PDF Text Text �� Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource The Author Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, The Author, 1890–1914, made available together for the first time. Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&collection=&type=&tags=&exhibit=&date_search_term=&submit_search=Search+For+Items&sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. 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) 1904-06-01 Volume 14 Issue 9 Pages Page range in volume 225–252 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19040601 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin Che HMuthor. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT. Vou. XIV.—No. 9. TsLEPHONE NUMBER : 374 VICTORIA. TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS : AUTORIDAD, LONDON. —____—>_+____—_- NOTICES. —— OR the opinions expressed in papers that are signed or initialled the authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless such is especially stated to be the case. Tur 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. Tu 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. The Pension Fund of the Society. Tux Trustees of the Pension Fund met at the Society’s Offices on the 19th of February, and having gone carefully into the accounts of the fund, decided to purchase £250 London and North Western 3 % Debenture Stock. Accordingly, the investments of the Pension Fund at present standing in the names of the Trustees are as follows. Vou. XIV. JUNE Ist, 1904. [Prick SIXPENCE. This is a statement of the actual stock; the money value can be easily worked out at the current price of the market :— Wonsols 28 4 i £1000 0 O Docal boas 0. 500 0 O Victorian Government 3 % Consoli- dated Inscribed Stock ............64- 291 19 a1 War loan... 2019 3 London and North Western 3 % Deben- ture StOCk’; 3 .-6..4.56 prs 250 0 0 AB ap eure asa £9243 9 2 Subscriptions from October, 1903. : £8. cd. Nov. 13, Longe, Miss Julia. 20) 50 Dec. 16, Trevor, Capt. Philip. - 0 58 0 1904. Jan. 6, Hills, Mrs.C. H. . ~ 0 5 0 Jan. 6, Crommelin, Miss . : 20 10 0 Jan. 8, Stevenson, Mrs. M. EK. . - 0.5 0 Jan. 16, Kilmarnock, The Lord . .~ 0 10-0 Feb. 5, Portman, Lionel . : ~ ob 00 Feb. 11, Shipley, Miss Mary 2 0 5 0 Mar. Diiring, Mrs. . : : 707 5) 0 Mar. Francis Claude de la Roche . 0 5 O Ou o April18, Dixon, W. Scarth April18, Bashford, Harry H. : . 0 10. 6 April19, Bosanquet, Eustace F. . . O10 6 April23, Friswell, Miss Laura Hain. 0 6 0 May 6, Shepherd, G. H. Ob 0 Donations from October, 1908. Oct. 27, Sturgis, Julian : : -90 0 90 Nov. 2, Stanton, V. H. : : 7 5b 0 0 Nov. 18, Benecke, Miss Ida . : 7 1.00 Novy. 23, Harraden, Miss Beatrice 75 020 Dee. Miniken, Miss Bertha M. M.. 0 5 0 1904. Jan. 4, Moncrieff, A. R. Hope . 5 0 0 Jan. 4, Middlemass, Miss Jean . 010 O Jan. 4, Witherby, The Rev. C. . 0 5 0 Jan. 6, Key, The Rey. 8. Whittell 0. 5 0 226 £8, d. Jan. 14, Bennett, Rev. W. K., D.D. 015 0 Jan. 2, Roe, Mrs. Harcourt 010 O Feb. 11, Delaire, Miss Jeanne 010 O May 16, Wynne, C. Whitworth 5 0 0 —_—__+ 0 ——__—_ FROM THE COMMITTEE. —+—>— + HE Committee held their monthly meeting on May 2nd, at 39, Old Queen Street. The first business, as usual, was the election of members and associates, and seven fresh mem- bers and associates were elected. The number is small owing to the fact that the April meeting was held towards the middle of the month, and the May meeting at the earliest possible date in May. The total number of elections for the current year now reaches 110. Two cases were before the Committee. The first referred to a question of accounts between an author and a puohehee The Committee decided to endeavour to obtain a settlement of the case by entering into negotiations direct with the publisher, hoping by these means to discover, if possible, an explanation of the points in dispute. The second case raises questions of interest and of some diifi- culty between a member of the society and an author’s agent. As the matter is still under the consideration of the Committee, no further state- ment can be made at present. It was decided, subject to the approval of the President of the Society, to forward an address to the President of the Spanish Academy on the ter- centenary of the production of “ Don Quixote.” The draft of the address was laid before the Committee and approved. Mr. George Meredith, the President of the Society,. has also signified his approval of the draft. —— Cases. Since the May issue of 7’he Author eight cases have been placed in the Secretary’s hands for settlement ; three for money, one for money and accounts, two for the return of MSS., one for the settlement of contracts between author and pub- lisher, and one for accounts merely. Taking them in reverse order, the case for accounts referred to a Canadian firm, and conse- quently cannot be settled for some time. Again the case for the settlement of contracts, owing to complicated negotiations, cannot be adjusted imme- diately. Where demands were made for the return of MSS., the MSS. have been sent to the Society’s office, and returned to the members concerned. THE AUTHOR. In the case of accounts and money, with the con- sent of the Chairman, the matter has been placed in the hands of the Society’s solicitors, as it has been found impossible to get any answer from the publisher. Of the three cases for money, one has been satisfactorily settled, one has had to be post- poned for technical reasons, and the other has been postponed owing to the absence of the publisher from his office. The last case contains some curious points, as the publisher sold a portion of the author’s rights some time ago without communicating with the author, and without accounting for the amount he received, when rendering his usual statement. No doubt, however, a satisfactory explanation will be forthcoming when the Society has put forward the author’s just demands. Another small case which was placed in the hands of the Society’s solicitors has been satis- factorily settled, without the necessity of taking it into Court. May Elections. Jackson, John ; . St. Dunstan’s House, Fetter Lane, Fleet Street. Kenward, James, F.S.A. 48, Streatham High (Elvynydd) Road, 8.W. Kirmse, Mrs. L. Fontainbleau, Manor toad, Bourne- mouth. Kirmse, Richard Fontainbleau, Manor Road, Bourne- mouth. Shepherd, Geo. Henry 27, King Street, St. - James’s Square, Hilfield, Bath Road, Bournemouth W. Simpson, Miss Gaynor Stowe, Edwin " Oo BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. — to (In the following list we do not propose to give more than the titles, prices, publishers, etc., of the books enumerated, with, in special cases, such particulars as may serve to explain the scope and purpose of the work. Members are requested to forward information which will enable the Editor to supply such particulars.) AGRICULTURE. Buy EnGuisH AorES. By C.F. Dowsetr. 2nd Edition. 83 x 54, 224 pp. The Author: Winklebury, Basing- stoke, 33. 6d. THE AUTHOR. 227 ART. Great Masters. Parts XIII.and X1V. Edited by SIR Martin Conway. Heinemann. 5s. n. each. IMPRESSIONIST PAINTING: ITS GENESIS AND DEVELOP- MENT. By WyNFoRD DEWHURST. 124 x 83, 127 pp. Newnes. 25s. n. BIOGRAPHY. ELEAN 2 OrmMEROD, LL.D., EcoNoMIC ENTOMOLOGIST. Autobiography and Correspondence. Edited by ROBERT WALLACE. 9 X 53, xx.4+ 348 pp. Murray. 21s. n. Kings AND QuEENS | Have Kyown. By HELEN VACARESCO. 9 X 53,330 pp. Harper. 10s. 6d. DRAMA, SUPERLATIVE FRIENDSHIP. ‘“ A Home or School Play for Ladies or Girls.’ By the Rev. JOHN BRUSTER. Simpkin, Marshall & Co., Ltd. 9d. nett. EDUCATIONAL. ELEMENTARY SCIENCE AND NATURE ‘STUDY. By H. THISELTON Monk. Simpkin Marshall & Co. 1s. 6d. 1. THE GLOBE GEOGRAPHY READERS. By Vv. T. MURCHE. Macmillan, 2s. ‘ FICTION. Ture Girt. By S. MACNAUGHTAN. 72 X 5, 309 pp. Hodder & Stoughton. 6s. CELIBATE SARAH. By J. BuyrH. 73 xX 54, 292 pp. Grant Richards. 6s. For Love AND Ransom. By ESME STUART, 7% X 5, 379 pp. Jarrold. 3s. 6d. Miss ARNOTT’S MARRIAGE, By RICHARD MARSH. 73 X 5, 341 pp. J. Long. 6s. Bats av TWILIGHT. By HELEN M. BouLTON. 74 X 5, 304 pp. Heinemann. 6s. THe OrANGERY. A Comedy of Tears. By MABEL DEARMER, Author of “The Noisy Years,’ etc. Smith, Elder. 6s. NATuURE’s COMEDIAN. By W. E, Norris. 7] X 55, 310 pp. Longmans. 63. GLENCAIRLY CASTLE. By H.G. HurcHINson. 7] X 5, 326 pp. Smith, Elder. 6s. BrRoTHERS. The True History of By Horace ANNESLEY VACHELL. Murray. 6s. CourT CARDS. Unwin. 6s. In THE Wronc Box. By Fox RUSSELL, 317 pp. Everett. 3s. 6d. ARouND A Distant STAR. By JEAN DELATIRE. 7$X 5, 301 pp. Long. 6s. ENGLAND'S ELIZABETH. By His Honour JuDGE i. A. PARRY. 7% X 5,351 pp. Smith, Elder. 6s. BIANCA’S CAPRICE, and Other Stories. By MorRLEY Roperts. 8 X 5,312 pp. White. 6s. THE BLUNDER OF AN INNOCENT. By E. MARIA ALBANESI, New Edition. 7% x 5, 322 pp. Methven. 6s. Mapes ov Money. By DorRoTHEA UERARD. 336 pp. Methuen. OvuR MANIFOLD Nature. By SARAH GRAND. Cheap Edition. 74 x 4%, 282 pp. Heinemann. 2s. SmoKING FLAx. By the Rey. Sivas HocKkIne. 7% X5h, 340 pp. Partridge. 3s. 6d. Musm%. The Story of an Anglo-Jap imese Marriage. Pearson. 6d. Treason. A Romance of Politics. Tynedale Press a Fight against Odds. 8 x 54, 397 pp. By ANSTICE CLARE. 7} X 5, 315 pp. 7% xX 5, 7% X 5, 6d. DorotHEA. By MAARTEN MAARTENS. 7} X 9, 573 pp. Constable. 6s. A PRINCE OF CORNWALL. 7% x 54,410 pp. Warne. 6s. By C. W. WHISTLER. IN THE WHIRL OF THE RIsinc, By B. MITFORD. 72 X 5,311 pp. Methuen. _ 6s. THE MASQUERADERS. By “Rrta.’’ 7% X 5, 371 pp. Hutchinson. 6s. THE WINE OF LOVE. 311 pp. Nash. 6s. DEALS. By Barry PAIN. 72 X 5}, 279 pp, Hodder & Stoughton. 5s. Love's Proxy. By RicHarpD BaGor. 73 X 5, 305 pp. Arnold. 6s. THE LovETHAT HE PAsseDBy. By Iza Durrus HARDY. 74 X 5,388 pp. Digby Long. 6s. é THE STONE-CUTTER OF MempHiIs. By W. P. KELLY, 72 X 5,371 pp. Routledge. 6s. A WisE AND A FoontsH VIRGIN. By GERTRUDE WARDEN. 73 X 5, 296 pp. F. V. White. 6s. A JAPANESE MARRIAGE. By Dovugnuas SLADEN. New Edition. 8} x 53,401 pp. Treherne. 6s. n. ALLAN QUATERMAIN. By H. Riper HaGearp. (Cheap Edition.) 8% x 53, 182 pp. Longmans. 6d. n. Youna Love. By L. DouGAut. (Cheap Edition.) 74 X 5, 179 pp. Black. 6d. AN ISLEIN THE WATER. OH, WHAT A PLAGUEIS LoVB! By KATHARINE TYNAN. (Cheap Edition.) 74 X 5, 221 +150 pp. Black. 6d. each, By H. A. HInKSON. 74 X 5, HISTORY. SociaL LIFE UNDER THE Stuarts. By ELIZABETH GoDFREY. 82 X5%, 298 pp. Richards. 12s. 6d. n. THE PUNJAB IN PEACE AND WAR. By 8S. 8. THORBURN, Indian Civil Service (retired). Blackwood & Sons. 12s. 6d. n. Two maps and four battle plans, LITERARY, SrortEs FROM DANTE. ~ By NortEY CHESTER. 7} X 43, 238 pp.. Warne. 2s. 6d. n. Ke.Lric RESEARCHES. By E. W. Byron NICHOLSON. 800 pp. H. Frowde: Oxford University Press, 21s. n. MEDICAL. THe MerpicaL CurricuLumM. By Proressor E. A. SCHAFER, LL.D., F.R.S. .82 x 53,30 pp. Elinburgh : The Darien Press. ORIENTAL. SAYINGS OF K’UNG THE MASTER. (The Wisdom of the Kast.) Selected, with an Introduction, by ALLEN Upwarp. 64 xX 5,50 pp. The Orient Press. 1s.n. POETRY. GRANUAILE, A QUEEN OF THE WEST. A Poem in Six Cantos. 2nd Edition. By CHARLES RICHARD PANTER, LL.D. 74 X 54, 207 pp. Jarrold & Sons. 5s. Porms. By Sir Lewis Mornis. (Authorised Selections) 54 X 34, 340 pp. Routledge. POLITICAL. GREATER AMERICA. By A. R. COLQUHOUNs 436 pp. Harpers. 16s. FiscAL Facts AND Ficrions. By F.G. SHAW. 4s. n. 9 x 6; Saillitre, SOCIOLOGY. THe PRIZE: SOCIAL Succpss. By F. C, CONSTABLE. 7 x 43,177 pp. Grant Richards. 5s. n, TECHNICAL, A TEXxT-BoOK OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING. By Witrrip T. LINEHAM. ‘7th Edition. 1066pp. Chay- man & Hall. 12s, 6d. n. 228 THEOLOGY. Paraposis, or “In the Night in Which He was (?) Betrayed.’’ By E. A, ABBOrT, (Diatessarica, Part IV.) 9 x 6, xxiii. + 216 pp. Black. 7s, 6d, n. THe YOUNG PRIEST. Conferences on the Apostolic Life. By HERBERT CARDINAL VAUGHAN. Edited by his Brother, MONSIGNOR CANON J.S. VAUGHAN. 7] X 5, 347 pp. Burns & Oates. 5s. TOPOGRAPHY. Tur New Forest. By Horace G. HUTCHINSON. 94 x 68,310 pp. Methuen. 21s, n. STRATFORD-ON-AVON. (Illustrated Pocket Library.) 3s. Nl. THe QUANTOCK HILLS: THEIR COMBES AND VILLAGES, By SrpNeY LEE. New Edition. 7 x 5, 304 pp. Seeley. By BratTrRIx F. CresswELL. Homeland Association. 2s. 6d. n. TRAVEL. PRESENT-DAY JAPAN. By AuGusTaA M. CAMPBELL DAVIDSON. 94 X 6, 331 pp. Unwin. 21s. THe SToRY OF ALPINE CLIMBING. By FRANCIS GRIBBLE. (The Library of Useful Stories.) 6 x 39, 180 pp. Newnes. Is. A WINTER New (and cheaper) Edition. mais. 65. RB. PILGRIMAGE. By H. RipER HAGGARD. 81 x 53, 376 pp. Long- Oo LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL . NOTES. —— NTHONY HOPE’S new book “ Double Harness,” a story of modern life, is to be published by Messrs. Hutchinson & Co., in the antumn. It is announced that a volume of short stories may be expected from the pen of Mr. Rudyard Kipling in the autumn. We are informed that his Majesty the King has accepted a copy of Mr. James Cassidy’s new book “Love is Love,” published by Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall & Co., at the price of 2s. 8d. net. The volume contains sixteen short stories, each of them founded on a true incident. “Where is your Husband, and Other Brown Studies” and “A Medley Book” are the titles of two books by George Frost, copies of which have been accepted by her Majesty the Queen. ‘Lost Angel of a Ruined Paradise,” is the title of a work by the Rev. P. A. Sheehan, D.D., which Messrs. Longmans & Co. are publishing. The same firm is also publishing Mr. Wilfrid Ward’s ‘‘ Memoir of Aubrey De Vere,” based on unpublished diaries and correspondence. Mr. Poultney Bigelow has been appointed a Professor in the Law Faculty in the University at Boston. Mr. Bigelow’s department deals par- ticularly with ‘Foreign Relations and Colonial Administration,” and his lectures dealing with this subject will commence in the winter of the THER AUTHOR. present year. We understand that this is a new department in college education, and has for its object the training of young men for honourable employment. A second edition of ‘ Rita’s” new book “ The Masqueraders” is in the Press, as the first edition was sold out soon after publication. “Impressionist Painting: Its Genesis and Development,” by Wynford Dewhurst, has been published in a handsome volume by Messrs. George Newnes, Limited, at the price of 25s. net. Mr. Dewhurst has written the book with a view to preaching the doctrine of impressionism, parti- cularly in England where he considers this style of painting is very little appreciated. The book contains many illustrations which serve most effectually to demonstrate the methods set forth. Mr. Dewhurst trusts that the volume may be of real service to the cause of art education. “Buy English Acres” is the title of a book written by Mr. C. F. Dowsett, at the beginning of this year. The second edition, which contains much added matter, is now placed before the public. The book can be obtained from the author at Winklebury, Basingstoke, Hampshire. The price is 8s. 6d. net, post free. Mr. A. W. Marchmont, author of “ By Right of Sword,” has a novel entitled ‘“ Miser Hoadley’s Secret’ appearing in Methuen’s Sixpenny Library, and in the companion series, The Novelist, the same author’s popular book, “A Moment’s Error” is to be published. Owing to the great amount of revision which has been necessary in order to bring Mr. E. A. Reynolds Ball’s book, “ Mediterranean Winter Resorts” up to date, the fifth edition will not be published till the 1st of October, 1904. The intrigues between the English and Scottish Courts during the closing years of the sixteenth century form the material for Austin Clare’s new novel, entitled “Court Cards,” which Mr. Fisher Unwin has published. Mr. Grant Richards has just published a volume of essays from the pen of Mr. F. C. Constable, under the title of ‘The Prize: Social Success.” The essays treat of moral and social questions. The French Minister ‘ de l’Instruction Publique et des Beaux Arts” has lately created Mr. G. H. Clarke “ Officier d’Académie.”? Mr. Clarke has edited or written alone or in collaboration the following works: “ Le Misanthrope,” Moliére ; “Les Fourberies de Scapin,” Moliére ; “Table of the Order of French Pronouns” (Williams and Norgate) ; ‘School Grammar of Modern French” (J. M. Dent & Co.) ; “ Les Femmes Savantes,” Moliére ; ‘‘ Waterloo,’ Victor Hugo; “Primer of Old French”; ‘Le Voyage de Monsieur Perrichow.” (Blackie & Son); “ Intermediate THE AUTHOR. French Grammar ” (John Murray) ; “ La Bataille de Waterloo,” Houssaye (A. and C. Black), A new work by Mr. J. E. Gore, F.R.A.S., entitled “Studies in Astronomy,” is in the press, and will shortly be published by Messrs. Chatto and Windus. It will be illustrated by some fine photographs of nebulz and clusters. Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. have published with illustrations a work entitled “ Aspects of Social Evolution,” by J. Lionel Tayler, at the price of 7s. 6d. The book deals with the question of heredity, environment, and temperament, and is both social and medical in its character. Messrs. Brown, Langham & Co. publish early in June a new novel by Mr. E. H. Lacon Watson, author of “The Templars” and several other books. “The Making of a Man” is the title chosen for the new story, which will deal, ter alia, with the career of a celebrated minor poet. In this month’s (June) Chambers’s Journal is an informing article by Eustace Reynolds- Ball, dealing with the vie intime of the Piedmont peasantry. This is a somewhat novel subject, on which the author has had special opportunities of acquiring information. In the new issue (being the 41st) of the Sfates- man’s Year Book, edited for Messrs. Macmillan & Co. by Dr. J. Scott Keltie and Mr. J. A. Renwick, a series of statistical tables and diagrams has been brought together illustrative of the conditions of British trade and shipping from 1860 to the present date. Besides this compilation, so necessary for students of the fiscal question, may be mentioned a diagram showing the extent to which Belleville boilers are employed in the various fleets. In the general revision to which the book has been sub- jected may be noted the first appearance of a section devoted to Panama as an independent State. Mr, W. S. Gilbert produced, at the beginning of last month, a new play at the Garrick Theatre. We are pleased to welcome the return of this author to the dramatic stage. ‘That the piece is full of the old humour is clear from the fact that Mr. Arthur Bourchier is turned into a clown, and Miss Violet Vanbrugh into a columbine, and a Judge of the High Court into a pantaloon. The piece was received with much favour. “Tna,” a play in four acts by Mr. R. O. Prowse, was put on the stage of the Court under the auspices of the Stage Society. It is a study in re- morse, as the heroine thinks she has been virtually guilty of the death of her husband. Two plays by William Toynbee—“ Dolly’s Ordeal,” in one act, and “ Necessity Knows No Law: a Comedy of Personages,” in four acts— will be produced at a matinée at one of the West End theatres during the present season. 229 PARIS NOTES. — HE book of the month is undoubtedly “ La Cominune,” by MM. Paul and Victor Mar- gueritte. In the form of a novel the authors give us the history of the Commune as they under- stand it, and show us a series of pictures of life in the various ranks of society during the troubled time which followed the Franco-German war, On reading this book one understands Mlle. Dosne’s anxiety to publish earlier than she had intended her brother-in-law’s book, ‘‘ Notes et Souvenirs de M. Thiers (1870-1873).” MM. Paul and Victor Margueritte endeavour to show us the various causes which led to the terrible insurrection in Paris. They describe in detail the miseries which the Parisian working-class and the bourgeois families had endured during the siege, their suspense, disappointments, distrust of their chiefs, hunger and discomfort of every kind, and finally their humiliation on hearing that the Prus- sians were to enter the French capital. The patriotic citizens were beside themselves with indignation and, taking advantage of this state of things, all the riffraff of the population thought the moment pro- pitious for a general rising against order and au- thority of any kind. The portraits of many of the historical personages are admirably well drawn, the description of the entrance of the enemy into the city, the story of the murder of Clément ‘Thomas, of the death of Mon- seigneur Darboy, and the account of the awful scenes of fire, bloodshed, and destruction are most tragic and pathetic. Many books have been written on the subject of the Commune, but none have given a more vivid and graphic description of that fatal insurrection than this novel by MM. Paul and Victor Mar- gueritte. The reader who cares to know both sides of an argument should certainly study ‘* Notes et Souvenirs de M. Thiers” before commencing “Ta Commune,” as it is just as well to know the difficulties with which M. Thiers had to contend before reading the verdict of the brothers Mar- gueritte. M. Pierre Loti appears to have renounced fiction for atime. His last book was ‘ L’Inde,” and his new one “ Vers Ispahan.” The former was pub- lished with two different titles ; the edition for France was “ L’Inde (sans les Anglais),” and the edition for sending abroad was simply ‘“ L’Inde.” In the preface to this new book the author tells us what to expect : “Qui veut venir avec moi voir i Ispahan la saison des roses prenne son parti de cheminer lentement & mes cOtés, par ctapes. . Qui veut me suivre, se résigne a beaucoup de jours passds dans les solitudes, dans la monotonie et les mirages.... ” 230 This is a warning not to be despised, as the book is really a description of a voyage. It is charming, and has all the poetry of description to which one is accustomed in Loti’s works. One of the most interesting chapters in the volume is the one telling of a visit to the tombs of the two poets Saadi and Hafiz. The latter is buried under a tomb of agate in the midst of an enclosure with avenues of orange blossom and roses. ‘This garden, which was at first reserved for him, has become an ideal cemetery, as muny admirers of the poet have, at their request, been also buried there. Their white tombs are surrounded with flowers, and the nightingales are to be heard every night. A little farther on is the tomb of Saadi. This ig much more modest than that of Hafiz, and is marked by a white stone; but it, too, has a wealth of flowers around it. “Vers Ispahan” should be kept as a charming, restful book for a summer holiday. It is impossible to hurry through it, as every word is worth reading. «lias Portolu,’ by Madame Grazia Deledda, is a delightful study of humble life in Sardinia. The authoress was born in Nuoro, a little town con- taining 7,000 inhabitants, and she places her story there. In the opening chapter Elias has just returned home after a sojourn in a penitentiary. His family and friends assemble in honour of this event and of the engagement of Pietro, the eldest son of the house. Elias is féted like a student returning home for the holidays, for among these primitive people when once a sin has been punished there is no further grudge against the culprit. He may begin an entirely fresh page in his life and he will not be taunted with his past. There is no strong plot to the story, but as a psychological study of Sardinian peasants it is very charming, and gives us an idea of an entirely different world, and of a totally different way of looking at many things from that to which we are accustomed. There is great originality, too, in the way in which the story is told. “Crainquebille, Putois, Riquet et plusieurs autres récits profitables ” is the title of a volume of short stories and sketches by M. Anatole France. “ Crainquebille” is a literary gem, one of the simplest and most pathetic of episodes told in the simplest and most exquisite style imaginable. The hero of the story is only a costermonger, and the incidents déscribed are such as one might witness every day in crowded cities, but every person lives, and there is deep pathos and tragic humour underlying the whole. “Putois” is a charming sketch, an excellent example of the way in which history can be built on a foundation of fiction. “Riquet,” though only a little dog, has not THE AUTHOR. lived with M. Bergeret to no purpose. He is mar- vellously philosophical, and his “ Thoughts ” are well worth reading. There are about a dozen other sketches or stories in the volume, each one of which has its special raison d’étre. “ Joseline,” by M. Edouard Delpit, is a book which will please readers who prefer a dramatic to a psychological novel. There is plenty of incident, the characters are well drawn, and the story itself is quite possible. The most interesting personage in the book is a wealthy, self-made man, who, until the age of fifty, has had a very lonely life. He falls in love with a young girl who is secretly engaged to a young workman. For the sake of her family she consents to marry the millionaire. He, how- ever, discovers the true state of matters, and shows great nobility of character. The dénowement is tragic. Among the new books are: “ Paravent de soie et dor,” by Madame Judith Gautier; “Le Mar- quis de Valcor,” by Daniel Lesueur ; “ Isolée,” by Brada ; “ Autour des Iles bretonnes,” by M. Caradec ; “La Vie d’un simple, or Mémoires d’un métayer,” by M. Guillaumin ; “ De la Paix, du Désarmement et de la Solution du probleme social,” by Madame Winteler de Weindeck; ‘‘Visions bréves,” by M. Radet. M. Jules Claretie has just published the sixth volume of “ Vie 4 Paris.” An interesting case has been brought into the law courts. The widow of Leconte de Lisle pro- tested against the publication of a book entitled “ Premicéres Poésies et Lettres inédites de Leconte de Lisle.” The verses and letters were wrilten during his college days (about the year 1858) by the poet, and M. Guinaudeau, who brought out the volume, received them from a former friend of Leconte de Lisle. The widow of the poet, as residuary legatee, objected to the publication of poems, which her husband had never deemed worthy to include in his complete works, and the sale of the volume was stopped until a decision was given. M. Guinandeau claimed that these poems came under the heading of ‘‘ posthumous works,” and as such belong to the person who owns them, and that this person has the same rights as an author with regard to them. M. de Hérédia, M. Henry Houssaye, M. de Nolhac, and other distinguished literary men wre to Madame Leconte de Lisle expressing pathy with her and their approval of the had taken in the matter. The judgment has just been g Guinaudeau and his publisher have to francs indemnity to Madame Leconte The destruction of the books canna by this Court, so that in order THE Stop the circulation of the volumes the case will probably be brought before another Court. In an interesting article by M. Théry in the Economiste européen the question of the “Theatre Trust” is discussed in detail, The writer praises the Société des Auteurs for having “ vigorously attacked this scheme of monopoly.” M. Thery points out that by doing away with competition between theatre managers the result would be no competition between artistes, authors, decorators, or costume designers, so that French theatrical art would lose one of its chief elements of success and of universal influence. The Société des Auteurs dramatiques at its annual meeting discussed the question of the “Theatre Trust,” and decided to continue to oppose it energetically. The Syndicate of Dramatic Critics also held a meeting, at which a vote was passed that the critics would stand by the authors on the question of the “Theatre Trust.” At the theaties Madame Sarah Bernhardt con- tinues “ Varennes” until she leaves for Belgium. At the Gymnase “ Le Retour de Jérusalem” has held the pill for 200 performances, and M. Antoine has had great success with ‘ Oiseaux de Passage.” At the Gaite “La Montansier,” too, holds the bill until Madame Réjane’s departure, and at the Ambigu “ La Baillonnée” is another success for M. Decourcelles. The Porte St. Martin has put on “Blectra,” a Spanish play, and the Vaudeville “La Troisieme Lune.” On the occasion of the centenary of Georges Sand the Odéon will give a performance of the “ Démon du Foyer.” M. Ginisty has received permission from the Ministry to have a Georges Sand Exhibi- tion in the foyer of the theatre. There will be on view the most celebrated portraits of the great authoress, some sketches and water-colour paintings of hers, and various relics and souvenirs connected with her. At the Comédie Frangaise, for the centenary of Georges Sand, M. Jules Claretie has decided to give “ Claudie.” The piece which Madame Judith Gautier and M. Pierre Loti have written for Madame Sarah Bernhardt is entitled “Fille du Ciel.” It is a Chinese drama, and will be put on next season. China certainly seems to be in favour at present. The new play by Madame Fred Grésac and M. Paul Ferrier is a Chinese comedy entitled “La Troisicme Lune.” M. Maurice Bernhardt has dramatised the novel by M. Sienkiewicz, “Par le Fer et par le Feu.” This is to be put on next season at the Sarah Bernhardt Théitre with M. Huguenet in the role of Zagloba. Auys HALLARD. AUTHOR. 231 AUTHORS’ AGENTS. ———+— WW" have read, very naturally with interest, the able and well-considered paper pub- lished under this heading in the April issue. Upon several points we emphatically agree with G. H. T., but upon one or two others we should like to make a few observations, which might even be useful to members, and should be glad if you will kindly allow us space. That the methods of agents are of growing importance, authors will not dispute ; indeed, in the interests of literature a wider separation is desirable between the literary and commercial side of the matter than exists now ; doubtless this will eventually obtain, and therefore it is essential that those methods should be sound and beyond reproach, That to the beginner the agent can be of very little service we cannot quite accept. lar more than to the experienced and established writer (who has little difficulty in finding a market for his wares) is he of use to the novice. To the beginner, in fact, he can, and should be, a very material help. ‘The novice desires to enter a re- stricted, yet highly competitive field, the customs, methods and requirements of which he is almost absolutely ignorant, and in furthering his endeavour, an agent, cognisant of all these, is of the utmost value. Again, as a rule, the beginner is too apt to rush to pen and paper upon the least provocation, without fully considering the general interest, or publishing probabilities of his idea when developed, and in cases of this sort the ageat who knows his business and has the interests of his client at heart, can, by giving judicious counsel, save him much time, and spare him much disappointment and, moreover, often put him upon the right trend. The reason why nine-tenths of rejected MSS, are declined is that they are written without con- sideration, rhyme or reason. As you fairly point out, the business of a literary agent is not run upon philanthropic lines, but it is hardly necessary for him to give greater attention to authors who earn him a large income than to such whose return ig small. Work of very well-known authors sells automatically, is besought ; it is the work of lesser authors which in the placing requires skill, know- ledge, judgment and energy. When an author’s output is not large enough to pay an agent, he can scarcely expect the agent to make any particular effort on his behalf on commission alone, but if he pays a fee to an honest agent to cover specified work, he should be able to rely upon that work being done. In theselection of an agent, however, there are two important points upon which the author, whether established or not, needs to 232 exercise caution. He should never entrust his work to an agent unless he is confident, in the first place, that the man he employs conducts his general business with an entire absence of favouritism, and in the second place has no per- sonal misunderstandings with any publisher or editor. Agents cannot afford to have personal animosities against either. As to the rate of commission, we consider this more of a personal question, and one dependable upon particular/circumstances, which might safely be left to author and client. Amongst authors earning large incomes there are very few so “hopelessly unbusinesslike ” as to allow unfair, or disproportionate deductions from their profits ; moreover, it must not be forgotten that it is the agent who, generally speaking, finds the openings for the author. But that the agent should always keep the welfare of his clients well before him, is only a principle of common business honesty, and whenever he plays into the hands of a publisher he is guilty of a gross breach of trust. But in indicating a system under which the agent becomes financier as well, and buys work from impoverished authors with a view of selling at a large profit to himself, G. H. T. puts his finger upon a very evil practice. The system is varied by the moneylender-agent advancing sums against unwritten work, and in this way (as he takes care not to let the author get out of his debt by always having a pocket open to him) not only secures a continuance of the “agency” but receives an unjust rate of interest for the accommodation. The evils of this system are manifold. Generally speaking, carelessness in regard to money matters is an attribute of the literary temperament. In some cases extravagance leads to difficulties, and resort to the moneylender-agent, who like Barkis is always “ready