532 | https://historysoa.com/items/show/532 | The Author, Vol. 24 Issue 01 (October 1913) | <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.+24+Issue+01+%28October+1913%29"><em>The Author</em>, Vol. 24 Issue 01 (October 1913)</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> | 1913-10-01-The-Author-24-1 | | | | | 1–32 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=89&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=24">24</a> | | | | | | | | | | | <a href="/items/browse?advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=76&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=1913-10-01">1913-10-01</a> | | | | | | | 1 | | | 19131001 | Che HMutbor.<br />
<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authers. Monthly.)<br />
<br />
FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Vou. XXIV.—No. 1.<br />
<br />
OcToBER 1, 1913.<br />
<br />
[PRIcE SIXPENCE.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TELEPHONE NUMBER:<br />
374 VICTORIA.<br />
<br />
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS :<br />
AUTORIDAD, LONDON.<br />
<br />
—_____+——__—___<br />
<br />
NOTICES.<br />
<br />
—_—-—+—<br />
<br />
7 the opinions expressed in papers that<br />
are signed or initialled the authors alone<br />
are responsible. None of the papers or<br />
paragraphs must be taken as expressing the<br />
opinion of the Committee unless such is<br />
especially stated to be the case.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Tue Editor begs to inform members of the<br />
Authors’ Society and other readers of The<br />
Author that the cases which are quoted in The<br />
<br />
‘Author are cases that have come before the-<br />
<br />
notice or to the knowledge of the Secretary of<br />
the Society, and that those members of the<br />
Society who desire to have the names of the<br />
publishers concerned can obtain them on<br />
application.<br />
<br />
ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS.<br />
<br />
Tue Editor of The Author begs to remind<br />
members of the Society that, although the<br />
paper is sent to them free of cost, its production<br />
would be a very heavy charge on the resources<br />
of the Society if a great many members did not<br />
forward to the Secretary the modest 5s. 6d.<br />
subscription for the year.<br />
<br />
Communications for The Author should be<br />
addressed to the offices of the Society, 1, Cen-<br />
tral Buildings, Tothill Street, Westminster,<br />
S.W., and should reach the Editor not later<br />
than the 21st of each month.<br />
<br />
Communications and letters are invited by<br />
the Editor on all literary matters treated from<br />
<br />
Vou, XXIV.<br />
<br />
the standpoint of art or business, but on no<br />
other subjects whatever. Every effort will be<br />
made to return articles which cannot be<br />
accepted.<br />
<br />
ADVERTISEMENTS.<br />
<br />
On and after June 13 Messrs. Matthews’<br />
Advertising Service, Staple Inn Buildings,<br />
High Holborn, W.C., will act as agents for<br />
advertisements for “The Author.” All<br />
communications respecting advertisements<br />
after that date should be addressed to them.<br />
<br />
As there seems to be an impression among<br />
readers of The Author that the Committee are<br />
personally responsible for the bona fides of the<br />
advertisers, the Committee desire it to be stated<br />
that this is not, and could not possibly be, the<br />
ease. Although care is exercised that no<br />
undesirable advertisements be inserted, they<br />
do not accept, and never have accepted, any<br />
liability.<br />
<br />
Members should apply to the Secretary for<br />
advice if special information is desired.<br />
<br />
—______——__—___<br />
<br />
THE SOCIETY’S FUNDS.<br />
<br />
— ++<br />
<br />
ROM time to time members of the Society<br />
desire to make donations to its funds in<br />
recognition of work that has been done<br />
<br />
for them. The Committee, acting on the<br />
suggestion of one of these members, have<br />
decided to place this permanent paragraph in<br />
The Author in order that members may be<br />
cognisant of those funds to which these con-<br />
tributions may be paid.<br />
<br />
The funds suitable for this purpose are:<br />
(1) The Capital Fund. This fund is kept in<br />
reserve in case it is necessary for the Society to<br />
incur heavy expenditure, either in fighting a<br />
question of principle, or in assisting to obtain<br />
copyright reform, or in dealing with any other<br />
<br />
79<br />
<br />
<br />
2<br />
<br />
matter closely connected with the work of the<br />
Society. oe ‘<br />
<br />
(2) The Pension Fund. This fund is slowly<br />
increasing, and it is hoped will, in time, cover<br />
the needs of all the members of the Society.<br />
<br />
ee<br />
<br />
THE PENSION FUND.<br />
<br />
oo<br />
<br />
‘N January, the secretary of the Society<br />
laid before the trustees of the Pension<br />
Fund the accounts for the year 1912, as<br />
<br />
settled by the accountants. After giving the<br />
matter full consideration, the trustees in-<br />
structed the secretary to invest a sum of £300<br />
in the purchase of Buenos Ayres Great<br />
Southern Railway 4% Extension Shares, 1914,<br />
£10 fully paid. The number of shares pur-<br />
chased at the eurrent price was twenty-five<br />
and the amount invested £296 1s. 1ld. The<br />
trustees are also purchasing three more Central<br />
Argentine Railway New Shares at par, on<br />
which as holders of the Ordinary Stock they<br />
have an option.<br />
<br />
The trustees desire to thank the members<br />
of the Society for the continued support which<br />
they have given to the Pension Fund.<br />
<br />
The nominal value of the investments held<br />
on behalf of the Pension Fund now amounts<br />
to £4,764 6s., details of which are fully set out<br />
in the following schedule ;—<br />
<br />
Nominal Value.<br />
<br />
8<br />
Deca L0ans 2.5.2.2... 665. 500 0 0<br />
Victoria Government 3% Consoli-<br />
dated Inscribed Stock ........ 291 19 11<br />
London and North-Western 3%<br />
Debenture Stock .........<.; 250 0 0<br />
Egyptian Government Irrigation<br />
Trust 4% Certifieates ........ 200 0 0<br />
‘Cape of Good Hope 34% Inscribed<br />
UOC os oc eee 200 0 0<br />
Glasgow and South-Western Rail-<br />
way 4% Preference Stock 228 0 0<br />
New Zealand 34% Stock ....... 247 9 6<br />
Irish Land 22% Guaranteed Stock 258 0 0<br />
Corporation of London 24%<br />
stock, 1927-57 ............. 438 2 4<br />
Jamaica 34% Stock, 1919—49 .. 18218 6<br />
Mauritius 4% 1987 Stock ....... 120 12 1<br />
Dominion of Canada, C.P.R. 34%<br />
Land Grant Stock, 1988 ...... 198 3 8<br />
Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway<br />
5% Preferred Stock .......... 237 0 0<br />
Central Argentine Railway Or- .<br />
dinaty St0ck = ......-.e:c001. Be OG<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
Nominal Value.<br />
<br />
2 28<br />
$2,000 Consolidated Gas and<br />
Electric Company of Baltimore<br />
44% Gold Bonds ........... 400 0 0<br />
250 Edward Lloyd, Ltd., £1 5%<br />
Preference Shares .........:; 250 0 0<br />
55 Buenos Ayres Great Southern<br />
Railway 4°% Extension Shares,<br />
1914 (fully paid) ..........-. 550 0 0<br />
<br />
8 Central Argentine Railway £10<br />
Preference Shares, New Issue.. 80 0 6<br />
<br />
Total<br />
<br />
PENSION FUND.<br />
<br />
ee<br />
<br />
Tue list printed below includes all fresh dona-<br />
tions and subscriptions (t.e., donations and<br />
subscriptions not hitherto acknowledged)<br />
received by, or promised to, the fund from<br />
January 3, 1913.<br />
<br />
It does not include either donations given<br />
prior to January, nor does it include sub-<br />
scriptions paid in compliance with promises<br />
made before it.<br />
<br />
Subscriptions.<br />
<br />
1913, - #8<br />
Jan. 8, Toynbee, William (in addi-<br />
<br />
tion to his present sub-<br />
<br />
scription). . . ~ O16 0<br />
Jan. 9, Gibson, Frank . 0 6 8<br />
Jan. 29, Blaikley, Miss E. L. Oo Ss 6<br />
Jan. 31, Annesley, Miss Maude 010 6<br />
Feb. 6, Rothenstein, Albert . 0 7 &<br />
Feb. 10, Bradshaw, Percy V. 010 6<br />
April 8, Caulfield-Stoker, T. . 0 5 0<br />
June 12, Wimperis, Arthur . fg<br />
June 16, Ballantyne, J.W. . » 0.5 0<br />
June 16, Thorold, Rupert 1 @ 0<br />
<br />
Donations.<br />
<br />
1913. :<br />
Jan. 1, Risque, W. H. ‘ . 910 8<br />
Jan. 1, Rankin, Mrs. F. M. . . @ 6 06<br />
Jan. 2, Short, Miss L. M. 05 0<br />
Jan, 2, Mackenzie, Miss J. 0 5 0<br />
Jan. 2, Webling, Miss Peggy . O15 0<br />
Jan. 8, Harris, Mrs. E. H. . 0 5 0<br />
Jan. 3, Church, Sir Arthur,<br />
<br />
K.C.V.O., ete. ~ Fo 2 ©<br />
Jan. 4, Douglas, James A. . - 8 8 0<br />
Jan. 4, Grant, Lady Sybil . ~* 2.2 8<br />
Jan. 6, Haultain, Arnold é ~ ok 21 6<br />
Jan. 6, Beveridge, Mrs. : <0 8 6<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan,<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Jan.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Feb.<br />
Mar. 7, Keating,<br />
Lloyd ;<br />
Mar. 7, Tharp, Robert C.<br />
Mar. 10, Hall, H. Fielding<br />
Mar. 18, Moffatt, Miss Beatrice<br />
Mar. 14, Bennett, Arnold<br />
<br />
6, Clark, The Rev. Henry<br />
6, Ralli, C. Scaramanija .<br />
6, Lathbury, Miss Eva .<br />
6, Pryce, Richard<br />
<br />
7, Gibson, Miss L. S.<br />
<br />
10, K. : :<br />
<br />
10, Ford, Miss May<br />
<br />
12, Greenstreet, W. J. .<br />
14, Anon : :<br />
15, Maude, Aylmer<br />
<br />
16, Price, Miss Eleanor .<br />
17, Blouet, Madame<br />
20,P.H.andM.K. .<br />
22, Smith, Herbert W. .<br />
25, Anon. . . :<br />
27, Vernede, R. E. .<br />
29, Plowman, Miss Mary<br />
<br />
81, Jacobs, W. W.<br />
<br />
1, Davy, Mrs. E. M.<br />
<br />
8, Abraham, J. J.<br />
<br />
4, Gibbs, F. L. A.<br />
<br />
4, Buckrose, J. E. ‘<br />
4, Balme, Mrs. Nettleton<br />
<br />
6, Machen, Arthur<br />
6, Romane-James, Mrs.<br />
6, Weston, Miss Lydia .<br />
<br />
14, Maunsell, A. E. Lloyd<br />
14, O'Higgins, H. J...<br />
15, Stephens, Dr. Ricardo<br />
15, Jones, Miss E. H.<br />
<br />
17, Whibley, Charles<br />
<br />
22, Probert, W. S.<br />
<br />
24, S. F. G. ;<br />
<br />
27, XX. Pen Club<br />
<br />
Mar. 17, Michell, The Right Hon.<br />
<br />
Sir Lewis, K.C.V.O.<br />
<br />
Mar. 17, Travers®Miss Rosalind<br />
<br />
Mar. 26, Anon. . . .<br />
April 2, Daniel, E. H. .<br />
April 2, Hain, H. M.<br />
<br />
April 7, Taylor, Miss Susette M.<br />
<br />
April 7, Harding, Newman .<br />
April 9, Strachey, Miss Amabel<br />
April 10, Aspinall, Algernon .<br />
April 15, Craig, Gordon<br />
<br />
June 12, Peel, Mrs.<br />
<br />
29, Todd, Miss Margaret, M.D.<br />
<br />
6, Coleridge, The Hon. Gilbert<br />
<br />
14, Saies, Mrs. F. H. (in addi-<br />
tion to her subscription)<br />
<br />
Phe Hev. «3:<br />
<br />
THE. AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
.<br />
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<br />
June 13, Barlow, Miss Hilairé :<br />
June 13, Kynnersley, E. M. Sneyd.<br />
July 5, Williams, Robert :<br />
July 11, Broadbent, D. R. .<br />
<br />
July 22, Cameron, Mrs. Charlotte .<br />
<br />
Hae ooctk<br />
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<br />
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<br />
COMMITTEE NOTES.<br />
<br />
—+-——+-—_<br />
<br />
HE last meeting of the Committee of<br />
Management before the vacation was<br />
held on Monday, July 7, at 1, Central<br />
<br />
Buildings, Tothill Street, S.W.<br />
<br />
Following the reading of the minutes, the<br />
committee proceeded with the elections. Eigh-<br />
teen members were elected, bringing the total<br />
for the year up to 207. The committee<br />
received, with regret, three resignations.<br />
<br />
The solicitors then reported the cases to the<br />
committee.<br />
<br />
In regard to two cases tried during the<br />
month of June, they reported that in the<br />
case of Corelli and Gray, the defendants had<br />
appealed, and in the case of Pett Ridge and<br />
The English Illustrated, that the defendants<br />
had gone into liquidation. Two claims, one<br />
against a publisher, and the other for infringe-<br />
ment of performing rights, they stated had<br />
been satisfactorily settled, the amount of<br />
the debt and costs being paid in both cases.<br />
They then gave a detailed report concerning<br />
the investigation of accounts on behalf. of<br />
one of the members, which had become<br />
rather a complicated matter, owing to the<br />
business of the defendants lying to a great<br />
extent in Germany. They hoped to carry the<br />
case through without any serious expense to<br />
the Society. There were three cases of infringe-<br />
ment of copyright. In two of these, which<br />
referred to dramatic rights, the amount to be<br />
paid had been settled, and the payment by the<br />
