| 313 | https://historysoa.com/items/show/313 | The Author, Vol. 08 Issue 10 (March 1898) | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=49&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=%3Cem%3EThe+Author%3C%2Fem%3E%2C+Vol.+08+Issue+10+%28March+1898%29"><em>The Author</em>, Vol. 08 Issue 10 (March 1898)</a> | | | <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455</a> | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Publication">Publication</a> | 1898-03-01-The-Author-8-10 | | | | | 253–276 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=89&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=8">8</a> | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=76&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1898-03-01">1898-03-01</a> | | | | | | | 10 | | | 18980301 | XL he Hutbot\<br />
{The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.<br />
Vol. VIII.—No. 10.] MARCH i, 1898. [Price Sixpence.<br />
CONTENTS.<br />
PAOE<br />
General Memoranda 253<br />
Our President's Birthday 255<br />
Literary Property—<br />
1. General Meeting 255<br />
2. Authors and Debontute-holders 257<br />
3. The night to Destroy 257<br />
V Pirated Music 257<br />
New York Letter. By Norman Hapgood 257<br />
Mr. Nutt Again 289<br />
Notes and News. By the Editor 260<br />
pas ■<br />
Questions and Answers 262<br />
The Criterion of Literary Excellence. By D. F. Hannigan ... 203<br />
Correspondence. — 1. "The Gentle Answer "! 2. A "Bold"<br />
Agreement 3. The '• Bluggy" Element. \. Proposed<br />
Journalists' Union. 5. The Haunch of Venison. 6. An<br />
Appeal to Editors 7. Forego and 1 orgo. 8 Who Bids<br />
Highest? 9. A Young Author's Grievance. 10. Honour<br />
Among Reviewers. 11. Style and Substance 265<br />
Book Talk 26!)<br />
Literature in the Peiiodieals 272<br />
The Books of the Month 275<br />
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.<br />
1. The Annual Report. That for January 1897 can be had on application to the Secretary.<br />
2. The Author. A Monthly Journal devoted especially to the protection and maintenance of Literary<br />
Property. Issued to all Members, 6*. 6d. per annum. Back numbers are offered at the<br />
following prices: Vol. I., ios. 6d. (Bound); Vols. II., III., and IV., 8«. 6d. each (Bound);<br />
Vol. V., 6s. 6d. (Unbound).<br />
3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. Morris Colles, Barrister-at-Law. (Henry GHaisher,<br />
95, Strand, W.C.) 3*.<br />
4. The History of the Sooiete des Gens de Lettres. By S. Squire Sprioge, late Secretary to<br />
the Society, is.<br />
5. The Cost of Production. In this work specimens are given of the most important forms of type,<br />
size of page, &c, with estimates showing what it costs to produce the more common kinds of<br />
books. Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 2*. 6d.<br />
6. The Various Methods of Publication. By S. Squire Sprigge. In this work, compiled from the<br />
papers in the Society's offices, the various forms of agreements proposed by Publishers to<br />
Authors are examined, and their meaning carefully explained, with an account of the various<br />
kinds of fraud which have been made possible by the different clauses in their agreements.<br />
Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 3*.<br />
7. Copyright Law Reform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill of 1890. With<br />
Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, and an Appendix containing the<br />
Berne Convention and the American Copyright Bill. By J. M. Lely. Eyre and Spottis-<br />
woode. is. 6d.<br />
8. The Society of Authors. A. Record of its Action from its Foundation. By Walter Besant<br />
(Chairman of Committee, 1888—1892). is.<br />
9. The Contract of Publication in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. By Ernst<br />
Lunge, J.U.D. 2s. 6d.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 252 (#694) ############################################<br />
<br />
11<br />
AD VER TISEMENTS.<br />
^l)e §>ociefp of Mutyoxs (gncotporateb).<br />
PRESIDENT.<br />
O-EOBGE MEREDITH.<br />
COUNCIL.<br />
The Earl of Drsart.<br />
Austin Dobson.<br />
A. Cohan Doyle, M.D.<br />
A. W. Dubourg.<br />
Prop. Michakl Foster, F.R.S.<br />
D. W. FRE8HFIBLD.<br />
Richard Garnett, C.B., LL.D.<br />
Edmund Qosse.<br />
H. Rider Haggard.<br />
Thomas Hardy.<br />
Anthony Hope Hawkins.<br />
Jerome K. Jerome.<br />
RUDYARD KlPLING.<br />
Prof. E. Ray Lankester, F.R.S.<br />
W. E. H. Lecky, P.C., M.P.<br />
J. M. Lely.<br />
Mrs. E. Lynn Linton.<br />
Rev. W. J. Loftie, F.S.A.<br />
Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mub.Doo.<br />
Prof. J. M. D. Meiklejohn.<br />
Sir Edwin Arnold, K.C.I.E., C.S.I.<br />
J. M. Barbie.<br />
A. W. 1 Beckett.<br />
Robert Bateman.<br />
F. E. Beddabd, F.R.S.<br />
Sir Henry Bergne, K.C.M.G.<br />
Sib Walter Besant.<br />
Algustinb Bibbell, M.P.<br />
Rev. Prof. Bonney, F.R.S.<br />
Right Hon. James Bryce, M.P.<br />
Right Hon. Lord Burghclere, P.C.<br />
Hall Caine.<br />
Egebton Castle, F.S.A.<br />
P. W. Clayden.<br />
Edwabd Clodd.<br />
w. mobbis colles.<br />
Hon. John Collieb.<br />
Sib W. Mabtin Conway.<br />
F. Mabion Crawford.<br />
Right Hon. G. N. Curzon, P.C, M.P.<br />
Herman C Mekivale.<br />
Rev. C. H. Middleton-Wake.<br />
Sir Lewis Morris.<br />
Henry Norman.<br />
Miss E. A. Ormerod.<br />
J. C. Parkinson.<br />
Right Hon. Lobd Pirbrioht, P.C,<br />
F.R.S.<br />
Sir Feederick Pollock, Bart., LL.D.<br />
Walter Herbies Pollock,<br />
w. bapti8te scoone8.<br />
Miss Flora L. Shaw.<br />
G. R. Sims.<br />
S. Squire Spbigge.<br />
J. J. Stevenson.<br />
Francis Stobr.<br />
William Moy Thomas.<br />
H. D. Traill, D.C.L.<br />
Mrs. Humphry Ward.<br />
A. W. X Beckett.<br />
Sir Walter Besant.<br />
Egerton Castle, F.S.A.<br />
W. MORBIS COLLES.<br />
ART.<br />
Hon. John Collier (Chairman)<br />
Sir W. Martin Conway.<br />
M. H. Spielmann.<br />
Miss Charlotte M. Yonge<br />
Hon. Counsel — E. M. Undeedown, Q.C<br />
COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT.<br />
Chairman—H. Rider Haggabd.<br />
Sir W. Mabtin Conway.<br />
D. W. Freshfield.<br />
Anthony Hope Hawkins.<br />
J. M. Lely.<br />
SUB-COMMITTEES.<br />
MUSIC.<br />
C Villiers Stanford, Mus.D. (Chairman)<br />
Jacques Blumenthal.<br />
Sir A. C Mackenzie, Mus.Doo.<br />
Henry Nobman.<br />
Francis Storr.<br />
Solicitors f ^IELD> Boscoe, and Co., Lincoln's Inn Fields.<br />
o %ct ors | q Herbert Thring, B.A., 4, Portugal-street.<br />
DRAMA.<br />
Henry Arthur Jones (Chairman).<br />
A. W. a Beckett.<br />
Edward Rose.<br />
-street. Secretary—G. Herbert Thbino, B-A.<br />
OFFICES: 4, Pobtugal Stbeet, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C<br />
.A.. IP. W^TT &c SOF,<br />
LITERARY AGENTS,<br />
Formerly of 2, PATERNOSTER SQUARE,<br />
Have now removed to<br />
HASTINGS HOUSE, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND,<br />
LONDON", W.C.<br />
THE TEMPLE TYPEWRITING OFFICE. f<br />
TYPEWRITING EXCEPTIONALLY ACCURATE. Moderate prices. Duplicates of Circulars by the latest ^<br />
process. ^<br />
OPINIONS OP CLIENTS.—Distinguished Author:—"The most beautiful typing I have ever Been." Lady or Title:—"The ,<br />
work waB very well and clearly done." Provincial Editor :—" Many thanks for the spotless neatness and beautiful accuracy."<br />
MISS &ENTKY, ELDON CHAMBKR8, 30, FLEET STREET, E.C.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 253 (#695) ############################################<br />
<br />
XL he Hutbor,<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT.<br />
Vol. VIII.—No. io.] MARCH i, 1898. [Price Sixpence.<br />
For the Opinions expressed in papers that are<br />
signed or initialled the Authors alone are<br />
responsible. None of the papers or para-<br />
graphs must be taken as expressing the<br />
collective opinions of the Committee unless<br />
they are officially signed by G. Herbert<br />
Thring, Sec.<br />
THE Secretary of the Society begs to give notice that all<br />
remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and<br />
requests that all members not receiving an answer to<br />
important communications within two days will write to him<br />
without delay. All remittances nhould be crossed Union<br />
Bank of London, Chancery-lane, or be Bent by registered<br />
letter only.<br />
Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on<br />
all subjects connected with literature, but on no other sub-<br />
jects whatever. Articles which cannot be accepted are<br />
returned if stamps for the purpose accompany the MSS.<br />
GENERAL MEMORANDA.<br />
1/^OR some years it has been the practice to insert, in<br />
f* every number of The Author, certain " General Con-<br />
siderations," Warnings, Notices, &e., for the guidance<br />
of the reader. It has been objected as regards these<br />
warnings that the tricks or frauds against which they are<br />
directed cannot all be guarded against, for obvious reasons.<br />
It is, however, well that they should be borne in mind, and<br />
if any publisher refuses a clause of precaution he simply<br />
reveals bis true character, and Bhould be left to carry on<br />
his business in his own way.<br />
Let us, however, draw up a few of the rules to be<br />
observed in an agreement. There are three methods of<br />
dealing with literary property:—<br />
I. That of selling it outright.<br />
This is in some respects the most satisfactory, if a proper<br />
price can be obtained. But the transaction should be<br />
managed by a competent agent.<br />
II. A profit-sharing agreement.<br />
In this case the following rules should be attended to:<br />
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the oost of pro-<br />
duction forms a part.<br />
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the<br />
profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements<br />
VOL. VIII.<br />
in his own organs: or by charging exchange advertise-<br />
ments.<br />
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for " office expenses,"<br />
unless the same allowance is made to the author.<br />
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental<br />
rights.<br />
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights.<br />
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.<br />
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or<br />
doctor!<br />
(7.) To stamp the agreement.<br />
III. The royalty system.<br />
In this system, which has opened the door to a most<br />
amazing amount of overreaching and trading on the<br />
author's ignorance, it is above all things necessary to know<br />
what the proposed royalty means to both "ides. It is now<br />
possible for an author to ascertain approximately and very<br />
nearly the truth. From time to time the very important<br />
figures connected with royalties are published in The Author.<br />
Readers can also work out the figures themselves from the<br />
"Cost of Production." Let no one, not even the youngest<br />
writer, sign a royalty agreement without finding out what<br />
it gives the publisher as well as himself.<br />
It has been objected that these precautions presuppose a<br />
great success for the book, and that very few books indeed<br />
attain to this great success. That is quite true : but there is<br />
always this uncertainty of literary property that, although<br />
the works of a great many authors carry with them no risk<br />
at all, and although of a great many it is known within a few<br />
copies what will be their minimum circulation, it is not<br />
known what will be their maximum. Therefore every<br />
author, for every book, should arrange on tbe chance of a<br />
success which will not, probably, come at all; but which<br />
may oome.<br />
The four points which the Society has always demanded<br />
from the outset are:—<br />
(1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement<br />
means.<br />
(2.) The inspection of those account books which belong<br />
to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the<br />
nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or<br />
withheld.<br />
(3.) That there shall be no secret profits.<br />
(4.) That nothing shall be charged which has not been<br />
actually paid—for instance, that there shall be no charge for<br />
advertisements in the publisher's own organs and none tor<br />
exchanged advertisements and that all discounts shall be<br />
duly entered.<br />
If these points are carefully looked after, the author may<br />
rest pretty well assured that he is in right hands. At the<br />
same time he will do well to send his agreement to the<br />
secretary before he signs it.<br />
Z 2<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 254 (#696) ############################################<br />
<br />
254 THE AUTHOR.<br />
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.<br />
I. ~T7> VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive<br />
JjJ advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-<br />
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of hiB<br />
business or the administration of his property. If the advice<br />
sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member<br />
has a right to an opinion from the Society's solicitors. If the<br />
case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Com-<br />
mittee will obtain for him Counsel's opinion. All this<br />
without any cost to the member.<br />
2. Remember that questions oonneoted with copyright<br />
and publisher's agreements do not generally fall within the<br />
experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple<br />
to use the Society first—our solicitors are continually<br />
engaged upon such questions for us.<br />
3. Send to the office copies of past agreements and past<br />
accounts with the loan of the books represented. This is in<br />
order to ascertain what has been the nature of your agree-<br />
ments, and the results to author and publisher respectively<br />
so far. The Secretary will always be glad to have any<br />
agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The infor-<br />
mation thus obtained may prove invaluable.<br />
4. If the examination of your previous business trans-<br />
actions by the Secretary proves unfavourable, you should<br />
take advice as to a change of publishers.<br />
5. Before signing any agreement whatever, send the pro-<br />
posed document to the Society for examination.<br />
6. The Society is acquainted with the methods, and—in<br />
the case of fraudulent houses—the tricks of every publish-<br />
ing firm in the country.<br />
7. Remember always that in belonging to the Society you<br />
are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are<br />
reaping no benefit to yourself, and that you are advancing<br />
the best interests of literature in promoting the indepen-<br />
dence of the writer.<br />
8. Send to the Editor of The Author notes of everything<br />
important to literature that you may hear or meet with.<br />
9. The committee have now arranged for the reception of<br />
members' agreements and their preservation in a fireproof<br />
safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as con-<br />
fidential documents to be read only by the Secretary, who<br />
will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers:—(1)<br />
To read and advise upon agreements and publishers. (2) To<br />
stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon<br />
them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments<br />
due according to agreements.<br />
THE AUTHORS' SYNDICATE.<br />
MEMBERS are informed:<br />
1. That the Authors' Syndicate takes charge of<br />
the business of members of the Society. That it<br />
submits MSS. to publishers and editors, concludes agree-<br />
ments, examines, passes, and collects accounts, and, gene-<br />
rally, relieves members of the trouble of managing business<br />
details.<br />
2. That the terms upon which its services can be secured<br />
will be forwarded upon detailod application.<br />
3. That the Authors' Syndicate works only for those<br />
members of the Society whose work possesses a market<br />
value.<br />
4. That the Syndicate can only undertake any negotiations<br />
whatever on the distinct understanding that those negotia-<br />
tions are placed exclusively in its hands, and that all<br />
communications relating thereto are referred to it.<br />
5. That clients can only be seen by the Director by<br />
appointment, and that, when possible, at least two days'<br />
notice should be given.<br />
6. That every attempt is made to deal with all communi-<br />
cations promptly. That stamps should, in all cases, be sent<br />
to defray postage.<br />
7. That the Authors' Syndicate does not invite MSS.<br />
without previous correspondence; does not hold itself<br />
responsible for MSS. forwarded without notice; and that<br />
in all cases MSS. must be accompanied by stamps to defray<br />
postage.<br />
8. That the Syndicate undertakes arrangements for<br />
lectures by some of the leading members of the Society;<br />
that it has a "Transfer Department" for the sale and<br />
purchase of journals and periodicals; and that a " Register<br />
of Wants and Wanted" is open. Members are invited to<br />
communicate their requirements to the Manager.<br />
There is an Honorary Advisory Committee, whose services<br />
will be called upon in any case of dispute or difficulty. It<br />
is perhaps necessary to Btate that the members of the<br />
Advisory Committee have no pecuniary interest whatever in<br />
the Syndicate.<br />
NOTICES.<br />
11HE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the<br />
Society that, although the paper is sent to them free<br />
of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very<br />
heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great<br />
many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest<br />
6«. 6d. subscription for the year.<br />
