https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/503/1905-03-01-The-Author-15-6.pdf 185d74b7909ebdf292db0a477b137cc9 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) 1905-03-01 Volume 15 Issue 6 Pages Page range in volume 153–184 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19050301 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin Che Huthor. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT. Vou. XV.—No. 6. Marcu Isr, 1908. TELEPHONE NUMBER : 374 VICTORIA. TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS : AUTORIDAD, LONDON. ———__+—@—+_____ NOTICES. —1<—+—__ OR the opinions expressed in papers that are EK signed or initialled the authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless such is especially stated to be the case. Tue Editor begs to inform members of the Authors’ Society and other readers of The Author that the cases which are from time to time quoted in The Author are cases that have come before the notice or to the knowledge of the Secretary of the Society, and that those members of the Society who desire to have the names of the publishers concerned can obtain them on application. —1+-—<>— + —_ List of Members. Tux 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. —_-———9_—__ The Pension Fund of the Society. Tux Trustees of the Pension Fund met at the Society’s Offices in February, 1904, 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 Vou, XV. [Prick Srxpencr. standing in the names of the Trustees are as follows. This is a statement of the actual stock ; the money value can be easily worked out at the current price of the market :— ey £1000 0 0 Local Loans 500 0 0 Victorian Government 3 °% Consoli- dated Inscribed Stock ............... Zot 19 V1 War fan en 201: 9- 38 London and North Western 3 % Deben- BUTS SOCK. ee 250 0 0 Potel 2 £2243 9 2 Subscriptions from May, 1904. & 8. a. May 6, Shepherd, G. H. ; = 0 5 0 June 24, Rumbold, Sir Horace, Bart., G.C.B. : : : 1 tO July 27, Barnett, P. A. : : 010 0 Nov. 9, Hollingsworth, Charles . 010 O 1905 Jan. 12, Anonymous . : ; ~ 0 2.6 Donations from May, 1904. May 16, Wynne, C. Whitworth . 2720 0200 June 23, Kirmse, R. . . : 5.045. 0 June 23, Kirmse, Mrs. R. : : 5 0 July 21, The Blackmore Memorial Committee ; : - 20 0 0 Aug. 5, Walker, William S. : - 2:0 0 Oct. 6, Hare, F. W.E., M.D. . os let 0 Oct. 6, Hardy, Harold : : ~ 0160 0 Oct. 20, Cameron, Mrs. Lovett . - 0-10. 0 Noy. 7, Benecke, Miss Ida . : » 1b 0 Noy. 11, Thomas, Mrs, Haig : uo? 2 20 Nov. 24, Egbert, Henry : : <0 6 0 1905 Jan. , Middlemas, Miss Jean 10 0 Jan. , Bolton, Miss Anna 5 0 Jan. 24, Barry, Miss Fanny . 27, Bencke, Albert 28, Harcourt-Roe, Mrs. 18, French-Sheldon, Mrs. 21, Lyall, Sir Alfred, P.C. Jan. Jan. Feb. Feb. mMooccoooc }S on o FROM THE COMMITTEE. — T the meeting of the Committee, held on the 6th day of February, the following business was transacted. Mr. Douglas Freshfield, who has for the past two years so ably and so disinterestedly under- taken the arduous duties attached to the post of chairman, retired under the constitution of the Society, and Sir Henry Bergne, who has for many years been a member of the Committee, was elected to fill the post. Sir Henry Bergne’s past connection with the Foreign Office and with international copyright questions is known to all members of the Society, and will be of advantage at the present time, when United States copyright legislation is coming so prominently forward. Twelve members and associates were elected to the Society. The list, together with the January elections, is printed below. On the proposal of Mr. A. Hope Hawkins, Mr. Bernard Shaw was unanimously elected a member of the Council and Committee to fill the place left vacant by the death of Mr. Edward Rose. Mr. Shaw’s qualifica- tions for the post to which he has been elected are so well known, that it is needless to bring them before members of the Society. In pursuance of the resolution passed at the last meeting, the question of United States copyright was further discussed. Details will be given when the line of action has been finally adopted. The date of the General Meeting has been fixed for Thursday, March 30th. The report and notice of General Meeting will be sent out in due course. The Committee decided to take up, on behalf of one of the Society’s members, a case against a publisher in Munich, and the Secretary has been instructed to write to H.B.M. Minister and request him to advise the Society as to the best course to pursue. If necessary the matter will be placed in the hands of a German lawyer. Under the constitution of the Pension Fund of the Society, Mr. A. W. a’Beckett, the Committee's nominee, retired in due course, and, submitting his name for re-election, was unanimously re-elected. The Society’s nominee will, according to custom, be elected at the General Meeting. —— Cases. Srnoz the last issue of The Author seven cases have been in the Secretary’s hands, three for money, two for the return of MSS., one dealing with an intricate question of copyright law, and the remaining case referring to the wrongful use of the THE AUTHOR. name of one of the Society’s members. The last case has been settled, but none of the others has been brought to a satisfactory conclusion at present, although negotiations are still being carried on. All the matters in dispute in the Secretary’s hands that remained unsettled at the end of last month have now been terminated in favour of the members. During the past month the Society has obtained judgment in a County Court case which has been hanging on for some time. It has also succeeded, through the aid of its solicitors, in collecting the payment due to a member from an Edinburgh publisher. The Committee have sanctioned an action against a German publisher. The papers have, on the advice of His Majesty’s Minister at Munich, been placed in the hands of a German lawyer. One other case in the solicitors’ hands has been satisfactorily settled, as the accounts demanded have been obtained, and a cheque will, no doubt, be forthcoming as soon as the accounts have been approved by the author. In the case of Mr. Grant Richards’ bankruptcy, a receiver has been appointed. When he has had time to look into all the contracts he will be ina position to negotiate with authors for the transfer of their property, but there are so many different kinds of contracts involved in any publishing business, and the legal questions are so complicated, that authors must have patience. et January Elections Alden, W. L. 61, Cloudesdale Road, Balham, 8.W. ‘“ Ballin, T. S. Dean” Barnett, Rev. T. R. Fala, Blackshiels, Mid- (Torquil Macleod) lothian. Barry, Miss F. Lewesdon, Lyme Regis, Dorset. : Bencke, Albert H. Oliva, West Derby, Liverpool. Bonfield, J. T. (Mar- maduke Lannes) Crawford, Mrs. Dunsfauld Ryse, Chid- dingfold, Surrey. Clooncahir, Lough Rynn, Dromod, Ireland. Wayside, Eltham, Kent. Digges, Rev. J. C. Felkin, A. L. (A. St. Lawrence ) Figgis, Darrell E. . 84, Darenth Road, Stam- ford Hill, N.W. Joubert, Carl Le Riche, P. J. 96, Marine Parade, Worthing, Sussex. THE AUTHOR. Moyes, The Right Rev. Mer. Canon Muriay, Major S. L. Cathedral House, Francis Street, Westminster. 1, Southside, Wimble- don. Ullenhall Vicarage, Hen- leyin Arden, Warwick- shire. 1, Forester Road, Bath. Springbank, | Woking- ham, Berks. 149, Harley Street, W. Pelton, Rev. W. F. Rothwell, Charles KE... Salwey, Mrs. Charlotte M. (née Birch) Scharleib, Mrs., M.D., M.S. Stuart-Young, J. M. Ardwick Green, Man- chester. 548, Halburn Street, Aberdeen. —_*——»——_ Watson, W. Petrie : February Elections. Alford, Lincolnshire. Strathmore,St. Bernard’s Road, Olton, Warwick- Brown, Haydn Caldicott, J. W. shire. Chater, Arthur G. - 41, Porchester Square, W. McDonnell, Randal Home Leigh, Grey- stones, co. Wicklow. Roker, Sunderland. 4, Harcourt Buildings, Temple, E.C. 2, Regent Street, Oxford. 36, Walker Street, Edin- burgh. Willson, Beckles . . 60, Acacia Road, St. John’s Wood, N.W. Wilson, H.W. . . 144, Elgin Avenue, W. Three members do not desire the publication either of their names or their addresses. Monks, Rev. Gilbert Paine, Wyatt Roberts, Miss Jean Stodart-Walker, A. ee BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY. ——>+ =m (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.) BIOGRAPHY, ! Lire oF Sirk JoHN BervERLEY ROBINSON, C.B., D.C.L., Chief Justice of Upper Canada. By MAgor GENERAL C. W. Roprnson, C.B. 94 x 6}. 490 pp. Blackwood. 16s.n. DRAMA, THe MAN@uvREs or Jane. An Original Comedy in Four Acts. By Henry ArTHuR JONES. 63 x 42. 124pp. Macmillan. 2s. 6d. %. BaRr., 155 EDUCATIONAL. THE NEW TEMPLE READER. Tdited by E. E. Sprieur. 7% X 5. 288 pp. Horace Marshall. ‘1s. 6d. n. LAMB’s SCHOOLDAYS AND OTHER Essays. Macaulay’s First Chapter ; Boccaccio, Tales from the Decameron. Edited by W. H. D. Roussz, Litt.D, 64 x 41. 128 + 1364+ 119 pp. Blackie, 8d. : ; FICTION. LANGBARROW HALL. By THEODORA WILSON WILSON, Harper & Bros. 6s. THE REBEL .WoorIne. By J. 368 pp. Hutchinson. 6s. SopHy Bunce. By THomAS Copp. Nash. 6s. Count REMINY. G. Long. 6s. GEORGE'S GEORGINA. By RENNIE RENNISON. 334 pp. Simpkin Marshall, 6s. THE PILGRIMS. By E. BeLAsYsE. 74 x 5. Greening & Co. 6s, < AN ACT IN A BAcKWater. By E. F. 276 pp. Heinemann. 6s. THE INFoRMER. By FRED WHISHAW. 72% 5. J. Long. 6s. THE SYSTEM. Methuen. 6s. THE RELIGION OF EVELYN HASTINGS. Cross. 73 x 5}. 255 pp. Co. 5s. WINNIFRED’S WAY. By MAsgor A. GRIFFITHS. 306 pp. White. 6s. A QUIXOTIC WOMAN. John Murray, THE GATE OF A. STRUART. 72 x 5, 1s: xX 6. 316 pp: sy JEAN MIDDLEMASS. 72 x 5. 304 pp. 1k-x< D. 323 pp. BENSON. 72x 5. 317 pp. 3y PueRcy WHITE. 73 Xx 5. 330 pp. 3y VICTORIA The Walter Scott Pub. 7? x 54. By IsaABEL Firz Roy HECHT. 6s. THE Desert. By JoHN OXENHAM. 7% x 5. 323 pp. Methuen. 6s. THE BELL IN THE FOG AND OTHER STORIES. By GERTRUDEATHERTON, 7} X 5. 380 pp. Macmillan. 6s. i THE SIRDAR’S SABRE. White. 6s. PETER’S MOTHER. 1% x 5. 344 pp. A CouNTRY DIARY. 244 pp. Allen. 68. {OSAMOND GRANT. By Mrs. LOVETT CAMERON. 7? X 5. 309 pp. J. Long. 6s. GARDENING. By Lous Tracy. 73 x 5. 241 pp. By Mrs. Henry De La PASTURE. Smith Elder. 6s. By Mrs. ALFRED Cock. 7} x 5. FLOWERS AND FRUIT FoR THE HomeE. By J. L. RICHMOND. 7 X 5. 247 pp. Edinburgh, Morton; London, Simpkin Marshall, 5s. n. HISTORICAL. HisToRY OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES. By W. C. MACKENZIE, I'.8.A. Scot. 9} x 6. 623 pp. Gardner. 21s. THE PROBLEM OF FIORENZO DI LORENZO OF PERUGIA. A Critical and Historical Study. By JEAN CARLYLE GRAHAM. 8} xX 7}. 123 pp. 25 Plates. Loescher. 21s. LITERARY. Essays AND AppRESSES. By THe RiguTr Hon. A. J. BALFouR, M.P. Third and_ enlarged edition. 7i x 5. 443 pp. I Edinburgh, Douglas. 7s. 6d. n. BOOKS AND THINGS. A Colleetiou of Stray Remarks. By G.S. Street, 73 X 5}. 247 pp. Duckworth. 6s, MEDICAL Their Mutual Relationship and By NorMAN Parritt, M.R.C.S. 74 X 5. 3s, 6d. RELIGION V. HEALTH, Influence. 186 pp. Skeflington, 156 MILITARY. ‘A SECRET AGENT IN Port ARTHUR. 72 x 5. 316 pp. Constable. 6s. : WELLINGTON’S CAMPAIGNS. Peninswla—W aterloo, 1808- 15. Also Moore’s Campaign of Corunna (for Military By W. GREENER. Students). By Masor-GENERAL C. W. Ropinson, C.B. Part 1, 1808-9-10. Roleia to Busaco. 8} x 54. 141 pp. Rees, 3s. 6d. n. PHILOSOPHY. DARWINIAN Fanuactes. By J. SCOULLER. 296 pp. Simpkin Marshall. 3s. 6d. n. POLITICAL. THE TRUTH ABOUT THE TSAR, AND THE PRESENT STATE m1 (g OO. oF Russia. By CARL JoUBERT. 9 x 5}. 265 pp. Nash. 7s. 6d. SPORT. GREAT LAWN ‘TENNIS PLAYERS. Their Methods Illustrated. By G. W. Benpam & Pp, A. VAILE. 9 x 6. 403pp. Macmillan. 12s. 6d.n. THEOLOGY. SERMONS ON SOCIAL SUBJECTS. Compiled by the Rev, W.H. Hunt, 252 pp. Skeffington. 5s, TOPOGRAPHY. THe THACKERAY CountTRY. By Lewis MELVILLE. 8} X 5}. 223 pp. Black. 6s. n. TRAVEL SICILY, THE New WINTER Resort. An Encyclopedia of Sicily. By i:Dovgnas SLADEN. 7} X 5. 616 pp. Methuen. 5s. n. THE LAND OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia. By W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM. 8} x 6. 228 pp. Heinemann. 6s. n. —____—_+-—@—+—___—_ LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL NOTES. —+—>—+ ISS VICTORIA CROSS, the author of “Anna Lombard,” “Six Stories of a Man’s Life,” and other works, has pub- lished through the Walter Scott Publishing Com- pany a new novel entitled “The Religion of Evelyn Hastings.” It is a simple love story in which the faith of the heroine is strengthened by her belief in the spiritual power of telepathic suggestion. We have received notice that Mr. J. A. Cooper, a member of the Society of Authors, will preside at the 47th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Press Association of Toronto, when seven important topics will come before the Association for con- sideration. The Association will hold a supper at McConkey’s, in Toronto, on the evening of the first day. The following is alist of the Officers of the Association :—John A. Cooper, President ; A. McNee, 1st Vice-President ; A. H. U. Colquhoun, 2nd Vice-President ; Joseph T. Clark, Secretary- Treasurer; John R. Bone, Assistant Secretary- Treasurer; D. Williams, W. E. Smallfield, J. F. THE AUTHOR. McKay, M. A. James, W. Ireland, Executive Com- mittee ; H. J. Pettypiece, M.P.P., Past President. The third volume of Mr. Austin Dobson’s annotated edition of the “Diary and Letters of Madame D’Arblay,” will shortly be published by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. It deals with the period from 1786 to 1788, and, in Fanny Burney’s inimit- able manner, throws much light on the inner life of the English Court, and also on the doings of the literary and artistic circles of that time. Jt has been arranged that Lord Avebury’s recent book on Free ‘'rade, which sets forth his views on the great question of the day, is to be published by Messrs. Macmillan & Co. in a_half-crown edition in the course of a week orso. The author holds the opinion that before the country gives its decision the subject should be discussed in the widest possible manner, and it is hoped that in its new form this work will reach a greatly increased circle of readers. “The Bell in the Fog and other Stories,” by Gertrude Atherton, published by Messrs. Macmillan & Co., is a collection of ten tales. The three first have a more or less common interest in that they deal with theosophical and supernatural subjects, with the scenes laid in Hertfordshire, Yorkshire, and Brittany. The romantic story of Wilhelmina Margravine, of Bayreuth, an influential woman of the eighteenth century, who moved in Continental Courts, and founded the fortunes of the town, has been written by Mrs. Edith E. Cuthell, and will be published in the spring by Messrs. Chapman & Hall. The book will be an 8vo. volume, and fully illustrated. The price will be 12s. 6d. Messrs. Hutchinson & Co. have just published a new novel by J. A. Steuart, under the title of “The Rebel Wooing.” The scenes of the story, the hero of which is a Scottish divine, are laid in Scotland and England. Messrs. Routledge have included in their New Universal Library an authorised selection of Sir Lewis Morris’s poems under the title of “ The Golden Treasury.” “ Sicily,” by Mr. Douglas Sladen, has just been published by Messrs. Methuen & Co. The first part of the work aims at giving a general idea of the Island of the Sun as a winter resort, while the second is a road guide, giving the names of all the towns of Sicily to which there is any reasonable means of access by road, rail, or steamer. “ Hearts of Wales,” an old romance, is the title of a new work by Allen Raine, which will be published during the present month. Mrs. Humphry Ward’s novel, “ The Marriage of William Ashe,’ which is appearing serially in Harper’s Magazine, will be published in book form on the 9th of this month in this country by Smith, Elder ‘s 4 & Co., and by Messrs. Harper Bros. in the United States. The social and political setting in which the characters move, and the unconventional element in the rising statesman’s marriage, suggest for their foundation passages from the career of a famous minister of three centuries ago. Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co. have also published Mrs. de Ja Pasture’s new book, “ Peter’s Mother,” the scene of which is laid in a Devonshire country house, the mistress of which is Peter’s mother. : “The Silver Key, a Romance of France and England,” by Nellie K. Blissett, will be issued during March by Messrs. Chapman and Hall. Charles II. and his favourite sister, Henrietta, Duchess of Orleans, figure prominently in the plot, which deals with the alleged poisoning of the Duchess and the signing of the Treaty of Dover. Miss Theodora Wilson Wilson has just finished revising a novel, “ Ursula Raven,” which appeared serially in Te Daily News, for publication in book form by Messrs. Harper Bros. in the early autumn. “The Desire of the Nations,” by Mary A. Mocatta, is a simple attempt written for educated children to illustrate from Old Testament history preparation for the Incarnation and continuity of worship. The price of the work, which Messrs. Mowbray are publishing, is 5s. Messrs. Jarrold & Sons have just issued a cheap edition of “The Poets Laureate,” by J.C. Wright. It contains an additional chapter on the present laureate, Mr. Alfred Austin, and is thus brought up to date. “Sir Claude Mannerley,” by Edith C. Kenyon, will be published by Messrs. Ward, Lock & Co. on the 3rd of March. Miss Kenyon’s last book, “ A Girl in a Thousand,” is still on sale. Its pub- lishers, Messrs. S. W. Partridge & Co., have secured Miss Kenyon’s promise to write them another tale for the autumn. “The Brooches of many Nations,” by Harriet A. Heaton, edited by J. Potter Briscoe, has been published by Murray’s Nottingham Book Company. The author has devoted herself to the study of the history, art and symbolism of brooches, and the evolution of the brooch as traced from the bone pins found in British barrows of the stone age and in remains ofa later period. She deals with the brooches of countries as widely divergent as Assyria, Egypt, Scandinavia, Greece, Rome, and the British Isles. “The Problem of Fiorenzo di Lorenzo of Perugia,” a critical and historical study by Jean Carlyle Graham, which has been published by Messrs. Loescher at the price of 21s., has been well reviewed in the Italian journals Nuova Anthologia, Roma Letteraria, L’ Unione Liberale, and L’ Italie. “The Voice of the Fathers,” by S. T. A. Caul- feild, will shortly be published by Messrs. Brown, The work, to which the Right Langham & Co, THE AUTHOR. 157 Hon. the Viscount Halifax contributes an intro- duction, deals with the doctrine and ritual of the first six centuries. The notice that appeared in The London Gazette to the effect that 7'he Monthly Review had been voluntarily wound up does not mean, as many people thought, that the Review has ceased to appear. ‘This is the legal formula by which the Review ceases to be the property of a limited liability company. It is now, we understand, the property of Mr. John Murray, by whom it will be published as before. “A Country Diary,” by Mrs. Alfred Cock, has been published by Mr. Geo. Allen at the price of 6s. The book contains three stories, into all of which the supernatural element enters. Mr. Charles Lowe’s novel of the Tuileries and the Siege of Paris has been published by Mr. T. Werner Laurie. The tale is called «A Lindsay Love,” and depicts French Court life. The two final volumes of Mr, E. V. Lucas’s edition of the Lamb writings will be issued in a few days by Messrs. Methuen. They consist of the “ Letters,” about which Mr. Lucas says, in his preface :— ‘In this edition of the correspondence of Charles Lamb, that of his sister, Mary Lamb, is for the first time included. In it also appear, for the first time, between seventy and eighty letters, many of them of the highest importance ; and it is’ the first edition to take note in chronological order of those letters printed by other editors that are not available for the present volumes—a step which should, I think, add to the correspondence’s biographical value.’ The Literary World, which since 1867 has been published as a penny weekly, is now published as an illustrated threepenny monthly. The first issue appeared in February. A serial entitled “ Roger Temple,” by Norman Gale, is ramning through its pages. Mr. Norman Gale has been a constant writer in the Literary World during past years. Mr. Ernest Thompson Seton, the author of “Wild Animals I have Known,” is publishing through Messrs. Constable & Co. a new book entitled “ Monarch, the Big Bear of Tallac”’ The work will contain one hundred drawings by the author. Miss Olive Katharine Parr has just completed a book of short stories entitled “ Back Slum Idyls.” Though in the form of fiction, they are all fact, observed during her mother’s unusual experiences as honorary prison visitor to three of H.M. prisons and guardian of the poor of a large London parish. : Messrs. Macmillan & Co. make some interesting announcements in connection with the new series of “ English Men of Letters”? which has been for some time in course of publication. Mr. Stephen Gwynn’s life of Thomas Moore has been issued. 