defendants was to be made by instalments.<br />
In the other case, an infringement of literary<br />
copyright, the solicitors stated they were<br />
awaiting a report from an expert reader,<br />
which report had to be carefully considered<br />
before any action could be taken. The com-<br />
mittee authorised the expenditure of £5 on this<br />
report. The solicitors then reported on three<br />
small County Court cases that were being<br />
carried through.<br />
<br />
The secretary then drew the committee’s<br />
attention to some serious questions which had<br />
arisen between authors and agents. It was<br />
decided that the secretary should draft an<br />
<br />
<br />
4<br />
<br />
article to appear in T'he Author, setting out in<br />
full the facts of the case, which article should<br />
be considered at the October meeting. :<br />
<br />
The secretary reported two cases In which,<br />
during the month, he had obtained the chair-<br />
man’s leave to act. In the first, the chairman<br />
had sanctioned an application for an injunction<br />
(if necessary) for a copyright infringement.<br />
The secretary was glad to report that the<br />
infringement had been acknowledged, and that<br />
the matter would be settled without legal<br />
action. The second case arose owing to non-<br />
delivery of accounts by an American publisher.<br />
The committee confirmed the chairman’s<br />
decision to place the matter in the hands of<br />
the Society’s American lawyers. Another case,<br />
relating to copyright infringement in the<br />
United States, was laid before the committee,<br />
and they agreed that action should be taken if<br />
necessary. In a case of arbitration between<br />
author and publisher, which had been referred<br />
to the Committee of Management, the com-<br />
mittee nominated an arbitrator to act in the<br />
matter.<br />
<br />
The question of Canadian copyright was then<br />
raised on one or two important points con-<br />
nected with colonial copyright which had come<br />
before the Society. The secretary was in-<br />
structed to communicate with the Board of<br />
Trade on the matter, and to report to the next<br />
meeting.<br />
<br />
Owing to the resignation of the present<br />
lawyers of the Society in the United States,<br />
the secretary submitted the names of others,<br />
who were elected subject to a satisfactory<br />
report being received.<br />
<br />
A vacancy on the committee having occurred<br />
owing to the regretted illness of Mr. J. W.<br />
Comyns Carr, Mr. Charles Garvice was nomi-<br />
nated to fill the vacancy, subject to his willing-<br />
ness to serve,<br />
<br />
The secretary then made a full statement<br />
concerning the office management and<br />
expenses, and was instructed by the com-<br />
mittee thereon.<br />
<br />
The committee’s attention was drawn by<br />
the secretary to Mr. H. G. Wells’ lette#in The<br />
Author on the subject of model agreements.<br />
He was instructed to draft a model form of<br />
royalty agreement during the vacation. This<br />
form was to be laid before the committee in<br />
October.<br />
<br />
A legal question was next placed before the<br />
committee arising out of the mechanical<br />
reproduction clauses of the new Copyright Act.<br />
After hearing the report of the solicitors, the<br />
committee decided that no action could be<br />
taken. The committee delegated its powers,<br />
<br />
t cat ovh a vol ¥¥Ir<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
during the vacation, to the Chairman, to act<br />
in case of emergency, and finally passed votes<br />
of thanks to Mr. Alfred Sutro for a donation<br />
of £5, and to Miss Jeanette Marks, for a dona-<br />
tion of $5 to the Society’s Capital Fund.<br />
<br />
Dramatic SuB-COMMITTEE.,<br />
<br />
Tue Dramatic Sub-Committee held its July<br />
meeting on Friday, July 11, at the offices of<br />
the Society, 1, Central Buildings, Tothill Street,<br />
Westminster.<br />
<br />
After the reading of the minutes, the seere-<br />
tary reported that he had forwarded to Mr.<br />
Vedrenne, secretary to the Society of West End<br />
Managers, the Managerial Treaty, setting out<br />
the alterations made at the meeting between<br />
delegates of that society and delegates of the<br />
sub-committee. He read to the sub-committee<br />
Mr. Vedrenne’s letter acknowledging receipt of<br />
the document, and stating that he would show<br />
the agreement to his colleagues.<br />
<br />
The secretary then reported what had passed<br />
at a meeting he had attended of the Dramatic<br />
Clubs’ Association as delegate of the Society.<br />
He was instructed to write to the secretary<br />
and express the hope of the sub-committee,<br />
that it would be possible for delegates of<br />
the association to attend a meeting of the<br />
Dramatic Sub-Committee in the autumn.<br />
<br />
The question of foreign agents was then<br />
discussed, and the Dramatie Sub-Committee,<br />
subject to the approval of the Committee of<br />
Management, elected Mrs. Pogson, the agent<br />
of the Society in Germany.<br />
<br />
Various cases dealing with dramatists’<br />
matters were brought before the sub-committee.<br />
The first case referred to a difficulty which had<br />
arisen between members of the Society and<br />
their agents. The secretary was instructed to<br />
write an article for The Author, setting out the<br />
points in dispute, but first to submit the article<br />
to the members concerned. In another case<br />
the sub-committee regretted they were unable<br />
to take any action, and fhe secretary was<br />
instructed to advise the member accordingly.<br />
<br />
The last case was a question of appropriation<br />
of title. The Chairman was instructed to write<br />
a letter on the subject to the member con-<br />
cerned pointing out the serious difficulties, legal<br />
and otherwise, that might follow from such<br />
appropriation.<br />
<br />
It was finally decided to adjourn the con-<br />
sideration of the ‘‘ Draft Dramatic Agreement<br />
for a term of years’? to the autumn meeting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 5<br />
<br />
ComposErs’ SuB-COMMITTEE.<br />
<br />
Tue Composers’ Sub-Committee met at the<br />
offices of the Society, 1, Central Buildings,<br />
Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W., on Saturday<br />
July 12.<br />
<br />
Following the reading of the minutes of the<br />
previous meeting, the arrangements for the<br />
general meeting of composers in the autumn<br />
were discussed. It was decided to call the<br />
meeting for Saturday, October 11, at 2 o’clock.<br />
The terms of the circular were settled, and the<br />
names of certain speakers were suggested and<br />
approved.<br />
<br />
The question of the price to be paid by the<br />
mechanical instrument trade on records repro-<br />
ducing selections from certain works was fully<br />
discussed. The secretary read the opinion of<br />
the Society’s solicitors, and the sub-committee<br />
came to the same conclusion as the Committee<br />
of Management, viz., that it would be im-<br />
possible to argue that a symphony, concerto,<br />
or opera did not form one musical work,<br />
although the different movements or parts<br />
could be dealt with independently. The<br />
secretary was instructed in sending out stamps<br />
to act in accordance with this opinion.<br />
<br />
The question of foreign agents was brought<br />
forward, and the secretary was instructed to<br />
write again to the French Society, and to<br />
obtain further particulars from the German<br />
Society.<br />
<br />
On a further question as to the assignment<br />
of mechanical rights, it was decided to refer the<br />
matter to the general meeting in October.<br />
<br />
—<br />
<br />
Cases.<br />
<br />
Durinc the vacation the secretary has dealt<br />
with forty-four cases. This keeps the monthly<br />
number at about the usual average.<br />
<br />
Seventeen of the claims put in his hands were<br />
claims for money. Of these eleven have ter-<br />
minated successfully ; the money has been<br />
obtained and forwarded to the authors in-<br />
volved. Five have been placed in the hands<br />
of the Society’s solicitors, and will be dealt with<br />
in due course; one it has been impossible to<br />
carry further, as the defendant cannot be<br />
found, and one has only recently come to the<br />
office.<br />
<br />
The claims for MSS., of which eleven cases<br />
have been dealt with, come next in number.<br />
Six, that is over half, have been successful ;<br />
the editors have returned the MSS. and<br />
the MSS. .have been forwarded to the<br />
authors. In one case it was impossible to<br />
<br />
—~Bax, Clifford . ;<br />
<br />
find the defendant and the matter had to be<br />
dropped. One ease is still unsettled, and three<br />
cases have only come into the office on the<br />
verge of going to press.<br />
<br />
Of seven cases of accounts four have ter-<br />
minated successfully, two have been placed in<br />
the hands of the solicitors, and one has only<br />
recently come to hand.<br />
<br />
There have been six disputes on agreements.<br />
Four of these have been settled, and the<br />
remaining two are in the hands of the solicitors<br />
to be dealt with.<br />
<br />
In two claims for infringement of copyright<br />
the damages claimed have been obtained, and<br />
the matters have been concluded.<br />
<br />
There was one case of unauthorised use of an<br />
author’s name, but, as the matter lies in the<br />
United States, the issues are still pending.<br />
<br />
The Society has obtained counsel’s opinion<br />
on an important dramatic case dealing with<br />
cinematograph rights, and the cases the<br />
solicitors have had in hand during the vacation<br />
will be reported at length in the November<br />
issue. But little court work is carried on in<br />
the summer either in the high courts or in the<br />
county courts.<br />
<br />
—_+—<—+ —_<br />
<br />
Elections.<br />
<br />
Ball, W. Valentine - ft; Brick Court,<br />
<br />
Temple, E.C.<br />
<br />
The Manor House,<br />
Broughton-Gif-<br />
ford, Wilts.<br />
<br />
Royal Societies’<br />
Club, London ;<br />
and The Cross<br />
Roads, Mt. Kisco,<br />
New York, U.S.A.<br />
<br />
2, Porchester Gar-<br />
dens, W.<br />
<br />
7, Old Deer Park<br />
Gardens, Rich-<br />
mond, S.W.<br />
<br />
40, Tregunter Road,<br />
W.<br />
<br />
Chagford House,<br />
209, North End<br />
Road, West Ken-<br />
sington, W.<br />
<br />
William 62, Station<br />
Colchester.<br />
<br />
Swan Hill Court,<br />
Shrewsbury.<br />
<br />
Matron, Salford<br />
Maternity Train-<br />
ing School.<br />
<br />
Davis, Richard Harding<br />
<br />
Farquharson, R.<br />
Ganthony, Richard<br />
<br />
Ganz, Wilhelm<br />
<br />
Harvey, Henry Leslie .<br />
<br />
Harwood, Road,<br />
Henry.<br />
<br />
Humphreys,<br />
Rachel.<br />
<br />
Macdonald, Sarah<br />
<br />
Miss<br />
6 THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
Makgill, Sir George,<br />
Bt. (‘‘ Victor Waite”<br />
and ‘“‘ Francis Grant ’’).<br />
<br />
Maude, Graham K.<br />
<br />
Yaxley Hall,<br />
Suffolk.<br />
<br />
Eye,<br />
<br />
56, Stanwick Man-<br />
sions, W. Kensing-<br />
ton, W.<br />
<br />
Forest Hill, West<br />
Kirby, Cheshire.<br />
“Invergordon,”<br />
Warrior Gardens,<br />
St. Leonards-on-<br />
<br />
Menzies, Mrs. M. I. :<br />
Moodie, Walter Wolston<br />
<br />
Sea.<br />
Richardson, Leslie . ‘Ker Avelek,’’ Con-<br />
carneau, Finis-<br />
<br />
tere, France.<br />
<br />
15, Sloane Gardens,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
57, Gwendwr Road,<br />
W. = Kensington,<br />
W.<br />
<br />
Whinyates, Miss Amy .<br />
Whitley, William T.<br />
<br />
——_———_1+—— > —__——_-<br />
<br />
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS.<br />
<br />
—<br />
<br />
While every effort is made by the compilers to keep<br />
this list as accurate and exhaustive as pomille, they have<br />
some difficulty in attaining this object owing to the fact<br />
that many of the books mentioned are not sent to the office<br />
by the members. In consequence, it is necessary to rely<br />
largely upon lists of books which appear in literary and<br />
other papers. It is hoped, however, that members will<br />
co-operate in the compiling of this list, and, by sending<br />
particulars of their works, help to make it substantially<br />
accurate.<br />
ARCH AXOLOGY.<br />
<br />
Tue XIrn Dynasty Tremere at Derr EL-BaHart.<br />
Part III. By E. Navmie and H. R. Harr. (32nd<br />
Memoir of the Egypt Exploration Fund.) 124 x 10.<br />
36 pp. xxxvi. Plates. Kegan Paul.<br />
<br />
Inscriptions From Swiss Cuaxets. A collection of<br />
Inscriptions found outside and inside Swiss Chalets,<br />
Storehouses and Sheds. By W. LarprEn. 8} x 5}.<br />
208 pp. Milford. 15s. n.<br />
<br />