The Editor is always glad to receive ehort papers and<br />
communications on all subjects connected with literature<br />
from members and others. Nothing can do more good to<br />
the Society than to make The Author complete, attractive,<br />
and interesting. Will those who are willing to aid in this<br />
work send thoir names and the special subjects on which<br />
they are willing to write?<br />
Communications for The Author should reach the Editor<br />
not later than the 21st of each month.<br />
All persons engaged in literary work of any khid, whether<br />
members of the Society or not, are invited to communioate<br />
to the Editor any points connected with their work whiob<br />
it would be advisable in the general interest to publish.<br />
Members and others who wish their MSS. read are<br />
requested not to send them to the Office without previously<br />
communicating with the Secretary. The utmost practicable<br />
despatch iB aimed at, and MSS. are read in the order in.<br />
which they are received. It must also be distinctly under-<br />
stood that the Society does not, under any circumstances,<br />
undertake the publication of MSS.<br />
The Authors' Club is now open in its new premises, at<br />
3, Whitehall-oourt, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary<br />
for information, rules of admission, Ac.<br />
Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they<br />
have paid their subscriptions for the year? If they will do<br />
thiB, and remit the amount, if still unpaid, or a banker's<br />
order, it will greatly assist the Secretary, and save him the<br />
trouble of sending out a reminder<br />
Members are most earnestly entreated to attend to the<br />
following warning. It is a most foolish and may be a<br />
most disastrous thing to enter into an agreement binding<br />
for a term of years. Let them ask themselves if they<br />
would give a solicitor the collection of their rents for five<br />
years to come, whatever his conduct, whether he was honest<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 255 (#697) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
or dishonest? Of course they would not. Why then<br />
hesitate for a moment when they are asked to sign them-<br />
selves into literary bondage for three or five years?<br />
"Those who possess the 1 CoBt of Production' are<br />
requested to note that the cost of binding has advanced 15<br />
per cent." This clause was inserted three or four years ago.<br />
Estimates have, however, recently been obtained which show<br />
that the figures in the book may be relied on as nearly<br />
correct: as near as is possible.<br />
Some remarks have been made upon the amount charged<br />
in the " Cost of Production" for advertising. Of course, we<br />
have not included any gums which may be charged for<br />
inserting advertisements in the publisher's own magazines,<br />
or in other magazines by exchange. As agreements too<br />
often go, there is nothing to prevent the publisher from<br />
sweeping the whole profits of a book into his own pocket,<br />
by inserting any number of advertisements in his own<br />
magazines, and by exchanging with others. Some there are<br />
who call this a form of fraud; it is not known what those<br />
who practise this method of swelling their own profits call it.<br />
FROM THE COMMITTEE.<br />
THE Secretary would be obliged if those<br />
members of the Society and others who<br />
have entered into dramatic contracts would<br />
kindly forward to him copies of the same, together<br />
with any notes showing the difficulties to which<br />
dramatic authors are exposed. The Secretary, at<br />
the desire of the Committee, is undertaking a<br />
work dealing with dramatic and musical contracts<br />
on the same lines as the "Methods of Publish-<br />
ing " already issued by the Society.<br />
Those members of the Society who have state-<br />
ments of account involving the cost of production<br />
would oblige the Secretary by forwarding the<br />
statements to the offices of the Society, together<br />
with a sample of the page of the book if possible.<br />
The Secretary is undertaking on behalf of the<br />
Society a fresh edition of the " Cost of Produc-<br />
tion." All information, therefore, from members<br />
and others will be useful.<br />
At the General Meeting of Feb. 17, Mr. Perry<br />
Coste asked how many members had replied to<br />
the circular letter on the publication of the list<br />
of members. The Secretary was unable at the<br />
moment to give the number, hut promised to look<br />
up the point. He has now done so, and finds<br />
that between eight and nine hundred members<br />
sent in an answer to the circular. From private<br />
inquiries it would appear that those who did not<br />
reply desired no change. It is, indeed, obvious<br />
that those who wanted a change would have<br />
taken this opportunity of expressing their desire.<br />
OUR PRESIDENT'S BIRTHDAY.<br />
ME. MEREDITH received the following<br />
letter on Saturday, Feb. 12. It was a<br />
private letter, was signed by thirty men<br />
and women of letters, but was not sent from the<br />
Society, where the occasion was unfortunately not<br />
remembered :—<br />
"To George Meredith:<br />
"Some comrades in letters who have long<br />
valued your work send you a cordial greeting<br />
upon your seventieth birthday.<br />
"You have attained the first rank in literature,<br />
after many years of inadequate recognition.<br />
From first to last you have been true to yourself,<br />
and have always aimed at the highest mark. We<br />
are rejoiced to know that merits once perceived<br />
by only a few are now appreciated by a wide and<br />
steadily growing circle. We wish you many<br />
years of life, during which you may continue to<br />
do good work, cheered by the consciousness of<br />
good work already achieved, and encouraged by<br />
the certainty of a hearty welcome from many<br />
sympathetic readers.<br />
"(Signed.)<br />
J. M. Barrie, Walter Besant, Augustine<br />
Birrell, James Bryce, Austin Dobson,<br />
Conan Doyle, Edmund Gosse, R. B.<br />
Haldane, Thomas Hardy, Frederic<br />
Harrison, "John Oliver Hobbes,"<br />
Henry James, R. C. Jebb, Andrew<br />
Lang, W. E. H. Lecky, M. Londin,<br />
F. W. Maitland, Alice Meynell, John<br />
Morley, F. W. H. Myers, James Payn,<br />
Frederick Pollock, Anne Thackeray<br />
Ritchie, Henry Sidgwick, Leslie<br />
Stephen, Algernon Charles SwiNr<br />
burne, Mary A. Ward, G. F. Watts,<br />
Theodore Watts-Dunton, Wolseley."<br />
Mr. Meredith, acknowledging it in a letter to<br />
Mr. Leslie Stephen, wrote: "The recognition that<br />
I have always worked honestly to my best,<br />
coming from the men and women of highest<br />
distinction, touches me deeply. Pray let it be<br />
known to them how much they encourage and<br />
support me.''<br />
LITERARY PROPERTY.<br />
I.—General Meeting.<br />
f~|"\HE annual general meeting of the Incorpo-<br />
| rated Society of Authors was held on<br />
Feb. 17, at 4 p.m., in the rooms of the<br />
Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, 20,<br />
Hanover-square, W Mr. fl. Rider Haggard<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 256 (#698) ############################################<br />
<br />
256<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
took the chair. Amongst those present were<br />
the following:—<br />
Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, Mr. A. W.<br />
a Beckett, Mr. "j. M. Lely, Mr. Egerton Castle,<br />
Mr. P. W. Clayden, Mr. Henry Norman, Mrs.<br />
George Corbett, Lady Colin Campbell, Mrs.<br />
Alfred Baldwin, Mr." A. E. W. Mason, Mr.<br />
Silas K. Hocking, Mr. Mowbray Marras, Mr.<br />
Edwin Pugh, Mrs. Pennell, Mr. Edward Rose,<br />
Mr. Mackenzie Bell, the Rev. Dr, S. Kinns, Miss<br />
H. M. Stanton, Mr. Perry Coste, and a great<br />
many other members.<br />
Mr. Hagoard, on rising, apologised for the<br />
absence of Sir Martin Conway, who, as Chairman<br />
of the Society for 1898, ought to have occupied<br />
his position. He then proceeded to comment on<br />
the report of the Society. He stated that the<br />
Society was in a flourishing condition, and had<br />
elected 180 members during the past year. He<br />
went on to explain how the work of the Society<br />
had increased enormously during the past year,<br />
but he was sorry to say that there were still a<br />
good many authors who did not belong to the<br />
body. He hoped that all authors would stand by<br />
their profession, since even, although individually<br />
they might not benefit by the action of the<br />
Society, yet collectively they did so benefit, and<br />
he trusted that all members present would do<br />
their best to establish amongst other authors that<br />
esprit dc corps which was necessary to support<br />
the profession, and to raise it to its proper status.<br />
He submitted that all those members who placed<br />
their cases in the Secretary's hands should be pre-<br />
pared to carry them through the courts, as it was<br />
useless for the Society to take up serious action<br />
on behalf of its members if that action was ulti-<br />
mately liable to fail owing to the member con-<br />
cerned not being desirous of giving evidence.<br />
He then stated that the Society had on behalf of<br />
its members carried through certain claims<br />
against bankrupt papers, but had been unsuccess-<br />
ful in obtaining any satisfaction from such papers.<br />
The committee now proposed to try and pass a<br />
short Bill by which contributors to magazines<br />
should be reckoned as preferential creditors,<br />
together with clerks, servants, and other em-<br />
ployes. He put forward, as an instance, the case<br />
of a magazine which fell into difficulties, then<br />
issued debentures, the debentures being taken up<br />
by people interested in the company. The com-<br />
pany becoming involved, the debenture-holders<br />
foreclosed, and although the goodwill of the<br />
magazine was sold for a large amount the con-<br />
tributors were unable to obtain anything, all the<br />
money being absorbed by the debenture debt.<br />
This was a very unsatisfactory position so far as<br />
the authors were concerned. He suggested that<br />
if members in the first instance referred to the<br />
Secretary with regard to the papers to which they<br />
were contributing it would be very possible that<br />
they would get such information as would prevent<br />
them from further dealings with such papers, and<br />
thus they might be spared a very unpleasant<br />
position. Mr. Haggard further mentioned that<br />
the Society had a short Copyright Bill before<br />
Parliament which they hoped to be able to pass<br />
through the Commons. The Bill had already-<br />
passed the second reading in the House of Lords<br />
this Session on the 14th inst., and the Society<br />
would use their utmost efforts to secure its<br />
passage through the House of Commons. He<br />
quoted Lord Knutsford's speech with reference<br />
to this Bill. The quotation ran as follows:<br />
"Viscount Knutsford thought that there was just<br />
a chance that a Bill like that now before their<br />
Lordships might get through the other House.<br />
On the other hand, a Copyright Consolidation<br />
Bill, such as the noble Earl had referred to, would<br />
have little or no chance of passing." The Chair-<br />
man next referred to the discount question which<br />
had occupied the work of a sub-committee of the<br />
Society during the autumn, and he repeated the<br />
reasons for the Society having been unable to<br />
adopt the publishers' suggestions—viz., that in the<br />
first instance the committee had come to the<br />
decision from the evidence before them that no<br />
preventive measures would prove effectual, but<br />
would always be evaded, and that apart from<br />
this question the proposals of the publishers<br />
were really an interference with the doctrines of<br />
free trade. He also pointed out that the com-<br />
mittee had deemed it unwise from the answers<br />
they had received to publish a list of the members<br />
of the Society. Before sitting down he asked<br />
whether any member had any comment to make<br />
on the report.<br />
Mr. Perry Coste then rose and asked some<br />
questions. It was stated in the report that only<br />
one-third had consented to the ptiblication of<br />
their names. He would like to know how many<br />
had actually answered, as it might be deduced<br />
that those who had not answered had given their<br />
consent by silence.<br />
The Chairman pointed out that he could not<br />
at the moment reply to this question, not having<br />
the figures at hand, but that the numbers would<br />
be printed in The Author. In answer to further<br />
questions, he stated that it was not a fair deduc-<br />
tion to draw that those who had not answered had<br />
desired the publication of their names.<br />
Another question referred to the publication of<br />
some suggestions made by Mr. Perry Coste in<br />
The Author on the occasion of the last annual<br />
meeting. He wanted to know whether any<br />
members of the Society had expressed an opinion<br />
upon them, and the Chairman replied that no one<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 257 (#699) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
257<br />
had written to the Secretary with regard to the<br />
matter.<br />
After this discussion a vote of thanks was<br />
proposed by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Kinns and<br />
seconded by Mr. Silas K. Hocking, to the Chair-<br />
man, and carried unanimously. Subsequently a<br />
vote of thanks was also passed to the Committee<br />
and the Secretary for the work they had done<br />
during the past year, and this was responded to<br />
by Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins.<br />
II.—Authors and Debenture-Holders.<br />
The following letters have appeared in the<br />
Daily Chronicle, addressed to the editor of that<br />
journal:—<br />
"Sir,—I quote the following from your report<br />
of the meeting of the Society of Authors yester-<br />
day :—<br />
The Chairman dwelt on the hardships of eontribntors to<br />
a certain periodical—cited as an example, and also name-<br />
less—who had been unable to get paid for articles, althongh<br />
the society had taken np the matter. To meet such a con-<br />
dition of things, it was proposed to promote a Bill in<br />
Parliament. The object of it—and here were the typical<br />
details - would be to give contributors to periodicals, np to<br />
a limited amount, a precedence over debenture-holders in<br />
instances where the periodical was conducted by a limited<br />
company.<br />
"Why should authors have precedence over<br />
debenture-holders? Take my own case, for<br />
instance, which is probably connected with the<br />
periodical referred to. I was induced to take over<br />
debentures for a considerable amount, had to pay<br />
up fully all calls, never received the last year's<br />
interest for them, and am required by my fellow-<br />
authors to 'take a back seat.' 'In the name of<br />
all that's inflammable,' as Mr. Pickwick says,<br />
where is the justice or reason of this? Such a<br />
proposal savours of childishness.—I am, &c,<br />
"Geo. B. Burqin.<br />
"Feb. 18."<br />
"Sir,—In reply to Mr. Burgin's letter, pub-<br />
lished in your issue of the 21st inst., it seems<br />
clear that he must have known something of<br />
the inner working of the company to which he<br />
refers, otherwise he would not have taken over<br />
the debentures. He will reap his reward when<br />
the debenture-holders are paid in full out of the<br />
sum realised by the sale of the company's assets.<br />
Other contributors will not be similarly protected.<br />
But if the Bill of the Authors' Society had been<br />
passed into law before this particular case arose,<br />
he would not have needed to protect his own<br />
interests by becoming a debenture holder, and<br />
other contributors would have enjoyed a protection<br />
of which he apparently now possesses a monopoly.<br />
Most magazine writers are not capitalists, but<br />
humble folk working with brain and hands for<br />
their daily bread. They are eminently deserving<br />
of a protection similar to that extended to the<br />
wage-earners attached to any industry.—Yours<br />
faithfully, "Martin Conway,<br />
"Chairman of the Authors' Society.<br />
"Feb. 22." .<br />
III.—The Eight to Destroy.<br />
A member of the Society forwarded a MS. to<br />
a publisher about a year ago. The publisher<br />
stated that he was unable to undertake the<br />
publication of the MS. at his own cost, and<br />
asked the author to send stamps for its return.<br />
This the author neglected to do through inadver-<br />
tence. Nearly a year afterwards he received a<br />
post card from the publisher stating that unless<br />
stamps were sent for the return of the MS. he<br />
would have to destroy it. The position taken up<br />
by the publisher is legally unsound. Even<br />
though the MS. may be forwarded to him<br />
without his expressed desire, he is bound to take<br />
ordinary care of it. If he wittingly burnt or<br />
destroyed the MS. it would be a case of the<br />
grossest negligence, and he would be liable to<br />
the author for the value of the MS. This is<br />
clearly the legal position, and authors are<br />
referred to the number of The Author of Feb.,<br />
1897, where Counsel's opinion on the matter was<br />
fully set forth. _<br />
IV.—Pirated Music.<br />
The Daily Mail for Feb. 8 announces that the<br />
music publishers of London are going to appeal<br />
for Parliamentary protection against the sale of<br />
pirated songs at a very cheap rate in the streets.<br />
There has been a meeting of the publishers, who<br />
have presented a memorial to the Home Secretary<br />
calling attention to the publication of these<br />
