| 349 | https://historysoa.com/items/show/349 | The Author, Vol. 12 Issue 06 (January 1902) | <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.+12+Issue+06+%28January+1902%29"><em>The Author</em>, Vol. 12 Issue 06 (January 1902)</a> | | | <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006979390" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015006979390</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> | 1902-01-01-The-Author-12-6 | | | | | 81–108 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=89&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=12">12</a> | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=76&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1902-01-01">1902-01-01</a> | | | | | | | 6 | | | 19020101 | The Author.<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
Vol. XII.-No. 6.<br />
JANUARY 1, 1902.<br />
[PRICE SIXPENCE.<br />
92<br />
81<br />
Notices ...<br />
The Pension Fund of the Society of Authors<br />
From the Committee ... ...<br />
Sir Walter Besant's Autobiography ...<br />
Book and Play Talk ...<br />
Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Property<br />
A Literary Advertisement ..<br />
The Dictionary of National Biography<br />
The Authors' Club ... ...<br />
General Memoranda ...<br />
Warnings to Dramatic Anthors<br />
How to Use the Society<br />
CONTENTS.<br />
PAGE<br />
PAGE<br />
81, 92<br />
The Reading Branch ...<br />
Authorities ... ... ...<br />
Author and Literary Agent ...<br />
Desirability of Standard Rules for Printing, and a Method to<br />
obtain them ...<br />
... ... ... 97<br />
The Advantages of Commission Publishing<br />
American Notes<br />
... ... ... ... ... ... 102<br />
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105<br />
The Publication of Educational Works<br />
106<br />
“ Real People" in Fiction ...<br />
107<br />
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100<br />
::::::::::::<br />
:8::<br />
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## p. 80 (#470) #############################################<br />
<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
The Society of Authors (Incorporated).<br />
PRESIDENT.<br />
GEORGE MEREDITH.<br />
COUNCIL.<br />
SIR EDWIN ARNOLD, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. | AUSTIN DOBSON.<br />
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DRAMA,<br />
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<br />
<br />
## p. 81 (#471) #############################################<br />
<br />
The Author.<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)<br />
FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT.<br />
VOL. XII.–No. 6.<br />
JANUARY 1st, 1902.<br />
[PRICE SIXPENCE.<br />
1<br />
CHANGE OF ADDRESS.<br />
Nov. 21, Balfour, A. ....<br />
.<br />
Nov. 22, Risley, J.........<br />
:r;';'...ccccccc<br />
Nov. 25, Walker, W. S..<br />
...<br />
0<br />
0<br />
1<br />
5<br />
5<br />
0<br />
0<br />
0<br />
0<br />
The office of the Incorporated Society of Authors<br />
has been removed to-<br />
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STOREY'S GATE, S.W.<br />
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS.<br />
Nov. 25, Vaux, P. ....<br />
Nov. 25, Lambe, Lawrence ........<br />
1<br />
1<br />
1<br />
1<br />
0<br />
0<br />
NOTICE.<br />
FROM THE COMMITTEE.<br />
NHE EDITOR begs to inform members of the<br />
Authors' Society and other readers of The<br />
Author that the cases which are from time<br />
to time quoted in The Author are cases that have<br />
come before the notice or to the knowledge of the<br />
Secretary of the Society, and that those members<br />
of the Society who desire to have the names of<br />
the publishers concerned can obtain them on<br />
application.<br />
TT is with much regret that we have to record<br />
the death during the past month of Mr. F. W.<br />
Robinson, the well-known novelist, who has<br />
been a member of the Society of Authors almost since<br />
its foundation. He joined in 1888. He has been a<br />
constant and sincere supporter of the work it has<br />
done for the benefit of the profession as a whole,<br />
although he has seldom had occasion to obtain any<br />
direct benefit.<br />
We must also mention with regret the death of<br />
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THE PENSION FUND OF THE SOCIETY<br />
OF AUTHORS.<br />
M HE following is the total of donations and<br />
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Donations .........<br />
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In re A. M. de Beck, Limtd.<br />
A COMPULSORY winding-up order was made<br />
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DONATIONS.<br />
2 u<br />
5 5<br />
0<br />
0<br />
Nov. 9, Dale, Miss .......<br />
Oct. 10, Harrison, Mrs. (Lucas Malet)<br />
Oct. 15, Rossi, Miss L.<br />
Oct. 25, Potter, M. H. ............<br />
Oct. 30, Stanley, Mrs. .....<br />
VOL. XII.<br />
The Work of the Society.<br />
During the past month the Secretary has had on<br />
hand, in addition to and outside of his correspon-<br />
dence, ten cases. Four of these have been completed;<br />
the rest are in process of settlement.<br />
The Society has taken up two county court<br />
actions, one of which has been settled without the<br />
issue of a plaint. A solicitor's letter appeared to<br />
be amply sufficient.<br />
0 12<br />
0 10<br />
0<br />
O<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 82 (#472) #############################################<br />
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82<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
· ·<br />
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· · ·<br />
.<br />
· · · · · · · · ·<br />
· · · ·<br />
·<br />
Nerer<br />
.<br />
.<br />
.<br />
Besant Memorial.<br />
Donations from Members and Others.<br />
As it appears from the subscriptions sent in to Bell, Mackenzie . .<br />
. .<br />
the Secretary that the members of the Society as<br />
. . 1 1 0<br />
Boevey, Miss Crawley . . . .<br />
a whole cannot have read the notice published in<br />
() 10 0<br />
Dale, Miss Nellie ...<br />
0 10 6<br />
last month's Author, the Committee again desire Kelly, C. A.<br />
to state that subscriptions to the Memorial are<br />
. .<br />
• . 2 20<br />
Moncrieff. A. R. Hope<br />
now invited from all members, and they trust that<br />
Stanton, Miss A. M. .<br />
.<br />
there will be no difficulty in obtaining a sum<br />
.<br />
. 1 1 0<br />
Toynbee, William<br />
m .<br />
.<br />
. . . 1<br />
sufficient to cover all possible contingencies.<br />
1 0<br />
Watt, A. P. & Son .<br />
. .<br />
The full statement of what it is proposed to do<br />
. 26 5 0<br />
Wilkins. W. H.<br />
. .<br />
has already been set out in The Author.<br />
. 1 1 0<br />
Wilson, Miss Aphra ..<br />
Cheques should be made payable to the Incor-<br />
. 1 1<br />
Woods. Mrs. M.A.<br />
. . . 1 1<br />
porated Society of Authors, London Joint Stock<br />
0<br />
Bank, and crossed “ Walter Besant Memorial.”<br />
SIR WALTER BESANT'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY.<br />
Donations from Members of the Council.<br />
Meredith, George, President of the<br />
CYIR WALTER BESANT'S Autobiography,<br />
Society . . . . .£10 0 0 D which is now in the press, and which will<br />
à Beckett, A. W. .<br />
. 1 1 0 be published shortly by Messrs. Hutchinson<br />
Barrie, J. M. .<br />
5 5 0 & Co., is not at all like the autobiographies to<br />
Bateman, Robert . . . . 5 0 0 which we are accustomed. It is neither a diary,<br />
Beddard, F. E..<br />
0 0<br />
nor does it contain lengthy transcripts from a<br />
Bonney, Rev. T. G. .<br />
2 0 diary ; it includes no letters from eminent friends,<br />
Caine, T. Hall, amount dependent on<br />
and is remarkably free from personal references ;<br />
what sum required<br />
it says nothing at all about the pecuniary side of<br />
Clodd, Edward . .<br />
.<br />
.<br />
1 1 0 his career as a professional man of letters; and is<br />
Colles, W. M. .<br />
5 5 0 quite silent about his domestic life. It tells<br />
Collier, The Honble. John .<br />
O briefly and modestly of the influences which led<br />
Conway, Sir W. Martin<br />
1 1 0 him to be a novelist and an antiquarian, and of<br />
Craigie, Mrs. .<br />
2 2 0 the circumstances which conduced to his success ;<br />
Dobson, Austin.<br />
10 and undoubtedly the main purpose which Sir<br />
Doyle, A. Conan.<br />
. 15 0 0 Walter Besant had in writing it was to draw<br />
Dubourg, A. W..<br />
0 attention to what he considered to be the proper<br />
Foster, Sir Michael, M. P., F.R.S.<br />
1 0 equipment for sound and useful literary perform-<br />
Freshfield, D. W.<br />
• 5 0 0 ance. He tells the story of his childhood with<br />
Garnett, Richard<br />
some detail, and draws an interesting picture of<br />
Gosse, Edmund . .<br />
3 0<br />
his school and college life ; and from his descrip-<br />
Grundy, Sydney . .<br />
2 0 tion of how the various situations in which he was<br />
Haggard, H. Rider.<br />
. 3 3 0 placed affected him, the reason for his religious<br />
Hardy, Thomas . .<br />
. 2 2 0 convictions—which he states—can be gathered.<br />
Harrison, Mrs. (Lucas M<br />
• 1 1 0 Some foreword was considered by Sir Walter<br />
Hawkins, A. Hope<br />
0 0 Besant's literary executor, and by others to whom<br />
Jerome K. Jerome .<br />
2 2 0 his memory is especially dear, to be necessary, to<br />
Keltie, J. Scott.<br />
1 1 0 explain to some extent the limitations of the book,<br />
Kipling, Rudyard<br />
0 0 and the responsibility of writing a preface has<br />
Lely, J. M.<br />
10 been entrusted to Mr. S. Squire Sprigge.<br />
Loftie, Rev. W. J.<br />
1 0 We are certain that a life of Sir Walter Besant,<br />
Middleton-Wake, Rev. C. H. .. 2 2 0 whatever its scope or aims, whatever its contents<br />
Norman, Henry.<br />
1 1 0 or omissions, cannot fail to be deeply interesting<br />
Parker, Gilbert ..<br />
3 3 0 to the members of the Society of Authors. His<br />
Pinero, A. W..<br />
5 0 affectionate zeal for the Society can never be<br />
Pollock, Sir F..<br />
1 1 0 fogotten by us. He gave us of his best with<br />
Rose, Edward .<br />
2 2 0 the utmost cost to himself. At the busiest period<br />
Scoones, W. Baptiste .<br />
1 1 0 of his life, when his great success as a novelist<br />
Sims, George R.. .<br />
5 0 0 made his time of the first pecuniary value to him,<br />
Sprigge, S. S. . .<br />
2 2 0 and wheu his expenses were necessarily at their<br />
Ward, Mrs. Humphry<br />
. . 5 0 0 highest point, he devoted half his working day<br />
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0<br />
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8-100 - NCN CO er NON<br />
ONCON COCO O NON<br />
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## p. 83 (#473) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
83<br />
for years to our cause—the cause of his colleagues There are also many reproductions from quaint<br />
of the pen. But this is no place to run into a engravings in out-of-print volumes, and over forty<br />
needless eulogy of our dead friend. It is sufficient street scenes from photographs taken by the author<br />
to say, in alluding to the forthcoming biography, and Mr. E. B. Cochrane, of Hillhurst, P.G.<br />
that any message which Sir Walter Besant gives<br />
A special feature of the book is the amount of<br />
to the world is sure to be received with keen<br />
information it gives about curio-buying. Messrs.<br />
welcome by one class. Brethren of his craft<br />
Sands & Co. are the publishers. The price is<br />
will read with pleasure the passages of his life<br />
£3 38. net.<br />
which he has bequeathed to the public, feeling<br />
The Rev. Walter Skeat, Elrington and Bosworth<br />
that any lessons which he may inculcate are<br />
Professor of Anglo-Saxon in the University of<br />
bound to be worthy of attention, as coming<br />
Cambridge, has edited the complete works of<br />
from a good, brave, and generous man.<br />
Chaucer from numerous manuscripts. This<br />
admirable edition (1 vol., 3s. 6d., Clarendon<br />
Press, Oxford ; Henry Frowde, London) will be a<br />
BOOK AND PLAY TALK.<br />
boon to students and lovers of Chaucer. The<br />
book is handy to hold and easy to read. Professor<br />
Skeat's short but full preface gives the reader all es-<br />
TR. A. W. à BECKETT, who is a member<br />
sential information, and those poems which research<br />
M of the Council, of the Committee of<br />
has proved not to be Chaucer's have been eliminated.<br />
Management, and of the Sub-Committees<br />
on Copyright and Drama, is lecturing on the “Comic<br />
Sir George Young, the translator of Sophocles,<br />
Century.” The humours of the years 1801 to 1901<br />
has rendered a selection of Victor Hugo's poems<br />
are' illustrated with slides from the best-known<br />
into English verse. The selection ranges over the<br />
caricaturists of the century. Mr. à Beckett would<br />
whole of Hugo's immense and multifarious work,<br />
be exceedingly pleased if any members of the Society<br />
and contains over 10,000 lines of verse, so that<br />
having caricatures which they would allow him to<br />
the English student may get from it a fair<br />
reproduce in the form of lantern slides would com conception of Hugo's poetry, excluding the dramas.<br />
municate with him to that effect as soon as possible. “More Letters of Edward Fitzgerald,” edited by<br />
Commander the Hon. H. N. Shore, R.N., whose Mr. W. Aldis Wright (Macmillan, 5s.), will be<br />
book, “ Smuggling Ways and Smuggling Days”<br />
warmly welcomed by those who have appreciated<br />
(Cassell & Co., 1892), was the fruit of eight years'<br />
the Fitzgerald Letters already published. They<br />
experience and investigation as inspecting officer of<br />
are Letters first and foremost and all through.<br />
the Coastguard in England and Scotland, is pub-<br />
By their means Fitzgerald brings his readers into<br />
Jishing through the columns of the Kent County close contact, primarily with his own quaint<br />
Examiner a series of articles entitled “Half Hours personality, and then into intimate touch with<br />
with Kentish Smugglers," which deals with the smug. many of his distinguished contemporaries.<br />
glers of the south-east coast of England exclusively. “The Life of the Right Hon. Sir William Moles-<br />
The period treated of is that which followed the<br />
worth, Bart., M.P., F.R.S.," by Mrs. Fawcett, LL.D.<br />
close of the long war with France in the early part<br />
(Macmillan, 8s. 6d. net), is a timely publication,<br />
of the 19th century. Over a large part of Kent<br />
though Sir William died in 1855. This far-seeing<br />
and of Sussex smuggling was carried on with<br />
statesman and true Liberal entered Parliament for<br />
brazen boldness. The coast was infested with<br />
East Cornwall in 1832. In 1855 he took office as<br />
armed gangs who defied the Government officers Secretary of State for the Colonies in the Govern-<br />
and terrorised the law - abiding. Commander<br />
ment of Lord Palmerston.<br />
Shore's narrative comprises much sensational and Molesworth held that the Colonies should have<br />
hitherto unpublished matter which may be of responsible government. The following statement<br />
especial value to novelists.<br />
of his has a peculiar value at the present time :-<br />
Mr. Douglas Sladen's new book, “In Sicily,” Every war (with an external foe) is necessarily an<br />
follows hard on the heels of Miss Norma Lorimer's<br />
Imperial war i... In certain cases it would not be<br />
unreasonable to expect that the colonies should assist the<br />
“ By the Waters of Sicily” (Hutchinson, 108. 6d.<br />
Empire both with troops and with money, and I feel con-<br />
net). Mr. Sladen spent the winters of 1896, 1898, vinced that if the colonies were governed as they ought to<br />
and 1900 in Sicily, collecting the materials for this be, they would gladly come to the aid of the Mother<br />
important work, which is in two volumes, large Country in any just and necessary war.<br />
quarto, with maps and some 300 illustrations. Sir William worked with Buller and Gibbon<br />
Thirteen of these are from original oil-paintings Wakefield, John Stuart Mill and Lord Durham, to<br />
by Miss Margaret Thomas, the artist-author of encourage colonisation in South Australia and New<br />
“Two Years in Palestine and Syria.”<br />
Zealand, and to bring peace to a distracted Canada.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 84 (#474) #############################################<br />
<br />
84<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
He is remembered too as the editor of “John English jury is not to lose time. Mere finesse they don't<br />
Hobbes."<br />
appreciate; go straight at the witness and at the point ;<br />
throw your cards on the table. It is a simple method, and<br />
66 The Tragedy of Sir Francis Bacon” is the I think it is a good method.<br />
title of a work by Mr. Harold Bayley, Mr. Grant Another important book is the “ Life of Sir<br />
Richards being the publisher. The book is a com-<br />
William Wilson Hunter, K.C.S.I., &c.," by Mr.<br />
prehensive study of the recently discovered cypher F. H. Skrine (Longmans, 16s.). Sir William was<br />
narration concealed within the plays of Shakespeare,<br />
a collector of facts, a historian, a man of extra-<br />
and an examination of the evidence leading to show<br />
ordinary industry. He directed the statistical<br />
that Francis Bacon was not only the author of the<br />
survey of India, and he wrote many books. His<br />
plays and of much contemporary work hitherto<br />
“ Thackeray in India” contains interesting infor-<br />
attributed to other writers, but that he was further<br />
mation about that novelist's early years.<br />
the son of Queen Elizabeth. This is indeed to<br />
He came into contact with Mr. Kipling, and in<br />
out-Shakespeare Shakespeare !<br />
his review of the third edition of “ Departmental<br />
Mr. Walter Wall, who was for many years editor<br />
Ditties ” (Academy, 1888) he said,<br />
of the Mining Journal, is publishing through Mr.<br />
Grant Richards a volume entitled “How to Specu-<br />
Some day a writer will arise - perhaps the destined<br />
man- who will make that noble. Anglo-Indian world<br />
late in Mines.” The object of the book is to known as it really is. It will then be seen by what a<br />
instruct the ordinary capitalist and to give him hard discipline of endurance our countrymen and country-<br />
disinterested advice. The principal goldfields of women in India are trained to do England's greatest work<br />
on the earth. Of this realistic side of Anglo-Indian life<br />
the world are dealt with, and there are chapters<br />
Mr. Kipling also gives us glimpses. His serious poems<br />
on “ Prospective Criticism,” “How Markets are<br />
seem to me the ones most full of promise. Taken as a<br />
Influenced,” “Bulls and Bears," " The Financial whole, his work gives hope of a new literary star of no<br />
Press," &c. There is an index, and a glossary of mean magnitude arising in the East.<br />
mining terms.<br />
• Sir William Hunter's great work was “The<br />
A very different book is to be added immediately History of British India."<br />
to Mr. Grant Richards' Religious Life Series. It A useful and timely volume is “The Foundation<br />
is a reprint of Bishop Hall's “ Meditations and of British East Africa,” by J. W. Gregory, D.Sc.<br />
Vows." Bishop Hall was one of the later Elizabe- (Horace Marshall, 6s. net). In it the author<br />
thans. His “ Meditations and Vows” first relates the chief events in the history of the<br />
appeared in their original form in 1605, but were country down to the appointment of Sir Harry<br />
subsequently revised and considerably enlarged. Johnston as Commissioner of Uganda. There<br />
The present edition will be complete and will be are maps and illustrations.<br />
edited by Mr. Charles Sayle.<br />
Number 42 of the Portfolio Monographs ·<br />
“The Life of Lord Russell of Killowen " (Smith, (Seeley & Co) is “ Mediæval London," by the<br />
Elder, 10s. 6d. net), by Mr. R. Barry O'Brian, is Rev. Čanon Benham, D.D., Rector of St. Edmund<br />
one of the season's successful books. That this the King in Lombard Street, and Charles Welsh,<br />
biography of the late Lord Chief Justice is so F.S.A., Librarian to the Corporation of London.<br />
interesting is partly because Mr. O'Brian's bio. The first twenty-one pages is a comprehensive<br />