IntustRATIVE Descriptive Account oF THE MUSEUM OF<br />
ANDALUSIAN PorreRy AND Lacr. Antique and<br />
Modern, with notes on Pre-Roman Seville and Lost City<br />
of Tharsis. By B. and M. ELLEN WuisHaw. 8} x 53.<br />
43 pp. Smith, Elder. Is.<br />
<br />
ART.<br />
CHuronoLocicaL List, with Notes oF PAINTINGS AND<br />
DRAWINGS FROM DANTE BY DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI.<br />
By Pacet ToynBer. 12} x 84. Pp. 135—166. Turin<br />
<br />
Fratelli Bocca.<br />
BIOGRAPHY.<br />
<br />
Tue Lire AND WRITINGS oF Puitip, DUKE oF WHARTON.<br />
By Lewis MELVILLE. 8} x 5}. xx. + 336 pp. Lane.<br />
168. n.<br />
<br />
Tue Lire or Jonn Goopwin. By Henry W. Cuark, D.D.<br />
7} x 43. 68 pp. Congregational Union of England<br />
and Wales. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
IncipENTS IN THE LirE or MADAME BLAVATSKY.<br />
piled and edited by A. P. Srynett.<br />
The Theosophical Publishing Co.<br />
<br />
Com-<br />
74 x 5. 256 pp.<br />
2s. 6d. .<br />
<br />
Lire or Kircnener. By Frepk. Wm. Hacxwoopn.<br />
Author of ‘‘ William Hone: His Life and Times,” ete.<br />
Anew pocket volume of Collins’ “‘ Wide World” Library.<br />
William Collins, Sons, & Co., Ltd. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
VINCENT DE Pav, PRrest AnD PHILANTHROPIST, 1576—<br />
1660. By E. W.Sanpers. 9 x 54. 419 pp. Heath,<br />
Cranton & Ouseley. 16s. n.<br />
<br />
A Court PaInTER AND His CrrcLe: Francois BoucHER<br />
(1703—1770). By Mrs. BEarng. 9 x 53. 388 pp.<br />
Fisher Unwin. 15s. n.<br />
<br />
My Days with THE Farries. By Mrs. Ropotpn STawE LL.<br />
8} x 6. 169 pp. Hodder & Stoughton. 6s. n.<br />
<br />
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.<br />
<br />
Tue Cracsmen. A Story of Smuggling Days. By<br />
Dl _ Cooxr. 84 x 53. 316 pp. Cassell.<br />
8. 6d.<br />
<br />
Piays CoMPILED By Girt GuipEs. Suitable for Perform-<br />
ance by Girl Guides. Edited by Miss A. BapEN<br />
<br />
PowrELtt. 5} x 4}. 137 pp. Brown. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Kine or THE Arr. By Herpert Strange. 272 pp.<br />
<br />
Jack Harpy. By Herperr Strang. 232 pp.<br />
<br />
THE Lost Istanp. By Capt. Girson. 288 pp.<br />
<br />
Lorp or THE SEAs. By Herpert Stranc. 238 pp.<br />
(The Boys’ New Sevenpenny Library.) 62 x 44.<br />
Frowde & Hodder & Stoughton. 7d. n. each. :<br />
<br />
LirtLe Wars. A Game for Boys. By H. G. WELLS.<br />
<br />
9 x 62. 111 pp. F. Palmer.<br />
<br />
DIVINITY.<br />
<br />
Tue FourroLp GosreL. Section 1. Introduction. By<br />
Epwix A. Assotr. Cambridge University Press.<br />
2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
DRAMA.<br />
<br />
Apvent. A Play in Five Acts. By Aveust StRinDBERG.<br />
Translated by CraupE Fretp. 7 x 4}. 110 pp.<br />
Holden & Hardingham. ls. n. ,<br />
<br />
Tue Emancipation. A Playin Three Acts. By LEoNaRD<br />
Inkster. 7} X 4}. xii. + 95 pp. . Sidgwick & Jack-<br />
son. ls. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tue Divine Girt. A Play in Three Acts. By H. A.<br />
Jones. 74x 5. 178 pp. Duckworth. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tur Harpy Kryapom. A Comedy in Three Acts, written<br />
in blank verse and prose. By ArruuR MaQvuaRIE.<br />
<br />
74 x 54. 150 pp. Bickers. 5s. n.<br />
JosEPH AND His BReTHREN. By Lovis N. Parker.<br />
74 x 5. 154 pp. Lane. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Eicut o’CLtock AND OTHER STUDIES.<br />
Ervine. 7} X 5.<br />
<br />
EDUCATIONAL,<br />
<br />
Tue Tracepy or Epvucation. By E. G. A. Hormzs.<br />
74 x 5. 100 pp. Constable. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
By Sr. Joun G.<br />
128 pp. Maunsell. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
ENGINEERING.<br />
<br />
FurTHER PROBLEMS IN THE THEORY AND DESIGN OF<br />
Srrucrures. An advanced text-book for the use of<br />
Students, Draughtsmen and Engineers engaged in con-<br />
structional work. By Ewart §. AnpRrews, Lecturer in<br />
Theory and Design of Structures at the Goldsmiths’<br />
<br />
College, New Cross. 8} x 54. viii. + 236 pp. Chap-<br />
man. 7s. 6d. n.<br />
Irniagation Works. By E. 8. Beruasts. M.Inst.C.E.<br />
8% x 54. vii. + 195 pp. Spon.<br />
FICTION.<br />
Jenny: A Novel. By Roy Horniman. 7} x 5.<br />
<br />
335 pp. Hurst & Blackett. 6s.<br />
Swrrting Waters. By Max RitrEenBerc.<br />
312 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
2<br />
:<br />
|<br />
%<br />
4<br />
:<br />
:<br />
3<br />
a<br />
ao<br />
2<br />
|<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 7<br />
<br />
Tue Hour-Guass Mystery.<br />
320 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.<br />
<br />
CLeopaTRA. By H. Riper Hacearp. 259 pp. Havoc.<br />
By E. Pumurms Opprennem. 258 pp. 6} x 44.<br />
Hodder & Stoughton. 7d. n. each.<br />
<br />
THE Cockatoo. A Novel of Public School Life. By Max<br />
Rirrenserc. 7} 5. 309 pp. Sidgwick & Jack-<br />
son. 5s.<br />
<br />
A Marssar, Haut. By Joun MaAsEriep.<br />
189 pp. Elkin Mathews. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
THE Sty or Jasper Stanpisn. By “Rrra.”<br />
318 pp. Long. 7d. n. each.<br />
<br />
Furze THE Cruret. By JoHN TREVENA.<br />
391 pp. (Popular Edition.) Alston Rivers.<br />
<br />
THE GARDEN or Mystery. By RicHarp<br />
316 pp. Long. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
THe Rep Hovsz. By E. Nessir.<br />
Methuen. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
THe Patapry. As beheld by a Woman of Temperament.<br />
By H. Annestey Vacuett. 64x 4. 474 pp. Nelson.<br />
1a. 1.<br />
<br />
A Son of THE Peopite. 340 pp. Tau Tancuep SKEIN.<br />
332 pp. By Baroness Orczy. 7} x 4}. Hodder.<br />
Is. n. each.<br />
<br />
THe Patchwork Papers. By E. Tempte Tuurston.<br />
(New and Cheaper Edition.) 7} x 43. 268 pp. Chap-<br />
man. 2s. n.<br />
<br />
By Srroke or Sworp. By A. Batrovr.<br />
319 pp. (Cheap Reprint.) Methuen. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
A Bep or Roses. By W.L. Grorer. 7 x 43.<br />
Palmer. ls. n.<br />
<br />
THE OLD Man IN THE CorNER. 340 pp. By THE Gops<br />
BeLoveD. 310 pp. 7} x 44. By Baronzss Orczy.<br />
(Cheap Reprint.) Hodder. 1s. n.<br />
<br />
FEviciry iy France.<br />
377 pp. Ils. n.<br />
<br />
THE Wipow’s Neckiacr. By Ernust Davies.<br />
315 pp. Duckworth. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Por or Bast. By BrERNarD Capss.<br />
Constable. 6s.<br />
<br />
Lity Macic. By Mary L. Penperep.<br />
Mills & Boon. 6s.<br />
<br />
Raven, V.C. By Coratre Stanton and Heatu Hosken.<br />
7s x 5. 400 pp. Nash. 6s.<br />
<br />
THe Vieer or Minan. A Romance of Lombardy. By<br />
Margorie BowEn. (Cheap Reprint.) 7k X 5. 348 pp.<br />
Alston Rivers. Is. n.<br />
<br />
PeTer, A Parasitre. By E. Marra ALBANESI.<br />
Reprint.) 6} x 4}. 224 pp. 7d.n.<br />
<br />
Tue Mystery or HetmMstey Grane. By Aice and<br />
CraupE Askew. 7} x 5. 254 pp. Pearson. ls. n.<br />
Tue CounTrY oF THE BLIND AND OTHER STORIES. By<br />
H. G. Wxis. 6} x 4. 574 pp. (Cheap Reprint.)<br />
<br />
Nelson. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
THE Woman Tuov Gavest Mz.<br />
O'Neill. By Haun Carne.<br />
mann. 6s,<br />
<br />
Evporapo. A Story of the Scarlet Pimpernel. By<br />
Baroness Onczy. 73 x 5. 374 pp. Hodder &<br />
Stoughton. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Stricrty Trarnep Motuer. By F. F. Monrresor.<br />
73 x 5. 221 pp. Murray. 3s. 6d.<br />
<br />
Tue CLup oF QuEER TRADES. By G. K. Cuesrrerron.<br />
192 pp. Hodder & Stoughton. Is. n.<br />
<br />
THE Way oF Ampition. By Ropert Hicuens. 7% x 54.<br />
476 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Reminaton Sentence. By W. Pzrr Ruivaz.<br />
7% x 5. 300 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Miscuter-Maxrer. By E. Pamurs OppenneErm.<br />
7% x 5. 332 pp. Hodder & Stoughton. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue SHapow or Evi. By Cartron Dawe. TE x 5.<br />
312 pp. Werner Laurie. 6s.<br />
<br />
By Heapon Hm. 7? x 5.<br />
<br />
7% x 54.<br />
64 x 4.<br />
74 X 5.<br />
ls. n.<br />
<br />
Marsa.<br />
<br />
64 x 4}. 212 pp.<br />
<br />
64 x 4.<br />
<br />
384 pp.<br />
<br />
75 X 43.<br />
320 pp.<br />
<br />
7k X 5. 372 pp.<br />
<br />
(Cheap<br />
<br />
Being a Story of Mary<br />
73 x 5. 586 pp. Heine-<br />
<br />
By Constance ExizaBeru Mavp..<br />
<br />
THE Grey Countess. By Tuzo Dovanas (Mrs. H. D.<br />
Everett). 73 x 5. 311 pp. Cassell. 6s.<br />
Tue Netuer Mitztstone. By G. Lrrruestons.<br />
380 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.<br />
<br />
Gov’s Pray. By Atice and CLaupEe AsKEw.<br />
31l pp. Fisher Unwin. 6s.<br />
<br />
A Mrxep Marriace. By Mrs. Frank Penny.<br />
263 pp. (Cheap Reprint.) Methuen. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
Tue Brass Borrte. By F. Anstey. 256 pp.<br />
Reprint.) Hodder & Stoughton. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
PrerRE AND His Propte. By Smr Gmsert ParKeEr.<br />
= pp. (Cheap Reprint.) Hodder & Stoughton.<br />
7d. n.<br />
<br />
Hypocrites AND SINNERS. By Vioter TWrEbDALe.<br />
63 x 4. 318 pp. (Cheap Reprint.) John Long. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
A Woman Perrectep. By R. Marsu. 318 pp. 63x 4.<br />
(Cheap Reprint.) John Long. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
THe Fourrow on tHE Hutz. By Ftorence Bore.<br />
83 x 53. 128 pp. (The “Leisure Hour” Library.)<br />
<br />
OLIVER SaAnpys.<br />
<br />
Cutcanzn. By 74k x 42.<br />
(Cheap Reprint.) John Long.<br />
<br />
An AvERAGE Man. By R. H. Benson.<br />
380 pp. Hutchinson. 6s.<br />
<br />
THane BRANDON. By Francis BANCROFT. it xX 43.<br />
326 pp. Hutchinson. 6s.<br />
<br />
THE SWASHBUCKLER AND OTHER TALES. By Mrs.<br />
Baim Reynoups. 8 x 5. 343 pp. Mills & Boon.<br />
6s.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Murpyy. By Barry Pain.<br />
Werner Laurie. Is. n.<br />
THe ParaDIsE or Foots.<br />
<br />
Everett & Co. 6s.<br />
<br />
THE Man Wuo Par. By Rearyatp C. Borsrer and<br />
<br />
Mason Ausrey O’Brign, C.I.E. 74 x 43. 332 pp.<br />
<br />
Alston Rivers. 6s.<br />
THortEy Weir. By E. F. Benson. 73 x 5}. 336 pp.<br />
<br />
Smith, Elder. 6s.<br />
<br />
BaRBARA OF THE THORN.<br />
<br />
314 pp. Chatto & Windus. 6s.<br />
<br />
Brtow Srams. By Mrs. Atrrep Smewicx. 72 x 6.<br />
304 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
THE GOVERNOR or Encuanp. By Margorrz Bowen.<br />
72 x 5. 376 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tipe Marks. By MarcarutT WESTRUP. 7% x 5. 380 pp.<br />
Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
THe CHars or Harton. A Tale of Frolic, Sport and<br />
Mystery at Public School, By Benrypa Biiypers.<br />
Edited by Desmonp Coxz. 7} x 43. 159 pp. Chap-<br />
man & Hall. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Winns or Gop. By Hammron Drummonp.<br />
321 pp. Stanley Paul. 6s.<br />
<br />
One WonpeErFuL Nicut. By Lovis Tracy. 74 X 5.<br />
321 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.<br />
<br />
THRovcH Wat AND THrovaH Wor. By Err Apz-<br />
LAIDE Rowxanps. 74 x 5. 317 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.<br />
<br />
Hieas anp Porrer. By Brarp FRANCIS. 74 xX 5.<br />
296 pp. Drane. 3s. 6d.<br />
<br />
Tse Crry or Brautirut Nonsense. By E. Tempe<br />
Tuurston. (New and Cheaper Edition.) 6} x 4}.<br />
360 pp. Chapman & Hall. ls.<br />
<br />
A Prizstess or Humanity. By Mrs. Stanuey WRENCH.<br />
7% X 43. 319 pp. (Popular Edition.) John Long.<br />
ls. n.<br />
<br />
Links in tue Cuarn. By Heapon Hu.<br />
John Long. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
Tur Ossornes. By E. F. Benson. 6} x 4}. 378 pp.<br />
Nelson. 7d, n.<br />
<br />
ALLAN QuaTEeRMAIN. By H. Riper Haccarp.<br />
Hodder & Stoughton. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
ASERVANT or THE Pustic. By ANTHONY Hops.<br />
Hodder & Stoughton. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
72 x 5.<br />
7% X 5.<br />
64 x 44.<br />
(Cheap<br />
<br />
287 pp.<br />
7k xX 43.<br />
<br />
74 x 43. 114 pp.<br />
<br />
By Derrek Vane. 320 pp.<br />
<br />
7} x 5.<br />
<br />
72 Xx 5.<br />
<br />
256 pp.<br />
<br />
320 pp.<br />
317 pp.<br />
8 THER AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
ASENATH OF THE Forp. By “ Riva.” 83 x 53.<br />
<br />
Stanley Paul. 6d.<br />
<br />
196 pp.<br />
<br />
HISTORY.<br />
<br />
Sures aND Ways or OTHER Days. By E. KeBLEe CHATTER-<br />
TON, 9% xX 7. 308 pp. Sidgwick & Jackson. 16s. n.<br />
<br />
JorRQUEMADA AND THE SpanisH_ INQuIsiTION. By R.<br />
SaBATINI. 9 X 53. 404 pp. Stanley Paul. 16s, n.<br />
<br />
LITERARY.<br />
Tae Story or THE ALPHABET. By E. Ciopp. Revised<br />
Edition. 63 x 4}. 234 pp. (Useful Knowledge Series.)<br />
Hodder & Stoughton. ls. n.<br />
<br />
Unxiversity and HisroricaL AppREssEs. By JAMES<br />
Bryce. 8 x 54. 433 pp. Macmillan. 8s. 6d. n.<br />
MATHEMATICS.<br />
<br />
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FrerH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF<br />