pirated editions. The piracy is not only of the<br />
music and the words, but of the words separately.<br />
It is hoped to get an Attorney-General's fiat to<br />
institute criminal proceedings under the Printers'<br />
Act against the offenders.<br />
NEW YORK LETTER.<br />
New York, Feb. 18.<br />
~]^TO publisher does more for American litera-<br />
ls ture than Houghton, Mifflin and Co.<br />
Their Riverside Literature Series has a<br />
particular popular value in putting the best<br />
works of the country within the reach of every-<br />
body, usually with valuable notes. Their last<br />
volume, just published, includes a number of<br />
tales and poems by Edgar Allen Poe, and has<br />
an introduction by Professor W. P. Trent, who<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 258 (#700) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
recently published a book on "Southern States-<br />
men of the Old Regime." Professor Trent<br />
points out what is undoubtedly true, that Poe's<br />
position is unique among our authors for the<br />
exaggerated praise ■which he has received ou the<br />
one hand, and the absurd detraction which he<br />
has received on the other. Professor Trent<br />
thinks Poe's critical work is dead as literature,<br />
but that his poetry stands much higher. These<br />
volumes are published at fifteen cents in paper<br />
and forty cents in linen. Another recent publi-<br />
cation in this series is, the great debate between<br />
Robert Young Hayne and Daniel Webster,<br />
oue of the most dramatic occurrences in American<br />
history.<br />
A book on America, which is soon to be pub-<br />
lished in England, by Mrs. Atherton, is a reminder<br />
that this lady is taken very much more seriously<br />
in England when she writes about American<br />
affairs than she is by Americans. As her book is<br />
on the subject of "American Wives and English<br />
Husbands," it may be recalled that the Scribners<br />
published a novel last fall called "American<br />
Nobility" by a Frenchwoman. It can hardly be<br />
stated too often that almost all the departments<br />
of American life which he touches are discussed<br />
with greater accuracy by Mr. Bryce than by any<br />
other foreign critic.<br />
It is well known by this time that the Mac-<br />
millan Company is extending its field rapidly,<br />
especially along the lines of American literature.<br />
Among their recent books are, "A History of<br />
the United States," by Professor Channing, of<br />
Harvard, and some essays on the "Civil War<br />
and Reconstruction," by Professor Dunning, of<br />
Columbia. At the same time that they go in for<br />
such sterling works, their desire to build up a<br />
very large business is leading them into what it<br />
leads so many publishers into—the issuing of a<br />
lot of inferior work. A volume on "American<br />
Literature," by Professor Katharine Lee Bates,<br />
of Wellesley, for instance, adds nothing to any<br />
subject treated in it; and there are a lot of<br />
novels, books of travel, &c, without the least<br />
value, published purely for immediate sale. I do<br />
not call attention to this in order to disapprove<br />
of it, but merely to mark one of the results of<br />
extending the American business of such a promi-<br />
nent house. The same firm has just published<br />
a work on "The Finances of New York City,"<br />
by Edward Durand.<br />
Among the most interesting books which will<br />
be published within a month or so is a collection<br />
called "Emerson, and other Essays," by John Jay<br />
Chapman, to be put out by the Scribners. Mr.<br />
Chapman is a young lawyer who has recently<br />
gone into politics to a certain extent, and also into<br />
magazine criticism, in both of which fields he is<br />
attracting decided attention. His essays on<br />
Browning, Whitman, Stevenson, Michael Angelo's<br />
last sonnets, and other literary subjects, are some-<br />
times erratic, but always vigorous. The Scribners<br />
are also about to publish a book called " The<br />
Eugene Field I Knew," by Francis Wilson, which<br />
is a story of a long and intimate friendship<br />
between the Chicago poet and the only one of our<br />
younger actors who is especially known for his<br />
interest in literature. Francis Wilson j>lays in<br />
the broadest musical farce, but, outside of the<br />
theatre, his life is spent in a house full of<br />
the best books, and he is a man of real culture.<br />
Another book just out, worth mentioning for<br />
observers of our literature, is "An Introduction<br />
to American Literature," by Henry S. Pancoast,<br />
published by Henry Holt and Co. "The Hon.<br />
Peter Stirling," by Paul Liecester Ford, is in its<br />
sixteenth edition. The success of this book<br />
points to the popularity of a field which has<br />
been much exploited in American fiction. Politics<br />
are now in a formative, interesting, and important<br />
state, giving the best kind of material to the<br />
novelist. Doubtless the only reason that more<br />
use is not made of them is that so little is known<br />
about them practically by the kind of people who<br />
do our writing.<br />
In connection with the talk about Stephen<br />
Phillips, it may be noticed that more poetry is<br />
read in this country than is commonly supposed.<br />
Of course, fiction leads by far, but poetry stands<br />
comparison with any other form of literature. Of<br />
543 manuscripts submitted to a Boston publish-<br />
ing house in 1897, 212 were fiction; next came<br />
verse, 69. There were 44 books for young people;<br />
and the remainder were essays, history, travel,<br />
biography, and religious works. Our young pub-<br />
lishers are showing themselves particularly willing<br />
to put out volumes of verse which have any<br />
merit.<br />
Two subjects connected with the book market<br />
in this country have recently been fully dis-<br />
cussed by correspondents in the New York Times.<br />
One on " The Best Books for Children " resulted<br />
in nothing of any value, only a very long collec-<br />
tion of lists having nothing in common; but an<br />
article by Mrs. Sherwood—a sort of social autho-<br />
rity in the newspaper world—ou "What Society<br />
Reads," was so plausible that it raised an interest-<br />
ing amount of indignant protest. Her opinion<br />
was that the smart set reads mainly the most<br />
lurid, sentimental, and entirely trashy novels of<br />
the day, and that literature of any solidity or<br />
worth, even in fiction, is practically unknown<br />
in the fashionable circles. Taking all this<br />
with a grain of salt, it is yet undoubtedly true<br />
that the people in this country who are most<br />
conspicuous socially, lack altogether the literary<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 259 (#701) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
259<br />
taste and training which society has in some<br />
other lands.<br />
The bound volumes of the principal magazines<br />
of 1897 suggest some of the individual features.<br />
In the Century Magazine the most conspicuous<br />
features are Dr. Mitchell's latest novel and Gen.<br />
Porter's scries of articles on " Campaigning with<br />
Grant," which is the extension of the war paper<br />
idea which sent the circulation of this magazine<br />
so ripidly upward a few years ago. This maga-<br />
zine has, perhaps, more poetry than its rivals,<br />
but almost all the verse now published here is<br />
without value. - Its miscellaneous articles include<br />
many sporting papers and tales of travel. The<br />
Scribner's Magazine runs to serials more than any<br />
of the others. "The Conduct of Great Busi-<br />
nesses," "Undergraduate Life at the Colleges,'<br />
Gibson's articles on London, are among them.<br />
Harper's has a less definable character than either<br />
of the others. It is run more by instinct—by a<br />
general feeling or mood of the hour; but pictu-<br />
r< st|ue descriptive articles and fiction of the safe<br />
and original kind are prominent in it.<br />
In the drama some recent English work has<br />
been successful, and some decidedly the reverse.<br />
Mr. Esmond's "One Summer's Day," which John<br />
Drew has just brought to New York, after giving<br />
it in other cities, has fallen more flat than that<br />
popular actor's productions usually do. "The<br />
Tree of Knowledge," on the other hand, by E. C.<br />
Carton, is having a steady though not an extreme<br />
success. If England is to see " The Conquerors,"<br />
it will find that whatever success it has is largely<br />
a sneers de scandalc, of a rather cheap sort. As<br />
a general rule, where indecent drama pays in New<br />
York, it is because the large mass of floating<br />
population supports it. These 300,000 strangers<br />
who are in the city every day, go out of curiosity<br />
to see what residents of the city have Ion c since<br />
tired of. Norman Hap<*ood.<br />
MR. NUTT AGAIN.<br />
TN writing to the Academy in Deceml>er last,<br />
I Mr. Nutt began by saying, "Nobody heeds<br />
statements made by The Author, which are<br />
as little likely to mislead as those, let ine say, of<br />
La Libre Parole or the New York Sun." In the<br />
n< xt letter he says: "I am not a reader of The<br />
Author. I do not think 1 hare seen more than<br />
two numbers in my life." The italics are ours.<br />
A few lines further on he speaks of the "base-<br />
lessness of many statements made" in The<br />
Author. Yet he never sees it or reads it: he has<br />
only seen two numbers. Further on he says that<br />
those statements "have since been repeated in<br />
VOL. VIII.<br />
The Author without one word of qualification."<br />
Yet he never sees The Author.<br />
Now, in the face of these assertions, which one<br />
mint with sorrow describe as unmannerly, Mr.<br />
Nutt sends me a long letter about the case which<br />
I have exposed already. He asks me to print<br />
this letter!!! \ shall not do so, because he cannot<br />
in reason wish to set his case in a better light in<br />
a paper which nobody heeds, and partly because<br />
everything that has to We said upon his last letter<br />
has been said—except one point, on which there<br />
will perhaps be something more to be said next<br />
month.<br />
I would only extract from it two passages, which<br />
would be amusing if they were not somewhat<br />
pitiful. You remember how, in the Academy—see<br />
Last month's Author—he laid it down that a 6s.<br />
book contained 388 pages "at least." I called<br />
attention to the word "at least," because by means<br />
of that limitation he thought he would bowl<br />
over our figures. He now calls it an " average."<br />
No: nothing at all was said of an average.<br />
He also endeavours to call away attention<br />
from the main issue by offering to get up a jury<br />
to decide how many " overs" there are. What<br />
can any jury tell us that we do not know? Of<br />
"overs" there may be many—few—none. That<br />
is all that can be said.<br />
On Kisk.<br />
In consequence of Mr. Nutt's assertion that<br />
The Author has stated on several occasions that<br />
"publishers always recover their outlay and never<br />
make any losses," I have been looking back<br />
through the pages of The Author. I cannot find<br />
that statement made even once, not to speak<br />
of repetitions. I do find, however, several state-<br />
ments on the subject of risk.<br />
Thus I find, Vol. I., p. 165: "The publisher,<br />
who very, very seldom knowingly runs any risk at<br />
all, may lose, because in all trades there are<br />
mistakes made, on one or two books, but as the<br />
general result of a large business he is certain,<br />
as his business is now conducted, not to lose."<br />
This was in answer to an argument that he might<br />
have no risk on one or two books, but that, on the<br />
whole, there is risk. My point was the exact eon-<br />
verse. And it is most certainly true, as the<br />
Hourishing condition of the trade shows, and the<br />
number of new publishers constantly springing<br />
up. If it were not true the trade would collapse.<br />
But that is not what Mr. Nutt says I stated.<br />
Again, Vol. I., p. 209, it is stated: "In no trade<br />
need there be fewer losses than in the publishing<br />
trade. They very seldom—it cannot be repeated<br />
too often, or be too strongly asserted—they very<br />
seldom take any risk whatever." When we see<br />
publisher after publisher expecting the writer to<br />
A A<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 260 (#702) ############################################<br />
<br />
260<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
pay for production: when the young writer<br />
goes from one to the other in vain, the truth of<br />
this statement becomes manifest. Fortunately<br />
there are exceptions.<br />
Again, in Vol. II., p. 108, I pointed out that<br />
the publisher's risk, where there was any, was<br />
the liability, not the outlay, less the first returns.<br />
In other words, if the book costs .£100, and the<br />
first three months' returns were £ 101, there would<br />
be no money paid, and no risk; if .£99, there would<br />
be a risk of £1 to be covered by following sales.<br />
In the same volume, p. 179, I call Mr. Putnam<br />
to account for saying "that the Authors'<br />
Society contend that the publishers never<br />
take any risk." For "never," I say, he must<br />
put "rarely," and then it will be true. And<br />
again, p. 146, I call the attention of Mr. Lang<br />
to a passage in which he accuses me of say-<br />
ing that "there is no risk in publishing."<br />
Plenty of risk, but very few publishers take a bit<br />
more than they can help.<br />
All this, however, is not what Mr. Nutt alleges.<br />
Now, I have been through the first four volumes,<br />
and this is what I find. It is all most perfectly<br />
and absolutely true. But it is not what Mr. Nutt<br />
alleges. I am now, however, waiting for a reply<br />
to my last letter, the fourth he has received on the<br />
subject, inviting him to tell me where he' found<br />
those passar/es tchich he quotes. W. B.<br />
NOTES AND NEWS.<br />
[N another column will be found a note from<br />
the Secretary, inviting readers to send him<br />
(1) copies of dramatic or musical agree-<br />
ments; (2) copies of publishers' accounts where<br />
t he author had consented to an administration of<br />
his property on a profit-sharing agreement. In<br />
the latter case it would be well to lend the Secre-<br />
tary a copy of the book, in order to ascertain the<br />
size of the page, the form of the type, the quality<br />
of the paper, and the true cost of the binding.<br />
If readers will only help in this manner, the new<br />
edition of the "Cost of Production" may be<br />
greatly helped. For my own part, as I was<br />
Chairman when the first edition was produced, I<br />
know what great pains were taken to get at the<br />
facts. I also know that nothing the Society has<br />
ever done has produced such widespread benefits<br />
to writers: that the figures liave been most impu-<br />
dently denied: but no denial has ever been accom-<br />
panied by any proof: that estimates such as<br />
the three published in last month's Author have<br />
proved the general correctness up to the hilt, and<br />
t hai printers have expressed themselves (privately)<br />
as quite willing to execute work in bulk, not by<br />
single volumes, on these figures. At the same<br />
time I have always felt somewhat dissatisfied<br />
with them: they were always put forward as<br />
approximate, I wanted to be nearer the truth,<br />
and now I think we shall get nearer.<br />
The result will be, I believe, to show that pro-<br />
duction costs less than what we advanced. The<br />
composition will be perhaps more: the machining<br />
certainly less: the paper very much less: the<br />
binding less. As for the advertising, that was put<br />
down in the rough at ,£20 and ,£30. Now for an<br />
ordinary book — say of essays, memoirs, minor<br />
travels, biography, &c.— or for the kind of novel<br />
which is certain not to get beyond seven or eight<br />
hundred—of which there are a great numl>er—<br />
the average publisher does not advertise to any-<br />
thing like that extent. He may exchange with<br />
monthly magazines for nothing: but as regards<br />
advertisements for which he has to pay, .£ 10 is<br />
about his limit. And this means $d. a volume on<br />
such a sale. On the other hand, in the few<br />
instances where a book has a wide circulation,<br />
instead of £20 the advertisements mav run up to<br />
£50 and more.<br />
I have seen a note, which I neglected to cut<br />
out, in a certain paper, to the effect that a pub-<br />
lisher, or some publishers, design the establishment<br />
of small book shops about the town. This<br />
seems like a deliberate attempt to extinguish, once<br />
for all, the retail bookseller. Perhaps they propose<br />
to recognise in this way the fact of his extinction.<br />
But he is not dead yet, and perhaps he will<br />
recover. We have suggested certain steps, and<br />
are ready to suggest other steps, by which his<br />
position may be improved. These recommenda-<br />
tions are in the hands of the Booksellers' Associa-<br />
tion. They have tried the publishers, and have<br />
received from them the recommendation to<br />
become their slaves. I venture to think that if<br />
they will turn to the authors in a conciliatory<br />
spirit, things might be arranged which would<br />
really advance their cause—which is the cause of<br />
those who write, but not necessarily the cause of<br />
the middleman. Meantime the book shops might<br />
teach their proprietors the kind of risk which the<br />
booksellers run daily. It should prove a whole-<br />
some lesson.<br />
A member of the Society sends me a collection<br />
