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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
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The Author
Subject
The topic of the resource
<em>The Author</em>
Description
An account of the resource
A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&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
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1890–1914
Identifier
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The-Author-Issues
Publication
Date
The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format)
1913-01-01
Volume
23
Issue
4
Pages
Page range in volume
97–128
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19130101
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.
Vor. XXTII.—No. 4.
JANUARY 1, 1913.
[Prick SIxPENcE,
TELEPHONE NumBeEr :
3874 VICTORIA.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDREss :
AUTORIDAD, LONDON.
————_+—~@—.
NOTICES.
—-~»
4 OR the opinions expressed in papers that
are signed or initialled the authors alone
are responsible. None of the papers or
paragraphs must be taken as expressing the
opinion of the Committee unless such is
especially stated to be the case.
Tue Editor begs to inform members of the
Authors’ Society and other readers of The
Author that the cases which are 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.
ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS.
Tue Editor of The Author begs to remind
members of the Society that, although the
paper is sent to them free of cost, its production
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, S.W., and should
reach the Editor not later than the 21st of each
month.
Communications and letters are invited by
the Editor on all literary matters treated from
Vou. XXIII.
the standpoint of art or business, but on no
other subjects whatever. Every effort will be
made to return articles which cannot be
accepted.
ADVERTISEMENTS.
As there seems to be an impression among
readers of The Author that the Committee are
personally responsible for the bona fides of the
advertisers, the Committee desire it to be stated
that this is not, and could not possibly be, the
case. Although care is exercised that no
undesirable advertisements be inserted, they
do not accept, and never have accepted, any
liability.
Members should apply to the Secretary for
advice if special information is desired.
Oo
THE SOCIETY’S FUNDS.
1
“L\ROM time to time members of the Society
K desire to make donations to its funds in
recognition of work that has been done
for them. The Committee, acting on the
suggestion of one of these members, have
decided to place this permanent paragraph in
The Author in order that members may be
cognisant of those funds to which these con-
tributions may be paid.
The funds suitable for this purpose are:
(1) The Capital Fund. This fund is kept in
reserve in case it is necessary for the Society to
incur heavy expenditure, cither in fighting a
question of principle, or in assisting to obtain
copyright reform, or in dealing with any other
matter closely connected with the work of the
Society.
(2) The Pension Fund. This fund is slowly
increasing, and it is hoped will, in time, cover
the needs of all the members of the Society.
#9
98 THE AUTHOR.
THE PENSION FUND.
— >
N January, the secretary of the Society laid
before the trustees of the Pension Fund
the accounts for the year 1911, as settled
by the accountants, with a full statement of
the result of the appeal made on behalf of
the fund. After giving the matter full con-
sideration, the trustees instructed the secretary
to invest the sum of £500 in the purchase of
Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway 5% Pre-
ferred Ordinary Stock and Central Argentine
Railway Ordinary Stock. The amounts pur-
chased at the current prices were £237 in the
former and £282 in the latter stock.
The trustees desire to thank the members of
the Society for the generous support which they
have given to the Pension Fund. The money
now invested amounts to £4,454 6s.
Later in the year, at a meeting of the Com-
mittee of Management, a question concerning
the funds of the Society was brought up for dis-
cussion, and it was suggested that it would be
a good thing for the Pension Fund trustees, if
they had power, to sell out the Fund’s holding of
Consols and to invest in some more satisfactory
security. The suggestion was placed before the
trustees of the Pension Fund, and a meeting
was called, when the chairman of the Committee
of Management, the trustees, and Mr. Aylmer
Maude, the member of the Committee of
Management who had made the suggestion,
were present. The figures were very closely
considered, and it appeared clear that altera-
tions in the investment of the funds could be
carried out with advantage to the Fund’s
income. It was decided by the trustees, with
the approval of the Committee of Management,
to sell out the holding of Consols. With the
amount realised, were purchased—
$2,000 (£400) Consolidated Gas and Elec-
tric Company of Baltimore 44% Gold
Bonds ;
30 Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway
4°, Extension Shares, 1914 (£8 paid) ;
£250 Edward Lloyd, Ltd., £1 5% Prefer-
ence Shares.
These amounts are fully set out and added
in the nominal value to the Pension Fund
investments, below.
The trustees have also, in view of the option
extended to them as holders of £232 Central
Argentine Railway Ordinary Stock, subscribed
for 8 Central Argentine Railway £10 Preference
Shares, New Issue.
The nominal value of the investments held
on behalf of the Pension Fund now amounts
to £4,454 6s., details of which are fully set out
in the following schedule :—
Nominal Value.
£ 8, d.
Local Loans .............,.24, 500 0 0
Victoria Government 3% Consoli-
dated Inscribed Stock ........ 291 19 11
London and North-Western 3%
Debenture Stock ...........;, 250 0 0
Egyptian Government Irrigation
Trust 4% Certificates ........ 200 0 0
Cape of Good Hope 34% Inscribed
Stock (2.00502. 24005. 22 200 0 0
Glasgow and South-Western Rail-
way 4% Preference Stock .... 228 0 0
New Zealand 34% Stock........ 247 9 6
Trish Land 23% Guaranteed Stock 258 0 0
Corporation of London 24%
Stock, 1927-57... .......-... 488 2 4
Jamaica 34% Stock, 1919-49 1382 18 6
Mauritius 4% 1937 Stock ...... 120 12 1
Dominion of Canada, C.P.R. 34%
Land Grant Stock, 1988 ...... 198 3 8
Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway
5% Preferred Stock .......... 237 0 0
Central Argentine Railway Or-
dinary Stock................- 232 0 0
$2,000 . Consolidated Gas and
Electric Company: of Baltimore
44% Gold Bonds ............ 400 0 0
250 Edward Lloyd, Ltd., £1 5%
Preference Shares .......... 250 0 0
30 Buenos Ayres Great Southern
Railway 4% Extension Shares,
1914 (£8 paid) <5 .44.0.-4. 06 240 0 0
8 Central Argentine Railway £10
Preference Shares, New Issue... 30 0 0
Total. 2.222.064 £4,454 6 0
Ce i 0
PENSION FUND.
ee
Tue list printed below includes all fresh dona-
tions and subscriptions (i.e., donations and
subscriptions not hitherto acknowledged)
received by, or promised to, the fund from
April 1, 1912.
It does not include either donations given
prior to April 1, nor does it include sub-
scriptions paid in compliance with promises
made before it.
Subscriptions.
1912.
April 6, Bland, J. O. P. ,
April 6, Taylor, Mrs. Basil °.
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have terminated satisfactorily, the publisher
having settled the disputes and paid the costs.
In another case where judgment had been
signed, a summons had been issued requiring
the defendant to come up for examination as
to his means. It is probable, as the summons
has been served, that the money will be forth-
coming—especially as the defendant is engaged
in active work. ‘Two MSS. have been obtained
from a theatrical manager, following the issue
of a summons. The manager excused himself
on the ground that no previous application
had been made, despite the fact that both
the secretary and the solicitor of the Society
had written several times. In another case
judgment was obtained for a sum of £7 10s.,
the remaining issue of the case, as the facts
were in dispute, being sent to the County Court
for trial.
The solicitor then reported the action taken
at the Old Bailey against C. M. Burghes, of
which a note appeared in the December issue
of The Author.
The solicitors were glad to report payment in
another case of the full sum in dispute without
the matter going into Court, and that another
important claim was in the course of
negotiation.
The action taken by the Society in two
bankruptcies was next dealt with. The firms
involved were Messrs. Greening & Co., and
Messrs Stephen Swift. The solicitor stated
that in one case the secretary of the Society
was representing authors on the Committee
of Inspection, and in the other, Mr. Lewis
Benjamin had kindly undertaken to act as
the authors’ representative.
A claim against a publisher for non-payment
of amount .due on royalties would have to be
taken into Court, as the solicitor had not
received a satisfactory reply to his letters.
A case of infringement of dramatic copyright,
the solicitor was glad to report, was very
satisfactorily closed, and an agreement for
settlement had been come to against a Daily
Paper for an amount due for contributions.
There was another case against a technical
paper, in which a settlement had been arranged
last August, but the failure of the defendant
to stand by the arrangement had necessitated
its being re-opened and fresh proceedings
being taken.
An arrangement of settlement suggested
by another paper that the author should take
back MSS. which had been accepted, was
repudiated by the author. The debt has now
been paid.
Finally, a matter of difficulty touching the
THE AUTHOR.
exact terms of a contract for publishing,
between an author and a publisher, after long
negotiations had been settled between the
solicitors of the two parties, the agreements
having been signed and exchanged. The
solicitor reported that it might be necessary
to issue a summons against the same publisher,
as it had proved impossible to obtain accurate
statements of account due to another author,
a member of the Society.
The secretary then read a letter which he
had received from Mr. John Long, who stated
that from his experience as managing director
of John Long, Limited, he had found that
‘* Authors had originally been on friendly
terms with us, socially as well as in the course
of business, and yet have subsequently adopted.
a different and frequently hostile attitude
towards us, the change synchronising with,
their becoming members of your Society.
This we ascribe, in the main, to their having
become imbued with the views expressed in,
the Society’s monthly publication and other
literature issued by it.”
The committee made no comment upon the
communication. :
Another matter put forward by the secretary
was a case of an author who had been a member
of the Society, and though not a member at.
the present time, desired the committee to
take up the case as a matter of principle. The
committee, after consideration, came to the
conclusion that they had to undertake cases
of principle on behalf of those who were
members, and that they could not consider
this special case unless the author in question
rejoined the Society. This might be arranged
on terms, when they would be willing to discuss
the whole matter.
The committee are pleased to report that
Mr. Anstey Guthrie, the committee’s repre-
sentative on the Pension Fund Committee,
has expressed his. willingness to continue to
serve on that committee. He was, accord-
ingly, unanimously re-elected. In another
column appears a statement regarding the
Society’s representative on the Pension Fund
Committee.
The question of the election of a Pension
Fund Trustee was also considered, and the
secretary was instructed to write to Sir Arthur
Pinero on the subject. The committee have
pleasure in reporting that Sir Arthur Pinero has
consented to.undertake ‘the duties.
The secretary stated what steps had been
taken in regard to.the Collection Bureau. He
said that a circular had been sent out, that he
chad received many answers, and that the
THE AUTIOI. 101
writers expressed their opinion that such a
bureau would be very valuable.
The committee then decided on the sum to
be spent in Christmas boxes, and the adjust-
ment of salaries.
The secretary then read a notice from
the office of the Australian Commonwealth in
London, intimating that the Australian Copy-
right Bill had passed into law. The committee
regretted, therefore, that it was too late to
send out the report which they had passed on
the Bill, but if the Act is on the lines of the
draft which was laid before them, they think
they may congratulate authors on having
obtained, on the whole, very satisfactory
Inter-Colonial protection in Australia. The
Act will be printed as soon as it is possible
to obtain a copy.
The secretary reported also that the India
Office had informed him that it was the inten-
tion to proclaim the Copyright Act, 1911,
in India at the earliest possible opportunity.
The question, however, of introducing modifi-
cations or additions in the Act as proclaimed
in India, was still under consideration.
The committee ordered that counsel’s opinion,
which had been obtained under their authority
dealing with some points raised by an American
correspondent in connection with the copyright
relations between Great Britain and the
United States, should be printed in The Author,
and it appears in another column.
The question of the adjustment of some of
the advertising accounts was considered and
settled.
On the recommendation of the Dramatic
Sub-Committee, the committee decided to
appoint M. A. Reyding, of Willemsparkweg, 134,
Amsterdam, accredited dramatic agent to the
Society in Holland, and Mr. Walter C. Jordan,
of Empire Theatre Building, 1428—1432,
Broadway, New York, accredited dramatic
agent of the Society in New York. It is
intended to appoint accredited agents of the
Society in the Colonies and other countries.
An important question .affecting authors
who write for magazines was discussed,
namely, the question of whether payment on
acceptance should not be demanded.
Editors have claimed that no article is to be
paid for till after publication, and, in some
cases, have delayed publication for two or three
years. The Society has always maintained
that publication must ensue within a reason-
able time, or that payment must be made,
and editors have, as a rule, acknowledged the
justice of the contention, but other editors have,
after long delays, paid only grudgingly, and
have even hinted that, as they have been made
to pay, they will take no more of the particular
author’s work. The committee instructed the
secretary to make out a list of editors who
might be approached on the subject, and it was
decided to invite collaboration and guidance
from them.
The secretary laid on the table letters from
Sir Gilbert Parker and Mr. Chatterton Hill,
thanking the Society for work done on their
behalf, and a vote of thanks was passed to
Miss E. Robins for a donation of £2 2s. to the
Capital Fund.
————
Dramatic SuBp-CoMMITTEE.
Tue Dramatic Sub-Committee met at 13,
Queen Anne’s Gate, on Friday, December 13.
After reading the minutes of the previous
meeting, they proceeded to select their nominees
for election to the Dramatic Sub-Committee
for 1913. The names of these nominees will
be sent round to the members of the Dramatic
section of the Society, who will be invited to
nominate other members of the section for
service on the Sub-Committee should they care
to do so. If other names are submitted the
usual voting papers will be sent to the
Dramatic section, and the result of the election
will be placed before the Committee of Manage-
ment as the recommendation of the Dramatic
section of the Society for the Dramatic Sub-
Committee for 1918. A draft circular to be
sent to the dramatists in the Society was
settled.
One or two matters of importance arising
under the Collection Bureau of the Society
were considered. The first was the date for
settlement of fees collected, and it was decided
to pay these over as soon as they were cleared
and entries made in the books of the Society.
In effect this will probably mean a weekly
settlement of accounts so far as dramatists are
concerned.
The next matter was the percentage to be
charged on the collection of fees abroad, and
the Secretary was instructed to write to the
agents appointed to obtain from them some
expression of their views on the question.
When their reports are to hand they will be
considered by the Dramatic Sub-Committee,
who will then make the proper recommendation
to the Committee of Management.
A case of infringement of copyright in a
dramatic piece in Canada was next considered,
and the Sub-Committee recommended that the
case should be referred to the Committee of
Management with a view to action being taken,
102
Another question relating to, infringement
of the title of one of the members’ plays by a
cinematograph performance was discussed, and
here, also, it was decided to refer the matter
to the Committee of Management if the
solicitors’ opinion was favourable.
A proposal from the Society of Dramatic
Authors in the United States suggesting
reciprocal help between the two societies was
laid before the Sub-Committee, and they
expressed their readiness to do what was
possible in the matter, leaving the final settle-
ment to the Committee of Management.
The question of the appointment of two
more foreign agents was also considered, and
the Dramatic Sub-Committee approved the
appointment subject to the approval of the
Committee of Management.
The Sub-Committee then adjourned till
January, 1913.
a
CoMPosERS’ SUR-COMMITTEE.
Tur Composers’ Sub-Committee of the
Society of Authors met at 13, Queen Anne’s
Gate on Saturday, December 14. After the
minutes of the previous meeting had been
signed the secretary laid before the Sub-
Committee an agreement from Messrs. Curwen
which had been referred to them for their
consideration, As there was only just a
quorum and it seemed necessary that the
matter should be discussed in full committee
the consideration of the agreement was
adjourned to the next meeting.
The correspondence which had taken place
in The Times between the Society of Authors,
Messrs. Novello and Sir Charles Villiers
Stanford was laid on the table and discussed.
The next question before the Sub-Committee
was the collection of fees in foreign countries.
The secretary read letters he had already
received, and was instructed to write to the
legal representative of the society in Germany
in answer to his letter, and ask for fuller _
particulars of two companies referred to so
that the Sub-Committee might be able to make
arrangements for the collection of mechanical
fees in the German Empire. He was also
instructed to write further to the representa-
tive of a company in France.
The secretary then mentioned to the com-
mittee various points which had arisen under
the Act of 1911 and was instructed to write to
the Board of Trade in order to obtain from
them information on one or two points which,
at present, appeared to be indefinite. The
THE AUTHOR.
question of performing rights was also under
consideration, and the secretary read a letter
he had received from the Music Publishers’
Association. The Sub-Committee were deter-
mined not to abandon the attempt to obtain a
satisfactory solution of the question of the fees
to be charged for performances, and although
the music publishers did not at present see
their way to give any assistance, the matter
was adjourned for further consideration at the
next meeting.
nee coe el
Cases.
Durine the past month the Society has had
occasion to take up twelve cases.
Three of these were for the* return of
manuscripts; in two of the cases the manu-
scripts have been returned ; the third case has
only recently come into the office.