graphical intentions were known to Lord Russell, “ Survey of Mediæval London.” Then come<br />
who willingly talked to the point. Lord Russell's chapters on “Civic Rule," “ The Thames,"<br />
family have also supplied papers. This masterful “ Religious Life," “ The Fortresses, Palaces,<br />
man, endowed with a magnetic personality, who and Mansions,” and “The Passing of Medieval<br />
imposed himself on the jury and the Court, was London.” The monograph is exquisitely illus-<br />
considered by many to be the biggest advocate of trated. There are four plates printed in colours<br />
the century.<br />
and reproductions of a series of Antonie Van den<br />
The following opinion of his with reference to Wyngaerde's drawings of Elizabethan London,<br />
the difference between English and Irish juries now in the Bodleian Library. All who love<br />
has been considerably quoted, but it will bear their London will welcome this scholarly mono-<br />
repetition :<br />
graph. Price 5s. net ; or in cloth 78. net.<br />
In dealing with an English jury it is better to go Two books which have a special interest for<br />
straight to the point ; the less finesse the better. It is<br />
those who live in and about London are (1)<br />
different with an Irish jury. An Irish jury enjoys the trial.<br />
They can follow every turn of the game. They understand<br />
“London City Churches” (Constable & Co.), by<br />
the points of skill; the play between an Irish witness and A. E. Daniell, who knows these churches and has<br />
an Irish counsel is good fun, and they like the fun, and they carefully studied their monuments and archives ;<br />
don't mind the loss of time. They get as good value out of the and (2) - London Riverside Churches,” by the<br />
trial as they would out of the theatre. With an English<br />
jury it is different. They are busy men, and they want to same painstaking author<br />
same painstaking author. Both volumes are fully<br />
get away quickly. The great thing in dealing with an illustrated.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 85 (#475) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR,<br />
85<br />
A volume which is particularly interesting just aquatints, &c., &c. There are also valuable hints<br />
now is “ English Coronation Records,” edited by to beginners. Mr. Whitman is an acknowledged<br />
Leopold G. W. Legg, B.A. (Constable & Co., expert.<br />
31s. 6d. net). It consists of documents illus-<br />
Mr. Edward Clodd has finished for early publi-<br />
trating the history of English coronations from<br />
cation a brief monograph on Professor Huxley,<br />
the seventh century to the nineteenth. There<br />
which will be issued by Messrs, Blackwoods & Sons<br />
is a general introduction on ceremonies and<br />
as a volume of their “ Modern English Writers<br />
customs, and an account of services due at the<br />
Series."<br />
coronation. There are numerous illustrations from<br />
contemporary sources. The edition is limited to<br />
The seventh Annual Continuation of “Chitty's<br />
500 copies.<br />
Statutes of Practical Utility,” of which the 5th<br />
edition was brought out in 13 volumes in 1894-5,<br />
The students of heraldry will be interested in<br />
has just been brought out by Mr. J. M. Lely, and<br />
“ Some Feudal Coats of Arms,” by Joseph Foster<br />
published by Sweet & Maxwell, Limited, and<br />
(James Parker & Co., 63s.). There are some<br />
some Stevens & Sons, Limited, at 7s. The new volume<br />
2,000 illustrations in this volume, which is in the<br />
contains a summary of the selected Statutes, with<br />
first instance a collection from certain heraldic<br />
notes, in which the bearing of the Civil List Act<br />
rolls.<br />
on the Civil List Pensions is fully treated. A<br />
A large paper edition, limited to 250 copies, of consolidating volume containing the seven con-<br />
Mr. Barry Pain's new book,“ Stories in the Dark," tinuations, with additional notes, will shortly<br />
is being prepared by Mr. Grant Richards.<br />
be issued.<br />
Among the important art books recently published Mr. Anthony Hope's new play will follow "Iris"<br />
is “ Sir Henry Raeburn, R.A.," by Sir Walter at the Garrick. It is a new and original modern<br />
Armstrong, Director of the National Gallery, comedy in four acts, and the cast will be very<br />
Ireland. There is an introduction by (the late) carefully selected. Mr. Bourchier will appear in<br />
R.A. M. Stevenson, and a catalogue raisonné of the leading part, and Mr. Esmond will make a<br />
Raeburn's works by J. L. Law, Curator of the reappearance in an important character.<br />
National Gallery of Scotland (Heinemann, £5 5s.).<br />
Mr. Martin Harvey will present his new play<br />
Raeburn's reputation has grown slowly but very<br />
“ After All,” by Freeman Wills and Frederick<br />
surely, and his pictures are now eagerly sought<br />
Langbridge, for the first time in London at the<br />
I<br />
after. A Raeburn is among one of the most<br />
Avenue Theatre this month. The drama, which<br />
recent acquisitions of the Musée du Louvre. There<br />
is founded upon “Eugene Aram," was recently<br />
are 70 plates in this fine volume ; 66 are in<br />
produced in Dublin and was favourably received.<br />
photogravure and 4 in lithographic facsimile.<br />
Mr. H. V. Esmond's "The Wilderness” may be<br />
Another important book published through<br />
followed by a revival for a short run of “The<br />
Messrs. Longmans is the English edition of<br />
Importance of Being Earnest.” Preparations will<br />
“ Andrea Mantegna” (Paul Kristeller), by<br />
be active for the production of Mr. Stephen<br />
S. Arthur Strong, M.A., Librarian to the House of<br />
Phillips' tragedy “Paola and Francesca,” which is to<br />
Phi<br />
Lords and at Chatsworth. £3 108. net is the<br />
be put on early next month. Miss Elizabeth<br />
price of this finely illustrated book on the artist<br />
artist Robbins is cast for the important part of Lucrezia.<br />
R<br />
of Padua.<br />
Early in February a new piece is due at the<br />
Then there is an admirable new work on<br />
Lyric. It is “My Best Girl,” by Seymour Hicks and<br />
“Modelling,” by Professor Lanteri, of the Royal<br />
Walter Slaughter.<br />
College of Art, South Kensington (Chapman &<br />
Hallº 15s. net). It is meant primarily as a Mr. Sydney Grundy's new play, .“ Frocks and<br />
guide for teachers and students. "M. Lanteri is Frills," will be produced at the Haymarket on the<br />
well known as a remarkably successful teacher. evening of January 2nd. As Miss Winifred Emery<br />
who aims at bringing out any originality his is compelled under medical advice to take a few<br />
pupils may possess.<br />
months' rest, her part will be assumed by Miss<br />
There is also “The Print Collector's Handbook"<br />
Grace Lane, who has done well under Mrs. Kendall.<br />
by Mr. Alfred Whitman (Bell, illustrated, 15s, net). Mr. Charles Frohman is sending into the pro-<br />
There has been such a run on the book that it is vinces four companies (under the direction of Mr.<br />
practically out of print already and copies are not C. E. Hamilton), with the successful drama “Sher-<br />
very easily got. Mr. Whitman, of the British lock Holmes,” by Dr. A. Conan Doyle and Mr.<br />
Museum, gives some interesting information about William Gillette. The companies will be provided<br />
the Print Rooms of the Museum. There are with new scenery and the special electrical effects<br />
chapters on line engravings, mezzotints, etchings, which have been used at the Lyceum.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 86 (#476) #############################################<br />
<br />
86<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
One of the events of the theatrical season has of a further volume containing the historical books,<br />
been the brilliant and extremely successful revival although the Books of Moses have not yet been<br />
of “ Iolanthe" at the Savoy. “Iolanthe" was first many weeks out of the press. The whole work is<br />
produced nineteen years ago. Miss Rosina Bran- intended to be contained in four volumes, and<br />
dram as Queen of the Fairies made a marked there is every indication that Mr. Fenton's version<br />
success.<br />
of the Old Testament will be as popular as his<br />
We understand that Mr. W. S. Penley has gone<br />
translation of the New Testament has been, and<br />
abroad for a short holiday. On his return he will<br />
continues to be, both here and in America.<br />
reopen the Great Queen Street Theatre with a new A new volume of verse is being issued by F. B.<br />
piece.<br />
Doveton through Messrs. Baker and Son, of Clifton.<br />
Mrs. Patrick Campbell's American tour com-<br />
The volume's title is “Mirth and Music," and the<br />
mences at the Grand Opera House in Chicago.<br />
poems contained in it have been collected and<br />
The elerenth annual dinner in aid of the Actors'<br />
reprinted from various magazines and papers, both<br />
Benevolent Fund was held in the Whitehall Rooms,<br />
London and provincial.<br />
Hôtel Métropole on the evening of December 18th.<br />
“In the Blood " is the title of a recently pub-<br />
The Right Hon. Lord Alverstone was in the chair,<br />
lished book by Mr. W. S. Walker_“ Coo-ee.”—<br />
and was supported on his right by Mr. Charles which shows that Australian larrikinism revels in<br />
Wyndham, and on his left by Sir Squire Bancroft. the big cities of the island continent on much the<br />
Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins, Mr. Murray Carson, same lines as does hooliganism in London.<br />
Sir Anderson Critchett, and Mr. George Grossmith Mr. Lewis Melville, author of the “Life of<br />
were among those present. It was announced Thackeray," will this month publish, through<br />
during the evening that the subscription list Messrs. Greening & Co., a novel dealing with<br />
amounted to over £900, the chairman having the stage. It is called “In the World of<br />
contributed 100 guineas.<br />
Mimes.”<br />
The fifth English edition of Mr. F. Howard Collins A new book, “Shrouded in Mystery," by Sarah.<br />
“ Epitome of the Synthetic Philosophy of Herbert Eleanor and Harriet Stredder (Deane, 3s. 6d.) is a<br />
Spencer” was published recently (Williams and contribution to psychic stories. All the four stories<br />
Norgate, 21s.). It now represents the Philosophy are founded on fact.<br />
as it at present stands, having been revised and<br />
enlarged where necessary. There are second and<br />
Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously<br />
third separate editions of it appearing in America,<br />
pleased to accept a copy of “King Helge-A sloq,"<br />
dramas based upon the Scandinavian legends, by<br />
France, and Russia, and last year a German<br />
F. J. Winbolt.<br />
translation appeared.<br />
“ The Student's History of Philosophy," by “An Angelico Angel” is the title of a little<br />
Professor A. K. Rogers (Macmillan), falls into volume of short stories by Miss Emily Underdown<br />
three parts. The first deals with the Greeks from (Norley Chester). It is published by Messrs. J.<br />
Thales down to the Neo-Platonists and the advent Clarke & Co., price 1s., and all profits will be given<br />
of Christianity ; the second treats briefly of the to the United Kingdom Beneficent Association.<br />
Middle Ages and the Schoolmen, and of the transi. Copies may be obtained from the office of the<br />
tion from them to modern philosophy in the works Association, 7, Arundel Street, Strand : from Miss<br />
of Bacon and Hobbes; the third, occupying half the E. Underdown, 22, Belsize Crescent, Hampstead,<br />
book, is concerned with the Moderns, from Descartes N.W., or from any bookseller. Norley Chester is<br />
to Herbert Spencer and the Evolutionists.<br />
known as the author of “A Plain Woman's Part,"<br />
Dr. Westermarck's “ History of Human Mar-<br />
“Stories from Dante,” “Songs and Sonnets,"<br />
riage” is now issued in a new edition. This is the<br />
&c., &c.<br />
third within ten years—a success too rare with We understand that the circulation of The<br />
books of philosophy. Messrs. Macmillan are the Lady's Realm (Hutchinson & Co.) has gone up<br />
publishers.<br />
considerably, owing to its new serial, “ No Other<br />
Mr. Ferrar Fenton has put into the hands of his<br />
is Way,” by Sir Walter Besant. The same firm have<br />
printers the second volume of his “Bible in Modern<br />
fortunately been able to secure Sir Walter Besant's<br />
English,” which will be issued to the public through<br />
Autobiography.<br />
the house of S. W. Partridge & Co., 8, Paternoster Miss Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler's new serial,<br />
Row, London, E.C. The very favourable reception “Fuel of Fire," begins in this month's The<br />
of his first volume of the Hebrew portion of the Woman at Home (Hodder & Stoughton). Some<br />
Bible, containing the “Five Books of Moses," both 200,000 copies of “ Concerning Isabel Carnaby”<br />
in Britain and America, has led to a call for an issue have now been sold.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 87 (#477) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
87<br />
Mr. Hannilton Aïde's novel “ The Snares of the LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL<br />
World” has gone into a third edition. Mr. John<br />
PROPERTY.<br />
Murray will publish early next year a volume of<br />
short plays by Mr. Hamilton Aïdé, entitled “ We<br />
are Seven,” “Half-hours on the Stage,” “ Grave<br />
1.-Cost of Production.<br />
and Gay.”<br />
TT not infrequently happens that a young author,<br />
“Mr. Horrocks the Purser," by Mr. Cutcliffe<br />
I ignorant of the technical question—the amouni.<br />
Hyne, will be published by Methuen on January<br />
of words contained in the ordinary 6s. volume<br />
15th, by Lewis and Mayo in the States, and in<br />
-makes his maiden effort of a length which causes<br />
translations in Germany and France. Mr. Hyne<br />
the publisher to fight shy of its production. It is of<br />
has also written another series of “ Adventures of<br />
great importance, therefore, for the beginner to<br />
Captain Kettle” for Pearson's Magazine, to appear<br />
write a book that is rather under than above the<br />
in 1902, and is collaborating with Mr. Murray<br />
average. The average may be taken as about<br />
Carson in a play dealing with the “ Adventures of<br />
85,000 words.<br />
Captain Kettle.”<br />
The length of a book, however, not infrequently<br />
causes the publisher to make demands on an author's<br />
pocket that he would not otherwise have done, and<br />
“HAMPSTEAD ANNUAL," 1901. in an indefinite way leads the author to think that<br />
a book of 170,000 words will cost twice as much<br />
This, the fifth number of the “ Hampstead to produce as a book of 85,000. This is very far<br />
Annual,” has a special interest for members of from being the case, as the example given below<br />
the Society. Mr. S. Squire Sprigge has con- will show.<br />
tributed a most interesting and sympathetic Let no author, therefore, be led into paving<br />
article on our founder, who was for many years exorbitant sums merely on account of a slight<br />
a distinguished resident of the suburb on the advance in length.<br />
heights. Sir Walter Besant wrote a preface, A novel, crown octavo, of twenty sheets, of sixteen<br />
“graceful and cordial,” for the first “Hampstead pages to the sheet, with 260 words for each page,<br />
Annual,” which appeared in 1897. The present small pica type, will amount to approximately<br />
number, admirably edited by Mr. Greville E.<br />
82,000 words—in reality it is 82,200—and the<br />
Matheson and Mr. Sydney C. Mayle, is full of cost of production of 1,000 copies works out as<br />
good things possessing a more than local interest. follows :-<br />
For instance, Dr. Richard Garnett's illuminating<br />
article on “ Sir Francis Palgrave as a Precursor of<br />
Composition. 1 7 6 per sheet £27 10 0<br />
Printing : 0 10 6 , ,<br />
Ruskin” is likely to arouse wide interest and con-<br />
10 10 0<br />
siderable comment. Professor John W. Hales, in<br />
Paper . . ( 19 6 , , 19 10 0<br />
his scholarly “Shelley's Adonais,” explains-con-<br />
vincingly, one thinks—wby Shelley styled Keats<br />
Total cost . . . £57 10 0<br />
Adonais, in his noble monody, “ an In Memoriam The next point for consideration is the cost of<br />
poem of immortal beauty.” Then Mr. H. W. composition of a novel of twice the length, say<br />
Nevinson, of war correspondent fame, whose “Plea 164,000 words.<br />
of Pan” (John Murray) has been one of the year's Instead of setting up the work in small pica<br />
literary successes, has written a delightful article type, the publisher sets it up in long primer,<br />
about his old school upon the Severn-Shrewsbury with the following result:<br />
to wit-under the title of “ Sabrina Fair." Sir That in the twenty sheets (the number taken<br />
Richard Temple has a contribution on “ Londoners above) which take 82,000 words in small pica<br />
and London"; Mr. James E. Whiting gives “Some type, the publisher can set up 108,000 words,<br />
Notes on the Flora of Hampstead”, Miss Beatrice approximately, in long primer, reckoning 340<br />
Marshall writes on “ Romney's Connection with words to the page, crown octavoin reality<br />
Hampstead”; Canon Ainger contributes an article 108,800. The cost of composition of long<br />
on " Mrs. Barbauld”; Miss Beatrice Harraden has primer type is, giving ample margin, 5s. more<br />
a short prose parable,“ The Talisman”; and Maude expensive than small pica. The result, there-<br />
Egerton King's story is called “ The Play Angel." fore, will be that the cost of production will be<br />
Miss May Sinclair's poem - emphatically it is exactly the same as above, with the exception that<br />
poetry—“A Fable,” is remarkable. There is a the cost of composition is 5s. a sheet more, with<br />
short poem by Dollie Radford, and a long one by the result that £5 must be added to the cost of<br />
Mr. B. Paul Newman. There are some sixteen production, making in all £62 10s.<br />
interesting illustrations, carefully produced. The But we are still 56,000 words short. Reckoning<br />
“ Annual” is well worth its price-2s.6d, net. that each sheet of sixteen pages set up in long<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 88 (#478) #############################################<br />
<br />
88<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
primer as above will take 5,440 words, eleven 6. The MS. does not infringe in any way upon any<br />
sheets will amply cover the 56,000 words that existing copyright.<br />
NAME<br />
are still wanting.<br />
ADDRESS<br />
The cost of eleven sheets, 1,000 copies, basing<br />
N.B.-All MSS. must be typewritten, bear the name and<br />
our calculations on the amount stated above, will address of the sender, and be accompanied by stamped and<br />
be as follows :<br />
addressed envelope for its return.<br />
Composition, 11 sheets at £1 12s. 6d.<br />
This method of doing business is from some<br />
per sheet.<br />
£17 17 6 points of view exceedingly satisfactory, as it sets<br />
Printing, 11 sheets at 10s. 6d. per<br />
forth clearly the responsibilities of the editor and<br />
sheet .<br />
5 15 6 the position of the author, but there are some<br />
Paper, 11 sheets at 198. 6d. per sheet 10 14 6 points in which it has serious blemishes. Firstly,<br />
in Clause 2 a fixed date should be limited for reply ;<br />
Total. . . . . £34 7 6 the words “longer than necessary” are far too<br />
indefinite, and contracts that lack clearness are<br />
Total cost of 20 sheets . . £62 10 0 almost sure to give rise to disputes. Secondly, in<br />
, , 11 , . . 34 7 6 Clause 3 there is no definition of "current prices.”<br />
Now, either the magazine pays a regular amount<br />
Total cost of both . £96 17 6 per page or it does not, but suits its price to the<br />
author. If it pays a regular amount per page, the<br />
It will be seen, therefore, from the example that current price ought to be definitely stated. If it<br />
a book of 82,000 words will cost £57 10s., but a suits the amount to its author, then the vague<br />
book of 164,000 will cost only £96 128., or barely phraseology of “current prices” should never have<br />
£40 more.<br />
been inserted.<br />
It should be remarked also that the figures Thirdly, in Clause 4 the magazine is to have<br />