8 Mr. Arthur C. Benson has completed his monograph on Edward Fitzgerald for this series, and it is now in the press. Messrs. Macmillan have now added “The Manceuvres of Jane” to their uniform edition of the plays of Mr. Henry Arthur Jones. A cheaper edition, price s., of Carl Swerdua’s” (Miss ©. C. Andrews) novel, ‘On London Stones,” is to be issued shortly by Messrs. James Clarke & Co., under the amended title of “A Town Romance ; or, On London Stones.” A new work by the same writer, entitled “The Penance of Penelope,” will be published imme- diately by Messrs. William Stevens, first as a serial and later in book form. «“ Mollentrave on Women,” by Alfred Sutro, was produced at the St. James’s Theatre on February 13th. The play ismainly concerned with the various schemes, of a matrimonial nature, engineered by Mollentrave, a character portrayed by Mr. Hric Lewis, whose pet delusion—a profound knowledge of women—retained by him to the conclusion of the piece, causes complications which, however, are set right at the fall of the curtain. Mr. Sydney Grundy’s new play, “The Diplo- matists,” mounted at the Royalty Theatre on February 11th, and described as a farce in two acts, deals with the attempt of two neighbouring families to maintain an appearance unwarranted by their pecuniary position, each to persuade the other of the advantages of an alliance between them. Itis an adaptation from the French. A further play by a member of the Society— Captain Robert Marshall’s “Lady of Leeds ’— appeared at Wyndham’s Theatrein the middle of last month. ‘The piece deals with the determination of three rejected suitors to be revenged upon a lady who has refused each of their advances, and, incidentally, affords Mr. Weedon Grossmith scope for the exercise of his drollery. Mr. R. ©. Carton’s play, “ Mr. Hopkinson,” appeared at the Avenue Theatre on Tuesday, February 21st. Miss Compton took the leading part as “The Duchess of Braceborough,” and Mr. Frederick Kerr acted as “The Duke.” We understand that Mrs. Humphry Ward’s play written in collaboration with Mr. Louis N. Parker, entitled “ Agatha,” will be produced by Mr. ‘Tree on the afternoon of March 7th. The performance will be given on behalf of the Princess Mary’s Village Homes, and the Princess of Wales has promised to be present. Mr. Granville Barker, of the Stage Society, and Mr. J. E. Vedrenne, have arranged for a further series of matinées at the Court Theatre at the beginning of March. Among the plays to be produced will be Mr. Bernard Shaw’s burlesque of himself, ‘ How he lied to her husband.” THE AUTHOR. PARIS NOTES. Oe € A Vie Future,” by Louis Elbé, is a most L interesting book, and the work of a thinker and savant. The author tells us that the object of his researches has been to study the problem of the survival of the human soul, as taught by the philosophers of ancient times and by the traditions handed down from distant ages, and to consider all this by the light of modern science. With the greatest competence and the most abso- lute impartiality M. Elbé gives us a brief sketch of the various beliefs and religions dating from the most remote ages of civilisation. He then touches on the various sciences from astronomy to experi- mental psychology, and the historical and scientific arguments which justify faith in another life, but although he shows us clearly that modern science does not destroy the hypothesis of a future life, he admits that it cannot give any idea as to what the future life will be. As the titles of some of the chapters will show, this book is not one to be scanned hastily. It requires careful reading, and is well worth studying from the first line to the last. The first part of the volume is devoted to “The Wisdom of the Ancients,” and the various chapters are “‘ L’idée de la survivance dans les civilisations antiques,” “ Tra- ditions et monuments préhistoriques,” ‘ Les peu- plades sauvages,” ‘Les Chinois,” “Les Egyptiens,” ‘Les Hindous,” “ Les Chaldéens,” ‘* Les Gaulois,” “Les Juifs,” ‘‘ Les Grecs,” ‘ Les Romains,” “ Le Christianisme,” ‘‘ L’immortalité conditionnelle dans les églises protestantes,”’ ‘Le spiritisme et la théosophie.’ The second part of the book treats of ‘‘ Modern Science,” and is divided into the chapters following: ‘‘ Déductions tirées des sciences fondamentales,”’ “ L’astronomie,” “ La terre dans Punivers,” “Les sciences physiques,” “ La perman- ence de la matiére et de l’énergie,” “ Les sciences physiques et chimiques,” “ La conception de l’éther dans la constitution de la matiére et les mani- festations de l’énergie,” ‘Sciences physiques et mécaniques,” ‘Le réle de I’éther dans l’univers,” “ Biologie,” “ La matiére et la vie,” ‘ Le tourbillon vital,” ‘‘Les fronti¢res de la science,” “ Le fluide odique,” “ L’éxtériorisation du double fluidique,” ‘Manifestations 4 grandes distances,” ‘ La télé- pathie,” “Examen des hypothéses propos¢es,” ‘“* Conclusions.” The great argument which M. Elbé brings forward to support his theory is “the law of | permanence which governs all the manifestations — We must conclude,” he says, “that this law could not allow conscious force to perish when we see with what incorruptible fidelity _ of universal life. it watches over the preservation of the minutest ee THE AUTHOR. material atom, the transformation of physical energy, and the registering of accomplished facts.” The review published by Messrs. Hachette, Za Vie Heureuse, has awarded a prize for the best book written recently by a woman. Most of the promi- nent French authoresses were on the jury, so that their works could not be taken into consideration. The idea of this scheme must therefore be to bring to the front writers who are not well known. Among the members of the jury were Mmes. Arvéde Barine, Blanc-Bentzon, Pierre de Coulevain, Judith Gautier, Damel Lesueur, Marcelle Tinayre. The prize was awarded to Myriam Harry for her novel “Ta Conquéte de Jérusalem,” a book which attracted great attention at the time of its publi- cation. Myriam Harry’s first volume was a collection of short stories entitled ‘‘ Passage de Bédouins,” published in 1899. The subjects are ali taken from Oriental life, and the writer has succeeded in getting the atmosphere of the places she describes into her stories. Myriam Harry’s next book was “ Petites Hpouses,” an exquisitely written idyll, the subject of which is the love-affair of a Frenchman and a young Annamite girl during the sojourn of the former at Saigon. This book is an extremely clever psychological study. The mentality of the child-wife, Frisson de Bambou, with her mingled simplicity and subtlety is most delicately portrayed, while the influence of environ- ment on the character of the European is, in itself, an interesting subject. In “La Conquéte de Jerusalem” the authoress gives us a graphic de- scription of the Jerusalem of to-day. Hélie Jamain ig a young Frenchman whose great-uncle had accompanied Chateaubriand to Palestine, and had brought back with him all kinds of curious relics and souvenirs from the Holy Land. Hélie, from his earliest childhood, had dreamed of Jerusalem, and had pictured himself there as a Crusader, a pilgrim, or a martyr. Later on, when he had finished his education, travelled in various countries and lived long enough in Egypt to learn Arabic and to know something of the manners and customs of Oriental people, he decides to go to Jerusalem. Some Lazarist priests had fired him with enthusi- asm and endeavoured to persuade him into under- taking a mission to the Holy Land, where the Church of Rome had lost its prestige. After a short sojourn in Jerusalem, Hélie begins to lose faith in being able to accomplish the task he has in view. In this country, from which the whole world had received its charitable and holy inspira- tions, he now finds the greatest religious intolerance, jealousy, and hatred. “On all sides people were praying and disputing. They no longer sang in order to praise God, but to drown the voices of those who held another creed and to prevent them being heard in Heaven.” We are told that “No 159 one in Jerusalem belongs to a country but to a religion, no one adheres to a class, but to a creed. All the different beliefs are equally detested, but everyone admits this reciprocal hatred, and respects the fanaticism of his neighbour,” so that Hélie comes to the conclusion that the only man who would be universally despised in Jerusalem would be a just and tolerant individual with broad views, who recognised what was good in every different religion and creed. In the ghetto quarter Hélie is looked upon with suspicion, as he has ventured to suggest certain innovations, and one night he is found lying in a deserted street wounded and unconscious. He is taken to the nearest hospital, which happens to be one founded by Protestants. Hélie during his convalescence falls in love with one of the nurses, the daughter of an Alsatian pastor, and a few weeks later marries her. The chief interest of the story lies in the psychological study of this man imbued with all the poetry and idealism of the Catholic religion and the Latin race. His wife, Cécile, has all the positivism and narrowness of a Calvinist, so that it is only in rare moments that there is any true communion between them. Hélie is persuaded by Cécile to adopt her religion, and his existence from thenceforth is one long mental combat and a series of disappointments. There is a great fascination about the book, but one closes it considerably disillusionised on the subject of modern Jerusalem. After the celebrated exhibition of paintings by the French early masters, M. Henri Bouchot’s study, “Les Primitifs Francais” (1292—1500) is very apropos. 'The author gives many details about the various artists, and particularly about Jean Perréal. Among the recent books are “ Histoire de la guerre Russo-Japonaise,” by M. Gaston Donnet ; “Le Reveil de la nation arabe dans I’Asie Turque,” by Negib Azoury. * Reliquoe” is a posthumous publication of a collection of stories and descriptions of voyages, by M. Louis Guéry, with a preface by M. Edouard Rod and M. Stryienski. M. Guéry died last year at the age of twenty-three, and had already published two novels, “Le plus heureux Temps de la vie,” and ‘“ L’Autre Voie.” “Ta Rose du Bocage,” by Francois Casale, is a novel dating back to the time of the First Consulate. “La Valise Diplomatique,” by Léon de Tinseau, is a volume of short stories, the scene of most of them being laid in the East. “ Les Sophistes Francais et la Révolution,” by M. Th. Funck-Brentano. “‘Madame Récamier et ses amis,” by Edouard Henriot ; © Un ouvrage inédit de M. de Staél,” by Edouard Henriot ; “ Histoire de l’Emigration,” 160 by Ernest Daudet ; ‘La Princesse Charlotte de Rohan et le Duc d’Enghien,” by Jacques de la Faye ; “ Classification sociale,” by Edmond Demolins ; ‘ L’Etat social de lAvenir,” by Professor Bilz; “ Une vie d@’ Officier Russe,” by Colonel Vereschaguine; ‘“ La Vie de Paris,” by Jean Bernard. M. F. Brunetiére is now giving a course of lectures on “The History of Free Thought in the Kighteenth Century, or the Encyclopedistes.” In La Nouvelle Revue, a diplomatist writes on ‘Les Ambitions du Japon.”” M. de Pouvourville in an article on “ L’Armée moderne et ses cadres,” discusses the reforms to be made in the army. In La Quinzaine, Henry Madeleine writes on “TL’Esprit militaire des officiers allemands.” M. Goyau continues his study of “ Fébronianisme et Joséphisme.” In the Revue des Deus Mondes there is an article by Général de Négrier, ‘‘Le Moral des Troupes ” ; and Madame Arvede Barine continues her history of “‘ La Grande Mademoiselle.” In the Revue de Paris there is also an article, “A propos du Japon et de la Paix,” and in the Revue Philosophique, Charles Richet discusses the consequences of peace and war, arguing that war does not exalt the greatest virtues of a man. Madame Sarah Bernhardt is at present giving Victor Hugo’s ‘‘ Angelo.” At the Thédtre de l’Oeuvre, M. Lugné Poe has just recently given “ La Gioconda,” ‘* Maison de Poupée,” “ Phedre,” and “ La Fille de Jorio.” M. Bour, of “ Alleliiia’ fame, has come to the front as an actor-manager. We have mentioned in The Author his various enterprises and his great success as an interpreter of some of the chief roles in the plays he has introduced in France. We have to thank him for the opportunity of having seen some excellent Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and German plays, and he is now about to found a theatre for the poets, and to do for idealism what Antoine has done for naturalism. M. Bour is at present playing “Cadet Roussel,” by Jacques Richepin, at the Bouffes-Parisiens, and a subscription has been raised in order to subsidise that theatre for him. One of the greatest successes of the month has been “La Retraite,” the German play, by M. Beyerler, which is now running at the Vaudeville. It is a study of German military life, and curiously enough there is only one woman’s role in the whole play. The piece has been admirably translated by M.M. Rémon and Valentin, and it was awaited impatiently here. At one time it was thought that it would be difficult to put it on in France, as French actors might not be willing to appear in German uniforms. Auys HALLARD. THE AUTHOR. NOTES ON AGREEMENTS. —_+-—<—+—__ TY is some months since any agreement has I been put forward for criticism in the columns of The Author. There are certain agreements which come before the Secretary from time to time, and which, in con- sequence, need repeated explanation. It need not necessarily follow that agreements will work out badly, even if they are badly drawn. LHverything, in these circumstances, must depend upon the methods of the publisher, but a badly drawn agree- ment in the hands of a publisher who desires to take the utmost advantage of his legal position is necessarily disastrous to the author. It is in order that the author may be able to see clearly, before entering into an agreement, what terms he could safely accept, that it is advantageous from time to time to criticise forms of contract. It is necessary to draw attention to the wording in the description of the parties to the agreement printed below. ‘‘ Whereby it is mutually agreed between the parties hereto for themselves and their respective executors, administrators, and assigns or successors, as the case may be.” It is most unsatisfactory to contract with the successors or assigns of a publishing house. Many members of the Society are beginning to find, in the case of a recent bankruptcy, how awkward their position is when they have entered into these terms with a publisher. A publishing contract should be a personal contract, and authors should always endeavour to keep it so, in spite of what pub- lishers may say to the contrary. In Clause 1 the words “with due diligence ” are very indefinite. It should be clearly stated that the book should be on the market before a certain date. In many cases this is of importance, as pay- ments are made on the date of publication. The form in which the book is to be produced, and the price at which it is to sell to the public should be definitely mentioned, and the publisher should also be bound to produce a first edition of at least 1,500 copies in the form and at the price agreed upon. The second Clause is, in some respects, not unreasonable, as in many cases the author is the only person who can tell whether a book is an infringement of copyright or contains anything libellous, but although he should guarantee the publisher against expenses which have been. incurred owing to his (the author’s) neglect, he should not be responsible for any costs which may be taken or incurred by the publisher. This clause might lead the author into unknown diffi- culties, should the publisher without proper advice, take action to protect the work from alleged infringement. ii as es _ cism. Clause 8 is much too wide and comprehensive, and in the hands of a bad publisher has been utilised with disastrous effect against the author. The last part of the clause from “ and the author shall not” down to ‘“‘dramatised version of the work” should be entirely deleted. Cases have been known where the publisher has refused to give his consent unless he received 50 per cent. of the profits arising from the sale of translation rights—an absurd position, even if the sale of these rights have been negotiated through the publisher’s agency—and it is impossible to tell what he might ask in the case of a successful dramatic version. These rights of translation and dramatisation have nothing whatever to do with the publication of the book, and ought never, in any circumstances, to be under the control of the publisher. Although it is possible that the publisher, who has not negotiated the sale, may not desire to exercise his option, it is not equitable to the author that he should be given the option. It is not always satisfactory to let the equitable rights be settled by the business party to a contract. Clause 4, section A, cannot be too severely con- demned, as there is no stimulus to the publisher to sell beyond the 1,000 copies of the book or, count- ing 13 as 12, say 1,080 copies. Every clause is a mistake which places the publisher’s and author’s interests in opposition, and should the publisher see the sales dropping just as he is nearing the 1,000 copies, it is quite certain that he will not be in a hurry to sell the last 50; for he will be bound to pay the author a royalty from the begin- ning and on all further sales. If it were clear that the sale of 1,000 copies would fall far short of the expense incurred on cost of production, there might be some stimulus for the publisher to keep the book on the market, but the sale of 1,000 copies of the ordinary 6s. book and subject to no royalties would not only cover all expenses, but bring back a good 50 per cent. on the capital invested. In some circumstances it might be better for the pocket of the author and for the circulation of the book to have a royalty from the 1,001st copy only, than to agree to the clause just under criti- In the hands of an unscrupulous publisher it is not impossible that only 1,100 copies would be printed, and the type then broken up. The next point arises under Section B. of the Same clause. A royalty is to be paid on the published price of all copies sold to America, 13 being reckoned as 12. About twenty years ago it was customary for all publishers to pay English authors a royalty on all Copies sold, and it was on this basis that the profits ‘quoted in the “Cost of Production” and “ Methods of Publishing ” issued by the Society were based. ‘The publishers, however, owing to their desire to THE AUTHOR. 161 make larger profits, complained bitterly that they should be forced to pay royalty on copies that were not actually sold but given away, for they stated that the thirteenth copy was really given in with the twelve others. The authors, instead of meeting this position with a stiff back, gradually gave way to what appeared a reasonable argument, and the point in many cases has been yielded. It is hoped, however, that in consequence, they ob- tained higher royalties, as there was no real basis for the cutting down of 8 per cent. of their profits. The publishers’ appeal to the author that it was unfair that they should have to pay royalty on copies that were not sold, may, or may not, have been sound, but in the Clause referred to above, the publisher has reversed this process, and is asking the author to consent to a royalty payment on 13 as 12 when the books are not sold 13 as 12. It is true that many sales on the English market are made in this way, but at the lowest, from 10 per cent. to 20 per cent. are not, so that the pub- lisher gains a small advantage. Butin the sale of books to the United States, they are never sold 13 as 12. If, therefore—according to the publisher’s own argument—it is unfair for the author to demand a royalty on every copy from the publisher when the books are sold 13 as 12, it is unfair for the publisher to ask the author to receive a royalty on 13 as 12 when the books are not sold according to this calculation. In consequence authors should be careful to see in a clause dealing with sales to America that the reference to 13 as 12 is deleted. Section C of the same clause, again, is full of pitfalls. Who is to decide whether copies of the book are sold at a reduced rate. Frequently, when large quantities of the book are bought an extra discount is given to the purchaser. In fact, a case came before the Secretary in which a publisher claimed the payment of the lower royalty, because he had consented to make one of the largest sales of the book at what he was pleased to call a reduced rate. When asale is made to the Colonies it is generally made in sheets, and a reduced royalty is generally paid, but everything must depend even then upon the method of sale and the price the publisher obtains; on remainder sales the reduction in royalty is fair. In Section D of the same clause one or two points of serious interest to authors arise. In no circumstances should the author allow the pub- lisher to deai with serial or Continental rights. If no clause of this kind were inserted and the publisher received an offer for the book from a cor- respondent, or from someone who desired to use the serial rights, he would, if his business were conducted on proper lines, with due courtesy, com- municate direct with the author, who would be willing or unwilling to accept the proposal. If 162 willing, he would gladly pay the ordinary agency charge of 10 per cent. to the publisher. It is true that the publisher cannot deal without the consent of the author, but then on the other hand the author is bound to pay the enormous charge of 50 per cent., which is utterly absurd, as agents are willing to undertake this kind of business for much more moderate charges. Sections E and F are comparatively unobjectionable. Clauses 5 and 7 must be taken together. They do not apply to the ordinary work of fiction, and should, therefore, be deleted, but in a con- tract for the sale of an educational or scientific work they are of the utmost importance, and it should not lie in the power of the publisher to demand the alteration or amendment of the work from the author, but it should be at the option of the author to amend or alter his work as the demands of the public or the evolution of his subject may require. He should be able, therefore, to re-edit the work at certain stated periods—after the sale of a given number of copies, or at the end of a given time. It is most important that the author should retain this control, and the publisher should’ be bound to accept such alteration or cancel the contract. Concerning Clause 6 little need be said, except to point out under this contract the amount allowed for corrections is low, and the author should, therefore, be exceedingly careful not to run up this item. Clause 8 may pass without comment. In Clause 9 the accounts should be rendered semi-annually. Under the arrangement put forward, if the book was issued at the end of January—not at all an unfavourable period at which to issue books—the publisher would retain the author’s money for nearly a year. This might be very unsatisfactory. In Clause 10 the stock and plates should be taken over ata valuation, and not at a fixed price, as they may be useless when the author desires to purchase them. Strong objection should be raised to Clause 11. Not only is arbitration as a rule more expensive for the author, but it saves the publisher from that publicity which he is often anxious to shun. Whereas, if the publisher has treated the author unfairly or unreasonably, the Public Courts are the best places in which to discuss the point, and the publicity which is given to such treatment will act as a warning to the other members of the publishing trade. Clause 12 should be deleted. The reasons for this were pointed out at the beginning of the article. Everyone should read exceedingly carefully the comments which have been made on this agree- ment, in case he may at any time have similar terms before him. For when a legal document THE AUTHOR. between two parties is signed, there is no further dispute possible, and it is unsatisfactory to throw yourself on the generosity of the other party. AGREEMENT, Memorandum of agreement made this between hereinafter termed the author of the one part, and (hereinafter termed the publisher of the other part). Whereby it is mutually agreed between the parties hereto, for themselves and their respective executors. administrators and assigns (or successors as the case may be) as follows :— 1. The publisher shall at his own expense and with due diligence produce and publish a work at present entitled “ ” by the author and use his best endeavours to sell the same. 2. The author guarantees to the publisher that the said work is in no way whatever a violation of any existing copyright, and that it contains nothing of a libellous or scandalous character, and that he will indemnify the pub- lisher from all suits, claims and proceedings, damages and costs which may be made,.taken, or incurred by or against him on the ground that the work is an infringement of copyright, or contains anything libellous or scandalous. 