of reviews of two books by himself. There are<br />
nine of the first and dozens of the second. They<br />
are all laudatory; some are enthusiastic. They<br />
all appeared in journals of good standing—some<br />
of the highest standing. Why, asks the author,<br />
have my books, in spite of these reviews, proved<br />
financially disastrous? This is a question which<br />
has lx>en put by many writers. The answer seems<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 261 (#703) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
to be, first, that people no longer care much for<br />
the "opinions" of reviewers. Their authority<br />
has very greatly decreased. If further proof<br />
were wanted, cases might be adduced of books<br />
virulently attacked by reviewers which proceeded<br />
immediately and without the least check to a<br />
great circulation. One is not blaming the reviewer,<br />
but stating the position. What is the reason for<br />
the decay in the authority of the review? The<br />
critic of the day is not so savage as his prede-<br />
cessor of the earlier part of the century. He is<br />
more polite, and he does not, as a rule, jump<br />
upon every book as if it was a personal enemy.<br />
He is, I think, a more competent critic and a<br />
safer guide. How, then, has it come to pass<br />
that he is so little regarded? I have talked this<br />
matter over with many journalists. I find that<br />
their opinion is the same as my own. The decay<br />
of authority in the literary columns is mainly due<br />
to the prevalent desire to review everything that<br />
is published. Now, as has been pointed out in<br />
this paper before, it is impossible—perfectly im-<br />
possible—by any conceivable rate of pay, to get a<br />
reviewer to read a book which he has to discuss in<br />
a dozen or twenty lines. The result is often a weak<br />
stream of generalities, with a word of fault-find-<br />
ing, a thing quite easy for any book ever written,<br />
whether it be read or not—and only vague words<br />
of praise, because praise if it is sincere must be<br />
based on actual reading. All journalists seem to<br />
be agreed on one point: there must be a selection<br />
of books for review as there is a selection of news<br />
and letters and communications. There are still<br />
admirable reviews in the daily papers, but even<br />
their authority is lowered by the column of short<br />
notices and paragraphs which do not even tell the<br />
reader the nature, the bare outlines, of the book<br />
reviewed.<br />
A publisher may say that if he sends a paper<br />
all his books he expects something in return.<br />
It has been reported that some of them hint at<br />
the value of advertisements. As regards the<br />
latter argument, it is certain that books must be<br />
advertised, and that they must be advertised by<br />
preference in those journals whose literary autho-<br />
rity stands high. As regards the value of all the<br />
Press copies, it must be remembered that if they<br />
belong to works which do not sell largely, the<br />
value of the Press copy is the value of the<br />
remainder copy—that and no more: that in the<br />
few instances where they belong to successful<br />
works, their value, which is represented by the<br />
trade price of each, not the advertised price,<br />
would be fully repaid, and a hundredfold repaid,<br />
by a single serious review devoted to one out of<br />
twenty. ^<br />
We are constantly told that we are not a book-<br />
buying nation. Yet when figures get into print<br />
they are amazing: there are, for instance, over<br />
400 publishers in London alone: many of them<br />
are quite small publishers: some are companies<br />
which publish religious books: some are pub-<br />
lishers of cheap educational books: taken all<br />
together they produce about 6000 books every<br />
year, which, counting only one edition of one<br />
thousand to each, shows that 6,000,000 copies<br />
are published at least, if not sold. It is not<br />
possible to arrive, even approximately, at the<br />
numbers actually bought by the public, but as<br />
publishers produce books to be sold, it is probable<br />
that we may reckon on the sale of three-fourths<br />
of that number, namely, 4,500,000 copies. In<br />
addition, there is the sale of books of current<br />
literature and that of non-copyright works. It<br />
is quite impossible to estimate the number of<br />
books belonging to the latter class. Sometimes,<br />
however, there are gleams of light. Thus -. a writer<br />
in Chambers's Journal speaks of the enormous sale<br />
of Scott. He says that of their cheap editions,<br />
Messrs. A. and C. Black, between 1851 and 1890,<br />
sold 3,000,000 copies. This statement is very<br />
much below the mark. I am enabled to state<br />
that the sale of their sixpenny edition between<br />
1866 and i8yo amounted to the enormous<br />
number of five millions and a half! Other<br />
publishers have produced editions of Scott which<br />
have also, perhaps, sold by millions. But Scott<br />
is not the only writer who has attained<br />
universal popularity. What about Dickens r<br />
What about Marryat? What about individual<br />
books, such as "The Woman in White":<br />
"The Cloister and the Hearth": "The Mill<br />
on the Floss," &c.? When our free libraries<br />
are every day crowded with readers: when all<br />
the available books are taken out and read at<br />
home: when books are printed ready for circu-<br />
lation, if they are not circulated, by the million,<br />
we cannot be accused of being a people who do<br />
not read: we cannot be accused of being a people<br />
who do not buy books.<br />
The meaning of the " tax" commonly supposed<br />
to be laid upon publishers alone by the rule of<br />
supplying a copy of every book, or every new-<br />
edition, to five libraries has never, I believe,<br />
hitherto been examined or pointed out. A recent<br />
letter in the Times made a series of most amazing<br />
statements which nobody challenged. Indeed,<br />
another writer called attention to the figures as<br />
"fair," which was still more amazing than the<br />
previous statement.<br />
1. The writer first gave as his conclusion that<br />
the average price of a l>ook is 5? As to<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 262 (#704) ############################################<br />
<br />
262<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
that average, inquiry can lie made when<br />
the source of his discovery is accessible.<br />
Let it pass, however, for the present. He<br />
then says that when a publisher sends a<br />
book to the libraries he loses 5*. by every<br />
volume. That makes, for 6000 volumes,<br />
£7 500 a year. He next assumes that there<br />
has been the same output of books every<br />
year for the last sixty years, an assump-<br />
tion which naturally enables him to put<br />
the publishers' "tax" at a very high<br />
figure indeed.<br />
i. "The publisher loses 5*. by every book pub-<br />
lished at that price which he gives away."<br />
Tiet us take the statement.<br />
The trade price of a 5s. book is generally<br />
2*. lod. What the publisher loses, there-<br />
fore, is not 58., but 2s. lod.<br />
But a great number of books are now pub-<br />
lished on a royalty. On such books the<br />
author's royalty would be, say, I*. The<br />
publisher's loss is, therefore, not 5.V., nor<br />
2s. iod., but is. lod.<br />
But, again, most books, the vast majority of<br />
l>ooks, do not sell right out. Many leave<br />
"remainders" which are sold at a few<br />
pence each. Now, in every rase where there<br />
is a remainder there has been no loss by<br />
this ta.v at all.<br />
For instance. If an edition of 1000 has<br />
been printed, and after the sale is over<br />
there are twenty copies remaining, which<br />
with the five given to the libraries make<br />
twenty-five, the demand has not been<br />
equal to the supply by twenty-five copies.<br />
How, then, can there be any loss on these<br />
five copies<br />
3. The tax would appear to be a burden when<br />
the demand is greater than the supply,<br />
but even then new editions come out,<br />
to be followed by remainders in the long<br />
run. It is, therefore, a tax which, if it<br />
is real at all, is very small.<br />
4. It is also real when authors print their own<br />
works for which the demand is equal to<br />
the supply.<br />
5. It appears also to be real in the case of<br />
expensive editions, though even here the<br />
consideration of the remainder may apply.<br />
But the whole of the argument as implying a<br />
hardship on publishers is condemned by the<br />
existence of the remainder stock.<br />
It is rather late in the day to call attention to<br />
Mr. William Archer's Lecture on Living Poets—<br />
rather on the younger living poets. It was remark-<br />
able for the display of a generous spirit of appre-<br />
ciation, and a desire, quite unusual among critics,<br />
to find out in a poet all that is ljest in him.<br />
When a poet is a poet, he would have that man<br />
praised for the strength of his work when it is<br />
strong, not condemned for his work when it<br />
becomes weak: and at the same time he showed<br />
himself ready to receive with extreme intolerance<br />
the rhymester who is not a poet. The passages<br />
he quoted assured a great many living poets of<br />
his regard for them as poets.<br />
Walter Bksant.<br />
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.<br />
Versohmerzen werd' ich diesen Schlag, das weiss ich,<br />
Demi was verschmerzte nicht der Mensob.<br />
T11 HE above lines are by Schiller, and are to lie<br />
I found (in a slightly different form to that<br />
quoted by "Querist" on p. 247 of The<br />
Author) in "Wallenstein's Tod," Act V., Sc. 3.<br />
Coleridge, in a note to his own translation, adds<br />
the literal rendering :—<br />
I shall grieve down this blow, of that I'm conscious:<br />
What does not man grieve down p<br />
A reference is given to the passage in Fliigel'.s<br />
Dictionary (4th edit. i8gi), under "verseh-<br />
merzen." J. E. Sandys.<br />
St. John's College, Cambridge.<br />
I beg to answer the question asked by<br />
"Querist" in The Author for Feb.<br />
The quotation is taken from Schiller's " Wallen-<br />
stein's Tod," Act V., Sc. 3. The words are put<br />
into the mouth of Wallenstein himself, and the<br />
passage in full is as follows :—<br />
Vereohmerzen werd' ich diesen Schlag. das weiss ich,<br />
Denn was verschmerzte nicht der Mensch; Vom H<"<ohsten<br />
Wie vom Gemeinsten lernt er sioh entwihnen,<br />
Denn ihn besiegen die gewalt' gen Stnnden.<br />
Bexley. Stella M. During.<br />
I think I can answer the question put by your<br />
correspondent "Querist." He asks where the<br />
following lines come from :—<br />
Ich will versohmerzen diesen Sohlag, das weiss ich,<br />
Denn was verschmerzte nicht der Mensch.<br />
I believe that they come from Schiller's<br />
"Wallenstein," Act V., Sc. 1, and that they<br />
rightly run as follows :—<br />
Yerschmerzen werd' ich diesen Schlag, das weiss ich;<br />
Denn was verschmerzte nicht der Mensch?<br />
Coleridge in his "Wallenstein " translates them<br />
thus :—<br />
This anguish will be wearied down, I know;<br />
What pang is permanent with man?<br />
And he adds in a note that this is "a very<br />
inadequate translation of the original."<br />
Liverpool. C. B. Roylance-Krnt.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 263 (#705) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
263<br />
MB. BUSKIN AS PUBLISHER<br />
"f I ^HE publication of Mr. Ruskin's books is<br />
I an experiment which, should not be<br />
omitted. It is well known that tbe<br />
author has been his own publisher for many<br />
years; but the details of the concern are not<br />
generally known. There was no special friction<br />
between the Messrs. Smith and Elder and the<br />
author of 'Modern Painters' which led to the<br />
change. It was a matter of principle, far deeper<br />
than could possibly be involved in a passing<br />
dispute. It was simply that the author felt that<br />
the men who produced books did not get their<br />
proper share of the rewards, and that the public<br />
did not get the full value of their outlay. And<br />
the reason, he felt, was that too great a propor-<br />
tion was swallowed up in the transit from author<br />
to public. Therefore, it seemed clear that the<br />
remedy should be found in the establishment of<br />
closer contact between writer and reader. Here<br />
was his problem, and he resolved to experiment.<br />
"Fortunately, Mr. Ruskin had discovered a man<br />
after his own heart on whom he could rely for<br />
help. This man was a working-man student he<br />
had met in his drawing class at Great Ormond-<br />
street, in whom he thought he saw possibilities<br />
of better work. He had at once taken him in<br />
hand, and later business developments have<br />
shown the instinct to have been a right one. It<br />
was in 1854 that the Professor and his future<br />
publisher first met, and during the three suc-<br />
ceeding years their relationship was of the closest<br />
kind. George Allen was taught engraving and<br />
etching by Mr. Le Keux, who had done some<br />
exquisite work for Mr. Ruskin, and then some<br />
mezzotint instruction was given by Thomas<br />
Lupton, who had been engraver to Turner.<br />
"Having obtained his engraver and otherwise<br />
useful man, the next thing was to get his printing<br />
press and make arrangements for binding. These<br />
were all established in the beautiful and quiet<br />
village of Orpington in Kent, and the master<br />
personally presided over the works for several<br />
years. It was a gigantic undertaking, and critics<br />
laughed at the publishing business ' planted in the<br />
middle of a country field'; but it became a pheno-<br />
menal success.<br />
"The first book issued was 'Fors Clavigera,'<br />
and an early number of that work contained the<br />
following explanation:—<br />
It costs me £V> to print 1000, and £5 more to give yon a<br />
pictnre, and a penny off my sevenpence to send yon tbe<br />
book; a thousand sixpences are £2b; when yon have bought<br />
a thousand ' Fors' of me, I shall therefore have £5 for my<br />
trouble, and my Bingle shopman, Mr. Allen, £5 for bis; we<br />
won't work for less, either of us. And I mean to sell all my<br />
large books, henceforward, in tbe same way, well printed,<br />
well bound, and at a fixed price; and the trade may charge<br />
VOL. VIII.<br />
a proper and acknowledged profit in retailing the book.<br />
Then the public will know what they are about, and so will<br />
tradesmen. I, the first producer, answer, to tbe best of my<br />
power, for the quality of the book—paper, binding, eloquence,<br />
and all; the retail dealer oharges what he ought to charge<br />
openly; and if the public do not choose to give it, they<br />
can't get the book. That is what I call legitimate<br />
business.<br />
"Since then the business has steadily increased,<br />
and, when such big undertakings as the produc-<br />
tion of a new edition of ' Modern Painters' and<br />
'The Stones of Venice' were proceeded with, the<br />
accommodation of the Kentish village was found<br />
insufficient, and a London house had to be opened.<br />
The main work, however, of the making of the<br />
books of Mr. Ruskin is still done amid the pleasant<br />
surroundings of the village of Orpington."—From<br />
"Character Sketch of John Ruskin," in the<br />
Revieic of Reviews, Jan. 15.<br />
THE CRITERION OP LITERARY<br />
EXCELLENCE.<br />
THE question recently raised by Professor<br />
Courthope, as to the extent to which the<br />
principle of authority may be introduced<br />
into the province of literature, is one of more<br />
than academic interest. Owing to the fact that<br />
in our own time criticism has run riot, and, in<br />
some cases, actually degenerated into the mere<br />
expression of egoistic partiality, it is assumed<br />
that differences of taste are in their nature<br />
irreconcilable and incomprehensible, and that,<br />
therefore, there can be no criterion of literary<br />
excellence. Now, this notion rests on a fallacy of<br />
the worst description.<br />
The ignorance or incompetence of individual<br />
critics should not lead us to the false conclusion<br />
that loose or bad criticism has any intrinsic value.<br />
The appreciation of literary productions requires<br />
not merely education, but a rare faculty for dis-<br />
tinguishing between superior and inferior work.<br />
The tendency to praise or dispraise either a poem<br />
or a novel indiscriminately—or perhaps through<br />
interested motives—of which unfortunately we<br />
find too many examples nowadays, cannot be too<br />
strongly condemned. If criticism had not<br />
become such an " unweeded garden," the irrespon-<br />
sible or dishonest reviewer would be treated as a<br />
species of blackleg, and would be deservedly<br />
banished from the world of letters.<br />
There is such a thing as sound criticism, and<br />
the just appreciation of authors and of their<br />
specific works is entirely within the range of<br />
possibility. The whims or prejudices of indivi-<br />
duals can in no way modify the truth of this pro-<br />
position. Mr. Alfred Austin may regard Byron<br />
B B<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 264 (#706) ############################################<br />
<br />
264<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
as the greatest poet of the nineteenth century,<br />
while Professor Dowden may dogmatically assert<br />
that the author of " Childe Harold " is " dead and<br />
buried." The opinions of these gentlemen do not<br />
determine the question as to Byron's real place<br />
amongst poets. Nor is a collection of such<br />
opinions entitled necessarily to greater weight,<br />