and willin’,” becomes a necessity. The ultimate effect of this upon the author is financially disastrous ; to other authors for whom the moneylender-agent acts, but who do not require his financial assistance, it is unfair, since obviously he has a deeper interest in the man who is bound to him, and consequently exploits him further, whilst, what is of more consequence, the de- moralizing effect upon literature is even more disastrous. Instead of working for, art’s sake, and endeavouring to express the best that is in him, the involved author has to grind away at “pot boilers” in order to meet obligations he never succeeds in freeing himself from, There are certain publishers guilty of the same disre- putable practice, but whilst the system is at all times an immoral one, they occupy a position very different from agents. For ourselves we see no reason whatever why an agent should not werk in unison with the Authors’ THE AUTHOR. Society, and be an ardent supporter as well (indeed we consider the Society should have the support of all in any way concerned with literature and its production). If he is afraid to have his contracts and methods inspected by an authoritative body obviously he is not conducting his business upon honest lines. Upon the subject of contracts, especially the “‘ next-two-book ”’ clause, we should like to make a few remarks. ‘The position of the beginner is this. He is unknown, and has a book which he requires published without any risk to himself. The publishers who are at all likely to undertake’ this are few at the most. It is the publisher who is called upon to speculate in the venture, not the author, and it is he that dictates the terms of publication, and not the other, who can either accept or reject them. If he accepts, the book is published ; if he refuses, it is not. Harsh as existing conditions may seem—it must not be forgotten, however, that there is also the pub- lisher’s point of view—there they are, and an author, if he wishes to aim at fame and fortune must, until he is strong enough to make his own terms, accept them. Authors moreover should remember, what is frequently overfooked, that no book is absolutely necessary, that the world will still revolve if his song remains unsung, and to dictate terms to a publisher is in these days to incite his amusement. As to the “ next-two-book ” clause in particular, G. H. T. advises that no author should in any circumstances bind himself to a publisher for more than one book, but against this advice we must, with deference, again adduce our immediate argument—that until an author is strong enough to make his own terms he stands between accepting those of the publisher and being published, or refusing them and remaining in obscurity. A case came within our business not long since. A publisher—who does not enjoy the reputation of being the most generous in the trade—agreed to publish a first work on condition that he had the refusal of the next two. At the time, as a matter of fact, we advised the author not to sign. The publisher replied that those were his terms and could be taken or left. The author in question, anxious to secure publication, accepted, with the result that the book has boomed and gone already into a fourth edition, Now, if this author had declined these terms, from our experience and knowledge of the character of the work, we are certain no other publisher would have undertaken it; and if the author had not accepted them, instead of being established as a successful author, he would still be in obscurity and likely to remain there. It is perfectly true that he is tied to this publisher, upon not very liberal terms, for the THE AUTHOR. next two books, but on the other hand he has now a literary reputation which cost him nothing to achieve; he has even made an immediate cash profit through the achievement. There is also the publisher's point of view. Now that this author has made a reputation, through the publisher’s enter- prise, certain other publishers are very anxious to secure his future books, but the publisher in question speculated in the first instance, and after all it is only reasonable that he should reap the benefit of his enterprise instead of others who were prepared to risx nothing. In view, therefore, of the present conditions of publishing, we do not think that an author will be wise in all cases to follow the advice of G. H. T. upon this point. The difficulties of a new writer procuring first publication are becoming increasingly complex, and we do, not consider they are likely to be reduced by’ the novice attempting to dictate terms. We should not have the least objection to the sub- mission of an agreement of this or any character to the Society, but at the same time we should feel it incumbent upon ourselves fully to explain the novice’s position in the literary world of to-day. There is no profession the working arrangements of which can be regarded as altogether perfect, and since all are humanly exercised we doubt if there ever will be one. Certainly we do not think that G.H.T. is right in thinking that the ideal literary agent would be one who worked for a fair number of authors at a fixed annual sum. An agent is now remunerated by commissions upon orders which he secures. Naturally, his com- mission is the only inducement he has to obtain orders, and if his commission were compounded for an annual sum the inducement would be lost and the author the first to suffer. However conscien- tious the agent may be, it would be impossible for the author to obtain from him the same satisfactory results as he does when the agent’s profit depends entirely upon his successes. Spricc, Peprick & Co., Lrp., GALE PEDRICK, Managing Director. —_—__—_—_—<>_+—_—_- LEGAL NOTES. et Wuat’s In A Name? HE right of an author or of his assignee in the name which he has given to his book sometimes occasions inconvenience to another author who has selected a similar name for his own work ; and the law upon the subject is perhaps a little indefinite and is not always clearly under- stood. Whatever the precise nature of the right 233 may be, it is not easy for the writer of a new work to avoid infringing it, and a number of interesting suggestions have been made in The Author for pre- venting, by a scheme of registration, infringements from occurring in future. Obviously if the author can search in a complete register of book-names he will have a chance of avoiding for himself the inconvenience of a dispute arising out of his adoption of a title already used. The matter, therefore, divides itself naturally into a discussion of the existing state of things, and the definition, if possible, of the rights at present existing, and of the proposals made with a view to improvement in the future. here have not been many cases decided in the law courts with regard to the right to names of individual books, for reasons which are not difficult to guess at. On the other hand, there have been several where the names of periodical literary productions have been concerned. The selection of names for individual books lies with the author, and any confusion with the name of another is accidental on his part. The selection of names of magazines by publishers is done more or less deliberately. A name is chosen on account of the merit which it is believed to possess, and the chooser of it is usually aware of the existence of the rival publication. Where he has knowingly chosen a name which runs close to that used by another he naturally defends his choice. The author or publisher of a book usually withdraws in order to save trouble, if not for any other reason. The right to the name of a book is not copy- right, as has been frequently explained in he Author ; and the name is not atrademark. At the same time there is in a title a right which is capable of protection, and it is in some cases of importance to an author that it should be pro- tected. In others it is a source of great annoyance to an author when some brother writer endeavours to prevent him from using a name which he fancies in order to protect a work which is of no value, and which consequently needs no protection. At all events, there are two points of view from which the matter can be contemplated : that of the author of the formerly existing work and that of the author of the second or projected work. Most of the writers who have discussed the subject in 7'he Author have apparently found themselves in the latter class. With regard to the nature of the right. In Bradbury v. Beeton, 18 W. R. 33, a case in which the proprietors of Punch sought to protect their title against one which might have been confused with it, Vice-Chancellor Malins said: “The de- fendants have no right to use a name which is calculated to mislead or deceive the public in pur- chasing.” ‘I'his simple phrase sums up the law on the subject. No author has a right to deceive the 234 public or to injure his brother writer by using a title which may mislead persons who, wishing to buy the book of the latter, might find themselves purchasers of the book of the former. In Kelly v. Hutton, L. R. 3 Ch. 903, Lord Hatherley said that there was nothing analogous to copyright in the name of a newspaper, but that the proprietor had a right to prevent any other person from adopting the same name for any other publication. It has also been pointed out that, should a journal change its name, anyone can adopt the old name for another periodical, so long as he does not in any way hold out the latter to be in fact the former. In the dealings of ordinary commerce there is a protection afforded to the labels and wrappers or to the name of a well-known article of commerce which is not derived from the registration of a trademark. This offers a close parallel to the protection afforded to the title of a published book, and it would appear to be founded upon the same principles. Traders are not always honest, and are sometimes ready to “‘ pass off” their goods as the better-known goods of some other producer. The goods of the latter may be distinguished by a trademark, and this may be imitated, together with the general design and ‘“‘get-up” of the article sold. The injured party then proceeds to ask the Court to forbid the infringement of his trademark, and to forbid the goods of the rival being “ passed off” as his. In defence, the rival may assert that the trademark is one not properly upon the register and move to strike it off. If he fails in this, the plaintiff will be entitled to the full protection which he seeks, but even though upon this point the judge’s decision is adverse to the plaintiff, and the trademark is found to be one which should not be on the register, there may still be a decision in favour of the plaintiff upon the question of “passing off.” “No man has a right to pass off his goods as though they were the goods of another.” There can be no doubt as to this, but it is essential in a ‘passing off” case to prove where a trade name or wrapper or similar thing has been imitated that the name or thing sought to be protected is generally known as distinguishing the plaintiff's goods. It is enough to prove that the “ passing off” is likely to interfere with the sale of the plaintiff's goods ; it is not necessary to prove that it has in fact so interfered, or that it was intended to do so. In The Author of August, 1900, there was quoted an instructive case as to titles tried in America, where the University of Oxford obtained an injunction against an American publishing firm to stop them from bringing out a Bible entitled an‘ Oxford Bible: The Sunday School Teachers’ Edition.” The learned judge said with reference to the use of the name THE AUTHOR. Oxford and to the point taken that this was merely a place name: “But this word is part of the plaintiffs’ name, and as such has given name to the plaintiffs’ Bibles and has come to be a means of showing their origin. The defendant has no con- nection with the place or name, and this use of the name by the defendant can be for no purpose: but to represent the defendant’s Bibles as coming from the plaintiffs.” Of course the intentional use of the name made this instance worse, but it was not essential, andi the case is otherwise interesting as showing the: grounds on which the injunction was granted. This, therefore, it is submitted, is the legal position = that A. must not take for his book the name used by B. so as to have his (A.’s) book mistaken for B.’s. Probably in a great majority of the cases. where an author of a new book is attacked by the author of an old one because he has published, or has let it be known that he is going to publish, a work under the name used for the old one, the- author of the old book could suffer no damage, as. nobody ever heard of his book, or everyone has. forgotten it, and nobody could mistake the new one for the old. In a great majority of these- cases A. can snap his fingers at B. if he chooses to- do so, so far as any action at law is concerned. In practice, however, he may not like to run the risks,. or if he does not mind doing so, his publisher is nervous, and declines to go on unless the name is. changed. From the other point of view, the author: who sees that another writer is going to bring out a book with a name which he has used for a book. which is in circulation has a legal right to prevent this being done, andit would be difficult to show that he is not perfectly justified in protecting his own pro- perty. When he is merely bluffing or asserting for his. deceased work a claim to fame which it does not possess, the question has to be decided whether he- is to be treated with contempt or humoured. If I appear tohave minimised the danger or the annoyance- arising from the question of a used title, it is only because I think that to someextent it is exaggerated by writers on the subject in The Author. I have myself suffered from the nuisance, as I had to change the name of a novel, after it had been: announced in advance, because the writer of a. short story having the title I had chosen, declared that she was bringing out, or was thinking of bringing out, a volume of tales in which that par- ticular short story (for which she had used the name- I had chosen) would figure as the first item, giving its name to the book. My publisher was desirous. of treating a lady with courtesy, and of avoiding controversy, 80 my name was changed, although the: first pages were already set, and although we agreed that the other author had no legal right to stop us and could not have succeeded in any action brought. THE AUTHOR. with that intention. My book is as dead now as a doornail. I certainly should have no right to prevent anyone from using the title I ultimately chose, and I should not try to do so. With regard to the question what amount of circulation or “life” a book should have in order to enable its author or the owner of its copyright to prevent a new book from being published under the same name, it is difficult to find or to suggest any definite rule. I would submit, however, that a book discoverable in the bulky “ Publishers’ Catalogue of Current Literature” would be entitled to protec- tion, and that a book not to be found in that and never heard of by the author of the new work, or by his publisher or the publisher’s reader, would probably be held to be entitled to none. I have said nothing about such titles as “Tom Jones” or “Qlarissa Harlowe,” which someone suggested. No author or publisher would be responsible for a new book so named, and no bookseller would sell it. I propose in a future article to discuss the remedies suggested for the existing state of things. The suggestions have been principally made in order that the author of a new book may know whether his proposed title has been used before. BE. A. ARMSTRONG. —___—_——_—>_+___ MUSICAL COPYRIGHT BILL. —_+—~ + — As AMENDED BY THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON Law.—Printep, March 24, 1904. Arrangement of Clauses. 1. Offences. », Power to apprehend persons committing offences under Act. 3. Appeal to quarter sessions. 4. Alternative procedure by production of true copy of entry of copyright, 5. Search warrant and seizure of pirated music. G. All copies and plates seized to be brought before court. 7, As to forfeiture and destruction of copies and plates seized. 8. Penalties. 9. Recovery of penalties. 10. Interpretation. 11. Short title. 12. Registration of copyright and date of first publication. 13. Commencement and application of Act. 14, Application to Scotland. 15. Saving for foreign copyright. Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of 235 the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :— 1. Any person who— (1) Prints, or causes or procures to be printed, any pirated musical work ; (2) distributes or carries about any copies of any pirated musical work for the purpose of sale, or of being dealt with in the course of trade ; (3) sells, or causes or procures to be sold, or exposes for sale, or offers or keeps for sale, or solicits orders by post or otherwise, for any copies of any pirated musical work; - (4) is found in the possession of any copies of any pirated musical work or the plates thereof for any of the purposes above mentioned ; shall be deemed to have committed an offence under this Act if it be proved to the satisfaction of the court that he knew that— (a) such musical work was pirated ; (b) or that such plates were the plates of pirated musical works. 2. It shall be lawful for any police constable, on the request in writing of the owner of the copyright or of his agent thereto authorised in writing, and on the production to such constable of a copy of the entry of such copyright in the book of registry certified under the hand of the officer appointed by the Stationers’ Company, and impressed with the stamp of the said company, in terms of the Copy- right Act, 1842, and at the risk of such owner, to take into custody, without warrant, any person who, within view of such police constable in any public place, or place to which the public have access on payment or otherwise, commits an offence under this Act, and whose name and address shall be unknown to and cannot be ascertained by such constable. 3. If any person feels aggrieved by any convic- tion made by a court of summary jurisdiction for an offence against this Act, he may appeal there- from to a court of quarter sessions where the fine imposed exceeds forty shillings, or the value of the articles seized exceeds forty shillings. 4, Whenever a certified and stamped copy of an entry of a copyright in the book of registry is required by this Act to be produced to any person, it shall be sufficient if instead of such production a true copy thereof is given to and left with such person. 5.—(1) Where on the information upon oath by the owner of the copyright in any musical work, or of his agent authorised thereto in writing, of an offence under this Act, a court of summary juris- diction is satisfied that there are reasonable 236 grounds for believing that pirated copies of such musical work specified in such informatior, or the plates thereof, are being kept for purposes con- stituting an offence under this Act, and are to be found in or upon any house, premises, or place within its jurisdiction, the court may, by warrant, authorise any police constable named and referred to in such warrant to enter such house, premises, or place at any time between the hours of nine in the morning and six in the afternoon, and to search for and seize and carry away such copies and plates. (2) The court may, if it appears necessary, empower the constable named in such warrant with such assistance as may be found necessary to use “force for the effecting of such entry as aforesaid, whether by breaking open doors or otherwise. 6. All copies of musical works and _ plates thereof so seized shall be brought before a court of summary jurisdiction for the purpose of its being determined in accordance with the provisions here- inafter contained whether the same are or are not liable to forfeiture and destruction under this Act. 7.—(1) As soon as may be after any copies of pirated musical work, or plates thereof, shall have been brought before a court of summary juris- diction under the provisions of this Act or the Musical (Summary Proceedings) Copyright Act, 1902 (in this Act referred to as “the Act of 1902’), the owner of the copyright, or his agent thereto authorised in writing, shall, if the person alleged to have been dealing with such copies or plates, or to have been in possession thereof under such circumstances as to constitute an offence under this Act, is known or can be found, apply to the court to issue a summons to such person to show cause why the same should not be furfeited and destroyed, and the court may issue such summons accordingly, and on the hearing of the summons may order that the said copies and plates or any part thereof be forthwith forfeited and destroyed, or be otherwise dealt with as the court may think fit. (2) If such person is unknown or cannot be found an information or complaint shall be laid by or on behalf of the owner of the copyright, or by his agent thereto authorised in writing, or on behalf of the police, for the purpose only of enforcing the forfeiture and destruction of such copies and plates, and the court may without summons, on proof that the musical work to which the copies or plates seized relate is pirated, or that such copies or plates were in the possession of such person under such circumstances as to constitute an offence under this Act, order such copies or plates or any of them to be forfeited and destroyed at the expiration of a period of two months from the making of such order, unless within the said THE AUTHOR. period some person alleging himself to be the person in whose possession the copies or plates were found, or to be the owner of the copies or plates to which such order relates, or of any part thereof, shall attend before such court and shall lodge a claim in writing to such copies or plates or any part thereof, and stating therein his true name and address, and shall thereupon apply to the said court to issue a summons (which the said court shall upon such application issue) to the person claiming to be the owner of the copyright, to show cause why the same should not be given up to him. (8) If such applicant at the hearing of the said summons establishes to the satisfaction of the court his claim to have the whole or any part of such copies or plates given up to him, the court may make an order to that effect, but at the expiration of the said period of two months, or, if a claim is then pending, on the determination of such claim, all the said copies or plates (if any) referred to in the original order of the court, and not given up as aforesaid, shall be forfeited and destroyed or be otherwise dealt with as the court may think fit, and thereafter no person shall be entitled to any compensation or redress in respect of such forfeiture and destruction. 8. Every person who shall commit an offence under this Act shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five shillings for each copy and five pounds for each plate in respect of which the offence was committed, provided the whole fines inflicted on any one offender in respect of the same offence shall not exceed twenty pounds. 9. All fines under this Act shall be recoverable and applied, and any act or thing authorised to be done by or in a court of summary jurisdiction shall be done under the provisions of the Summary Jurisdiction Acts in England, Scotland and Ireland respectively. : 10. In this Act the several expressions to which meanings are assigned by the Act of 1902 have the same respective meanings. The expression “ plates” includes any stereotype or other plates, stones, or matrixes or negatives used for the purpose of printing or reproducing copies of any pirated musical work, 11. This Act may be cited as the Musical Copy- right Act, 1904, and this Act and the Act of 1902 may be cited together as the Musical Copyright Acts, 1902 and 1904, and shall be construed together as one Act. 12. On and after the commencement of this Act the proprietor of the copyright in any musical composition first published after the commencement of this Act, or his assignee, shall print, or cause to be printed, upon the title page of every published copy of such musical composition the date of the first publication thereof, and otherwise this Act and the Act of 1902 shall not apply. 13.—(1) This Act shall come into operation on the first day of October one thousand nine hundred and four, and shall extend to and apply in the Isle of Man as well as to and in the United Kingdom. (2) In the application of this Act to the Isle of Man all penalties recoverable under this Act and all Acts by this Act or the Act of 1902 authorised to be done by or in any court of summary juris- diction may be recovered or done before or by a high bailiff or two justices of the peace. 14. In the application of this Act to Scotland, the following provisions shall have effect. :— (1) All jurisdiction necessary for the purpose of this Act is hereby conferred on sheriffs : (2) In section five hereof the words “order (in which atime and place of hearing shall be named)” shall be substituted for the word “summons,” and the words “ after parties have been heard at such time and place as may be named in the order” for the words “on the hearing of the sum- mons,” and “at the hearing of the said summons”; and the words ‘“ without summons” in said section five (subsection two) shall not apply. 15. In any case to which an Order in Council under the International Copyright Acts applies in respect of musical copyright an_ extract from a register or a certificate or other document stating the existence of the copyright, or the person who is the proprietor of such copyright, if authenticated as directed by the seventh section of the Inter- national Copyright Act, 1886, may be deposited with the officer appointed by the Stationers’ Com- pany for the purposes of the Copyright Act, 1842 ; and the deposit of such extract, certificate, or document, and the registration of such extract, certificate, or document, on the books of the registry kept under the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1842, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be the registration of a copyright within the meaning of the Copyright Act, 1842, and the owner of such copyright, or the person who, under the said section, is authorised for the purpose of any legal proceedings in the United Kingdom, and is deemed to be entitled to such copyright, shall, for the purposes of this Act, have all the rights and be subject to all the liabilities conferred and imposed on the owner of a copyright registered under the Copyright Act, 1842, or his authorised agent, and a true copy of such extract, certificate, or document may be given to and left with any person, Whenever a certified and stamped copy of an entry of a copyright in the book of registry is required by this Act to be produced to such person, THE AUTHOR. 237 ENGLISH IN THE MAKING.* —_. <4 —_ HE knowledge of language and the study of English, ought to be to the author what the mixing of colours and the study of technique is to the artist. There are some artists who delight to boast their ignorance of technique. Their cult is small. Unfortunately there are many authors who attempt to write without any studied knowledge of language and the use of words. They do not make a boast of their ignorance. They are not cognisant of it. Nor are the semi-educated public who read their works. It is essential from time to time that a seer (in its original sense) should step forth and proclaim as Mr. Bradley has done in his book the causes by which the more remarkable changes in the language were brought about, and the effect which these changes have had on its fitness as an instrument for the expression of thought. He commences with a chapter on the making of English grammar. He continues by showing the extraordinary influence of foreign tongues upon the formation of the language. How the words of one tongue have been accepted, of another rejected without, in some cases, apparent reason. Then follows the process of word-making in England after English had become a settled speech, and lastly, chapters on the changes of meaning, and some makers of English. ~ To the author who would be an artist in language the last chapters are the most important. To know the right meaning of a word and its proper application, is half-way to the writing of clear and forceful English. The book does not deal with the subject exhaustively. Yet it may suffice to sow the good seed, and the seed in some cases may bring forth the good fruit. On this hope the book is recom- mended to all. —__—___+—<—_+—___———_ A ROUND STONE OR TWO. (EMBEDDED IN A Book.) —- + — «Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” Old Proverb, N a terse preface of justification Miss Findlater asserts (with a ‘‘ venture”) that such dwellers may : at least it is their privilege to throw a few. Then with well-considered aim from the honourable interior of her own glass Fiction-House, * “The Making of English,” by Henry Bradley. Pub- lished by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. + “Stones from a Glass House,” by Jane Helen Findlater (James Nisbet & Co., 68.). .238 this novelist-critic proceeds to throw her stones straight from the shoulder—in eleven fairly hard- “hitting chapters. To be plain, Miss Findlater considers that the writer of fiction must know more than the mere reader of it, about the merits or defects of a story. ‘To have attempted to write fiction is to know its difficulties; and a realisation of these gives at once more leniency and more severity to criticism. The novelist will always judge technical faults severely ; because he knows that it is generally possible to avoid such blemishes by care and skill. But he will always be more merciful than the novel reader in judging faults of conception, knowing, as every writer does, that this is a matter over which the writer has very little control. The novelist has a further excuse for writing about novels—that no one can write about them with the same deep interest.” Miss Findlater says she has tried to treat some of our present-day fiction in a synthetic manner, so as to show the cause, development, and tendencies of each group of books. The present state of book reviewing is, she considers, extremely unsatis- factory. ‘Criticism, from being practised by the few and competent, has become a trade carried on by the many and singularly unfit. The first and most glaring defect in modern criticism is its tendency to over-praise. ‘I'o spoil our authors by injudicious praise is quite as bad as, if not worse than, crushing, or trying to crush them by over- severity ; in either case the goose that lays golden eggs for a greedy public may be killed ; there is, however, a refinement of cruelty in the modern method of author-murder decidedly reminiscent of the butt of Malmsey. There should be a standard of art in the mind of every real critic by which we can measure the stature of each applicant for fame. The true critic is the author’s best friend. Moderate praise, temperate adjectives, a degree of fault-finding, and,a sympathetic appreciation for what is attempted as well as what is accomplished, these are the signs of the true critic. Reviewers have two snares laid ready for their unwary feet: they are apt either to hail some new-comer who is not a genius as if he were one; or they entirely fail to discern genius when they encounter it. It is always possible, however, to compare the scope of a new writer with that of his predecessors, however widely separated the form in which he finds expression may be from the models of other days. Does he touch life at as many points as they did? Is he as true to nature as they were ? It is on these things and not on the perpetually changing element of form that a writer’s claim to greatness must eventually rest. And until the critics realise this, that a book with small ideas cannot be great, and that greatness must be sought for in the constitution of a book, its essential ideas, THE AUTHOR. not till then will reviewing be other than it is,” “As Compared with Excellence” is the title of this excellent chapter on criticism and reviewing, Pressure on space prevents further quotation from this very interesting and thoughtfully written “Essay in criticism”’: it is well worth a careful perusal, $$ —_ MAGAZINE CONTENTS. 9 THE BOOKMAN, Cardinal Newman, THE CONTEMPORARY. The Nestor of Living English Poets. By T. Churton Collins. ; THE CORNHILL. How I traced Charles Lamb in Hertfordshire. Rev. Canon Ainger. Historical Mysteries. V. The Case of Elizabeth Canning. By Andrew Lang. THE FORTNIGHTLY, A French King’s Hunting Book. By W. and F. Baillie- Grohman. R. D. Blackmore and His Work. A Plea for a Reformed Theatre. thorpe. By the By James Baker, By Mrs, B. A. Cracken- HARPER’S. The Primitive Book. By Henry Smith Williams, LL.D. THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW. “ The Life of John Bunckle, Esq.” By John Fyvie. MACMILLAN’S MAGAZINE. The English Theatre. By G, G. Compton, THE MONTHLY REVIEW. Literature and History. By C. Litton Falkiner, THE NATIONAL REVIEW. Huxley. By Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B. THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. The State and Scientific Research. By Sir Michael Foster, K.C.B. Against a Subsidised Opera. By Hugh Arthur Scott, Lord Acton’s Letters. By The Right Honble. Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff, G.S,C.I. THe PALL MALL MAGAZINE. The Country of George Meredith. By William Sharp, More Avowals. By George Moore, TEMPLE BAR. “T Seminatori :” A Translation from D’Annunzio. A, H, Clay. By THE WORLD'S WORK. Edward Elgar: His Career and his Genius, By Rose Newmarch. Continental Armies in Current Fiction. By Chalmers «Roberts, 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 sbould 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- duetion forms a part without the strictest investigation. (2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise- ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements. (3.) Not to allow a special charge for “ office expenses,” unless the same allowance is made to the author. (4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental rights. (5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights. (6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher. As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or doctor ! III. The Royalty System. 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 isnow possible for an author to ascertain approximately the truth. From time to time very important figures connected with:royalties are published in Zhe Author. 1V. 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. Allother 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. Weare 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, —___—_+—>_+—______—- WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. gg EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the Secrétary 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. 239 3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays in three or more acts :— (a.) Sale outright of the performing right. This is unsatisfactory. An author who enters into such a contract should stipulate in the 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 inadvance 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 (‘.c.. 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 (.) 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. OO WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS. 1 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 240 should be especially careful therefore when entering into an agreement, and should take into particular consideration the warnings stated above. —__—_—_—_+—<>—_+____—_- HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. — 1 1. VIERY member has a right to ask for and to receive advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub- lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his business or the administration of his property. 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 Society. 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 no 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 haye 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. ‘I'he 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) J'o 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. ~ This The 8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. must be done within fourteen days of first execution. Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members. 9. Some agents endeayour to preyent 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 £1 4s. per annum, or £10 10s for life membership. THE AUTHOR. THE READING BRANCH. —_ +o EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this 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. ee 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 Zhe 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. Ne ee aE SEED 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. Oe 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 Bunk of London, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered letter only. : LEGAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. —— ENSIONS to commence at any selected age, pP either with or without Life Assurance can be obtained from this socieiy. Full particulars can be obtained from the City Branch Manager, Legal and General Life Assurance Society, 158, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C. AUTHORITIES. eps N last month’s Author we stated that the J Masical Copyright Bill had passed the second reading in the House of Commons, had been referred to the Standing Committee on Law, had been amended by the Standing Committee after the hearing of evidence, and printed as amended. Some time has elapsed since this took place, and the Bill is no further advanced. We wonder whether it will meet the fate of all modern copy- right legislation, and be shelved to give place to measures which have a closer influence on party votes. In another column we publish the Bill as amended. Tur following letter has been forwarded to the Authors’ Society. We have much pleasure in giving it prominence :— 3rd May, 1904, * We believe that the friends of the late Sir Leslie Stephen would wish to give some outward expression of their affec- tion and regard for him, It has been suggested that in the first instance an engraving should be made of the portrait by Mr. G. F. Watts, R.A., and that copies should be presented to the London Library, to the Atheneum Club, to Harvard University, to Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and to other institutions with which Sir Leslie Stephen was closely associated. Mr. Sidney Colvin has kindly undertaken to superintend the execution of the work. The proposal is warmly approved by Sir Leslie Stephen’s family. It would be convenient if subscriptions and communica- tions be forwarded to Mr. Sidney Lee, 108, Lexham Gardens, Kensington, London, W. GEORGE MEREDITH. JAMES BRYCE. FREDERIC HARRISON, HENRY JAMES. A, C. LYALL. JOHN MORLEY. One of the members of the Society forwarded a poem to the editor of a well-known weekly religious paper. The editor as he was bound to do in cases where no payment is made, wrote to the author before publication, stating the fact, and was informed in answer that the member did not desire any remuneration. The writer was therefore all the more astonished to see his poem reproduced in the paper with one verse deliberately cut out. Considerable margin is very often given to editors in dealing with ephemeral matters in daily and even in weekly papers; but it is doubtful whether in a magazine, or in the case of literary work which, like a poem, is complete in itself, THE AUTHOR. 241 the editor ever takes the liberty of acting in the manner set forth above. Yet one other instance comes to mind: Does not Mr. Oliver Wendell Holmes state in “The Autocrat of the Breakfast Table,” that he was commissioned by the committee of a certain society to write a poem for a festive gathering? He accordingly gave full praise to wine, and the pleasure of “ quaffing the flowing bowl,” and was astonished to find his poem reproduced with various alterations, owing to the fact that the society was a temperance society. In the book, the full poem with corrections, is printed. Such a mistake might justify the editor or the society in refusing the poem, but, surely, not in making the alterations. ONE of the daily papers has been much interested in the number of different nouns of multitude used in the English language, for the differentiation of animals and men, but the writers of the paragraphs seems to be unaware that a full list is given in one of the earliest books on sport, entitled “The Boke of St. Alban’s,” of which the first edition appeared in 1486, and the last in 1881. It is one of the most prized treasures of the older authors. bibliophile, containing treatises on hawking, hunt- ing, and coat-armour, mostly compilations from Out of the whole list we print a few examples which may prove of interest to some of our members. Herde of Swannys. Herde of Cranys. Herde of Harlottys. Bevy of Ladies. Bevy of Roos (Roes). Bevy of Quaylis. Sege of Heronnys. Mustre of Pecockys. Congregation of Peple (people). Hoost of Men. Fflight of Doves. Route of Knyghtis (Knights). Pride of Lionys (Lions). Sleuth of Beeris (Bears). Litter of Wellpis (Weips). Kyndyll of Yong Cattis (Kittens). Dryft of Tame Swyne. Harrosse of Horses. Rago of Coltis Rakoe \ (Colts). Trippe of Hares. Gagle of Geese. Brode of Hennys (Hens). Bedelyng of Dokis (Ducks). Scole of Clerks. Doctryne of Doctoris. Fightyng of Beggars. Drifte of Fishers. Rage of Maidenys (Maidens). Rafult of Knavys (Knaves). A Blush of Boys. Covy of Partriches. Desserte of Lapwyng. Fatt of Woodcockis. Congregation of Plevers. Swarme of Bees. Cast of Hawkis. Flight of Goshawks. Flight of Swallows. Teldyno of Rookes. Shrewdenes of Apis. 242 A Nest of Rabbettis. A Pontifacalite of Pre- A Mute of Houndes. latis. A Kenet of Rachis. A Dignyte of Chanonys A Soundre of wilde (Canons). A Discretion of Prestis. A Rascalt of Boyes. A Blast of hunters. A Disworship of Scottis. Swyne. A Chase of Assis. A Multiplieng of Hus- bondis. At the request of the Marquess-of Lansdowne, an interesting return of the financial support given from State or Municipal Funds to dramatic, operatic, or musical performances in foreign countries, has been made by the various repre- sentatives of His Majesty in Europe, North and South America, and Cairo. It would appear that in nearly all countries such assistance is given—sometimes out of the Sovereign’s purse, as in Germany, sometimes out of the Government Funds, and not infrequently out of municipal funds. Support is given in various forms—by giving sites for theatres, by actually maintaining theatres at municipal or Government cost, or by paying the deficit in the annual statement of certain theatres. The two countries that do not appear to con- tribute in any way to operatic or dramatic perform- ances, are the United States and Great Britain, and the country which contributes most is France. Four national theatres in France occupy without payment the buildings in which they are situated, subject to certain not very onerous conditions, and Parliament grants annually a subsidy fixed some years since at the following figures :—800,000 frances (£32,000) for the Opera ; 300,000 frances (£12,000) for the Opera Comique ; 240,000 frances (£9,600) for the Theatre Francais; and 100,000 francs (£4,000) for the Odeon. In Belgium the subsidy seems to be granted, not merely to the performances, but also to the com- posers of musical and dramatic works. They are entitled to certain grants on those works which have passed successfully a committee appointed by the Government. In no other country does it appear that the subsidies are paid direct to the author or the composer. As, however, the work is bound to be written by a Belgian, they will not benefit the writers of any other country. The return has been collected in order to enable the Government to arrive at some conclusion on the question of the national opera or national drama for Great Britain, and will afford very favourable evidence for those who have been agitating in the matter. THE AUTHOR. Str Henry M. Sranuey died on May 10th at his town residence, Richmond Terrace, Whitehall, With regret we chronicle the decease of one of the most distinguished explorers of modern times, In this character his first claim to fame was his finding of Livingstone in 1874, and his last the famous leadership of the expedition for the relief of Emin Pasha in 1885. His literary labours consisted mainly of the volumes written after his great journeys, though in his early days he had done considerable work as a journalist in New York. He had been a member of the Society for some years, no doubt prompted by a sympathetic feeling for his fellow authors, as he did not utilise the benefits of the society to any great extent. —_r-— MISS ELEANOR A. ORMEROD, LL.D.* — oe PYNHE Life of Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, edited by Mr. Robert Wallace, has just been pub- lished by Mr. John Murray. It is the record of a life devoted to the benefit of her fellow creatures. Mr. Wallace calls her an “Economic Entomologist.” This is a_ highly technical description of the talented lady. Born of a good old Gloucestershire family, she was devoted from her childhood to the science of Natural History. As she grew in years she turned her knowledge to practical use for the good of others. She studied how she could remedy the many ills brought by insect pests to the farmer’s crops. Her work was carried on with untiring unselfishness, and with the greatest modesty. The book, which is a record of that work, is full of interest on account of the strong personality of the subject. The letters that Miss Ormerod wrote for the benefit of those who suffered were very numerous, and the subjects she dealt with brought her into correspondence with many of the best known scientists of the last century. Through her life she obtained much recognition of her untiring and useful work. She was presented with Gold Medals from the Royal Horticultural Society in 1900, and University of Moscow in 1872, and Silver Medals from the Royal Horticultural Society for Collection of Economic Entomology in 1870, Société Nationale d’Acclimatation de France Entomologie Appliquée in 1899, Inter- national Health Exhibition, London in 1884, Moscow Polytechnic Exhibition in 1872, and was the first woman to receive the honour of LL. D. of the University of Edinburgh. * Eleanor Ormerod, LL.D., Economic Entomologist, Autobiography and Correspondence, Edited by Robert (John Murray.) Wallace, THE AUTHOR. The Society of Authors, acknowledging her dis- tinction in the work which she had made her own, endeavoured also to show its recognition of the value of her studies. In the year 1896, twelve years after the foundation of the Society, it was decided to elect ladies us members of the Council. In order to show the wide extent of the Society’s work in all branches of Literature, the Committee desired to appoint some lady whose scientific researches and literary reputation would entitle her to this position. The lady best qualified was Miss Eleanor Ormerod, and her qualifica- tions were so great as to exclude all other com- petitors. She was unanimously elected a member swith five others—Mrs. Oliphant, Miss Charlotte M. Yonge, Mrs. Lynn Lynton, Mrs. Humphry Ward, and Miss Flora Shaw (Lady Lugard) the first lady members of the Council of the Society. —_—_______s—_<—_2__—__—_ FROM FAR WESTERN CANADA. eee HERE is no doubt plenty of the raw material of literature in British Columbia. But for the most part it is very raw, and accessible only to the adventurous. The wildest, the most picturesque, and the richest in natural resources of all the provinces of the Dominion of Canada, it is at the same time the most westerly. It fronts on the Pacific, and, therefore, is farthest away from such stores of literature, art, and learning as Canada possesses. To some extent, therefore, the conditions are disadvantageous. A belt of country on either side of the Canadian Pacific Railway has been written about with great assiduity, so that the traveller now knows what to expect after he has passed the vast expanse of the North-West prairies and begins to approach the inaccessible and snow-capped Rockies and Selkirks. | But those grand and silent barriers once passed and British Columbia entered, the explorer cannot fail to feel that he has come to a new region. The feeling will be accentuated, if with knapsack and gun on shoulder, he wanders away from the main avenue of traffic, through a land of mountains, lakes, streams, deer, bears, Indians, mountain goats, and scattered mining and ranching opera- tions. As the Switzerland of the Dominion, it has 400,000 square miles against Switzerland’s 16,000, and against the 121,000 of the United Kingdom. Its population of less than 200,000 persons, 28,000 of whom are Indians, and 14,000 Chinese, are chiefly occupied (with the exception of these interesting aliens and aborigines), in pushing their fortunes in mining, agriculture, fishing, ranching, lumbering, and politics. They are all, so to speak, up to the neck in natural resources the most splendid and various. The 243 waters teem with fish, the soil is astonishingly productive, there is gold and copper in the hills, and the timber in the forests is of appalling magnificence. But, Tantalus-like, many of these pioneers are unable to take advantage of the wealth around them. The day has yet to come in British Columbia when the necessary capital for operations is bestowed with a wise and liberal hand. At the present time the astute financier of the United States is awaking to the unrivalled opportunities of the country, and cutting out the more elephantine Croesus of Britain. ‘The difference between them is that the American looks after his money and sees that it is put to good use, while the Britisher flings abroad his gold and lets it look after itself. It will be readily gathered that in a country of this kind, there is not much call for literature of the higher kind. There is a great sale of the ten-cent magazines of the United States. There would be an equally good sale of English periodicals if the postal arrangements of the United Kingdom were not so absurdly restrictive. Something lurid and dramatic in the way of a story is as much appreciated here as it is in other unformed and rudimentary communities, and the publishers of Toronto, as well as of the United States, supply us with a continuous succession of fresh literary mushrooms put up in the most taking style. It must, however, be allowed that there is a saving: remnant of cultured people who are glad to hear: the distant echoes of a life they once enjoyed, and who are the pioneers of art and literature in the midst of a life that is almost entirely devoted to subduing the earth and the pursuit of the dollar. The praiseworthy efforts that are being made by the Province in the cause of primary, and. to a small extent in secondary education, give room for the hope that its percentage of intelligent readers will ultimately not be less than that of Hastern Canada. Also, the library at the really fine Legislative Buildings at Victoria is much more “literary” than might be expected, and there is a Carnegie library in the city of Vancouver, con- taining a few works on history and science, and: — many volumes of fiction that are already redolent of microbes from frequent perusal. Besides, there are writers. The newspaper Press is far better than could be expected. British. Columbia has in E. Clive Philipps-Wolley a poet who, in his “Songs of an English Esau,” has shown that he possesses the divine gift in no small, measure, and who has also written a number of clever novels. Mrs. L. A. Le Fevre has written a creditable little book of verse, and she appears. also on the pages of Lord Dufferin’s very interesting volume to the memory of his talented mother.. Mrs. Julia W. Henshaw has written several novels. 