3. The publisher shall during the legal term of copyright have the exclusive right of producing and publishing the: work in England, the Colonies, and the United States of America. The publisher shall have the entire control of the publication, sale, and terms of sale of the book, and the author shall not during the continuance of this agree- ment (without the consent of the publisher) publish any abridgment, translation, or dramatised version of the work. 4, The publisher agrees to pay the author the following royalties ; that is to say :-— (a) A royalty of per cent. on the published price of all copies (13 being reckoned as 12) of the British edition sold, provided always that in the event of less than 1,000 copies being sold no royalty whatever shall be paid, and that till the sales exceed 1,000 copies no advance on: account of royalties shall be made (13 copies to be reckoned as 12 throughout). (b) A royalty of on the published price of all copies. (13 being reckoned as 12) of the American edition, (c) In the event of the publisher disposing of copies or editions at a reduced rate for sale in the Colonies, or else- where, or as remainders, a royalty of per cent. of the: amount realised by such sale. (d) In the event of the publisher realising profits from the sale, with the consent of the author, of serial or con- tinental rights, or from claims for infringement of copy- right, a royalty of fifty per cent. of the net amount of such: profits remaining after deducting all expenses relating thereto. (e) No royalties shall be paid on any copies given away for review or other purposes. (£) The author shall be entitled to six gratuitous copies, and any further copies required at trade price. 5. The author agrees to revise the first, and, if necessary,. to edit and revise every subsequent edition of the work, and from time to time to supply any new matter that may be needful to keep the work up to date. 6. The author agrees that all costs of corrections and alterations in the proof sheets exceeding twenty per cent. of the cost of composition shall be deducted from the royalties payable to him. 7. In the event of the author neglecting to revise an edition after due notice shall have been given to him, or in the event of the author being unable to do so by reason of death or otherwise, the expense of revising and preparing” such future edition for press shall be borne by the author,. and shall be deducted from the royalties payable to him. day of THE AUTHOR. 8. During the continuance of this agreement the copy- right of the work shall be vested in the author, who may be registered as the proprietor thereof accordingly. 9. The publisher shall make up the account annually to December the thirty-first and deliver the same to the author within two months thereafter, and pay the balance due to the author on the same date. 10. If the publisher shall at the end of three years from the date of publication or at any time thereafter, give notice to the author that in his opinion the demand for the work has ceased, or if the publisher shall for six months after the work is out of print decline or, after due notice, neglect to publish a new edition, then and in either of such cases this agreement shall terminate, and on the determina- tion of this agreement in the above or any other manner, the right to print and publish the work shall revert to the author, and the author, if not then registered, shall be entitled to be registered as the proprietor thereof, and to purchase from the publisher forthwith the plates or moulds and engravings (if any) produced specially for the work at half cost of production, and whatever copies the pub- lisher may have on hand at cost of production and if the author does not within three months purchase and pay for the said plates or moulds, engravings and copies the pub- lisher may at any time thereafter dispose of such plates or moulds, engravings and copies, or melt the plates, paying to the author in lieu of royalties ten per cent. of the net proceeds of such sale, unless the publisher can prove from his books that the publication has resulted in a loss to him in which case he shall be liable for no such payment. 11. If any difference shall arise between the author and the publisher touching the meaning of this agreement, or the rights or liabilities of the parties thereunder, the same shall be referred to the arbitration of two persons (one to be named. by each party) or their umpire in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1889. 12. The term “publisher” throughout this agreement shall be deemed to include the person or persons or com- pany for the time being carrying on the business of the said and under as well its present as any future style, and the benefit of this agreement shall be transmissible accordingly. As witness the hands of the parties. —>— LITERARY YEAR BOOK.* [Second Notice. | GENERAL REVIEW. <6 HERE is nothing so difficult,” wrote Dr. Johnson, “as the art of making advice agreeable.” In the friendliest spirit, we offered, last year, a lengthy criticism of the eighth edition of this work, believing that, if advantage were taken of the hints we gave, the result would be profitable to the publishers and especially to the immense community to which a good “ Literary Year Book” would appeal, for there is no reason why authors and journalists should not have, year by year, as reliable a handbook as the Peerage possess in “ Dod” or the Clergy in “ Crockford.” * «¢The Literary Year Book and Bookman’s Directory, 1905,” 9th annual volume. Routledge. 163 But, although the new edition of the “ Literary Year Book” has been sent us to review, it would appear that advice is not wanted, and that appro- bation only is desired, for whilst we gave the book a bucketful of the former last year, the publishers Sa been contented with using a mere tea-spoonful of it. With all deference we suggested that upwards of a dozen well-known authors whose names we mentioned might find a place in the 1905 edition. We cited the works they were best known by. Neither these authors, under the alphabetical list, nor their books, under the “new” Index of Titles, are to be found. The mistakes in London news- paper addresses which we pointed out remain. In the Calendar we pleaded that the English poet William Shenstone might have his birthday noted. We fail to find it in the new edition, although it is usually given as 18th November, 1714. On the other hand, our recommendations which have been adopted include the leaving out of the “Survey of Bookland,” and the signed Resumé of English literature in the preceding year. The suggestion that the book, in order to reduce its bulk, might be printed on thinner paper, has also been taken advantage of. But we certainly never suggested that the Index should be deleted. Strange to say, this is omitted in the 1905 edition, although a page headed ‘ Index to Advertisers ’ is retained! A better advertisement for the book itself would have been to have increased the copiousness of the former alphabetical lists of sub- jects at the end of the book, a table of contents at the beginning being of less use than were the six columns in smaller type affixed to former editions. Onr suggestion that the usefulness of the “ Year Book ” would be increased, if a Catalogue Raisonné, or list of books classified under Theology, History, Travel, Fiction, and so forth were included, has been adopted. InpEX oF TITLES. An “ Index of Titles” has also been incorporated. But we never anticipated, when recommending it, that books published over thirty years ago would be enumerated in such a catalogue, so as to form a supplement occupying 235 pages. If the compilers had borrowed a catalogue of titles, covering that period, from any of the large Public Libraries, it would have been far better than the supplement before us, which is anything but complete. In future years it is to be hoped that the ‘Index of Titles” will be confined to the books published during the preceding twelve months. The useful list of artists and book illustrators, which only occupied twelve pages, and the lists of literary Clubs (another four pages) can then again be included. 164 THE AUTHOR. Oprtuary, 1904. In the Obituary section last year, we noted the omission of six names of writers of importance. On glancing through the list given this time, no fewer than seven names occur to us which ought to have beeninserted. They are as follows :—Charles Williams, the well-known journalist and war correspondent, who died February 9th ; Samuel Capper, author of “ Wanderings in War Time,” etc. (died, April 8th) ; Edwin Hodder, author of * Life of the VIIth. Earl of Shaftsbury,” ete. (died, March 1st); Julian Sturgis, the novelist and opera librettist (April 13th); W. F. Collier, LL.D., author of Histories of Great Britain, Ireland, Rome, Greece, etc. (November 25th) ; Adeline Sergeant, the distinguished novelist (December 5th) ; and Norman Mac Coll, author of ‘Greek Sceptics from Pyrrho to Sextus,” etc., and editor of the Athenwum from 1869 to 1901 (December 15th). PERIODICAL PUBLICATIONS. Last year we pointed out that the list of periodi- cal publications needed more careful revision, and that the London addresses of the Belfast News Letter, Daily Dispatch, Newcastle Chronicle, Norfolk Chronicle, etc., had been changed. Yet the editor of the new “ Year Book” has not taken the trouble to put such matters right. The same old list, with very few changes, reappears. It begins with the Aberdeen Evening Gazette, Aberdeen Free Press, Aberdeen Journal, and Aberdeen We eekly News. This is an unfair proportion to give to the “Granite City,” considering that there is no men- tion of any Brighton paper, nor of such important organs as the Northern Whig, of Belfast, the great Presbyterian weekly the Witness, of Belfast, nor the old-established Cork Eaaminer. Surely these periodicals are of more importance to authors, as far as reviews are concerned, than the Alerandra Library of Complete Novels, price 1d. each, to which prominence is given. To the professional literary man, what, again, is the use of adver- tising the Alpine Journal, to which contributions are invited, and the words no payment are appended ? Although the Anglo-Russian is given five lines, the Anglo-Japanese Gazette (39, Seething Lane) is left out. Why occupy valuable space, moreover, by inserting an annnal like the Charities’ Register and Digest, which is of no use to authors, or the Anthropological Institute Journal, price £1 per annum? And if these are notified, why omit the quarterly Archwological Journal? In the name of common sense, what sane author would submit MSS. to the Army and Militia List, issued annually, price £1 1s. ? Surely, if this is inserted, the Army and Navy Chronicle, price 6d. monthly, should have been included. At all events, the defunct Naval and Military Magazine need not have been noted. ‘There seems to have been no method in choosing periodicals for this list, in- tended to be of service to writers. The Art Annuals, published once in twelve months, are noted, but the Art Decorator, an_ illustrated monthly, price 1s., is left out. ‘It is most im- portant,” says the introduction to this list of periodicals, “ to use discretion and judgment in the matter of submitting MSS.,” but neither discretion nor judgment seem to have been used in compiling this section. The Australian Handbook, a useful annual in its way, price 10s. 6d., isno more in need of outside literary contributions than is Kelly’s London Directory. Since motoring has become so much written about, it is difficult to understand why the Aufomotor Journal should have been for- gotten. The Bankers’ Magazine, price 1s. 6d. monthly, is mentioned, but the Weekly Bankers’ Journal is omitted. Surely the Boudoir, published monthly, of which no mention is made, is of more service—especially to women writers—than the Botanical Gazette or the British Empire Year Book. Again, there is no mention of the Bur- lington Magazine, published on the first of the month, but the defunct British Realm and Animal Life ave given. Certain religious periodicals of little account are noted, but the Christian, published on Thursdays, which is a quarter of a century old and has a large circulation, is overlooked. The editor has been careful to notify two periodicals rejoicing in the title of Critic. But one gathers that he does not approve of the national pastime by his omission of Cricket, an old - established paper, and of the Cricket and Football Field, now in its eighteenth year. It is strange that while these periodicals are ignored, the Football Times, of Inverness, should be inserted! Of more service to writers than the latter paper would have been the inclusion of the Figaro and Irish Gentlewoman, a smart, if at times scurrilous, weekly, which solicits, nevertheless, outside contri- butions. Mr. C0. B. Fry—who has done, and is doing, much in a literary sense for healthy sport— surely will not bless the “Literary Year Book 2 for disregarding his remarkably successful illus- trated monthly magazine. The compiler, however, appears to think that a halfpenny weekly produc- tion entitled Funny Cuts is of more importance. Mr. E. Ledger is no longer editor of the Mra. Whilst the Gas World Year Book is drawn atten- tion to, we note that the Geological Magazine, — issued monthly since 1864, is left out. Itis evident that the compiler is not a Scot, as he has omitted the periodicals known as (olf Iilustrated, Golfing, etc., published weekly. Under the heading of “ Home,” the somewhat exclusive quarterly, Home a Counties Magazine, is carefully recorded, but Home THE AUTHOR. Words, a popular weekly, which has been in exist- ence twenty-five years and takes contributions, is omitted. ‘That, however, is of minor importance compared with the omission of the Illustrated Official Journal, published on Wednesdays, price 67., which is of great use to writers on scientific sub- jects, recording, as it does, the latest patented inventions. Under “I” we note the omission of Trish Society, which has a special London letter, and is read all over Ireland. “Mrs, E. Mac- donald”’ no longer edits the Ladies’ Field. An- other injustice to Japan is the exclusion here of the Japanese Journal of Commerce, published both in Tokio and London. Although the Journal of the Ex-Libris Society is given, the more important Journal of Botany, British and Foreign, published since 1863, is left out. No doubt the #x-Libris Journal, of Plymouth, is admirable in its way, but surely the Journal of the Society of Arts does not deserve to be shelved. Ainy and Country, we believe, is no longer published, although it is given here. The “ Literary Year Book” (which the reader presumably possesses) is, of course, carefully in- cluded, but the quarterly magazine, known as Legal Literature, which has done good work since 1899, is regarded as of no account. After that, one can quite understand why the London Argus, a well - known weekly dealing with municipal life (8, New Bridge Street) is left out, but a German paper, the Londoner Anzeiger, is left in. With the ** M.’s”’ one comes to the musical papers, of which we gave a considerable list of omissions last year. As not one of those papers has been inserted in this list, it is waste of space to pursue this care- lessly drawn-up compilation any further. Before leaving this section, however, we would add that an improvement on the “1904 Year Book” is made in the short paragraphs attached to certain of the periodicals as a guide to the contributor. This, nevertheless, has been more systematically done in the Writer’s Year Book (price 1s.), in which, wherever possible, indications are given of the actual rate of payment for contributions, when payment is made, if a preliminary letter is required, whether the contributor is expected to send in an account, the day and hour when contributors are interviewed, and other useful information. But even in the Writer’s Year Book one vital matter is overlooked. It is of great importance to an author that publishers and editors should give information as to the approximate time they require for the reading of books and articles submitted to them. The irresponsible way in which this is done at present is often most unjust to the literary man. An editor who invites outside contributions, or a publisher who accepts manuscripts to read, over- looks the fact that he is in the same position as a person who receives goods on approval, and that 165 he is under a moral (if not legal) obligation to return those goods without delay and in proper condition, should he decide not to buy them. The long waiting to which authors are unfairly sub- jected would not be tolerated by a publisher’s or editor’s tailor or bootmaker. Yet whereas coats or boots may not be depreciated in value by being kept, it often happens that articles not promptly returned lose their value, and the wrong is further aggravated when type-written sheets come back dog’s-eared and soiled, so that it is impossible for the author to submit them elsewhere. Literary men of experience may know those firms that are the greatest sinners in this respect and avoid them. Publishers of enterprise, therefore, who conduct their business on methodical lines, would find it to their advantage to state, approximately, the period of time they require to make up their minds whether to reject or accept MSS. A correspondent points out how carefully, in this 1905 Year Book,” the word editor has been printed ‘‘ editress,” to indicate a female editor, the only instance where the affix has not been altered being in the case where the rédacteuse is a “countess,” the “ess” in countess apparently sufficing for both substantives. ForEIGN PUBLISHERS. The same correspondent remarks that “ the list of Foreign Publishers is very incomplete.” It isa pity that Mr. David Nutt or Messrs. Dulau were not consulted on such a subject. For instance, under the heading “Switzerland” (p. 448), not a single publishing firm of Geneva or Neufchatel is mentioned ; whilst under “ Italy,” the publishing houses of Rome are overlooked. LIBRARIES. This section (commencing on p. 572) has been amplified, and now contains much valuable informa- tion. In place of eight pages in the “1904 Year Book,” it here occupies 32 pages, entries regarding the cathedral and college libraries, as well as pro- vincial collections, being most acceptable. It is to be hoped that the list of foreign libraries in the tenth edition of this “ Year Book” will be done more justice to in the same way. Paris—it is a truism to say—is better provided than London or any other city with great public libraries. Besides the Bibliothéque Nationale, there are four great libraries, each containing upwards of 120,000 volumes. Particulars of the many valuable collec- tions belonging to various learned and _ scientific societies throughout France would be of interest and value. As regards Germany, no mention is made of the Royal public libraries of the great towns, nor of the renowned book collections at Dresden, Stuttgart, Darmstadt, Gotha, Leipzig, 166 Gottingen and elsewhere. Of the many public libraries of Italy, there is not one word. This is not courteous either to Florence, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Rome, Milan, Venice, or Padua. Holland, as everyone knows, is a very “ booky” country, but it is invidious to mention the Royal Library of The Hague, and three other places, omitting Utrecht. Again, what about Belgium, with its magnificent libraries at Brussels, Ghent, and Liége ? Also, what about the libraries of Madrid, Lisbon, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Christiania? The deletion of the present “Index of Titles” padding should give plenty of space for such matters. Forrign ANNUALS. Writing from abroad, the same correspondent suggests that, in future, the title of each annual shoutd be given as published, and not be translated into English, when it is more difficult to recognise. This list, also, is sadly incomplete. Finally, it is not to be expected that any work of reference can be made perfect. Omissions must occur. Perhaps more allowance would have been made generally for the present edition of the “Literary Year Book” if it had not been announced with such a flourish of trampets. By the way it was advertised, writers expected at last to find that really reliable reference book they have so long desired to possess. Even as the shoe- maker is generally noted for wearing the worst ‘shoes, so, it appears, is the British author doomed to put up with a “ Year Book ” which falls short of what such a “year book” should be. But, accord- ing to Schiller, “ Hope is sent ¢0 the unfortunate.” As there are many unfortunate slips in the 1905 Year Book,” it will perhaps comfort the publishers to know that we fervently hope, and bid them resolve, that the tenth edition may be an improve- ment on the ninth. A. R, __¢—<—9-—__—_ MAGAZINE CONTENTS. FEBRUARY, 1905. BLACKWOOD’S MAGAZINE. The Renascence of Sycophancy. Mrs. John Hunter, The Surgeon’s Wife. By Flora Masson. Two Singers. Musings Without Method :— 1. Of the Making of Historians. 