There have been three disputes between
authors and publishers and agents on the
interpretation of agreements. These matters,
as a rule, and those nowin hand are no exception
to that rule, require considerable negotiation,
but the negotiations are progressing favour-
ably.
Out of four cases for money three have been
settled, the money having been obtained and
sent on to the authors concerned; the fourth
case has only recently come into the office.
There are two cases for accounts. One case
will probably have to go into the hands of the
Society’s solicitors, as the publishers concerned
have on former occasions refused to respond to
the letters of the secretary. The second case
has only just come into the office.
All the cases left over from former months
have now been closed, with the exception of
two, which have had to be put into the solicitors’
hands.
ag
Elections.
-Beach, Rex . . . c/o Hughes, Massie
& Co, 21, Tavis-
tock Street, W.C.
35a, Temple Road,
South Ealing.
Waldechlaan 2, Hil-
versum, Holland.
80, Hyde Park Gate,
London, $.W.
Beckfoot, Birch Hall
Lane, Manchester.
Charters | Towers,
East Grinstead.
Begarnie, George
Berrington, John S. .
Coit, Dr. Stanton ‘
Cooper, Miss Marjorie .
De Brath, Stanley :
THE AUTHOR. 103
Drillien, Miss Béréngere Greenlands, Comey- BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS.
trowe, Taunton,
Somersetshire.
Ellison, Miss Grace May Lyceum Club, Picca- While every effort is made by the compilers to keep
dilly, W. this Be - oe pee ie as possible, oy a
. : A a : ie some culty in attainin is object owing to the fact
Fitzgerald, Miss Eva . Sunnyholme, Shank- that many of the books ed not sent to the office
lin, Isle of Wight. by the members. In consequence, it is necessary to rely
Gaze, W. Culling. LO: John Street, largely upon lists of books which appear in literary and
Adelphi, W.C. other papers. It is hoped, however, that members will
eS Gee io a _ €o-operate in the compiling of this list, and, by sending
Genn, Miss Caroline T.. 47a, Stanley Gar particulars of theis works, help to make it substantially
dens, Hampstead. accurate.
Gilbey, Sir Walter, Bart. Elsenham Hall, ART.
Stansted, S.O., Lire iy rue West or Irenanp. Drawn and Painted
Essex. By Jack B. Yurats. 93x 7. 111 pp. Maunsell.
i _- Harrap, Charles . . The Laurels, Neth- “> 4
a erby Road, Forest BIOGRAPHY.
Hill, S.E. eee By Aaron Watson. 6} x 4h. 94 pp.
~ : jl Jack, od. Nn.
Stoughton, Stanley . 15, eee Writs Suarr. A Memoir compiled by his Wife,
sions, aring Evizaseta A. Swarr. 2 Vols. 73 x 54. 352 pp.
Cross Road, W.C. + 450 pp. Heinemann. 10s. n. : y
Hubbard, Philip E. : ue CHaRLoTTE SopuieE Countess Bentinck. Her Life
Ss : ox 4 Q : and Times, 1715—1800. By her descendant, Mrs.
Irwin, Beatrice . ae ane oe AusprEy Le Bronp. 2 Vols. 70 illustrations from
: : st. James’, W. origina! paintings. Hutchinson. 24s. n.
Jerovise, Miss M. Clarke Leahurst, Esher,
Surrey. BOOKS OF REFERENCE.
Moxon, Chas, Fred . 22, Worcester Villas, Caratocuz or THe Heprew AND Samariran Manv-
Hove, Sussex. SCRIPTS IN THE British Museum. By G. Mareori-
MacRitchie, David . 4, Archibald Place, outH. Part II. Sections I1—VII. 12} x 10.
: i 377 pp. British Museum. 35s. n.
Edinburgh. Tue Lirerary YEAR Boor, 1913. Edited by Bastu
7 Mayne, Ethel Colburn. 11, Holland Road, Srewarr. 7 x 4%. 896 pp. ‘Ouseley. 6s. n.
Kensington, W. oe
Murray, Douglas. . Houston, House, CLASSICAL.
Worthing. Four Sraces or GREEK Rericion. Studies based on a
* B § Course of Lectures delivered in April, 1912, at Columbia
ee ee Major Ps , t Pelham, University. By Girpert Murray. "9x 5}. 223 pp.
tee : aignton. New York: Columbia University Press. London:
Redwood, Miss Ethel 18, Avenue Road, Frowde. 6s. n.
Boverton Regent’s Park, DRAMA.
N.W
: n : TurREE Puays, Vol. II.: Tue Expsst Son; Tue Litre
Schultheis, Lili Mar- Heyscroft, West Dream; Justice. By Jown GatswortHy. 7 x 5.
garet Didsbury, Man- 79 + 34+ 111 pp. Duckworth. Is. 6d. n.
chester. PreneLtorpg. A Comedy in Three Acts. 213 pp. Mars.
C é : Dor. A Farce in Three Acts. 172 pp. Tue Ex-
Southwark, Lady oo 12, Devonshire Place, ptorer. A Melodrama in Four Acts. PP 52 pp. By
W. : W. Somerset Mavucnam. 7 x 43. Heinemann.
Sephton, J. 90, Huskisson Street, ls. 6d. n. each.
Liverpool. How tHe CuitprReN Met tHe Taree Krxas. By Mavpe
Telle ; . Egerton Kine. London: Fifield. 4d.
Weller, Bernard . : oe so Road, Desorau. A Play in Three Acts. By LasceLues.
: . ABERCROMBIE. 72 x 43. 60 pp. Lane. 2s, 6d. n.
Walker, Henry . - Dale View, Brad-
well, Derbyshire. FICTION.
Winter, FredericG. . 32, Alderbrook Road, Gop’s Prayrumes. By Masorte Bowen. | 8f x 5}.
Clapham Common, 319 pp. Smith Elder. 6s.
S.W. Wuen THE Kine Came Sourn. A Romance of Borwick
a iw iy ION 51 2B
—~Woolf, L. S. : ~« 18, Clifford’s Inn, a Oe 7 o Cee fx 86 pp.
Fleet St., E.C, Our Aury., By M. E. Francis (Mrs. Francis Blundell).
7} x 5. 320 pp. John Long. 6s.
Tue Nicur or Tempration. By Vicrorta Cross.
74 x 5. 276 pp. T. Werner Laurie.
. Panruer’s Cus. By Agnes AnD EGERTON CASTLE.
6} x 44. 380 pp. Nelson. 7d. n.
oa ne
a
104
Ipte Hanps. By W. Crrnron Exsis. 7 x 5. 358 pp.
JARROLD. 6s.
THROUGH THE CLouDY Porcu. By W. M. Even (Mrs. C.
T. Caulfeild). 74 x 5. 343 pp. Murray. 6s.
Tur AnpERSoNS. By S. Macnaventon. 256 pp.
63 x 44. (Cheap Reprint.) Hodder and Stoughton.
7d. n.
Tue WARDEN OF THE MarcnEs. By SypNuy C. GRIER.
6} x 4}. 468 pp. (Nelson’s Library of Copyright
Fiction.) Nelson. 7d.
FarrHruLness IN Hicu PLaces.
Bourke. A Fashionable Romance in Historical
Times. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis & Co., Ltd. 7s. 6d. n.
AyrsurE Ipytis. By Nem Munro. Illustrated by
G. Hovsroys. 94 x 7. 139 pp. Black. 7s. 6d. n.
A Lirrte Green Wortp. By J. E. Buckrosn. 260 pp.
Hodder and Stoughton. 7d. n.
Tur Heart oF PrIncrss OSRA.
By Lapy FLORENCE
By Antuony Hore.
259 pp. Hodder and Stoughton. 7d. n.
TristRAM oF BuENt. By Antuony Horr. 6} x 44.
469 pp. Nelson. 7d. n.
HISTORY.
HisroricaL VicNerres. By Brernarp Capes. 7 X 44.
220 pp. Sidgwick and Jackson. 2s. 6d. n.
West [npran TaLes oF OLp. By AtcERNon E, ASPIN-
ALL. 74 X 5. 260 pp. Duckworth. 6s.
Eneuish Lire AND MANNERS IN THE LaTER MIDDLE
Acrs. By A. Apsram, D.Sc. 7} x 5. 352 pp.
Routledge. 6s. \
Tur War DRAMA OF THE EacuEs. NapoLron’s STAN-
DARD BEARERS ON THE BATTLEFIELD IN VICTORY AND
DEFEAT FROM AUSTERLITZ TO WATERLOO. A Record
of Hard Fighting, Heroism and Adventure. By
E. Fraser. 9 x 53. 444 pp. Murray. 12s. n.
Centric BriraIN AND THE Prrcrmm Movement. By
G. Harrwett Jonzs, D.D. 82 x 5}. 581 pp. The
Hon. Society of Cymmrodorion.
JUVENILE.
Litrte THanx You. By Mrs. T. P. O'Connor. 252 pp.
(The Mauve Library.) 73 x 5. Putnams. 2s. n.
LanceLot AND GUENEVERE. By Giapys Davipson.
Nelson. 2s. 6d.
Aut Asovur Lirrte Spirrxins; ALL ABouT THE FLYING
Pic. By Gurapys Davipson. Dean & Sons.
BuccaNEERS OF THE Spanisu Maryn. By A. M. Hyamson,
72 x 54. Routledge. 3s. 6d.
PavLine’s First Reapine Boox azout Tom AND JANE
AnD THEIR Navcury Frienp. By Lapy Bett,
73 x 71. 141 pp. Longmans. ls. 6d.
LITERARY.
A Hisrory or Enciisn Lirerature. By A. Compron-
Ricxett, LL.D. 64 x 43. Ill pp. Jack. 6d. n.
Tue River or Lonpon. By Hinarre Bettoc. 7} x St.
145 pp. Foulis. 5s. n.
MEDICAL.
A Manvat or Inrecriovs Diseases OCCURRING IN
Scnoot. By H. G. Armstrone and J. M. Forrescun
BrickpatE. 74x 5. 150 pp. Bristol: Wright.
London: Simpkin. 3s.
NATURAL HISTORY.
Tue Lire oF THE Sprper. By J. Henrt Fasre. Trans-
lated by ALEXANDER TEIXETRA DE Marros. With a
Preface by Maurice Marreruinck. 8 x 5$. 378 pp.
Hodder and Stoughton. 6s. n.
Tur Inrancy or Animas. By W. P. Pycrarr. 8} x 54.
272 pp. Hutchinson.
THER AUTHOR.
Tue Book oF Woopcrarr and InpiaAN Lore. By
Ernest THompson SEtTON. 8} x 6. 551 pp. Con-
stable. 6s.
Tue Crrcyting YEAR. By W. Percivat WestTELL, F.L.8,
Illustrated. 94 x 74. 340 pp. Nelson. 6s. n.
Tur Narurat History or THE GarpEeN. By W.
PercivaL WeEsTELL, F.L.S. Illustrated.
pp. Black. Is. 6d. n.
Tuer Scout’s Boox or Nature Crarr. By W. Percivan
Westett, F.L.S. Illustrated. 74 x 5}. 86 pp. Gale
and Polden. 6d. n.
PHILOSOPHY.
Tue Puttosopny or NierzscHe. An Exposition and am
Appreciation. By GrorcEes CuarrerTon-Hi1, Ph.D.
9 x 54. 292 pp. Ouseley. 7s. 6d. n.
8 x 54. 88
Lirre’s Many Coxtours. By J. C. Wricut. Headley
Bros. 2s. 6d.
POETRY.
Lyrics. By Lapy Marcarer Sackvitie. 7} x 5}.
72 pp. Herbert and Daniel. 3s. 6d. n.
CoLtLeEcTED VERSE oF RvupyarRp Kretine. Second
Edition. 10 x 6%. 478 pp. Hodder and Stoughton.
20s. n.
Otp TrsTAMENT Lyrics. By M. G. J. Kintocsa.
64. 78 pp. Sands. 5s. n.
Sona Lyrics, AND OTHER SHORT PorEms.
D. Barr. 54 x 44. 65 pp. Constable.
REPRINTS.
PLEASANT DELIGHTS FOR CHILDREN,.
GATHERED FROM THE GOLDEN GARDEN. By A. E. and
W. H. D. Rouss. 7 x 43. 144 pp. Blackie. Is. 6d.
In Praise oF SwitzERLAND. Being the Alps in Prose
10 x
By Eruev.
28. 6d. n.
A Porsy oF
and Verse. By Harotp SpENDER. 73 x 5}. 291 pp.
Constable. 5s. n.
Tne Sones AND Porms or Rosert Burns. With an
Appreciation, by the Rigur Hon. THE Ear oF
Rosepery, K.T. 9} x 63. 653 pp. Foulis,
10s. 6d. n.
Desperate ReMeEDIES. 454 pp. THe Hanp or ErHEL-
BERTA. A Comedy in Chapters. By Tuomas Harpy.
9 x 53. Macmillan. 7s. 6d. n. each.
GoLDEN Strinc. A Day Book tor Busy Men and Women.
Arranged by Susan, Countess oF MaLmEsBury, and
Viotet Brooxe-Hunt. (Second Edition.) 74 x 6.
374 pp. Murray. Is. n.
SCIENCE,
ScrENCE FROM AN Easy Cnarr.
Sir Ray Lanxester, K.C.B. 7}
6s. 6d. n.
Tue STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH.
Sc.D. 94 pp. Jack. 6d. n.
A Second Series. By
x 5. 412 pp. Adlard.
By T. G. Bonney,
‘ SPORT.
Hunting In THE OxpEen Days. By W. 8. Drxon.
10} x 7}. 386 pp. Constable. 21s. n.
LirtLe GamMEs For Country HovszEs.
7 x 5}. 38 pp. Humphreys. 1s. n.
TECHNOLOGY.
Somz Norrs on Booxs anp Printinc. A Guide for
Authors, Publishers and others. By C. T. JAcoBI.
9 x 53. 147 pp. (Fourth Edition.) The Chiswick
Press. 6s. n.
THEOLOGY.
Tur Exrosiror’s TREASURY OF CHILDREN’S SERMONS.
Edited by Sir W. Rosrrrson -Nicotz, LL.D., and
Jane Sroppart. 114 x 8}. 782 pp. Hodder and -
Stoughton. 20s. n.
By Lapy BEtt.
a
(hs
THE AUTHOR.
Everycuitp. A _ Christmas
Brapire. 7} x 4}.
Morality. By
46 pp. J. Clarke. ls. n.
TOPOGRAPHY,
LETCHWORTH (GARDEN City) AND Hitrcuin, Hertrorp-
sHiRE. With their Surroundings. By W. Percrvau
Westell, F.L.S. Illustrated. 7} x 5. 96 pp. Home-
land Association. 2s. 6d. n.
Highways aNd Byways In Somerset. By Epwarp
Hurron. Illustrated by Netty Ericusen. 8 x 5}.
419 pp. Macmillan. 5s. n.
TRAVEL.
Austria: Her Propie anp Tuer Homeranps. By
J. Baxer, F.R.G.8. 9 x 53. 310 pp. Lane. 2ls. n.
DoreEN Coastine. With some Account of the Places
she saw and the People she encountered. Edited by
Atys Lovuts. With 125 illustrations. 83 x 54. 294
pp. Longmans. 10s. 6d. n.
Monvumentat Java. By J. F. Scnerrema.
302 pp. Macmillan. 12s. 6d. n.
Nim
8} x 5h.
$+
LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL
NOTES.
E have much pleasure in reporting that
Lord Curzon of Kedleston will preside
at the next Annual Dinner of the
Royal Literary Fund, which will take place at
the Whitehall Rooms of the Hotel Metropole
on Tuesday, May 27. It is wholly superfluous
in these columns to state what useful work this
Fund has done and how ably it has been
administered. No doubt this year’s Chairman
will gather round him a distinguished and
generous list of supporters. The Society should
take special interest because Lord Curzon has
for many years been a member and on its
‘Council. He was the guest of the evening at
the dinner in May, 1906, when Sir Henry
Bergne—that good and able friend of authors
—was Chairman of the Committee of Manage-
ment. We trust members will give the Fund
their best support. :
Messrs. George Allen & Co. have published a
Book of Verse at the price of 5s. net, from the
pen of William Avon. The poems deal with
many subjects and are indicative of no little
imagination and contemplation, and show con-
‘siderable powers of rhythmical expression.
At the same time we note another book of
verse, “The Idyll and other Poems,” by
E. Hamilton Moore, from the House of Andrew
Melrose. Perhaps the most important work
in this book are the Sonnet Sequences and
‘Octosyllabics ; the latter are cleverly handled,
ithough here and there they halt a little.