taken are very liberal from the printer's point the “sole right to this MS. in the English<br />
of view, and that a book produced according to language in the event of its acceptance."<br />
the size and type named would not really cost Authors should never sell the copyright and all<br />
so much. This point, however, does not directly their rights to a magazine.<br />
bear on the argument.<br />
They should only sell the serial use of their MS.<br />
G. H. T.<br />
for that one magazine, and this is the plan by<br />
which nearly all serial work is placed in England.<br />
Lastly, the author cannot publish in a foreign<br />
II. - The Management of MSS.<br />
language without the proprietor's leave. This<br />
An American magazine entitled Smart Society<br />
restriction is quite unnecessary for safeguarding<br />
has been much in evidence during the last few<br />
last few the magazine's property, and only likely to cause<br />
months on the English bookstalls. It has estab-<br />
irritation to the author.<br />
blished an office in London, and is full of excellent<br />
reading in many branches of literature.<br />
In consequence members of the Society have<br />
III.-Half Profits on Sheets to America.<br />
forwarded MSS. for the perusal and, if possible, THE following point in a publisher's agreement<br />
the acceptance of the editor. In reply the follow- must be brought before the notice of the members<br />
ing document is sent to them for signature : of the Society of Authors. It is not an uncommon<br />
thing for publishers to enter into an agreement for<br />
Gentlemen,<br />
My MS., entitled , is submitted to you on the<br />
the publication of a book, undertaking to pay the<br />
following conditions :<br />
author a royalty in England, and—failing to secure<br />
1. If published, the MS. should appear under the name the American copyright-half profits on the sale of<br />
of<br />
as author.<br />
sheets or stereos in America. A clause drafted on<br />
2. I agree not to offer this MS, to anyone else, or permit<br />
its publication unless and until I receive the reply from<br />
these lines is a distinct pitfall to the author, and<br />
you of your Editor rejecting it. You agree that this reply is one of the many tricks, off the line of fair<br />
shall not be delayed longer than necessary.<br />
trading, by which the publisher obtains an advan-<br />
3. The MS. is submitted at the current price for contri.<br />
tage to himself to the detriment of the author.<br />
butions, payment to be made on application.<br />
4. You to have the sole rights to this MS, in the English<br />
Such a strong phrase has been used advisedly and<br />
language in the event of its acceptance, and it is not to be for the following reasons : 1. Because to the<br />
published in any other language until after it has appeared ordinary person the difficulties with which the<br />
", and then only with your permission in clause is pregnant are altogether invisible. 2. Be-<br />
writing.<br />
5. The MS. has never been printed anywhere in any cause the amount the author receives in royalty<br />
form.<br />
is always calculated-see the books of the Society<br />
in<br />
66<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 89 (#479) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
on the point-on the basis that the full cost of account of £2 10s., as the sale to America has<br />
composition is charged against the English failed to cover the cost of production.<br />
edition. If this were not the case, the author As soon as the edition is sold and the amount is<br />
ought to receive a higher royalty. Let us worked out against the author he prints 10,000<br />
explain what we mean more fully.<br />
copies for the English edition, but never takes<br />
Take the ordinary 68. book :-<br />
into account the proportion of the cost of pro-<br />
Cost of composition of 3,000 copies. £30 0 0 duction of the 500 sent to America to the 10,000<br />
Cost of printing<br />
printed in England. Again, supposing you take<br />
Cost of paper<br />
» .<br />
458<br />
£58<br />
»<br />
0<br />
Ö<br />
0<br />
the first instance and 20,000 were subsequently<br />
sold, the cost of the 2,000 sold to America is taken<br />
Total . . . . £104 0 0 into proportion to the cost of the 3,000 printed.<br />
It will be seen, therefore, that quite apart from<br />
Of the 3,000 copies the publisher sends 2,000 to<br />
the contract being unfair and a pitfall to the<br />
America, and receives for the same (say) 1s. a copy<br />
unwary (as to the ordinary author on the face<br />
-£100. The cost of composition was compulsory<br />
of the agreement the difficulty is invisible),<br />
for the completion of the English edition, the<br />
even if it is worked out by a publisher with an<br />
author's royalty, as stated, being based on this<br />
honest (?) idea of doing nothing dishonourable,<br />
understanding ; but the publishers take two-thirds<br />
the result of its working out its natural evolution<br />
of this cost towards the American edition, as<br />
becomes a fraud on the author. The position is<br />
well as two-thirds of the cost for the print and<br />
ridiculous. It is to be hoped that the Publishers'<br />
the paper, leaving to be divided between himself<br />
Association will disassociate themselves from this<br />
and the author-<br />
form of agreement.<br />
By sale of 2,000 copies to America. £100 0 0<br />
Two-thirds cost of production<br />
£69 6 8<br />
A LITERARY ADVERTISEMENT.<br />
£30 13 4<br />
It is at once seen that the result is unfair, as<br />
the cost of composition has no right to be charged TT was a curious and unusual advertisement. It<br />
against the American edition, but only the cost I caught my eye in a daily paper which has<br />
of print and paper, which would work out as a column devoted to literary wants. The<br />
follows :-<br />
advertiser required special articles for one week ;<br />
By sale of 2,000 copies to America. £100 0 0 the remuneration to be thirty shillings; and<br />
Two-thirds cost of print and paper £49 6 8 applicants were summoned to a certain number in<br />
the Brixton Road at 3 p.m. to ascertain particulars.<br />
£50 13 4<br />
Fired with curiosity and craving to understand<br />
the methods of one of London's literary advertisers,<br />
Instead, therefore, of the author receiving<br />
I took the train for this remote district, and after<br />
£25 6s. 8d., by the publisher's method of cal-<br />
a long, wearisome walk past garish and glaring<br />
culation of half profits, the author receives<br />
shops, respectable villas, and gloomy terraces, I<br />
£15 6s. 8d. and the publisher £35 6s. 8d. It<br />
knocked at the door of the house indicated. It<br />
is almost as reasonable an arrangement as the<br />
was one of a row of buildings, sombre-looking<br />
ordinary half profit agreement whose clauses<br />
and dingy-hued. A woman answered my ring, a<br />
and workings have so often been exposed in<br />
female with untidy light hair and a ruffled dress, who<br />
The Author.<br />
smirked and spoke with a light-hearted accent.<br />
To show how this method may be worked out in<br />
“ I have called about the advertisement," I said.<br />
the interests of untrustworthy publishers unfairly to<br />
The young woman's countenance beamed afresh,<br />
the author, say the publisher in the first instance<br />
as if my call had renewed her pleasurable excitement.<br />
only publishes a thousand copies. The cost of<br />
I was offered a seat in the hall. Next to me<br />
composition would still be £80 ; printing, £10;<br />
sat a serene-faced, spectacled young man, waiting.<br />
paper, £20. He sells 500 copies to America, and<br />
I glanced at the cheap prints on the walls, and<br />
on the same principle the following sum is worked<br />
borne to my ears was a gruff voice of an applicant<br />
out :-<br />
in the adjoining room. I heard him expatiating<br />
Half cost of production,<br />
£30 0 0<br />
on his own merits and his work, in his anxiety to<br />
By sale of 500 copies to America at<br />
secure this thirty shillings for a week's literary<br />
18. per copy . . · · £25 00 employment. In the meantime two other appli-<br />
cants had been offered seats in the hall.<br />
£5 0 0 “Your turn, I think?" said the smiling, untidy.<br />
This would leave a deficit against the author's looking young woman.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 90 (#480) #############################################<br />
<br />
90<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
I bowed deferentially. The gentleman with the the • Dictionary of National Biography' is pub-<br />
gruff voice passed out and I entered the room, lished to-day, he commands me to congratulate<br />
A young man with a self-complacent smile and a you on the final completion of this great work.<br />
self-important manner accosted me, nervously “ It is one which cannot fail to be most useful<br />
twirling my card about his fingers and glancing at to everybody, and no English library should be<br />
it, as if to assure himself that it was a real card without a copy.<br />
“Will you give me particulars of your advertise “ From what His Majesty has been able to read<br />
ment?” I asked, in a respectful and persuasive of the various articles he is much struck by the<br />
voice.<br />
ability and research which have been shown by the<br />
“Well, it's just this,” he replied; “I am writing writers, as well as the admirable and careful way<br />
a book of travel. I have nearly finished it, but I in which the work has been edited.<br />
want assistance."<br />
“Believe me, yours very truly,<br />
"And the nature of the assistance ?" I asked,<br />
“FRANCIS KNOLLYS.”<br />
deeply interested.<br />
“Reading up a bit and writing about 3,000 We must congratulate Mr. Sidney Lee on the<br />
words a day," he informed me.<br />
recognition he has received from the King of the<br />
“ That would be just 18,000 words in the week, arduous work which, begun by Mr. Leslie Stephed,<br />
besides the necessary research, and all for thirty he has so conscientiously carried through to the<br />
shillings! Hardly good enough for me," I replied. end.<br />
I retired. The hall was now so crowded with<br />
applicants that I pushed my way to the door with<br />
difficulty.<br />
THE AUTHORS' CLUB.<br />
This true experience ought to prove interesting<br />
to literary aspirants.<br />
LUNETTE.<br />
URING November and December the<br />
Authors' Club has had some interesting<br />
guests at its Monday night dinners.<br />
THE DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL<br />
On November the 25th Mr. Morley Roberts<br />
BIOGRAPHY.<br />
took the chair, and Mr. E. W. Hornung was the<br />
guest of the evening. It was a curious fact that<br />
in years gone by, both the guest and the chairman<br />
CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING.<br />
had been working on the same ranche in Australia,<br />
wing letter has been sent to the press and they told some very amusing stories of their<br />
1 by Mr. Sidney Lee :-<br />
experiences out there.<br />
On December 9th Prof. Rucker was the guest<br />
SIR,— On the day of publication of the third and Sir Michael Foster took the chair, Sir<br />
and last of the supplementary volumes of the Michael Foster spoke from his intimate knowledge<br />
“ Dictionary of National Biography " the King of the guest of the evening, as a friend of long<br />
was graciously pleased to honour me with a letter standing, and made an interesting and amusing<br />
of congratulation on the completion of the under- speech, to which the learned professor aptly<br />
taking. At the time I was travelling in Italy, responded. He drew a parallel between men of<br />
whence I am just returned.<br />
science and writers of fiction, stating that both<br />
I feel that every member of the little army of were endeavouring to discover the truths of nature,<br />
writers and collectors of information who have though working from different standpoints.<br />
helped the editors and publishers to build up the On December 16th Prof. J. Rhys, the renowned<br />
great edifice of the Dictionary ought to have an Celtic Scholar and Principal of Jesus College, was<br />
opportunity of reading His Majesty's congratu- the guest, and Mr. E. W. Brabrook, C.B., the<br />
latury words. I have therefore sought and chairman. Prof. Rhys, in an amusing speech,<br />
obtained permission to make public the generous repudiated any claim to real authorship, unless<br />
communication.<br />
being an authority on a subject could be called<br />
I am, sir, your obedient servant,<br />
authorship. He gave some amusing instances of<br />
SIDNEY LEE. the disadvantages of being a referee on any subject.<br />
15, Waterloo Place, London, S.W.: Dec. 3. In January and February the club has an<br />
interesting list of guests: F. Carruthers Gould,<br />
“ Marlborough House, Pall Mall, S.W.:<br />
Austin Dobson, A. E. W. Mason, and Hesketh<br />
“ October 25th, 1901.<br />
Prichard.<br />
“MY DEAR MR. LEE,—As the King believes The members appear to be dealing out honours<br />
that the last of the supplementary volumes of to the profession with a liberal hand.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 91 (#481) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
91<br />
GENERAL MEMORANDA.<br />
(.) sa<br />
ITERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an<br />
01 agreement. There are four methods of dealing<br />
with literary property :-<br />
I. 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, or with the advice of the<br />
Secretary of the Society.<br />
II. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of<br />
agreement).<br />
In this case the following rules should be attended to:<br />
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro-<br />
duction forms a part without the strictest investigation.<br />
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the<br />
profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements<br />
in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise-<br />
ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements.<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 />
III. The Royalty System.<br />
It is above all things necessary to know what the<br />
proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now possible<br />
for an author to ascertain approximately and very nearly<br />
the truth. From time to time the very important figures<br />
connected with royalties are published in The Author.<br />
Readers can also work out the figures themselves from the<br />
“ Cost of Production."<br />
IY. A Commission Agreement.<br />
The main points are :-<br />
(1.) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production,<br />
(2.) Keep control of the advertisements.<br />
(3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book.<br />
General.<br />
All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four<br />
above mentioned.<br />
Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author.<br />
Nerer sign any agreement without competentadvice from<br />
the Secretary of the Society.<br />
Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp.<br />
Avoid agreements by letter if possible.<br />
The main 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. There are three forms of dramatic contract for PLAYS<br />
IN THREE OR MORE ACTS :-<br />
(a.) SALE OUTRIGHT OF THE PERFORMING RIGHT.<br />
This is unsatisfactory. An author who enters<br />
into such a contract should stipulate in the con-<br />
tract for production of the piece by a certain date<br />
and for proper publication of his name on the<br />
play-bills.<br />
SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE<br />
TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF PERCENTAGES<br />
on gross receipts. Percentages vary between<br />
5 and 15 per cent. An author should obtain a<br />
percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts<br />
in preference to the American system. Should<br />
obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed<br />
date on or before which the play should be<br />
performed.<br />
(c.) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE<br />
TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF ROYALTIES (i.e.,<br />
fixed nightly fees). This method should be<br />
always avoided except in cases where the fees<br />
are likely to be small or difficult to collect. The<br />
other safeguards set out under heading (6.) apply<br />
also in this case.<br />
4. PLAYS IN ONE ACT are often sold outright, but it is<br />
better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum<br />
paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely<br />
important that the amateur rights of one-act plays should<br />
be reserved.<br />
5. Authors should remember that performing rights can<br />
be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and<br />
time. This is most important.<br />
6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but<br />
should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is<br />
of great importance.<br />
7. Authors should remember that performing rights in a<br />
play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager<br />
holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot<br />
print the book of the words.<br />
8. Never forget that AMERICAN RIGHTS may be exceed-<br />
ingly valuable. They should never be included in English<br />
agreements without the author obtaining a substantial<br />
consideration.<br />
9. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully<br />
drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced.<br />
10. An author should remember that production of a play<br />
is highly speculative : that he runs a very great risk of<br />
delay and a breakdown in the fulfilment of his contract.<br />
He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully in<br />
the beginning.<br />
11. An author must remember that the dramatic market<br />
is exceedingly limited, and that for a novice the first object<br />
is to obtain adequate publication.<br />
As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete on<br />
account of the wide range of the subject of dramatic con-<br />
tracts, THOSE AUTHORS DESIROUS OF FURTHER INFORMA-<br />
TION ARE REFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY.<br />
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.<br />
WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.<br />
MTEVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the<br />
Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com<br />
petent legal authority.<br />
2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for<br />
the production of a play with anyone except an established<br />
manager.<br />
1. DVERY member has a right to ask for and to receive<br />
advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-<br />
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his<br />
business or the administration of his property. If the<br />
advice sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor,<br />
the member has a right to an opinion from the Society's<br />
solicitors. If the case is such that Counsel's opinion is<br />
desirable, the Committee will obtain for him Counsel's<br />
opinion. All this without any cost to the member.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 92 (#482) #############################################<br />
<br />
92<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright<br />
and publishers' agreements do not generally fall within the<br />
experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple<br />
to use the Society.<br />
3. Send to the Office copies of past agreements and past<br />
accounts, with a copy of the book represented. The<br />
Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new<br />
or old, for inspection and note. The information thus<br />
obtained may prove invaluable.<br />
Communications for The Author should be addressed to<br />
the Offices of the Society, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's<br />
Gate, S.W., and should reach the Editor NOT LATER<br />
THAN THE 21st OF EACH MONTH.<br />
All persons engaged in literary work of any kind,<br />
whether members of the Society or not, are invited to<br />
communicate to the Editor any points connected with their<br />
work which it would be advisable in the general interest to<br />
publish.<br />