2. Disraeli’s First and Last Novels. BooKMAN. Cervantes and His Musterpiece. By Major Martin Hume, THE AUTHOR. The Hunting Ground of Don Quixote. By Henr. Bernard. j 7 Book MONTHLY. Gladstone as Bookman. Ambnassadors of Letters. A Children’s Library. CHAMBERS’ JOURNAL, The Memory of an Old Young Author. By W. W. Fenn. CONTEMPORARY REVIEW. The Bankruptcy of Higher Criticism. By Dr. Emil Reich. Plutarch the Humane. By Countess Martinengo Cesaresco. Patriotism and Christianity. By Augustine Birrell. THE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW. By Maurice Materlinck. By Horace B. Samuel. By J. Churton Collins. By John F. “ King Lear” in Paris. The Psychology of Disraeli. Greek at the Universities. French Life and the French Stage. Macdonald. THE INDEPENDENT REVIEW. How Long Halt Ye? By G. Lowes Dickinson. The Poetic Quality in Liberalism. By G. K. Chesterton. Side Lights on the Franciscans. By G. G. Coulton. MACMILLAN’S MAGAZINE. The Study of Colonial History at Oxford. By the Rey. Wm. Cresswell. “ Art and the Athlete.” By Martin Hardie. “ Sainte-Beuve.” By H. C. Medowall. MonrTH. By the Rev. John Gerrard. By Darley Dale. The Perogatives of Science. The Poems of William Nassington. MonTHLY REVIEW. The Papal Medals of the Italian Renaissance. By Earl Egerton of Tatton. Living Legends of the Fianna. By Lady Gregory. Counter Reformation Plots. By G. W. P. Religious Instruction in Primary Schools. Edward Bickersteth Otley. By the Rev. NATIONAL REVIEW. On the Proposal to Erect a Statue to Shakespeare in London. A Poem. By Alfred Austin. NINETEENTH CENTURY, Training the Youth of England. By General Lord Methuen. Compulsory Greek as a National Question. A Waning Glory of England. The Madrigal. By J. A. Fuller Maitland. PALL MALL MAGAZINE, Studies in Personality. The Lord Avebury and Mr, John Hare. By Herbert Vivian. TEMPLE BAR. Wordsworth in Somersel. By Miss Esther Hallam Moorhouse. There are no articles dealing with literary, dramatic or musical subjects in Cornhill, Longmans Magazine, or The World’s Work and Play. Seca ek THE AUTHOR. WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCER OF BOOKS. oo ERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an agreement. There are four methods of dealing with literary property :— I. Selling it Outright. This is sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be obtained. But the transaction should be managed by a competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of the Society. Il. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of agreement). In this case the following rules should be attended to: C1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro- duction forms a part without the strictest investigation. (2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise- ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements. (3.) Not to allow a special charge for “ office expenses,” unless the same allowance is made to the author. (4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental rights. (5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights. (6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher. As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or doctor ! III. The Royalty System. This is perhaps, with certain limitations, the best form of agreement. It is above all things necessary to know what the proposed royalty means to both sides, It is now possible for an author to ascertain approximately the truth. From time to time very important figures connected with royalties are published in Zhe Author. IY. A Commission Agreement. The main points are :— (1.) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production. (2.) Keep control of the advertisements. (3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book. General. All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four above mentioned. Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author. Never sign any agreement without competent advice from the Secretary of the Society. Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp. Avoid agreements by letter if possible. The main points which the Society has always demanded from the outset are :— (1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement means. (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. ge WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. eg EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com- petent legal authority. 2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for the production of a play with anyone except an established manager. 167 3. There are three forms of dramatic contra , in three or more acts :— Be (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 g7oss receipts in preference to the American system. Should obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed date on or before which the play should be performed. (c.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to perform on the basis of royalties (i.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 (0.) apply also in this case. 4, Plays in one act are often sold outright, but it is better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely important that the amateur rights of one-act plays should be reserved. 5. Authors should remember that performing rights can be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and time. This is most important. 6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is of great importance. 7. Authors should remember that performing rights in a play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot print the book of the words. 8. Never forget that United States rights may be exceed- ingly valuable. ‘hey 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. 66 WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS. <p 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 168 THE AUTHOR. should be especially careful therefore when entering into an agreement, and should take into part. cular consideration the warnings stated above. ———_+———_____—_ HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. —-—— — 1, VERY member has a right toask 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 have now arranged for the reception of members’ agreements and their preservation in a fire- proof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as confidential documents to be read only by the Secretary, who will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers: —(1) To read and advise upon agreements and to give advice concerning publishers. (2) To stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements. Fuller particulars of the Society’s work can be obtained in the Prospectus. 7. No contract should be entered into with a literary agent without the advice of the Secretary of the Society. Members are strongly advised not to accept without careful consideration the contracts with publishers submitted to them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit them for interpretation and explanation to the Secretary of the Society. 8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. must be done within fourteen days of first execution. Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members. This The 9. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from referring matters to the Secretary of the Society; so do some publishers. Members can make their own deductions and act accordingly. 10. The subscription to the Society is £1 14s. per annum, or £10 10s for life membership. TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS. —1—~<—+ —_ HE Society undertakes to stamp copies of music on behalf of its members for the fee of 6d. per 100 or part of 100. The members’ stamps are kept in the Society’s safe. The musical publishers communicate direct with the Secretary, and the voucher is then forwarded to the members, who are thus saved much unnecessary trouble. Ce et Se THE READING BRANCH. oe 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. —_—__——_-—<>—_2 —___—_. NOTICES. — HE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest 5s. 6d. subscription for the year. Communications for “The Author” should be addressed to the Offices of the Society, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey’s Gate, §.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. Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on all subjects connected with literature, but on no other subjects whatever. Every effort will be made to return articles which cannot be accepted. —— The Secretary of the Society begs to give notice that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and he requests members who do not receive an answer to important communications within two days to write to him without delay. All remittances should be crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered letter only. Se ag ee LEGAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY. 1 ENSIONS to commence at any selected age, either with or without Life Assurance, can be obtained from this society. Full particulars can be obtained from the City Branch Manager, Legal and General Life Assurance Society, 158, Leadenhall Street, London, H.C. THE AUTHOR. AUTHORITIES. ———+ —_ A VERY interesting point has been decided in France, dealing with the subject of musical repro- duction. Correspondents writing in the English papers state that quite a crisis has occurred in the phonograph trade by a judgment given in a Parisian court, which has placed a talking machine in the same category as an orchestra, with a result that all the instruments contrived for the repro- duction of popular songs and airs for which copyright is unpaid, owing to the fear of in- fringement, must be, for the present at any rate, silent until a fresh adjustment takes place. In the case of Roosey v. White tried in the English courts some time ago, perforated rolls of paper were sold, reproducing certain songs in which the plaintiff had copyright. It was con- tended for the plaintiff that these rolls were sheets or music under the Copyright Act of 1842, and for the defendants that they were strictly part of a machine, and in consequence, not within the scope of the Copyright Acts. Mr. Justice Stirling held that the Act of 1842, fairly construed, did not prevent the defendants from making and selling these rolls, so far as they contained perforations, but in adding to them words taken from the plaintiff’s music sheets, for the purpose of indicating to the player on the instrument the pace and expression at and with which the music ought to be played, the defendants had gone beyond their rights, and he granted an injunction to restrain them from so doing. On appeal, this decision was affirmed as to perforations and reversed as to the words. On the point of mechanical reproduction, there- fore, the Paris courts and the British courts appear to be at variance. It would, no doubt, however, be quite a simple matter to stop the sale of mechanical reproductions in the English courts by an action for infringement of performing rights, not for infringement of copy- right. As, however, the performing rights in music are subject to peculiar modes of treatment, owing to the Whall Act, and owing to the fact that few composers ever reserve these rights of performance when selling the copyright, it is not at all likely that the question will ever arise ; though if the composer was as careful about his property as the dramatist, he could, no doubt, make a large income by obtaining a royalty on performances, and a fixed sum for the rights of mechanical repro- duction. We are glad again to have the oppor- tunity of calling the attention of composers to this point, 169 TE second report of the Advanced Historical Teaching Fund and the third (interim report) is now before us. Wecommented on the importance of this Society when it was first started, and are glad to see that it has made steady progress. The present syllabus of lectures and work of the Fund requires an annual income of £250, and it is hoped that it will be possible, when the work meets with a more generous support, regularly to endow lectures. The members of the committee are the Richt Hon. James Bryce, M.P., Mr. W. A. 8. Hewins, Dr. G. W. Prothero, Dr. A. W. Ward, Mr. Sidney Webb, and Mr. H. R. Tedder. The last-mentioned gentleman is acting as Hon. Secretary and Treasurer. All subscriptions should be sent to him. The receipts for 1904 amounted to £525 13s. 81. The report states that the exposition and criticism of medizeval and Tudor sources by Mr. Hall and Mr. Leadam have been taken as starting points for courses given in the School, on “The Development of the Great Powers from the Close of the Middle Ages,” “ Economic History since 1485,” and “The Development of English Local Government from the 15th Century’; and they have been illustrated not only by these courses, but also by others on “Historical Geography,” and on “The History 0 > of Political Ideas in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance,” “The Monetary System in the Middle Ages,” and the “Elizabethan Poor Law.” Tt will be seen from this statement how important and how thorough is the work undertaken by the managers of the Fund, and what strong stimulus such work, properly undertaken, would be to a thorough knowledge of the deductions that may be made from a study of historical science. In the February number of The Author we pub- lished a letter from one of our members on “ Book Begging.” The same member has been kind enough to forward to the office a printed letter received from India. We omit the district and name of the writer. The letter may be perfectly bond fide, but the mere fact that such printed cir- culars are issued tends to show how the practice is growing, and, as our correspondent rightly says, “is fast becoming a real nuisance.” In the printed letter the writer asked for books to the value of £2. ‘The cost of passage to India must be added to this. If any other members of the Society have suffered from the same kind of complaint they might forward their experience to the Kditor. INDIA, Dated the , 1905. Sir,—I have the honour to inform you that, with a view to the advancement of scientific and THE AUTHOR. own behalf. ‘The pirate would thus secure the 170 technical knowledge among the public and for behal supplying the needs of students whose poor cir- copyright in the United States for an unsatisfactory cumstances do not allow them to buy valuable translation and the position of the author of the books, I have established the “Free Scientific original would be worse than it was before the Library,” where any student or any other person passing of the amendment. can freely use any book for promoting his know- ledge in any line of life. The library has been so arranged as to give each person the kind of instruction he specially needs; LITERATURE AND LAW IN THE UNITED thus all those who may desire to avail themselves STATES. * of the branches of instruction while pursuing the oo regular work in their own profession have an o [Turrp ARTICLE.] excellent opportunity now. fo n from its readers, this \\ 71TH such alarming things happening in a Realising no subscriptio library depends entirely upon my scanty private our own publishing world at home income, which is hardly sufficient for its main- during the past year or 80, quarrels tenance in proper way so as to meet the beneficent between publishers and authors, and publishers and object for which it is established. booksellers, cannot be quite without interest for us. Under the circumstances I am led to most In America such quarrels have been much more humbly and respectfully appeal to your generosity numerous than with us, for America is not only a that you will be kind enough to help my project young nation still engaged in testing her institu- by making a gift to this library of your under- tions, she is, even in the matter of books, on their mentioned works, which will be very useful to the commercial side at least, more go-ahead than we students and to the community at large. are. Hoping my appeal may meet with your favour- Some of these quarrels, illustrating her own able consideration and that you may be pleased to trade methods, throw an interesting light upon direct your publishers or Kooksellers to send me ours. Many of them touch us directly, for they are an outcrop from that distressing period when the above books, - I have the honour to be, Sir, she gave to our work —little protection as she gives Your most obedient servant, now——practically no legal protection at all; when she flew the Jolly Roger, and was the pirate on the Secretary and Librarian. high seas of literature. Thus (taking the second group of cases first, On another page of The Author is printed the and dismissing them for good) her Act of Copyright Amendment to the United States Copyright Law dates from 1891. Mr. Barrie’s “ Little Minister” and the Report of the Committee on Patents to had the misfortune to be published here the year whom it was referred. before, and was duly pirated. Similarly, a good deal Little need be sal k suffered the same din addition to what has of Mr. Kipling’s earlier wor already been put forward in The Author on this fate, resulting in many quaint attempts on the part subject. of his publishers to get legal redress, notably the The Committee on Patents seem to have touched “pills and soap” (otherwise known as the “ literary the two vital points—contained in the letter from trade mark’) action of Seribners v. Putnams, in Mr. Solberg, the Register of Copyrights, and Mr. which Mr. Kipling’s side lost. Herbert Putnam, the Librarian of Congress, to the Such actions as these are some of the undesirable Committee. legacies bequeathed to us by the state of original Under Section 3 they consider that the lapse of sin in which the American copyright law remained twelve months should extend to all books published till the passage of the Chace Act of 1891. Under abroad, and under Section 4 they point out that that Act the English author may now obtain copy- owing to the wording of the amendment the inter- right in America by having his book set up 12 pretation of the Act may beconfused. Onreading America, and by publishing there simultaneously the Bill carefully it would appear that the words referred to in that section might seriously invali- * Copyright Cases: A Summary of leading American date the benefit of the Act to all foreigners, a8 it Decisions on the Law of Copyright ey cn Literal ther with the Text of the would be possible for a pirate, looking out for the Property, from 1891 to 1903 ; toge and a Selection of Recent books of well known authors in France, Germany, pases oe. cope ee and Soret Beta her i : Jopyrig ecisions of the Courts of Grea! ritain : Italy, and other countries, to translate them In @ Canada. Compiled by Arthur 5,, Hamlin. Published for ight League by qa. P. hurried fashion, and bring them out before the ihe American Publishers’ Copyri authors had time to undertake the work on their Putnam’s Sons. 1904. $2. THER AUTHOR. 