Maruematicrans (Cambridge, August 22, 28, 1912).<br />
Edited by E. W. Hopson and A. E. H. Love. Two<br />
vols. 104 x 7. 500 x 657 pp. Cambridge University<br />
<br />
Press. 30s. n.<br />
MEDICAL.<br />
<br />
Tur Huarruy Marrracse. A Medical and Psychological<br />
Guide for Wives. By G. T. Wrencu, M.D., B.S.<br />
74 x 5.<br />
<br />
Tur Nervous AND CHEMICAL ReauLaTions oF Mura-<br />
BoLIsM. Lectures by D. Norn Paton, M.D., B.Sc.,<br />
Professor of Physiology in the University of Glasgow.<br />
9 x 54. 217 pp. Macmillan. 6s. n.<br />
<br />
NATURAL HISTORY.<br />
<br />
Tue Birpsor Avstratia. By G.M.Maruews. Vol. III.<br />
<br />
Part Ill. 144 x 10}. Pp. 205—300. Witherby.<br />
NAVAL.<br />
<br />
Turn Krye’s Sutres. Together with the important His-<br />
<br />
torical Episodes connected with the successive ships of<br />
<br />
the same name from remote times, and a list of names and<br />
services of some ancient war vessels. By H. 8. Lzoxy.<br />
<br />
In six volumes. Vol. I. 11} x 8}. 327 pp. H.<br />
Muirhead. £3 n. each volume.<br />
<br />
POETRY.<br />
My Lapy’s Boox. By Greratp Goutp, 7} x 5. 54 pp.<br />
<br />
Sidgwick. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Sart Water Batyaps. By JoHN MasEFIELD. 112 pp.<br />
73 x 5}. Elkin, Matthews. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Rasmie’s Buppre: Porms iN THE SHETLANDIC. By<br />
J. J. HAtpaNE Buresss. 74 x 5. 129 pp. Manson.<br />
<br />
A SELECTION FRoM THE Love PorTry or WILLIAM<br />
Burter Years. 8} x 6. 30 pp. The Cuala Press,<br />
2 Dundrum, Co. Dublin. To subscribers,<br />
7s. 6d.<br />
<br />
Maytime Sones. By ANNIE MATHESON.<br />
Max Goschen. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Prers THE Plowman. An English Poem of the Fourteenth<br />
Century. Translated into Modern Prose, with an Intro-<br />
duction, by Kare M. Warren, Lecturer in English<br />
Language and Literature at Westfield College (University<br />
of London). Arnold. 2s. 6d.<br />
<br />
SOCIOLOGY.<br />
<br />
A PLEA FoR THE YOUNGER GENERATION.<br />
Hamirton. 7? X 5.<br />
2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Woman, Marrtace AND MotHernoop. By ELiIzaBETH<br />
<br />
8 x 5h. 67 pp.<br />
<br />
By Cosmo<br />
63 pp. Chatto & Windus.<br />
<br />
Stoan CHESSER. 8} x 5}. 287 pp. Cassell. 6s. n.<br />
SPORT.<br />
Women tn THE Huntina Frevp. By Mrs. Sruart<br />
<br />
Menzizs. 734 x 5. 269 pp. Vinton. 7s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
THEOLOGY.<br />
<br />
Hymns," Lirantes AND PRAYERS FOR A VILLAGE. By<br />
J. Hunrutey Sxrre. 63 x 4}. 85 pp. Mowbray.<br />
Tene \<br />
<br />
Tur Porr at Home. By Doveras StapEN. 7} X 43.<br />
222 pp. Hurst & Blackett. Is. n.<br />
<br />
Lessons ror THE CuuRcH’s CHILDREN. Book I. By<br />
Tne Rey. J. Hastocn Potter and Tue Rev. A. E. W.<br />
<br />
Suearp. 74 x 5. 262 pp: Skeffington, 1s. 6d, n.<br />
TOPOGRAPHY.<br />
Tur New Foresters. By Witttam Carne. 8} x 5}?<br />
<br />
248 pp. Nisbet. 5s. n.<br />
<br />
Quiet Roaps anp Suenpy Vittaces. By ALLen FEa.<br />
<br />
9 x 53. 292 pp. Nash. 7s. 6d. n.<br />
TRAVEL,<br />
A Tourn Touramr. By Raymonp NEEDHAM. Second<br />
Edition. 7} x 4}. 300 pp. 5s. n.<br />
From a PunsavuB PomrGranate Grove. By C. C.<br />
Dyson. 9 x 54. 289pp. Mills& Boon. 10s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tue LanD oF VEILED WOMEN.<br />
Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco.<br />
7k x 5. 288 pp. Cassell.<br />
<br />
Some Wanderings in<br />
By J. Foster Fraser.<br />
ls. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
—_—_—_—_——_+——_+-_—_—_—__<br />
<br />
LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL<br />
NOTES.<br />
<br />
—+— +<br />
<br />
HE novel-publishing season is now in<br />
full swing. Mr. Maurice Hewlett’s<br />
‘“‘Bendish: a Study in Prodigality,”<br />
<br />
appeared on September 19, through Messrs.<br />
Macmillan & Co. Mr. H. G. Wells’s “ The<br />
Passionate Friends” was published by the<br />
same house.<br />
<br />
Mr. Hall Caine, with his ‘“‘ Woman Thou<br />
Gavest Me” (Heinemann), has had _ the<br />
distinction of being the first author this season<br />
to come into conflict with the Circulating<br />
Libraries’ Association, The matter is referred<br />
to in another column.<br />
<br />
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “‘ The Poison<br />
Belt’ is published by Messrs. Hodder &<br />
Stoughton.<br />
<br />
Mr. Robert Hichens’s new novel, ‘‘ The Way<br />
of Ambition,” has been published by Messrs.<br />
Methuen & Co.<br />
<br />
The same firm has produced Mr, Arnold<br />
Bennett’s “‘ The Regent” (re-introducing the<br />
reader to “* The Card ’’); Sir Gilbert Parker’s<br />
“The Judgment House”’; Mr. Pett Ridge’s<br />
“The Remington Sentence’; Miss Marjorie<br />
Bowen’s ‘‘ The Governor of England”; Mrs.<br />
Belloc Lowndes’s ‘‘The Lodger’’; Miss<br />
Dorothea Conyers’s ‘‘ Sandy Married”; Mr.<br />
Putnam Weale’s ‘“‘ Romance of a Few Days ”’ ;<br />
and Mrs. A. Sidgwick’s “‘ Below Stairs.”<br />
<br />
Mr. W. B. Maxwell has brought out “* The<br />
Devil’s Garden,” through Messrs. Hutchinson<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
|<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
HAR ENO SRS<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 9<br />
<br />
& Co. This firm publishes also Mrs. Wilfrid<br />
Ward’s ‘ Horace Blake.”<br />
<br />
From the same publishers come “ The Power<br />
Behind,” by Miss M. P. Willcocks; “An<br />
Average Man,” by Mr. R. H. Benson; “ Sandy’s<br />
Love Affair,” by Mr. S. R. Crockett; and<br />
* Thane Brandon,” by Mr. F. Bancroft.<br />
<br />
Messrs. Chatto & Windus publish ‘“ The<br />
Door that has no Key,” by Mr. Cosmo<br />
Hamilton; ‘Love in the Hills,” by Mrs.<br />
F. E. Penny; ‘ Barbara of the Thorn,” by<br />
Miss Netta Syrett ; “‘ Prodigals and Sons,” by<br />
Mr. John Ayscough; and “ The Price Paid,”<br />
by Miss Effie Adelaide Rowlands.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Florence L. Barclay’s “The Broken<br />
Halo,”” was published by Messrs. G. P. Put-<br />
nam’s Sons, on September 16.<br />
<br />
“Anne of the Marshlands,’’ by the Hon.<br />
Mrs. Julian Byng, and “ Daffodil’s Love<br />
Affairs,” by Mrs. L. M. Stacpoole Kenny, are<br />
published by Messrs. Holden & Hardingham.<br />
<br />
Major Aubrey O’Brien, C.I.E., and Mr.<br />
Reginald Bolster, authors of ‘Cupid and<br />
Cartridges,” have collaborated again in a novel<br />
entitled “‘ The Man Who Paid” (Messrs. Alston<br />
Rivers).<br />
<br />
Miss Florence Bone’s autumn novels are,<br />
“The Valley of Delight,” and “‘ A Burden of<br />
Roses.” Her new serial, ‘‘ The Golden String,”’<br />
commences in the October number of The<br />
Sunday at Home.<br />
<br />
Mr. Frankfort Moore has had two novels<br />
published since our last issue—‘‘ The Narrow<br />
Escape of Lady Hardwell ” (Constable) ; and<br />
“The Rescue of Martha ” (Hutchinson).<br />
<br />
Mrs. L. Allen Harker’s new novel is ‘‘ The<br />
Ffolliots of Redmarley.”” Mr. John Murray<br />
is the publisher of this, and also of ‘“ The<br />
Strictly Trained Mother,” by Miss F. F.<br />
Montresor.<br />
<br />
“ Myles Calthorpe, I.D.B.,” by Mr. F. E.<br />
Mills Young, is announced by The Bodley<br />
Head as already in its seventh edition.<br />
<br />
The Baroness Orezy’s “‘ Eldorado,” another<br />
story of the Scarlet Pimpernel, is published by<br />
Messrs. Hodder & Stoughton.<br />
<br />
Miss Edith C. Kenyon’s historical tale,<br />
“ Christine the Huguenot,” is being published<br />
by the Religious Tract Society. The same<br />
author’s “Ashes of Honour,” and ‘“ The<br />
Mystery of Blackstone Mine,” have been<br />
brought out by Messrs. Holden & Hardingham<br />
in sixpenny form.<br />
<br />
Messrs, Greening & Co. have brought out a<br />
sixpenny edition of Miss May Wynne’s “ Henry<br />
of Navarre,”’ the novel adapted from the play<br />
by Mr. William Devereux.<br />
<br />
“The Old Time before Them,” is Mr. Eden<br />
<br />
Phillpott’s title for a new collection of West<br />
Country stories, which Mr. John Murray<br />
publishes.<br />
<br />
Miss Edith L. Blaikley’s new novel, ‘ Alone<br />
in a Crowd,” will appear early this autumn<br />
through Messrs. Heath, Cranton & Ouseley,<br />
who published the same author’s “ Dorothy<br />
Eayle ” last October.<br />
<br />
Messrs. Stanley Paul & Co. are the pub-<br />
lishers of ‘‘ The Watered Garden,” by Mrs.<br />
Stepney Rawson; ‘ Winds of God,” by Mr.<br />
Hamilton Drummond; ‘ The Eyes of Alicia,”’<br />
by Mr. Charles E. Pearce; ‘‘ Youth will be<br />
Served,” by Miss Dolf Wyllarde: “The<br />
Cloak of St. Martin,” by Miss Armine Grace<br />
(sister of Miss Dolf Wyllarde); ‘The<br />
Adventures of Mortimer Dixon,” by Mrs.<br />
Alicia Ramsey ; and ‘“‘ The Painted Lady,” by<br />
Miss Arabella Kenealy.<br />
<br />
Miss Constance Serjeant’s ‘‘ Where the Saints<br />
are Gone’ has been republished by Mr. W.<br />
Nicholson.<br />
<br />
“The Sentence of the Judge,” by Miss<br />
Hilaré Barlow, is published by Messrs. Lyn-<br />
wood & Co.<br />
<br />
E. M. Channon (Mrs, Francis Channon) calls<br />
her new novel “Miss King’s Profession.”<br />
Messrs. Mills & Boon are the publishers of this,<br />
and of Mrs. H. H. Penrose’s ‘t The Brat.”<br />
<br />
“The Call of the Past,” by Fflorens Roch,<br />
is published by Messrs. Sands & Co.<br />
<br />
“The Pot of Basil,” by Mr. Bernard Capes,<br />
is published by Messrs. Constable & Co., as also<br />
are “No Place Like Home,” by Mr. John<br />
Trevena; and ‘‘ The Judgment of the Sword ”<br />
(previously announced as “‘ Retribution *), by<br />
Mrs. Maud Diver.<br />
<br />
Shilling editions of Mr. Clive Holland’s<br />
stories, “My Japanese Wife,” ‘‘ The Spell of<br />
Isis,” and ‘‘ Marcelle of the Latin Quarter,”’<br />
are issued by Messrs. Lynwood.<br />
<br />
Mr. Roy Horniman’s “‘ Jenny ”’ is published<br />
by Messrs. Hurst & Blackett.<br />
<br />
Miss Mary B. Sandford’s story for young<br />
people, *‘ The Young Gordons in Canada,” was<br />
published last month by the Religious Tract<br />
Society.<br />
<br />
Miss Violet A. Simpson’s new novel, ‘‘ Flower<br />
of the Golden Heart,” will be published by<br />
Messrs. Chapman & Hall this autumn. This<br />
story deals with life and manners in London<br />
immediately preceding the Great Fire of 1666.<br />
<br />
We regret an error in the chronicling of<br />
Miss Marriott Hodgkins’ tragedy, “ Cyrus,”’<br />
in the July issue of the Books published by<br />
Members, which was erroneously described<br />
under the title “‘ Cyprus.”<br />
<br />
Messrs. Macmillan & Co. are about to<br />
10<br />
<br />
publish the second of Mr. Douglas Ainslie’s<br />
translations of Senatore Benedetto Croce’s<br />
system of the Philosophy of the Spirit. This<br />
volume will deal with the will in its various<br />
manifestations, and notably with its two<br />
forms of ethic and economic, showing how the<br />
former depends upon and is developed from<br />
the latter. The chief title of this work is<br />
‘“‘ Philosophy of the Practical.’’ Mr. Ainslie’s<br />
next translation will be that of Croce’s profound<br />
and creative critique of Hegel, and will be<br />
entitled, ‘‘ What is Living and what is Dead<br />
of the Philosophy of Hegel.” The third<br />
and last volume of the Crocian system will<br />
be the ‘‘ Logic,” to be issued next year. The<br />
introduction to the ‘‘ Philosophy of the<br />
Practical’ appears in the October number<br />
of the North American Review.<br />
<br />
Mr. Douglas Ainslie’s last volume of poems,<br />
‘“‘ Mirage,” has now been transferred to<br />
Messrs. Constable & Co., who have also<br />
published his “Moments,” “John of<br />
Damascus,” and ‘‘ Song of the Stewarts.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Havelock Ellis writes the introduction to<br />
Miss Ellen Key’s life of Rabel Varnhagen, who<br />
has been described as the greatest woman<br />
genius that Germany has produced (Putnam,<br />
6s. net).<br />
<br />
Mr. Lewis Melville’s new biography is<br />
‘“* Philip, Duke of Wharton ”’ (John Lane, 16s.).<br />
<br />
Messrs. Hutchinson & Co. are on the point<br />
of producing Mr. Philip W. Sergeant’s ‘* Mrs.<br />
Jordan, Child of Nature,” a new attempt to<br />
pierce the mystery surrounding the unfortu-<br />
<br />
nate actress. There will be twenty-one<br />
illustrations.<br />
Mrs. Edith Cuthell’s ‘A Vagabond<br />
<br />
Courtier ’’—a biography in two volumes of the<br />
Baron von Polnitz, of whom a rather acid<br />
portrait appears in Thackeray’s ‘‘ Virginians ”’<br />
—is announced by Messrs. Stanley Paul & Co.<br />
<br />
Mr. Yoshio Markino, the Japanese artist, is<br />
producing through Messrs. Chatto & Windus<br />
‘““ My Recollections and Reflections,’’ with nine<br />
illustrations in colour and several in mono-<br />
chrome.<br />
<br />
Messrs. Chatto & Windus’s autumn cata-<br />