Haroip
105
Count Plunkett, F.S.A., has been elected a
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. An
old traveller, he has traversed about 10,000
miles of the New World, and has lived a good
deal in France and Italy.
Last month Mrs. Aubrey le Blond published
a book entitled “* Old Gardens of Italy. How
to Visit Them,” with Mr. John Lane. Mrs.
le Blond, during a series of visits to Italy, has
compiled a volume that garden lovers can
carry with them, enabling them to decide
which gardens are worth visiting and how they
may be reached, and, where special permission
is required to see them, how this may be
obtained. The work is beautifully illustrated.
The same publisher has produced a_ work
by the author of ‘“ Coke of Norfolk.’ Mrs.
A. M. W. Stirling. Her present volume is
entitled “‘ The Letter Bag of Lady Elizabeth
Spencer-Stanhope,”’ and is compiled from the
muniments between the years 1805 and 1873.
Lady Elizabeth Spencer-Stanhope was the
daughter of the celebrated Coke of Norfolk,
The letters give a good idea of the social and
political life during nearly seventy years of
the national history, and most of the celebrated
men of the period are referred to and criticised.
Mr. Henry Arthur Jones is about to col-
lect his essays and lectures on the drama,
written and delivered during the past
fifteen years. He proposes to revise them and
publish them this month in volume form with
Messrs. Chapman & Hall under the title of
“The Foundation of the National Drama.”
Many books have been written about the
Thames, from its source to its mouth, during
many periods of its history. Mr. W. Culling
Gaze has now produced a book, published by
Messrs. Jarrold & Sons, entitled ‘‘ On and
Along the Thames,” James I., 1603—1625.
It is illustrated with old and curious plates.
This period of the history of the Thames, we
believe, has not as yet been dealt with.
Messrs. G. Bell & Sons, Ltd., will issue early
in the new year the 5th edition of ‘‘ Printing :
A Practical Treatise on the Art of Typography,
etc.,” by Mr. Chas. T. Jacobi of the Chiswick
Press. It will be revised to date, and include
the Examination Papers up to 1912 for H.M.
Stationery Office and also the City and Guilds
of London Institute. This volume is a recog-
nised text book for students and others.
Miss EK. Underdown is producing with Messrs
Chas. Nelson & Sons, at the price of 5s., a book
entitled ‘‘ The Gateway to Chaucer.’’ Readers
interested in works dealing with the literary
history of England will remember the series
that Messrs. Nelson & Sons have published, two
106
volumes of which,‘ The Gateway to Romance”
and ‘‘ The Gateway to Spencer,” have already
been brought out, written by the same author.
The work has some coloured and many black
and white illustrations by Miss Anne Anderson.
Uniform with the “Oxford Book of English
Verse’ and the ** Oxford Book of Ballads,” the
University Press have produced the * Oxford
Book of Victorian Verse,” selections for
which have been made by Sir A. Quiller Couch.
Sir A. Quiller Couch’s position as Professor of
Poetry entitles him to speak with authority on
the subject, and we have nothing but praise for
the matter contained in the selection. No
anthology from the individual point of view
will ever be perfect unless it is issued by the
individual himself. The editor, in his preface,
appears to realise this difficulty with regard
to the production of the book. The print and
paper are both excellent, and the price of 6s.
is exceedingly moderate,
Books on travel are becoming quite fashion-
able. Some depend for their interest on the
point of view of the individual, some on the
districts which have been travelled, and some
on the incidents that have occurred. “* Doreen
Coasting,” by Alice Lowth, is written by one
whose heart is in her wanderings. She opens
with an apt quotation from Lavengro. The
book is interesting and well illustrated, and is
published by Messrs. Longmans, Green & Co.,
at the price of 10s. 6d.
The special Christmas number of the “ Book-
man” isto hand. We desire to compliment
the editor on his massive production, which
is put on the market at the exceedingly
cheap price of 2s. Every number of the
periodical affords a useful catalogue and a use-
ful comment for those who are interested in
books and what they contain. The Christmas
number is not only well got up, but affords
sufficient information for a whole year. Those
who are thinking of giving New Year’s presents
and are in doubt as to what to buy in the way
of literature, cannot do better than invest a
modest 2s. and study the pages of this number.
At Milton Hall, Manchester, a successful
recital has been given by Mr. William Miles
from the poetical works of Mr. Mackenzie Bell.
The recital was largely attended and proved
very popular.
A poem against vivisection, entitled ‘‘ The
Doctor’s Dog,’ by Richard Dailley, has been
published. by Messrs. George Allen & Co.
The author states in his preface as follows :-—
‘ We have endeavoured, by a few light touches
of humour and pathos, to soften somewhat the
realism of the grim book of canine tragedy and
THE AUTHOR.
devotion.’ The work should appeal to all
lovers of animals.
A new travel work entitled “‘ Half Hours in
the Levant,” by Archibald B. Spens, will be
published shortly by Messrs. Stanley Paul &
Co. In this volume the author gives his im-
pressions of the people and cities of the near
East, and supplements his pen pictures with
many interesting photographs of the various
places visited by him.
Mr. W. L. George will produce his new novel
on January 15 with Messrs. Constable & Co. in
London and Messrs. Dodd, Mead & Co. in New
York. The title will be ‘‘ Israel Kalisch.” It
can be described as a study of the anarchical
temperament and of its various facets. It deals
with the Jewish character and that of the
foreign Jew in particular.
Mr. J. E. Patterson will produce a new
political novel towards the end of the month
entitled ‘‘ The Romance of Stephen Compton.”
The story begins among the mills of Lancashire,
where the hero, who is a cripple, lives and
works. He invents an improved spinner which
finally proves a great success. Joining a
democratic association he shows himself to be
a famous orator, and completes his political
career by becoming Prime Minister. The story
deals with political questions bearing upon the
industrial and commercial life. It will be
published by Mr. W. Heinemann.
Dr. Harold Ford has issued through Elliot
Stock the 11th edition of his “ Art of Extempore
Speaking.”
Mr. Algernon E. Aspinall, who is well known
by his books—‘‘ A Pocket Guide to the West
Indies ” and ‘“‘ The British West Indies ; their
History, Resources and Progress “—as an.
authority on the West Indies, has published
another book dealing with the same country
entitled, ‘‘ West Indian Tales of Old.” The
following are some of its contents: “ The Fate
of Governor Park,” “ The Siege of Brimstone
Hill,” ‘‘ The Battle of the Saints.” The work
is published by Messrs. Duckworth & Co., at
the price of 5s. net.
Messrs. Chapman & Hall will publish early
in the year a new novel entitled “* Let Them
Say!” by Frances Hammond. The heroine, a
high-spirited and independent young woman,
early in life acquires, quite innocently, a
‘‘ reputation.” How this is made use of by
an enemy, how Allegra vindicates herself,
incidentally ledrns that convention has its
value, and finally settles down normally and
happily, forms the subject of the book.
M. Sylvestre’s new novel, “ The Light-
bearers,” published by John Long, Ltd;
i
THE AUTHOR.
portrays the tragedy arising out of modern
social conditions, the terrible supply created
by the demand of the civilisation of the
twentieth century, by the scapegoats who, in
all ages, inevitably suffer for the sins of the
community.
Mr. Andrew Melrose announces that Miss
Mary Cholmondeley, Mr. Joseph Conrad, and
Mr. W. J. Locke have agreed to act as adjudi-
cators in his Fourth 250 Guineas Prize Novel
Competition. All inquiries by intending com-
petitors should be sent to The Literary Agency
of London, 5, Henrietta Street, W.C., which
is, as usual, acting for Mr. Melrose in this
matter.
DraMATIC.
Last month a four-act comedy dealing with
Warwickshire life, entitled ‘‘ The Devil and the
Hindmost,” from the pen of Mr. Harold
Cantrill, was produced at the Moseley and
Balsall Heath Institute.
Mr. MacDonald Hastings produced a play
entitled ‘“ The Tide ’’ at the Queen’s Theatre
on December 14. The play, though full of
strong situations, seems to have missed its
mark in a struggle for an excess of cleverness.
It was, however, favourably received. Miss
Ethel Warwick took the part of leading lady,
Mr. Shiel Barry, Mr. Norman Trevor and Miss
Cicely Hamilton were also in the caste.
Miss M. E. H. Tyrwhitt Drake (M. Sylvestre),
who wrote the play “ Sir Francis Drake ”’ some
two years ago, and which was copyrighted
before the production of ‘‘ Drake” at His
Majesty’s, has heard from South Africa, from
Mr. Charles Howitt, securing it for production
in that country. Mr. Howitt read her play
when he was over here recently in search of
plays for his tour, which extends from the Cape
to the Zambesi. Miss T. Drake had the assist-
ance of Mr. Forbes Dawson in the recon-
struction of her work.
At the Little Theatre, the Pioneer Players
produced a triple bill on December 15, including
** Beastie ’’ by Hugh de Selincourt, and ‘* The
Thumb Screw” by Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton.
The first mentioned deals with a young
married couple who are engaging a nurse for
their first-born. The nurse turns out to be a
person with whom the husband had _ been
acquainted before his marriage ; in fact, the
daughter of his landlady at Oxford. The
complications are satisfactorily unravelled in a
pleasant manner. Mrs. Alfred Lyttelton’s
play deals with an economic problem. Though
107
too long for the subject-matter it was acted
with considerable strength.
eee ee eg
PARIS NOTES.
+4
rY\HE prize awarded annually by the
Goncourt Academy was attributed to
M. André Savignon for his book
** Filles de la Pluie, Scénes de la Vie Ouessan-
tine.”” Another book obtained the same number
of votes, but, as the vote of the president
counted double, M. Savignon carried off the
prize. The title of the other book is ‘“ L’Or-
dination,”’ and its author is M. Julien Benda.
Fortunately for the latter, the close competi-
tion has caused everyone to read the two
volumes, in order to judge which really seems
more deserving of the prize.
The annual prize of the “ Vie Heureuse ”’
has been awarded to Jacques Morel for the
novel ‘‘Feuilles Mortes,’” an admirable
psychological study.
** Les Fabrecé,”’ by Paul Margueritte, is an
excellent story, based on the idea of the
necessity of solidarity in family life. The
head of the family is a man of fine character.
The author shows us all the difficulties of a
large family, insists on the distinct indivi-
duality of each member and, at the same time,
gives us an example of the union of the little
family of which he writes, and of the loyalty of
the children to their parents.
** Madeleine au Miroir,’ by Marcelle Tinayre.
This book is not a novel, it is a volume of
souvenirs, of shrewd reflections and of keen
observation by a woman with a fund of
common. sense, who is no longer young. The
titles of some of the chapters give a good idea
of the book: Madeleine au Miroir, La Mére et
le fils, Le Bonheur des autres, La Féte du
Souvenir, Entre Femmes, Pour etre Belles,
L’Amitié, Le Passé, Ne disons pas de mal des
Hommes, Les Femmes et la Littérature, La
peur de souffrir, Les Enfants. There are in
all some thirty-eight chapters, all connected,
in a Way, one with the other.
“Le Nouvel Homme,” by Michel Epuy, is a
curious novel. It is the story of a man with
ideas in advance of his surroundings and of his
epoch. He is born in the home of a Protestant
pastor, of the most rigid and narrow-minded
type. The boy leaves home and follows what
he feels to be his vocation. The book is a
serious one and thoroughly sincere.
108
** Mini Lalouet,’”’ by Jean-Pierre Porret, is
an extremely realistic and well-told story. It
is the history of a girl in humble life, a good-
natured, irresponsible girl, who, through lack
of sympathy and affection at home, decides to
go her own way, along the paths that seem the
most pleasant. All the characters in the novel
are well drawn, and all of them are very living.
Mini Lalouet does not appear to be troubled
with a conscience. She is just a_ pretty,
amusing, badly-educated girl, determined to
get the most she can out of life, and not in the
least scrupulous about the means she takes to
that end.
Among the novels translated from the
English are ** Les Gardiens de la Flamme,” by
W. B. Maxwell, and ‘“‘ Roses d’Automne,” by
E. F. Benson.
“In the Year of Jubilee,” by George
Gissing, has also been translated, and will
probably appear soon as a serial.
“Gens de Guerre au Maroc,” by Emile
Nolly, is a book well worth reading. The
author has succeeded in giving the atmosphere
of the places he describes in a most remarkable
way. Every page is full of life, and we are
introduced to the natives of the country and
to the French soldiers out there in such a way
that we seem to have accompanied the author
on his voyage.
“Le Prince Impérial (Souvenirs et Docu-
ments), by Augustin Filon. No one could
have had a better opportunity for writing a
book on this subject than M. Filon, who was
the tutor of the young prince. He tells us of
the early life and education of his charge, of
his sojourn in England and his departure for
Africa, ending with his tragic death in Zulu-
land. The volume is illustrated.
** Rosette ou lamoureuse Conspiration,” by
Funck-Brentano and A. de Lorde, is a lively
and interesting story of the time of the Regency.
“La Chronique de nos jours,” by Ernest
Daudet. This is a volume of articles on the
most varied subjects imaginable. Most, if
not all, of these articles have been published
separately, but will be read again with pleasure.
There are interesting studies of Gambetta,
Bismarck, Casimier-Perier, the Queen of Spain,
Marie Christine, Goncourt, Saint-Beuve, etc.
“Les Embarras d’Allemagne,’’ by George
Blondel, is a volume that will be read with
profit. The titles of some of the chapters will
give an idea of the subjects treated: La Con-
stitution impériale et ses imperfections, Les
Embarras financiers, Les Divisions des Partis,
Difficultés économiques, Le Malaise des Popu-
lations rurales, La Poussée socialiste, Les
THE AUTHOR.
Préoccupations des Moralistes, Pologne et
Alsace, Préoccupations exterieures,
** Bleus, Blanes et Rouges, Recits d’Histoire
Révolutionnaire,”’ is another of the welcome
volumes by G. Lenotre. Among the subjects
he treats are Le Mariage de M. de Bréchard,
L’Abbé Jumel; Mademoiselle de Chauviniére
and Angélique des Melliers.
“Les Moeurs du Temps,” by Alfred Capus.
No writer is better qualified to give us his
impressions of the habits and customs of the
times in which we live than the genial drama-
tist whose keynote is optimism. He is a
shrewd observer, and he has the courage of his
opinions. He does not spare his irony or his
blame, but he has the saving good humour
peculiar to the true Frenchman, so that there
is nothing depressing in the volume, in spite of
the many abuses he exposes and the criticisms
he gives freely.
M. Frédéric Masson has written a book
which will render great service, as it seems to
be the first work of the kind. It is a com-
prehensive history of the Académie Frangaise
from the year 1629 to 1794.
In his lectures on Human Geography at the
College of France, M. Jean Brunhes is now
taking Bosnia Herzegovina as an object lesson,
with a series of lantern slides to illustrate his
theories. M. Brunhes has recently returned
from a visit to the Balkan Peninsula, so that
his lectures are extremely interesting.
‘La Femme seule ” is the title of the three-
act comedy by M. Eugéne Brieux, now being
played at the Gymnase. It is by no neams a
piece to gladden the hearts of the suffragetists
At the Odéon, M. Antoine is giving M. Vedel’s
translation of Goethe’s “‘ Faust,’ with musical
adaptations by M. Florent Schmitt.
M. Henry Bataille’s three-act play, ‘‘ Les
Flambeaux,” is being given at the Porte St.
Martin.
Madame Sarah Bernhardt is giving ‘“ Kis-
met ”’ at her theatre.
Atys HaALbarp.
“ Filles de la Pluie” (Emile Paul).
‘ Feuilles Mortes ” (Hachette).
“ Les Fabrecé ” (Plon).
“Madeleine au Miroir ” (Calmann-Lévy).
“Le Nouvel Homme ” (Payot).
“Mini Lalouet ” (Payot).
“Les Gardiens de la Flamme” (Calmann-Lévy).
“Gens de Guerre au Maroc ” (Calmann-Lévy).
“Le Prince Impérial (Souvenirs et Documents)”
(Hachette).
‘“ Rosette ou l’amoureuse Conspiration ” (Plon).
“ Bleus. Blanes et Rouges, Recits d'Histoire Révolu-
tionnaire ” (Perrin).
“Les Moeurs du Temps” (Grasset).
THE AUTHOR.
THE COLONIAL BOOK TRADE.
ss
Tue Book Marker IN CANADA.