4. BEFORE SIGNING ANY AGREEMENT WHATEVER, send<br />
the document to the Society for examination,<br />
For the Opinions expressed in papers that are signed<br />
or initialled the Authors alone are responsible.<br />
None of the papers or paragraphs must be taken<br />
as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless<br />
such is especially stated to be the case.<br />
COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTERS ARE INVITED BY THE<br />
EDITOR on all subjects connected with literature, but on<br />
no other subjects whatever. Every effort will be made to<br />
return articles which cannot be accepted.<br />
5. Remember always that in belonging to the Society<br />
you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you<br />
are reaping no benefit to yourself, and that you are<br />
advancing the best interests of literature in promoting the<br />
independence of the writer.<br />
6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception<br />
of members' agreements and their preservation in a fire-<br />
proof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as<br />
confidential documents to be read only by the Secretary,<br />
who will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers :<br />
-(1) To read and advise upon agreements and to give<br />
advice concerning publishers. (2) To stamp agreements<br />
in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep<br />
agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to<br />
agreements.<br />
7. No contract should be entered into with a literary<br />
agent without the advice of the Secretary of the Society.<br />
Members are strongly advised not to accept without careful<br />
consideration the contracts submitted to them by literary<br />
agents, and are recommended to submit them for inter-<br />
pretation and explanation to the Secretary of the Society.<br />
8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. This<br />
must be done within fourteen days of first execution. The<br />
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.<br />
THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY begs to give notice<br />
that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post,<br />
and he requests members who do not receive an<br />
answer to important communications within two days to<br />
write to him without delay. All remittances should be<br />
crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery Lane, or be sent<br />
by registered letter only.<br />
9. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from<br />
referring matters to the Secretary of the Society ; so do<br />
some publishers. Members can make their own deductions<br />
and act accordingly.<br />
AUTHORITIES.<br />
THE READING BRANCH.<br />
M EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this<br />
branch of their work by informing young writers<br />
of its existence. Their MSS. can be read and<br />
treated as a composition is treated by a coach. The term<br />
MSS, includes NOT ONLY WORKS OF FICTION, BUT POETRY<br />
AND DRAMATIC WORKS, and when it is possible, under<br />
special arrangement, technical and scientific works. The<br />
Readers are writers of competence and experience. The<br />
fee is one guinea.<br />
W E see it stated in some of the French papers<br />
V that a proposal is being put forward to<br />
levy a tax on all books sold in Paris.<br />
One of the suggested advantages which would<br />
accrue from adopting this measure is that the<br />
author would have a Government Certificate of<br />
his sales.<br />
In the large publishing houses it must very<br />
seldom occur that mistakes are made in the sale<br />
accounts of a book. There may be a clerical<br />
error now and again, but the idea that any<br />
well-established firm would keep duplicate sets<br />
of books or fraudulent clerks seems to be wholly<br />
absurd.<br />
There are no doubt some authors who are<br />
continually complaining of publishers' accounts ;<br />
these, we fear, would not be satisfied even with a<br />
Government Certificate.<br />
It seems quite clear also that if a publisher<br />
thought it worth his while to send fraudulent<br />
returns to the author, it would not be very difficult<br />
for the same man to defraud the Government.<br />
NOTICES.<br />
TIHE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of<br />
T the Society that, although the paper is sent to them<br />
free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a<br />
very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great<br />
many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest<br />
58. 6d. subscription for the year.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 93 (#483) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
93<br />
We have much pleasure in printing in addition,<br />
as an inset in the January number, notices to<br />
contributors collected from many magazines.<br />
It must not be taken from this that we do not<br />
strongly advocate the careful consideration of<br />
accounts sent in by publishers. This is especially<br />
applicable to accounts in which the cost of produc-<br />
tion is included, as many items in these accounts<br />
which are not fairly charged to authors are taken<br />
direct from the books of the publishers and<br />
should be at once disputed.<br />
In royalty accounts, however, the matter is rather<br />
different, and unless the author has grave reasons<br />
almost amounting to adequate legal proof to suspect<br />
that the sales are erroneously stated, it would be<br />
hardly worth his while to appoint an accountant<br />
to investigate the matter.<br />
In many cases the publisher would make no<br />
objection whatever to showing the vouchers. If,<br />
however, he raised an objection, and the author<br />
decided to carry through the case, it is quite<br />
possible, if the accounts proved to be correct<br />
when the publisher showed his books under com-<br />
pulsion, that the author would then have to pay<br />
his own costs in the case. The loss would be a<br />
heavy one for the author to bear.<br />
The right of an author to investigate accounts,<br />
as we have often pointed out, is a common law<br />
right, but it should be exercised with extreme<br />
caution, not only because of the expense that the<br />
author may be incurring, but also on account of<br />
the trouble and annoyance—not to mention the<br />
interruption of business—that it may give to the<br />
publisher.<br />
The great effort that is being made in America<br />
to com pel the sale of books on the net system is a<br />
matter that should not be overlooked by the<br />
English author.<br />
The same effort on a more modified scale is<br />
being made in the English book trade, and an article<br />
appeared in the Author from Mr. Robert MacLehose,<br />
of Glasgow, on this subject. We have written to<br />
an American publisher, and trust to be able to<br />
place before our readers at no distant date the<br />
result in America of this method of trading.<br />
There is one serious point, however, which<br />
should be put forward, and which Sir Walter<br />
Besant was very strong upon when the subject on<br />
a former occasion came under discussion.<br />
If the net system means that the extra profit<br />
accruing on the sale of the books goes to the book.<br />
seller, so that, where he is now ruined, he may<br />
drive a flourishing trade, then the author cannot<br />
raise any objection. But there is the danger that<br />
part of the sum may go into the publisher's pocket,<br />
who already, as middleman, Aourishes on the<br />
profits of the author, whom nobody, as yet,<br />
has had the boldness to state is in an unsound<br />
financial position. Even if this is quite a diminu-<br />
tive amount per book, say a penny (taking the<br />
penny as the average on the varying prices), then<br />
on the books sold in the year the increase on the<br />
publisher's profits would be enormous.<br />
It is necessary that this point should be very<br />
carefully looked into, as, if the publisher is going<br />
to obtain his share from the public the author<br />
must also obtain his.<br />
LIFE.<br />
“ A little struggle, a little growth ;<br />
A little pause; and nothing loth ;<br />
Decay and death ; and welcome both.”<br />
A. C: B.<br />
On reviewing the cases that have been dealt<br />
with by the Society during the past year, we find<br />
that forty cases have passed through the Secretary's<br />
hands referring to the detention and return of<br />
MSS. by editors and publishers, these amounting<br />
to nearly half of the total numbers.<br />
As the question of the forwarding of MSS. to<br />
magazines is a most important question from the<br />
author's point of view, and as authors naturally<br />
place a very high value on their MSS.—a point<br />
of view which the publisher or editor does not very<br />
often perceive—it has been thought well to reprint<br />
Counsel's opinion that was taken some years ago on<br />
this important subject, setting forth the respon-<br />
sibilities of editors.<br />
We cannot too strongly repeat the advice, always<br />
given, that authors must send in their MSS.<br />
typewritten and must retain copies.<br />
In the introductory chapter of “ The Pen and the<br />
Book," by Sir Walter Besant, we find the following<br />
paragraph :-<br />
Now, if you look at the Census of 1891, you will find<br />
returned as authors, editors, and journalists in England<br />
and Wales the number of about 5,800. As authors, editors<br />
and journalists do often overlap and run into one another's<br />
field of work, we will not try to distinguish them. But<br />
you would carry away a very false impression of the<br />
numbers engaged in literary work if you think this<br />
number represents all, or even a half of those who produce<br />
literature. There are clergymen, professors, lecturers,<br />
teachers of all kinds, lawyers, doctors, men in every<br />
branch of science, artists of all kinds, all of whom produce<br />
literary work. Literature is universal, and embraces<br />
everything, and the number of those who are literary men<br />
by profession is small indeed compared with the number<br />
of those who are literary men in fact. Take, for instance,<br />
the clergy. Consider how many of them are literary men,<br />
writers of books-books on theology, on scholarship, on<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 94 (#484) #############################################<br />
<br />
94<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
archæology, on criticism, on history, on poetry, on fiction. showing what we have constantly asserted, that<br />
Think what we should lose if such men as Dean Stanley, the publication of educational books is a great<br />
Chalmers, Stubbs, Lightfoot, Maurice, Kingsley, Martineau,<br />
had never written. And so in other professions. For one property, and that those educationalists who are<br />
man who actually lives by literary work there are three or constantly producing books and reap a bare profit<br />
four to whom the production of literature is an occasional of £100 or £150 a year, are distinctly ignorant of<br />
event, perhaps an occasional necessity. I think we should<br />
the proper way in which to manage their business.<br />
not be far wrong in placing the whole number of men and<br />
women engaged more or less in literary work at something<br />
On one or two occasions the old answer is still<br />
like 20,000.<br />
heard that the educational editor or the educa-<br />
Let us take the number at half that put forward<br />
tional writer does not believe the statements pot<br />
by Sir Walter. We candidly think that the forward in The Author, and is quite content with<br />
Society ought some day to approach so high a his miserable pittance. In cases of this kind the<br />
total. We must repeat that the Society does not disease is past cure.<br />
merely include writers of fiction and members of We should like to obtain a strong combination<br />
the dramatic profession, but includes all those of educational writers to fight this sistem of<br />
various branches mentioned in the above para underpay, and to obtain a satisfactory reward for<br />
graph. If in the production of one book-nearly<br />
the books which are the result of years of stored-<br />
all those included who do not live by their writings up knowledge and experience.<br />
but are occasional writers, produce considerably<br />
more than one volume—the Society can save them<br />
£5, either by their obtaining higher royalties, or<br />
We have much pleasure in announcing that an<br />
by its better knowledge of literary prices, or by<br />
S or by article from the pen of Mr. Henry Arthur Jones<br />
showing how that amount can be saved in the cost<br />
will appear in one of the coming numbers of The<br />
of production, the Society will have done sufficient<br />
Author on “The Modern System of the Censorship<br />
to cover the subscription for five years at least.<br />
and the Licensing of Plays.”<br />
If in the production of two volumes it can add<br />
£10 to the return of these writers, life member-<br />
ship subscription will have been earned, and any<br />
In the December number of The Author a<br />
further sums would be clear profit to the writer.<br />
Again we desire to impress upon all writers-<br />
practical article was inserted with regard to<br />
Commission Publishing, entitled “The Method of<br />
not only those who live by their pen, but those<br />
who write, say, a volume every third year or every<br />
the Future.”<br />
fifth year that the Society can assist them, and<br />
The figures were supplied by one who was<br />
may probably save them sums much larger than<br />
thoroughly conversant with the book and publish-<br />
they would pay in their annual subscriptions.<br />
ing trades, and the cost of printing, binding, etc.<br />
It is these occasional writers—more, perhaps,<br />
In the calculation, however, there was one slight<br />
than any others—who need the Society's help, as<br />
mistake. The number of copies given away for<br />
review had not been counted. These would<br />
their ignorance of the literary market makes it<br />
very easy for them to obtain a bad contract and<br />
amount to 80 or 100 at the outside. On the other<br />
to throw away the work of years for a mere<br />
hand, there is always the possibility of “ overs,"<br />
pittance.<br />
which generally amount to 20 or 30 in a large<br />
edition.<br />
One important warning, however, we should like<br />
We should like to impress upon the members to place before the members of the Society who<br />
once more—not only those who conduct their own are considering this method, namely, the fact that<br />
business, but also those who conduct their literary publishers very often do not give the author the<br />
work through the hands of an agent—that it is benefit of cash payments, and in addition take<br />
most important that The Author should receive from the author, beyond their commission on the<br />
early notices of books about to be published, as sales of the book, a commission on the cost of<br />
great inconvenience is caused by the sending of production. Some publishers do this without<br />
notices within a few days of publication of the<br />
saying anything about it; other publishers do it<br />
monthly numbers. We trust that all members of openly, stating the facts in their agreements.<br />
the Society, especially those who have made their<br />
Of the first case we have examples in the office.<br />
literary fame, will see that notes of their coming of the second case the publishers' own agreement.<br />
books are forwarded regularly to The Author by issued by their association, is sufficient proof.<br />
their agents.<br />
The clause runs as follows :<br />
In another part of The Author we publish a<br />
The publisher will supply the author with estimates for<br />
the printing, and will charge a commission of per cent.<br />
further article on educational books, again on the trade prices for printing, paper, binding, advertising,<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 95 (#485) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
95<br />
and other disbursements, and reserves to himself the right<br />
to take the usual credit or the equivalent cash discount for<br />
cash payments, but no such discount shall exceed 74 per<br />
cent.<br />
It would be impossible to insert all these in The<br />
Author, but we print in the Correspondence the<br />
first that was opened by the Secretary.<br />
The following is the comment on the clause<br />
contained in the pamphlet published by the<br />
Society : -<br />
In Clause 2 the publisher is going to hand in estimates<br />
to the author, and on these estimates he is to charge a<br />
percentage. This course makes the publisher's and author's<br />
interests in direct variance, for the higher the estimates<br />
the greater the publisher's percentage. From this point of<br />
view the clause is a bad one, quite apart from the right of<br />
the publisher to have a percentage on the cost of produc-<br />
tion at all in addition to the other profits that he is going<br />
to make out of the books. Again, he is to be allowed to<br />
take 7 per cent. discount for cash payments. This dis<br />
count he will be able to obtain at once, as under Clause 3<br />
the author is to pay the publisher a sum to cover the<br />
estimated cost of production before the work is sent to<br />
press. More than this, he is to pay for the advertisements<br />
at the same time, when it is hardly possible that the cash<br />
will be needed for advertising until three or four months<br />
later at the earliest. To the end of Clause 2, therefore, the<br />
publisher makes in the way of profits a fee to begin with,<br />
à percentage on the cost of production, binding, and<br />
advertisement, it being to the publisher's interest to make<br />
these charges as high as possible, and a discount of 7) per<br />
cent. on the same items. This is a good beginning when<br />
the publisher is to have no risk whatever as regards the<br />
book, all expenses being covered by the author.<br />
There is no space to put forward at the present<br />
time the many other difficulties connected with<br />
this agreement passed by the Publishers' Associa-<br />
tion. Members of the Society are referred to the<br />
Society's pamphlet “ Publishers' Agreements, with<br />
comments by G. Herbert Thring, and illustrative<br />
examples by Sir Walter Besant.” If, however,<br />
members are desirous of adopting commission-<br />
publishing, they must, as set forth in the article<br />
“ The Method of the Future," be prepared to pay<br />
the publisher a reasonable percentage on the sales,<br />
but must take care at the same time to deal with a<br />
man who will give them the real cost of production<br />
and does not want to take a percentage on it.<br />
We must not treat the editor of “What's What”<br />
too seriously. He cannot expect it. Has he not<br />
rather published the book with a view to making<br />
merriinent at Christmastide ? His article on<br />
Copyright confirms us in this opinion.<br />
He commences, “ Copyright is one of those things<br />
which ‘no fellow'really understands, least of all<br />
the lawyer." We are not surprised, therefore, to<br />
find that Mr. Quilter-keeping up his Merry<br />
Christmas jest—writes himself down as a barrister-<br />
at-law.<br />
The article proceeds, “ The law will protect that<br />
right (the copyright of any article or publication)<br />
for forty years or for twenty years after the author's<br />
death, whichever be the longer period.” Both<br />
these periods are wrong. It is the time of the<br />
year when the clown and harlequin run riot and<br />
the practical jester is licensed, but we must warn<br />
authors not to treat the book as a reliable book<br />
of reference<br />
of reference, as far as Copyright is concerned.<br />
for<br />
He next endeavours to explain the 18th section,<br />
an avowedly badly drawn and difficult clause ;<br />
but whatever its interpretation, it certainly is not<br />
explained on the lines suggested by Mr. Quilter.<br />
On Artistic Copyright he is equally at fault.<br />
If we thought it worth while, the paragram<br />
(Mr. Quilter's word) should have a critical article,<br />
but a warning to members is quite sufficient. As<br />
editor, he states that every one of the paragrams<br />