11 with the publication of itin England. This is still a considerable disability under which to labour ; and there has recently been a newspaper agitation for retaliatory measures—for laying America under similar disability with regard to us: that is, by obliging American authors to set up their books here if they desire to enjoy the benefit of English copyright Lat us not be led away by this attrac- tively downright attempt at settling the difficulty. The quarrel is not one between the English author and the American author. It is a quarrel between commercial men. Such quarrels frequently yield to the downright method of treatment, for in com- merce nobody’s feelings are considered, nobody’s word is taken for anything. Authorship is a different matter. The literary world flares up at the arrest of a Russian author, and talks as seriously about it as commercial people would abonta finan- cial loss. That is the difference. Authorship is aa international affair; an affair—let me get it out—for gentlemen, in which they should, and will, stand by each other, and ultimately combine to do the proper thing by each other all the world over. Matthew Arnold was right in attributing the combining of European men of letters under the Berne Convention to this sense which authors and educated people generally have of the proper treatment, internationally speaking, of literature and its makers. From American authors then we may expect some move to come. We may, at least, expect support for the case which English authors will shortly make to them, as foreshadowed in the February number of this journal. We do not yet know the precise form in which that case will be presented ; but “retaliation” will certainly not form part of it. Tur Ner Book AGREEMENT. Turning now to the subject of this article, the purely trade side of the book world as we find it represented in Mr. Hamlin’s compilation, the most notable case reported there is that which turned on the question as to whether publishers can compel booksellers to sell their publications at met prices ; whether they can legally enforce what we know here in England as the ‘Net Book Agreement.” The American Publishers’ Association (like the English Publishers’ Association) had for one of its objects the maintaining of the prices of books published by its several members. Combinations of this kind are often made necessary where large retailers of certain articles engage in such ruinous cutting of the prices of these articles as practically to drive the smaller retailers in the same trade out of business. The huge “department stores” of ‘New York are great sinners in this respect, and some of their methods have been, from time to time, imitated by our own stores at home. Books are very attractive things, and the selling of books at prices even below cost is found to be a great inducement for getting people into a shop and then selling them profit-bearing articles, Probably the American “ Net Book Agreement” was aimed directly at this practice. Anyhow, Mr. Straus, the proprietor of one of these “department. stores,” took action for an injunction against the Pub- lishers’ Association, contending that it was a violation of the American law prohibiting such combinations. In other words, to obtain a ruling that he, Straus, could sell books at any price he liked. There were three trials. At the first, Straus was beaten on the ground that his complaint did not state a cause of action. The Appellate Division reversed this order, and the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment of the Appelate Division by a divided Court. Parker, C.J., in a very interesting judgment told the Publishers? Association where it was wrong and how far it could go in maintaining the prices of books. The American Constitution, he said, did recog- nise the right of such an association to prescribe conditions under which certain books might be sold ; for the protection afforded by law. to books was a legal monop:ly for promoting progress in science and art. But what were these books ? Obviously they were such books as were thus pro- tected by law—in other words, books then enjoying copyright. There was the mistake of the Associa- tion. [t endeavoured to shut out of the bookselling business those who sold “ books ” below the prices named by it. No doubt its case was based on copyright books ; but in effect it made no distinc- tion between copyright bouks, the sale of which it might legally control, and uncopyrighted books, the sale of which it could no more control than it could control the sale of stationery or soap; for it declined to supply any books to dealers who sold copyrighted works below a stated price. Indeed, dealers who were even suspected of selling copy- righted books to those who resold them at less than their net prices could not obtain books on any terms from members of the Association. The combination, therefore, was so far illegal, and Mr. Straus won his case. The rules of the Association have, therefore, since the decision, been amended so as to restrict them to the case of copyright books only. REBINDING CHEAP EpITIons. A very interesting trade point which has been the subject of dispute between publishers and booksellers more than once here at home was settled in the case of Dodd.v. Smith. The ques- tion was: Ifa publisher has two separate editions of the same work, one bound in paper and selling, say, at one and sixpence, the other bound in cloth, 172 selling at half-a-crown, may a bookseller, who has a stock of the eighteenpenny edition, take off the paper covers, bind in cloth, and sell at two shillings, thus bringing this two shilling cloth edition into competition with the publisher’s half-crown cloth edition ? This case was decided before the judg- ment was delivered in the Publishers’ Association y. Straus, so no guidance could be obtained from that ruling. The Court below held that the action of the bookseller could not be restrained, and the Supreme Court affirmed the decision. In an English case, which came under the writer’s personal notice some time ago, the bookseller was warned by the publisher that the practice was a contravention of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the Net Book Agreement, and the bookseller, after some correspondence, consented to see it in this light and withdrew his offending cheap cloth edition. I believe the English Booksellers’ and Publishers’ Association have frequently had similar cases to deal with, but, so far, none has become the subject of litigation. An action arising on the question would be interesting, for it would test the legality of our own “ Net Book” combination. ‘A similar case was that of Doan v. The American Book Company. Here the bookseller purchased from the publishers second-hand copies of various works, rebound, and sold them at a reduced price. The action was for infringement of copyright. Even publishers, like authors, seem to be under the impression that “infringement of copyright” is the only safe action in the defence of literary property. The publishers won, but Doan took the case to appeal. The Appeal Court held that there was no infringement, and reversed the judgment. It was unfair competition to rebind second-hand books so as to resemble the new ones, and sell them at a reduced price, but—that was another story. REPRINTING OLD EDITIONS. Readers of Darwin will remember that the original edition of the “ Origin of Species” fell out of copyright a few years ago, and that an English publisher put on the market, as against Darwin’s publisher, a cheap reprint of this work, without those additions to, and revisions of, the book subsequently made by Darwin, which still enjoyed copyright. Was that unfair competition ? The American Circuit Court of Missouri had a similar question put to it in the case of Webster's Dictionary, the original edition of which fell out of copyright, and was reprinted by a competing publisher without the subsequent additions. The Court held that it was unfair competition and granted an injunction. Wrona Use oF WASTE PAPER. When an author’s book meets with the unhappy fate of being sold as waste-paper, and the waste- THE AUTHOR. paper merchant, instead of either destroying the edition, or otherwise using it only as waste paper, allows it to get into the hands of booksellers, who bind and sell it—is that an infringement of copy- right? Yes, if the person suing is in possession of the copyright ; for such a person can impose restrictions upon the manner in which and the people to whom the work may be sold. But No, if it is only a case of breach of trade contract between one dealer and another. BANKRUPTCY.—WHAT IS A PERSONAL CONTRACT ? If a publisher die, or become bankrupt, having contracted with the owner of a copyright to publish for him in a certain manner or at a certain price, how far is the person into whose possession the work may come bound to carry out the terms of the original contract. This is a question of importance to many authors just now, and it was answered by the New York Supreme Court in the case of Murphy v. Christian Press Association much as the Court would answer it over here. The plaintiff, Murphy, acquired from the Catholic Publication Society a set of plates of a prayer book with permission to publish. It was agreed between the parties that the book should not be sold below a certain price. The Catholic Publication Society was dissolved, and the receiver sold other sets of the same plates to the Christian Press Association, who proceeded to sell under the stated rate, though, it appeared, they had knowledge of the contract. Held, at two trials, that though technically the original contract between Murphy and the Associa- tion was a personal one, it yet related to the use of property in a certain way and obliged all who might acquire that property, with notice of the agreement, to fulfil its conditions. CHARLES WEEKES. (To be continued.) ge UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT. a Aw Act ro AMEND SECTION FORTY-NINE HUNDRED ~ AND FIFTY-TWO OF THE REVISED STATUTES. E it enacted by the Senate and House of a4 Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Section forty-nine hundred and fifty-two of the Revised Statutes be, and the same is, hereby amended so as to read as follows: Sec. 4952. musical composition, engraving, cut, photograph, or negative The author, inventor, designer, or ; proprietor of any book, map, chart, dramatic or thereof, or of a painting, — drawing, chromo, statue, statuary, and of models — THE AUTHOR. or designs intended to be perfected as works of the fine arts, and the executors, administrators, or assigns of any such person shall, upon complying with the provisions of this chapter, have the sole liberty of printing, reprinting, publishing, com- pleting, copying, executing, finishing and vending the same; and, in the case of a dramatic composi- tion, of publicly performing or representing it, or causing it to be performed or represented by others. And authors or their assigns shall have exclusive right to dramatise or translate any of their works for which copyright shall have been obtained under the laws of the United States. Whenever the author or proprietor of a book in a foreign language, which shall be published in a foreign country before the day of publication in this country, or his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, within twelve months after the first nublication of such book in a foreign country obtain a copyright for a translation of such book in the English language, which shall be the first copyright in this country for a translation of such book, he and they shall have, during the term of such copyright, the sole liberty of printing, re- printing, publishing, vending, translating, and dramatising the said book, and, in the case of a dramatic composition, of publicly performing the same, or of causing it to be performed or repre- sented by others. Provided, That this Act shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign State or nation when such foreign State or nation permits to citizens of the United States of America benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to tts own citizens. Passed the House of Representatives December 14th, 1904. Attest : A. McDowELL, Clerk. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PATENTS. The Committee on Patents, to whom was referred the Bill (H.R. 6487) for the amendment of Section 4952 of the Revised Statutes, recommended the said Billdo pass with the following amendment : Strike out the words “benefit of copyright on the same basis as is given to its citizens by this Act,” lines 1 and 2, page 3 of the printed Bill, and insert in lieu thereof the words “‘ benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens.” The following letter is submitted in support of this favourable report :— Liprary OF ConGRESS, COPYRIGHT OFFICE, Wasuineton, D.C., January 26th, 1905. Srr,—In compliance with your request of January 28rd for an expression of opinion from this office on House Bill 6487, to amend Section 173 4952 of the Revised Statutes, relating rights, I beg to report as follows :— p 1. That the purpose of this Bill appears to this office equitable and unobjectionable. 2. That the proviso passed by the House in the way of an amendment to the original bill would seem to require some slight alteration in order to bring its provisions into harmony with the Act of March 3rd, 1891. This alteration should be that in lines 1 and 2, on page 3, the words “ benefit of copyright on the same basis as is given to its citizens by this Act,” should be changed to read, “benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens.” 3. The Bill provides for a period of one year within which to comply with the requirement that the work shall be typeset within the limits of the United States, but this term of twelve months is allowed only when the book is originally published in a foreign language. In equity there would seem to be no reason why the allowance should not equally extend to all books originally published abroad. 4, That the words in lines 16 and 17, page 2, reading, ‘“‘ which shall be the first copyright in this country for a translation of such book” would cause difficulty of construction, and, if construed literally, are calculated to nullify the benefit proposed by the Bill. They should, we think, be stricken out. Conflicting claims between translations entered for copyright would require to be settled by the Courts as other matters of dispute. This is not to object to the present Bill, but to suggest that it might go further with advantage. THORVALD SOLBERG, Register of Copyrights. HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian of Congress. Approved and transmitted. Your Committee deem it inadvisable at this Session to enlarge the scope of this Bill to extend to all books originally published abroad. It is the purpose of your Committee to attempt a codifica- tion of the copyright laws at the next Session of Congress. to copy- —“~- ON A LITTLE OLD BOOK. ~~ UMBER rooms hold these little volumes now ; the tops or the backs of book shelves where the old hymn-books are, the obsolete manuals of devotion, and the tattered school books ; some, as I have discovered, may be rescued from the penny or the twopenny box of the second- hand bookshop; a few are treasured. ‘T'reasured, my little old book, though it may have known the 172 selling at half-a-crown, may a bookseller, who has a stock of the eighteenpenny edition, take off the paper covers, bind in cloth, and sell at two shillings, thus bringing this two shilling cloth edition into competition with the publisher's half-crown cloth edition ? This case was decided before the judg- ment was delivered in the Publishers’ Association y. Straus, so no guidance could be obtained from that ruling. The Court below held that the action of the bookseller could not be restrained, and the Supreme Court affirmed the decision. In an English case, which came under the writer’s personal notice some time ago, the bookseller was warned by the publisher that the practice was a contravention of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the Net Book Agreement, and the bookseller, after some correspondence, consented to see it in this light and withdrew his offending cheap cloth edition. I believe the English Booksellers’ and Publishers’ Association have frequently had similar cases to deal with, but, so far, none has become the subject of litigation. An action arising on the question would be interesting, for it would test the legality of our own “ Net Book” combination. ‘A similar case was that of Doan v. The American Book Company. Here the bookseller purchased from the publishers second-hand copies of various works, rebound, and sold them at a reduced price. The action was for infringement of copyright. Byen publishers, like authors, seem to be under the impression that “ infringement of copyright ” is the only safe action in the defence of literary property. The publishers won, but Doan took the case to appeal. The Appeal Court held that there was no infringement, and reversed the judgment. Tt was unfair competition to rebind second-hand books so as to resemble the new ones, and sell them at a reduced price, but—that was another story. REPRINTING OLD EDITIONS. Readers of Darwin will remember that the original edition of the “ Origin of Species” fell out of copyright a few years ago, and that an English publisher put on the market, as against Darwin’s publisher, a cheap reprint of this work, without those additions to, and revisions of, the book subsequently made by Darwin, which still enjoyed copyright. Was that unfair competition? The ‘American Circuit Court of Missouri had a similar question put to it in the case of Webster’s Dictionary, the original edition of which fell out of copyright, and was reprinted by @ competing publisher without the subsequent additions. The Court held that it was unfair competition and granted an injunction. Wrona Use or WASTE PAPER. When an author’s book meets with the unhappy fate of being sold as waste-paper, and the waste- THE AUTHOR. paper merchant, instead of either destroying the edition, or otherwise using it only as waste paper, allows it to get into the hands of booksellers, who bind and sell it—is that an infringement of copy- right ? Yes, if the person suing is in possession of the copyright ; for such a person can impose restrictions upon the manner in which and the people to whom the work may be sold. But No, if it is only a case of breach of trade contract between one dealer and another. BANKRUPTCY.—WHAT IS A PERSONAL CoNTRACT ? If a publisher die, or become bankrupt, having contracted with the owner of acopyright to publish for him in a certain manner or at a certain price, how far is the person into whose possession the work may come bound to carry out the terms of the original contract. This is a question of importance to many authors just now, and it was answered by the New York Supreme Court in the case of Murphy v. Christian Press Association much as the Court would answer it over here. The plaintiff, Murphy, acquired from the Catholic Publication Society a set of plates of a prayer book with permission to publish. It was agreed between the parties that the book should not be sold below a certain price. The Catholic Publication Society was dissolved, and the receiver sold other sets of the same plates to the Christian Press Association, who proceeded to sell under the stated rate, though, it appeared, they had knowledge of the contract. Held, at two trials, that though technically the original contract between Murphy and the Associa- tion was a personal one, it yet related to the use of property in a certain way and obliged all who might acquire that property, with notice of the agreement, to fulfil its conditions. CHARLES WEEKES. (To be continued.) 9g UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT. + An Act to AMEND SECTION FoRTY-NINE HUNDRED AND Firry-two OF THE REVISED STATUTES. E B Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Section forty-nine hundred and fifty-two of the Revised Statutes be,and the same is, hereby. amended so as to read as follows: Sec, 4952. The author, inventor, designer, or proprietor of any book, map, chart, dramatic or musical composition, engraving, cut, print, or photograph, or negative thereof, or of a painting, drawing, chromo, statue, statuary, and of models it enacted by the Senate and House of THE AUTHOR. or designs intended to be perfected as works of the fine arts, and the executors, administrators, or assigns of any such person shall, upon complying with the provisions of this chapter, have the sole liberty of printing, reprinting, publishing, com- pleting, copying, executing, finishing and vending the same; and, in the case of a dramatic composi- tion, of publicly performing or representing it, or causing it to be performed or represented by others. And authors or their assigns shall have exclusive right to dramatise or translate any of their works for which copyright shall have been obtained under the laws of the United States. Whenever the author or proprietor of a book in a foreign language, which shall be published in a foreign country before the day of publication in this country, or his executors, administrators, or assigns, shall, within twelve months after the first publication of such book in a foreign country obtain a copyright for a translation of such book in the English language, which shall be the first copyright in this country for a translation of such book, he aud they shall have, during the term of such copyright, the sole liberty of printing, re- printing, publishing, vending, translating, and dramatising the said book, and, in the case of a dramatic composition, of publicly performing the same, or of causing it to be performed or repre- sented by others. Provided, That this Act shall only apply to a citizen or subject of a foreign State or nation when such foreign State or nation permits to citizens of the United States of America benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens. Passed the House of Representatives December 14th, 1904. Attest : A. McDoweELt, Clerk. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PATENTS. The Committee on Patents, to whom was referred the Bill (H.R. 6487) for the amendment of Section 4952 of the Revised Statutes, recommended the said Bill do pass with the following amendment : Strike out the words “‘ benefit of copyright on the same basis as is given to its citizens by this Act,” lines 1 and 2, page 3 of the printed Bill, and insert in lieu thereof the words “‘ benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens.” The following letter is submitted in support of this favourable report :— Liprary or Concress, CopyRIGHT OFFICE, Wasuineton, D.C., January 26th, 1905. Sir,—In compliance with your request of January 23rd for an expression of opinion from this office on House Bill 6487, to amend Section 173 Ke ts . a a“ aloe ees, relating to copy- : g port as follows :— 1. That the purpose of this Bill appears to this office equitable and unobjectionable. 2. That the proviso passed by the House in the way of an amendment to the original bill would seem to require some slight alteration in order to bring its provisions into harmony with the Act of March 3rd, 1891. This alteration should be that in lines 1 and 2, on page 3, the words “ benefit of copyright on the same basis as is given to its citizens by this Act,” should be changed to read, “benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to its own citizens.” 8. The Bill provides for a period of one year within which to comply with the requirement that the work shall be typeset within the limits of the United States, but this term of twelve months is allowed only when the book is originally published in a foreign language. In equity there would seem to be no reason why the allowance should not equally extend to all books originally published abroad. 