NE is frequently asked why the
Dominion is not a more lucrative field
for British publishers, and a suggestion
has often been made, and is being continually
reiterated, that were the British publisher to
make a greater effort the result would be sure
to show. If Canada were, say, as near to
London as is France, its English speaking
people would make a very acceptable extra
five or six million feeders to the London
market and London book-travellers. Cana-
dians would then be English, pure and simple.
They would read reviews of British books on
their journey to town of a morning, and the
latest sevenpenny shocker or shilling educator
on their return in the evening. Their tastes
would be British, their wives probably
daughters or grand-daughters of Britons, they
would be in close touch with the habits, tastes
and customs of Britons, and would recognise
the allusions to British politics and understand
British slang and everyday expressions. They
would be familiar with the heft of a book
printed on English feather-weight, esparto
paper, and would not know that the backs
broke or the covers warped when subjected to
a different climate. In the illustrations they
would recognise a people with whom they
were acquainted in an environment such as
they had often visited on trips either of
business or pleasure. Let us now bodily
transport this across-the-Channel-Canada to a
continent, the nearest point of which shall be
3,000 miles from Land’s End, and remember
that in the ages necessary for making this
change of locality the people will not be able
torun over to London for Easter and Whitsun-
tide, they will indeed largely forget the holiday
instinct, they will have to be self-sustaining
from their own land, and it will be a land that
is not blessed with a climate resulting from an
ever-running Gulf Stream. They will have no
time or money to ride to hounds for instance.
Even if they had, the necessity of demarking
their boundaries with wire instead of haw-
thorn would effectually prevent a continuance
of the sport, not to mention an array of ‘‘ em-
battled farmers’ with shot guns determined
to protect their growing crops. This illustra-
tion alone, perhaps, will show how in the
course of time a fox-hunting novel, while
interesting to a few Canadian readers, will not
be convincing to the many.
109
Let us imagine this Canada now firmly
planted on the northern half of this new
continent and separated only by an imaginary
line from a very prosperous country containing
a population twelve times as numerous. Let
us remember that this line is so imaginary that
on its 8,000 miles of length at one time and
another there have been most bitter contro-
versies as to just where it shall and does run.
It is so imaginary that the young people from
the north, in times of stress, poured over
without hindrance to the south, and moneyed
men from the south poured over to the north
later on with money to exploit the natural
riches of the country, or others to take up free
land for farming after their own was used up
or became too expensive to buy.
The younger men of both nations very pro-
bably married each other’s sisters and, speaking
of the case of Canadians in the States, it is only
natural that they should adopt the manners
and customs of the country of their adoption.
These expatriated Canadians wrote home of
their life in the States, they sent papers, they
came home to visit with their pockets and bags
full of American magazines that they read on
the train. In a thousand ways the continual
intercourse of two peoples who are ever joining
hands, even if only in business, will be bound
to tend toward making them similarly minded.
The climate demands that Canadians shall
dress much the same as Americans. The
American fashion-plates set the style for
ninety million people and, since the clothing
of Englishmen is not suited as a rule to
Canadian needs, it is perfectly natural that the
Canadian shall take the American style as the
basis of his own and cut his cloth accordingly.
Therefore, we see young Canada often making
himself absurd in the ultra padded shoulders
and the ridiculous trousers of the American,
not because that particular fashion is better
suited to Canadian climatie conditions than
clothes of an English cut, but because as a
general rule all the necessities of life, clothes
and food, and everything else are alike both
sides of the line, and for both countries
better suited than what best fits the
Englishman.
What is true in bodily necessities is also true
as to the mental pabulum of the two North
American peoples. The United States is rich
in ephemeral literature—the illustrated daily,
the weekly farm paper, which tells how best to
grow crops in the western continent, the
monthly magazines, which expose trusts opera-
ting in both countries, which tell in the most
attractive manner stories of a daily life known
110
equally well to the readers of both nations,
their pages embellished with portraits of
actors, and more especially actresses, who are
to be seen successively in New York, Boston,
Montreal, Toronto, Buffalo, Chicago, and
Winnipeg. What shall we say of the many
“Home” journals? ‘The foot that rocks
the cradle rules the world.” To mix meta-
phors—while one foot is rocking the cradle the
other is reading how to clothe the mite in the
eradle or the older boys and girls who, the
full-page advertisements assert, should be
habited like the grown up little American
people in the fashion section, or should be fed
on Somebody’s Oats or puffed rice, or shredded
corn, or some other everyday commodity
packed in a jar or bottle or a carton by some
large American advertiser with a be-sure-you-
ask-for-and-insist-on-getting tag on every ad-
vertisement, which in the long run means the
adoption of that article in thousands of
Canadian households, and therefore food shops.
It may be said that this has nothing to do
with the book market in Canada. Perhaps
not directly, but it is used here to illustrate the
argument that it is only natural that for every-
thing mental and physical the smaller people
will go for supplies to their larger and, more-
over, next-door neighbour. Let us grant,
then, that food and clothing are not germane
to the subject of this article, and let us examine
particularly the American novel in its attrac-
tion to Canadian readers. We have seen that
in fashions of habiliment there is in Canadians
a distinct leaning towards those of the United
States. This is also true in house furnishing,
and none the less true in the raiment of books.
The American publisher knows his public, and
gives it a novel in a cover embellished with as
much colour and gold as the cost of manufac-
ture and the royalty will stand. The book is
wrapped in a jacket generally with a design
wholly different from that stamped on the
cover. It is more often than not a three-
colour reproduction of a painting specially
drawn by a high-priced, well-known artist.
Very often the engaging young female on the
jacket is so little like the heroine inside the
book, as one conceives her to be, that the effect
is ludicrous; nevertheless the jacket was
intended to sell the book and, having accom-
plished its end, if the story is entertaining the
incongruity of the “ bait ”’ is forgotten or over-
looked. This bright-coloured jacket performs
another very inportant function. In Canada,
as in the States, novels are sold, not lent, and
the picture jacket is an invaluable aid to the
bookseller in dressing his window and to him
THE AUTHOR.
and the department stores in making counter
displays. The publisher often lends a quantity
of books for this purpose. To be sure the
number of public libraries is increasing, but
what goes to the libraries is an inconsiderable
factor compared with the quantity purchased
by individuals. As long as the book is a “‘ new
novel,” it lies about the house in its jacket
until a newer one takes its place, at which time
the jacket is removed and the book takes its
place in the bookcase, its bright cloth and
decorative design lending a brightness to the
room.
All this is written not at all with the idea of
urging the universal adoption of American book
fashions, but merely to show what has obtained,
and does obtain, notwithstanding the expressed
determination of many American publishers
from time to time to break away from the
fashion. The difficulty of “* belling the cat”
may be overcome eventually through the ever-
increasing cost of manufacture and the ‘reduc-
tion in the retail price of the book. In Great
Britain, where the sale of a novel to individuals
is insignificant, the jacket is an unnecessary
expense, and the cover cloth must be of sombre
hue to hide the result of much library handling,
which would be fatal to its gaudy American
cousin. As a rule an English novel is bought
by a Canadian publisher in sheets, and either
in London or Toronto put into a cover and
jacket which shall make it as “ attractive,”
from the travellers’ and booksellers’ point of
view as the American ones in the salesman’s
sample trunk.
Probably enough has been said about the
competition from American authors and pub-
lishers, and it might not be out of place to
analyse the British novel as a whole and see
why it often fails to appeal to the Canadian
reader. Aside from the ignorance of conditions
of life in the old land, and one might say often
his lack of interest in it, the Canadian finds
himself frequently unable to pick his way
through long political or theological discussions
or allusions to either subject in English novels,
which arg bound to take the edge off his
interest. Some of the reasons for the failure of
English books to “‘ take ’’ in Canada are very
subtle. For instance, a publisher of medical
books in London recently inquired why it was
impossible to sell in Canada a very important
work just published in England. He should
surely have learned before publication, and not
afterwards, that while in England the Pharma-
copeeia used is Greek, in Canada doctors and
chemists use the American Pharmacopceia,
which is Latin.
THE AUTHOR.
In Canadian schools the grading is quite
similar to that in the United States, and quite
unlike that in English schools, consequently,
except for mathematics, it is the American
book or model that is chosen and used. Even
in mathematics the examples in sterling have
to be changed for use in Canadian schools. Of
late, many English writers of fiction have
brought their characters over to Canada and
have made a sorry mess of their local colour.
The newspaper reviewers never fail to pick out
such flaws, and generally the book suffers in
~ consequence. Not long ago a boy’s book from
an English pen was brought to the present
writer’s attention in which a lad living on the
shores of Lake Erie went in his birch-bark canoe
to visit his cousin at Three Rivers, Quebec.
He traversed some wild and unfrequented
“ river,’ and on the second morning found his
cousin waiting him on “the dock.” To
traverse Lakes Erie and Ontario and the St.
Lawrence River for many hundreds of miles
in a canoe of any sort would be utterly impos-
sible and would take several times as many
weeks to accomplish as he took days, even were
the trip possible. This is, of course, an extreme
case, but many an English writer who should
know better has been guilty of quite avoidable
errors in Canadian geography and_ collo-
quialisms. On the other hand, while an
American writer makes his young Harvard
Apollos enter unbidden into the private apart-
ments of European sovereigns and perform
impossible feats in rescuing distressed
daughters of New York millionaires, in writing
of Canada he would probably be correct in his
geography and habits of the people.
All the foregoing is not written with any
unkindly feeling nor in a captious mood.
What he has written is the result of the English-
born writer’s seven years’ experience as a pub-
lisher in Canada, preceded by some years in the
States. It is much to be regretted that a
closer personal bond does not exist between
Great Britain and her eldest daughter. As for
affection and loyalty and the patriotism of
Empire, the result of the election a year ago
showed that politically Canada wishes always
to remain British, but as when in Rome you do
as do the Romans, so in North America, despite
the difference in the oath of allegiance, you eat
and clothe yourself and very largely do your
reading after the manners of the North
Americans.
Can the Canadian market for English novels
be fostered by printing in Canada? No. The
sale for any one book is se small that it would
not, it could not, pay — .t is doubtful if more
pe
than one or two novels, either English or
American, are printed in Canada in any one
year. In this lies the absurdity of the present
attempt on the part of Canadian printers to
enact copyright legislation containing a manu-
facturing clause. It would not mean any more
work for the printer unless, forsooth, a pirate
could appropriate a popular writer’s work, and
by evading the payment of royalty make pub-
lication profitable.
This smallness of population in Canada is a
hardship to many a native writer as well as to
those in Britain. Not infrequently a manu-
script is offered to a Canadian publisher which
is in every way excellent, but of so local an
interest that it would not pay a publisher in
London or New York to produce it or even take
a fair quantity if produced in Canada, and so
many a Canadian writer’s name will never be
known, and much of the home life and history
of the earlier settlers will be lost for ever, which
might otherwise be preserved in the form of
fiction. Whenever an exceptional Canadian
story is published in Canada it is fairly sure of
an encouraging sale, but it has to be a good one
to persuade the publisher to produce it for the
present very small population and native read-
ing public.
a ee
COPYRIGHT BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN
AND THE UNITED STATES.
6
COUNSEL’S OPINION.
NERTAIN questions were referred to the
Cc Society of Authors from a correspondent
in America relating to the position of the
United States and Great Britain in copyright
matters. Accordingly, on the instructions of
the Committee of Management, a case for
counsel was drafted, setting out the circum-
stances and putting before him the following
questions :—
1. Is the proclamation of the President nulli-
fied by the Act of 1911 ?
2. If it is not nullified, is it essential, before
an American author can obtain copy-
right in the United Kingdom, that an
Order in Council should be issued by
His Majesty’s Government under
section 29?
3. Supposing the property of the United
States citizen is insecure under the
present circumstances, or, conversely,
the property of the English author is
insecure in the United States, what
course does counsel advise the commit-
tee to adopt in order to have the matter
settled on a proper international basis ?
4. Does counsel consider that an American
author immediately on writing a book
or a play loses his copyright in Great
Britain ?
5. If the American dramatic author does not
lose his copyright, would it be essential
for him, in order to retain his performing
rights in Great Britain, immediately on
the performance of the work in America
to publish the work in book form in
England and America ?
6. If there is danger that the American
author will, through lack of reciprocity,
lose his copyright in Great Britain
in either of the above cases, what steps
would counsel advise the committee of
the Society to take in order to set
matters on an even basis ?
to which counsel replied as follows :-—
1. and 2. Only in the case of unpublished
works. In the case of published works
the Order is not necessary where there
is first or ‘* simultaneous publication ”
in the United Kingdom.
8. See opinion.
4, No, he has got an inchoate right which is
only lost by a first ‘‘ publication ”’ out-
side the British dominions.
5. No; public performance is not an abandon-
ment of his inchoate right.
6. See opinion.
UniTED STATES AND GREAT Britain Copy-
RIGHT RELATIONS.
Under the Copyright Act, 1911, a United
States citizen cannot (in the absence of an
Order in Council under section 29 relating to
the United States) claim copyright, within the
British dominions to which the Act applies, in
respect of any unpublished work unless he was
resident within the British dominions at the
date when the work was made. Publication
means issuing copies of the work to the public
and does not include public performance. A
dramatic work in manuscript or typewritten
performed in public, but not printed or pub-
lished, is accordingly an unpublished work. If
any work is first published within the British
dominions it acquires copyright irrespective of
the nationality of the author. It is with regard
therefore to unpublished works only that the
American authors do not obtain precisely the
same privileges as British authors.
It is suggested, however, that this is a serious
matter; that a large percentage of valuable
THE AUTHOR.
works produced in America are never published,
such as dramatic pieces, speeches, sermons, ete.,
and that with regard to these the American
author is unprotected in the British dominions,
although the British author is fully protected
in the United States both by common law and
statute.
The most important of these unpublished
works are dramatic works, and the exact
position of a dramatic work of an American
citizen in this country seems to be as follows :—
British copyright in the work is not lost.
irretrievably by reason of public performance
either in America or England or both countries.
On the other hand, copyright is not acquired
until the work is published as a book within the
British dominions to which the Act applies.
During the intervening period it is true there is
no statutory copyright or common law right of
property, but, on the other hand, any reproduc-
tion of the work which constitutes or involves
a breach of contract, trust or confidence, may be
restrained.
The cases of Abernethy v. Hutchinson (1825),
3 L. J. (O.S.) Ch. 209, and Caird v. Sime (1887),
12 A. C. 326, and others, show that even
although there is no common law right of pro-
perty in an unpublished work, yet if there is a
contract between author and audience that the
latter come for instruction or amusement only,
and must not reproduce the work elsewhere,
such reproduction can be restrained either on
the ground of breach of contract or of procuring
or being privy to a breach of contract. Aber-
nethy v. Hutchinson is some authority for the
view that such a contract may be implied from
the mere admittance of the audience upon pay-
ment of the entrance money. But however
that may be, there would be no difficulty, by
means of a printed notice on play-bills and
tickets of admission, in establishing a contract
between the owner of the play and each mem-
ber of the audience, which would be quite
effective to preserve intact the owners’ rights
in the British dominions until such time as he
might elect to publish the work in print. It
would be practically impossible for any person
reproducing the play without authority to
plead ignorance of the terms upon which the
owner of the play permits it to be represented
on the stage. Similar precautions can be taken
in the case of cinematograph rights, which
should be controlled by the owner of the play.
That is to say, cinematograph rights should not
be sold outright, but should be the subject of
licences, and the films should not be sold to the
cinematheatres, but lent on ahiring agreement.
It may be observed that copyright perform-
THE AUTHOR.
~ «= ance in the British dominions is no longer neces-
+s sary. Thus the American dramatist can
, produce his play in America without troubling
.J© about simultaneous production in this country.
If instead of relying upon contract the
+ American dramatist desires to obtain full
‘Je statutory protection in the British dominions
= and to obtain the benefit of summary remedies
he can do so at any time, notwithstanding
4 that the play has already been publicly
oq performed both in America and England, by
_¢ publishing the printed play in the British
5 dominions. It is not necessary to print the
-»» work both in America and England. The
4 English law does not require printing here, and
} the American law does not require printing in
. America. Hervieu and J. S. Ogilvie Publish-
-1t ing Co., Am. Pub. Weekly, April 3, 1909,
/ 169 Fed. Rep. 978. See also “‘ Instructions for
2 securing Copyright, etc.,”’ issued by the Copy-
right Office, ‘‘ Dramas No. 5a.” “The law
does not require that the drama be printed in
the United States.””’ The American dramatist
has, therefore, his choice to print in America or
England, whichever may be cheaper.