logue includes also ‘‘ Browning’s Heroines,”<br />
by Miss E. C. Mayne (6s. net); “* Under the<br />
Greenwood Tree,” an edition, illustrated by<br />
Mr. Keith Henderson, of Mr. Thomas Hardy’s<br />
novel (6s. net); and ‘‘ A Plea for the Younger<br />
Generation,’’ by Mr. Cosmo Hamilton (2s. 6d.<br />
net). f<br />
<br />
*“ Quiet Roads and Sleepy Villages,’’ pub-<br />
lished recently by Eveleigh Nash, is another<br />
of Mr. Allan Fea’s touring rambles in search<br />
of the picturesque. Like last year’s volume<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
several counties are included in these rambles.<br />
Again Barnet is taken as a starting-point,<br />
but this time we journey across Herts into<br />
Bedfordshire, and thence to south Northants,<br />
through Oxfordshire and eastern Gloucester-<br />
shire to northern Wilts, and thence by Berks<br />
again to the narrow “ waist’ of Oxon. As<br />
before, there are several views of old-world<br />
villages.<br />
<br />
Messrs. Chapman & Hall have published a<br />
new book by Mr. C. E. Gouldsbury, author of<br />
“Life in the Indian Police,” ete.. It is<br />
entitled “ Tiger Land: or Reminiscences of<br />
Forty Years’ Sport and Adventure in Bengal.”<br />
There are twenty-four illustrations, and an<br />
introductory chapter deals with big game<br />
shooting in India.<br />
<br />
Mr. Archibald B. Spens and has lately been<br />
travelling across India, and writing an account<br />
of his trip. This is to be published by Messrs.<br />
Stanley Paul & Co., under the title “‘ A Winter<br />
in India.” The book contains 100 photographs<br />
by the author.<br />
<br />
A book is to be published this month by<br />
Messrs. Stanley Paul & Co., under the title<br />
‘“More about Collecting,” by Sir James<br />
Yoxall, M.P., the author of ‘“‘ The A. B. C.<br />
about Collecting.”” His new work, which is<br />
very thoroughly illustrated, gives many<br />
practical hints about books, glass, pictures,<br />
porcelain, lace, clocks, and furniture, among<br />
other subjects, and is written ‘ for the help of<br />
amateurs smitten with the passion for picking<br />
up things which are odd, pretty or rare.”’<br />
<br />
‘Ships and Ways of Other Days,” is the<br />
name of Mr. E. Keble Chatterton’s new book<br />
(Sidgwick, 16s. net).<br />
<br />
Mr. Wynford Dewhurst has _ written<br />
“Wanted: A Ministry of the Fine Arts,”<br />
attacking the national attitude toward art<br />
(Rees, 1s. net).<br />
<br />
Miss Jeanette Marks’s “‘ Vacation Camping<br />
for Girls” is a practical manual issued by<br />
Messrs. Appleton of New York at $1 net.<br />
<br />
The Rev. F. W. Coulter has republished in<br />
pamphlet form his articles on ‘“‘Some Causes<br />
of Modern Unbelief,’’ which appeared serially<br />
in the Lancaster Guardian. ‘The price of the<br />
pamphlet is 1d.<br />
<br />
Mr. S. M. Franklin and Miss Alice Henry,<br />
both Australian members of the Society of<br />
Authors, are the joint editors of Life and Labor,<br />
which is published in Chicago by the National<br />
Women’s Trade Union League of America.<br />
<br />
Mr. and Mrs. Bernhard Whishaw, authors of<br />
‘** Arabic Spain,” have published through<br />
Messrs. Smith, Elder & Co., at the price of Is.,<br />
an illustrated descriptive account of the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
7<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 11<br />
<br />
Museum of Andalusian Pottery and Lace at<br />
Seville.<br />
<br />
Mr. Francis Gribble’s ‘‘ Romance of the<br />
Oxford Colleges,’ with twelve illustrations, is<br />
published by Messrs. Mills & Boon, 2s. 6d. net.<br />
<br />
Mr. George Grossmith’s “‘ Gaiety and George<br />
Grossmith: The Random Reflections of an<br />
Apostle of Pleasure,’’ will be issued this month<br />
by Messrs. Stanley Paul.<br />
<br />
A new edition has appeared of Mr. J. J.<br />
Haldane Burgess’s “‘ Rasmie’s Biiddie,’’ poems<br />
in the Shetlandic dialect (T. & J. Manson,<br />
Lerwick, 2s. 6d. net).<br />
<br />
Dr. Elizabeth Sloan Chesser, M.B., has<br />
produced a work entitled ‘‘ Woman, Marriage,<br />
and Motherhood ’’—dealing with her subject<br />
from all points of view, sexual, hygienic, legal,<br />
political, social, economic, industrial. The<br />
price is 6s. net.<br />
<br />
“*Goldwin Smith: A Study,” is the name of<br />
a biographical sketch of the late Professor by<br />
Mr. Arnold Haultain. The publisher will be<br />
Mr. T. Werner Laurie.<br />
<br />
Captain J. Stuart has published, through<br />
<br />
Messrs. Macmillan, ‘‘ A History of the Zulu .<br />
<br />
Rebellion, 1906, with maps, and<br />
illustrations. The price is 15s.<br />
<br />
Messrs. J. D. Symon and S. L. Bensusan<br />
together are the authors of ‘‘ The Renaissance<br />
and its Makers” (T. C. & E. C. Jack, 10s. 6d. net).<br />
<br />
“Women in the Hunting Field,” by Mrs.<br />
Stuart Menzies, is published by Messrs.<br />
Vinton & Co. at two prices, 7s. 6d. net, cloth ;<br />
and 10s. 6d., leather.<br />
<br />
The volume of *‘ Reminiscent Gossip of Men<br />
and Matters,’’ announced by Messrs. Chapman<br />
& Hall, is by Mr. James Baker, who for over<br />
forty years has travelled widely, coming in<br />
contact with many famous men and women.<br />
<br />
Mr. E. M. Beardsley is the author of ‘‘ Rome<br />
versus Jesus ’’—described as an indictment of<br />
the Papacy from a new point of view (Andrew<br />
Melrose, 6s. net).<br />
<br />
_Mr. Wilfrid C. Thorley has just published,<br />
through Messrs. Macmillan, an ‘English<br />
Reader for Foreign Students.” It is an<br />
attempt to give, by means of selections from<br />
about fifty of the best writers of the nineteenth<br />
century, a microcosm of Anglo-Saxon life and<br />
thought during that period.<br />
<br />
“The Rainbow Book,’ by Mrs. M. H.<br />
Spielmann, was issued in a third edition last<br />
month. Although published at a cheaper<br />
price, this collection of stories for children<br />
retains its original format, and has all the<br />
illustrations (by Mr. Hugh Thomson, Mr.<br />
Arthur Rackham, and others) that distin-<br />
guished the first edition, issued in 1909. The<br />
<br />
plans,<br />
<br />
new issue forms a companion volume to<br />
“ Littledom Castle,’’ of which a third edition<br />
appeared last year, when it was placed upon<br />
the prize-list of the London County Council.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Charlotte Cameron, author and traveller,<br />
has returned recently from a 26,000-mile trip.<br />
Not only has she circumnayigated the entire<br />
East and West Coast of #Africa, but traversed<br />
that continent as well with the exception of a<br />
few hundred miles. The story of her adven-<br />
tures in Logoland, Cameroons, Liberia, French<br />
Congo, as well as in our own colonies, entitled<br />
““A Woman’s Winter in Africa,” will appear<br />
this autumn.<br />
<br />
Mr. E. A. Reynolds-Ball edits ‘“‘ Bradshaw’s<br />
Through Routes to the Chief Cities, Bathing<br />
and Health Resorts of the World” (Henry<br />
Blacklock & Co., 6s. net).<br />
<br />
Mr. S. Leonard Bastin has _ published,<br />
through Messrs. Cassell, a book upon “‘ Flower-<br />
less Plants.”<br />
<br />
Mr. John Masefield’s new long poem, “‘ The<br />
River,”’ will appear in next month’s issue of the<br />
English Review.<br />
<br />
Mr. William Watson’s ‘‘ The Muse in Exile ”’<br />
is issued by Mr. H. Jenkins at 3s. 6d. net.<br />
<br />
‘**In Arcady, and Other Poems”’ is the title<br />
of a volume by Mr. W. J. Cameron (Erskine<br />
Macdonald, 3s. 6d. net).<br />
<br />
Mr. H. Cooper Pugh calls his volume of verse<br />
““Les Chausans d’un Ingénu” (J. & J.<br />
Bennett).<br />
<br />
In the September number of the West-<br />
minster Review appeared a new poem by Mr.<br />
Alfred Smythe, ‘Our Royal Betrothal,”’<br />
commemorating the announcement of the<br />
marriage of Prince Arthur of Connaught and<br />
the Princess Alexandra.<br />
<br />
Mr. K. C. Spiers has had a book ‘‘ The Soul<br />
of a Doll, and Other Poems” published by<br />
Messrs. Chapman & Hall, at 2s. 6d. net. ::<br />
<br />
DrRamMatTIc.<br />
<br />
On September 1, at the St. James’s Theatre,<br />
there were seen for the first time, Mr. Bernard<br />
Shaw’s ‘“‘ Androcles andthe Lion,”’ and ‘‘ The<br />
Harlequinade,” in which Mr. Dion Clayton<br />
Calthrop collaborated with Mr. Granville Barker.<br />
<br />
On September 2 Mr. Louis Parker’s “‘ Joseph<br />
and His Brethren”’ was staged by Sir Herbert<br />
Tree at His Majesty’s Theatre.<br />
<br />
On September 3 ‘‘ Love and Laughter,” a<br />
comic opera by Messrs. Frederick Fenn and<br />
Arthur Wimperis, with music by Oscar Strauss,<br />
began a season at the Lyric Theatre.<br />
<br />
September 4 was the first night, at the Duk<br />
of York’s, of ‘‘ The Will”? and ‘* The Adored<br />
One,” both by Mr. J. M. Barrie.<br />
12 THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
At Drury Lane, on September 11, Messrs.<br />
Cecil Raleigh and Henry Hamilton produced<br />
a new melodrama entitled ‘‘ Sealed Orders.”<br />
<br />
“The Fugitive,” by Mr. John Galsworthy,<br />
made its appearance in the matinee bill at<br />
the Court Theatre on September 15, under the<br />
management of Messrs. Greig & Rosmer.<br />
<br />
Mr. Henry Arthur Jones’s new play, “ Mary<br />
Goes First,” was put on at the Playhouse on<br />
September 18, with Miss Marie Tempest as the<br />
heroine.<br />
<br />
On the evening of September 22 Miss<br />
Horniman opened a short season at the Court<br />
Theatre with Mr. Stanley Houghton’s “‘ Hindle<br />
Wakes.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Forbes Dawson has been spending a<br />
fortnight in New York, in order to arrange for<br />
the production of a play there.<br />
<br />
In the July number of The Author<br />
Mrs. Florence Eaton was described as the<br />
author of ‘‘ The Triumph.” She should have<br />
been called part-author, Mr. William Crossing<br />
having collaborated with her in that play.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Irene Osgood’s drama, ‘“‘ Une Aventure<br />
du Capitaine Lebrun,” was published in Paris<br />
by the Comedia—the last two pieces in that<br />
paper having been by Hauptmann and Balzac<br />
respectively.<br />
<br />
Mr. Anthony P. Wharton’s idyll in three<br />
acts, “‘ At the Barn” (produced for the first<br />
time at the Prince of Wales’s Theatre on<br />
August 11, 1912), has appeared in book form,<br />
published by Messrs. Joseph Williams at<br />
2s. 6d. net.<br />
<br />
Under the title of ‘‘ A Living Theatre,” a 1s.<br />
booklet has been published in Florence to set<br />
forth Mr. Gordon Craig’s aims as prosecuted at<br />
his school and in his journal.<br />
<br />
M. Lugné-Poe’s Théatre Subventionné de<br />
1CEuvre, Paris, will re-open in November with<br />
M. Maurice Bourgeois’s sole authorised French<br />
translation of the late J. M. Synge’s “ The<br />
Playboy of the Western World.’’ The French<br />
title will be ‘“‘ Le Baladin du Monde Occiden-<br />
tal.” M. Bourgeois’s ‘‘ John Millington Synge<br />
and the Irish Theatre’ is being published<br />
immediately by Messrs. Constable & Co.<br />
<br />
$$$.<br />
<br />
PARIS NOTES.<br />
<br />
se<br />
<br />
ARELY has any woman writer had the<br />
world-wide appreciation and success<br />
of the late Pierre de Coulevain. The<br />
<br />
announcement of her death has caused real<br />
grief to thousands of her readers in many<br />
<br />
countries. To those of us who had the great<br />
privilege of knowing her intimately, her loss<br />
is irreparable. Her five novels were all<br />
written after her fiftieth year. Her last one,<br />
“Au Coeur de la Vie,” is in its 85th edition<br />
in French, “‘ L’le inconnue” in its 1381st<br />
edition, and “Sur la Branche,” in its 179th.<br />
Translations of her books have been published<br />
in Dutch, English, German, Italian, Norwe-<br />
gian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish and Tchek.<br />
<br />
One of the finest articles written on Pierre<br />
de Coulevain comes to us from Constantinople.<br />
<br />
‘All her works,” says the writer of this<br />
article, ‘‘ the outcome of individual energy put<br />
forth with the sole object of endeavouring to<br />
comprehend the true meaning of life, are so<br />
many sources of energy for those who consult<br />
them attentively... . / According to her, moral<br />
strength took higher rank than all the other<br />
advantages an individual might have.”<br />
<br />
Fortunately she had completed her last<br />
book, ‘‘ Le Roman merveilleux,” in June. She<br />
was at work on another one, for her brain<br />
was ever active and the problems of life were<br />
of absorbing interest to her. Her whole life<br />
had been noble and dignified, and she faced<br />
death consciously and unflinchingly.<br />
<br />