244 besides many magazine articles. Mr. R. E. Gosnell, formerly Government Librarian and now Secretary of the Bureau of Provincial Information, is the author of the most important current standard work on the position and resources of the Province, as well as many cognate articles. He is also en- gaged on a Life of Sir James Douglas, the first Governor of the Province, The names of Agnes Deans Cameron, Isabel A. R. Maclean, and J. Gordon Smith, are on the list of those British Columbians who are doing honourable service with their pens ; and there may he others that a wider- sweeping or narrower-meshed net than the present writer is casting, might gather in. But even the briefest survey of things literary in British Columbia would be incomplete that did not mention the work of Father A. G. Morice, O.M.I., a French missionary-priest, who began his work among the Déné Indians of the interior in 1885. In addition to making a language for the Dénés, which he has reduced to written phonetic signs, he has contributed many philological papers and articles on aboriginal manners and customs to the proceedings of scientific societies. He is now engaged on a history of British Columbia, treating especially of its early days under the Hudson’s Bay régime, and the publication of this important work may be looked for during the present year. It is understood that it will contain much informa- tion from original sources, and that in some of its conclusions it will contradict the statements of former historians. Father Morice is possibly the only author of this continent who makes a practice of printing his own works. This was forced upon him in the first instance by the fact that he was too many miles, by forest trail, from any printer’s, to be able to avail himself of expert assistance in making and setting up the strange shorthand- looking type from which the Déné prayer books are printed. He therefore had his printing outfit “packed” out to the distant settlement and accomplished the typography with his own hands, Lying before me as I write is a very neatly-printed pamphlet of 74 pages, which the worthy Father set up and “worked off,” entirely unaided. It is entitled “A First Collection of Minor Essays, mostly Anthropological, by Rev. Father A. G. Morice, O.M.I., Hon. Mem. Philological Society of Paris, and of the Natural History Society of British Columbia, Corresponding Mem., Canadian Insti- tute, and the Geographical Society, Neufchatel.” Mrs. Julia W. Henshaw, whose name I have already mentioned, is at work on “A Book of Mountain Flowers,” which, when it is published, will be highly prized by those who are awake to the beauty and paramount interest of the western mountains from Alaska to the Sierras, Mrs. Henshaw is an expert in photography, and she is THE AUTHOR. making a most comprehensive collection of photo- graphs of the various plants im situ, which, of course involves much intrepid climbing. There is probably no one so well furnished for this task as this clever journalist. She has had much expe- rience in the mountains, and is an ardent sports- woman and a keen observer. Bernarp McEyoy. ———_-——_> _____. THE BLACKMORE MEMORIAL. a, E regret that an account of the unveiling of the Blackmore Memorial in Exeter Cathedral was too late for insertion in the May number of The Author. An event so full of interest to members of the Society cannot pass unchronicled. No one could have had better qualifications for the duty than Mr, Phillpotts. He has long been known as a sincere writer on, and chronicler of the beauties of Devonshire. ‘To no one, therefore, would Mr. Blackmore’s work appeal more warmly. John Ridd, Davy Llewellyn, the Doone Valley, and the Bideford district must be to Mr. Phillpotts familiar faces and familiar places, so that his address was bound to come from the heart, and be touched with the same spirit which fired the author of “Lorna Doone” and “ The Maid of Sker.” Mr. James Baker, another member of the Society, had heen acting as Chairman of the Com- mittee and Mr. R. B. Marston as Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer of the Fund. The Memorial took the shape of a tablet with a bas-relief head of the author and a stained-glass window. The marble tablet with the portrait was executed by Mr. Harry Hems, of Exeter, and is a good likeness. The window portraying the character of John Ridd was largely given by Mr. Perey Bacon. The corrected wording of the tablet is as follows :— This Tablet and the window above area tribute of admiration and affection to the memory of RICHARD DoDDRIDGE BLACKMORE, M.A., Son of the Rey. John Blackmore, Educated at Blundell’s School, Tiverton, and Exeter College, Oxford (Scholar). Barrister of the Middle Temple, 1852. Author of “Lorna Doone,” * Springhaven,” and other works. Born at Longworth, Berks, 7 June, 1825, Died at Teddington, Middlesex, 20 June, 1900. “Insight, and humour, and the rhythmic roll Of antique lore, his fertile fancies sway'd And with their various eloquence array’d, His sterling English, pure and clean and whole,” * He added Christian courtesy,and the humility of all thoughtful minds, to a certain grand, and glorious gift of radiating humanity.” Crapock NOWELL. pom val NO Sige | pod eh THE AUTHOR. The great nave of the Cathedral was filled with visitors from all parts of the kingdom when Dean Earle, Bishop of Marlborough, the Bishop of Crediton, the Chapter and Choir passed in pro- cession to the north-west door, where the monu- ment is erected. Mr. Eden Philpotts here gave his eloquent address upon Blackmore as a writer and as a man, and then unveiled the monument and window. The Dean, in an interesting speech, recalled the literary memories of the Cathedral, and eulogised the work of Blackmore. Mr. James Baker followed, referring to the elevating power of Blackmore’s writing, and thanked all, American and English, who have helped forward the work of the Committee. The special service, including the collect written by the Dean for the occasion, was then proceeded with, and at its conclusion the Dean welcomed the friends of Mr. Blackmore at the Deanery, giving an opportunity for hearing many a reminiscence of Blackmore and his work. —_—_——_——_—__—_+—____——_ POSTAL RATES. ——_——+— A CANADIAN GRIEVANCE. S in the United States, so in England, the question of Postal Rates has been brought prominently forward. The Committee of the Society, the Publishers’ Association, and the Chamber of Commerce have used their influence with but poor effect as far as British Postal Rates are concerned. Yet the point raised would appear to be more than a mere question of authors’ and publishers’ rights, and of the best way of marketing their wares. Under existing conditions Canada is an especial sufferer. A Canadian bookseller writes :— “We sell American periodicals better because they are cheaper. They cost almost the same at the offices of publi- cation, but. the difference in postage is so great, that the British magazine (value for value) costs the purchaser about double the price of the American. “ A few figures will show you how this affects our sales, We sell about BRITISH, AMERICAN. 45 Royal. 215 Strand (American 60 Harmsworth. edition). 55 Windsor. 125 Pearson’s (American 15 Young Ladies’ Journal, edition). 8 Pall Mall. 180 Munsey. 2 Studio. 60 McClures’, 2 Connoisseur. 165 Ladies’ Home 9 Chambers’ Journal, Magazine. 15 Century. 15 Harper’s Monthly. 14 Scribner’s. 67 Smart Set. “ We have a long list of subscriptions for English periodi- cals, but we sell few of any one. “That Canadians would gladly buy British periodicals, if not too expensive, is shown by the number of Zhe 245 Strand and Pearson's we sell. These cost us 74 cents in New York, and are mailed to us at 1 cent per lb. (this we pay), while if we bought the English editions we should pay about 9 cents in London and 8 cents a lb. postage. Should the American edition of Zhe Strand be withdrawn, and we be compelled to buy the English edition, our sales would soon drop down to forty or fifty copies per month. “I have taken these two magazines as typical : the same can be said of every popular English periodical published. Can you not see how very important this question of postage is? How the authorities at home are compelling the Canadian public to buy American publications, publi- cations that are often openly anti-British? Can you not see that this system hits every writer of English fiction, by closing a large part of his market, and by preventing his name becoming familiar with a book-buying com- munity? Can you not see, too, how we are teaching the rising Canadian generation American methods and ideas, by forcing such publications upon them? In Eastern Canada it has been suggested that a change be made in the tariff laws, and in-coming magazines be made duti- able. This would not meet the case at all, as the duty would be a tax upon British as well as American publica- tions. It would only compel the American publishers to sell by direct subscription through agents (duty cannot be levied upon single copies). The periodical business would thus be taken out of the booksellers’ hands, and the situa- tion would not be relieved one iota. “No, the only cure is a cut in the English postal rate. If the United States can afford to mail such matter from New Orleans to Alaska for 1 cent. a lb., surely the British Government can afford to charge less than 8 cents. per Ib. for mailing the same matter between London and Montreal. But it is not only the Canadian trade that suffers. The Canadian is patriotic and Imperialistic. He is proud of being a member of the Empire, and he desires that his children should be nurtured with British ideas. He feels more than hurt, therefore, that, owing to a difficulty which might be easily remedied, the United States literature is gaining a large circulation in the Dominion and spreading views which he considers to be unhealthy and unsound. That the feeling is strong may be gathered from the contents of an article written by Mr. J. A. Cooper, editor of “The Canadian Magazine,” ” which appeared in The Toronto News. In it he states as follows :— “At present news-dealers’ counters are loaded with United States publications. The newsboys throughout the country peddle the cheapest of United States journals, The boys and girls of Canada are fed upon literature which is anti-Canadian and often immoral. On almost every Canadian table the flamboyant, sensational journals of the United States are given the place of prominence. British publications reach only the newspaper offices and a few of the large public libraries. Canadian publications, other than newspapers, are given slight consideration, though a few are making a plucky fight against national indifference. “Tf this country is to remain British in sentiment and material interests, there must be a greater familiarity with British literature and political discussions. If trade between Canada and Great Britain is to grow, there must be a mutual exchange of newspapers and class journals, At present Canada studies only United States politics, industrial methods, and advertisements.’’ 246 Commenting on the large circulation of United States periodicals, Mr Cooper states as follows :— “The answer must be divided into two parts: First, as to British publications ; second, as to Canadian. British magazines and weeklies are crowded out of their market partly because the British publisher has made little attempt to keep them thereand partly because of official indifference. The British publisher once had a fairly good trade in Canada, but he bartered his inheritance for a mess of pottage. For example, the “Strand’’ and “ Pearson’s ”’ sold here are not English editions. The sharp Yankee did not want English advertisements to circulate in the United States or Canada; therefore he bought the right to sell these two magazines in America. He gets out an imitation of the English publication of the same name, fills it with United States articles and United States advertisements, and it is these editions that Canada buys. Examine any copy of each of these publications and you will see that this is true. Trade follows the advertisement nowadays, not the flag ; therefore the wily United States manufacturer looks after the advertising pages of what his countrymen read, and of what Canadians read. “ Attempts have been made to induce the British Govern- ment to allow monthly magazines and monthly class papers to be mailed from Great Britain to Canada at one cent per pound, instead of eight cents, in order to meet United States competition ; but the British Postmasters-General cannot see any necessity fora change. They see no reason why English periodicals should sell in Canada—why British literature would be good for British connection—why British advertisements would be good for British trade. They may see it some day, but tkey refuse to see it now. They are as blind to their best interests on this continent as they were in the days of the American Revolution. When Austen Chamberlain was Postmaster-General, he was waited on by a large deputation from British Chambers of Commerce and certain publishing interests, but he was unconvinced. The matter has been discussed several times in the British House of Commons, but the appeal fell on deaf ears.” Mr. Cooper dwells many hundreds of miles from the writer of the printed letter, and a longer distance from Mr. McEvoy, of British Columbia, who kindly contributes an article from far Western Canada. Yet the last named makes a similar complaint against postal rates and United States literature. If the United States are working for postal reform merely with a business end in view,—to get better sales and a large circulation, surely the British Author and the British Publisher should make some greater effort, when in addition to the stimulus of business they have also the Imperial ideal. Imperial Penny Postage was, no doubt, a great bond of union, and worked with great power for the extension of ideas between the dwellers in the Empire, but the printed book, Empire- circulated, would have still greater influence. Imperial copyright is one great factor; this already exists. It is to be hoped that at no distant date the author may be able to distribute his property throughout the Empire with the same ease with which he now controls it, 1s: 1, 1 THE AUTHOR. A CAPE LETTER, —— + ONTRARY to expectations, the Artistic Copyright Bill described in my last letter failed to pass into law, owing to the abrupt termination of the Parliamentary session and dis- solution of the Houses which followed the Minis- terial crisis of last year. The new Attorney-General has expressed his entire sympathy with the measure, and has promised to introduce it at the earliest possible date ; but, with the session half over and an Opposition policy of stubborn obstruction impeding business, there appears little hope of a dis- cussion of the Bill before the next prorogation takes place. In the new Parliament, of course, the pro- gress made last year counts for nothing ; were