is original. The originality of the one dealing<br />
with Copyright convinces us of his sincerity. We<br />
hope Mr. Quilter has passed a Merry Christmas<br />
with his jest-book.<br />
AUTHOR AND LITERARY AGENT.<br />
We publish two more articles on the advantages<br />
of commission publishers. The first is an actual<br />
case, and, therefore, of great practical value. The<br />
second is from Mr. MacLehose, the Glasgow publisher,<br />
We are delighted to have a letter from one who<br />
knows the trade so well. We do not entirely agree<br />
with his dedactions, but hope to deal with them in<br />
the next issue.<br />
TT was not my intention again to occupy your<br />
1 pages, but as my remarks on the Literary<br />
Agent in the October Author have been mis-<br />
understood by one or two of your correspondents,<br />
I will ask you to permit me to make my position<br />
clearer.<br />
The string of falsehoods written about the<br />
Society by Mr. Quilter brings its compensation in<br />
the shape of many pleasant letters from members<br />
speaking of the benefits derived from its work.<br />
Your correspondents seem to assume that I was<br />
complaining of the literary agent. I did nothing<br />
of the sort; I simply followed your invitation to<br />
explain my views on the advisability of employing<br />
a literary agent. As for myself and any grievance<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 96 (#486) #############################################<br />
<br />
96<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
I might have against certain literary agents, I am<br />
II.<br />
quite prepared to take care of myself, so that if a<br />
literary agent can cheat me, he is welcome to do An author's property in his work may be<br />
80. I do not complain of him, nor of the author classed under the following heudinys :-<br />
who acquiesces in the use of fair or foul means (1) Book rights—the right of production in<br />
towards me. But I will certainly never willingly book-form, and (2) serial rights—the right of<br />
give a literary agent (or anyone for that matter) publication in the form of a periodical or magazine<br />
two chances of getting the better of me. Thus issue.<br />
I have always had agreeable relations with Mr. Book rights may be subdivided into the follow-<br />
Benson's agent, and I continue to do business ing : rights in Great Britain, America, the colonies<br />
with him which is satisfactory to both of us ; but and dependencies of Great Britain, Continental<br />
there are other literary agents in London whom rights, and right of translation. Serial rights may<br />
I prefer not to deal with. I don't complain of be divided : (1) rights in some English magazine<br />
their methods ; but as I have found their methods or paper; (2) rights in some American maga-<br />
so different from my methods, it seemed best not zine or paper ; (3) secondary rights in England;<br />
to be in business relations with them. I mention (4) secondary rights in America ; (5) rights in<br />
this only in explanation of my personal position, the colonies and dependencies of Great Britain ;<br />
which has been brought into this matter by your (6) in translation form in foreign countries.<br />
correspondents. It has nothing to do with the It will be seen, therefore, that not only writers<br />
statement I sent you, which purported to be a state- of fiction, but writers of technical works, educa-<br />
ment of policy, not of individual expediency. That tional works, and the many other branches of<br />
is why I fail to see where Mrs. Craigie has detected literature have a considerable number of rights to<br />
in my letter a “prattling about the indignity of be dealt with, and the point under discussion is<br />
accepting money for art;" on the contrary, it whether it is advisable to employ an agent with<br />
seems to me that an artist, just as a business inan, a view to marketing all these rights. A long<br />
depreciates his goods if he sells them under their experience at the office of the Society forces this<br />
value-even if their value be fixed by auction. fact before one's notice, that, as a general rule,<br />
Mr. Benson is right when he says that it would when an author is sufficiently well known to have<br />
be madness to let one publisher have a book a market for all these rights the agent is essential,<br />
cheap, if, cæteris paribus, the author can get more and further that the majority of well-known<br />
froni another."<br />
authors (in spite of the statement made in the<br />
I cordially welcome “ Omega's ” statement that Sphere) employ an agent to market their work.<br />
“authors are all in competition against one another, There are certainly half-a-dozen, or perhaps even<br />
and why competitors in the same affairs should as many as ten, who, as a general rule, do not<br />
employ the same agent to represent them is a employ an agent. These, however, bare a parti-<br />
riddle which no sane business man can answer.” cular faculty for doing business, and consider<br />
And I emphatically repeat (1) that a literary agent that the time spent in these negotiations can be<br />
is of no use to a beginner, (2) that when an author afforded more easily than the payment of an agent.<br />
has succeeded, the business entrusted to an agent On this point I entirely agree with them, and<br />
can be done better and more reasonably by a consider, on the whole, that as far as the more<br />
solicitor.<br />
popular writers are concerned the agent is an<br />
Mr. Le Queux addresses to me a direct question, expensive item. It is the author's fault, however,<br />
saying that his brother authors and himself “would if his contract with an agent is unsatisfactory.<br />
be interested to know whether it is not a fact that Though it is an undoubted fact that with the<br />
in order to effect the sale of my English books in popular authors an agent is essential, yet all<br />
America I actually employ a literary agent in New authors should be careful not to accept contracts<br />
York.” I have much pleasure in satisfying his laid before them by agents without careful<br />
curiosity by stating that I have a salaried employé investigation and advice.<br />
in New York, who attends to my affairs in America Secondly, in the case of the author with smaller<br />
exactly as my London manager and staff attend markets and lower circulations an agent may still<br />
to the details of my business in London. Mr. Le be necessary, as in the majority of cases authors<br />
Queux will on reflection see, however, that the are unbusinesslike, and if not unbusinesslike are as<br />
employment of an agent for the sale of a manu- ignorant of the law of copyright, of the rights they<br />
factured article would be open only to the least possess, and of the prices of literary property as the<br />
of my objections.<br />
ordinary niortal is of the law.of conveyancing and<br />
Wu. HEINEMANN. land transfer. But in this second case it is even<br />
more necessary for the author to be exceedingly<br />
careful, and to obtain sound and substantial advice<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 97 (#487) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
97<br />
with regard to the agreements laid before him by DESIRABILITY OF STANDARD RULES<br />
the agent. The popular author with a large FOR PRINTING, AND A METHOD TO<br />
circulation has generally, through long experience,<br />
OBTAIN THEM.<br />
considerable knowledge of his market value, of the<br />
law of copyright, and the details of his business,<br />
and employs an agent to save his time. The other M HE Committee of the Society of Authors<br />
with the smaller circulation lacks this essential I have requested me to put together a few<br />
knowledge, and the agent, being naturally desirous suggestions upon “The Desirability of<br />
to place the work, is liable to persuade him to enter Standard Rules for Printing, and a Method to<br />
into an unsatisfactory agreement. This author obtain them," so as to gauge the interest of the<br />
employs the agent partly to save trouble and members in the question, and to enable an opinion<br />
business worries, but generally to supply the to be formed as to the advisability, or not, of<br />
knowledge in which he is deficient. Sometimes thoroughly investigating the whole question, ana,<br />
he is disappointed.<br />
if possible, of formulating such a set of rules. This<br />
With regard to those who are just entering the request came in reply to a suggestion of mine that<br />
profession the agent is of very little use. They it was very desirable, and distinctly within the<br />
can obtain full advice and information from the province of the Society, to formulate such a standard<br />
Society should they so desire, and, as a general for the guidance of authors, editors, publishers,<br />
rule, have sufficient time to attend to their business compositors, readers, and, in fact, all connected<br />
duties.<br />
with the making of books.<br />
Finally, the author should be careful of what As a compositor would say, the question is to<br />
agent he employs, the agreement that the agent see if the “customs of the house" in each separate<br />
puts before him, and the commission he pays the printing establishment could not, by a little<br />
agent for the work done.<br />
give and take, here and there, be made into one<br />
It only remains to make a few remarks on the uniform set of rules in black and white, to be<br />
publisher's attitude.<br />
followed by all.<br />
Granting that, as a general rule—and this may At the present time, one may say, that if exactly<br />
be stated for a certainty-the author's agent is the same copy be sent, without special instructions,<br />
necessary, is that agency work generally carried to a dozen different printers, the resulting proofs<br />
out better through an independent individual or will all differ in some particular. They may differ<br />
through the aid of the publisher ? As far as the in punctuation ; in the use of large and small<br />
individual is concerned his charge is 10 per cent., capitals ; in spelling, especially the suffixes " ise"<br />
a price which works out at a very high sum in the and “ize”; in placing the hyphen in divided words ;<br />
case of large authors, but to counteract this he can in contractions of words ; in the use of numerals ;<br />
devote his whole time to his clients, if his clientèle in italicizing anglicized foreign words ; in the<br />
is not too large. The publisher, on the contrary, printing of authorities mentioned, or titles quoted ;<br />
looks upon this agency work as a secondary sort in spacing; and, in fact, in many ways too<br />
of business, his main business being publishing. numerous to mention. This means, in short, that<br />
He cannot, therefore, devote his whole time as one method of printing must be right, all, or all<br />
and attention to it, and in addition asks 25 per cent. but one, of the proofs will be wrong.<br />
seldom-generally 50 percent. on the author's In order to see if this divergence of practice<br />
returns.<br />
could not be done away with, I recently wrote to<br />
These figures appear in the agreements of the some dozen of the leading printers as to the<br />
best houses in London. There is no doubt, there. “customs of the house” in their particular estab-<br />
fore, that, of the two, the private individual as lishments, and the possibility of evolving a standard<br />
authors' agent is much better than the publisher set of rules. With two or three exceptions they<br />
as authors' agent. There is no comparison between wrote that they had no printed rules, but worked<br />
them.<br />
in accordance with their own unwritten laws.<br />
If you employ an agent remember these three All are agreed upon the great importance of<br />
points<br />
typographical uniformity, and would apparently<br />
1. Take care of your contract with him. Do welcome any thoroughly good set of rules could<br />
not pay him too large a percentage.<br />
one be formed and acknowledged by the majority of<br />
2. Take care of his contracts with the publishers. authors. For, as they say, nothing can be done in<br />
3. Take care that you get adequate attention this matter without their concurrence. The great<br />
and application for the amount you pay.<br />
trouble at present arises from each author wanting<br />
G. H. T.<br />
some one particular detail varied, because in many<br />
cases he is evidently in doubt as to how it should<br />
be printed, for he can refer to no acknowledged<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 98 (#488) #############################################<br />
<br />
98<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
authority. As one very well-known firm writes given, and for supplying so generously copies of<br />
me, an author frequently insists on having his own his work, which is truly priceless from the fact<br />
MS. “ accurately copied,” notwithstanding that the that it is only "privately printed," and therefore<br />
same word is spelt in two or three different ways has no price!<br />
on the same page!<br />
May I ask all those who have any wish to see<br />
In fact, I may say that the underlying truth of books more correctly printed in the future than in<br />
all the replies is that nothing can be done without the past, and who take sufficient interest in their<br />
first of all getting the authors to come to some own work to desire it to be at least accurately<br />
common understanding amongst themselves. A printed, to obtain a copy, to read it over carefully,<br />
proof, as it seems to me, that the matter is most and to forward to me a list of queries, suggestions,<br />
distinctly within the province of our Society, and and so forth ? As it is only by collating a mass<br />
one which it would well repay all our members to of such opinions that reliable and lasting progress<br />
give a helping hand to investigate, so that it may can be hoped for.<br />
be put upon a sound and lasting basis.<br />
I should like to have sent to me at Iddesleigh,<br />
I use the term basis, for like everything in this Torquay, as many answers as possible to these<br />
world, evolution would take place in it, leading in questions :-<br />
subsequent years to developments and improve- (1) Do the “Rules” meet with the entire<br />
ments which at the present time cannot be foreseen. approval of the member ; and would he be willing<br />
But this is no reason for not doing our best to dig for his future work to be printed in accordance<br />
the fouudations upon which a structure may be with them? If not, (2) the points of disagree.<br />
subsequently raised. For the rocks must be pre- ment; and if possible, (3) the reasons for them ;<br />
pared at some time for this work, and the sooner they and (4) the specific alterations and additions<br />
are, the sooner may we hope to erect the light desired.<br />
house for the illumination of what is now but if members will favour me with some con-<br />
a dark, dreary, desolate waste of contradictory siderable number of replies, I will investigate<br />
practices.<br />
and tabulate them, and publish the results and<br />
To come now to a consideration of the practical inferences from them, in a future number of The<br />
work required, the great question arises, are any Author.<br />
of the printed rules now used by the two or three It may be as well here to point out that Mr.<br />
separate printers referred to, sufficiently good to Hart's Rules having passed through eleven<br />
be adopted en bloc; are they good only to serve as editions at the Oxford University Press, and also<br />
a foundation for our work ; or, must a completely having been reprinted by others — apparently<br />
new set be made ?<br />
without his permission-have a character which<br />
I venture to say that the only rules known to shows them to be of considerable use and<br />
me which can in any way be considered worthy of standing.<br />
adoption, or even discussion, are, as the title-page I will now, for those who may not know them,<br />
says, the “ Rules for the Compositors and Readers give a brief summary of this small pamphlet.<br />
employed at the Clarendon Press, Oxford, compiled Small, for the rules are contained in twenty-one<br />
by Horace Hart, M.A., printer to the University pages—three and a half by five inches-of read-<br />
of Oxford. The English spellings revised by Dr. able type.<br />
J. A. H. Murray and Mr. Henry Bradley, Editors The first seven pages deal with the spelling of<br />
of the New English Dictionary. Oxford, words which have two or more forms. A rule is<br />
1901."<br />
given whether the ending “able” is to have an “e,"<br />
In order that any member of the Society of or not, preceding : such as movable, changeable,<br />
Authors may make acquaintance with these rules, &c. Then follows a list of thirty words spelt with<br />
Mr. Hart has most kindly fallen in with a sugges- the final “ise," and a much longer one of those<br />
tion which Mr. Thring made to me, and sent with the suffix “ize :" the spelling here being<br />
gratis to the Secretary a batch of these “ Rules " so founded on the “New English Dictionary." A<br />
that any member interested in this subject—and rule for placing "e" before the termination<br />
all should be—may obtain a copy by sending a “ment ;” and four pages of words the spelling<br />
postcard to 39, Old Queen Street, S.W., asking for of which is far from uniform in ordinary usage,<br />
one to be sent to him.<br />
as enclose, insure. The use of the apostrophe in<br />
I desire here to express my personal thanks to the possessive case. A list of those words of foreign<br />
Mr. Hart for his courtesy in this matter, and for origin which have, by constant use, become angli-<br />
the trouble he has taken in what has been to me cized and should not therefore be printed in italics,<br />
an interesting correspondence. In fact, whatever as vice versa : followed by a list of those whicli<br />
result we may arrive at, I feel that the thanks of should, as en masse. And the use of "a" or "an"<br />
the Society are due to him for the help he has before vowels.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 99 (#489) #############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
in smal<br />
Ankle.<br />
After spelling we come to the proper forms for A.D. : (Anno Domini) to be An herb.<br />
such contracted words as ain't, Exod., etc. Rules<br />
- heroic.<br />
Advise.<br />
for the printing of poetry, and a couple of pages<br />
- historical.<br />
Ad loc. : not italics.<br />
- honest.<br />
dealing with the use of the hyphen, with nouns, ae: (the digraph) should – honour, -able.<br />
adjectives, adverbs, and words with one or more be separate in Latin and – hotel.<br />
accents.<br />
Greek words, as Aenid, - hour, -glass,<br />
Aeschylus, Caesar, and in<br />
Capital letters are “ to be avoided as much as<br />
English as mediaeval. In Anybody.<br />
possible, but to be used in the following and similar Old English names, and Any one.<br />
cases.” With a page of directions: and also illus in French, they should Anything.<br />
trations for the use of small capitals.<br />
not be separated, Elfred, Anywhere.<br />
Cædmon.<br />
The division of English words, when they must<br />
Apologise.<br />
Aërial.<br />
Apophthegm.<br />
be divided, is upon the principle “that the part<br />
A European.<br />
Apostasy.<br />
of the word left at the end of the line should suggest A ewe.<br />
Apostrophize.<br />
the part carried over.” Thus, happi-ness, not hap-<br />
A ewer.<br />
Appanage.<br />
Affranchise.<br />
piness. (This section should apparently be included<br />
Apple-tree : with hyphen.<br />
Aggrandize.<br />
Apprise : (to inform).<br />
in the one dealing with the hyphen.)<br />
Agnosti-cism : when neces. Apprize : (to appraise).<br />
The hints—they cannot be called rules—upon sary.<br />
d priori : itals.<br />
punctuation are few, and, many would say, could Agonize.<br />
A propos : itals.<br />
A hospital.<br />
with advantage be expanded.<br />
Armchair : no hyphen.<br />
A humble.<br />
Artisan.<br />
The remark that the titles of books are frequently A. H. : (Anno Hegira) small Ascendancy.<br />
printed now in italics, instead of inverted commas, caps.<br />
Atmo-sphere : when neces-<br />
and “must be determined by the directions given Aide de camp: not italics. sary.<br />
with the copy,” lacks in a marked degree that<br />
Albumen.<br />
A unanimous.<br />