however distinguished may be the persons who<br />
happen to give expression to them, unless they<br />
are found to be based on critical canons which are<br />
logically indisputable. For this reason, nothing<br />
can be more grotesque than the hysterical<br />
violence with which Mr. Swinburne in some of his<br />
attempts at criticism deuounces poets whom he<br />
dislikes and eulogises those whom he admires.<br />
Unreasoning likes and dislikes are as fatal to<br />
right judgment in dealing with literary works as<br />
they are to our true knowledge of human life and<br />
character.<br />
Curiously enough, this subject has hitherto<br />
received no attention from writers on aesthetics.<br />
It must be acknowledged that Mr. Buskin in his<br />
"Modern Painters " did something to enable us<br />
to apply fixed principles to the pictorial art; and<br />
yet his exaggerated estimate of Turner shows<br />
that he himself was not exempt from that<br />
enslavement to blind prejudice which is the worst<br />
vice of a critic.<br />
It may seem a perilous thing to lay down that<br />
every production which comes under the head of<br />
literature may be subjected to an infallible<br />
criterion. Such a statement appears, at first sight,<br />
opposed to the experimental method of reason-<br />
ing, of which Mill was the most noteworthy<br />
representative. But literature is not a matter of<br />
experiment. It is essentially the pursuit of an<br />
ideal, and when it ceases to have any ideal, it<br />
ceases to be literature. This explains the failure<br />
of M. Zola's attempts to establish a school of<br />
fiction on a purely materialistic and experimental<br />
basis. Novels may be transcripts of life; but,<br />
if they are only transcripts of human animality,<br />
they are utterly false, for they ignore the essen-<br />
tial elements in man's being. The Bougon-<br />
Macquart series will be regarded by posterity as<br />
sawdust—the mere skin and bones of humanity.<br />
Even -the late Guy de Maupassant, whom M.<br />
Zola claimed as a disciple, threw off the yoke of<br />
materialism, and in "Pierre et Jean" and<br />
"Mont-Oriol" showed that he recognised will<br />
and conscience as factors in human existence<br />
which could not be overlooked.<br />
What, theu, is this criterion which should be<br />
applied to every literary work, and which, if<br />
properly applied, will unerringly determine its<br />
worth?<br />
We may lay down four canons, or rules, on the<br />
subject:—A literary work should have unity of<br />
idea; it should have cohesion of structure; it<br />
should enlarge or enrich our knowledge of life or<br />
of the universe; and it should be written in a<br />
style possessing either originality or distinction.<br />
No work which fails to comply wirh these canons<br />
can ever be ranked amongst the masterpieces of<br />
literature. If we apply the test to Shakespeare,<br />
we shall find that his greatest plays fulfil the<br />
requirements of the rules above laid down. For<br />
instance, it cannot be denied that " Hamlet" and<br />
"Macbeth" exhibit unity of idea and cohesion of<br />
structure ; that they add to our knowledge of the<br />
human heart, and reveal the workings of the<br />
passions in a new light; and finally, that they<br />
are written in a style at once dignified and<br />
marvellously original. The same observations<br />
may be made with regard to Goethe's "Faust."<br />
Coming down to writers of a later epoch, we find<br />
that the canons we have formulated may be<br />
applied to a book like "Gulliver's Travels,"<br />
though scarcely to a work such as "Bobinson<br />
Crusoe," for Defoe, with all his wonderful gifts<br />
as a story-teller, had a commonplace style, and<br />
certainly "the light that never was on sea or<br />
land" does not cast its radiance over his rather<br />
prosaic narrative. According to our standard,<br />
"Tom Jones " must be considered a masterpiece<br />
of fiction. Of course Balzac's "Comedie<br />
Humaine," viewed in its tout ensemble instead<br />
of being taken in fragments, will harmonise with<br />
our canons of criticism.<br />
The poets of the century will be found nearly<br />
all to fall short of the highest standard of literary<br />
excellence, if the rules we have formulated be<br />
correct. Perhaps the only exceptions are Cole-<br />
ridge's "Ancient Mariner," and two works of<br />
Shelley, "The Ceuci" and "Prometheus Un-<br />
bound." Byron's magnificent " Childe Harold,"<br />
and his astounding serio-comic epic "Don Juan"<br />
(if such a description of it is allowable) are, after"<br />
all, only fragments. Wordsworth, too, has<br />
produced only an immense fragment in "The<br />
Excursion"; and in any event the inequality<br />
of his style causes the work to fall short of per-<br />
fection.<br />
It may be dangerous, having regard to the<br />
tenacity of old-fashioned prejudice in favour of<br />
individual authors, to pursue the subject much<br />
further. Scott will always have his admirers ; but<br />
none of the Waverley novels will stand the test<br />
of our criterion. It might not unjustly perhaps<br />
be claimed for Thackeray that, in " Vanity Fair"<br />
and in "Esmond," he produced works which<br />
satisfy even this high standard of literary<br />
excellence. Ji unity of design and beauty of<br />
style alone could constitute a work of com-<br />
paratively slender dimensions a masterpiece<br />
of fiction, Hawthorne's "Scarlet Letter" should<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 265 (#707) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
take rank beside the greatest works in prose<br />
literature.<br />
These remarks are only tentative, for the diffi-<br />
culty of the subject is obviously enormous.<br />
Even if our general propositions be correct, their<br />
application is by no means easy. It is, however,<br />
useful to point out the path along which the critic<br />
■of the future should travel. Personal predilection<br />
must give place to rational compirison and<br />
conscientious appreciation based on clearly-<br />
defined principles before anything like a science,<br />
•or even an art, of criticism can be said to exist.<br />
It is time that the clamorous " ego" should dis-<br />
appear from the pages of reviews, and that those<br />
who write about books should realise their organic<br />
character and the necessity for dealing with them<br />
as systematic expressions of human intelligence.<br />
D. F. Hannigan.<br />
CORRESPONDENCE.<br />
I. —" The Gentle Answer "!<br />
IRECEIVED, with a returned MS., the<br />
following printed communication from the<br />
Illustrated American Office, New York. It<br />
is in such contrast to the brevity of the English<br />
■editorial style, and contains so much which<br />
literary beginners would do well to remember,<br />
that you may like to print it. E. L. A.<br />
Dear Sir,—We thank you heartily for the favour you<br />
have shown us in submitting this contribution. We have<br />
carefully examined it, and are sincerely sorry that it<br />
does not seem available for our use. Of course you are<br />
Aware that many considerations besides intrinsic quality<br />
must govern the acceptance of contributions. Among<br />
these considerations are the policy and scope of this<br />
journal, the space at our disposal, the matter already on<br />
hand, the previous treatment of the same theme, and the<br />
length and style of the article. Much admirable fiction<br />
is reluctantly declined because of length or because of<br />
variation from the type desired. Great numbers of pleasing<br />
and interesting photographs are returned because of pecu-<br />
liarities which make good reproduction impossible. All<br />
contributions submitted are appreciated and are thoroughly<br />
considered. On account of the limits of the editors' time,<br />
we beg that the absence of criticism or of specified reasons<br />
for the return of contributions will in all oases be kindly<br />
■excused.—Respectfully yours,—The Editors.<br />
II. —A "Bold" Agreement.<br />
Last year I sent you a copy of an agreement<br />
from a certain firm. At that time I could not lay<br />
my hands on the enclosed copy. Yesterday I<br />
came across it, and I gladly send it to you, as it<br />
is only by showing up these publishing gentry<br />
that simple aspirants can be put on their guard.<br />
The agreement I send is too glaringly bold to<br />
take in, I should fancy, the greatest ignoramus<br />
breathing. Still, it is as well that you should see<br />
it. If I may do so, let me urge upon beginners<br />
the necessity there is for their seeking good<br />
advice before their first long effort is submitted<br />
to a publisher. Quite recently I had a reader's<br />
opinion, for the comparatively small fee of a<br />
guinea, on a story. That opinion was favourable,<br />
but the reader very candidly pointed out a flaw<br />
in the plot. The opinion was, I say, flattering,<br />
but the flaw marred the technicality of the narra-<br />
tive. Now, had I sent the MS. on its rounds,<br />
and had it been sent back to me again and again,<br />
I would, in all probability, have had some nasty<br />
things to say about stupid publishers who could<br />
not appreciate talent! The reader has put me on<br />
the right track, and I will know, when the pub-<br />
lishers say "No," that they have their hands<br />
too full to be bothered with my first decent<br />
effort.<br />
We never t>ee ourselves as others see us; nor<br />
can we realise how our grand ideas, exciting<br />
scenes, and sprightly dialogues read until an<br />
utter stranger, and one competent to offer an<br />
opinion, gives an estimate of our work.<br />
S. R.<br />
Dear Sir,—We have given the work our careful atten-<br />
tion, and our opinion of it being favourable, we have decided<br />
to offer you the following favourable terms for its pro-<br />
duction and publication, viz.: That, in consideration of a<br />
payment from you of £66 (.£36 on signing the agreement<br />
and ^£30 when you see the last proofs), we agree to produce<br />
your book, publish it at the popular price of 3s. 6d., hand-<br />
somely bound in cloth, gold lettered, good paper and type,<br />
and print a first edition of 1000 copies, to be followed by<br />
further editions as demands warrant.<br />
The expenses of all future editions would be borne<br />
entirely by us, you receiving half the profits. The above<br />
amount would constitute your sole outlay, the copyright<br />
remaining your property. Author to receive two-thirds of<br />
the prooeeda of sales on the first edition.<br />
It may be, perhaps, superfluous to mention that adver-<br />
tising, reviewing, and all the other technicalities of pub-<br />
lishing necessary for placing the book on the market, would<br />
have our especial care. We should advertise the book at<br />
our sole expense to the amount of .£10, thus bringing your<br />
name and the work well before the public —Faithfully<br />
yours, and Co.<br />
[This agreement has been sent to us, word for<br />
word the same, dozens of times. There was<br />
formerly one "firm" practising in this way.<br />
There are now two.—Ed.]<br />
III.—The "Bluggy" Element.<br />
In looking over the magazines of the day, I am<br />
reminded of an old woman who objected to her<br />
new minister's preaching on the ground that she<br />
liked to hear sermons t hat made her spinal marrow<br />
creep, for, judging by the popular taste in litera-<br />
ture, the majority of people appear to be of the<br />
same opinion. Take up almost any magazine, is<br />
there a page which does not harrow the reader's<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 266 (#708) ############################################<br />
<br />
266<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
feelings with tales of horror and crime; and, us<br />
if the pen were not powerful enough to this end,<br />
the pencil is called to its aid, and picture after<br />
picture portrays scenes of murder, bloodshed, and<br />
every conceivable horror, so that no point of<br />
misery shall miss its mark.<br />
To the sensitive reader half an hour with the<br />
magazines is as depressing in its effects as a visit<br />
to the cave of Trophonius to those who of old<br />
consulted the oracle. Instead of being cheered<br />
and calmed to face and endure the trials and<br />
vexations of life, he is led into regions dark with<br />
despair, where<br />
Thousand phantoms joined—<br />
Prompt to deeds accursed the mind.<br />
L S.<br />
IV.—Proposed Journalists' Union.<br />
Your correspondent "Still in Grub Street"<br />
has perhaps not considered that by paying after<br />
production, when dealing with authors not known<br />
to them, editors gain a certain amount of protec-<br />
tion against fraud. Not very long ago I came<br />
across a story of my own that had come out anony-<br />
mously in the St. James's Gazette a year or<br />
two before, elegantly illustrated, and under a<br />
name certainly not mine, in a monthly periodical.<br />
I communicated, of course, with the editor, but it<br />
was too late. It was not his fault, of course, that<br />
he had not read it before, and the person who had<br />
sent it to him had pressed for early payment,<br />
received it, and quitted his address. The fraud<br />
is so simple that payment after an opportunity<br />
has betn given for possible detection is the only<br />
safeguard an editor can have, and what little<br />
experience of editing I have had myself has<br />
increased my belief in the necessity for it as a<br />
general rule. Where the writer is known to the<br />
editor, I firmly believe that by paying cash he<br />
could as a rule oblige the writer with profit to<br />
himself, as most writers would accept a smaller<br />
price if it were a case of " money' down."<br />
E. A. A.<br />
V.—The Haunch of Venison.<br />
If the writer of the " neat little letter" quoted<br />
in this month's Author be correctly reported, it<br />
would seem that even he might know his Gold-<br />
smith better. Six mistakes—" to be precise,"<br />
four wrong words, and two which have been<br />
mulcted of the elisions due to them—are surely<br />
more than a fair allowance for a couple of lines.<br />
There may be other versions, but the one which<br />
I possess is as follows :—■<br />
Thanks, my Lord, for your ven'son, for finer or fatter,<br />
Ne'er ranged in a forest, or smoked in a platter.<br />
As to the letter "e," I notice that the printer<br />
of the Atheneeum is befogged by the changes now<br />
in progress, and spells " forbears "—substantive-<br />
—without the " e," which is its just due.<br />
S. G.<br />
VI.—An Appeal to Editors.<br />
I believe that The Author is widely read by<br />
editors of the best kind. Some of them are<br />
unable to effect such reforms as I venture to-<br />
suggest here; to others, who have the power,<br />
they may not have occurred.<br />
Reform No. 1 is the acknowledgment by post-<br />
card of the receipt of MS. within a reasonable<br />
time of its coming to hand. Registering MS. is<br />
an unnecessary expense, as no perfectly sane<br />
author sends out a MS. without keeping a copy.<br />
Reform No. i is already followed by one paper to<br />
this writer's knowledge.<br />
Reform No. 2.—The return of MSS. within a<br />
reasonable time. Six months is not a reasonable<br />
time; three months is as long as a decent fellow<br />
who has thought about the matter will keep a<br />
MS., or allow his subordinates to do so. As an<br />
addendum to Reform No. 2, I would respectfully<br />
suggest that an editor who keeps a MS. which<br />
deals with a passing topic, a moment longer than<br />
is necessary, ought to be kicked; and that the<br />
said editor who disregards applications for its<br />
return, whether civilly and reasonably couched or<br />
inspired with righteous indignation, ought to be<br />
kicked again, and harder. May the writer be<br />
allowed to add here that, when he says kicked, he<br />
means kicked.<br />
Reform No. 3.—That an editor who has decided<br />
to retain a MS. for publication should, wherever<br />
it is possible (and how often is it otherwise ?),<br />
intimate his intention to the writer; otherwise the<br />
author must waste time and money over the<br />
wretched paper or magazine till either his MS.<br />
is published or returned. The signatory, for<br />
example, whose output is large and returns in-<br />
considerable, spends shillings weekly, which he<br />
can't afford, and wastes unnumbered hours in<br />
looking through his papers. An objection may<br />
be taken to this reform, that all editors are<br />
careful and all are honest, so that the author<br />
need not trouble to see to the appearance of his<br />
MS., since the cheque's the thing, and that will<br />
come along right enough. The objection may be<br />
dismissed, and the objector as idealist or ass, ac-<br />
cording to taste, which brings me to<br />
Reform No. 4.—That the editor through his<br />
subordinate should always specify in respect of<br />
what article, appearing in what medium, and on<br />
what date the payment is made. That author is<br />
in a parlous state, whom, though the most jaded<br />
of hack writers, the joy of appearing in print has<br />
ceased to stimulate. More, his published work is<br />
an advertisement for him and he has a right to a<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 267 (#709) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
267<br />
copy of it . An alternative Reform No. 4 is that the<br />
editor shall order that a copy of the publication<br />
in which a contribution apjiears shall be sent to<br />
the contributor. I am aware that is sometimes<br />
done, but how often?<br />
Reform No. 5.—That an editor shall not<br />
embezzle postage stamps sent to him in good faith<br />
by his contributors for quite other purposes. Or<br />