it otherwise, little time would be required to end the Bill’s vicissitudes. Musical piracy, so often referred to in The Author, seldom finds an exponent in this Colony ; but a person named Simmonds, residing in Cape Town, has lately been the object of legal atten- tions by the Musical Copyright Company, Messrs. Chappell & Co., Ltd., and Messrs. Boosey & Co., in regard to unauthorised editions of various songs. In the case of the first-named plaintiff the Supreme Court has ordered an account to be kept, and in that of the third-named it has granted an interdict and the surrender of the copies, in both cases pend- ing an action; whilst the Resident Magistrate’s Court has awarded Messrs. Chappell damages to the extent of £20, the limit of jurisdiction. As a result of a certain transaction in dramatic rights, a shameful attempt at money-wringing has come before the Supreme Court. A Cape Town merchant named Koenig sued the proprietress of the now dissolved theatrical company known as Hall’s Australian Juveniles for a sum of £1,260 (plus interest), representing performing fees on certain musical plays. From the evidence it appeared that plaintiff, who had a diverse con- nection with the Company, was engaged by its proprietors to secure certain rights; the assign- ment of these rights he quite unjustifiably obtained in his own name, on the strength of which fact he now claimed the rights as his own property. The Court unhesitatingly dismissed the plea, save as regarded an amount whiclr had been tendered by defendant, to cover royalties for which plaintiff was liable under the assignments. This amount, with costs to date of plea, was-awarded to plaintiff, by whom, however, the remaining costs were ordered to be paid. The sum claimed, which was reckoned on a basis of £15 15s. per night, was in itself preposterous; reliable evidence being adduced to show that the ordinary charge for the right of playing these musical pieces in South THE AUTHOR. African towns ranged from £1 to £3, or in exceptional cases £5, per night. From judicial decisions we may turn to judicial authorship. Two volumes of “ The Institutes of Cape Law,” by the Hon. A. F. S. Maasdorp, B.A., Chief Justice of the Orange River Colony, have been published by Messrs. J. C. Juta & Co., Cape Town, and a third is to follow. Asub-title describes the work as “a Compendium of Common Law, Decided Cases, and Statute Law of the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope,” and Books I. and II. respectively deal with “The Law of Persons” and “The Law of Things”; whilst the remaining volume will have for its subject “The Law of Obligations.” In his preface, the author disclaims all pretence to original research, the work being simply a welding together of earlier text-books, with the latter’s. contradictions and archaicisms harmonised and brought up to date. Each volume is prefixed by a long table of cases cited, and the foot of every page is well weighted with references to authorities. In “ On Circuit in Kafirland, and Other Sketches and Studies” (London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd. ; Cape Town: J. C. Juta & Co.), the Hon. Perceval M. Laurence, LL.D.. has collected a number of papers which have previously appeared in the South African Law Journal and elsewhere. “They are rather a mixed lot,” says the author, “representing some of the recreations, legal and literary, of a colonial judge.” Two of the papers deal with cireuit reminiscences, four with legal matters ; three are biographical sketches ;_ whilst the volume closes with a short story translated from the French, and an address on Dr. Johnson. Apologising for the last-named item, the genial judge gives notice that “well-informed people are respectfully warned off!” The subjects of the biographical papers are respec- tively Cecil Rhodes, Lord Russell of Killowen, and Sir Frank Lockwood. A number of books treating of South African affairs from the inside have been issued from British houses during the last few months. One of the most notable of these is “The Essential Kafir,” by Dudley Kidd (London: A. & C. Black), which professes to be a composite portrait of the South African native, without distinction of tribes. The word “ Kafir” is used in a very wide sense, embracing many tribes, the “ essential ” likeness underlying whose variations Mr. Kidd has en- deavoured to depict. The book is “intended to serve as a warm-blooded character-sketch of the South African natives, in which everything that is of broad human interest takes precedence of departmental aspects of the subject.” A hundred exceptionally fine full-page photogravures grace the volume. ‘A more modest work on an allied subject is “The 247 Native Problem in South Africa,” by Alex. Davis, appended to which is “A Review of the Problem in West and West Central Africa,” by W. R. Stewart (London: Chapman & Hall, Ltd.). This contains chapters on “ Native Character and Customs” and on the “Influence of Exeter Hall,” several others being grouped under the general heading of “ Mines and Labour.” “It is an endeavowr to enlighten the British public on the question, and place before the authorities in power sufficient connected data to enable them to understand the real position in Africa.” Under the somewhat vague title of “ The African Colony : Studies in the Reconstruction” (London : Wm. Blackwood & Sons), Mr. John Buchan, for- merly private secretary to Lord Milner, has pro- duced a volume designed to supply the inquiring Uitlander with some fuller information concerning South Africa than that derivable from statistics. He has divided his subject into three parts, historical, geographical, and political ; and an index and a map are provided. “ Happy Days and Happy Work in Basutoland,” by the Deaconess 8. B. Burton (London: 8.P.C.K.), is a chatty little volume devoted to missionary life among the Basutos. here are a preface by the Right Rev. Bishop Webb, Dean of Salisbury, and several illustrations. Another minor publication, also illustrated, is an anonymous ‘‘ Memoir of the Life and Work of Rev. John Brebner, M.A., LL.D., late Superintendent of Education in the Orange River Colony” (Edinburgh: Lorimer & Chalmers). “Old Cape Colony,” by Mrs. A. F. Trotter (London: A. Constable & Go.), is “a chronicle of the Colony’s men and houses from 1652 to 1806.” Some of the material for this book appeared in a Christmas number of the Cape Times, entitled “ Old Cape Homesteads,” some five years ago. Mrs. Trotter brings to her task a keen enthusiasm. The volume contains reproductions of a number of her own drawings, and is affectionately dedicated to her “ unpunctured bicycle.” “Natal: An Illustrated Official Railway Guide and Handbook of General Information,” compiled and edited by ©. W. Francis Harrison (London : Payne Jennings), is a substantial volume, con- taining a large fund of detailed information, and provided with a profusion of good photogravures, and with plans and maps. From a Hamburg house (Cape Town: J. C. Juta & Co.) comes “The Native or Transkeian Territories, or Kaffraria Proper,” a handbook of the history, resources, and productions of that portion of Cape Colony, compiled by Caesar C. Henkel, who is also responsible for the excellent photographs with which it is illustrated. A large map accompanies the book. ‘A series of artistic souvenirs, under the general 248 title of “ Brydone’s Tourist Handbooks,” has been published in Cape Town, the booklets issued de- scribing ‘ Groote Schuur,” “Cape Town,” “ A Trip round the Kloof,” and ‘Table Mountain.” Among other small local publications are “Glimpses in Rhyme,” by A. Cunningham-Fairlie, a collection of miscellaneous verse; ‘ Looking Forward,’ repnted to be.the work of a spirit signing itself “ Aziel ”—a sort of South African “ Julia ”—-who, in a series of letters to Earth, communicates a Dantesque description of the world beyond ; “ The Mountain Club Annual,” an illustrated record of Cape mountaineering. Two works by residents in this Colony, but otherwise unconnected with the country, are ‘‘ Shakespeare’s Books,” by H. R. D. Anders, B.A. and “ The Bible from the Standpoint of the Higher Criticism of the Old Testament,” by Rev. R. Balmforth (London : Swan Sonnenschein & Co.). Not the least important fruits of colonial author- - ship are the volumes of “ Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society,” a number of which have appeared during recent months ; whilst the South African Association for the Advancement of Science has initiated a similar series with its first annual report, just published. ‘he latter body has, within the last few weeks, concluded its second annual session, the proceedings at which will pro- vide matter for its next volume. New magazines have been less frequent of late. Of those issued, three deal with commercial and trade matters, viz., Zhe African Insurance, Bank- ing, andCommercial Gazette, edited by R. R. Brydone; The Colonist, edited by E. Verne Richardson; and Lhe South African Clay Worker and Builder. The Examiner, whose brief existence was recorded in a previous letter, has been succeeded by The New Era, a weekly review published in Cape Town, and edited, like its predecessor, by Chas. H. Crane. In the course of his last annual report to Parlia- ment, Dr. G. M. Theal, the colonial historiographer, bitterly complains of the treatment received by his “ History cf South Africa.” Unable, in any case, to repay the great cost of production, the volumes are undersold by others whose contents have been extracted from them. Dr. Theal has now accepted a proposition, made by his publishers, to issue a new edition of the work at so low a price that the buccaneers will find reproduction unremunerative. This edition will contain additional matter, and will occupy seven volumes, as against the six of the previous edition. The Keeper of the Archives, Rev. H. C. V. Leibbrandt, though he has been busy at various sections of his work, has, owing to the late disso- lution of Parliament, not yet been able to publish any of the matter which is ready for press. THE AUTHOR There died at Johannesburg a short time ago Dr. M. J. Farrelly, author, among other works, of “The Settlement after the War,” an authority on international and constitutional law, and adviser on these subjects to the Government of the late South African Republic. Another writer has passed away in the person of Mr. J. D, Ensor, Serjeant-at-Arms to the House of Assembly. Before coming to this country about twenty-three years ago, Mr. Ensor had been for some fifteen years on the staff of the Daily Tele- graph, for which he acted as war colrespondent in Mexico. He was also intimately connected with the Boy’s Own Paper, and for a time acted as amanu- ensis to W. H, G. Kingston. He came out here for the benefit of his wife’s health, relinquishing journalism for a Civil Service appointment. Literary work, however, continued to claim some of his time, and a couple of volumes of “Kafir Stories” are recorded to his credit. Sypnky YorKeE Forp. Cape Town, April 27th, 1904. ———_—_——_+—@— —___ INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. —1~>— + “ ECUEIL des Conventions et Traités con- cernant la Propriété Littéraire et Artisti- que publiés en Francais et dans les langues des pays contractants avec une introduc- tion et des notices par le Bureau de l'Union Internationale pour la Protection des C&uvres Littéraires et Artistiques.” Berne, 1904. 8vo. Pp. xxxli. 876, The benefits conferred upon authors by the labours of the Berne Bureau of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property are so justly and universally appreciated by the whole literary profession, and the value of the works that have from time to time been published under the auspices of the Bureau is so generally realised by all students of international copyright (and not less by those who approach its problems from the ethical and philosophical stand- point than by those who concern themselves with the legal aspect alone) that the last publication put forth by the Bureau in a handsome volume of more than nine hundred pages might well stand suffi- ciently recommended by the prestige of its prede- cessors. But it may be asserted without hesitation, and without the least fear of preparing a disappoint- ment for any one, that the collection of legal documents and of notes and observations accom- panying them which has been recently produced under the title above quoted exceeds in value and interest all previous publications that have emanated THE AUTHOR. from the same source. As a manual of inter- national copyright law it is both fuller and brought more nearly up to date than any other with which we are acquainted, and at the same time presents an important feature possessed by no other work of the same scope in the presentation of all the leval texts in their original languages” ; whilst the comments and notices interspersed among the legal texts represent an invaluable history of the appreciation, the present position, and the future prospects of copyright in the various countries, which is not only unique but must be also of the highest interest to all intellectual readers. Some work of this kind which should show the whole of the present situation of international copyright in a single view has long been a desidera- tum. So long ago as 1891 M. Jules Lermina, the Secretary of the International Literary Associa- tion, declared that it was desirable to have exact reports of the views held regarding international copyright by the various countries. The sub- stance of what these several reports would have contained is here collected and presented to the lawyer and student in a single volume ; and the compilers are undoubtedly justified in remarking in the “ advertisement ” which they have placed at the opening of their work that “collections of this kind are a direct assistance to the propagation of equitable ideas, to the formulation of lucid legisla- tion, and to the preparation of means for a con- stantly more and more complete unification of measures for mutual protection.” The lessons suggested by a perusal of the volume are indeed innumerable, and not the least striking of them is the occasion which the facts here recorded present for some painful reflections upon the want of pro- portion between the boasted intellectual advance- ment of certain countries and the evidence their legislatures give of the national appreciation of intellectual rights; whilst it is impossible not to be struck by the self-restraint and sanity of the remarks which deal with the lines upon which it is alone possible to hope for some advance towards a greater consistency of profession and practice. The compilers must be particularly congratulated both upon the skill with which they have in this work managed to group and present the ency- clopaedic mass of matter with which they were called upon to deal, and upon their success in having made a volume of an engaging character out of materials that might have been perusable only by specialists and statisticians. The book is primarily divided into two parts. Of these the former is wholly in French (the * Japan forms a solitary exception; the difficulties of presenting the language in Roman characters having limited the production of the Japanese treaties to a French translation, 249 official language of the International Bureau), and consists of two sections ; 1. International Unions, that of Berne, (1886, 1896), that of Montevideo (1887), and that of the Hague (1896) ; 2. Par- ticular Conventions between several pairs of States. In this section short *t Notices ” relate the history of copyright in the several states, and also sketch the present literary situation. Here are to be found, in alphabetical order, not those countries alone which have entered into agreements of international copyright, but all whose literatures have any claim to consideration. The latter part of the book presents first five authorised translations of the text of the Berne Convention, German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Norse, in this order; and then similar translations of the Convention of Montevideo. Its second section consists of the Particular Conventions in the original languages from which the French translations in the first part of the book are made. An appendix, similarly divided into a French and a polyglot section, con- tains additions bringing the work up to date, and the Danish version of the Berne Convention, received whilst the work was in the press. The whole is preceded by an introduction which sketches the history of International copyright from its earliest origins, gives an account of the existing Inter- national Literary Unions, and describes the develop- ments that have, since its foundation, taken place in the Berne Union. Whilst the legal documents, and especially the polyglot originals (calculated to arrest the atten- tion