Another effective way of securing full rights
in England which would avoid any risk of
imperilling cinematograph rights in America is
for the author in the first instance to write his
; plot in the form of a novelette or amplified
scenario. An edition of this could be printed
*4 and published at very small cost. I believe that
“1 this is now done systematically in the case
»> of original cinematograph dramas. A periodical
j is published weekly, and a large number of plays
- are included in each issue. The cost in respect
> ofeach one is infinitesimal. After this publica-
“1f tion the complete drama based on the scenario
i is produced. It is unnecessary to copyright
»! the drama separately in England, because no
‘> one can represent the drama without infringing
the copyright in the scenario. The author’s
»*< rights are also fully preserved in America, where
4) there will be a double copyright in published
“2 scenario and unpublished play.
It seems to me, therefore, notwithstanding
-| the exclusion of an unpublished work of an
/. American citizen from statutory protection
«4 under the Copyright Act, 1911, that American
1s authors are in fact effectively protected in
1 respect of such unpublished works.
The American Act, 1909, section 8, provides
“‘ that the copyright secured by this Act shall
» extend to the work of an author or proprietor
“| who is a citizen or subject of a foreign state or
re nation only.
**(a) When an alien author or proprietor
shall be domiciled within the United States
Pr din Sete eh tN
fee joes om
113
at the time of the first publication of his
work.
*“(b) When the foreign state or nation of which
such author or proprietor is a citizen or subject
grants, either by treaty, convention, agreement,
or law, to citizens of the United States, the
benefit of copyright on substantially the same
basis as to its own citizens, or copyright pro-
tection substantially equal to the protection
secured to such foreign author under this Act
or bytreaty. .. .
** The existence of the reciprocal conditions
aforesaid shall be determined by the President
of the United States by proclamation made
from time to time as the purposes of this Act
may require.”
A proclamation was made on April 9, 1910,
whereby it was stated that satisfactory evi-
dence had been received that in the countries
therein mentioned including Great Britain
and her possessions ‘‘the law permits and,
since July 1, 1909, has permitted to citizens
of the United States the benefit of copyright on
substantially the same basis as to citizens of
those countries,’ and by which the President
declared and proclaimed that subjects of Great
Britain “are and, since July 1, 1909, have
been entitled to all the benefits of the said Act
other than the benefits under section 1 (c)
thereof as to which the inquiry is still pending.”
The reservation relates to rights in musical
works.
In my opinion the proclamation is necessarily
conclusive for the time being of the existence
or non-existence of the conditions of reciprocity.
The President is made the sole judge of the
facts, and I do not think it is open to any one to
challenge the findings in the proclamation.
Clearly the President has power to recall the
proclamation in respect of any particular
country ; but until this is done I do not think
it is competent to go behind the proclamation
merely on the ground that a foreign country
has made some alteration in her laws.
In my opinion, therefore, the copyright of
British subjects in the United States at present
is unaffected by what has taken place in this
country.
Then are the conditions such as to involve
the danger of the proclamation being recalled
unless the British Government agrees to make
‘an Order in Council admitting the United
States to full rights under Part II. of the Copy-
right Act, 1911 ?
In my opinion there is certainly no ground for
recalling the proclamation in toto so as to
include the works of all British subjects. I
think it is clear that the conditions precedent
114
to reciprocity may exist with regard to one
elass of work and not with regard to another,
and that the proclamation may be limited
accordingly. ‘This in fact has been done in
the case of musical works “* pending enquiry.”
Now with regard to books in general it is
obvious that we do not only admit the
American citizen to equal rights with our own
citizens, but grant protection on a much more
advantageous basis than is conceded to the
works of British subjects in America. With
regard to dramas, speeches, sermons, lectures
and other works which are commonly repre-
sented or delivered in public without, or at
least before, publication in print, I think, con-
sidering the practical protection under the law
of contract or the law relating to breach of con-
fidence or trust and the facility with which
statutory protection can be obtained by the
formality of publishing a preliminary précis or
skeleton of the work, that American subjects
do obtain in Great Britain “ copyright pro-
tection substantially equal to the protec-
tion secured ” to British subjects in America.
In both countries some formality has to
be observed as a condition precedent to pro-
tection (I here refer solely to the unpub-
lished work of an American citizen), and the
remedies provided in the one country no doubt
differ from those provided in the other. I do
not suppose, however, that it was ever intended
that the relative rights and privileges should be
nicely weighed one with the other. It is
sufficient if there is a substantial quid pro quo.
If, contrary to my opinion, the American
Government came to the conclusion that
American dramatists, lecturers, ete., do not
receive substantially equal rights with those
enjoyed by British dramatists in America, then
it would be competent to exclude unpublished
dramas and lectures from the terms of the
proclamation. This would leave the British
author to his rights at common law. To recall
the proclamation to any greater extent than
this would, I think, be unjustified by the
change in the British law.
I think, as has all along been intended, Great
Britain ought to hold something in reserve
which can some day be offered to the States as
an inducement to them to relieve British sub-
jects of the manufacturing clause in the case of
books. I do not think it is likely that the
American Government will try to force our
hands by threatening to deprive us of all pro-
tection 1f we do not at once surrender every-
thing to American authors. By doing so they
would incur the displeasure ofthe labour party,
whose constituents would thus be threatened
THE AUTAOR.
with the loss of profit on the printing of British
books. And not only so, but we could imme-’
diately retaliate by putting section 28 into
operation and thus exclude American authors
from all copyright whatsoever in this country.
In my opinion the present position, that is to
say so long as the presidential proclamation
stands, does not call for any action on the part
of the Society.
In the event of any proposal to recall the
proclamation, or in the event of any decision in
the American Courts, contrary to the opinion
which I have given above, it would no doubt be
necessary to communicate with the Foreign
Office on the subject.
With regard to Canada that seems to me to
be a question wholly apart. At present an
American author or dramatist can obtain pro-
tection in Canada under the Imperial Acts,
1833 and 1842, which stand unrepealed. It is
therefore not necessary to print in Canada. If
Canada ultimately repeals the Imperial Acts,
1833 and 1842, and sets up a manufacturing
clause operative against the United States, the
States may exclude Canada without affecting
her position with regard to Great Britain or the
rest of the British dominions.
(Signed) E. J. Maceriivray.
—___$_$__-——
MAGAZINE CONTENTS.
ae
CONTEMPORARY REVIEW.
How the Older Novelists Manage Their Love Scenes.
By Dorothy Lane Poole.
Shakespeare's Battle Scenes.
Enciish REVIEW.
Art for Life’s Sake.
Strindberg’s Plays.
By Arthur Ransome.
By Austin Harrison.
FORTNIGHTLY.
The Real Adrienne Lecouvreur. By Francis Gribble.
The Shakespeare of the Dance. By Francis Toye.
Aloysius Bertrand: A Romantic ot 1830. By Arthur
Ransome.
NATIONAL,
A New Dialogue of the Dead. By Austin Dobson.
SCALE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS,
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rout Page aie ae c one eas aie sas aki Qig
Other Pages ee tee ace wee dee ee ace 0 828
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Twelve Insertions.
All letters respecting Advertisements should be addressed to J, F.
Brimont & Co,, 29, Paternoster Square, London, B.C,
THE AUTHOR.
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.
——+—
1, VERY member has a right toask for and to receive
K advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his
business or the administration of his property. The
Secretary of the Society is a solicitor; but if there is any
special reason the Secretary will refer the case to the
Solicitors of the Society. Further, the Committee, if they
deem it desirable, will obtain counsel’s opinion without
any cost to the member. Moreover, where counsel’s
opinion is favourable, and the sanction of the Committee
is obtained, action will be taken on behalf of the aggrieved
member, and all costs borne by the Society.
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright
and publishers’ agreements do not fall within the experi-
ence of ordinarysolicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use
the Society.
3. Before signing any agreement whatever, send
the document to the Society for examination,
4. Remember always that in belonging to the Society
you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you
are reaping no direct 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,
5. The Committee have 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 stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action
upon them. (2) To keep agreements. (3) To enforce
payments due according to agreements. Fuller particu-
lars of the Society’s work can be obtained in the
Prospectus.
6. 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.
7, Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. This
must be done within fourteen days of first execution. The
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.
8. 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.
9, The subscription to the Society is £1 1s. per
annum, or £10 10s. for life membership.
——__——_ ++
WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCERS
OF BOOKS.
—_—— +
ERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an
agreement. There are four methods of dealing
with literary property :—
I. Selling it Outright.
This is sometimes satisfactory, ¢f a proper price can be
115
obtained. But the transaction should be managed by a
competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of
the Society.
II. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of
agreement),
In this case the following rules should be attended to:
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro-
duction forms a part without the strictest investigation.
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the
profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements
in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise-
ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements.
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for “ office expenses,”’
unless the same allowance is made to the author.
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental]
rights. :
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights.
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or
doctor !
III. The Royalty System.
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 7e Author,
1¥Y. 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 :—
C1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement
means.
(2.) The inspection of those account books which belong
to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the
nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or
withheld.
(3.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright.
a
WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.
—— +
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 any one except an established
manager.
3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays.
in three or more acts :—
(a.) Sale outright of the performing right. This
is unsatisfactory. An author who enters into
such a contract should stipulate in the contract
for production of the piece by a certain date
and for proper publication of his name on the
play-bills,
116
(2.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to
perform on the basis of percentages on
gross receipts. Percentages vary between 5
and 15 per cent. An author should obtain a
percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts
in preference to the American system. Should
obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed
date on or before which the play should be
performed,
(c.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to
perform on the basis of royalties (i.c., fixed
nightly fees). ‘his 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 (d.) apply
also in this case.
4, Plays in one act are often sold outright, but it is
better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum
paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely
important that the amateur rights of one-act plays should
be reserved.
5. Authors should remember that performing rights can
be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and
time, This is most important.
6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but
should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction
is of great importance,
7, Authors should remember that performing rights in a
play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager
holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot
print the book of the words,
8. Never forget that United States rights may be exceed-
ingly valuable, ‘They should never be included in English
agreements without the author obtaining a substantial
consideration.
9. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully
drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced.
10. An author should remember that production of a play
is highly speculative : that he runs a very great risk of
delay and a breakdown in the fulfilment of his contract.
He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully in
the beginning.
11. An author must remember that the dramatic market
is exceedingly limited, and that for a novice the first object
is to obtain adequate publication.
As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete, on
account of the wide range of the subject of dramatic con-
tracts, those authors desirous of further information
are referred to the Secretary of the Society.
————_+—~@—e—
REGISTRATION OF SCENARIOS AND
ORIGINAL PLAYS.
——>— 1
QJ CENARIOS, typewritten in duplicate on foolscap paper
forwarded to the offices of the Society, together with
a registration fee of two shillings and sixpence, will
be carefully compared by the Secretary or a qualified assis-
tant. One copy will be stamped and returned to theauthor
and the other filed in the register of the Society. Copies
of the scenario thus filed may be obtained at any time by
the author only at a small charge to cover cost of typing.
Original Plays may also be filed subject to the same
rules, with the exception that a play will be charged for
at the price of 2s. 6d. per act.
THE AUTHOR.
DRAMATIC AUTHORS AND AGENTS.
to
RAMATIC authors should seek the advice of the
Society before putting plays into the hands of
agents. As the law stands at present, an agent
who has once had a play in his hands may acquire a
perpetual claim to a percentage on the author’s fees
from it. As far as the placing of plays is concerned,
it may be taken as a general rule that there are only
very few agents who can do anything for an author
that he cannot, under the guidance of the Society, do
equally well or better for himself. ‘The collection of fees
is also a matter in which in many cases no intermediary is
required. For certain purposes, such as the collection of
fees on amateur performances, and in general the trans-
action of frequent petty authorisations with different
individuals, and also for the collection of fees in foreign
countries, almost all dramatic authors employ agents; and
in these ways the services of agents are real and valuable.
But the Society warns authors against agents who profess
to have influence with managers in the placing of plays, or
who propose to act as principals by offering to ~purchase
the author's rights. In any case, in the present state of
the law, an agent should not be employed under any
circumstances without an agreement approved of by the
Society.
2
WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS.
eg
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
should be especially careful therefore when entering into
an agreement, and should take into particular consideration
the warnings stated above.
————_+—~@—-
STAMPING MUSIC.
a
The 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,
2
THE READING BRANCH.
gs
EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this
VI 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,
—>—_ —______
REMITTANCES.
The Secretary of the Society begs to give notice
that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post.
All remittances should be crossed Union of London and
Smiths Bank, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered
letter only,
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118
to profit by the contract, give also the com-
poser a fair chance of return for his work.
We hope that the public will’ warmly sup-
port the memorial to which it is asked to con-
tribute on behalf of the late Coleridge-Taylor.
IMPERIAL CopyRriIGHT.
We gather from the Bombay Government
Gazette that the Copyright Act of 1911 has
been proclaimed in British India, and the Act
therefore will run from date of proclamation
dated Simla, October 13, 1912. The Procla-
mation runs as follows :—‘‘ In pursuance of
Clause (D) of sub-section (2) of section 37 of the
Copyright Act, 1911 (1 & 2 Geo. 5, Chap. 46),
the Governor-General is pleased to proclaim
the said Act and to direct that it shall come
into operation in British India from date of
this Proclamation.” This Proclamation will
cover Burma as well as India, but will not cover
the native States of India. We understand
that the Indian Government will use its best
endeavours to get the native Princes to accept
the Copyright Act as it at present stands.
CopyriGHT AND RECEIPTS.
We have commented in previous issues of
The Author on the use made by magazine
editors of receipt forms for the purpose of
obtaining from their contributors rights
beyond those which the contributor is wise to
give, or the magazine entitled to ask.
Under the Copyright Act, 1911, the publica-
tion of an article or story in a magazine or other
periodical publication does not, ipso facto, give
to the proprietor of such periodical issue the
copyright in the story or article. If he desires
copyright, he must make a special bargain
with the author to thisend. In this connection
we quoted in our May issue, a letter from a
well-known magazine proprietor, in which he
expressed his desire to get from all his con-
tributors a general assent to the transfer of
copyright of all work which they were then
contributing, or might in the future contribute,
to the magazines and newspapers which he
controlled. We pointed out at the time the
misleading nature of some of the statements
which were made.
Since that date we have had brought to our
notice once again a practice of magazine
editors not less objectionable from the author’s
standpoint. | An author sends in a MS. to a
magazine. This article or story in some cases
is accepted without a formal statement as to
THE AUTHOR.
terms; in some cases is published without
even a notice of acceptance. The cheque in
payment is sent in due course, and with it a
receipt form which the contributor is asked
to sign and return. In many eases the author
signs the receipt automatically, paying little
attention to the wording. Occasionally he
reads the receipt carefully. He then discovers
to his surprise that what he imagined was an
ordinary receipt for payment of a sum due to
him, is, in reality, a document practically
conveying the copyright to the magazine. It
is true that, given a clear contract beforehand,
no such receipt purporting to convey copyright.
would stand as against the contract already
made. But the danger of signing these receipts
where, as in many cases, no definite contract
exists, is apparent.
If, as very often happens, the article is
published with illustrations furnished by the
author, signature to such a receipt means that
the author is precluded from using the illus-
trations in any other quarter, save with the
magazine’s sanction. This is a very serious
matter for a writer who contemplates publica-
tion of a book on the same subject dealt with
in the magazine article. He clearly cannot
use the illustrations—having given over the
copyright to the magazine—and may find it
very difficult to write his book without
infringing the copyright of the magazine in
respect of the article he has contributed to
its pages.
When the receipt form appears at the back
of the cheque, as it sometimes does, the author’s
position is even more difficult. If he alters
the form the bank will refuse tocash the cheque,
if he adds his signature the copyright is trans-
ferred to the magazine. All he can do in such
a case is to endorse the cheque and write a
letter to the editor explaining that he denies
the magazine’s claim to his copyright but has
made the endorsement merely in order to get
the cash due to him. If he retains a copy of
this letter, it will always be available as evi-
dence in case of dispute. Other than this he
can do nothing, except refuse the cheque and
sue the magazine for the amount in the County
Court.
Tue Unit oF AN EpITion.