that if he does, by right omnipotent, so deal with<br />
the postage stamps, he shall not deduct id. from<br />
a remittance for the cheque. The objection that<br />
the office boy collars the postage stamps may be<br />
dismissed. The contributions are not sent to the<br />
office boy, and the cont ributor has no cognisance of<br />
him: the editor is the responsible person.<br />
Reform No. 6.—That the editor shall wash his<br />
hands before reading MS., since re-typing costs<br />
money and re-writing time.<br />
Reform No. 7.—That the editor shall give the<br />
MS. of the unknown outsider as much considera-<br />
tion as he does to that sent in to him by his friends,<br />
his acquaintances, and the " doosid smart chap"<br />
he vaguely recollects Tomkins of the Weasel<br />
introduced to him about two in the morning at<br />
the club.<br />
Note.- The signatory declines to be fathered<br />
with any ridiculous inferences, as that he believes<br />
all editors have dirty hands, that they all see that<br />
kissing goes by favour, that they all steal postage<br />
stamps, and so forth. He wishes them, however,<br />
to grasp the initial fact that contributors are as<br />
much entitled to fair treatment as bootblacks.<br />
>>m_ Balbus.<br />
VII.—FoKEGO AND FoROO.<br />
Will you allow me to point out to yt»ur corre-<br />
spondent "S. G." that he confuses two separate<br />
words, "forgo," meaning "to go without,'- and<br />
"forego," meaniog " to go before." The place of<br />
the latter has been taken by "precede," and the<br />
word, hardly survives except in the adjectival use<br />
of its past participle, "a foregone conclusion,"<br />
a survival due probably to the circumstance that<br />
the past participle of "precede" is not capable<br />
of being employed in the same sense. No<br />
person surely with any claim to education would<br />
write "a forgone conclusion "; but there are,<br />
perhaps, some who have failed to note the<br />
erroneousness of "a reward foregone."<br />
Clementina Black.<br />
VIII.—Who Bids Highest r<br />
There is a question which perplexes me, and<br />
may perplex other young authors. Perhaps you<br />
may think it worth while to answer it in the<br />
columns of The Jut/tor.<br />
Am I justified in submitting a MS. to two<br />
editors or publishers at once? That is to say, do<br />
I, by the act of sending it to A. B. for inspection,<br />
enter into any understood contract that he shall<br />
have the refusal of it? I cannot see that I do.<br />
but friends with whom I have discussed the<br />
m ttter appear to think otherwise. Suppose that<br />
I do send two copies of a MS. simultaneously to<br />
A. B. and C. D., I do not make either of them a<br />
formal offer of the MS., because I mention 110<br />
terms. They would not, presumably, be justified<br />
in using it without an agreement. I send the<br />
MS. in order that, when they have inspected it,<br />
negotiations may Ihj opened if desirable. It is<br />
clear that I should know much better how to<br />
negotiate with A. B. if I knew what C. D. was<br />
willing to give me. I am at liberty to withdraw<br />
the MS. from either A. B. or C. I), at any time,<br />
and why not withdraw it from on! in conse-<br />
q> ence of an advantageous offer received from the<br />
other Y<br />
An employe of any kind does not, I believe,<br />
hesitate to negotiate for two posts at once, up to<br />
the point of entering into a definite en^a^ement.<br />
Am I mistaken in considering the two cases to<br />
lie parallel? M. C. A.<br />
[As to the above proposal, there seems no<br />
reason why a person who has anything to sell<br />
should not offer it to a dozen people at once and<br />
accept the highest otter. There are, however,<br />
certain considerations which make it undesirable<br />
that this method should be adopted generally by<br />
authors.<br />
First of all, at the outset the first impulse of<br />
the better class of publishers would be to send the<br />
MS. back if they knew that it was offered to other<br />
houses at the same time. But if the practice<br />
became common they would have to adapt them-<br />
selves to it, as they have adapted themselves to<br />
the literary agent, after declaring that they would<br />
have nothing to do with him. In the second<br />
place, we have always strongly recommended<br />
authors to put their business relations in the hands<br />
of business men. The literary agent might very<br />
well inform a publisher that he intended to offer<br />
the work to others and that he should take the<br />
best offer, but such a method of procedure seems<br />
to come better from a man of business than from<br />
the author himself.<br />
There are other reasons why this method should<br />
not be adopted, except by those who know the<br />
position and character of the publishers. One is<br />
that certain publishers are people with whom no one<br />
should be connected in any way; that is to say,<br />
it is quite certain that they will "best" the<br />
author by some trick or other if they can.<br />
Another is that there are publishers who do not<br />
stem able to circulate the books which they have<br />
produced. A third reason is that there are others<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 268 (#710) ############################################<br />
<br />
268<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
whose credit is shaky and who might offer large<br />
terms in order to get a book, and in the long run<br />
be unable to carry them out. These three con-<br />
siderations are extremely important, and the<br />
ordinary author cannot be expected to know any-<br />
thing about them.—Ed.]<br />
IX.—A Youno Author's Grievance.<br />
"C. B. B.'s " experience is not unique. It took<br />
me some years to collect the notes for an article.<br />
When the article was written it was accepted,<br />
but I had to wait nearly another eighteen months<br />
for publication—and for my money. Another<br />
article has been in an editor's hands nearly<br />
twelve months. I know not if it is accepted.<br />
All the time I am precluded from offering that<br />
or any similar article elsewhere.<br />
"C. B. B." speaks of contributions sent in on<br />
chance. And of course many good articles are<br />
sent to just the wrong magazines; because it<br />
tak> s an author a lifetime to find out the special<br />
needs of all the different publications. Cannot<br />
some of this chance be eliminated? Conld not<br />
The Author publish a list of magazines, noting<br />
the particular lines which they affect? And<br />
further, as it is the practice with some, especially<br />
scientific, magazines not to pay anything for<br />
contributions, could not they be listed to prevent<br />
wasted efforts !J Agency between authors and<br />
editors might do much to direct MSS. to the right<br />
channels, but agents will not work for unknown<br />
authors. Even "the Authors' Syndicate works<br />
only for those whose work promises a market<br />
value.'' This s^ems to shut out the young<br />
author, for he scarcely knows if his work does<br />
possess a market value. Even the highest class<br />
of scientific work is shut out, for though it is<br />
piiblished, and sometimes at great cost, the poor<br />
author gets nothing. J. I).<br />
X.—Honour among Reviewers.<br />
"Pay no attention to reviews," wrote Matthew<br />
Arnold to a charming contemporary poet and<br />
essayist; "leave thorn to your publishers." A<br />
very humble member of the authors' craft<br />
ventures to put an interpretation of his own on<br />
Arnold's counsel, and to say with emphasis to his<br />
fellow workmen: Never reply to a reviewer.<br />
Last year Sir Martin Conway gave his opinions<br />
on the ethics of reviewing in a remarkable letter<br />
to The Author. His contention was that a<br />
reviewer had an indubitable right to condemn a<br />
book in one journal and to notice it favourably<br />
in another. To anyone familiar with "Little<br />
Dorrit," it was impossible not to be reminded of<br />
the opinions of Mr. Henry Gowan on his absent<br />
friends. Here would lie a tolerable specimen:<br />
"Jones is an ass; yet he's the dearest, kindest,<br />
brightest, fellow in the world." However, the<br />
significant question raised by Sir Martin Conway<br />
in The Author, and dealt with in a less apprecia-<br />
tive fashion by Mr. William Archer elsewhere,<br />
» as the fact that one man may have the power of<br />
reviewing the same book in a considerable<br />
number of wholly independent newspapers. And<br />
here it is that the author should be on his<br />
guard.<br />
A man may have devoted months, perhaps<br />
years, to a single work: in some instances that<br />
work may have involved him in the necessity of<br />
travel and residence abroad: as a rule he has<br />
common sense enough to know that the result ,<br />
like all mortal results, is far from perfection;<br />
yet he offers his book with a conscience fairly at<br />
ease to the public. It may fall into the hands of<br />
a jaded reviewer, who makes a dozen slips in a*<br />
many lines. The author, full of his own subject,<br />
and armed, as he thinks, at all points, is amused,<br />
and undertakes to set bis critic right. The truth<br />
is made clear, the author triumphs; but he little<br />
knows at what cost to himself.<br />
Those who, either in social life or in the world<br />
of letters, engage with such light hearts in<br />
murdering the reputations of others, are usually<br />
the most thin-skinned of creatures themselves.<br />
There is no man more restlessly vindictive than<br />
a critic whose ignorance has been publicly exposed.<br />
Unhappily, the system of reviewing referred to<br />
gives him all the advantages he requires for<br />
soothing his mortified self-esteem, among these<br />
advantages being the consciousness that while<br />
nobody but the author and his publisher would<br />
ever think of reading a favourable review, every<br />
man and woman acquainted with the author<br />
pores with joy over one which is hostile to him.<br />
So the reviewer, armed at all points in his turn,<br />
goes on his way complacently. In one journal<br />
after another, and with ever increased remorse-<br />
lessness, he pursues his victim. And thus what<br />
seems to the unwary a practical unanimity of<br />
censure is frequently no more than a cloak for<br />
the active malignity of one man.<br />
The advice, then, cannot be too often repeated:<br />
under no imaginable provocation answer a re<br />
viewer. Ne Obliviscari.<br />
XL- -Style and Substance.<br />
Pray do not take amiss what I am going to<br />
say; let me assure you that far from lteing a<br />
fault-finder your persistent adherence to facts in<br />
matters relating to publishers and their ways<br />
affords me quiet mirth, waxing into something<br />
like glee as the gridiron gets hotter and hotter;<br />
and I join in the laughter-provoking discomfiture<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 269 (#711) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
269<br />
of a foe who, from behind a bush, tries to wing a<br />
poisoned arrow into your ranks.<br />
Speaking of the Academy "Crown" you<br />
remark, " That the practice will produce a bene-<br />
ficial effect on literature I do not doubt, for the<br />
simple reason that style and form will be theJirst<br />
things considered, and that young writers wi'l<br />
have the necessity of attending to style and form<br />
kept constantly before their eyes."<br />
The dangling before the eyes of young men<br />
of a £ 100 or a ,£50 prize may be a proper incen-<br />
tive to the cultivation of literature as a profession<br />
—i.e., as a means of living, but surely not for that<br />
higher mental culture which seeks the enlarge-<br />
ment of the understanding, of power to compre-<br />
hend that which lies within the range of man's<br />
ken. Style and form are graceful adornments,<br />
but what of the body they are to adorn? Is the<br />
carver of a graven image to rank higher than<br />
the discoverer of a great truth? Is mental<br />
conception and development to maturity—the<br />
creator—to be veiled in presence of the artist?<br />
Clear eyes and lissom fingers are very good<br />
tools to work with, but how superficial of<br />
themselves.<br />
There can be no room for doubting which of<br />
the two is the better for both old and young to<br />
aim at, and I can well believe that you, sir, would<br />
insist upon a writer having in him some solid<br />
matter upon which to exercise his art. Would it<br />
not then be well to point out to youthful<br />
aspirants—and others—the necessity of paying<br />
some attention to mental achievement l>efore<br />
indulging in artistic display? Then, possibly,<br />
readers might lie spared some enormities which a<br />
tickle fancy, owning no allegiance to reason and<br />
disdaining probability, inflicts upon their too<br />
receptive minds. The vagaries of unbridled<br />
imagination when decked out in the newest<br />
"style" and finest "form" of modern art. are<br />
fascinating, but a trifle misleading. But all that<br />
doesn't matter if there is only—" money in it,"<br />
and it " catches on."<br />
Highbury, N. Ed. Vincent Heward.<br />
BOOK TALE.<br />
ITERANCES MACNAB," the author of a<br />
1 work entitled "On Veldt and Farm: In<br />
Bechuanaland, Cape Colony, the Trans-<br />
vaal, and Natal," published about a ypar ago, has<br />
now written a work on British Columbia, over<br />
the greater part of which she has travelled alone.<br />
The point of view of the book is indicated by its<br />
title—"British Columbia for Settlers." It will<br />
)«; published by Messrs. Chapman anil Hall. The<br />
writer is a Miss Praser, and is of the family which<br />
created Fraser't Magazitie.<br />
Sir William Flower has collected a number of<br />
his essays on natural history and such subjects,<br />
whic'h will form a volume to be published shortly<br />
by Messrs. Macmillan.<br />
Mr. William O'Brien, M.P., is writing a novel<br />
of the Elizabethan age, which Mr. Unwin will<br />
bring out. The scene is laid in western and<br />
north-western Ireland, and the title of the 9tory<br />
is " A Queen of Men." Mr. O'Brien is already<br />
the author of one work of fiction—" When We<br />
Were Boys."<br />
A translation of Ferdinand Gregorovius's work<br />
on the Emperor Hadrian is being done by Miss<br />
Mary Robinson, and will be published in a<br />
volume by Messrs. Macmillan, and entitled " The<br />
Emperor Hadrian: A Picture of the Roman<br />
Hellenic World in His Time." Professor Pelham,<br />
of Oxford, has written a preface for Miss<br />
Robinson.<br />
Mr. Harold Spender is gathering the fruits of<br />
two summers spent in the high mountains of the<br />
Pyrenees, in a volume to be published next month<br />
by Messrs. Innes. An account of the Republic<br />
of Andorra will be given. Mr. Llewelyn Smith<br />
will contribute appendices and illustrate the<br />
book. Mr. Spender is a member of the Alpine<br />
Club.<br />
A three-volume work on West Africa, is being<br />
pushed forward for publication by the Imperial<br />
Press, Limited, in view of the universal interest<br />
in that part of the world at the present<br />
time. The author is Major A. F. Mockler-<br />
Ferryman, who has large experience in these<br />
regions.<br />
British East Africa is the subject of a work by<br />
Mr. W. W. A. Fitzgerald, which the firm of<br />
Chapman and Hall are to issue immediately.<br />
The author travelled during over two years<br />
through the coast lands there on a special mission<br />
from the Imperial British East Africa for tin-<br />
purpose of exploring and reporting upon the<br />
agricultural and other capabilities of these little-<br />
known countries. In the book there will be<br />
twelve maps and sketch maps and numerous<br />
illustrations.<br />
The eminent cricketer, Dr. W. Q. Grace, is<br />
writing his reminiscences. Mr. Bowden will<br />
publish the volume during the summer.<br />
A new novel by Sir Walter Besaut, entitled<br />
"The Changeling," begins in Chapman's Magazine<br />
for March.<br />
Professor John Milne has written a volume on<br />
earthquakes for the International Science Series,<br />
published by Messrs. Kegau Paul.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 270 (#712) ############################################<br />
<br />
270<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
Miss Menie Muriel Dowie (Mrs. Norman) has<br />
written a novel, which is about to appear, called<br />
'• The Crook of the Bough." It is to a large<br />
extent a study in the difference of the Eastern<br />
and the Western temperament, the action taking<br />
place in the Balkans and in London. The<br />
conclusion, if the quotation from Mr. Watson<br />
on the title-page be an index to this, is that<br />
the two types are well-nigh irreconcileable.<br />
The author studied the Eastern character from<br />
life during a journey to the Balkans two<br />
years ago.<br />
Mrs. Steele is at present staying at Lucknow.<br />
Her next book will probably deal with the plague<br />
and the famine in India.<br />
Mrs. Humphry Ward's new novel is likely to be<br />
ready in May.<br />
Studies of childhood, by Miss K. Douglas<br />
King, will be published by Mr. Lane in the form<br />
of a volume of stories, entitled "The Child Who<br />
Will Never Grow Old."<br />
Count Tolstoy is not now to issue his expected<br />
novel, as his attitude towards the purpose of the<br />
Btory—which was to be a study in sex morality<br />
—has undergone a change.<br />
A novel entitled "The Philanthropist," by a<br />
new writer, Miss Lucy Maynard, is to be published<br />
by Messrs. Methuen.<br />
"The Consecration of the Hetty Fleet" is a<br />
new novel by Mr. St John Adcock, which Messrs<br />
Skeftington are to publish soon.<br />
Mr. John Buchau is writing a Jacobite storv,<br />