of the linguist even if he has neither legal nor copyright sympathies), must figure as the most substantially important portion of the work, much that is of superlative interest is included in the interspersed “ Notices” which trace the copyright and literary history of all states that can rightly make any claim to be considered. These little résumés Which, as well as the introduction, are from the pen of M. Ernest Roetlisberger, the Secretary of the Bureau, are particularly admirable. In a few lines they sketch lucidly the history of copy- right in the various countries, the views at present held in each instance respecting it, and give an appreciation of the present literary situation from which more may be rapidly learned than could be gathered with much iabour from any ordinary works of reference. To any one interested in foreign literature these felicitous little “ Notices” may be recommended as mines of information that alone furnish more than sufficient reason for a high recommendation of the book. M. Roetlisberger’s summaries and annotations everywhere abound with plums of engaging details. Thus we learn that a reproduction in an engraving of Rubens’ “ Descent from the Cross,” was an early object of a triple privilege in France, Belgium, and 250 Holland, “cum privilegiis regis christianissimi, principuum Belgarum, et ordinum Balaviae” A decree of Parma, Piacenza, and Guastalla of the 22nd of December, 1840 (whilst Italy was still divided into a number of States), furnishes an example of protection of foreign works, harmonising with an unique feature of the present Italian copy- tight law. ‘ Foreign works are national property, saving dispositions to the contrary in political conventions.” In the “ Notice” on Denmark, a remark on piratical translation, made by Professor Torp at the congress of Dresden, in 1895, is quoted, which supports the view, more than once insisted on in the pages of The Author, and frequently enforced in the present volume, that piratical and unauthorised translations are deleterious to national literary progress. “Freedom of translation has an effect the opposite of the normal and beneficial tendencies that aim at giving the intellectual cultivation of a people a truly national character. The great bulk of books read by the masses who are without intellectual training is composed for the most part of translations of dubious value, which cannot possibly assist to the shaping of a real national spirit of a healthy and elevated type.” These are but specimens gathered at hazard of the sort of interesting observations with which the work abounds. Uninviting as its title may appear to some readers, it is scarcely possible to imagine the man of letters who will not find pleasure in perusing its pages. In the hands of the student of international law it will be found to be indis- pensable ; hardly less so to the student of the comparative development of foreign literatures, and in point of fact immensely interesting to anyone who sympathises with the intellectual progress of humanity. ———_—_—_+—@— ______ THE BEGINNING A LITERARY CAREER IN ENGLAND. —_1-~ + From THE PerRsonaL STANDPOINT OF A COLONIAL. MAY at once say that there are two main points that have to be borne in mind by a Colonial or American coming to England if he would avoid disappointment. The first is that the English people, owing to their historical antecedents and the feudal con- stitution of their society, have no admiration for intellect as such, nor are they disposed to yield any special deference or consideration to its possessors. The questions they inwardly ask of every man they meet are:—First, is he a “gentleman” in the technical sense of the term, THE AUTHOR. by birth, profession, or breeding ? Secondly, is he a man of personal honour and integrity? If he be both, he may pass anywhere, and will be treated with respect in any society ; but if he have the latter qualifications without the former, if he be a working man for example, or retail shopkeeper, or engaged in any occupation forbidden to the class of “gentleman,” neither intellect nor character will avail. He will not count, he will have no personal influence, and, except for political purposes, no one will be interested either in himself or his opinions, The aristocracy scarcely read at all, much less read solid works, and have, in consequence, little interest in the writers of books; and the other classes have accepted their estimate. Intellect is regarded by the people rather as a commodity than as a personal attribute, a thing to be bought in the market as it is required, like a pair of shoes, without more ado; and it has, in consequence, little more differential interest in itself than the corn or wine or cloth with which a merchant deals, and out of which he makes his income. In all the other great nations of the world a large amount of admiration, personal deference and consideration are accorded to men of intellect as such. It isnot so in England, and hence it is that of all men a cultivated Englishman is least under- stood by the cultivated men of other nations ; and until his sterling qualities of character have had time to disclose themselves, is perhaps the least liked, I shall never forget my amazement when I first came to England on being asked by a cultivated and charming lady, with whom I was dining, as to what interesting sights or persons I had seen. On my answering that I had been to hear Spurgeon and Morley Punshon and Dr. Parker, she coldly replied, “Oh ! we don’t think much of them,” the “we” meaning the class of ladies and gentlemen to which she belonged, and who alone count either personally or in matters of opinion. And what she said I found to be largely true. The reason was, that, in spite of the world-wide reputation of those men, and the vast congregations to whom they ministered, there were not, perhaps, in any of these congregations, especially that of Spurgeon, more than half-a-dozen families belonging to the recog- nised class of “ladies and gentlemen.” It was as if in America a man should imagine that he could get personal admiration or consideration by having the reputation of being the preacher who could draw the largest congregation of negroes ! The second point to be borne in mind seems a paradox after what I have just said, but is never- theless true. It is that, in spite of this want of interest in intellectual things, nowhere else perhaps in the world will be fonnd a greater number of competent and accomplished critics of every side of life or thought ; and this is owing to the immense a id 7 a THE AUTHOR. complexity and variety of the intellectual material of all kinds that proczeds from London as from a workshop, to supply the rest of the English- speaking world ; the quality of the demand every- where calling forth the appropriate talent to meet it. How, then, is this to affect the decision of the young Colonial ambitious of making a literary reputation in the Mother Country? In answer, I should say that if his aim is to bea novelist, a poet, a dramatist, or a humourist, he may come over at once, for he will be in no way handicapped by the jand of his birth, The recognised critics know their business thoroughly, and will be sure to do him full justice. And even if they did not, as all classes read novels, the number of cultured and competent readers and of experienced play-goers is so large that his merits will be at once recognized. Gilbert Parker had no difficulty in getting a hearing as a novelist, or Haddon Chambers, the Australian, as a dramatist. But if he is a writer on serious subjects, on the other hand, he must be prepared for a considerable amount of preliminary disappointment. The way it operates is somewhat in this wise ; When the leading monthly magazines took to signed articles, editors were no longer required, as formerly, to have sound general know- ledgeofthe subjects discussed, but, like stockholders, only of the market value of the names of the men who discussed them. And, as the readers, as I have said, have but a languid interest at best, either in writers on serious subjects as such, or in their writings, and when condemned to read them, require them to be of recognised brand, the Colonial coming over here is likely to be trebly handicapped, by the indifference of the public to intellectual men and things as such, by their aversion to seeing unknown names discuss them, and by the want on the part of the editors (with one or two notable exceptions) of a sufficient knowledge of the subjects discussed, to be able to appraise at their true valueindications of exceptional originality, penetration or power. And even if he get some eminent man to interest himself in his work, it will avail him nothing with an editor, unless the said eminent personage will refer to it publicly, and so prick the public curiosity. But this again men of eminence are usually as chary of doing for budding authors who have still their spurs to win, as the editors are of accepting their work. Then again, if tired of having your magazine articles returned to you, you venture to publish in book form, other but equal difficulties will con- front you. The publisher will pass your MS. on to his reader for his verdict ; and the fact that you hail from a colony will go seriously against you, whereas did you but come from Germany, for 251 example, it would be in your favour. The result is that you must publish at your own expense. But even after you have published at your own expense your troubles will only have changed their shape. Your difficulty now will be with the Press. When the publishers send a press copy of a book which they have published at the author’s expense, they mark on it “from the author,” not “ from the publisher.” And as the leading critical journals are practically obliged to review the books brought out by the publishers who advertise in their columns, the moment the editors see a book in- scribed “from the author,” they are relieved from this obligation ; and as their space is limited, and the pressure on it is great, it is very questionable whether you will get a review at all, good, bad, or indifferent. And the moral of it is that most, if not all, of the advantages of having the name of a good publisher on your books will be quite thrown away if the press copies are sent out as “from the author” and not “ from the publisher.” Once your book is in the hands of the reviewer it will get fair play, and your preliminary troubles will be over; for there are no men more fair or manly than Englishmen, or greater lovers of justice. J, BEATTIE CROZIER, —_—_—_—_—_——_e—<>—_+___—__ CORRESPONDENCE. — Book DIsTRIBUTION. Er Srr,—In the April Author “A Protestant” puts the query “ Why do not booksellers write straight to publishers?” etc. The nearest com mercial traveller or the nearest grocer can tell him why—and the reason is that the country bookseller is a sober, respectable, retail tradesman, just like his neigh- pour the grocer or the draper. I, too, ordered a certain book, the second work of its author. The bookseller sent off for it, and a week later trium- phantly handed me the first work of that author, with the information from—one of the firms men- tioned by “A Protestant ’”’—that this was the only work of that author. I delivered myself of the remarks, expletives and observations natural to the occasion, and was answered that the firm in ques- tion was “ the largest house in London,” “ known all over the world,” &c., and so I stilted off and left it at that. Afterwards it occurred to me (triumphantly !) that there is a reason for everything. I considered that the bookseller is a shopkeeper, and a shop- keeper is remarkably like the ruck of human beings —at least to look at. Now a few conversations 252 with shopkeepers of the grocer variety showed me that a retail tradesman must of necessity deal with a distributing middleman. It is baldly impossible for him to deal direct with the manufacturer or importer of every article he sells. The nearest cominercial traveller will tell you that, as a rule, every shopkeeper is in debt to the wholesale house from which he gets his goods. That is to say, he is the slave of a running account, and is farther or less far behind with his payments according as times are good with him or not. This running account is very handy for him and keeps him going at an easy level, instead of leaving him to the violent ups and downs which would need such a large capital sum to weather if he paid cash on the nail while his own customers paid cash when they couldn’t help it. But it keeps him tied to the wholesale house, more or less, and so makes the wholesale house saucy, also more or less, as the tradesman finds when he sends for anything which that house does not, for any reason in the world, supply. Now the running account is just as handy in “these hard times ”—which began with trade and will end with it, being the atmosphere of trade— to the country bookseller as to the country draper. We flare up in Zhe Author with pages of print on the status and failings of the bookseller, but the bookseller, being just human and just a retail tradesman, continues in the same old groove that trade has rutted out for him. The fault is with us, in ranking our business as suppliers of a marketable commodity so high, that we fancy that all who have to do with it should “carry on” as totally oblivious of mere business details as the presbyters and deacons of any other high mystery and religion you like. The one direction in which relief—for this par- ticular complaint—is to be looked for is in the estab- lishment of the “two new enterprising libraries,” if that means “two new middlemen.” The establishment of half-a-dozen new ones might do the trick. The natural pressure of competition would abate the sauciness of the present middle- men monopolists. Tor if the “ Almightly Middle- man” disappeared from the book trade to-morrow the country bookseller would disappear with him, unless the publishers at once combined to establish a clearing house or distributing centre which could be to the bookseller just what the “ Almighty Middleman” had been—a keeper of running accounts; a giver of credit to ordinary everyday shopkeepers, Will the publishers ever establish such a clearing house and credit-giving centre? Not much. “It would be too much trouble.” “The game wouldn’t pay for the candle.” The game in fact is not too bad for the publisher as it stands now—is not the THE AUTHOR. very existence of the Incorporated Society of Authors emphatic testimony to that? The onl help to be looked for then, is in the establishment of still more middlemen—tons of ’em. Authors who have made such huge profits (vie published figures) out of their work might cast an eye this way and, upon dying, instead of endowing a college ora cat, direct the establishment of another middle- man business as wholesale bookseller. So shall we hear less upon this point, either from fellow authors. or from our own lips, which explode so fierily upon occasion against that respectable clerk of the mysteries, the country bookseller, dash him ! I remain, yours, ete., ANOTHER PROTESTER. —1+— II. Sirn,— Would your columns allow of m y suggest- ing to “A Protestant” that he should make the experiment of ordering the books he wants from the nearest tobacconist-newsagent. I have found this enterprising individual more obliging and a great deal more capable than the local bookseller, and pleased to increase his business by attending to orders which the bookseller appears to consider: beneath his dignity. Yours truly, A CaTHOLIC, a Exeter ENGLISH. Srr,—Evidence is rapidly accumulating of pre- cedents by high and learned authorities proving the inscription on the R. D. Blackmore monument to be correct. “ This tablet with the window above: are a tribute.” If the inscription offends against a supposed grammatical rule, yet it offends in the- company of some of our greatest writers. A professor of English literature sends me the following quotations, and earnestly hopes that the Committee will not have the inscription altered. Stubbs, III. 106. Line3: “On the 8th of March, the King, with Bedford, Beaufort and the Council were at Canterbury.’’ * Julius Caesar.” Act. 4, Scene III. : “Impatient of my absence, And grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony Have made themselves so strong.’’ Fielding. ‘Tom Jones.” Chap. IIL. : “ Your poor gamekeeper with all his large family have: been perishing.”’ Alison. “ History of Europe "’: * The Duchy of Pomerania with the island of Rugen were added by Sweden to the Danish Crown.’’ Your obedient servant, JAMES BAKER. Shakespeare. 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 09 (June 1904) Subject The topic of the resource The Author, Vol. 14 Issue 09 (June 1904) Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1904-06-01-The-Author-14-9 publications The Author