The French literary world has lost another<br />
woman writer of great value in Lucie Felix-<br />
Faure Goyau, the daughter of the late Presi-<br />
dent. Madame Goyau’s books were all on<br />
subjects that would appeal to intellectual men<br />
and women of any nationality. The writer<br />
of them was an extremely cultured woman and<br />
a great linguist. In her “ Ames _ paiennes,<br />
Ames chrétiennes,”’ she studied the psychology<br />
of Christina Rossetti, of Eugénie de Guérin,<br />
and of Catherine de Sienne. Her book on<br />
the life and works of Cardinal Newman has<br />
been very widely read. ‘‘ Les Femmes dans<br />
l’GEuvre de Dante,” ‘‘ Méditérranée ”’ and *‘ La<br />
Vie et la Mort des Fées ”’ all represent years of<br />
patient research, thoughtand work. Besides<br />
all this literary activity and her social obliga-<br />
tions, Madame Goyau was deeply interested<br />
in all social problems. She founded the<br />
Children’s League and was on the committee<br />
of many philanthropic associations. Her<br />
lectures on literary and sociological subjects<br />
were always crowded. Fortunately her<br />
husband, Georges Goyau, the well-known<br />
sociological author, had kindred tastes, so<br />
that their home was the rendezvous of the<br />
intellectual élite of Paris. Independently of<br />
her literary and public work, Madame Goyau<br />
will be sincerely regretted, as her charm of<br />
manner and her wide sympathies made her<br />
a great favourite in Parisian society.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
4 +<br />
*<br />
1<br />
|<br />
|<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
The Autumn publishing season is now<br />
commencing and there seems to be no dearth<br />
of books ready for publication. A volume<br />
compiled by O. G. de Heidenstam, entitled<br />
** Marie-Antoinette, Fersen et Barnave—Leur<br />
Correspondance,”’ will, no doubt, be much<br />
read, as there is always some fresh light to be<br />
thrown on the great revolutionary period of<br />
French history.<br />
<br />
A book has been written by Daniel<br />
Chenneviére on ‘“‘Claude Debussy et son<br />
Chuvre.”” The publisher who is bringing this<br />
out has given us a volume on Vincent d’Indy<br />
and on Paul Dukas.<br />
<br />
All who have been following the Balkan<br />
question closely will, probably, be glad to<br />
read a volume just published, entitled “‘ La<br />
Conférence de Constantinople et la Question<br />
Egyptienne en 1882,” by Sayed Kamel.<br />
<br />
The theatres are beginning to announce<br />
their programmes for the winter. M. Antoine<br />
intends putting on some of the French classical<br />
plays at the Odéon, with the staging of the<br />
epoch to which they belong. At the Athénée<br />
““La Bourgeon’”’ is being given; at the<br />
Vaudeville, ‘‘ Le Menuisier ’’ and ‘‘ La Dame<br />
du Louvre’; and at the Gymnase, “ La<br />
Demoiselle de Magasin.”’<br />
<br />
Atys HAuuarp.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
**Le Roman meryeilleux.” (Calmann-Lévy.)<br />
<br />
“ Ames paiennes, Ames chrétiennes.” (Perrin.)<br />
<br />
“ Marie-Antoinette, Fersen et Barnave—Leur Corres-<br />
pondance.” (Calmann-Lévy.)<br />
<br />
* Claude Debussy et son (Euvre.” (Durand.)<br />
<br />
“Ta Conférence de Constantinople et la Question<br />
Egyptienne en 1882.” (Alcan.)<br />
<br />
— se<br />
<br />
AUTHORS AND EDITORS.<br />
<br />
te<br />
<br />
. the July issue a resolution was published<br />
passed at a meeting of the Committee of<br />
Management and Editors. This resolution<br />
was subscribed to by the editors of ten papers.<br />
Since then the Society has issued a circular<br />
to those who did not happen to be present<br />
when the resolution was passed, and is pleased<br />
to state that the following have allowed their<br />
names to be added to the list :—<br />
Mr. John Stead, of Review of Reviews.<br />
Mr. James Parmerlee, of Vanity Fair.<br />
Mr. J. E. Harold Terry, of the Onlooker and<br />
Throne.<br />
Mr. C. R. Simpson, of the Weekly Telegraph,<br />
who, however, agrees with the editor of the<br />
Quarterly Review (see note to list appended).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
13<br />
<br />
Mr. St. Loe Strachey, of the Spectator.<br />
<br />
Mr. J. S. Wood, of the Gentlewoman.<br />
<br />
The Society has also had answers from the<br />
Fortnightly .Review—Mr. Courtney is kind<br />
enough to state that he is unable to give his<br />
sanction without the approval of the board,<br />
and it is hoped that that approval may be<br />
obtained—from Mr. E. M. Bunting, of the<br />
Contemporary Review, who has been kind<br />
enough to write expressing his interest in the<br />
action that has been taken, and stating that he<br />
will be glad to hear what goes on further, and<br />
from Mr. Arthur Hutchinson, editor of the<br />
Windsor Magazine. We have pleasure in quoting<br />
Mr. Hutchinson’s letter in full, as the Windsor<br />
Magazine appears to. be one of the few<br />
magazines in England that follows the<br />
recognised American custom :<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Dear Sir,—In repiy to your request that<br />
we should add our name to the list which you<br />
are preparing for your October number, of<br />
those who wish to establish the new rule for<br />
the date of payment for articles or illustra-<br />
tions, I write to point out that as our custom<br />
is to pay on the Saturday of each week for all<br />
work accepted or delivered to us, if previously<br />
commissioned, within that week, it would be<br />
very retrograde on our part to support any<br />
rule which establishes so long postponed a<br />
date for payment as either of those suggested<br />
in your resolution. We cannot help thinking<br />
that our method is much fairer to authors and<br />
artists than any such postponement, even<br />
though the latter may be an improvement on<br />
older customs of deferred payment in the<br />
ease of offices whose methods you may be<br />
considering.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
ARTHUR HUTCHINSON,<br />
Editor, the Windsor Magazine.<br />
<br />
The editor of Punch is in favour of the more<br />
elastic resolution, and in order that this<br />
reference may be clear to the readers, we append<br />
the original resolution with the signatures as<br />
they at present stand and repeat the rest of the<br />
article as it appeared in the July issue.<br />
<br />
Resolution.<br />
<br />
“The authors and artists whose articles,<br />
stories, or drawings may have been accepted,<br />
shall be paid for those accepted articles,<br />
stories, or drawings, at the next official pay-<br />
day after the publication, or within six<br />
months from the date of acceptance of such<br />
articles, stories, or drawings, whichever is<br />
the shorter period.”<br />
<br />
<br />
14 THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
In favour.<br />
<br />
J. I. Bailey, The Connoisseur.<br />
<br />
Vivian Carter, The Bystander.<br />
<br />
F. Chalmers Dixon, English Review.<br />
<br />
L. J. Maxse, National Review.<br />
<br />
*G. W. Prothero, Quarterly Review.<br />
<br />
Harold Cox, Edinburgh Review.<br />
<br />
C. E. S. Chambers, Chambers’s Journal.<br />
<br />
F. H. Fisher, Literary World.<br />
<br />
Chas. Hyatt-Woolfe, Science Siftings.<br />
<br />
G. Binney Diblee, The Field ; The Queen.<br />
<br />
John Stead, Review of Reviews.<br />
<br />
James Parmerlee, Vanity Fair.<br />
<br />
J. E. Harold Terry, Onlooker and Throne.<br />
<br />
*C. R. Simpson, Weekly Telegraph.<br />
<br />
Mr. St. Loe Strachey, Spectator.<br />
<br />
J. S. Wood, Gentlewoman.<br />
<br />
* There was a reservation by the editor of the Quarterly<br />
Review that the word “shall” should be altered to<br />
“should.” With this reservation the editor of the<br />
Weekly Telegraph agrees.<br />
<br />
The rest of the article is as follows :—<br />
<br />
“ After this resolution had been put forward,<br />
it was proposed—owing to the fact that many<br />
editors, while approving the spirit of the<br />
resolution, objected to the letter, and that no<br />
voice was raised in opposition to the principle<br />
of obtaining a more uniform and businesslike<br />
practice—to discuss, either by circular or by<br />
means of an adjourned meeting later in the<br />
year, the following :-—<br />
<br />
‘“¢* We consider that it should be under-<br />
stood by all authors and artists whose con-<br />
tributions have been accepted, that they<br />
shall be entitled to make requisition for pay-<br />
ment at any period six months after such<br />
acceptance, and that such requisition shall<br />
not be considered in any way contrary to<br />
established precedent.’<br />
<br />
“It is hoped by the committee that it will be<br />
possible to get a still larger number of editors<br />
to consent to this more elastic resolution,<br />
which will give great relief to contributors,<br />
Many editors are quite willing to pay within a<br />
reasonable time if they are asked, but they fail<br />
to understand the author’s point of view. It<br />
is not so much natural modesty, as a fear—<br />
in many cases, we regret to say, well-founded—<br />
that any step they may take to disturb the<br />
equanimity of the editor will result in their<br />
future contributions being set aside.<br />
<br />
‘“‘ Another point was put forward, which the<br />
committee hope to deal with in the autumn,<br />
namely, the possibility of arranging between<br />
authors and editors some form of conditional<br />
acceptance in those cases where editors feel they<br />
could not give an immediate and unconditional<br />
decision.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
COPYRIGHT AND BANKRUPTCY.<br />
<br />
——<br />
<br />
he of The Author may call to mind<br />
the case of Deeping v. Grant Richards#of<br />
which a report appeared in our May,<br />
<br />
1907, issue.<br />
<br />
Judgment delivered in that case demon-<br />
strated that if an author transferred his copy-<br />
right to a publisher subject to the payment of<br />
royalty his only remedy if the publisher went<br />
bankrupt was for damages for breach of agree-<br />
ment against a bankrupt estate. Briefly, it<br />
was laid down that in cases of bankruptcy the<br />
agreement could be assigned by the trustee in<br />
bankruptcy without the assignee being respon-<br />
sible to the author for payment of royalties.<br />
The result of subsequent cases of a similar<br />
character served to confirm the ruling given<br />
in Deeping v. Grant Richards.<br />
<br />
An attempt was made to get this grievance<br />
of authors, dramatists and composers removed<br />
while the Copyright Act of 1911 was being<br />
discussed in Parliament, but the Government,<br />
whilst sympathetic, regretted they could not<br />
deal with the matter in a Copyright Bill,<br />
stating it could only be dealt with as an<br />
amendment to the Bankruptcy Laws.<br />
<br />
Accordingly, for the time the matter was<br />
dropped.<br />
<br />
In the spring of this year, however, the<br />
attention of the Society was called by Mr.<br />
Mackinder to the fact that Amending Bills<br />
dealing with bankruptcy were before Parlia-<br />
ment, and he suggested that they afforded the<br />
Society an opportunity of attaining a removal<br />
of the peculiar hardships inflicted upon authors,<br />
dramatists and composers by the Warwick<br />
Deeping decisions. Mr. Mackinder called upon<br />
the secretary and had a long conversation with<br />
him, with the result that, with the sanction of<br />
the chairman, counsel was instructed to draft<br />
certain clauses designed to protect authors not<br />
only from the results of the judgments referred<br />
to above, but also from the losses arising out<br />
of the bankruptcy of magazines and other<br />
periodical publications. Mr. Mackinder very<br />
kindly undertook to take charge of these clauses<br />
on behalf of the Society and to use every effort<br />
to get them accepted by the Government. As<br />
it was found impossible to get the clauses<br />
affecting contributions to magazines accepted,<br />
these clauses had, perforce, to be dropped.<br />
<br />
The committee, however, are pleased to<br />
report that the clause relating to the transfer<br />
of copyright under royalty agreements was<br />
accepted by the Government and that the Bills<br />
which have now become law each contain this<br />
<br />
- Sfb Peeprns v. Mora (Be Trnotee )<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
clause. Inthe English amendment of the<br />
bankruptcy law it runs as follows :—<br />
<br />
“Where the property of a bankrupt comprises the<br />
copyright in any work or any interest in such copyright,<br />
and he is liable to pay to the author of the work royalties<br />
or a share of the profits in respect thereof, the trustee in<br />