to be called " A Lost Lady of Old Years." He 'is<br />
also preparing for publication a collection of<br />
short stories, which will be entitled "Grey<br />
Weather."<br />
1 Mr. Buchan's Chambers's Journal serial, " John<br />
Burnet of Barns," is to be published by Mr.<br />
Lane.<br />
A travesty of Mr. H. G. Wells's " The War of<br />
the Worlds" has Ix-eu written by Mr. C. L.<br />
Graves and Mr. E. V. Lucas, entitled " The War<br />
of the Wennses."<br />
Mr. Bret Harte's "Tales of Trail and Town"<br />
will be publish? 1 by Messrs. Chut to and Wind us<br />
this week.<br />
Miss Arabella Kenealy has written a new story,<br />
entitled " Woman and the Shadow," which will<br />
he published in a few days by Messrs. Hutchin-<br />
son. The heroine of this story by the author of<br />
"Dr. Janet of Harley-.street," lives for a time<br />
en fami lie with some aristocratic connections who<br />
have a title but no money. For this association<br />
with blue blood she pays liberally.<br />
Mr. Fergus Hume has a new novel in twelve<br />
sections, entitled "Hagar of the Pawnshop,"<br />
about to l>e published by Messrs. Skeftington.<br />
Within the next few days, Mr. Ernest G.<br />
Henham's new novel, "Tenebrae," will be pub-<br />
lished by Messrs. Skeftiugton.<br />
"Under One Cover" is the title of a collection<br />
of stories by Mr. Baring Gould, Mr. Henhain,<br />
Mr. Richard Marsh, Mr. Fergus Hume, and<br />
others, which Messrs. Skeftington are publishing.<br />
The last books to come from the Kelmscott<br />
Press will be " Love is Enough," and " A Note<br />
by William Moiris." They will appear on the<br />
24th inst. The former will have two illustrations<br />
by Sir Edward Burne-Jones.<br />
"Hints for Eton Masters," is a volume by the<br />
late Mr. William Cory, who was connected with<br />
the famous school from 1845 to 1872. The<br />
Oxford University Press is about to issue the<br />
work, which makes rather a wider appeal than its<br />
title suggests.<br />
Mr. Lewis Sergeant, who has finished an his-<br />
torical sketch of "The Franks," for the Story of<br />
the the Nation Series, has entered the ranks of<br />
novelists. His first essay in this field, "The<br />
Caprice of Julia" (Hurst and Blackett ), deals<br />
partly with theatrical life.<br />
Stage life is also dealt with, though not from<br />
what may be willed the strenuous point of view,<br />
in Mr. Francis Gribble's new novel, which Messrs<br />
Innes are to publish, called "Sunlight and<br />
Limelight."<br />
Mr. Meredith is revising his Essays and Poems<br />
for publication in May in the collected edition of<br />
his works (Constable), which will then be com-<br />
pleted. Curiously, Mr. Meredith had lost sight<br />
of a poem which appeared in the Pull Mall<br />
(lazelle ten or twelve years ago, and which was<br />
lately recalled to his recollection by a fellow<br />
guest reciting it to him at Mr. Edward Clodd's<br />
seaside residence.<br />
A second series of "The Law's Lumber Room,"<br />
by Mr. Francis Watt, is to be issued shortly from<br />
the Bodley Head. Among the articles are "Tyburn<br />
Tree," "Some Disused Roads to Matrimony,"<br />
"The Border Laws," and " The Serjeant-at-Law."<br />
Mr. Lewis Day is at work on a volume of<br />
"Alphabets Old and New." It will consist of<br />
illustrations, with short letterpress descriptions.<br />
"Studies on Many Subjects," by the late Rev.<br />
Samuel Harvey Reynolds, vicar of East. Ham from<br />
1871 to 1893, and author of "The Rise of the<br />
Modern European System," is about to be pub-<br />
lished by Mr. Edward Arnold<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 271 (#713) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
271<br />
Mrs. Ritchie, the novelist's daughter, is to<br />
write an introduction to each volume of the<br />
biographical edition of Thackeray's works which<br />
Messrs. Smith and Elder are about to issue. New<br />
examples of the letters and drawings of Thackeray<br />
will be given, and reproductions of a number of<br />
little known portraits, including those by Maclise<br />
which the Garrick Club are lending.<br />
M. Max Rooses, keeper of the Plantin-Moretus<br />
Museum, Antwerp, has undertaken to continue the<br />
publication of Rubens's correspondence, the first<br />
volume of which appeared in 1887 by the care of<br />
his colleague, the late M. Charles Ruelens,<br />
whereas the second,extending from 1609 to 1622, is<br />
now about to be published. He asks, by means<br />
of the Times, that the private possessors, as well<br />
as the custodians of public collections, who<br />
have any autographs of Rubens, should advise<br />
him of their existence.<br />
The Daily News is moved with concern for the<br />
English of the Queen's Speech at the opening<br />
of Parliament. In the first place, a reference<br />
was made to expenditure which is beyond<br />
"former precedent." On reading the following<br />
sentence the term in apposition to " elsewhere"<br />
is naturally inquired for: "A portion of the<br />
Afridi tribes have not accepted the terms offered<br />
to them, but elsewhere the operations have been<br />
brought to a successful close." In the reference<br />
to Crete it was stated that: "The difficulty of<br />
arriving at an unanimous agreement upon some<br />
points has unduly protracted their deliberations<br />
(i.e., the deliberations of the Powers), but I hope<br />
that these obstacles will before long be sur-<br />
mounted." What obstacles? As "the diffi-<br />
culty" is the subject in this sentence, "that<br />
obstacle" would appear to be the appropriate<br />
phrase. Our contemporary observes also "an<br />
unanimous agreement."<br />
Mr. Arthur Waugh is publishing through Mr.<br />
Arrowsinith a volume of verse entitled " Legends<br />
of the Wheel." The "wheel" is of course the<br />
bicycle.<br />
A book on Harrow School, edited by Mr.<br />
E. W. Howson and Mr. Townsend Wamer, and<br />
containing contributions by Harrow masters and<br />
old pupils—among the latter Lord Crewe, Sir<br />
Henry Cunningham, Sir Charles Dalrymple,<br />
M.P., Mr. Walter Long, and Mr. Chandos Leigh,<br />
Q.C.—is to be published by Mr. Edward Arnold.<br />
Earl Spencer, chairman of the governors, writes<br />
a preface to the work.<br />
Mr. MacAlister,the hon. secretary of the Library<br />
Association, has received an intimation from the<br />
Home Office to the effect that Her Majesty and<br />
Council have been graciously pleased to grant a<br />
royal charter of incorporation to the Library<br />
Association.<br />
In October next (says the Illustrated London<br />
News) Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton will publish<br />
the first number of a new religious periodical<br />
under the title of Ian Maclaren's Magazine.<br />
It will bd edited by the Rev. John Watson (Ian<br />
Maclaren) and Dr. Robertson Nicoll, and it is<br />
understood that the former will henceforth confine<br />
his writings to it.<br />
"Mirabeau," by Mr. P. F. Willert, will be the<br />
next volume in Messrs. Macinillan's Foreign<br />
Statesmen Series.<br />
Professor Michael Foster and Professor Ray<br />
Lankester are editing the papers contributed by<br />
Professor Huxley to the journals of the Royal,<br />
Linnean, and other societies. There will be three<br />
volumes, the first of which is due. A number<br />
of the papers appear in the edition of his works<br />
which Professor Huxley arranged shortly before<br />
his death.<br />
Canon Rawlinson's biography—largely made<br />
up, however, of diaries—of Major-General Sir<br />
Henry Rawlinson, will have a preface by Lord<br />
Roberts.<br />
We mentioned some time 6ince that the Glasgow<br />
Weekly Herald offered ten guineas each for short<br />
serial tales in five instalments, and one guinea for<br />
short weekly tales. The offer for short serials<br />
has now been withdrawn, and the editor has been<br />
compelled to warn contributors of weekly tales<br />
that so many excellent examples of these have<br />
been received and accepted that contributors need<br />
have no hope of tales appearing earlier than twelve<br />
months after thev are accepted.<br />
The Brotherhood Publishing Company is now<br />
circulating, under the title "What is Art r" a<br />
translation of a work by Count Tolstoy. This<br />
title was anticipated in 1885 by Mr. J. Stanley<br />
Little, and used by him for a book on art,<br />
published by Swan Sonneuschein. Mr. Little<br />
has had in preparation for some time past a<br />
second edition of his work, and there seems to be<br />
some prospect of a conflict of title. Count<br />
Tolstoy's book was originally announced as " On<br />
Art"; but it issued from the press in this<br />
country under the title to which Mr. Little has<br />
certainly the prior claim.<br />
Messrs. Seeley and Co. have recently published<br />
a new historical romance by Mrs. Marshall, "In<br />
the Choir of Westminster Abbey in the Time of<br />
Henry Purcell." It will be followed shortly by a<br />
story of "The Queen of Hearts " (the Princess<br />
Elizabeth) by the same author. Mrs. Marshall's<br />
works are published in the Tauchnitz edition,<br />
and are translated into German and French.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 272 (#714) ############################################<br />
<br />
272<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
The fifth volume of the " English Catalogue of<br />
Books" will be published very soon. It covers<br />
the years 1890-1897. The editor invites authors<br />
who have published books within these limits to<br />
send him, c/o. Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston,<br />
and Co., Fetter-lane, the full titles, sizes, prices,<br />
year and month of publication, with the author's<br />
and publisher's names, as soon as possible.<br />
Another serial by Jean Middlemass, entitled<br />
"In Storm and Strife," is about to appear in the<br />
newspapers of the National Press Agency. The<br />
author's "Blanche Coningham's Surrender," has<br />
just been published by Messrs. White.<br />
Mr. Alan Oscar, the sea story writer, has<br />
written for the Strand Magazine a true sea<br />
story, recounting one of his own experiences. It<br />
will be illustrated by the author.<br />
In "The Devout Pilgrim's Guide to the Holy<br />
Land in the Way of Prayer," by Elizabeth<br />
Harcourt Mitchell (Church Printing Company,<br />
11, Burleigh-street, Strand. 5*.), Mrs. Mitchell<br />
has tried to turn the thoughts of tourists in<br />
Palestine towards the devotional aspects of their<br />
tour, and hopes to make the work a companion<br />
to Murray and Baedeker's guides. Written at<br />
the request of the English Bishop in Jerusalem,<br />
it gives a very short account of each place, then<br />
the whole of the Scripture narrative concerning<br />
it, so that a hurried horseman need not wait to<br />
look out texts. This is followed by a short<br />
reflection and act of devotion, and sometimes<br />
Dy a few religious verses. A list of English<br />
churches in the Holy Land gives it a practical<br />
value.<br />
The German rights of Mr. Charles Lowe's<br />
historical romance of the Seven Yeais' War—"A<br />
Fallen Star; or, the Scots of Frederick "—kavn<br />
been acquired by the Deutsche Verlagsantalt of<br />
Stuttgart and Leipzig, which will shortly issue a<br />
translation from the pen of a distinguish°d<br />
German litterateur. Mr. Lowe has written for the<br />
Northern Newspaper Syndicate a series of ten<br />
articles on " Our Future King," which are also to<br />
appear in booklet form.<br />
"Heroes of the Reformation" is the title of<br />
the newest of new series. The first volume will<br />
be "Luther," by Professor Eyster Jacobs, of<br />
Philadelphia. In appearance the volumes will<br />
resemble those of the "Heroes of the Nations"<br />
series by the same publishers—Messrs. Putnam;<br />
and they will be issued at the rate of three per<br />
annum.<br />
Mr. Bernard Wentworth, author of "The<br />
Master of Hullingham Manor" and "Allerton<br />
Farm," had a blank verse poem in the Western<br />
Mail of Jan. 15, entitled " Anti-Agnosticism: A<br />
Vision." Another poem by the same author was<br />
published in the Western Mail of Jan. 29, 1897,<br />
entitled "Tintagel, by the Cornish Sea." This<br />
has passed into a second edition in booklet form,<br />
published by Messrs. Weighell and Co., Laun-<br />
ceston.<br />
An inscription to the memory of one Richard<br />
Hill, a contemporary of Shakespeare and an<br />
alderman and mayor of the town, who died in<br />
1593, has been brought to light by the work of<br />
restoring Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-on-Avon.<br />
The first sentence over the rudely carved raised<br />
tomb is a Hebrew text from Job, the next is<br />
Greek, and the latter part of the inscription is as<br />
follows:—<br />
Hore lieth intombed the corps of Richard Hil,<br />
A woollen draper being in his time;<br />
Whose virtves live, whose fame dooth floriah stil,<br />
Thovgh hee deaolvi-d be to dvst and slime,<br />
A mirror he and paterae may be made,<br />
For evch as shall svekcead him in that trade;<br />
He did not vse to sweare, to glose, either faigne,<br />
His brother to defravde in burguninge;<br />
Hee woold not strive to get excessive gaine<br />
In ani cloth or other kinde of thinge:<br />
His servant. S. I., this trveth can testilie.<br />
A witness that beheld it with mi eie.<br />
Two novelties in the book world of the past<br />
month have been a book by Charles Dickens<br />
and one by Mr. Buskin. The Dickens volume,<br />
published by Mr. George Bedway, consists of a<br />
number of scattered papers, most of which<br />
appeared in Household Words, which have been<br />
collected by Mr. F. C. Henvon, who is well known<br />
for his research in everything that re'ates to the<br />
great novelist. Mr. Ruskin's book, published, of<br />
course, by Mr. George Allen, consists of a series<br />
of lectures on landscape, delivered at Oxford in<br />
the Lent term, 1871.<br />
LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS-<br />
Public Libraries, Authors, and Pub-<br />
lishers: Views of Mr. Spencer and Mr.<br />
Lecky.—Mr. J. A. Steuart on Bookselling<br />
and Reviews.—Newspapers and the Libel<br />
Law.—Count Tolstoi on Maupassant and<br />
Fiction.<br />
The principal subject of discussion during the<br />
past month has been the relations of authors and<br />
publishers to free libraries, upon which the views<br />
of Mr. Herbert Spencer and Mr. W. E. H. Lecky<br />
have been given. Mr. E. Marston vented the<br />
question in the Times by setting forth certain<br />
figures upon what he called the "enormous tax"<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 273 (#715) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
273<br />
that publishers have to pay in being obliged to<br />
present to the nation five copies of every book<br />
that they publish. He estimated that, during the<br />
eight years, 1890-97, 250,000 volumes have been<br />
thus presented to the British Museum and the<br />
four other public libraries of Oxford, Cambridge,<br />
Edinburgh, and Dublin, which, if taken at the<br />
average published price of 5*. per volume, amounts<br />
to .£62,500; or, extending the period to the whole<br />
of Her Majesty's reign, 1,500,000 books, equal to<br />
•£375,000. As to this estimate, see " Notes and<br />
News," p. 261.<br />
Mr. Herbert Spencer pointed out that (exclud-<br />
ing non-copyright books) the burden is not borne<br />
mainly by the publishers; it is borne in chief<br />
measure, and often wholly, by the authors. Mr.<br />
Spencer goes on to say :—<br />
It is borne indirectly by the antbora in all tboae cases<br />
where there is sold the copyright of an edition, or where<br />
there is an agreement to pay half profits or a royalty; for<br />
in all such cases the publisher, in estimating the expenses<br />
of publication, sets down the gratis copies to be distributed,<br />
including among these the copies for the public libraries.<br />
This is one of the items which together form a total on the<br />
basis of which the amount offered to the author, under either<br />
form of publication, is calculated. And hence, whatever<br />
burden the cost of the five copies may be to the publisher,<br />
that burden is practically transferred to the author when<br />
settling the terms.<br />
But the burden falls directly upon the author in all cases<br />
of publication by commission. In the publisher's accounts<br />
the author is debited with the five copies, as he is with all<br />
gratis copies distributed on his behalf. The tax is levied<br />
by the nation on him whether he makes anything by his<br />
book or not, and no less when it entails on him a loss. During<br />
the firBt twelve years of my literary life every one of my<br />
books failed to pay for its paper, print, and advertisements,<br />
and for many years after failed to pay my small living<br />
expenses—every one of them made me the poorer. Never-<br />
theless, the forty millions of people constituting the nation<br />
demanded of the impoverished brain-worker five gratis<br />
copies of each. There is only one simile occurring to me<br />
which at all represents the faot, and that in but a feeble<br />
way—Dives asking alms of Lazarus!<br />
Mr. Lecky took an opposite side.<br />
I am always reluctant to differ from anything which Mr-<br />
Herbert Spencer writes, but I earnestly trust that the old and<br />
well-established obligation of sending a copy of all books<br />
published in the kingdom to five public libraries may not<br />
cease to be limited to the British Museum. It is scarcely<br />
possible to overrate the importance to those who are engaged<br />
in literary research of having accessible libraries where they<br />
are certain to find all such books easily and gratuitously,<br />
and I should much regret if this privilege were confined to<br />