4. That the words in lines 16 and 17, page 2, reading, “ which shall be the first copyright in this country for a translation of such book” would cause difficulty of construction, and, if construed literally, are calculated to nullify the benefit proposed by the Bill. They should, we think, be stricken out. Conflicting claims between translations entered for copyright would require to be settled by the Courts as other matters of dispute. This is not to object to the present Bill, but to suggest that it might go further with advantage. THORVALD SOLBERG, Register of Copyrights. HERBERT PUTNAM, Librarian of Congress. Approved and transmitted. Your Committee deem it inadvisable at this Session to enlarge the scope of this Bill to extend to all books originally published abroad. It is the purpose of your Committee to attempt a codifica- tion of the copyright laws at the next Session of Congress. <> ON A LITTLE OLD BOOK. ——1_—~<>e UMBER rooms hold these little volumes now ; the tops or the backs of book shelves where the old hymn-books are, the obsolete manuals of devotion, and the tattered school books ; some, as I have discovered, may be rescued from the penny or the twopenny box of the secoud- hand bookshop; a few are treasured. ‘Treasured, my little old book, though it may have known the 174 lumber room in its day or the backmost recesses of the topmost shelf before the penny box yielded it to me—treasured at some time, whatever the vicissitudes through which it had passed ! For narrow strips of stamp-paper (the mellow stamp-paper of the old red V ictorian stamp), applied with I know not what of tenderness and care, hold the covers in their place. Who fashioned the gentle bandages ? Who, with patience, loving kindness, and a straight eye, applied them? Senti- ment and the memory of some happy childhood are in every slender band. As I look at the little decrepit volume—time and hard times between them having dealt heavily even with its “ restora- tion” !—it seems to me right and fitting that the stamp-paper of which its props and ligaments are composed should be mid- Victorian. Neither the mauve borders of later Victoria, nor the “ pink” of early Edward would have provided quite the right mending. Sentiment was less rare in the latter half, even, of the nineteenth century, than in the age of the motor-car. Treasured, the Jittle old book ! The book itself is mid-William IV. The title- page is missing. so that we find ourselves face to face with the preface, as we lift the loosened cover. “ In the simple title of ‘Rhymes for the Nursery’ the pretensions of this little volume are fully explained,” says the preface humbly. “In the Vur- sery they are designed to circulate” (the “preten- sions” ?), “and within its sanctuary walls the writers claim shelter from the eye of criticism.” The writers—if their grammar, maybe, was a trifle shaky—were over-modest. The little book is in some ways a big book. The very spirit of the sheltered nursery and of child-life lies between the mended covers. “ Good Night ” holds it : “ Baby, baby, lay your head, On your pretty cradle-bed.” “Getting Up”: “ Baby, baby, ope your eye, For the sun is in the sky.” “Good Mamma,” “ What Clothes are Made Of,” “ Charles and the Animals””—most of all, perhaps, “The Sparrows” : “ Oh, dean, if you'd eat a erwmd out of my hand, How happy and glad I should be!” To turn the mended pages is to be reminded of your own childhood. All its little yearnings are here, its griefs, its lessons, its encouragements, its pleasures. Do you remember your first cut finger ? Tf so, but more especially if not, let me read you a verse of “ The Cut.” “Well, what’s the matter? There’s a face ! What! Has it cut a vein? And is it quite a shocking place ? Come, let us look again.” THER AUTHOR. “Come, let us look again!” The inspiration is there, I think—the minuteness of the shocking place, showing you in a moment your chubby finger fearfully extended for a horrified inspection. Come, let us look again! Do you remember the distinc- tion the bandages lent you, the “ indulgences” you claimed for the wounded member, the exemp- tions, the care? Apropos, I remember a proud young friend of five, a little scar on whose forehead constituted his title to the airs he gave himself when the topic of accidents was broached. He had fallen against the nursery fender, and Ais head had been cut open. “Cut quite open.” For years I looked at him with awe, believing implicitly that — before the wound had been “ sewn up”? (impressive term in itself!) you could lift up half his head, as you lift the lid of a kettle or pot, and lookin. He had a right to his pride. “About Learning to Read” is another of the subjects which stir memories. The modest writers seem to have forgotten nothing and to have under- stood everything—qualifications indeed for the task they had set themselves. Did a pin or a pen, or maybe a knitting-needle, “point” for you? A pencil “pointed” for me, I remember, and I recall now the delight of the day when it was discovered that my teacher (herself!) had made little straggling lines under the letters and words, thus doing what was called (when I did it) “defacing your books!” Too modest, I say, were the writers. We a something, all of us, I fancy, about ies. “So, so, you are running away, Mr. Fly, But I'll come at you now if you don’t go too high ; There, then, I have caught you, you can’t get away: Never mind, my old fellow, I’m only in play.” “ Oh, Charles! cruel Charles ! you have hilled the pour fly, You have pinched him so hard, he is going to die Follows, “The Cruel Boy and the Kittens” : “What! go and see the kittens drown’d, On purpose, in the yard!” On purpose in the yard! Then there is “ Harriet ” : « What is it that makes little Harriet cry ? Come, then, let mainma wipe the tear from her eye: There—lay down your head on my bosom—that’s right, ‘And now tell mamma what’s the matter to-night.” Harriet hardly knew what made her cry, but : knew, with us all, what it is to need comforting. The tragedies of the nursery are the tragedies of the world in little. ‘The modest writers under- stood Harriet, and those who should read of her, from the days of William IV. to Edward VII. Not a child but would find himself somewhere. THE AUTHOR. Says “ One Little Boy” : *“T'm a little gentleman, Play and ride and dance I can : Very handsome clothes I wear, And Tf live on dainty fare : And whenever out I ride, I’ve a servant by my side.” Says “ Another Little Boy ”—a “ husbandman,” and, as I fear me, a prig: “ T've a hearty appetite, And I soundly sleep at night. Down I lie content, and say, ‘T’ve been useful all the day : Id rather be a ploughboy than A useless little gentleman.’ ” For a prototype in the mid-William nursery ‘there are plenty to choose from: “Idle Mary” (“Oh, Mary, this will never do! This work is sadly done, my dear!”) ; “ Sleepy Harry” (‘TI do not like to go to bed”); ‘The Little Girl that could not Read”; “The Little Girl that Beat her Sister” —some fifty or sixty in all. However naughty the little Original Sinner, it is, ‘‘ Come, let us reason together,” as in the Good Book of all. “What ! ery when I wash you, not love to be clean ! Then, go and be dirty, unfit to be seen : And till you leave off, and I see you have smiled, Tl not take the trouble to wash such a child. Suppose I should leave you now, just as you are, Do you think you'd deserve a sweet kiss from papa, Or to sit on his knee, and learn pretty great A, With fingers that have not been wash’d all the day ? “ Ay, look at your fingers, you see it is so: Did you ever behold such a black little row ? And for once you may look at yourself in the glass : There’s a face to belong to a good little lass! Come, come then, I see yow’re beginning to clear, You won't be so foolish again, will you, dear?” As I read, and see picture after picture conjured up by the magic of the modest pens, I wonder less and less that the volume was ‘‘ treasured.” What upheaval, what series of deaths or disasters brought it from sheltered places to the common grave of the penny box? Who sat on whose lap in far-off days to hear it read? Who “clamped” it with stamp-paper, trimmed its frayed edges, nursed it ? I shall never know, but I know why these things were done, and by reason of it and (indirectly) of them, I should, if I were a publisher of children’s books, rummage in lumber rooms, top shelves, and the penny boxes, that (to paraphrase a notable saying) when I was offered a new book I might publish an old one. : RICHARD PRYCE. 175 THE USE OF FICTION. + WAS sitting in my armchair one evening, at that time when the sky grows dusky and __ the street lamps are not lit; when the flickering firelight seems companionable and leads towards meditation. I was thinking of the words of a great modern novelist, in which he pointed out how much more potent a force than pulpit utterances was the novel, and in which he indi- cated future works would largely deal with human passion blended with religion. It is true under the present conditions of civilisation (conditions which we must hope for the honour and glory of humanity will not always exist) the great passions form the real foundations of life, and when blended with ideas of a religious tendency are strong factors in the well-being or otherwise of the social state. As civilisation is at present constituted they are as the foundation to the house or the roots to the tree; in the first instance giving strength and solidity to the upper stories which rise into the light and warmth of day, in the other furnishing sustenance to the aie to bring forth green leaves and golden ruit. As we walk through the streets the sun may shine on the windows of the houses and may light up the faces of happy men and women, of merry children, looking upon the comings and goings of the outside public. May we not think of these apartments and of the existence of those within them, and take some interest in it all, and yet not forget the humbler foundations and the humble workmen who made them? As we walk through the country lane may we not admire the beauty of the orchard, and if asked to do so, taste of the luscious apples? May we not do this and yet be mindful of the men who delved and covered the feeble roots with soil ; in due time to produce the tree with which and its products sight and taste are well pleased ? In other words, why should the future novel be all passion mixed with religion? Have we not even now a little too much of dismal scenes and just a little too much of that sort of sentiment which some may speak of as religious ? There is no doubt a great future for the novel. Sir Walter Scott spoke of himself and his novels as of aman who by opening a shutter let a little light into a dark room. The shutter has been opened a little wider since his day, but there has been super- imposed upon the white glass of the window many coloured glasses, mostly of various tints of red, which destroy the purity and truthfulness of the daylight which should stream in through the unstained panes. 176 The novel of the future should deal with life as it is. Taking a few illustrations from a sister art, its sentiment should range from the poetic solemnity of a “ Beata Beatrix” to the charming simplicity, full of lurking humour in the eyes, of the “Parson’s Daughter.” Passion deeper than that of the “ Beata Beatrix,” if passion is present in that exquisite picture, could and should be depicted ; fun lighter even than the jocund mood which hides about the lips of the “ Parson’s Daughter,” as beautiful and as winsome as a painting can well be, should be found in the alluring pages of the coming fiction ; but only in rare quantities. And this passion, this sentiment, this humour should only be expressed through the book’s individualism—individuals, not types. The joke, the feeling, the intense emotion, come home with treble force, with far more subtle effect when they are portrayed in individual characters and not in types of human nature. Abounding in individualism, the novel becomes at once a live book, because it has life palpitating within its covers. What a wonderful thing is this ; what a mighty power trending towards good! I say, unhesitatingly, for good. Only for good would a genius who could create men and women for all time consent to work. His theme would be as high and as ideal in range as the finest poetry, and wide in range as humanity itself, for through its individualism it would appeal to brothers and sisters throughout the whole world. We may well ask to what use could this immense influence be put? Ah! what subject too low, what too high, for the pen of the novelist con- nected in any way with what concerns us spiritually or materially! In all well-ordered governments employment should be found for willing hands held out asking for it. In all well-governed cities and towns hotbeds of disease in the form of insanitary dwellings should never exist. This poverty, this hideous approach of death will surely be eradicated in the future through the inventive faculties of man. Movements in that direction have already been made. And the novelist by his descriptive powers will hasten them on. From the stars and their light coming down to us through eons of time, from the tiny diatoms, so very minute and yet so perfectly formed as to defy detection of fault, from all things great and small, the writer would seek for inspiration ; for all these things, in heaven or earth, are of the utmost importance to man, who must ever be the proper study of the master of fiction. Under the sway of the master science shall proclaim and perform its wonders. It shall no more be an exotic, a thing apart from our daily THE AUTHOR. lives. It shall ever progress in aiding labour, in alleviating, perhaps destroying pain. It shall make clear the truth of religion, so that all doubters will be silenced and eternal hope shall be indeed universal. Science and religion shall be the sweetness and the light of existence; they shall become twin affections of the heart. J. Harris BRIGHOUSE. THE ABUSE OF WORDS. “When I make a word do a lot of work... I always pay it extra,’’—Humpty-Dumpty. “ Adjectives you can do anything with.’’—Zd. T is to be feared that the line of conduct toward the parts of speech put forward by the above-mentioned authority in the former of the two quotations has but few to follow it at the present day. With the great mass of people, both when they speak and when they write, the tendency is to employ a certain number of words, either individually or in set phrases, over and over again rather than to use a variety. The mind of the average man seems to recall with pleasure, in connection with certain ideas, certain familiar words and to shrink from getting out of touch with an old association. It would be difficult to estimate in what proportions the limitation of the ordinary vocabulary is produced by (1) this pleasure in the old association ; and (2) laziness, want of exertion to supplement the deficiencies of ignorance. For it must be acknowledged that there is a con- siderable difference between the case of the lady who characterises everything that she likes as “nice,” and that of the male novelist who invari- ably dresses his heroine in a robe of “clinging material.” But the effect is the same, to lessen the number of words in common use, and to sub- stitute for the free issue of language a currency of the debased coin, as it has been called, of speech and literature. The adjective, of whose adapta- bility Alice’s philsopher-acquaintance on the other side of the looking-glass spoke, is the most abused, in this way, of all the parts of speech. It would appear that some nouns have come to suggest to the mind of the sluggard some particular epithet at once. The original association may have been most appropriate, most poetical; but by constant repetition the union must become, if one is at all fastidious, merely nauseating. Why should we, for instance, not be allowed to hear of any crowd but a “madding crowd,” any anthem but a “ peal- ing” one? (Gray's “Elegy” has, unhappily, M THE AUTHOR. 177 been a mine exceedingly well worked by the manu- facturers of clichés.) No doubt the constant epithet is of the most respectable antiquity, and was a great favourite with Homer. But quod licet Jovr non licet bovi ; and we do not live in an epic age, nor are we usually troubled by the exigencies of metre. With us there is no need ofa rule, One word, one epithet. It might be urged in defence of the stereotyped expression that it tends to imparta literary flavour. But there is little in this. What appreciation of literature does it show to associate, in season and out, certain phrases with certain ideas? We can but suspect, moreover, in a great number of cases, that the quoter is but half conscious of his quota- tions, since otherwise he would quote more, more widely—and, it may be added, more correctly. As it is, it matters nothing to him that the quotation is wrong or incomplete, as in the familiar (ah ! how familiar) ‘fresh fields and pastures new,” or “thick as leaves in Vallombrosa,” which in those forms, and not in their true forms, are part of the common currency of English speech. Cannot we express change of scene or the idea of multitude without mangling Milton? And really we can hardly suppose that any man hopes to raise the estimate of his talents by the aid of a hackneyed turn of speech. I cannot remember as a child thinking any better of my nurse because she was fond of talking about “ Patience on a monument.” Yet she was using the same device as very many speakers and writers—above all, leader-writers of a certain class, who know no means of pointing their arguments save with a quotation either from Dickens, from Shakespeare, or from the Bible. It is not, however, only the literary tag which annoys. There are hundreds, probably thousands, of other collocations of words in our language which the general mind cannot apparently avoid, and seems to regard it as indecent to vary. The resulting dialect—it is almost such—has been called **journalese,” though it is by no means limited to the newspapers. The diction of the minor writer both is affected by and reacts on common speech. To him every anniversary is an “auspicious occa- sion,” every entertainment a “ brilliant function.” Every marriage ceremony is a “very pretty wed- ding,” at every banquet the “festive board groans,” every host is “genial,” every actress and every coffin received “ floral tributes.” One cannot even be drowned without finding a “watery grave.” In descriptions of funerals most especially does such a writer revel in the trite. A very well-known “organ of public opinion ” (or perhaps I should say “advertising medium’’) once set up a record in its description of some great man’s burial by the number of times which it used the expression “the mournful corfége.” And cortége is now more than ever the stereotyped word for the procession which wends its way” to the cemetery, qualified by the epithet of “mournful” or “ funeral,” as you will. Nor do births escape the fate of marriages and deaths. Hard indeed is it for a son to come into the world without incurring the charge of being a “bouncing boy.” Daughters presumably never bounce. Their unfortunate brothers are almost invariably made to. Extreme youth can no more soften the heart of the relentless clicheur than can the years of the old man whose “ venerable head” he is so fond of describing, particularly when “bowed in sorrow.” It is a point which may be noticed that it is far more in expressions of praise than in those of cen- sure that the average man seems unable to escape the hackneyed word. He is in accord with Théo- phile Gauthier about the greater difficulty of expressing praise than blame. For he works his limited vocabulary of laudation very hard, whereas with words of disapproval he is seldom at a loss for variety. Herein he is evidently akin to the gentle- men famed for their ability to swear for half-an- hour without repeating themselves. One has only to study the wealth of epithets with which men are able to qualify the policy and the speeches of their political opponents, to be convinced of this. But such has been the case from the time of the early orators downward ; when they had called their own party “the good” they ceased to look further for a description of them, but they had a stock of elegant synonyms for their adversaries. Yet if we allow a certain greater richness in man’s vituperative power, compared with the resources of his praise, we still find the mass of undistinguished writers incapable of imparting variety to descriptions of the unpleasant or the disapproved. So it is that we get so often reiterated the conjunctions ‘‘ unutterable horror,” “unspeakable dread,” and the like. The saving in time and thought is, of course, great. The writer has brought himself to a point where progress is difficult. From the lumber-room of his mind he drags forth some well-worn, battered expression, assured that in the corresponding rooms in his readers’ minds are lying exact facsimiles. There can be no excuse for their not understanding him if he uses the expression ; and so he uses it. Is there any reason why he slould not? I know of none if his self-respect does not prevent him. So the question merely resolves itself into one of good taste. The last word suggests the tag which the bores might hasten to supply ; but in literature and in language the question of taste cannot be left out of dispute, for it is of their essence. PW. ee 9 178 THE COMMISSION AGENT AND THE WRITER. —<_ HERE are a number of persons con nected with various branches of trade who make a more or less precarious living by introducing buyers to sellers, without attaching themselves to any particular firm or being con- stituted the recognised agents of any particular principals. To a certain extent, T believe, these go-betweens act in the disposal of literary wares, but whether there are many of them, or a large number of authors and editors who require their services, and value them, I do not know. Probably the Secretary of the Society of Authors could say more than most people on the subject, as the agent of this class, who of course does not work for love, is a little apt to claim commissions which the person whom he has had to do with has not formally agreed to pay, and disputes arise as to the nature of the employment after the work has been done. In literary matters, T take it, commission agents, acting as free-lances, in the employment of no one in particular, do not do much in the way of bringing the author in contact with the publisher, but rather in the selling of stories, articles and other matter suitable for magazines, to editors. Editors sometimes want articles on special