bankruptcy shall not be entitled to sell, or authorise the<br />
sale of, any copies of the work, or to perform or authorise<br />
the performance of the work, except on the terms of pay-<br />
ing to the author such sums by way of royalty or share<br />
of the profits as would have been payable by the bankrupt,<br />
nor shall he, without the consent of the author or of the<br />
court, be entitled to assign the right or transfer the<br />
interest or to grant any interest in the right by licence<br />
except upon terms which will secure to the author pay-<br />
ments by way of royalty or share of profits at a rate not<br />
less than that which the bankrupt was liable to pay.”<br />
<br />
It appears with a slight modification in the<br />
amendment of the bankruptcy law for Scotland,<br />
but the effect is the same in both cases.<br />
<br />
The Society must thank Mr. Mackinder most<br />
heartily for drawing the attention of the Com-<br />
mittee of Management to the point, and for the<br />
energy and care with which he piloted the<br />
clauses through to a triumphant success.<br />
<br />
The issues are perhaps of more importance<br />
to composers than to authors or dramatists.<br />
Nowadays authors very seldom assign their<br />
copyright. They have been taught by the<br />
work of the Society through the past twenty-<br />
five years ; but composers still suffer severely,<br />
and there are but few who do not recklessly<br />
assign their copyright. This is no doubt partly<br />
due to the composers’ ignorance and partly to<br />
the yoke that music publishers have for many<br />
years past thrown on their shoulders.<br />
<br />
It is the duty of composers to move shoulder<br />
to shoulder with a view to overcoming the<br />
difficulties that surround them and prevent<br />
them from getting a fair return for their life’s<br />
work.<br />
<br />
In the meantime all members of the Society<br />
must join in thanking Mr. Mackinder for the<br />
work he has done on their behalf.<br />
<br />
—_—_———__+—>—_+____—_-<br />
<br />
STOCK COMPANY RIGHTS.<br />
<br />
HE attention of the Dramatic Sub-Com-<br />
mittee has been called to the value of<br />
the stock rights in the United States.<br />
<br />
Mr. Walter C. Jordan, the agent of the Society<br />
in New York, was the first to impress upon the<br />
members the importance of retaining their<br />
rights, and he has reiterated his warning at<br />
every opportunity.<br />
<br />
Every member who has dramatic rights of<br />
value in the U.S.A. should take special note,<br />
because there are companies existing ready to<br />
purchase stock rights, and the author in his<br />
ignorance may be willing to sell for a lump sum<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
15<br />
<br />
—a sum which may appear to him to be large—<br />
rights which, if retained, might through the<br />
years bring him many times the amount.<br />
<br />
It would appear that managers in the U.S.<br />
try very hard to get control of stock rights<br />
in the original contract. This they do by<br />
obtaining the sole right of performance which<br />
the author often conveys in ignorance of the<br />
existence of stock rights ; but, even if he knows,<br />
the manager puts forward the argument—<br />
sometimes with success—that he contributes<br />
towards the establishing of the play and<br />
creating a demand for. it by stock companies.<br />
<br />
It is, therefore, advisable either that the<br />
author should withhold all rights whatever to<br />
lease out his plays for stock company purposes,<br />
and should grant to the producing manager<br />
only the right to produce and perform the piece<br />
under his own management (not including any<br />
right to the producing manager to lease out the<br />
play at any time for stock company purposes) :<br />
or should he think the manager’s argument, set<br />
out above, of any value, should stipulate in the<br />
original contract that after the producing<br />
manager has produced and performed the piece<br />
under his own management for not less than<br />
100 performances, that for a specified period<br />
the manager shall be entitled to receive a<br />
fixed share of the net royalties earned by the<br />
play being leased out—by the author—for stock<br />
purposes, but that the play shall be handled<br />
for stock purposes by the author himself, or by<br />
his authorised agent without the intervention<br />
of the manager.<br />
<br />
The author had better place his work for all<br />
stock purposes in the hands of an agent<br />
exclusively, who should be thoroughly reliable,<br />
and the agent should proceed to lease out the<br />
play for stock companies for the best royalty<br />
terms obtainable, according to the size of the<br />
cities, the season of the year, the size of the<br />
theatre, and the prices charged at the theatre.<br />
<br />
What can be obtained for stock engage-<br />
ments must vary under these different circum-<br />
stances.<br />
<br />
It is most important also that while the<br />
author employs an agent, that agent should<br />
have exclusive power to act. This not only<br />
stimulates the agent but prevents two agents<br />
crossing one another in the same market,<br />
prejudicing the author’s position, and perhaps<br />
losing the contract.<br />
<br />
It will be seen, therefore, how important it<br />
is that the agent should be thoroughly reliable<br />
and trustworthy; that he should have no<br />
interest as principal in other joint stock rights,<br />
that he should be agent pure and simple, honest<br />
and above all with a full knowledge of his work<br />
<br />
<br />
16<br />
<br />
Over and over again in these columns the<br />
position of agents has been referred to. In<br />
many cases it is safest for the author to do his<br />
own work, backed with the advice and help of<br />
the Society, but in the placing of stock rights<br />
in the U.S.A. an agent is no doubt essential.<br />
<br />
There is one other important point that it<br />
is necessary to put before authors. It has<br />
already been mentioned that the managers in<br />
the U.S.A. make every effort to obtain the<br />
stock rights from the author in the original<br />
contract. If the author parts with these<br />
through ignorance or for any other reason, he<br />
should not be paid the same fees on the per-<br />
formances as he is paid in the ordinary contract.<br />
There are two reasons why he should not be<br />
paid in this manner. To begin with, if, as an<br />
<br />
-author, he is in a position to claim a high<br />
percentage, then his stock rights are con-<br />
siderably prejudiced, because the American<br />
manager won’t let out to stock companies unless<br />
he can make something himself by the trans-<br />
action. Therefore, if he is paying to the author<br />
a very high percentage, he would have to ask<br />
the stock companies a percentage so high that<br />
they would not be able to pay it—therefore the<br />
author would lose the chance of gaining a large<br />
sum which he might otherwise obtain.<br />
<br />
If, however, the manager is paying the author<br />
a small percentage, then it is essential also that<br />
a different system should obtain for the stock<br />
rights, and it is important that the author<br />
should receive a certain fixed share of not less<br />
than half of the royalties accruing from the use<br />
of his play in stock. The following example<br />
will suffice to show the reason of this :—<br />
<br />
When a producing manager has established a<br />
certain play by producing it for a certain<br />
number of weeks, and has the authority to<br />
sub-lease the play subject only to the author’s<br />
percentage, if that percentage is small then the<br />
manager frequently not only gets double the<br />
amount from the stock company, but also<br />
exacts from the manager a minimum guarantee.<br />
The matter works out as follows: The pro-<br />
ducing manager controlling a certain play<br />
leases to a stock company the play for one<br />
week for royalty terms of 10 per cent. of the<br />
gross receipts, with a minimum guarantee to be<br />
paid by the stock company to the producing<br />
manager of $500. If, then, the producing<br />
manager is paying the author only 5 per cent.<br />
on the first $3,000 gross receipts,, and the stock<br />
company plays the said play for one week to<br />
gross receipts of $2,500 (which would be very<br />
fairly good business to the average stock com-<br />
pany) the producing manager would only have<br />
to pay the author $125, and he would retain<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
for himself the balance of $375 as his share<br />
from the said engagement. But if the author’s<br />
agreement was that he should receive at least<br />
half of all the royalties accruing from stock<br />
company engagements, the author would get<br />
just double the amount out of the week’s stock<br />
engagement. Very successful plays often com-<br />
mand weekly guarantees of more than $500 a<br />
week, and the less successful plays which lease<br />
to the smaller stock companies command<br />
minimum weekly guarantees of from $200 to<br />
$400. It is clear, therefore, that in the<br />
majority of cases the author’s best interest lies<br />
firstly in holding the entire stock company<br />
rights himself, and secondly, if he is foolish<br />
enough to transferthem to a producing manager,<br />
that he shall receive a certain percentage of the<br />
total amount received, rather than accept his<br />
ordinary percentage royalties on the gross<br />
receipts on the stock company engagement,<br />
as on the gross receipts of other engage-<br />
ments. The advantage is two-fold, first, that<br />
in most cases the author would get more, and<br />
secondly, that it gives the producing manager<br />
a freer hand with which to contract.<br />
<br />
We are indebted for the substance of this<br />
article to the information forwarded to the<br />
Society by Mr. Walter C. Jordan, the Society’s<br />
agent in America,<br />
<br />
—_+——o —_____<br />
<br />
WHAT IS A VALUABLE RIGHT OR<br />
INTEREST ?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Crauz v. SHEARD.<br />
<br />
N this case an important question arose as to<br />
whether a right or interest in a musical<br />
composition was ‘valuable and sub-<br />
<br />
sisting ’’ at a certain date, when the Order in<br />
Council relating to Austria-Hungary came into<br />
operation.<br />
<br />
The plaintiffs, a firm of music publishers in<br />
Vienna, sued the defendants, an old-established<br />
firm of music publishers in London, for damages<br />
for infringement of the copyright in “ Die<br />
Fledermaus”? waltz by Johann Strauss, the<br />
Austrian composer. The waltz, which was<br />
written in 1874, was first published in Austria,<br />
and the plaintiffs became the owners of the<br />
copyright. No steps were taken to secure<br />
copyright in the United Kingdom, and in 1877 .<br />
the defendants published the waltz in London ;<br />
but after a year or two, the sales diminished,<br />
and there was little or no demand for the work,<br />
although the defendants kept a small number<br />
of copies in stock.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 17<br />
<br />
In 1893 a copyright treaty was concluded<br />
between Great Britain and Austria-Hungary,<br />
and under the Order in Council, which came<br />
into operation on May 11, 1894, the plaintiffs<br />
became entitled to the copyright in the waltz<br />
in the United Kingdom. But owing to a<br />
proviso in the Order in Council, the plaintiffs’<br />
copyright was subject to any right or interest<br />
of the defendants, which was “‘ valuable and<br />
subsisting ” in May, 1894.<br />
<br />
In 1912, when “ The Nightbirds ” was pro-<br />
duced at the Lyric Theatre, the waltz was<br />
introduced into the piece, and there was a<br />
new demand for the music. The defendants<br />
accordingly republished the waltz, and it was<br />
contended on their behalf, that they were<br />
entitled to do so, because they had originally<br />
produced it in the United Kingdom, and had<br />
a right or interest which was valuable and<br />
subsisting in May, 1894, and were therefore<br />
protected by the proviso in the Order in<br />
Council.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, it was urged that in May,<br />
1894, the sale of the waltz by the defendants<br />
was practically dead, and that the defendants’<br />
right or interest in the work had no market<br />
value, and could not be described as “‘ valuable.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Justice Scrutton held that although the<br />
defendants had a right or interest in the waltz<br />
which was “‘ subsisting ”’ in May, 1894, it could<br />
not be regarded as “ valuable,’ because it<br />
would not have been marketable at that time.<br />