SomE time ago the Publishers’ Association
agreed to define the word “impression” as
the reproduction of a book without alteration,
and the word “ edition” as the reproduction
of a book with alterations and changes, but
these definitions, though adhered to by some
%
CF. =
‘ig
<f
r
st
ah
THE AUTHOR. 119
of the best houses, seem to have but little
weight. Advertisements in the papers con-
stantly announce 3rd, 4th and Sth edition,
one publisher advertises regularly his list of
novels with figures after the more popular ones
of the number of the edition, but even if the
announcement had .been 3rd, 4th and Sth
impression, the result to the public would be
absolutely valueless, for the Publishers’ Associa-
tion have never troubled to define the unit of
an impression. Some books go to press with
a first impression of 10,000 copies, and a case
has been known where a book has been adver-
tised as in its third “‘ edition ”’ when only thirty
copies have been sold. Is it not possible for
the booksellers to get together to settle this
important question, and prevent the frequent
cheating of the public in this matter by certain
unscrupulous producers ?
Memorr oF Grorce Panmer PUTNAM.
G. P. Purnam’s Sons have published
a, ‘Memoir of George Palmer Putnam,”
by George Haven Putnam, Litt.D., together
with an account of the earlier years of the
publishing house founded by him.
The volume describes the career of a
representative American publisher, and con-
stitutes also a contribution to the history of
international literary relations. A separate
chapter gives an account of Mr. Putnam’s
work in behalf of International Copyright,
work that was begun as far back as 1837.
The narrative includes reminiscences of life
in London in the early °40’s, and references
to men of letters and other persons of distinc-
tion on both sides of the Atlantic. Among
the persons with whom Mr. Putnam had
personal relations may be mentioned Louis
Napoleon, Washington Irving, Bayard Taylor,
Fenimore Cooper, Nathaniel Hawthorne,
Charles Sumner, Sergeant Talfourd, Elisée
Réclus, Fredrika Bremer, Susan Warner,
Longfellow, Dana, Emerson, Curtis, the alleged
Dauphin (Louis XVII.), Commodore Perry,
Lincoln, Bryant, and many other noteworthy
characters of generations that have passed.
—_—
SIR GEORGE HOWARD DARWIN, K.C.B.,
F.R.S., LL.D.
Sa
E deeply regret to record the death of
Sir George Howard Darwin, F.R.S.,
which occurred late in November,
after some months of hopeless illness.
Sir George Darwin, who was Professor of
Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy in
the University of Cambridge, was the second
son of the celebrated author of the “* Origin of
Species.” He was educated at Trinity College,
Cambridge ; took high mathematical honours,
and duly became a Fellow of his college. While
holding his Fellowship at Trinity he was called
to the Bar, but soon returned to Cambridge
and the pursuit of mathematics, and was
elected in the year 1883 to the Plumian Pro-
fessorship, which he held at the time of his
death. From 1883 forward he devoted him-
self to the study of higher mathematics,
especially in relation to astronomy and
physical geography, and four volumes of his
scientific papers have been published upon
astronomical and geographical subjects, the
tides, and allied phenomena in the solar
system. He twice received presentation
medals from the Royal Society, holding also
the Victoria Medal of the Royal Geographical
Society, and the Gold Medal of the Royal
Astronomical Society, of which body he was
President in 1899.
In 1905 Professor Darwin, as he then was,
was elected President of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science. This was the
year in which the Association met at Cape
Town. On this occasion Professor Darwin
took as the subject of his address ‘* Evolution,”
and showed how enormously the term had
widened its scope since the days when his
illustrious father first applied the principle as a
working hypothesis to the history of organic
life. He showed that nowadays the theory of
evolution is applied not only to organic life but
to the very constitution of the universe itself.
The address was at the same time so easy to
understand, and yet so obviously founded upon
the deepest learning, that it was immediately
read by all, and there is no doubt that it exer-
cised a real influence upon contemporary
thought.
Our Society has to regret in Sir George
Darwin, who received his knighthood in 1905,
one of its oldest members. He joined the
Society in 1884, and has been a regular sup-
porter of its objects and efforts throughout.
COMMITTEE ELECTION.
+4
bay pursuance of Article 19 of the Articles of
Association of the Society, the committee
give notice that the election of members
of the Committee of Management will be pro-
ceeded with in the following manner :—
120
(1) One-third of the members of the present
Committee of Management retire from office in
accordance with Article 17.
(2) The names of the retiring members are :—
Mrs. E. Nesbit Bland,
G. Bernard Shaw,
J. W. Comyns Carr,
Francis Storr.
(3) The date fixed by the committee up to
which nominations by the subscribing members
of candidates for election to the new committee
may be made is February 8.
(4) The committee nominate the following
candidates, being subscribing members of the
Society, to fill the vacancies caused by the
retirement of one-third of the’ committee,
according to the constitution :—
J. W. Comyns Carr,
Mrs. Perrin,
G. Bernard Shaw,
Francis Storr.
The committee remind the members that,
under Article 19 of the amended Articles of
Association “ any two subscribing members of
the Society may nominate one or more sub-
scribing members other than themselves, not
exceeding the number of vacancies to be filled
up, by notice in writing sent to the secretary,
accompanied by a letter signed by the candi-
date or candidates expressing willingness to
accept the duties of the post.
The complete list of candidates will be
printed in the March issue of The Author.
een CEE
THE PENSION FUND COMMITTEE.
——
FN order to give members of the Society,
should they desire to appoint a fresh
member to the Pension Fund Committee,
full time to act, it has been the custom to place
in The Author a complete statement of the
method of election under the scheme for
administration of the Pension Fund. Under
that scheme the committee is composed of
three members elected by the committee of the
Society, three members elected by the Society
at the general meeting, and the chairman of the
Society for the time being ew officio. The three
members elected by the Society are Mrs. Alec
Tweedie, Mr. Owen Seaman, and Mr. M. H.
Spielmann. This year Mr. M. H. Spielmann
retires under the scheme and submits his
name for re-election.
The members have, however, power to put
forward other names under clause 9, which runs
as follows :—
THE AUTHOR.
“ Any candidate for election to the Pension Fund Com-
mittee by the members of the society (not being a retiring
member of such committee) shall be nominated in writing
to the secretary at least three weeks prior to the general
meeting at which such candidate is to be proposed, and the
nomination of each such candidate shall be subscribed by
at leagt three members of the society. A list of the names
of the candidates so nominated shall be sent to the members
of the society, with the annual report of the managing
committee, and those candidates obtaining the most votes
at the general meeting shall be elected to serve on the
Pension Fund Committee.”
In case any member should desire to refer to ;
the list of members, the list taking the elections
up to the end of July, 1907, was published in
October of that year. This list was complete
at the date of issue, with the exception of the ve
thirty-eight members referred to in the short ;
preface. All subsequent elections have been
duly chronicled in The Author.
It will be as well, therefore, should any mem-
ber desire to put forward a candidate, to take
the matter within his immediate considera-
tion. The general meeting of the Society is
usually held in March. It is essential that all
nominations should be in the hands of the secre-
tary before January 31, 1913.
—_————— 06-9
THE LATE MR. COLERIDGE-TAYLOR.
— 1
Tue following correspondence has recently
appeared in The Times and is printed with the
kind permission of the Editor.
(1)
TO THE EDITOR OF The Times.
Str,—An appeal is being made for the widow and
children of the late Mr. Coleridge-Taylor. It seems perti-
nent to inquire why a composer who wrote so widely
successful a composition as Hiawatha, a work which is
frequently performed all over England and America,
should have left so little provision for his family.
The Society of Authors, having noticed the case, and
being anxious to help the dependents of Mr. Coleridge-
Taylor as far as possible, have inquired from Messrs, -
Novello and Co. whether Hiawatha produced a royalty for
the composer and his heirs. This question the firm has
answered by saying that the copyright of all the late
Mr. Coleridge-Taylor’s compositions has been assigned to
themselves. Here we have an admirable example of the
trouble that may and often does follow upon the outright
sale of literary or artistic property. It cannot be too
clearly said that, because of the uncertainty of the value
of this property, its outright sale must be attended with
risk either to the creator of the work or to its purchaser.
One or other party to such bargains is bound to suffer, and
it is our experience at the Society of Authors that it is
the author of the work who is generally disappointed by
the result of the disposal of copyright. But whatever be the
outcome of any particular transaction, a system is bad in
business which by its capricious event leaves behind it
either a recollection of pecuniary loss with the publisher
or a deep sense of injustice with the author. There is not
THE AUTHOR.
one way, and one way only, of publishing that ought to be
followed, and in special circumstances the outright sale of
a work is the natural sequel to the terms of the commission
for writing it. But in all the usual circumstances, and
especially in the case of young writers and composers, the
disposal of copyright is to be absolutely avoided, and the
royalty system should be adopted. Under the royalty
system the author shares in any fortune that may attend
his work, and the publisher will neither lose money by the
purchase of property that brings him in no adequate
return nor be faced with the delicate task of giving as a
present to an author some portion of the money that would
have accrued to the author under an intelligent sharing of
interests.
The Society of Authors understand that Mr, Coleridge-
Taylor was refused a royalty and was given only small
sums for conveying to Messrs. Novello and Co, the copy-
right of Hiawatha, . That is the state of the case as com-
municated to the committee of management of the
Society, whose opinion is that if a reasonable royalty on
the sales of Hiawatha had been forthcoming it would have
provided sufficient money for the dependents without any
appeal to the public.
It is fair to the composer’s memory as a hardworking
and careful man that the public should know that he did
provide with his brains a work which, under the royalty
method of dealing with literary and artistic property, would
have supported his family after his death, while making
him more comfortable during his life.
I am, yours faithfully,
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE,
Chairman of the Committee of Management
of the Society of Authors.
39, Old Queen-street, Storey’s-gate, S.W., Nov. 22.
(2)
To THE EpIToR OF Zhe Times.
S1r.—Our attention has been called to a letter in yout
issue of yesterday’s date in which Dr. 8. Squire Sprigge
makes certain recommendations with reference to the pub-
lishing of authors’ works on the royalty system, and inci-
dentally commits himself to certain statements reflecting
upon the terms on which we publish works by the late
S$. Coleridge-Taylor.
We do not quarrel with Dr. Sprigge’s recommendations.
The royalty system is one which we adopted over forty
years ago, and of which we have ever since made constant
use in suitable cases. There are, however, numerous cases
where the composer prefers to sell his copyright absolutely,
without any royalty or reservation : and it is characteristic
of young and unknown composers that they usually desire
to sell their works outright. We are in the habit generally
of publishing on whichever footing the composer prefers ;
but we do not admit that, where a publisher purchases a
work outright and is fortunate enough to avoid a loss,
there is any ground for suggesting that an “injustice”
is thereby inflicted upon the composer, unless Dr. Sprigge
considers that where loss results to the publisher he also is
the victim of an ‘‘ injustice.”
As regards his statements, Dr. Sprigge’s letter is both
misleading and inaccurate. The author of a work on
‘“‘ Methods of Publishing ” ought not to have invited your
readers to draw the inference that, because a composer
assigns the copyright of his work, he necessarily deprives
himself of all further pecuniary interest init. It is true
that Coleridge-Taylor assigned to us the copyright of all
his works published by us (not the copyright of all his
compositions, as inaccurately stated by Dr. Sprigge), but
he retained a royalty interest in many of them.
The statement ‘‘as communicated to the committee” of
Dr. Sprigge’s society, that Coleridge-Taylor was refused a
royalty on Hiawatha is untrue. He accepted gladly the
121
terms that were offered to him. Moreover, he from time to-
time offered us the copyright of every similar work that he
ever wrote. There are six of them. The first three he
sold outright ; the later (and more successful) ones all bear
royalties. He therefore was a typical instance of the
young composer who prefers to sell outright until he has
made a reputation, and who thereafter prefers the royalty
system.
Weare, Sir, yours faithfully,
NOvVELLO AND Co. (LTD.).
160, Wardour-street, W., Nov. 27.
(3)
To THE EpIToR OF The Times.
S1R,—Messrs. Novello and Co. describe my letter published
in your issue of November 26th as misleading and inaccurate.
It was true and to the point. Incidentally it was directed
mainly to the broad issues of just publishing and not to the
pecuniary arrangements between Messrs. Novello and Co.
and the late Mr. Coleridge-Taylor ; but the outcome of
these arrangements having become a public question, owing:
to an appeal being made to the public in behalf of the
dependants of the late Mr. Coleridge-Taylor, perhaps his
publishers are right in discussing their relations with the
dead composer.
They say that Mr. Coleridge-Taylor was not refused a
royalty and “accepted gladly the terms that were offered
to him.’ We are informed that he was refused a royalty.
Messrs. Novello and Co. say that Mr. Coleridge-Taylor
“ was a typical instance of the young composer who prefers
to sell outright until he has made a reputation.” The
second and third parts of Hiawatha were written after he
had made an enormous reputation by the publication of
the first part.
Both Messrs. Novello and Co. and I were talking of
works published by their firm—no others could be in ques-
tion. I refer them to their letter to me of November 16th.
In the “Methods of Publishing,” written more than 20
years ago, I am glad to find that the position of the author
who, having assigned his copyright, still enjoys a pecuniary
interest in his work, is described at full length. Messrs-
Novello and Co. suggest otherwise, or their allusion to my
ancient little book is meaningless.
What the public would like to know—as Messrs.
Novello and Co. have brought this aspect of the matter
prominently forward—is, How much the composer received
for Hiawatha (whether he sold his property gladly or not) ;
and how much the publishers received and are receiving by
publishing the same work.
I am, yours faithfully,
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE, Chairman of the Commit-
tee of Management of the Society of Authors.
39, Old Queen-street, Storey's-gate, S.W.,
November 28th.
(4)
To THE EpIToR OF Zhe Times.
Str.—Messrs. Novello and Co. ought to be more accurate
in the statements they have made in reply to the admirable
letter of the chairman of the Society of Authors. When
they state that Coleridge-Taylor ‘‘ was a typical instance of
the young composer who prefers to sell outright until he
has made a reputation” they have had a lapse of memory
which can be corrected by a reference to their correspond-
ence records.
When Coleridge-Taylor was a scholar of the Royal
College of Music he composed a Ballade for Violin and
Orchestra (Op. 5), which Sir George Grove and I considered
worthy of publication, and he sent it to Messrs. Novello.
They offered to publish it on_his assigning to them the
copyright in return for a few (I think it was 20) copies of
122
the work when published. He wrote a letter, of which Sir
George Grove and I thoroughly approved, admitting that
as a beginner he did not expect to be paid for the copy-
right, but asking Messrs. Novello if they would agree to
name the number of copies the sale of which would fully
cover all expenses of publication, and. after these were
sold, to give him a royalty. This the firm refused to do in
a letter which I held in my hand, of which I well remem-
ber the contents, and of which Messrs. Novello, having, of
course, a copy in their books, will, no doubt, present the
public with a faithful transcript. It amply explained the
reason why young composers, with the glamour of print
before their eyes, too often have to accept (gladly ?) such
terms as are offered to them.
Hiawatha was published in two scctions. The first,
“ Hiawatha’s Wedding,” the composer (gladly, of course)
sold outright. For how much? Will Messrs. Novello deny
that he asked for a royalty on Parts II. and LIT. in conse-
quence of the great success of Part I. and was refused it ?
What were the terms which he gladly accepted, and what
were the profits which Messrs. Novello no less gladly have
made? Do they number //iawatha amongst his less
successful works?) When the public are in possession of
these easily ascertainable facts they will be in a position to
judge of the situation.
If the terms were just, as Messrs. Novello imply, their
publication can only redound to the reputation of the firm.
If the terms are withheld, they cannot complain if the
British public draws its own conclusions from the specimen
of outright sale which I have given above, and from the
sum of £800 odd at which probate of the composer's estate
was sworn.
Yours faithfully,
CHARLES V. STANFORD,
Athenzeum Club,
November 28th.
(5)
To THE Epiror oF Zhe Zimes.
SirR,—Sir Charles Stanford having appeared in this
correspondence, we may conclude that he is the informant
referred to twice by Dr. Sprigge. We will pass over Dr.
Sprigge’s letter appearing in your issue of Saturday, as it
calls for no reply, and we will deal with that of Sir Charles
Stanford dated November 28th. Sir Charles Stanford is
perfectly correct in stating that we agreed to publish
Coleridge-Taylor’s Ballade in D for Violin and Orchestra,
and that we acquired the copyright in exchange for a
number of copies of the work. The composer consulted his
guardian and Dr. Hubert Parry, and on January 11th,
1895, wrote the head of our publishing office that they
advised him to agree to these terms. On January 2st,
1895, we received a letter in which the composer definitely
stated that he wished us to publish on the terms suggested.