London students.<br />
The tendency to centralise literary life in the metropolis<br />
is already more than sufficiently strong, and suoh a measure<br />
would certainly increase it. In this, as in most things, we<br />
have to strike a balance between good and evil. In the<br />
case of valuable illustrated books which are printed in<br />
small numbers, the present system is no doubt a hardship;<br />
but as the chief expense of a book is laying down the<br />
type, the cost of the few additional copies is in most caBes<br />
trivial. A little known writer who has sterling merit will<br />
almost certainly find readers in a public library, who will<br />
repay his outlay by helping to accelerate the period of his<br />
popularity; and even when books remain permanently un-<br />
remunerative it is often some satisfaction to their authors<br />
to know that they have found a dignified resting-place.<br />
In my opinion any change that made these great libraries<br />
less complete than at present would be a serious calamity<br />
to literature.<br />
To the above letter Mr. Herbert Spencer makes<br />
the following re[dy :—<br />
Mr. Lecky rightly says of the required gifts to libraries<br />
that11 the cost of the few additional copies is in most cases<br />
trivial." To Mr. Lecky it has always been so, and it is so<br />
to me at present; but it is not so to the struggling author,<br />
*ith whom for long years it is a question whether he will<br />
sink or swim. Moreover, his first loss is the parent of a<br />
second and larger loss. The few copies which the State<br />
takes from him are used by it to intercept the buyers of<br />
many copies. After the year of grace during which his<br />
book is withheld, numbers who would otherwise purchase<br />
it read it at the museum library, and already a loser, he<br />
loses much more.<br />
While agreeing with Mr. Lecky that facilities for literary<br />
research are very desirable, I do not agree that they can be<br />
achieved only through public institutions. Fifty odd years<br />
ago some men of letters and others (Mr. Carlyle being a<br />
chief mover) set up the London Library for the purpose of<br />
facilitating research, the British Museum library failing in<br />
sundry respects to meet their needs. From the London<br />
Library books may be taken home; fifteen may be had out<br />
at a time, and if any book a student wants is of appreciable<br />
value it is bought for him and afterwards put on the shelves.<br />
The library has now 175,000 volumes and grows at an<br />
increasing rate. Of course it is far from all-embracing.<br />
But, had there existed no public libraries: had the<br />
felt need prompted establishment of it a generation<br />
or more earlier; had its claims then become widely<br />
known, as they would; had it received, as it now does, gifts<br />
of books and of private libraries, as well as probably dona-<br />
tions and bequests of money, it would by this time have<br />
gone far to fulfil all the requirements. It is true that we<br />
have not, like the Americans, millionaires who found<br />
universities or build magnificent observatories. Still, there<br />
are instances of the required public spirit; and when<br />
we learn that in 1890 charitable bequests reached over<br />
.£1,000,000, that within the few preceding years bequests<br />
for art galleries and oollectionB had reached over half a<br />
million, and that London and Edinburgh and other places<br />
have recently witnessed kindred gifts, it is not an over-<br />
sanguine calculation that, under pressure of the need, an<br />
institution like the London Library, earlier founded, would<br />
before now have grown to vast proportions, quite meeting<br />
the want, and would have accumulated a fund .(.£200,000)<br />
the interest of which would suffice to purchase copies of all<br />
new works.<br />
But now from this Bide issue let me return to the main<br />
issue. Grant that to facilitate literary research there must<br />
be public libraries. Does it follow that these must be<br />
recruited by oopies of all new works taken from their<br />
authors under penalty r Is it not possible that copies may<br />
be bought? Admit the want, and the first question<br />
arising is : By whom shall the cost of satisfying it be borne?<br />
Shall the public who profit by the books bear it, or the<br />
authors who have laboured to produce the books P Shall<br />
the tax be paid by the many millions benefited, or by the few<br />
hundreds who benefit them P As implied above, I accept<br />
neither alternative. But, assuming that one must be<br />
accepted, then I say that in equity the burden should be<br />
borne by the State with its hundred millions of revenue, and<br />
not imposed on a small class of men, most of them needy,<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 274 (#716) ############################################<br />
<br />
274<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
and many of them passing their lives " in shallows and in<br />
miseries."<br />
Among the variety of opinions current on the<br />
question of the value of reviews, comes Mr. J. A.<br />
Steuart's advice to booksellers to utilise these<br />
more than they do. The editor of the Publishers'<br />
Circular, in a paper in the Fortnightly for<br />
February, estimates the whole present position<br />
of the commercial interests of literature, and he<br />
counsels more push being exhibited in the retail<br />
trade to advertise books. "At present," he<br />
remarks, "the advertising is left wholly to the<br />
publisher, a circumstance which may have sug-<br />
gested to the Authors' Society that hint to the<br />
retail trade about energy and enterprise." The<br />
man in the street does not read reviews, but it<br />
is the business of booksellers to parade these<br />
reviews before him, with practical results. "I<br />
know one bookseller who, when he finds a eulo-<br />
gistic review of a new book, instantly cuts it out<br />
and displays it in a conspicuous manner. He<br />
tells me the system is a gratifying success. Could<br />
other booksellers not follow his example?" Mr.<br />
Steuart views with disfavour the recommendation<br />
of the sub-committee of the Society of Authors<br />
that booksellers should bring out new editions of<br />
non-copyright books on their own account: "It<br />
would merely mean the creation of a publisher<br />
and the spoiling of a bookseller; and of pub-<br />
lishers we have no scarcity, either for old books<br />
or new." Mr. Steuart finally observes that it is<br />
clearly to the interest of all concerned to have a<br />
prosperous retail trade; and he agrees with the<br />
secretary of the Society of Booksellers that the<br />
work of reform is but beginning.<br />
Reference was made in The. Author a few<br />
months ago to the dangerous simplicity of getting<br />
up actions for libel against newspapers, and to<br />
the remarks of the Lord Chief Justice upon the<br />
frivolity which often distinguishes the grounds<br />
for such actions. The Daily News states that<br />
the list for the Hihvy Sittings on the Queen's<br />
Bench Division contains thirty actions for libel,<br />
mostly against newspapers. Anyone who brings<br />
an action against a leading newspaper is sure of<br />
getting his costs and damages if he succeeds; if<br />
he fails he may be, and very often is, unable to<br />
pay the costs either of the journal against which<br />
he has proceeded or of the solicitor who has taken<br />
up his case on speculation. The Daily News is<br />
satisfied that the result of a case tried before Mr.<br />
Justice Hawkins the other day, following as it<br />
does the actions recently laughed out of court by<br />
the Lord Chief Justice, warrant us in believing<br />
that happier days have really at last dawned upon<br />
journalists. A Bill was introduced last Session by<br />
Mr. Boscawen to amend the law, and it is being<br />
brought in again this year. It is supported by<br />
members of all political parties, including Sir<br />
Albert Rollit, a Conservative; Mr. Frederick<br />
Wilson, a Liberal; and Mr. T. P. O'Connor, an<br />
Irish Nationalist. The first clause provides that<br />
particulars of the libel or libels, with dates, must<br />
be endorsed on the writ. This is to give the<br />
defendants an opportunity of at once apologising<br />
or paying money into court without waiting for<br />
the next stage, the statement of claim, and thereby<br />
incurring needless expense, which may l)e very<br />
considerable. The second clause allows of alter-<br />
native pleadings. The law at present, for no<br />
assignable or intelligible reason, forbids alterna-<br />
tive pleading in actions of libel, and in actions of<br />
libel alone.<br />
In an article on " Maupassant and Fiction" in<br />
the February numlier of Chapman's Magazine,<br />
Count Tolstoi represents this writer as having, in<br />
all his novels subsequent to "Bel Ami," bowed<br />
to the theory that in a work of art it is not only<br />
of no moment to have a clear conception of right<br />
and wrong, but that, on the contrary, an artist<br />
must igncre all moral considerations, and that<br />
there is even a peculiar merit in his power to do<br />
so. The theory set forth above is not only supreme<br />
at present in a Parisian circle, but amongst<br />
artists everywhere; it is fashionable. More,<br />
Count Tolstoi thinks French authors are at fault<br />
in the matter of describing their nation. "For<br />
France to exist as we know her, with her truly<br />
great acquirements in science and art, and her<br />
civic, national, and moral improvement of<br />
humanity, the working people which has main-<br />
tained and is supporting this France upon its<br />
shoulders must be composed not of brutes, but of<br />
men with great mental capacity." If we turn,<br />
meantime to M. Bastide's pjaper in the Fortnightly<br />
for February (" Cacoethes Literarum") we get<br />
the suggestion that in France literature is a<br />
disease. There is a ministry of fine arts; theatres<br />
are subsidised ; numerous pensions and still more<br />
numerous honours granted; anyone may dabble<br />
in literature; there is no risk whatever. "The<br />
novel's objective, even exteriorily," says Count<br />
Tolstoi, " is the description of one or many com-<br />
plete human lives, and therefore the writer of a novel<br />
must have a clear and fine conception of what is<br />
right and wrong in life." This De Maupassant<br />
had not; but, fortunately, he wrote short stories,<br />
"in which he did not cramp himself by the false<br />
theory he had accepted."<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 275 (#717) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
275<br />
THE BOOES OF THE MONTH.<br />
[Jan. "24 to Feb. 23.—262 Books.]<br />
Adams, Brooks. Law of Civilisation and Decay. 7/6 net Macmillan.<br />
Allen, A. V. G. Christian Institution!. 12'- T. andT. Clark.<br />
Anderson, J. G. Manual of French Prose Construction. 5/- Klackie.<br />
Anonymous (** Lucus a non Lucendo "). Ray a from the Starry Host.<br />
A/. Roxburgbe.<br />
Anonymous. Novels and Novelists. 7/fi net. W H. Allen.<br />
Armitage. E. Pictures and Drawings selected from the Works of.<br />
Low.<br />
Bliss.<br />
Richards.<br />
O. Allen.<br />
Blackwood.<br />
Burns and Oatea,<br />
Blackwood.<br />
Head ley.<br />
Macmillan.<br />
Oliphant.<br />
Dulau.<br />
Macmillan.<br />
Unicorn Press.<br />
£8 net or £» 8s. net<br />
Atherton, Gertrude. His Fortunate Grace. 2 6.<br />
Atkinson. A. G, B St Botolph. Aldgate. 5 - net.<br />
Attwell, H. Panaies Irom Frencb Gardens. 2 -<br />
Audon, H. W. Higher Latin Unseens. 2/6.<br />
AvK White. A Noble Revenge. 8/6.<br />
Baden-Powell, Sir G. The Saving or Ireland. 7/6.<br />
Baker, W. K. John T. Dorland. 67-<br />
Bates, Katharine Lee. American Literature. 6/-<br />
Bayne, W James Thomson (Famous Scots). I/G.<br />
Baedeker. Karl. Spain and Portugal. 16 -<br />
Bailey, L. H. Lessons with Plants. 7/6.<br />
Barsac, L. Shadow and Fireflies. 3 6 net.<br />
Batiffol, P. (tr. by A. M. Y. Baylaj). History of the Roman Breviary.<br />
7,6. Longman.<br />
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Gale and Polden.<br />
Benson, E. F. The Vintage. «/- Methuen.<br />
Bet ham-Ed wards, M. (ed ). Autobiography of Arthur Young. 12 G.<br />
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Bet bam-Ed wards. M. A Storm-rent Sky. G/- Hurst.<br />
Bickersteth, E. Our Heritage In the Church. C/- Low.<br />
Birtt, W. B. By the Roaring Reuss. 5/- Constable.<br />
BlennerhaaBctt, Sir Rowland. University Education in England,<br />
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Bogg, E. The Border Country. Leeds: E. Bogg.<br />
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Bold re wood, Rolf. Plain Living. 6 - Macmillan.<br />
Bonwick J. Australia's First Preacher, the Rev. J. Johnson 4/- Low.<br />
Bourne, H. R. Fox The Borhuana Troubles. 1/- King.<br />
BouBtead, Leila. The Blue Diamonds. 1/- White.<br />
Braddon, M. E. Rough Justice. 6/- Simpkin.<br />
Brailsford, H. S. The Broom of the War-God. 6;- Heinemann.<br />
Brandos, George. William Shakespeare. 24/- net. Heinemann.<br />
Brown, A. Tbe Rating of Mines and Quarrios. &/- Butterworth.<br />
Brown. H. Economics, Anesthetics, and Antiseptics in the Practice<br />
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Brown, J. Apostolic Succession in the Light of HiBtory and Fact.<br />
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Chrlstison, D. Early Fortifications in Scotland. 21/-net. Blackwood.<br />
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Coote. Rev. Sir A. Twelve Sermons 2/6. Nisbet.<br />
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Crofton, M. The Church's Opportunity, and other Essays. 1. 6. Stock.<br />
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Davis, R. H. A Yearfrom a Correspondent's Note-Book. 6/- Harper.<br />
Davltt, M. Life and Progress in Australasia. 6 - Methuen.<br />
Dawson, A. J. God's Foundling. 6 - Heinemann.<br />
Dearmer, P. (com.). Religioua Pamphlets. (Pamphlet Library, i f> -<br />
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De Linde, G. van. Book-Keeplng, and other Papers. 6/6 net. Blades.<br />
De Windt, Harry. Through the Goldtlelds of Alaska to Behring Straits.<br />
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Dickens, Charles. To be Read at Dusk, and other Stories, Sketches,<br />
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Dickens, Mary Angela. Against tbe Tide. 6 - Hutchinson.<br />
Dodd, C-, and Wilberrorcc, U. W. W. Guide to the Procedure upon<br />
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Dollar, J. A. W,, and Wheatley, A. A Handbook or Horse-Shoeing<br />
15/- net. Douglas-'<br />
Dowoll, Stephen. Thoughts and Words. 81/6. Longman<br />
Doyle, A. Conan. The Tragedy or the Korosko. 6/- Smith, Elder.<br />
Drey, S. A Theory of Life deduced from the Evolution Philosophy.<br />
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Druce, G. C. Flora of Berkshire. 16/- net. Frowde.<br />
Drummond, H. For the Religion: Being the Records of Blaise de<br />
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Dudeney, Mrs. H. E. A Man with a Maid. 2/6 net. Heinemann.<br />
Duffy, Sir C. G. My Life in Two Hemispheres. 82/- Unwin.<br />
Duncombe-Jewell, L. C. R (ed ). The Handbook to British Military<br />
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Dunning, W. A. Essays on the Civil War (American) and Recon-<br />
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Earle, J. Simple Grammar of English now in Uae. 6/- Smith, Elder.<br />
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Evans, E. P. Evolutional Ethics and Animal Psychology. 9/-<br />
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Frazer, R. W. A Literary History of India. 16/- Unwin.<br />
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Gerard, Dorothea. A Forgotten Sin. 6/- Blackwood.<br />
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Grinling, C. H. History of the Great Northern Railway. 10,6.<br />
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Herbert, W. do B. Law of Fixtures and Repairs as between Land-<br />
lord and Tenant. 2/6. C. Wilson.<br />
Hewatt. Klrkwood. In the Olden Times. Gardner.<br />
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Holm, Adolf (tr. by F. Clarke). History of Greece. Vol IV. 7/6 net.<br />
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holmes, R. Echoes of a Vanished World. Marshall. Russell.<br />
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Jane, Fred. T. All the World's Fighting Ships. 10 6 net. Low.<br />
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Junor, Charles. Dead Men's Talcs. Sonncnschein.<br />
Kerr, J. G, Elementary Physics First Year's Courss. 1,- Blackie.<br />
King, C. The General's Double. 6 - Lipplncott<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 276 (#718) ############################################<br />
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276<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
Kingsford, W. The History of Canada. Vol. IX. 15/- Regan Paul.<br />
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Lockwood, P. H Storm and Sunshine in the Dales. 3/- Stock.<br />
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Lorne, Marquis of. Adventures in Legend. 6 - Constable.<br />
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Mcllroy, A. When Lint was in the Bell. Belfast: MeOaw.<br />
Mackay, Thomas. The State and Charity. 2.6. Macmillan.<br />
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Masson, Rosaline. A Departure from Tradition, 6;- Bliss.<br />
Mat hew, Frank. The Spanish Wine. 3/6. Lane.<br />
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Muir, Sir W. The Psalter: Its Free and Discretionary Use<br />
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