subjects, or they can be per- suaded that they do, and the agent may be an ingenious man who can invent a want for the editor, and lay his hand upon the right man_ to satisfy it. There is no particular harm in this. Tt does not affect the weil-known writer, whose work may be in the hands of an agent already, or who knows pretty well what to do with his books when they are written. It rather affects those who can write, but do not always understand what is most likely to be accepted, or who is most likely to need it. It is no doubt useful to these to have someone to carry through business for them, to do which for themselves may not be a congenial task. The trouble, however, from what I hear, arises most frequently in this way. The agent approaches the author and tells him that he can place for him a story or an article or a series of articles on such and such a subject, but says nothing about any payment to himself for doing so. The author expects to be told with whom he is dealing, not only because he wishes to be sure that the money is safe, but because he likes to know in what class of publication his work is to appear. He therefore, after the arrangement has been initiated, deals directly with the editor, or does so through his usual agent if he has one. He assumes, and possibly his agent does the same, that the person who first applied to him was the agent of the THE AUTHOR. editor, and that he will look to the editor only for the remuneration for his services. his, however, does not always turn out to be the case. At some late period in the transaction, perbaps when the bargain has been arranged, or possibly after publication has taken place, the commission agent applies to the author for a percentage of the sum paid in respect of it. The author naturally denies that he has ever agreed to pay anything, but finds that the demand made is being persisted in. The position then becomes an awkward one. ‘That there has been no arrangement whatever to pay a commission may be clear to the author, but a service has been rendered, and a jury may take the view that there was an implied contract, if not an express one, to pay for it at some customary rate, as to which the plaintiff may bring evidence. In any case the author wishes to ac® fairly, and perhaps the agent may be a useful man whom it would be impolitic to offend. When this last has been said, no doubt, there remains but little which can be said on behalf of the agent. He has come to the author unsolicited, he has quite possibly represented himself as pur- chasing, or arranging for a purchase, on behalf of a principal, who eventually agrees to take what is sold and to pay, and if the agent says nothing about reward from the vendor, he has no right to expect it. An author who does not mind running the risk will resist him, and possibly will do so successfully. Another will pay to save himself the worry of litigation, with the danger of increasing his loss thereby. The only safe plan, therefore, for the writer who is approached by one of these hangers-on of literature is to have it made perfectly clear at the outset whether there is or is not to be a commission due from him if what is proposed is carried out. He may as well remember that in ordinary transactions of a commercial character where this kind of introduction of business takes place, it is perfectly well recognised that the agent is going to make all he can out of the deal, and that business men, unless they are very careless, make the whole thing plain, as a matter of course. They generally, moreover, recognise tacitly the fact that the man who introduced the business is going to make a profit out of both sides. ‘The question of secret commissions is a thorny one, but as a rule in a strictly business transaction the buyer makes up his mind as to what he will give “to cover everything,” and the seller is equally assured as to what he will take and as to how much he will pay in order to get it. If there is any obscurity as to where the profit of the person is to come from who has brought the parties together, in order to make what he can by doing so, the ordinary business man makes it clear by asking a question or by making a stipulation, and if he does not know with a + in a business-like manner. | to cases in which all the other parts of the contract + may be plainly stated between the writer and the THE AUTHOR. . whom he is dealing sufficiently well to be sure of _ his honesty, he takes care to have written or other - evidence to record what is arranged. These obser- yations only embody the advice which is given to writers pretty frequently in Zhe Author, that is, that they should make their business arrangements They refer, however, Editor, who have been brought into direct contact with one another, and in which the question of com- mission to the third person may well have been tem- porarily forgotten. The Editor, however, is quite likely to have remembered it, and to have told the agent clearly that from him nothing was to be expected. He says, in short, that the article, if published, will be paid for, but that the fee for the placing of it is to be obtained from the person who receives payment for it, and not from him who makes the payment. It would be interesting to know whether instances of this class of dispute are really of frequent occurrence, and what variety of circumstance introduces complication into them. E. ——————EE WHAT DOES THE NEWSPAPER PUBLIC WANT? sana a IXING, as I have occasion to do, with men and women of many sorts and conditions, T have been struck by hearing the remark made quite frequently of late years by high and low and rich and poor alike : “ Why don’t the papers give us more news and fewer ‘horrors ?’” The reply of the uninitiated generally is that there is no more news to give. The reply of the editor would of course be that the public wants the stuff. And these are the statements I wish to dispute. No believe, in the first place, that there is “no more news to give,” and that “the newspapers must fill their columns somehow,” is to believe what is wholly false, as all who have had to do with the editorial department of any great news- paper are aware. ‘The difficulty every editor of a “news” newspaper has to contend with is the problem of crowding news that would easily fill several columns into every single column he has at his disposal. “Every night day after day ”—as I heard an Irish editor say once—in the office of pro- bably every important daily paper published in the United Kingdom a quantity of interesting news already set up in type is at the last moment either omitted altogether, or condensed into a few lines of bare report, or “held over,” and yet space 179 is found for half-a-dozen or more reports of what I hope I may be forgiven for speaking of as murders of no consequence, and suicides of no interest, and divorce cases that even the “ masses” we so often allude to in tones almost of contempt are for the most part not greatly interested in and would much sooner not trouble to read about if they were given the chance of reading anything else. The chance, however, they seldom get. The reason they so seldom get it is that certain editors have, pre- sumably from force of habit, apparently grown to believe implicitly that the only news the “man in the street” cares to read consists of details of every provincial murder and every petty suicide—I call them so merely to distinguish them from crimes rendered of general interest owing to some excep- tionally remarkable feature or circumstance con- nected with them—with the result that news that would in reality prove far more acceptable to the general public, including the ‘“ masses,” has of necessity to be crowded out. If the public wanted this stuff I should say by all means give it to it and let it wallow in it to its heart’s content, for a newspaper to succeed must of course give the public what it wants. I maintain, however—and I speak of what, from constant observation, I know to be the case—that though, naturally, almost everybody is interested in hearing or reading particulars of an exceptionally remark- able or sensational crime, very few nowadays in the least want to read report after report of crimes that are, so to speak, commonplace and of purely local interest. As an example of what I mean, take the follow- ing. This list is compiled from a single copy of a Sunday newspaper that has approximately six pages of advertisements and ten pages of news, etc. I have copied the headings word for word, and the amount of space occupied by letterpress of the sort I have referred to I have set out in. inches. Inches, Doctor's petition against his wife... 2 BP Surgeon’s tragic death ; Miller’s: horrible death ... a - Se cee 2 Fruits of divorce (from Moscow) .-- : 23 Young woman sentenced for killing sweet- heart ; Woman committed on a charge of manslaughter ; Alleged attempted murder — 6} Bermondsey man confesses to cutting his wife's throat... ae ae a oa. Clergyman’s wife sued in the Dublin Courts 16 Sheffield man obtains a divorce —... eri Suicide from Yarmouth pier... ey oe) Yesterday’s law and police ... ae sie 0 Assize trials... =. ie as LG Cyclist’s suicide Be Ss ies es Dismembered wife left in a railway station Girl’s shocking story ... ae Bae ce Sensational sequel to society divorce case ... ) Hussar’s terrible death in a railway tunnel 33 Prison-breaker king; Woman partner in | burglary shares his fate... sk oe 178 THE COMMISSION AGENT AND THE WRITER. —_* HERE are a number of persons con- 1 nected with various branches of trade who make a more or less precarious living by introducing buyers to sellers, without attaching themselves to any particular firm or being con- stituted the recognised agents of any particular principals. To a certain extent, I believe, these go-betweens act in the disposal of literary wares, but whether there are many of them, or a large number of authors and editors who require their services, and value them, I do not know. Probably the Secretary of the Society of Authors could say more than most people on the subject, as the agent of this class, who of course does not work for love, is a little apt to claim commissions which the person whom he has had to do with has not formally agreed to pay, and disputes arise as to the nature of the employment after the work has been done. Tn literary matters, T take it, commission agents, acting as free-lances, in the employment of no one in particular, do not do much in the way of bringing the author in contact with the publisher, but rather in the selling of stories, articles and other matter suitable for magazines, to editors. Editors sometimes want articles on special subjects, or they can be per- suaded that they do, and the agent may be an ingenious man who can invent a want for the editor, and lay his hand upon the right man_ to satisfy it. There is no particular harm in this. It does not affect the weil-known writer, whose work may be in the hands of an agent already, or who knows pretty well what to do with his books when they are written. It rather affects those who can write, but do not always understand what is most likely to be accepted, or who is most likely to need it. It is no doubt useful to these to have someone to carry through business for them, to do which for themselves may not be a congenial task. The trouble, however, from what I hear, arises most frequently inthis way. The agent approaches the author and tells him that he can place for him a story or an article or a series of articles on such and such a subject, but says nothing about any payment to himself for doing so. The author expects to be told with whom he is dealing, not only because he wishes to be sure that the money is safe, but because he likes to know in what class of publication his work is to appear. He therefore, after the arrangement has been initiated, deals directly with the editor, or does so through his usual agent if he has one. He assumes, and possibly his agent does the same, that the person who first applied to him was the agent of the THE AUTHOR. editor, and that he will look to the editor only for the remuneration for his services. This, however, does not always turn out to be the case. At some late period in the transaction, perhaps when the bargain has been arranged, or possibly after publication has taken place, the commission agent applies to the author for a percentage of the sum paid in respect of it. The author naturally denies that he has ever agreed to pay anything, but finds that the demand made is being persisted in. The position then becomes an awkward one. That there has been no arrangement whatever to pay a commission may be clear to the author, but a service has been rendered, and a jury may take the view that there was an implied contract, if not an express one, to pay for it ab some customary rate, as to which the plaintiff may bring evidence. In any case the author wishes to act fairly, and perhaps the agent may be a useful man whom it would be impolitic to offend. When this last has been said, no doubt, there yemains but little which can be said on behalf of the agent. He has come to the author unsolicited, he has quite possibly represented himself as pur- chasing, or arranging for a purchase, on behalf of a principal, who eventually agrees to take what is gold and to pay, and if the agent says nothing about reward from the vendor, he has no right to expect it. An author who does not mind running the risk will resist him, and possibly will do so successfully. Another will pay to save himself the worry of litigation, with the danger of increasing his loss thereby. The only safe plan, therefore, for the writer who is approached by one of these hangers-on of literature is to have it made perfectly clear at the outset whether there is or is not to be a commission due from him if what is proposed is carried out. He may as well remember that in ordinary transactions of a commercial character where this kind of introduction of business takes place, it is perfectly well recognised that the agent is going to make all he can out of the deal, and that business men, unless they are very careless, make the whole thing plain, as a matter of course. They generally, moreover, recognise tacitly the fact that the man who introduced the business is going to make a profit out of both sides. ‘The question of secret commissions is a thorny one, but as a rule in a strictly business transaction the buyer makes up his mind as to what he will give “to cover everything,” and the seller is equally assured as 60 what he will take and as to how much he will pay in order to get it. If there is any obscurity as b0 where the profit of the person is to come from who has brought the parties together, in order to make what he can by doing so, the ordinary business man makes it clear by asking a question or ae making a stipulation, and if he does not know with” . his honesty, he takes care to have written or other evidence to record what is arranged. ‘These obser- vations only embody the advice which is given to writers pretty frequently in Ze Author, that is, that they should make their business arrangements in a business-like manner. They refer, however, to cases in which all the other parts of the contract may be plainly stated between the writer and the Editor, who have been brought into direct contact with one another, and in which the question of com- mission to the third person may well have been tem- porarily forgotten. The Hditor, however, is quite likely to have remembered it, and to have told the agent clearly that from him nothing was to be expected. He says, in short, that the article, if published, will be paid for, but that the fee for the _ placing of it is to be obtained from the person who ' receives payment for it, and not from him who makes the payment. It would be interesting to know whether instances of this class of dispute are really of frequent occurrence, and what variety of circumstance introduces complication into them. E. —_—___+—~»—e—_— WHAT DOES THE NEWSPAPER PUBLIC WANT ? SL NE ae IXING, as I have occasion to do, with men and women of many sorts and conditions, I have been struck by hearing the remark made quite frequently of late years by high and low and rich and poor alike : “ Why don’t the papers give us more news and fewer ‘horrors ?’” The reply of the uninitiated generally is that there is no more news to give. The reply of the editor would of course be that the public wants the stuff. And these are the statements I wish to dispute. To believe, in the first place, that there is “ no more news to give,” and that “the newspapers must fill their columns somehow,” is to believe what is wholly false, as all who have had to do with the editorial department of any great news- paper are aware. ‘The difficulty every editor of a “news” newspaper has to contend with is the problem of crowding news that would easily fill several columns into every single column he has at his disposal. “Every night day after day ”—as I heard an Irish editor say once—in the office of pro- bably every important daily paper published in the United Kingdom a quantity of interesting news already set up in type is at the last moment either omitted altogether, or condensed into a few lines of bare report, or “held over,” and yet space THE AUTHOR. ' whom he is dealing sufficiently well to be sure of 179 is found for half-a-dozen or more reports of what I hope I may be forgiven for speaking of as murders of no consequence, and suicides of no interest, and divorce cases that even the “masses” we so often allude to in tones almost of contempt are for the most part not greatly interested in and would much sooner not trouble to read about if they were given the chance of reading anything else. The chance, however, they seldom get. The reason they so seldom get it is that certain editors have, pre- sumably from force of habit, apparently grown to believe implicitly that the only news the “ man in the street’’ cares to read consists of details of every provincial murder and every petty suicide—I call them so merely to distinguish them from crimes rendered of general interest owing to some excep- tionally remarkable feature or circumstance con- nected with them—with the result that news that would in reality prove far more acceptable to the general public, including the ‘‘ masses,” has of necessity to be crowded out. If the public wanted this stuff I should say by all means give it to it and let it wallow in it to its heart’s content, for a newspaper to succeed must of course give the public what it wants. I maintain, however—and I speak of what, from constant observation, I know to be the case—that though, naturally, almost everybody is interested in hearing or reading particulars of an exceptionally remark- able or sensational crime, very few nowadays in the least want to read report after report of crimes that are, so to speak, commonplace and of purely local interest. As an example of what I mean, take the follow- ing. ‘This list is compiled from a single copy of a Sunday newspaper that has approximately six pages of advertisements and ten pages of news, etc. T have copied the headings word for word, and the amount of space occupied by letterpress of the sort T have referred to I have set out in, inches. Inches, Doctor’s petition against his wife 27 Surgeon’s tragic death; M iller’s: death ... aoe = pee Fruits of divorce rom Moscow) horrible bo bo om Young woman sentenced for killing sweet- heart ; Woman committed on a charge of manslaughter ; Alleged attempted murder 63 Bermondsey man confesses to cutting his wife's throat... ie ry oo eis Clergyman’s wife sued in the Dublin Courts 16 Sheftield man obtains a divorce... Pee Suicide from Yarmouth pier... a ees Yesterday’s law and police ... ses re 90 Assize trials... ee ai ee 1G tyclist’s suicide ake He fas — Dismembered wife left in a railway station 24 Girl’s shocking story ... ee tee ae Sensational sequel to society divorce case ... 1 Hussar’s terrible death in a railway tunnel Prison-breaker king; Woman partner in | burglary shares his fate... as 8 180 Inches. More stories from the divorce court (illus- trated with ten portraits) ... cos oe Oe Betrayed girl's distressing suicide at Liver- pool . War news— Massacre feared ; Awful scenes at Port Arthur ; Mine explosion causes 700 easualties; A destructive shell; Steamers sunk ; Magazine explodes ; A charnel house ; Great conflagra- tions; Horrible scenes ; Tremendous losses; Plight of the wounded Soe Drama of love; Foreman and girl lover die together mee ne cs ae oad Attempted murder and suicide at Bethnal Green ... en aes we i po Os Mysterious murder : Woman _ shopkeeper killed near Glasgow : Bespattered with blood ... ce a eae a eos Leystone tragedy ae Be 1 East-end crime : Accused committed on the capital charge — cee ra cc Englishman’s attempted murder and suicide at Calais ae os es oe: e Discredited confession of murder... =e Brief courtship ends in a young woman’s suicide cos ke ae SS Body exhumed... ot Ne Total ... (Ten yards two feet.) Now, can any man who is not influenced by tradition really believe that the British public as a body wants to read in any one day ten yards and two fect of this sort of thing, that it prefers read- ing such stuff to reading the columns of sound miscellaneous news of general interest that have been omitted to make place for it? Hardly any of the cases reported under the above headings differ materially in general detail from the hun- dreds of similar cases that occur year after year ; yet were you to hint to the editor that his paper would “ go” better if, say, five or six yards of this class of “literature” were to be omitted and its place filled with accurate miscellaneous news and brightly- written articles dealing with the brighter side of life, he would probably declare with emphasis that you were entirely mistaken. Bast TOZER. <> e--— ~——— A UNIQUE LIBRARY. ——1—<— + —_ OOK-LOVERS may be interested to hear in Mr. Carleton Young’s own words, quoted : in the United States Ovitic, the origin of the unique library which is now becoming a literary monument of universal interest. “ I made a resolve that I would devote my life to forming a library which would be the most adequate tribute I could make to the Art of Literature. I proposed to THE AUTHOR. place under one roof in the beautiful city of Minneapolis, which I love, all the best books of the living writers of every country in the world, no matter in what language written. Each volume was to be inscribed by the author in a character- istic manner. If the writer were a poet, it would be desirable to have a poem written on the fly-leaf. A novelist should write of the manner he conceived his plot, or concerning the principal characters, of his romance; an historian something of the history he related; a biographer of the life of his subject ; a traveller of the lands he visited ; a theologian of the religion he advocated; a philosopher or scientist of the facts or theories he aad promul- gated, etc.” Such was the scheme of the well- known capitalist and bibliophile of America ; and as he has spared himself neither trouble or expense in the execution of this scheme—for he buys the most expensive copies of books, and sends them to the author with prepaid postage for return—the banks of the Mississippi will in time boast of an incomparable temple of literature. R. E. C. ——————_1—_>_+—__ AN INTERVIEW. — + AMES L’ESTRANGE, who has just risen to unlooked for fame by the publication of his first novel, is seated in an armchair by the fire, clad in a smoking coat, and smoking a cigarette. To him enters his old friend, Sypney MayTown. James L’Estrance.