Here therefore we have a contract completed to the satis-
faction of all parties—the composer on the one side, backed
by his guardian and one of the professors of his college,
and ourselves on the other. On February Ist of the same
year the head of our publishing office received a letter from
the composer (presumably the letter referred to by Sir
Charles Stanford as having received the thorough approval
of Sir George Grove and himself) from which we quote the
following :—
‘‘T am writing you an account of a most awkward com-
plication that has arisen regarding my Violin ‘ Ballade.’ As
you are aware, Dr. Parry advised me to accept your terms
of publication as they stood, and I herefore did so.
Unhappily, however, Dr. Stanford (whom I am studying
with) sees fit to interfere and make it most uncomfortable
for me. - « He says that there can be no possible
objection to my asking you (or rather Novellos) to grant
me a small royalty on each copy (if there are enough copies
THE AUTHOR.
sold) after you have paid expenses. Of course. this ig
nothing whatever to do with you, as I have already agreed
to your conditions.”
On receipt of this communication we wrote on February
5th the letter of which Sir Charles Stanford sarcastically
asks us to present the public with a faithful transcript. It
was as follows :—
‘In reply to your letter of the Ist inst. addressed to our
Mr. Jaeger, we regret being unable to alter our terms for
publishing your Ballade. We would in fact much prefer
your publishing the piece elsewhere, and we shall therefore
destroy the plates which we have already engraved.”
Thus declining to reopen at the bidding of Sir Charles
Stanford a contract deliberately entered into, but at the
same time offering to annul it.
To this the composer replied on February 7th :—
“* Please do not destroy the plates of my Violin ‘ Ballade,’
I am afraid my last letter was misunderstood. I only
wanted to tell Dr. Stanford that I had asked you what he
desired and also the result, therefore do kindly go on with
the printing.”
Our answer to this on the same day was as follows :—
‘‘At your special wish and request we will continue the
printing of your Violin ‘ Ballade’ and will publish it on the
terms originally agreed between us, Of course, if you
chose to pay the cost of printing we would publish the
work for you and you would receive all profits which might
result.” :
Again you will note our offer to annul the contract. On
the same day the composer writes again :—
‘‘ Dear Sirs,—I have much pleasure in accepting your
offer of twenty-five copies of the piano arrangement of my
Violin ‘ Ballade’ in exchange for the copyright.”
Here the correspondence ends, and the work was duly
published.
Was it the glamour of print which induced Coleridge-
Taylor to accept our terms? Was it not rather the desire
to place his work before the public under favourable cir-
cumstances and to get his name known? Sir Charles
Stanford assigned to us the copyright of his No. 4 Sym-
phony, Op. 31, and his Suite for Violin and Orchestra,
Op. 32, for the sum of one shilling, having induced us to
publish by presenting us with the copyright of four part-
songs. Later on—indeed, within a few months of the
Coleridge-Taylor contract—Sir Charles Stanford persuaded
us to publish his Trio in E flat, Op. 35, without exacting
any fee or royalty whatsoever, by presenting us with the
copyright of his Morning and Communion Service in A.
Are we to be taken to task because we formed the same
opinion of Coleridge-Taylor’s Op. 4 as Sir Charles Stanford
himself formed of his own Op. 31, 32, and 35 ?
In reply to Sir Charles Stanford’s question, “ Wil
Messrs. Novello deny that he asked for a royalty on Parts
II. and II]. in consequence of the great success of Part I.
of Hiawatha and was refused it?” the answer is in the
atlirmative. The question of a royalty in connexion with
this work, either as a whole or in part, was never raised.
Yours faithfully,
NOVELLO AND Co. (LTD.).
160, Wardour-street, W., Dec. 3.
(6)
To THE Eprror oF Zhe Times.
S1r,—Messrs. Novello have not answered the two main
questions about /fiawatha: whether they number. it
amongst his less successful works, and what and where are
the profits in which the composer should have had a share,
a the royalty,
of February Ist, 1895,
THE AUTHOR.
_ It isobvious from the extracts of correspondence which
they have printed (1) that the letter of Mr. Coleridge-Taylor
is not the document to which I
referred ; (2) that Messrs. Novello did refuse a royalty,
advised him to go elsewhere, and announced their intention
+ of destroying the plates if the royalty were insisted upon :
a sufficient deterrent to any young composer who (naturally)
wished to keep on good terms with the firm and hoped for
better things in future.
I need scarcely say that the letter I saw, which asked for
was, as far as my cognizance went, previous to
_. any agreement on the part of the composer to assign the
25 copies, and must therefore be
copyright in return for
of earlier date than the letters printed by Messrs. Novello.
| I would never be a party to the repudiation of a signed
flat was published, not “ within a few
contract.
The cloud of personalities with which Messrs. Novello
have sought to conceal the main issue, Hiawatha, it is not
_ necessary for me to deal with further than to say that their
yersion is precisely the reverse of the facts.
My works to which they allude were offered to Messrs.
Novello (at that time my publishers) in the usual way ; they
only accepted them on the condition that I helped to pay
for them with more gratuitous brain-work. The Trio in E
months of the
Coleridge-Taylor contract,” but six years previously. I
have Von Biilow’s letter acknowledging the printed copy (it
was dedicated to him), dated December 5th, 1889. This is
- asufficient comment on Messrs. Novello’s accuracy of
statement,
But these matters are not to the point. The question is
Hiawatha, its profits and where they went, and the grounds
upon which the appeal to the public for the composer’s
family has been rendered necessary at all. This Messrs.
Novello do not answer, and the public can now draw its
own conclusions.
Yours faithfully,
CHARLES V, STANFORD.
50, Holland-street, Kensington, W.,
December 4th.
(7)
To THE EpiTor or Zhe Times.
.Srr,—We note with satisfaction that in Sir Charles
Stanford’s reply, appearing in your issue of to-day, he
apparently abandons the statements, originally made by
Dr. Sprigge, and subsequently adopted by himself in the
form of a question, that Coleridge-Taylor was refused a
royalty on Hiawatha—we may therefore conelude that he
admits the inaccuracy of the suggestion.
Sir Charles Stanford states that he would “never be a
party to the repudiation of a signed contract.” Every one
who knows Sir Charles will be quite convinced of the truth
of that statement. Having regard, however, to the facts
disclosed in Coleridge-Taylor’s letter of February 1, 1895,
addressed to the head of our publishing office, it would
appear that Sir Charles’s advice to Coleridge-Taylor, with
reference to the “ Ballade” contract, was not altogether
well considered, for it might have led that young composer
to repudiate his contract.
We once more assert emphatically that no royalty on
Coleridge-Taylor’s “Ballade” was either asked for or
refused, until after the contract had been made. If it is
obvious, from the extracts of the correspondence printed in
our previous letter, that the letter of February 5th is not
the document to which Sir Charles referred, we can only
say that we wrote no other answering his description, and
that the correspondence as filed in our office is in itself
absolutely complete.
We owe Sir Charles Stanford an apology in regard to our
statement that, within a few moaths of the Coleridge-
Taylor contract, Sir Charles himself had persuaded us to
123
publish his Trio (Opus 35) by presenting us with the copy-
right of his Morning and Communion Service in A. This
is incorrect. As Sir Charles says, his Trio was published in
1889, on November 13th of that year, to be exact. The
publication of the Trio, however, did not complete the
transaction. Sir Charles had still to deliver the manuscript
of his Morning and Communion Service in A, and that he
did not do till nearly five years afterwards—viz., on
September 27th, 1894. We executed the assignment of the
copyright on the following day ; and that was the transac-
tion which we ought to have referred to as having taken
place within a few months of the Coleridge-Taylor
contract.
We do not understand Sir Charles’s reference to “ the
cloud of personalities” which he says we introduced to
conceal ‘the main issue.’ He invited us to present the
public with a faithful transcript of a certain letter. To
make that letter intelligible we had necessarily to quote
from the previous correspondence. The personalities, at all
events, were not ours, and the whole subject of Coleridge-
Taylor's ‘* Ballade” was introduced by Sir Charles.
Neither do we understand Sir Charles’s view of “the
main issue.” According to our view, “the main issue” is
that originally put forward by Dr. Sprigge, that Coleridge-
Taylor was refused a royalty on Hiawatha, and we regard
everything else that has been introduced into this corre-
spondence as irrelevant to that issue. We were interested
only in controverting statements of alleged facts—first as
regards the supposed refusal to grant a royalty on
Hiawatha and secondly as regards a similar statement
by Sir Charles as regards the ‘ Ballade.” We think that
we have now disposed of both statements.
If Sir Charles Stanford supposes that we are likely to
gratify his curiosity as to what and where are the profits
made by us with reference to Hiawatha or any other of
our publications, we are afraid that we must disappoint
him. As business men we do not feel called upon to dis-
close the secrets of our business to him, or to any one else.
We regard all questions addressed to us on such matters,
whether they are directed to profits or losses, as entirely
improper, and we resent them, as we are sure Sir Charles
Stanford would if a question were addressed to him inviting
him to disclose the amounts of the emoluments derived by
him from his professorship at the Royal College of Music,
and to account for his application of them.
Yours faithfully,
NoVELLO AND Co, (LTD.).
160, Wardour-street, W.,
December 6th.
(8)
To THE Epiror oF The Times.
Str,—Messrs. Novello and Co. assume that our sole
informant concerning the conditions under which Mr.
Coleridge-Taylor published his works was Sir Charles
Stanford. They are wrong. They say that Mr. Coleridge-
Taylor was not refused a royalty. The real question is—
Did he obtain a royalty? ‘The main issue” put forward
originally by me was not the one that has been set out by
Messrs. Novello and Co. in their letter in Zhe Times of
December 7th. My desire was, and is, to state that under
a fair royalty system such -an unfortunate position as we
have in Mr. Coleridge-Taylor’s case—viz., the need for a
pecuniary appeal to the public in behalf of the dead author
of a famous and popular work—could not occur often. For
the author would have received during his lifetime, and his
dependants would be receiving after his death, a due share
of the profits earned by his work and genius.
Yours faithfully,
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE,
Chairman of the Committee of Manage-
ment of the Society of Authors.
124
(9)
TO THE EpITor OF Zhe Times.
Sir,—A week has passed since Dr. Sprigge asked
Messrs. Novello & Co. whether Coleridge-Taylor ultimately
received any royalty upon Hiawatha. The chairman of the
Society of Authors is naturally concernedt with the depreca-
tion of a bad and the exposition of a good principle rather
than with special instances, But to the admirers of
Coleridge-Taylor and the well-wishers of the distinguished
firm whose reputation is now at stake there remains a more
pressing question. Whatever the past arrangement, will
Mrs. Coleridge-Taylor now have any substantial share of
the annual profits on her husband's successful masterpiece ?
It is already apparent that the composer’s untimely
death will have given an impetus to the sale of his works.
Profits will come in year by year not into the wrong pocket
but into only one of two right pockets, leaving the other
empty and (in this case) needy. When this cannot be
rectified it concerns no one. But when a stroke of the
gainer’s pen can rectify it, no verbal explanations about
the sanctity of contracts or the privacy of accounts can do
any good, A state of things which continues to pain the
disinterested must become unbearable to those directly
interested, and those who have known Messrs. Novello &
Co. courteously willing to make royalty agreements cannot
but believe that they will make such a practical reply as
alone can silence their critics and tend to reassure their
friends.
I am, Sir, faithfully yours,
H. WALFORD DAVIES.
December 15th.
> t—
THE DINNER.
ees
FFE annual dinner of the Society of
Authors was held at the Hotel Cecil on
Thursday, December 5, Mr. Maurice
Hewlett, the Chairman, presiding over a
gathering of close upon 200 members and their
friends. At the High Table were seated the
Hon. Mr. Justice Darling (on the left of the
Chairman), Sir Thomas Barclay, Sir Alfred
Bateman, Mr. Robert Bateman, and Miss
Georgiana Bateman, the Right Hon. Sir Henry
Mortimer Durand, Mrs. Frankau, Mrs. J. G.
Fraser, Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, Mr. C.
Lewis Hind, Professor W. P. Ker, Sir Frederick
Macmillan, Mr. E. Phillips Oppenheim, Mrs.
Perrin, Miss May Sinclair, and Mr. Hugh
Walpole. Sir William Richmond, who should
have occupied the seat on the Chairman’s right,
was unfortunately unable to be present. At
the seven lower tables Mr. Aylmer Maude,
Mr. W. W. Jacobs, Miss Beatrice Harraden,
Dr. S. Squire Sprigge (Chairman of the Com-
mittee of Management), Mrs. Belloc Lowndes,
Mr. L. J. Vance, and Mr. G. I. Thring, presided.
At the conclusion of the dinner, after he had
given the usual loyal toasts, Mr. Maurice
Hewlett rose again to propose that of The
Society of Authors. There came into his
A
THE AUTHOR.
mind, he said, Sancho Panza’s variant of the
proverb, “‘ Out of the fulness of the heart the
mouth speaketh.” Of course he had no
intention of uttering the words of that variant
now. But they might at least ask themselves
whether authorship throve better in comfort
or discomfort. This was the kind of question
which Sancho Panza’s proverb might well
suggest to their prosperous and growing
organisation. For they were flourishing. The
membership of the Society was now within a
few hundreds of 8,000. New members had
joined at the rate of one for every day in the
year. It came to this, that between them the
committee, chairman, and secretary, had made
the status of an author a respectable thing, in
the trade sense of the word, and were now
proceeding to make it a comfortable thing as
well.
He himself, however, shared the anarchical
essence at the bottom of all authorship. He
was against the extension of trade union ideas
to their profession. Such ideas could not make
him personally write a good book or sell a bad
one. There was a pride of literature, which
could be seen notably in the cases of Byron and
Dr. Johnson. Authors had a right, when they
chose, to “ poverty, total idleness, and the
pride of literature.” The Society of Authors
could not conflict with or abolish this pride.
But of the worth of the Society’s work there
could be no doubt. If they wished for an
object-lesson concerning its value to artists,
they need only turn to a recent correspondence
in The Times, wherein Dr. Squire Sprigge,
Sir Charles Stanford and others had been
breaking spears. There they might see an
unorganized art striving to bring itself into line
with literature. There they would be shown,
too, the condition of affairs from which, by the
help of the Society and its officers, literature
had long ago set itself free.
Alluding to the question of copyright,
Mr. Hewlett said that there could not be the
slightest doubt of the importance to them of
this and of the common law right of everyone,
whether artist or artisan, to the full market
value of his work. The Society of Authors was
their guardian in such matters, and he would
mention particularly the labours of Dr. Squire
Sprigge and Mr. Thring, their chairman of
committee and secretary. He gave them the
toast of “* The Society of Authors.”
Sir Mortimer Durand, in proposing ‘‘ The
Guests,” said that they always had on these
occasions many distinguished ones, and this
night was no exception. There was Mr. Jus-
tice Darling, representing the Bench—the
Palladium of our liberty, with no equal any-
where else in the world. He could himself
speak from experience of the reputation of
British justice in India. Sir William Rich-
mond, unfortunately, was not present, but he
could not refrain from mentioning him in
spite of his absence, for he was an unwavering
upholder of the best traditions of art in this
country. They saw before them Professor
Ker, Sir Frederick Macmillan, Chairman of
the Publishers’ Association, and many others
whom they were most glad to welcome in their
midst to-night.
Mr. Justice Darling, responding, lamented
the fact that there was ‘“‘no Richmond in the
field,”’ as there should have been to assist him
in returning thanks. He could only say that
after this desertion he should look upon Sir
William as a Futurist in disguise. With regard
to authors he might remind them that there was
once a time when they did nothing else but
write books from morn to night—a practice
which certainly did not make for the best kind
of author. They wrote then about affairs
which they did not understand, about a world
which they had never visited, and sometimes,
in despair, about the next world. Many of
those, however, who had written the best
books had been busy in other directions. One
of the best or the worst—if he remembered
rightly, it was dedicated to the Pope and later
on was put upon the Index—was the work of a
person who was reverently known as I
Segretario Florentino. If they called him by
that name, nobody expressed disapprobation.
But if one spoke of Machiavelli, all who had
derived any profit from his counsels held up
their hands in horror. He need hardly tell
them that this remark applied to all the
diplomatists of Europe.
It was possible, he continued, that some of
those who were now writing books might one
day have to come before him in his official
capacity, particularly if they wrote little books.
For a little book was properly a libellus—
anglicé, a libel. To such he would give a piece
of useful advice, whereby they could secure
absolute immunity for themselves and put
forth as many libels as they liked, without
having to pay damages. Let them form the
Society of Authors into a trade union. Better
still, let them incorporate all the newspapers
with them and publish everything, not under
their own names, but under that of the union.
Then they would run no danger from the law.