Alkalize.<br />
A uniform.<br />
“ light and leading " which generally characterizes Almanac.<br />
A union.<br />
Mr. Hart's remarks.<br />
A. M. (Anno Mundi) to be A universal.<br />
After a few more words on spacing, italics, small caps.<br />
A useful.<br />
figures and numerals, we come to the appendices :<br />
a. m. (ante meridiem) lower A usurper.<br />
case, not caps.<br />
Authorities : at the end of<br />
I., written by Mr. H. Stuart Jones on the division<br />
Amour propre : itals.<br />
quotations or notes thus :<br />
of Greek words ; and II., by Prof. Robinson Ellis Analyse.<br />
HOMER Odyssey ii 15,<br />
on that of Latin words.<br />
Ancien régime: itals.<br />
but print Hor. Carm, ii.<br />
It will be seen from the foregoing that the<br />
Anathematize.<br />
14. 2 ; Hom. Od. iv, 272.<br />
Anatomize.<br />
“Rules” are in the form known to librarians as a<br />
Authorize.<br />
Anglicé : itals.<br />
Ay : always.<br />
“ classed catalogue.” In other words, one has to Anglicize.<br />
Aye : (yes—" the ayes have<br />
know the contents of the book thoroughly before Au heir.<br />
it").<br />
being able to refer to the remarks upon any one<br />
particular word. The advantages of this classifi-<br />
Those who already know these “Rules" will, i<br />
cation of matter in the present instance appears to think, agree that the foregoing arrangement is the<br />
me very open to question. An alphabetic arrange-<br />
better one. If Mr. Hart would arrange a new<br />
ment would enormously increase facility of reference, edition upon these lines we should, I think, have<br />
and would, I think, be a great advantage in many<br />
much to be thankful for. And as helping towards<br />
ways, as it would enable any question arising to be<br />
this end I have offered to supply him with the<br />
as quickly settied by those quite ignorant as by necessary “copy,” if it should meet with his<br />
those thoroughly conversant with the book. In the approval.<br />
case of authors, whom we are at present considering, May I repeat, in conclusion, the request already<br />
the advantage would be very great indeed, for few made, that every member of the Society should<br />
of them would have the time, or inclination, to send a postcard to the Secretary, 39, Old Queen<br />
learn the whole book by heart, and even if they Street, S.W., for a copy of Mr. Hart's “ Rules,”<br />
had, would, I imagine, more readily acquire the and should forward to me for tabulation at Iddes-<br />
knowledge if arranged in this way.<br />
leigh, Torquay, replies to the four questions asked<br />
To show the advantages of this arrangement I in this article.<br />
have extracted all those entries which would come To those who will thus lend theiraid in developing<br />
under the letter “ A,” and here append them in typographical uniformity, I offer my thanks.<br />
alphabetic order :-<br />
F. HOWARD COLLINS.<br />
A: the article, not to end Act: initial capital when<br />
a line.<br />
referring to Act of Parlia-<br />
Abun-dance: if necessary ment, or Acts of a play.<br />
divide thus.<br />
Acts : scriptural book of<br />
Advertise.<br />
the.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 100 (#490) ############################################<br />
<br />
100<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
THE ADVANTAGES OF COMMISSION giving a description of the book, and the cost of this<br />
PUBLISHING<br />
is included in the cost of the first three thousand.<br />
A second impression was almost immediately<br />
demanded, and in this the advertising was included.<br />
Actual Figures and Actual Facts.<br />
The cost of the impression with some additional<br />
charges, and including advertising, amounted to<br />
£148 19s. 5d.<br />
TN the December number of The Author an article A sufficient number of copies of the second<br />
I was printed on “ The Method of the Future,” impression were sold to cover the cost of production<br />
pointing ont the large percentage to be of that impression, and to give the author a profit<br />
obtained in cases where the author takes the cost of of £31 198. 2d., and this, although a large edition,<br />
production in hand himself, and uses the publisher was sold in sheets at a comparatively cheap rate to<br />
merely as an agent to publish on commission. the Colonies, and the book was withdrawn from<br />
Figures simply set out to prove a theory are not the market before the sales ceased.<br />
always satisfactory, and many doubts will arise in The attention of authors should also be called to<br />
an author's mind before he would attempt to carry the fact that this was a book of 470 pages, and<br />
out a method he might consider merely theoretical ? therefore a long book compared with the ordinary<br />
The figures printed below, however, are figures novel—the book taken in the example quoted in<br />
referring to the sale of a book that was actually “ The Method of the Future” was only about 350<br />
published on commission, and tend to show that pages.<br />
this method of publishing will not only give the In working out this sum on a royalty basis in<br />
author a larger profit than he would otherwise order to compare it with the“Method of the Future,”<br />
obtain, but will also do away, if satisfactorily we find that if the advertising set forth in the cost<br />
handled, with the profits that are spent on the of production of the second edition is thrown into<br />
author's agent.<br />
the first edition, reducing the author's profits to<br />
In the statement contained in the article to £230, this works out as a royalty on a six shilling<br />
which reference has been made, there was one book of over 26 per cent.<br />
slight mistake. The seventy copies or thereabouts In the example previously given the figures<br />
sent for review were not included. In the figures worked out at ls. 8d. a copy. The difference<br />
given below, however, this item is appended, as it between the two is very small. In addition,<br />
is the account of a book actually published and although the advertising has been thrown into the<br />
placed on the market.<br />
first edition it is hardly fair to throw the whole of<br />
FIRST EDITION, 3,000 COPIES, 470 PP.<br />
the advertising into the one edition ; indeed, under<br />
the circumstances of this particular case it will be<br />
£ $. d.<br />
hardly fair to reckon it into the first edition at all,<br />
Printing and Paper . . 97 0 0<br />
Extras, including Moulds . 14 10<br />
as the first edition was practically sold without any<br />
3<br />
Frontispiece :<br />
8 10 0<br />
advertising. But we do not want to underestimate<br />
the figures.<br />
Binding 3,000 . . . 39 10 10<br />
The result of this shows that the “ Method of the<br />
Printing Circulars, etc. . 2 16 6<br />
Future,” if entered into by an author, must bring<br />
£162 7 7<br />
in, if properly managed, a larger profit, and a more<br />
satisfactory return, than any other method.<br />
2,930 at 38. 3d. . . . 476 2 6<br />
The time will no doubt come when all authors<br />
Commission 10 per cent. . 47 12 2<br />
with an ascertained circulation will adopt book<br />
production on these lines.<br />
428 10 4<br />
Cost of Production . . 162 7 7<br />
II.<br />
Profit to Author : £266 2 9<br />
DEAR SIR,<br />
Your article in the December Author on the<br />
The author will at once exclaim, " But what has “Method of the Future” has interested me much,<br />
become of the advertising ?” It is merely neces- but I venture to dispute your conclusions, as your<br />
sary to say that practically the first edition was adviser, “whose knowledge" you say “ of the<br />
hardly advertised at all, but to prevent any cavilling printing and publishing trades is undoubted,” has<br />
in reckoning the profits of the first edition on the forgotten three facts which materially affect your<br />
royalty basis as set out in the figures below, a sum calculations. He has forgotten (1) that the ordinary<br />
of £35 13s. 5d, has been included in the cost of 6s. novel, that justifies an edition of 2,000 copies,<br />
production. A circular was sent round to the trade exceeds 96,000 words in length; (2) that an<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 101 (#491) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
101<br />
author always makes corrections in his proofs;<br />
and (3) that an edition of 2,000 does not mean a<br />
sale of 2,000 copies.<br />
(1) I took up at random ten popular novels, all<br />
of which were printed in small pica, and found<br />
that their extent in pages and lines was as follows<br />
(excluding title-sheet) :-<br />
Pages.<br />
Lines.<br />
368<br />
35<br />
620<br />
44<br />
412<br />
35<br />
384<br />
440<br />
32<br />
33<br />
518<br />
344<br />
328<br />
446<br />
27<br />
(A) He can be paid for the copyright of his<br />
book. In this case the publisher takes all risks,<br />
and loses or gains as the case may be.<br />
(B) The publisher may pay a royalty from the<br />
beginning with or without a payment to account<br />
of royalties. In this case the author gets something<br />
whatever number of copies are sold.<br />
(C) He can get a greater royalty after expenses<br />
are paid, or what comes to the same thing, can<br />
share with the publisher in the profits.<br />
Now, let us apply these systems of payment of<br />
authors to the account in question in cases where<br />
1,000 and 1,500 copies are sold, and assuming that<br />
in the first system the publisher pays £50 for the<br />
copyright, in the second that he pays a royalty of<br />
124 per cent. on every copy sold, and in the third<br />
that author and publisher share equally in the<br />
profits; and then let us compare these with<br />
(D) The “ Method of the Future.”<br />
Let 1,000 copies be sold at 3s. 4d.=£166 13s. 4d.<br />
According to the different systems<br />
the result will be (leaving out shillings<br />
and pence) —<br />
(A) Purchase of Copyright.<br />
Publisher's Outlay.<br />
£ 8. d.<br />
Cost of production and advertising<br />
as above<br />
... ... ... 161 0 0<br />
Payment to author ... ... 50 00<br />
£211 00<br />
408<br />
36<br />
Allowing ten words to a line, the average of<br />
these ten novels was about 154,000 words as<br />
against your 96,000. This would be equal to a<br />
volume of over 480 pages, instead of 320 pages, of<br />
30 lines each. Most publishers, however, would<br />
prefer to put this amount into, say, 400 pages of<br />
about 37 or 38 lines. The alteration in cost of<br />
production on the basis of your figures would be<br />
about once and a half your cost for composition,<br />
and once and a quarter for moulding, printing,<br />
and paper. The binding I do not propose to<br />
increase, though the number of sheets to be folded<br />
is increased.<br />
(2) An allowance for corrections must be made<br />
at a minimum of 48. per 16 pages.<br />
(3) A number of copies are given away and a<br />
number are almost always left over. To base<br />
calculations on the assumption that nine-tenths<br />
are sold is a generous calculation,<br />
On the basis of these figures, and on your<br />
suggested arrangement that a 68. novel should be<br />
credited at 3s. 4d., less 15 per cent., I find the<br />
following results on an edition of 2,000 copies.<br />
Sales (say) 1,800 at 38. Ad.<br />
Composition ... ... £35 | Cost of produc-<br />
Corrections ...<br />
tion ... £121<br />
Moulding<br />
Advertising... 40<br />
Publisher's<br />
Paper ...<br />
commission 45 206<br />
Binding<br />
Leaving a profit of £94<br />
£121<br />
Or about 1s. a copy.<br />
It is not difficult to show that, unless a large<br />
proportion of an edition is sold, this is the worst<br />
bargain that the author could make for an edition<br />
of 2,000 or 3000. For (1) the author, not the pub.<br />
lisher, runs the risk, and (2) the author has to wait<br />
for his profit till the publisher has been repaid, not<br />
only his outlay, but his profit. The ordinary ways<br />
in which an author can be paid are three.<br />
£300<br />
(B) Payment by Royalty.<br />
Publisher's Outlay.<br />
1. £ s. d.<br />
Cost of production and advertising<br />
as above<br />
... ... ... 161 0 0<br />
Royalties to author ... ... 37 10 0<br />
£198 100<br />
(C) Equal Profits.<br />
Publisher's Outlay.<br />
£ s. d.<br />
Cost of production and advertising<br />
as above<br />
... ... ... 161 00<br />
(D) Method of the Future.<br />
Author's Outlay.<br />
£ $. d.<br />
Cost of production and advertising<br />
as above ... ... ... 161 0 0<br />
Publisher's commission ... ... 25 0 0<br />
Printing<br />
15<br />
33<br />
£186<br />
0<br />
0<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 102 (#492) ############################################<br />
<br />
102<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
According to the system of-<br />
(A) Author gains £50. Publisher loses £44.<br />
2<br />
„ £45.<br />
, £32.<br />
(C)<br />
£2 10s.<br />
gains £2 10s.<br />
y loses £20<br />
£25<br />
If 1,500 copies were sold the results would be<br />
Sales = £250.<br />
The cost according to the<br />
different systems would be-<br />
(A) Publisher's outlay for production and<br />
copyright ...<br />
211<br />
Publisher's outlay for production and<br />
royalties ...<br />
216<br />
") Publisher's outlay for production ... 161<br />
(D) Author's outlay for production and com-<br />
mission<br />
198<br />
Leaving the result that in-<br />
(A) Author gains £50 Publisher gains £39<br />
(B) ,<br />
(C) , ., 44<br />
(D) , , 52<br />
In the same way a novel of which 3,000 copies<br />
were printed and boarded would require to sell 2,000<br />
before the author gained £75, which is exactly<br />
equal to a royalty cf 124 per cent.<br />
From this it will be seen that according to the<br />
“Method of the Future” the author is expected to<br />
Findertake all risks and cannot, on editions of a<br />
novel of average length with a circulation of 2,000<br />
or 3,000, gain as much as he would from a royalty<br />
of 124 per cent. unless he sells more than two-<br />
thirds of the edition.<br />
I am, yours faithfully,<br />
ROBERT MACLEHOSE.<br />
34<br />
44<br />
37<br />
their countenances to the historical novel which<br />
continues to dominate contemporary fiction.<br />
Winston Churchill's “ The Crisis," which sur-<br />
passed in interest and popularity his “Richard<br />
Carvell,” led the way, together with Irving<br />
Bacheller's “D’ri and I,” and “Granstark; the story<br />
of a Love behind a Throne” and “The Helmet<br />
of Navarre,” by the new writers George Barr<br />
McCutcheon and Bertha Runkle. Sarah Orne<br />
Jewitt's “The Tory Lover” is a sympathetic<br />
and graceful story dealing with the American<br />
Revolution and introducing the vigorous personality<br />
of Paul Jones. It is her longest, if not perhaps<br />
her strongest, work. The scene of Robert W.<br />
Chambers's “ Cardigan” is New York, on the eve<br />
of the same period ; and Clinton Scollard's “ The<br />
Son of a Tory” is located in New York State<br />
in 1777. Mrs. Caroline Mason's “A Lily of<br />
France," and Charlton Andrews's “ A Parfit Gentil<br />
Knight,” take us two centuries further back ;<br />
while the seventeenth century is treated of in<br />
Jessie Van Zile Belden's “Antonia” and Ruth<br />
Hall's “The Golden Arrow.” Robert Nelson<br />
Stephen's “ Capt. Ravenshaw” is an Elizabethan<br />
story; and Cyrus Townshend Brady's “The<br />
Quiberon Torch " a sea romance of the eighteenth<br />
century, in which Hawke, the great British admiral,<br />
figures. It is the writer's longest and not least<br />
delightful performance. The « Deborah ” of<br />
James M. Ludlow deals with the much more<br />
remote times of Judas Maccabæus in a frankly<br />
imaginative manner. Another romance which has<br />
attracted much attention is of a semi-historical<br />
character, since the hero is Eleazar Williams, one<br />
of the numerous persons who claimed to be the<br />
real Louis XVII. The book is called “ Lazarre,”<br />
and the author is Mary Hartwell Catherwood.<br />
The war of 1812 is the subject of Dr. Jas. Naylor's<br />
“ The Sign of the Prophet.”.<br />
But the Civil War is the period which finds<br />
most favour with the historical romancer. It has<br />
inspired Miss Lafayette McLaws to make her<br />
début with “ When the Land was Young," a simple<br />
story of more than average merit, but in which<br />
there is no attempt at character-drawing. The<br />
writer hails from the South. Other Southern<br />
stories of some interest are “ The Night Hawk,"<br />
by Alix John, in which a woman acts as the secret<br />
agent of the Confederates and there is much<br />
blockade-running ; "Warwick of the Knobs," by<br />
John Uri Lloyd, who introduces a portrait of the<br />
Confederate leader, Morgan; and “The Marrow of<br />
Tradition,” by Charles W. Chesnutt, a Northern<br />
champion of the contemporary negro. “ Mistress<br />
Joy," by two Tennessee ladies, Mrs. Booth<br />
McKinney and Miss Grace McGowan, deals with<br />
Missisippi and New Orleans at a somewhat earlier<br />
AMERICAN NOTES.<br />
NHERE has been a vast output of books during<br />
the fall season, but few volumes have<br />
appeared of extraordinary merit or perma-<br />
nent value to literature. It is noticeable, too, how<br />
prominently European products stand out in the<br />
publishers' lists. These last we shall, however,<br />
leave out of the account in our present survey, as<br />
they are only nominally American issues.<br />
By far the largest proportion of books published<br />
consists of course of novels, this being still more<br />
the case in America than it is in the Old World.<br />
Over here the romantic movement, stimulated by<br />
the new Imperialism, is still largely in the ascen-<br />
dant; and new issues of the works of George<br />
Sand, Harrison Ainsworth, Fenimore Cooper, and<br />
Croly's “Salathiel, the Wandering Jew," lend<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 103 (#493) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
103<br />
period, Aaron Burr coming into the story. Mr. G. said to be at the head of “the year's refined fun-<br />
W. Cable, in “The Cavalier,” has also occupied him- makers.” Hoping that we have been able to pick<br />
self with the Civil War, and has written a stirring if out at least the chief prizes from the bran-pie of<br />
somewhat theatrical tale of love and fighting. fiction, we must now pass on to other departments<br />
A first novel of great promise was “Tom of literature.<br />
Beauling," by Gouverneur Morris, great-grand Turning to poetry, we find the harvest very<br />
son of the great diplomatist of the same name; meagre. Dr. Howard Furness has added<br />
and “The Road to Ridgeby's" had such merit as “Twelfth Night” to his great Variorum Shake-<br />
to cause great regret to be felt at the premature speare. "A Little Book of Tribune Verse"<br />
death of the young author, Frank Burlinghame completes the output of Eugene Field, the sweet<br />
Harris. Another posthumous work is “ The singer of Michigan. Dr. William Henry Drum-<br />
Teller," by Edward Noyes Westcott, whose mond, author of "The Habitant,” has gained great<br />
“ David Harum” is having the largest sale of credit and success with “ Johnnie Courteau and<br />
any American novel since “Uncle Tom's Cabin.” other Poems," which are rather off the beaten<br />
We omitted from our selections of stories of the track. Paul Leicester Dunbar with “Candle-<br />
Civil War period Pauline Bradford Mackie's “The Lightin' Time” and Eli Shepherd with “ Planta-<br />
Washingtonians,” in which Lincoln and his wife tion Songs for My Lady's Banjo” have made<br />
as well as Horace Greeley appear.<br />
contributions to dialect verse.“ Beowulf," by<br />
" The Tempting of Father Anthony,” by George Samuel Harden Church, is something more than a<br />
Horton, tells of modern Greece.<br />
paraphrase. Charles G. Blanden's “Omar Resung"<br />
Miss Wilkins, in “The Portion of Labor," and is based upon Huntley McCarthy's and not Fitz-<br />
Sarah P. McL. Greene in her “ Floodtide,” are gerald's version of the Rubaiyat. There are<br />
concerned with New England ; and the scene of ten new poems in Louise Chandler Moulton's<br />
Basil King's divorce story, “Let no man put “ Swallow Flights." Edwin Markham has pub-<br />
asunder,” is Boston. Two political novels bring lished “Lincoln, and other Poems"; and Gelett<br />