—Hullo, Syd, old man, just in time, come in. Sypyey Mayrown.—In time, why ? What for ? (Comes in and sits down.) J. L.—I am just expecting a scribbling cad from the Scorcher to interview me about this blessed old novel, and I don’t want to see him. 3. M.—Look here, my dear chap, if you are engaged (rises to go) J. U.—Don’t be a fool: sit down and make yourself comfortable. You afford a splendid excuse, now I won’t see him. S. M.—Very well, if you won't. What were you going to say to him? I suppose he would have begun by asking what you thought about your art. J. L.—I had prepared myself. (Stands with a cigarette in one hand and strikes an affected attitude.) «All art, my dear sir, is the first sign of that disease that marks the decay of civilisation.” What do you think of that ? Fresh, eh ? S. M.—Not bad; I do not think I have ever heard anything quite so foolish before. May I make a note of it ? J. L.—By all means. Would you like to have — cae THE AUTHOR. afew more? By the way, old chap, awfully sorry : have a cigarette (hands him the bor) and help yourself to sherry. S. M.—You would not give the Scorcher a glass, I suppose ? J. L.—What! give him sherry and a cigarette, the most comfortable chair, yours for instance ? It’s no use being commonplace. In my case he must stand at the door or quit. S. M.—But he would slate you. J. L.—You are an old fossil. Of course he would: that is the high road to success. S. M.—AIll right; now go on. How about your own art? J. L.—H’m (posing again and addressing amaginary “ Scorcher”). My own art is the most virulent form of that disease. Its followers the most degraded and corrupt of beings. S. M.—Stop a minute, old man (writes it down). ‘That last is not quite new. I believe I have seen it from the pen of some disappointed scribbler. J. L.—It must pass. If not absolutely fresh, it is at any rate opposed to the opinion of the glorious masses. 8. M.—How about critics ? J. L.—Critics are nothing but common para- sites. S. M.—That is strong ; your views are growing with popularity. J. L.—The popular man is always the best hated. S. M.—Quite epigrammatical. I suppose as a matter of fact you are really enamoured of your art and work hard at it. J. L.—Of course, but it won’t do to say so. You musn’t work hard at anything now-a-days if you want to succeed, 8S. M.—Genius must be spontancous, otherwise it is merely realistic. How did you make your first plot ? J. L.—I took it from Dickens. S. M.—That is not new in the least. J. L.—On the contrary, I am the first confessed plagiarist. S. M.—Your characters ? J. L.—Wilkie Collins. 8. M.—Your local colour ? J. L.—Onida. S. M.—Your poetry ? J. L.—Andrew Lang. 8. M.—Your obscurity ? J. L.—George Meredith. S. M.—Your quotations ? J. L.—Myself. That will do for the writing S. M.—For absolute stupidity it takes the cake. You will be asked where your originality comes in. J. L.—What shall I say to that ? 181 8. M.—I can’t think of anything dull enough. Surely you are not at a loss. © 7 J. L.,—Originality—let me see--is the Brocken phantom of the pseudo-plagiarist. S. M.—That’s really very clever. It nothing and sounds very deep. J. L.—Stop a bit, Dll finish that by saying : “but plagiarism is the elysium of real genius.” S. M.—The Scorcher fellow I expect will be so confused by this time that he will change the subject. He will pass lightly on to your family and your relations and your domestic surroundings. J. L.—By that time I shall be getting awfully bored and shall turn airily round and say, “ You can go now.” S. M.—Yonu don’t get rid of these quill-drivers so lightly. J. L.—Oh, if he won’t go, I shall rise from my chair (r7ses), shall seize him by the scraff of the — (seizes imaginary person) and forcibly eject nim. S. M.—Well, old man, I have finished my cigarette, drunk my sherry, and been bored by your conversation, se I will say good-bye. (frets up from armchair and goes towards door.) J. L.—Good-bye. Awfully good of you to come and see me. You'll know what it all means when it comes out in the papers. I don’t think the scribbling cad will come now. (As S. M. goes out J. L. follows, watches him descending the stairs, and shouts after him): If you do see the writing ruffian coming up, tell him I’m not at home. S. M.—(Prom the ground floor, laughing) : You have entertained an angel unawares. I am the scribbling cad, the quill-driver, the Scorcher’s special. Look at my card on your table (archly). I shall know what it all means when I see it in the papers. J. L.—Here, Syd, stop you thief. Help! Murder! Fire! (/. L. returns disconsolate to his rooms, picks up card on which is written “ Mr. Sydney Maytown, ‘The Scorcher’? Office.’) Well, what a cunning old humbug. I really must take in the Scorcher. means AL B.C. <> CORRESPONDENCE. INCOME TAX FOR AUTHORS. . I, R. W. O. Hodges, whose opinion on the assessment of income-tax payable in respect of profit from authorship you published, intended as far I can judge from his 182 words, to supply an answer to a practical question of law. He iliustrated a lucid exposition of the law by means of an analogy with a view to making his point clearer to laymen, and apparently Mrs. F, A. Steel’s sarcasm in her letter published in the last Author is directed against his analogy rather than against his law. If I am wrong I shall no doubt be corrected. Analogies are sometimes misleading even when handled by lawyers. Lord Jessel, when he was first Solicitor-General, had once, I believe, to re- quest the Court of Appeal to “ listen ” before they interrupted him with “ hasty analogies,” but I doubt if Mr. Hodges’ analogy was either hastily conceived or is likely to mislead. Mrs. Steel would, apparently, distinguish in the assessment of income-tax between a coachbuilder and an author, allowing in the case of the latter for an expenditure of brains, or “time, brains, health ” ; that is to say, she would make a deduc- tion on account of this latter kind of expenditure such as is made for more material expenditure in every case before profits are reckoned. At present the law is equal ; no deduction 18 allowed for “brains” expended either by the author or by the coachbuilder, or by any other business man. Mr. Hodges would have been advising incorrectly had he suggested otherwise. Does Mrs. Steel consider that Mr. Hodges was called upon to express an opinion upon this, or to advocate some new principle to be introduced into income-tax assessment ? Could he have done so reasonably ? I take it that any such principle would apply equally ; or does Mrs. Steel intend to place authors alone among those who exhaust their brains, their inventive faculties, or their powers of observation, in their business ? Are business men, like authors, to be allowed to say, “ We have worn ourselves out with work over this scheme or that ; we shall never hit on such a brilliant idea again. ; we can use none of our material again; we have made many thousands of pounds, but you must deduct from our net profits, reckoned in the old way, a thousand or two for brain exhaustion and using of ideas?” Do authors as @ class write themselves out in the manner suggested very much more than other workers work themselves out 2? Is the instance (her own case) given by Mrs. Steel a typical one ? I will leave living authors out of the question. At what point in their lives were Dickens, Thackeray, Harrison Ainsworth, Bulwer Lytton, Dumas, Balzac (make the list longer, if you please, and assume that they lived in days of a shilling tax:in the pound) entitled to say, ‘ we put so much capital into this book and that, in the form of brains, that the State must make a return to us of income-tax over paid?” Take THE AUTHOR. at random a writer or two famous for one or a few books. Ought J. H. Shorthouse, or Tom Hughes, or Lewis Carroll, to have been enabled to say, ‘We wrote so well in the works. that have made our names household words, and have written so little since, that you must pay back to us all income-tax in respect of our works in con- sequence of the debilitated state to which we have reduced ourselves ?”” Ought they on the other hand to have been enabled to claim the exemption at the time when they first calculated their profits ? How would it have had to be done? Would the author of “John Inglesant” have been obliged to make a detailed statement, fortified by medical evidence, of the degree of cerebral impoverishment which he had suffered ? There seem to be practical difficulties in the way of any change in the present arrangements, and I submit that any alteration would at all events have to apply equally to the novelist and the coach- builder. The brain loss of the latter might be too trifling to be worth considering in many instances ; so also occasionally would be that. of the former, but both would have to be treated equally, and to be offered an allowance for any loss of brain proved to have taken place. At present they are treated equally in this, that the State does not attempt to ascertain an expendi- ture which would be, to say the least, difficult to assess justly and accurately. Tt says, in effect, “ Gentlemen and _ ladies, authors, coachbuilders, and others : If you make a tangible profit annually we must take a per- centage of it for State purposes, because we want ships, and abbreviated rifles, and other desirable things for States to possess, but we will allow for any tangible depreciation in your tangible capital, under what is known as Schedule D. If you choose to wear out your brains making money we must take a percentage of that money, we cannot allow for brain deterioration because we don’t know how to estimate it. suggestion to you, which we should not think of doing, we should point out that if you could manage to do with a little less money in the present, you will retain a little more brain for future use.” I may be entirely wrong, put I fancy Mr. Hodges’ legal opinion was correct, and that his analogy was — correct also. I also believe that he neither intended nor expressed any comparison at which any author — (or coachbuilder) need take offence. E. A. ARMSTRONG. Ce a ae Il. Sir,—Mrs. Steel does not stand alone in ad- — miring Mr. Hodges’ comparison of the author and One element of, surprise, the coachbuilder. If we made a i 2 THE AUTHOR. indeed, seems to have escaped her. It seemed to me that Mr. Hodges must have confused the character and functions of an author with those of a publisher. I do not know whether a coach- builder uses the designs of an artist. If he does, the comparison between him and the publisher is just. Hach of them reproduces an indefinite num- ber of copies of a work of art. He does thisin the way of business, pays away outgoings to various subordinate trades, varnish-makers or printers, ironmongers or bookbinders, allows for other ex- penses, and makes a certain profit, on which he pays income-tax. The likeness of either business to the operations of an author is lessobvious. In one point, indeed, Mrs. Steel sees difference where there is resemblance. The particular quart of varnish used in finishing one coach is irrevocably used up, just as are the particular words or ideas used in one book. Indeed, some critics will say that the author has the advantage here. But the more I allow the like- ness, the more bewildered I am by the duties which Mr. Hodges imposes upon me in respect of income-tax. ‘The coachbuilder, keeping proper books, knows exactly what his varnish costs him, and sets that off against his receipts for perfected coaches. But- how am I to estimate the cost of my words and ideas? How much, for example, has that last sentence cost me: and, if I received payment for this letter, how much should I deduct on account of it, to arrive ab my taxable income ? Mr. Hodges says :—“ The author is entitled to deduct any disbursement or expenses which he may have laid out or expended wholly or exclu- sively for the purposes of his vocation.” Since nothing is produced from nothing, and brain stuff requires renewal as regularly as a coachbuilder’s plant, and the butcher and baker have to be paid for this renewal, it is evident that I have expended something wholly or exclusively in the production of that particular sentence. I know that the law does not allow me to deduct anything for “maintenance’’ ; but my maintenance as a house- keeping, voting, taxable animal is one thing; the renewal of my literary stock-in-trade is another thing. Mr. Hodges makes the necessary calcula- tion less minute by allowing that the expenses need not necessarily be appropriated to any particular book or work; but even so, it seems to be my duty to keep very elaborate accounts, and I am threatened with the awkward consequence that my energies may be wholly absorbed in bookkeeping. Thus the calculation of my income for the purpose of taxation will extinguish my income altogether, and I shall be saved further trouble. Mr. Hodges, it is true, overlooks the cost of getting words or ideas, but of course he does not pretend to exhaust the subject. He gives only illustrations 183 of a general principle, and confines himself to certain parts of our stock-in-trade—photographs, sta- tionery, typewriting, books, and travelling expenses. But even these more easily calculated particulars fill me with dread. I will take a notorious ex- ample. Macaulay received a gross sum of £8,000 for the copyright of his History. If he had had Mr. Hodges’ opinion before him, he would have known that he ought to pay income-tax on his net receipts. But how was he to arrive at the net ? Think of the task of disentaneling his: book- buying accounts and his travelling expenses during the previous twenty years! Here, however, Mr. Hodges may afford relief —a relief, unhappily, which brings new pain. The expenses to be deducted must have been “incurred in the period for which the return is made.” This means, I suppose, that the average expenses of three years must be deducted from the average receipts. Let us suppose that Macaulay sold his copyright—I forget the real date—in 1855. His average income from this source, returned in the following year, was £2,666 13s. 4d.; and he would deduct his average expenditure on books and travelling during the last three years. But what about his ex- penses during the previous years of preparation ? A work like Macanlay’s History is not produced ab ovo in three years; and even if it were, the formation of the egg is a long and costly business. But, someone may say, Macaulay was always a writer by profession, a contributor to schedule D : each year he should have calculated his professional outgoings, and deducted them from his gross in- come. ‘The answer is just ; especially if we are agreed that an author’s calling is exactly com- parable with a coachbuilder’s, as steady and as uniform. But the analogy sometimes fails. I do not know whether Mrs. Steel was carefully balancing her annual accounts as author during the twenty-five years spent, as she explains, in buying materials for “ On the Face of the Waters” ; but I do know what was the case with Mr. Short- house. For more than twenty years he was elaborating “ John Inglesant,” and during this period he was certainly not a professional writer, and had no gross income as author from which to deduct the cost of ‘the material which he was putting into that book. When he began to draw an income from it, he could deduct only the average expenditure of the last three years. In one respect Mr. Hodges may bring us com- fort. When | wrote the article which formed the case submitted to him, I supposed, in my unbusiness- like way, that I was bound to return for income- tax the whole of the sums annually received as royalty. It was only the amount received by sales of copyrights about which I had doubts. I know now that I ought to deduct from my royalties the 184 annual expenses of the trade of authorship. They are difficult to calculate, but I must brace myself to the task. I only fear, as I have said, that my income may disappear altogether in consequence. On the whole, the comparison with the coach- builder seems to land us in great difficulties. The mention of “John Inglesant” suggests to me another comparison, which I will venture to put forward, though it does involve the impertinence of going behind Mr. Hodges’ opinion. A doctor amuses himself for a long time by building a house. He makes it his hobby ; he is continually altering and embellishing it, he takes his friends to see it, profiting by their suggestions as well as by those of his own taste. Tt is talked about, and within a certain narrow circle wins a reputation for beauty and comfort. It is at last finished ; he either goes to live in it, or lets it, or sells it, getting in the last case a good price because of its reputation. If he lives in it or lets it, he begins o pay income-tax on the annual value, If he sells it, must he return the price, less expenses, under schedule D, as a speculative builder? The case of “John Inglesant ” seems to me closely analogous. If Mr. Shorthouse received royalties for it, he would pay income-tax on them; but if he sold the copyright, would the sum received really be professional income ? TT, A. LACEY. CopyRIGHT IN Puays. Sir,—Some few years ago I heard Sir Henry Irving (then “Mr. Irving”) in “ Charles the First,” by the late dramatist Wills. Considering the deplorable dearth of good plays nowadays, it seems to me a matter for regret that “Charles the First” has not been revived. It is probable that Sir Henry Irving has the manuscript in his keeping, and he appears to have sole performing right. I have applied to him to know if I could get a chance to read the play, but received a reply merely stating that it has not been published. It will be a great pity if the public never hears anything more of it. Therefore, T venture to ask if nothing can be done to bring it before us again. I remember an amusing incident which happened on the occasion of my hearing the play. I did not know, at that time, the author’s name, and I turned to a man sitting near me, and asked him if he could inform me who was the author. by Shakespeare #” Probably the gentleman had mixed his dates somewhat ! E. Urwicr. THE AUTHOR. He, hesitated for a moment, and then said, ‘‘ Isn’t it. Tue REVIEWING SHAM. Sir,—Is it not time that reviewing should cease, inasmuch that it is a sham? Half the books noticed or reviewed are never read at all, being merely skimmed through, quoted from, condemned or praised, at the whim of the reviewer. Books have been frequently sent to me and I have been asked to review them. To have read conscien- tiously through each (taking only one bundle thereof as an example), and pronounced an honest opinion of the contents, would have taken me 365 days instead of 365 minutes, which is about the usual amount of time allotted by the ordinary reviewer to the same number of books, which I returned, with regrets that I had neither tame nor inclination to read them. I am not blaming the ordinary reviewer. This personage reviews for cash. He does it for a living, and the more books he gets through the larger is the income that he makes. Would it not be a much better plan, think you, for authors when they advertise their books to accompany same with an author's note stating the object and aim of the work, and leave it to the public to read it or not as it feels LS inclined, and form its own judgment thereon? If newspapers would afford space for such a note with | advertisements, and make a moderate charge much trouble would be saved, and the review- ing sham would be abolished. This would be a ~ good job indeed. The excessive expense of sending out “ Copies to the Press” would end, and literature be given fair play all round. Believe me, yours very truly, FuoRENCE DIxie. Glen Stuart, N.B. —-~p— — Tue Humours oF Books AND THE WAYS OF PUBLISHERS. Sir,—I am writing a book under the above title. Both parts of the title will come in for treatment, and I shall be glad of any little help in the way of facts, fancies, and fragments under either. My experience of publishers has been some-_ what extensive and rather mixed. My object will be to give an account of this experience, and par- ticularly of a case now in the hands of solicitors. I have appealed already and received some assist- ance. Iam quite sure that many of your readers — have some good stories to tell. Whatever their | nature be, I should like to receive them. May IT ask the favour of a bounteous reply and supply * Your obedient servant, J. P. SANDLANDS. Brigstock Vicarage, Thrapston. 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. 15 Issue 06 (March 1905) Subject The topic of the resource The Author, Vol. 15 Issue 06 (March 1905) Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1905-03-01-The-Author-15-6 publications The Author