The toast of “The Chairman” was next
given by Mrs. Belloc Lowndes, who briefly
expressed her pleasure in so doing.
THE AUTHOR.
125
Mr. Hewlett declared that wild Furies
should not drag another speech from him, but
he desired to thank his old friend for proposing
and all those present for their kind reception
of the toast. He then asked members and
their guests to remove to the adjoining rooms.
Here the usual conversazione was held, in
which some members took part who had been
unable to arrive in time for the dinner. — Pro-
ceedings terminated about eleven o clock.
a
UNITED STATES NOTES,
+
HERE were no signs of a declining out-
put on the part of American authors
during the past half-year. Rather the
reverse, in fact, and it will probably be found
by the end of 1912 that the average of recent
years has been beaten handsomely. The
“fall list’? is so heavy that it is positively
embarrassing to attempt to discriminate
between the books which deserve mention and
those that do not.
In the realm of fiction especially, the multi-
tude of new works is bewildering. I should
not envy the task of anyone who tried to read
all the new novels which have passed through
the printing press of late. I certainly have
not made the try myself. However, I submit,
for what it is worth, a selection of names which
have attracted attention.
Basil King’s ‘‘ The Street called Straight ”
properly belongs to the earlier half of the year
just closing. But it has leapt into prominence
since I last wrote, and has occupied for some
time now an enviable place among the “ best
sellers.”’ Others that have figured in the same
list are David Graham Phillips’s ‘‘ The Price
She Paid’; Harold Bell Wright’s *‘ Their
Yesterdays”’; D. H. Munger’s “ The Wind
before the Dawn”; W. D. Orcutt’s ‘“ The
Moth”; Richard Washburn Child’s ‘‘ The
Blue Wall”; and Holman Day’s ‘‘ The Red
Lane.”
The following stories are all from women’s
pens, and have all met with a most favourable
reception :—Mary Johnston’s *‘ Cease Firing ”’
(in which General Lee is the chief hero); M. E.
Wilkins Freeman’s “‘ The Yates Pride”; Mary
Waller’s *“‘ A Cry in the Wilderness ” ; Caroline
Lockhart’s ‘‘ The Lady Doc.’”’ ; Mary Austin’s
“4 Woman of Genius’’?; Sarah Comstock’s
“The Soddy”’; Florence Olmstead’s “ Mrs.
Eli and Policy Ann’; Alice Hegan Rice’s
‘““A Romance of Billy-Goat Hill”; E. W.
126
Peattie’s “* Azalea’ ; Caroline Abbot Stanley’s
“The Master of ‘The Oaks’’’; Florence
Morse Kingsley’s ** Miss Philura’s Wedding ”’ ;
Elizabeth Kent’s “Who?” ; Edith Delano’s
‘“ Zebedee V.?; Maud Howard Peterson’s
“The Sanctuary’; Adele Knight’s ‘‘ The
Right to Reign”; Clara Louise Burnham’s
“The Inner Flame’; L. M. Montgomery’s
“Chronicles of Avonlea’; Mary Roberts
Rinehart’s ‘‘ Where there’s a Will ’’; and the
late Myrtle Reed’s ** The White Shield.”
To come to the men: James Lane Allen has
produced ** The Heroine in Bronze’; Richard
Harding Davis, ‘“‘The Red Cross Girl”;
F. Hopkinson Smith, “The Armchair at the
Inn”; G. B. McCutcheon, ‘‘ The Hollow of
Her Hand”; Harold MacGrath, ‘‘ The Place
of Honeymoons”? ; L. J. Vance, “* The Destroy-
ing Angel”; Robert W. Chambers, ‘“ The
Streets of Ascalon”; George Randolph
Chester, “The Jingo”’: Norman Duncan,
“The Best of a Bad Job”: and Stewart
Edward White, “ The Sign of Six ”—a new
departure for him, being a detective novel.
Two posthumous works are Jacques Fut-
relle’s “My Lady’s Garter” and Vaughan
Kester’s ‘*‘ The Fortunes of the Landrays.”
Note must also be made of “* The Unknown
Quantity,” by Henry Van Dyke; ‘‘ The Red
Button,” by Will Irwin; “ The Closing Net,”’
by H. C. Rowland; ‘ The Seer,” by P. M.
Sheehan; ‘‘ The Secret of Lonesome Creek,”’
by S. H. Adams; * Friar Tuck,” by R. A,
Wason ; * The Net,’ by Rex Beach; “ Charge
It,” by Irving Bacheller; ‘‘ The Soul of a
Tenor,” by W. J. Henderson; ‘‘ The Woman
of It,” by Mark Luther; and of three novels
based upon successful plays—‘* Shenandoah,”
by Henry Tyrrell; “The Return of Peter
Grimm,” by David Belasco; and ‘“ The
Woman,” by A. P. Terhune.
Several interesting and important bio-
graphies have seen the light within a com-
paratively short space of time. There is
“Mark Twain,” by Albert Bigelow Paine;
there is ‘The Life of Andrew Jackson,” by
Professor J. Spencer Bassett; and there is
“A Memoir of George Palmer Putnam,” by his
son, George Haven Putnam, the present head
of the great publishing firm. Mr. Putnam is
also responsible for a small autobiographical
work, “* A Prisoner of War in Virginia, 1864—5.”’
Civil War heroes’ lives and memoirs are
numerous, perhaps the most notable being the
*“* Autobiographical Sketch and Narrative of
the War between the States,’ which General
Jubal Early left behind him at his death; and
J. W. du Bose’s “‘ General Joseph Wells and
THE AUTHOR.
the Army of the Tennessee.” The latest
additions to the American Crisis Biographies
are “ Ulysses S. Grant,” by F. S. Edmonds,
and “ Robert Toombs,” by U. B. Phillips.
H. S. Morris’s ‘“* William T. Richards” is the
life of an American painter; and in ‘ Anson
Burlingame and the First Chinese Mission to
Foreign Powers’? Frederick Wells Williams
pays a tribute to one of China’s earliest
American friends. One of the latest of these,
on the other hand, was Homer Lea, who has
died since he brought out ‘‘ The Day of the
Saxon,” but in the interval succeeded in making
himself famous by his association with the
Chinese revolutionists, in whose army he held
the rank of general. Lea was a curious and
versatile person, but his ‘‘ Day of the Saxon ”’
is scarcely a serious contribution to historical
study, nor has the American reading public
been much disturbed by the author’s pro-
phecies. ‘‘ The Chinese Revolution,” by A.
Judson Brown, and ‘* Where Half the World is
Waking Up,” by C. H. Roe, are both concerned
with the new aspect of things in the Far East.
And Judge J. H. Blount’s “The American
Occupation of the Philippines,” as its title
shows, deals with the changes wrought by the
advent of a comparatively recent intruder into
the same part of the world. W. R. Scott’s
“The Americans in Panama” treats of the
practical, and Joseph Pennell’s ‘“* Pictures of
the Panama Canal” of the artistic, aspect of
the latest move of the United States towards
the ardently desired’ mastery of the Pacific
Ocean.
Other works which may be put under the
heading of travel and description are: ‘‘ The
Flowing Road,” by Caspar Whitney; “ In the
Amazon Jungle,” by Algot Lange; and
“Through South America,” by H. W. Van
Dyke—all concerned with the southern part of
the New World; J. W. Williams’s ‘*‘ The
Guardians of the Columbia”? and ‘“ The'
Mountain that is God”; J. W. Underwood’s
‘* The New Alaska ”’; Charles Sheldon’s ** Wil-
derness of the North Pacific Coast Islands ”’ ;
and 8. A. Bonsal’s ‘‘ American Mediterranean ”
—all dealing with the northern part. Further
afield are Stewart Edward White’s ‘‘ The Land
of Footprints’’ (Africa), and Dwight L.
Elmendorf’s ‘‘ A Camera Crusade through the
Holy Land.” ‘“ Wild Life and the Camera,”
by A. R. Dugmore, is a nature book which has
received much praise.
Of historical works, Professor Edward Chan-
ning’s long expected third volume, bringing
down to 1789 his “‘ History of the United
States,’ may be allowed to take first place.’
THE AUTHOR.
The third volume has also appeared of W. R.
Livermore’s “ Story of the Civil War,” and the
eighth of J. B. McMaster’s “ History of the
People of the United States, from the Revo-
lution to the Civil War.” KE. W. Morse’s
*“ Causes and Effects in American History ” is
small and compact in comparison with these
big works. A special period is dealt with in
‘The Relations of Pennsylvania with the
British Government, 1696-1765,” by Professor
W. T. Root.
Constitutional problems are the theme of
‘** Concentration and Control,” by C. R. Van
Hise ; ‘‘ Majority Rule and the Judiciary,” by
W.L. Ransom; ‘“ The Supreme Court and the
Constitution,” by Professor C. A. Beard;
“* Our Judicial Oligarchy,” by G. E. Roe ; and
‘The Betts-Roosevelt Letters,’ of which the
writers are the ex-President and Mr. Betts,
editor of the Lyons Republican.
Three feminist books are ‘“ Woman and
Social Progress,” by Scott and Nellie Nearing ;
‘“The Advance of Woman,” by Mrs. J. J.
Christie ;_ and “‘ Making a Business Woman,”
by Anne Shannon Monroe, who tells her story
like a novel, but all the same is handling facts.
Donald Lowrie’s *“‘ My Life in Prison ’’ adds
another to the list of moving and earnest con-
tributions to literature by those who have
unfortunately learnt by bitter experience what
prison means.
Perhaps the most interesting volume of
essays is Meredith Nicholson’s “ The Provincial
American and Other Papers.”” The ‘‘ Collected
Works ” of Ambrose Bierce have now reached
their twelfth and last tome.
“The Religious Life of Ancient Rome,” by
J. B. Carter, Director of the American School
of Classical Studies in Rome, and “ The Mean-
ing of God in Human Experience,” by Professor
W. E. Hocking, of Yale, may be picked out as
specially noteworthy books on religious matters.
I find left over at the end a pair of very
incongruous works, which nevertheless both
have their interest for many people. One is
“ The Lover’s Baedeker and Guide to Arcady,”
by Carolyn Wells, with illustrations by A. D.
Blashfield, the Life artist; and the other
““ America’s National Game: The Story of
Baseball,” by A. G. Spalding.
The obituary, since the last appearance of
these ‘‘ Notes,” includes the following names :
On June 4, Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Sangster,
whose literary activities were divided between
poetry, juvenile books, and journalism—the
last notably in connection with Harper's
Bazaar and the Ladies’ Home Journal. On
June 16, Professor William Watson Goodwin,
127
one of America’s most distinguished scholars
and the possessor of very numerous foreign
honours, including an Oxford D.C.L. On
July 8, Henry Arden, author of five volumes on
patent law, on which subject he was an expert
unrivalled in his own country. On August 2,
Dr. Samuel Morley Jackson, Professor of
Church History in New York University, and
writer of many religious works. _On August 7,
Isaac Newton Ford, doyen of the staff of the
New York Tribune, which he represented in
London alone for seventeen years. On Novem-
ber 1, Homer Lea, who has already been men-
tioned above. On November 8, Dr. Henry
Sylvester Nash, Professor of Literature and
Interpretation of the New Testament at Cam-
bridge, Mass. On November 10, J. A. Way-
land, the Socialist author and founder of two
periodicals, The Appeal to Reason and The
Coming Nation; he died by his own hand.
On November 12, Sophie Miriam Swett, who
was a popular writer among children. On
November 28, Dr. Edward Curtis, Professor
Emeritus of Columbia, and author of various
books on medical subjects.
Pritip WALSH.
-_—_— OOS
“THE LITERARY YEAR-BOOK,
ILLUSTRATORS’ DIRECTORY AND
BOOKMAN’S GUIDE.” *
a oo ed
HE new volume of the “Literary Year-
Book ”’ appears under new auspices, and
with some considerable difference in the
contents and in their arrangement; and we
have much pleasure in saying that we are
impressed by a very considerable improvement
in the annual. Two omissions will be noticed,
that of the index of authors (which does not
appear to have been ever altogether satis-
factory) and is very little to be regretted, as all
the information that can be desired will be
found in the very comprehensive ‘“‘ Authors’
Directory.”’ The other omission is that of the
index of Foreign publishers and Societies.
Respecting this it is explained that the diffi-
culties of obtaining information from abroad
have led to the omission. No one who has had
any dealings with continental correspondents
can be ignorant of the proverbial nature of
their dilatoriness ; and we find it easy to believe
* “The Literary Year-Book, Illustrators’ Directory and
Bookman’s Guide,” Vol. XVII., edited by Basil Stewart,
London, John Ouseley, 1913.
.
128 THE AUTHOR.
what is said. We have, in the past, had occa-
sion to comment upon the imperfect nature of
the information respecting continental pub-
lishers contained in the “Literary Year-
Book,’’ and we opine that the omission made
is a prudent one.
A valuable addition is made in the shape of
a Directory of Book and Magazine Illustrators
an entirely new feature—and this, together
with the directory of Authors, and a list of
pen names and pseudonyms forms the first
part of the new volume.
The second part of the annual begins with
articles on ‘“‘ Law and Letters.” of which we
shall have more to say presently. These are
followed by indexes of libraries and of perio-
dicals (with notes likely to be valuable to
contributors, who will also find very serviceable
the additional classified index of periodicals).
In the third part are collected information
respecting the Nobel and the Prince de Polinac
prizes, an Obituary, and information regarding
societies and clubs. At the conclusion of this
part we notice particularly pages devoted to
the different kinds of ‘‘ type faces,”’ as well as
the ordinary examples of the different founts.
Part IV. contains trade and_ professional
information, lists of literary agents, typing and
press-cutting offices, booksellers, both town
and country, printers, binders, photographers,
British, Colonial and American publishers (of
whom a classified index is also offered), and
some other matters of minor importance,
among which we would not overlook a table
for calculating royalties.
The calendar is relegated to the end of the
volume. We must confess that this appears
to us to be a singular arrangement, and by
no means convenient. Nor do we see why the
different parts of the work should have a
separate pagination. For reference that is
distinctly inconvenient.
The new enactments respecting copyright
which have come into force in the course of the
last year will naturally draw particular atten-
tion to the pages on legal matters with which
the second part of the annual begins. The
terms of the new legislation appear to us to be
here well epitomised, and, so far as they go, we
are far from wishing to dispute the value of
this part of the work. All epitomisation of law
must, at the same time, be inadequate, and how-
soever well done be liable to mislead ; so that,
whilst we have pleasure in praising the editors’
labours here, we cannot sufficiently insist upon
warning authors against proceeding, on the
strength of what is here put before them, to be
their own lawyers without taking professional
advice. Exactly the same remarks will apply
to the pages (Part IL., pp. 25 ff.) dealing with
agreements between authors and agents, or
authors and publishers. Amongst other parti-
culars in this part of the annual we note, as
deserving of attention, “the clause which
entitles the agent to collect and receive all
monies due under the terms of the agreement,
and acknowledges the agent’s receipt as
a good and valid discharge, should be signed
only with the utmost caution ” (p. 28). “ It
is better that [publishers’| accounts should be
rendered semi-annually than on the thirtieth
of June” (p. 32). “It is difficult to state
precisely what degree of similarity constitutes
an infringement by one book of the copyright
of another. If author and publisher have
reason to mistrust each other, the points of
likeness covered by the prohibition should be
expressly specified’ (p. 33). These are all
excellent pieces of advice.
We find ‘“‘ The Authors’ Year-Book for
1913’ considerably superior to its prede-
cessors, and feel no hesitation about asserting
that authors will find the annual more service-
able to them than it has been in times past.
ee es
WHO’S WHO, 1913.*
— a
2 7 * have received the annual volume of
) ** Who’s Who ” for 1918, and find that
it contains 2,226 pages. The character
of the publication is so well known that there
is no occasion to dwell upon it here. At the
same time so much is contained under the
volume’s unpretending title that its real
character is very easily overlooked. ‘* Who’s
Who ” is in reality a biographical encyclopxdia
of living celebrities, and one with whose
information very few biographical dictionaries
ean compare. It is hardly too much to say
that no name of note is omitted. The real test
of the value of a biographical dictionary is to
observe whether in the case of any name that
may be looked up such information as was
desired is to be found. We have applied this
test to the volume for 1913 with excellent
results. Authors should notice that the
literary part of the work leaves nothing to be
desired; and that they will find not only
biographical but also bibliographical informa-
tion presenting most convenient lists of all the
important works of English living authors.
* “Who's Who, 1913.” Sixty-fifth year of issue.
A. and,C. Black, London.
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