before their readers the mysteries of Tammany Burgess, of “ Purple Cloud” fame, “A Gage of<br />
Hall. These are “ The Victors," by Robert Barr, Youth”-lyrics from “ The Lark" and other poems.<br />
and “J. Devlin, Boss,” by Francis Churchill James Easby Smith's “ Songs of Alcæus," con-<br />
Williams. The politics of the West are described sisting of a memoir, text, and notes, besides the<br />
in Walter Bart's “Shacklett.” Hermann K. verse translations, is a scholarly volume by the<br />
Viele's “Last of the Knickerbockers" and Ellen author of the “ Songs of Sappho.” An ambitious<br />
Olney Kirk's “Our Lady Vanity” are studies of and scarcely commendable work is Mr. William<br />
New York society ; “The New Americans,” by Turk of Chicago's “ Completion of Coleridge's<br />
Alfred Hodder, supplies a realistic but unpleasant • Christabel.'” Rodney Blake has edited a collec-<br />
view of the influence of women and their methods. tion called “Hasty Pudding Poems," and Myron<br />
“ The Wage of Character," which is concerned with T. Pritchard has made a compilation of the “Poetry<br />
New York and Washington, may be described as of Niagara.” A history of American verse has<br />
semi-political. “Amos Judd,” by John A. Mitchell, been written by James L. Onderdonck.<br />
is a mystical romance of some power. Miss Eliza Neither is there much to say about scientific<br />
G. Jordan's “ Tales of the Cloister" are pitched in works, though we have to record the publication<br />
quieter key," as also is Anna Fuller's “Katherine of the results of the great Alaskan expedition<br />
Day." Nath. Stephenson's “They That Took the conducted by E. H. Harriman, who took with<br />
Sword” tells of Cincinnati in '62. Of notable him to the far North-West twenty-five scientists,<br />
books depicting life outside the towns may be three artists, and two photographers. The<br />
mentioned Melville Dawson Post's “Dwellers in narrative is by J. Burroughs ; whilst John Muir<br />
the Hills,” a story of the West Virginia hill cattle- writes on “Glaciers,” Dr. G. B. Grinnell on “Forest<br />
country ; Ralph Connor's “The Man from Glen- and Stream," Chas. Keeler, the Californian authority,<br />
garry,” dealing with the lumbermen of the great on “ Birds,” and William Healy Dall on the<br />
North land ; and “Calumet K," the romance of “History of the Country.” The editing and<br />
a grain-elevator. Among other novels which illustrating of this magnificent collection was<br />
attracted attention were “ King Midas,” by Upton undertaken by Dr. C. Hart Merriam. Dr. L. 0.<br />
Sinclair, a new writer ; Anna Katherine Green's Howard has produced a readable but thoroughly<br />
detective story, “ One of my Sons”; “ The Potter scientific book on “Mosquitoes”; his popular but<br />
and the Clay,” by Maud Howard Peterson ; and authoritative “ Insect Book " treats of more than<br />
“ Margaret Warrener,” by Alice Brown. John 135 families. Clara Morris Weed's “ Nature Bio-<br />
Kendrick Bangs added to the gaiety of nations graphies” contains some new observations on<br />
with an account of “Mr, Munchausen's” recent common American insects. R. Osgood Mason's<br />
adventures ; but “A Twentieth Century Boy” is “Hypnotism and Suggestion," a moderate book,<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 104 (#494) ############################################<br />
<br />
104<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
cites from experience gained in practice cases of doyen of music in America ; the stage reminiscences<br />
the beneficent use of hypnotism upon children of Clara Morris and Mrs. Gilbert; and going<br />
Books like Seton Thompson's “Lives of the further back in the past, Prof. Alfred C. Downer's<br />
Hunted” and “Wild Animals I have known” work on Frédéric Mistral, the Provençal poet,<br />
have become numerous and popular.<br />
i and Miss Mary Pepper's “Maids and Matrons of<br />
In history and biography we have a much richer New France.” “The Early History of Syria and<br />
record. Mr. H. E. Scudder's sympathetic and well- Palestine,” by Prof. Lewis Bayles Paton, condenses<br />
informed “Life of Lowell” is probably the most the results of modern research in those regions.<br />
important book of the season, and will be acclaimed Prof. W. M. Sloane's “ The French Revolution and<br />
in England by all who realise how much the Religious Reform” is a re-cast of lectures. Everett<br />
literary diplomatist did for the relations between Tomlinson has added yet another to histories of<br />
the two countries. It is supplementary to the the American Revolution.<br />
“ Letters " which were edited some years ago by In Philosophy, we would call attention to the<br />
Prof. Norton, but the author has had access to late Prof. Fiske's “Life Everlasting," and in theo-<br />
further correspondence. Prof. Hart, of Harvard, logy to Dr. A. W. Moore's “Rational Basis of<br />
has completed with the last of his four sections Orthodoxy" and Dr. Levi L. Paine's "The Ethnic<br />
(" The Welding of the Nation, 1845–1900") his Trinities and their Relation to the Christian<br />
very valuable and interesting collection, “ American Trinity.” Under one or other of these categories<br />
History told by Contemporaries.” A “ History of should also be placed Mrs. Elizabeth Phelps Ward's<br />
the American people” by Dr. Fras. Newton Thorpe “Within the Gates.” Prof. Hugo Münsterberg's<br />
is useful for the last twenty-five years. J. Howard “ American Traits," and Dr. Lyman Abbott's<br />
Brown's “ Biographical Dictionary of the United “Rights of Man," seem to belong to the former,<br />
States” approaches its end. “The Views of an under which also perhaps may be classed “The<br />
Ex-President,” edited by Benjamin Harrison's Lore of Cathay ; or, the Intellect of China," with<br />
widow, are interesting, but hardly of the first which the President of the Chinese Imperial<br />
importance. “A Life of Gen. McClellan," by the University at Chicago, Dr. W. A. P. Martin, has<br />
late General Peter S. Michie, has been added to complemented his “Cycle of Cathay." We may<br />
Appleton's “Great Commanders.” The series of add that the international “ Dictionary of Philo-<br />
“Historical Towns of the Western States," edited sophy and Psychology,” which is edited by James<br />
by Lyman P. Powell, for Messrs. Putnam, has Mark Baldwin, Ph.D., is American in plan.<br />
been finished this fall.“ The True Jefferson,” by Under Art all that seems worthy of mention is<br />
Will. Elroy Curtis, follows similar works on covered by W. C. Brownell's “ French Traits," and<br />
Washington, Franklin and Penn. Cyrus Townsend “American Mural Painting,” by Pauline King.<br />
Brady has added a second series of his “ Colonial We may place under the heading of either Law or<br />
Fights and Fighters." “ Whittier as a Politician” Sociology the useful work called Hirsch's “ Tabu-<br />
has been treated through the publication of his lated Digest of the Divorce Laws of the United<br />
letters to Prof. Elizur Wright, and the “ Person- States."<br />
ality of Thoreau” has been illustrated in a similar We must not forget to mention Mr. W. D.<br />
way by Frank B. Sanborn. The late John Howell's “Heroines of Fiction;" John C. Van<br />
Codman's “ Arnold's Expedition to Quebec" tells Dyke's “ The Desert,” the fruit of two years' wander-<br />
the story of the attempt on Quebec in 1775 in a ings in Western America ; Prof. Washburn Hop-<br />
highly interesting manner. “The Spanish Settle- kins's edition of the Mahabharata, “ The Great<br />
ments within the Present Limits of the United Epic of India” ; or Poulteney Bigelow's “The<br />
States, 1531–61,” by Woodbury Lowery, deals Children of the Nations”-an account of colonial<br />
with Mexico in a scholarly spirit. Prof. Browne's experiments based on travel experiences. Among<br />
“Essays in Historical Criticism” contain an notable miscellanea is to be counted Rosa Belle<br />
important paper on the settlement of Oregon, Holt's “Rugs, Oriental and Occidental.”<br />
entitled “ The Legend of Marcus Whitman”; Coming lastly to translations of foreign works,<br />
but the “ Biographical and Other Articles” by exclusive of the classics of the ancient world, we<br />
William C. Todd, President of the New Hants note that William Morton Payne, the American<br />
Hist. Society, though rich in personal experiences, pioneer of Ibsen, has added to his version of the<br />
lack the sense of perspective. General Alger's Life by H. Jaeger an additional chapter made up of<br />
* History of the Spanish-American War” is an renderings of the six most recently produced plays.<br />
apology for his own administration rather than a Helger Drachmaun's love idyll “ Nanna " has been<br />
historical work. “Eugene Field,” by Mason translated from the Danish by Francis P. Browne ;<br />
Thompson, is an intimate study. Among other Jeremiah Austin has presented in “The Argo-<br />
noteworthy biographical volumes are “Memories nauts” a version of the Polish romance of Eliza<br />
of a Musical Life,” by Dr. William Mason, the Orzeszko ; and Maxim Gorky's work has been<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 105 (#495) ############################################<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
105<br />
introduced to the American public in translations Sir Philip Warwick, who, in the seventeenth<br />
by Isabel F. Hapgood of “ Fomá Gordyéff” and century, gave his name to Warwick Street, and a<br />
“Orloff and His Wife.”<br />
successful rival; for when Lord Southampton died<br />
In conclusion we may remark that the publish in 1667 the duties of Lord High Treasurer were<br />
ing business of the season generally is reported to put in commission, and Sir Philip Warwick, who<br />
be flourishing, and the new system of net prices to had been secretary to Lord Southampton, was not<br />
be working well.<br />
made a commissioner, while the post of secretary<br />
to the commission was filled by Downing. It is<br />
curious, too, that it should be proposed to oust one<br />
name associated with literature and replace it with<br />
THE CHANGING OF STREET NAMES. another. Sir Philip Warwick's “ Memoirs of the<br />
Reign of King Charles I.” are not to be named of<br />
course with Smollett's writings as works of litera-<br />
M HE Daily Chronicle stated the other day that ture, but they are, nevertheless, well known con-<br />
1 Warwick Street, Pall Mall, a cul-de-sac temporary records of the historical events and<br />
which runs out of Cockspur Street, nearly personages of a particularly interesting epoch.<br />
opposite the end of Suffolk Street, is about to be As a matter of fact the projected change has<br />
renamed Smollett Street, its connection with the been under consideration for some little time, and<br />
author of “ Roderick Random ” being apparently Tilt-Yard Street is a name that was suggested but<br />
found in the British Coffee House, which he has been abandoned for the good reason that the<br />
frequented, situated not in Warwick Street but tilt-yard was not at or even very near the site of<br />
in Cockspur Street, between Warwick Street and Warwick Street, but the Daily Chronicle also informs.<br />
Spring Gardens. There are at least six Warwick us that there was at one time a proposal, also since<br />
Streets in the county of London, and no doubt any abandoned, to disguise Warwick Street by renaming<br />
change such as that proposed would be to the con- it “ Kyte Street.” Why “Kyte” Street we are not<br />
venience of the post-office, while it cannot be informed. There was a Kyte once who was a mezzo-<br />
denied that to call a street after a great author is tint engraver of moderate skill, but won more<br />
to some extent a compliment to literature, even conspicuous fame in his day by being sentenced to<br />
though the author's fame is not likely to be the pillory for forging bank-notes. Is this the<br />
materially increased thereby. One of the other gentleman whose name was to supersede that of<br />
Warwick Streets is also in the South Western Warwick, of whom Pepys wrote: “I honour the<br />
Postal District, and no doubt this is the reason man with all my heart, and I think him to be a<br />
why a change has been suggested : but if it be very able and right honest man.” Pepys, by the<br />
granted that one of two streets must be re-named, way, went down Warwick Street to Warwick<br />
need the older, and the one whose name is the House on the 3rd of January, 1665, and found<br />
better known to history, be the one selected for the streete full of footballs, it being a great<br />
alteration ? Warwick Street, Cockspur Street, or frost," and Sir Philip Warwicke with Mr. Coven-<br />
Pall Mall (it is known with both distinctive try walking in St. James's Park. There is a<br />
additions), may not be famous, but it has unques- passage now through a mews into Carlton House<br />
tionably old and honourable associations. Will Terrace which may preserve a trace of the old<br />
anyone claim honourable associations for Warwick egress from Warwick House, but there is no<br />
Street, Pimlico, old or otherwise ?<br />
acknowledged thoroughfare, although there is<br />
It will be observed, moreover, that the link enough traffic to render the roadway unsuitable<br />
between Smollett and Warwick Street is not a for football. Warwick House was the residence<br />
very close one. The street did not contain the of Princess Charlotte of Wales, and is described,<br />
coffee-house, and the coffee-house was only one as regards her period of residence (1813), in the<br />
of many that the author used. Perhaps it was “Autobiography of Miss Knight.” Apparently<br />
his favourite one, but neither when living in the name Little Warwick Street was at one time<br />
Downing Street nor when living in Chelsea can used, for in referring to it Wheatley says, “At<br />
his nearest route to the site of Stanford's well. No. 4, Little Warwick Street, lived General<br />
known map-shop have taken him even past the Conway, the cousin and correspondent of Horace<br />
entrance to Warwick Street, of the existence of which Walpole.” (“ London, Past and Present,” vol. 3,<br />
he may have been almost unconscious. In Downing 452.)<br />
Street Smollett lived in his early days of practice as As regards Warwick Street, therefore, there are<br />
a surgeon in London, but presumably Downing reasons that particularly appeal to men of letters why<br />
Street is not likely to be renamed. It is interesting the name that it has borne for a couple of centuries<br />
however, to note that Downing Street took its name should be retained, and the reasons which apply to<br />
from Sir George Downing, a contemporary of Warwick Street apply to almost every other street<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 106 (#496) ############################################<br />
<br />
106<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
of any antiquity. To rename a street or place is £300 short of expenses. I retorted that I at<br />
to obliterate a landmark. The name may not length appreciated Dr. Johnson's definition of half<br />
have been originally one of very striking appro- profits—"a plan of publication that gave all the<br />
priateness, or with interesting associations attached gains to the publisher and all the glory to the<br />
to it, but the associations have grown and the author.”<br />
inappropriateness has been forgotten. Old build. It was certainly very pleasing to hear that the<br />
ings have been replaced by new ones, but the sites editions thrown off reached the exalted standard<br />
at all events remain. Spring Gardens are not of ten thousand at a time, and that there existed<br />
gardens, Moorgate Street leads to no city gate, a large stock which, when sold, would show a<br />
and Pump Court might commemorate the name of considerable balance. Much stress was laid on<br />
some famous chancellor or jurist, instead of a pump cost of advertising ; but, on asking for a specific<br />
which has been replaced by a water-tap ; but to statement thereof, the request was declined with a<br />
alter the name of spots such as these would obscure superciliousness that made me thoroughly ashamed<br />
their history. It would confuse every reference to of my impertinence.<br />
them in every chronicle of London, and in the I then announced that I was about to venture<br />
contemporary records of lives and events before on the experiment of competing with myself, and<br />
the change. Care should be taken, no doubt, in candidly offered an outline of my scheme. The<br />
naming new streets not to allot to them titles that assembled firm was delighted, and urged me to<br />
are silly, or that will be confused with old ones, put it into operation at once. While assenting to<br />
and there is obvious inconvenience where similar this, I suggested fresh terms, and that the profits<br />
names are liable to be confused. But it is sub- of the successful series should be separate and<br />
mitted to the consideration of the County Council independent. A palaver as usual followed without<br />
(a body which we all know is actuated by no other fruit. Accordingly, I offered to pay all expenses<br />
motive than the desire to benefit London in every of production and to give over the right of<br />
way that lies in its power) that, as a general sale on the usual commission terms. Proposal<br />
principle, where one name has been borne longer rejected with scorn! On approaching one of our<br />
than the other, and particularly where other names largest booksellers, he eagerly closed with the<br />
are interwoven in its history, the claims of the offer, showing me a room amply stored with my<br />
older should prevail, while further it must not be current publications bought by subscription.<br />
thought that the change of a name two hundred On arrival at home, I found a telegram from<br />
years old will be commended simply because it the mystic“ House" alluded to, complying<br />
gives the name of a great man to a blind alley. fully and literally with my terms, and insinuating<br />
The associations that adorn the blind alley may be a subtle suggestion to relieve me of the trouble<br />
lost, while the fame of the great man cannot of printing, &c., at a merely nominal rate of<br />
possibly be increased.<br />
percentage. Of this I took no notice, seeing<br />
E. A. ARMSTRONG. that I had declined their condescending services<br />
altogether.<br />
The new series consisted of seven volumes,<br />
whose complete preparation for the market cost<br />
THE PUBLICATION OF EDUCATIONAL<br />
about £750. In less than a year the sales<br />
recouped the entire expenditure, including stereo<br />
WORKS.<br />
plates, and plus a fair and reasonable solatium in<br />
the shape of net profit. This became a reserve fund<br />
for further ventures of an educational sort, all of<br />
Experiences of a School Book Editor.<br />
which were, more or less, so successful as to vield,<br />
under commission terms, a very handsome addition<br />
[N response to your general hint, I venture, to my income.<br />
I as an ancient school book editor, to furnish Especially with relaxed efforts, hot competition<br />
your readers with a few experiences. As an on all sides naturally reduced my returns year<br />
inspector, I was daily disgusted with the supremacy br year. Nevertheless, I grudged no trading pub-<br />
of the Irish Board series in our elementary schools. lisher the reward of honest rivalry. Assuredly,<br />
I, therefore, set to work to emulate in a fair fight, however, this remark does not apply to public<br />
and, I think, with some success.<br />
societies, largely drawing their capital from volun-<br />
My first effort, through a noted publishing firm, tary contributions certainly not subscribed for the<br />
resulted in a sale of a series of six readers of nearly purpose of destroying or diverting the legitimate<br />
a million volumes in about a year. At harvest channels of commerce.<br />
time I was ingenuous enough to expect a hand- With regard to the vexed question of publishers'<br />
some cheque, but was told that the works were still clandestine profits or unfair trading with authors,<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 107 (#497) ############################################<br />
<br />
· THE AUTHOR.<br />
107<br />
it may be interesting here to note that the estab- the question of identity, imaginary incidents<br />
lishment of an Authors' Publishing Society was occurring in the life of the fictitious bandmaster<br />
long deliberated by my deceased friends M. might be taken as assertions of hers with regard to<br />
Arnold, T. Hughes, and A. Froude. I presume the bandmaster of fact. Having so far forgotten<br />
the difficulties arising from the irritabile genus at the situation in which she had placed herselt, she<br />
large stood in the way. Of course, it is impos- made the bandmaster in her story, to some extent<br />
sible to predict what, in these days of storm and at least, a musical failure, thus libelling the real<br />
stress, may yet arise from the tricks and manners bandmaster in his calling. The author's bad luck<br />
our departed presidium et dulce decus so bravely did not end with her imprudence of forgetfulness,<br />
exposed; but it is far from hopeful that, in spite for novelists have often escaped without having<br />
of your signs and warnings, authors continue to actions brought against them even by persons<br />
flounder between Scylla and Charybdis.<br />
intentionally satirised. Still, granting that Eliza-<br />
J. S. LAURIE.<br />
beth Godfrey was unlucky, it is safe to assert that<br />
considering that the law of libel is applied by<br />
juries with upsparing hands, and that people do<br />
not as a rule like being “put into books," it is<br />
better to describe types, and not particular indivi-<br />
“REAL PEOPLE” IN FICTION.<br />
duals. Such typical characters may possess features,<br />
which the author wishes to introduce, taken from<br />
• living models, but non-essential features should<br />
T the last summer assize at Winchester a be omitted. The arts of the pen and of the brush<br />
Bournemouth bandmaster won an action are near akin, and illustration from the latter is<br />
for libel against the lady who writes under easy. Suppose, for example, an artist commis-<br />
the name of Elizabeth Godfrey, securing nominal sioned to make comic pictures of sport knows a<br />
damages, and putting a stop to all further sale of man who has the worst possible seat on a horse,<br />
the book complained of, with the usual costs of the and moreover has bushy whiskers, and a crooked<br />
successful litigant. It need hardly be said that nose, wbile he habitually wears an eyeglass<br />
the defendant having to defray her own legal with a black ribbon. The artist may watch his<br />
expenses in addition to the taxed costs of the friend go across country, and come back and pro-<br />
plaintiff will thereby have been mulcted in a duce an admirable series which his unconscious<br />
sum exceeding the probable profits of the unre- model will some day laugh over consumedly.<br />
stricted sale of her novel, and equal to many Suppose, however, that the artist has crowned each<br />
times the compensation awarded to the libelled drawing with the strongly marked features of his<br />
person.<br />
friend, and inserted the eyeglass and black ribbon.<br />
The report of such a case should be read as a Will he have any right to complain if the friend<br />
warning by authors inclined to draw their char- be offended at being held up to ridicule, and vill<br />
acters and scenes from life. Elizabeth Godfrey he not have erred by introducing non-essential<br />
was no doubt a victim of what schoolboys call, or details into a picture where all that was essential<br />
used to call, “hard lines.” She had, we may was the correct drawing of the attitudes adopted<br />
safely assume, no deliberate intention to wound by various portions of a bad rider's anatomy?<br />
the feelings or injure the reputation of Mr. D. The law of libel, as administered by modern<br />
Godfrey. A bandmaster was, however, necessary juries before modern judges in courts to which<br />
for the purposes of her povel, and residing, as she many hesitate to bring more important causes for<br />
did, at Bournemouth, she described one who con- trial, is oppressive and unjust, largely owing to the<br />
ducted a band in precisely the circumstances in huge costs, out of all proportion to the injury done,<br />
which Mr. Godfrey conducted his, giving a recog- to which attention has been called above. But<br />
nisable picture of Bournemouth, and an epigram- apart from libel actions, the introduction of real<br />
matic definition of the “ Winter Garden" in which persons in a recognisable form into books is an<br />
apparently the Bournemouth band habitually unsatisfactory way of losing friends or making<br />
performs. If she ever reflected that her fictitious enemies. Charles Dickens affords a case in point,<br />
bandmaster was recognisable by the friends of a which will occur to everyone. He can hardly have<br />
bandmaster in real life, she probably did not felt that he gained reputation by the introduction<br />
realise how carefully they avd he would read her or apparent introduction of a friend into “ Bleak<br />
novel and apply its incidents. She must clearly House.” Is there anything to show that, in doing<br />
have failed to consider that while circumstances this, Charles Dickens was guilty of anything worse<br />
that apparently were common to the real band than carelessness or forgetfulness? He did not<br />
master and the fictitious one would serve to accen- plan his stories in detail before he wrote them.<br />
tuate the resemblance between them and clinch He probably took Leigh Hunt as a suggestion for<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 108 (#498) ############################################<br />
<br />
108<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
the novelist should observe before he invents, it is<br />
the lively exercise of his invention rather than the<br />
accurate transcript of his observation that we<br />
should admire in his work.<br />
CORRESPONDENCE.<br />
a character, and was amused for a time by develop-<br />
ing and accentuating certain characteristics in his<br />
original, and perhaps adding others which he<br />
thought might well accompany them in fiction,<br />
Then the exigencies of his story demanded that<br />
certain information should be conveyed to certain<br />
persons at a particular moment in the action, and<br />
he made Skimpole do a dishonourable act for a<br />
mercenary motive, regardless of the fact that he<br />
had no original intention of his being other than<br />
a harmless butterfly, and, what was more important,<br />
wholly forgetting that he had started by making<br />
him a recognisable portrait of a person with whom<br />
he and many of his most eager readers were<br />
acquainted.<br />
Modern instances of this semi-accidental unkind-<br />
ness of writers who take a character from life and<br />
forget the inferences, usually wholly unjustifiable,<br />
which may afterwards be drawn by their readers,<br />
could easily be multiplied both from dead and from<br />
living authors. It is a form of unkindness which<br />
lies in the middle between deliberate satire and<br />
wholly accidental injury of the feelings of the<br />
hyper-sensitive. Deliberate satire of individuals<br />
disguised in fiction is more or less obsolete, and<br />
modern methods, coupled with the fear of the law.<br />
courts, render it less biting and effective than it<br />
used to be ; while publishers naturally do not<br />
regard it with favour, although they may not<br />
always be able to detect it before the book is<br />
issued. There is a marked distinction (most people<br />
will readily admit) between deliberately holding an<br />
individual up to ridicule and using an individual<br />
as a type in such a way that he or she is recognised.<br />
At all events, any legal consequences that follow in<br />
the former case can hardly be regarded as unmerited<br />
accidents. On the other hand, few writers of fiction<br />
dealing with crime, or writing humorously, have<br />
published many stories without being accused by<br />
some total stranger of having made him or one of<br />
his friends play the part of a criminal, or of having<br />
otherwise held him up to opprobrium or ridicule.<br />
Almost any writer can multiply instances of this<br />
quite unintentional “ libelling” of foolish persons,<br />
who have eagerly made the cap fit their own heads,<br />
perhaps merely on the strength of their name being<br />
that of the author's character. No one can avoid<br />
occasional offence of this kind, even if he cared to<br />
do so. With regard, however, to those who choose<br />
what we may call the middle course—who draw<br />
characters straight from life to begin with, and<br />
then proceed to invent actions, possibly discredit-<br />
able, for them to perform—these should remember<br />
that a little further exercise of the same invention<br />
may disguise a few of the recognisable but not<br />
indispensable features of the original, without<br />
detracting from the general effect. It may, more-<br />
over, be suggested to them that although admittedly<br />
THE METHOD OF THE FUTURE<br />
DEAR SIR,—In his most interesting and helpful<br />
article (page 75 of the December issue), G. H. T<br />
lays great stress on the advisability of a publisher<br />
confining himself to publishing on commission.<br />
This does not seem to me to be quite fair, and is<br />
certainly not my experience. I have now published<br />
mfany books on this method, thanks to the kind<br />
advice of Sir Walter Besant, our hard-worked<br />
Secretary, and contributors to The Author. I am<br />
convinced that no publisher could have given to<br />
any of his own books more devoted care than has<br />
been bestowed upon mine by my publishers who<br />
are not solely commission publishers.<br />
A s I have myself derived so much profit from<br />
the pages of The Author, I hope I may save much<br />
time and trouble to fellow-workers by giving the<br />
name of my publishers, viz., Messrs. Simpkin,<br />
Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited.<br />
VICTOR SPIERS.<br />
King's College, London, W.C.,<br />
December 10th, 1901.<br />
(Ed.—Is it not a fact that the majority of<br />
books produced by this publisher are commission<br />
books !)<br />
THE SOCIETY AND “WHAT'S WHAT.”<br />
SIR, I have read the passages quoted by you in<br />
the December number of The Author from Mr.<br />
Harry Quilter's book “What's What." As a<br />
member of the Society of Authors, I desire strongly<br />
to condemn as untrue the statements made by Mr.<br />
Quilter with regard to the Society and its work.<br />
I have often received from the Secretary valuable<br />
advice, promptly given, and without any expense<br />
to me. I have acted on his advice, and have<br />
received ample proof that his advice is sound and<br />
me<br />
that the Society's work is useful and beneficial.<br />
John HOLT SCHOOLING.<br />
Fotheringhay House, Twickenham,<br />
December 3rd, 1901.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 108 (#499) ############################################<br />
<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
CHATTO & WINDUS'S NEW BOOKS.<br />
| A<br />
NEW SIX-SHILLING NOVELS.<br />
THE GRAND BABYLON HOTEL. By | THE LADY OF LYNN. By Sir WALTER<br />
ARNOLD BENNETT.<br />
[Jan. 9. BESANT, Author of “The Orange Girl," &c. With<br />
JUDAH PYECROFT, PURITAN. By HARRY 12 Illustrations by G. DEMAIN-HAMMOND.<br />
LINDSAY.<br />
[Jan. 16.<br />
SOWER OF WHEAT. By HAROLD<br />
THE OLD BANK. By WILLIAM WESTALL.<br />
BINDLOSS, Author of " Ainslie's Ju-ju.”<br />
[Shortly.<br />
THE CANKERWORM: being Episodes of a<br />
THE CAT'SPAW. By B. M. CROKER. With 12 Woman's Life. By GEORGE MANVILLE FENN, Author<br />
Illustrations by F. PEGRAM.<br />
[Shortly.<br />
of " Double Cunning," &c.<br />
A STUMBLE BY THE WAY. By L. T.<br />
FIGHT TO A FINISH. By FLORENCE<br />
MEADE.<br />
WARDEN, Author of " Joan, the Curate.”<br />
DUMB. By the Hon. Mrs. WALTER R. D. FORBES,<br />
Author of " A Gentleman."<br />
THE HOUSE ON THE SCAR: a Tale of<br />
South Devon. By BERTHA THOMAS, Author of "In a<br />
DESPAIR'S LAST JOURNEY. By D. CHRISTIE<br />
Cathedral City," &c. SECOND EDITION.<br />
MURRAY, Author of " Joseph's Coat."<br />
THE TRIUMPH OF HILARY BLACH.<br />
THE WEALTH OF MALLERSTANG: an<br />
LAND. By BERTRAM MITFORD, Author of “The<br />
Upland Tale. By ALGERNON GISSING, Author of " A<br />
Gun-runner," &c.<br />
Secret of the North Sea," &c.<br />
THE PURPLE CLOUD. By M. P.SHIEL, Author<br />
THREE MEN OF MARK. By SARAH TYTLER,<br />
of "The Yellow Danger," &c.<br />
Author of “St. Mungo's City,” &c.<br />
THE LOVER'S PROGRESS. Told by Himself, | ONLY A NIGGER. By EDMUND MITCHELL,<br />
and Dedicated “To All who Love.<br />
Anthor of " The Lone Star Rush," &c.<br />
NEW THREE-AND-SIXPENNY BOOKS.<br />
TALES OF A DYING RACE. By ALFRED A. | THE INIMITABLE MRS. MASSINGHAM.<br />
GRACE.<br />
By HERBERT COMPTON.<br />
A BLIND MARRIAGE, &c. By Geo. R. SIMS.<br />
THE FOURTH GENERATION. By Sir<br />
WALTER BESANT.<br />
THE JOY OF LIFE. By EMILE ZOLA. Edited<br />
"AS A WATCH IN THE NIGHT.” By<br />
with an Introduction by ERNEST A. VIZETELLY.<br />
Mrs. CAMPBELL PRAED.<br />
HER ROYAL HIGHNESS WOMAN. By<br />
TERENCE. By B. M. CROKER. With 6 Illustrations Max O’RELL, Author of " John Bull and his Island,"<br />
by SIDNEY PAGET.<br />
&c. FIFTH EDITION,<br />
NEW SERIES OF TWO-SHILLING NOVELS.<br />
Bound in picture cloth boards, flat backs.<br />
PLOTTERS OF PARIS. By EDMUND MITCHELL. | THE WATERS OF EDERA. By OUIDA.<br />
SPORT AND SPANGLES. By BYRON WEBBER. THE LADY FROM NOWHERE. By<br />
FERGUS HUME.<br />
DORA MYRL, THE LADY DETECTIVE.<br />
IN LONDON'S HEART. By GEORGE R. SIMS.<br />
By McD. BODKIN, K.C.<br />
JOAN. THE CURATE. By FLORENCE WARDEN.<br />
THE RECORDS OF VINCENT TRILL,<br />
ST. KATHERINE'S BY THE TOWER.<br />
OF THE DETECTIVE SERVICE. By DICK<br />
By Sir WALTER BESANT.<br />
DONOVAN<br />
IN Å HOLLOW OF THE HILLS. By<br />
DARK DEEDS. By Dick DONOVAN.<br />
BRET HARTE.<br />
THE ST. MARTIN'S LIBRARY.<br />
POCKET VOLUMES, printed upon fine and very thin paper. Post 8vo, cloth, gilt top, 2s. net each ;<br />
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THE CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH., THE DEEMSTER. By HALL CAINE.<br />
By CHARLES READE.<br />
"IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND."<br />
FAMILIAR STUDIES OF MEN AND<br />
By CHARLES READE.<br />
BOOKS. By R. L. STEVENSON.<br />
A VERSAILLES CHRISTMAS-TIDE. By MARY, THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS OF<br />
STUART BOYD. With 53 Illustrations by A. S. BOYD. F'cap<br />
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2 vols., crown 8vo, buckram, 12s.<br />
LOVE, COURTSHIP. AND MARRIAGE. By the Rev.<br />
THE CLOISTER AND THE HEARTH. By CHARLES<br />
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<br />
<br />
## p. 108 (#500) ############################################<br />
<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
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## p. 108 (#501) ############################################<br />
<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
vu<br />
LITERARY YEAR BOOK, 1902.<br />
An indispensable work of reference for all who<br />
are concerned in Literature.<br />
Ready in January, 1902. Crown 8vo, Cloth Limp. Price before Publication, 4s. 6d. Net, Post.<br />
Note.—ON PUBLICATION the Price of this Annual will be raised to 5s. Net. [Free.<br />
Edited by Herbert Morrah.<br />
MHE SIXTH ISSUE of “THE LITERARY YEAR-BOOK” will contain a considerable<br />
amount of new matter, the whole of the information collected in previous years being<br />
thoroughly revised and to a large extent re-arranged.<br />
The FIRST PART of the volume will contain an exhaustive Review of the Year 1901, based<br />
upon the plan general in the most valuable works of reference, and conveying, in the form of<br />
an interesting narrative, a complete impression of the literary activities of the period under<br />
notice.<br />
The SECOND PART of - The Literary Year-Book” will contain the usual Directories in<br />
amplified form. A vast amount of fresh information has been collected. The endeavour has<br />
been to cover a wider field than has hitherto been possible, and though, in view of the great<br />
expense and labour involved, a slight advance in price has been found necessary, the book<br />
will be seen to be well worth the sum charged for it.<br />
eme<br />
In PART I.<br />
Information and articles respecting the following subjects will be included :<br />
Agreements. Authorship. Book Sales of 1901. Bookselling. Calendar.<br />
Controversies of 1901. Copyright Cases of 1901. Dramatic Rights.<br />
Events of the Literary Year. Obituary (With Biography of Deceased Authors).<br />
PART II.<br />
Will be greatly enlarged as well as thoroughly revised, and will contain information with<br />
regard to the following :<br />
Agents. American Information (Largely increased).<br />
Artists (With Books illustrated for 1901).<br />
Authors (This important Section will be considerably increased). Books of 1901. Clubs.<br />
Contributors' Guide. Events of 1901. Indexers. Libraries.<br />
Literary Searchers. Pensions. Periodical Publications. Plays.<br />
Publishers, English and Foreign. Royalties. Societies. Typists.<br />
Technical Information. Trade Information.<br />
GEORGE ALLEN, 156, CHARING Cross Road, London.<br />
<br />
<br />
## p. 108 (#502) ############################################<br />
<br />
viii<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
SECOND EDITION<br />
OR<br />
LADY FLORENCE DIXIE'S NEW BOOK<br />
READY.<br />
66 The Songs of a Child,”<br />
Dedicated to and containing lines by the 1st LORD LYTTON.<br />
Published for the first time.<br />
Popular Edition, 2s.6d. Edition de Luxe, in white vellum gilt, 7s.6d.<br />
Both contain Coloured Portrait of Author as a Child.<br />
PUBLISHERS :<br />
THE LEADENHALL PRESS, 50, LEADENHALL STREET, E.C.<br />
AND<br />
CHARLES SCRIBNER AND Sons, New YORK.<br />
Extracts from Representative Reviews and Opinions of the Book.<br />
Reviewing this book at some length, a well-known writer and thinker writes :<br />
“As far as inspired Dreamland can ever be restored to me, it has been restored by an afternoon's revel in Songs<br />
by a Child. Again over the dull abyss of intervening years, I found myself chasing the wild bee and gathering<br />
the gowans. ... The most matured and artistic of all her lyrics, Iolanthe and Bereen,' is hardly unworthy<br />
of being compared to Hogg's · Kilmeny'; in conception and execution, in dramatic construction, in deftness of<br />
artistic touch, in melodious cadence, the piece gives evidence, not only of high possibilities, but of actual lyric<br />
and epic accomplishment. ... Although a book by a child, its perusal has given me surcease from adult cark<br />
and care, and some day when I am stricken down in the world's heartless fight, when I feel all effort useless and<br />
all life's prizes illusory, I shall betake me to this book in order that I may feel young again,”-Nov. 30th, 1901.<br />
In a lengthy review “ The Dumfries Standard” says :<br />
“ The whole volume is richer in the promise of poetic greatness than most great poets can show at so early an<br />
age; better than any extract the book itself will be, and for the nobility of its sentiment, for the vein of genuine<br />
poetry that is in it, we have no word too cordial to recommend it.”—Dec. 4th, 1901.<br />
“ Ouida” writes :<br />
"I am much moved by the pathos and beauty of many of your poems. Thanks from my heart for the · Prayer<br />
for the Dogs,' and 'Janet Lees' is lovely. It should be reprinted everywhere and 'Averille.'”-Dec. 3rd, 1901,<br />
Marie Corelli says:<br />
“Your charming book of Poems, which I find very fascinating.”--Dec. 6th, 1901.<br />
“ The Herald of the Golden Age" for December says:<br />
“ This volume of poems contains many gems of thought. There is a freshness and versatility about the book<br />
that is quite unique. There can be no doubt that the author possesses the poetic gift in a most marked degree."<br />
“ The Literary World” of Dec. 30th remarks:<br />
66. Esterelle, or the Lure Witch of the Alpine Glen’ fills fifty-six pages, and contains passages that would do no<br />
discredit to poets of riper age and more mature mind. Pathetic and beautiful thoughts are expressed on every<br />
page.”<br />
Printed by BRADBURY, AGNEW, & Co. LD., and Published by them for THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS (INCORPORATED),<br />
at 10, Bouverie Street, London, E.C. | https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/349/1902-01-01-The-Author-12-6.pdf | publications, The Author |