The music had become saleable again in<br />
England owing to the production of ‘“ The<br />
Nightbirds’’ in 1912, but the defendants<br />
could not have obtained a price for their right<br />
or interest in the work in May, 1894.<br />
<br />
On these grounds, his Lordship granted an<br />
injunction, and gave judgment for the plain-<br />
tiffs for £5 damages and costs.<br />
<br />
Haroutp Harpy.<br />
<br />
a<br />
<br />
“A. M. BURGHES.”<br />
<br />
a<br />
<br />
N The Author for December, 1912, we<br />
reported the result of the prosecution,<br />
undertaken by the Society, of C. M.<br />
<br />
Burghes, who carried on business ‘under the<br />
style of “ A. M. Burghes ”’ as a literary agent<br />
at 34, Paternoster Row, E.C. C. M. Burghes<br />
was convicted by the jury of obtaining money<br />
by false pretences, but, for some reason which<br />
we did not appreciate, the judge only bound<br />
him over to come up for sentence when called<br />
upon. The result has been unfortunate.<br />
<, M. Burghes continued to carry on business<br />
<br />
at the same address, and, probably in ignorance<br />
of what had happened, various authors<br />
entrusted him with MSS. and, we believe, paid<br />
him fees. In a number of cases the Society<br />
were successful, through their solicitors, in<br />
getting back the MSS., although in no case was<br />
a MS. delivered up until proceedings had been<br />
taken. Now, however, things have taken a<br />
fresh turn. An author (not a member of the<br />
Society) not only sent Burghes certain MSS.,<br />
but paid him sums amounting to £70—as to £50<br />
for payment over to a publisher in fulfilment<br />
of an arrangement Burghes stated he had made,<br />
and as to the remainder for fees. Hearing<br />
nothing further he became alarmed, and<br />
inquiry then revealed the fact that C. M.<br />
Burghes was not to be found at his place of<br />
business and that his address was unknown.<br />
He had not paid over the £50 to the publisher<br />
nor, in fact, had he ever made any arrange-<br />
ment with the publisher under which £50 or<br />
any other sum was payable. The copy letter-<br />
book found at the offices showed no business<br />
letters since June, and Burghes had not for a<br />
considerable time come to the office at all,<br />
though he had sent a messenger for letters, and<br />
had thus, it would seem, obtained possession<br />
of the cheques for £70 which the author had<br />
sent to him. Comment is needless. The<br />
money has gone, and not even the MSS. in this<br />
case can be found. The landlords have dis-<br />
trained for their rent and sold the contents of the<br />
office. The Society’s solicitors, being aware of<br />
the position, arranged with the landlords for<br />
any MSS. in the safe and elsewhere to be kept<br />
back when the premises were emptied, and at<br />
present a considerable number are lying there.<br />
They cannot, of course, be kept indefinitely,<br />
and if any members of the Society have left<br />
MSS. with Burghes they should give particulars<br />
to the secretary without loss of time, so that<br />
inquiry may be made for them. We cannot<br />
but think that if the judge had given effect to<br />
the verdict of the jury at the trial last year by<br />
passing a sentence of imprisonment the sub-<br />
sequent losses would have been avoided.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
SCALE FOR ADVERTISEMENTS,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
[ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY 20 PER CENT.)<br />
Frout Page aes ide = . «24 0 0<br />
Other Pages ae as agi eae see axe sie<br />
Half of a Page ... aay ie wes ie ais wie ee<br />
Quarter of a Page : ow. 016<br />
Eighth of a Page ie ce 0 70<br />
perinuch 0 6 O<br />
<br />
Single Column “Advertisements<br />
Reduction of 20 per cent. made for a Series of Siz and of 25 per cent, for<br />
Twelve Insertions.<br />
<br />
0 0<br />
<br />
1<br />
15 6<br />
<br />
All letters respecting Advertisements ,should be addressed to<br />
Messrs. Matthews’ Advertising Service, Staple Inn Buildings, High<br />
Holborn, W.C.<br />
18 THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.<br />
Ase<br />
<br />
L, VERY member has a right toask for and to receive<br />
EK 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. The<br />
Secretary of the Society is a solicitor; but if there is any<br />
special reason the Secretary will refer the case to the<br />
Solicitors of the Society. Further, the Committee, if they<br />
deem it desirable, will obtain counsel’s opinion without<br />
any cost to the member. Moreover, where counsel's<br />
opinion is favourable, and the sanction of the Committee<br />
is obtained, action will be taken on behalf of the aggrieved<br />
member, and all costs borne by the Society.<br />
<br />
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright<br />
and publishers’ agreements do not fall within the experi-<br />
ence of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use<br />
the Society.<br />
<br />
3. Before signing any agreement whatever, send<br />
the document to the Society for examination.<br />
<br />
4. Remember always that in belonging to the Society<br />
you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you<br />
are reaping no direct benefit to yourself, and that you are<br />
advancing the best interests of your calling in promoting<br />
the independence of the writer, the dramatist, the composer.<br />
<br />
5. The Committee have arranged for the reception of<br />
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 stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action<br />
upon them, (2) To keep agreements. (3) To enforce<br />
payments due according to agreements. Fuller particu-<br />
lars of the Society’s work can be obtained in the<br />
Prospectus.<br />
<br />
6. 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 with publishers submitted to<br />
them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit<br />
them for interpretation and explanation to the Secretary<br />
of the Society.<br />
<br />
This<br />
The<br />
<br />
7. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements,<br />
must be done within fourteen days of first execution.<br />
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.<br />
<br />
8. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from<br />
referring matters to the Secretary of the Society; so<br />
do some publishers. Members can make their own<br />
deductions and act accordingly.<br />
<br />
9, The subscription to the Society is £1 1s. per<br />
annum, or £10 10s. for life membership.<br />
<br />
ope<br />
<br />
WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCERS<br />
OF BOOKS.<br />
<br />
—+—< +<br />
<br />
ERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an<br />
agreement. There are four methods of dealing<br />
with literary property :—<br />
<br />
I. Selling it Outright.<br />
This is sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be<br />
<br />
obtained. But the transaction should be managed by a<br />
competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of<br />
the Society.<br />
<br />
II. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of<br />
agreement),<br />
<br />
In this case the following rules should be attended to:<br />
<br />
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro-<br />
duction forms a part without the strictest investigation.<br />
<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 />
<br />
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for “ office expenses,”<br />
unless the same allowance is made to the author.<br />
<br />
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continenta)<br />
rights.<br />
<br />
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights,<br />
<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 />
<br />
III. The Royalty System.<br />
<br />
This is perhaps, with certain limitations, the best form<br />
of agreement. It is above all things necessary to know<br />
what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now<br />
possible for an author to ascertain approximately the<br />
truth. From time to time very important figures connected<br />
with royalties are published in Zhe Author.<br />
<br />
IY. A Commission Agreement.<br />
<br />
The main points are :—<br />
<br />
(1.) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production.<br />
(2.) Keep control of the advertisements.<br />
<br />
(3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book.<br />
<br />
General.<br />
<br />
All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four<br />
above mentioned.<br />
<br />
Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author,<br />
<br />
Never sign any agreement without competent advice from<br />
the Secretary of the Society.<br />
<br />
Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp.<br />
<br />
Avoid agreements by letter if possible.<br />
<br />
The main points which the Society has always demanded<br />
from the outset are :—<br />
<br />
(1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement<br />
means.<br />
<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 />
<br />
(3.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright.<br />
<br />
— es<br />
WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.<br />
<br />
a ee<br />
EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the<br />
Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com-<br />
<br />
vetent legal authority.<br />
<br />
2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for<br />
the production of a play with any one except an established<br />
manager.<br />
<br />
3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays<br />
in three or more acts :-— :<br />
<br />
(a.) Sale outright of the performing right. This<br />
is unsatisfactory. An author who enters inte<br />
such a contract should stipulate in the contract<br />
for production of the piece by a certain date<br />
and for proper publication of his name-on the<br />
play-bills. : : 4<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
(b.) Sale of performing right or of a licence te<br />
perform on the basis of percentages on<br />
gross receipts. Percentages vary between 5<br />
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 />
<br />
(«.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to<br />
perform on the basis of royalties (7.c., fixed<br />
nightly fees). This method should be always<br />
avoided except in cases where the fees are<br />
likely to be small or difficult to collect. The<br />
other safeguards set out under heading (0.) apply<br />
also in this case.<br />
<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 />
<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 />
<br />
6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but<br />
should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction<br />
is of great importance,<br />
<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 />
<br />
8. Never forget that United States 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 />
<br />
9. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully<br />
drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced.<br />
<br />
10. An author should remember that production of a play<br />
s 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 />
<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 />
<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 information<br />
are referred to the Secretary of the Society.<br />
<br />
———__+—<>_—_____<br />
<br />
REGISTRATION OF SCENARIOS AND<br />
ORIGINAL PLAYS.<br />
<br />
+<br />
<br />
ere typewritten in duplicate on foolscap paper<br />
forwarded to the offices of the Society, together with<br />
a registration fee of two shillings and sixpence, will<br />
<br />
be carefully compared by the Secretary or a qualified assis-<br />
tant. One copy will be stamped and returned to theauthor<br />
and the other filed in the register of the Society. Copies<br />
of the scenario thus filed may be obtained at any time by<br />
the author only at a small charge to cover cost of typing.<br />
<br />
Original Plays may also be filed subject to the same<br />
rules, with the exception that a play will be charged for<br />
_at the price of 22. 6d. per act.<br />
<br />
19<br />
<br />
DRAMATIC AUTHORS AND AGENTS.<br />
<br />
ee oe ee<br />
RAMATIC authors should seek the advice of the<br />
Society before putting plays into the hands of<br />
agents. As the law stands at present, an agent<br />
who has once had a play in his hands may acquire a<br />
perpetual claim to a percentage on the author’s fees<br />
from it. As far as the placing of plays is concerned,<br />
it may be taken as a general rule that there are only<br />
very few agents who can do anything for an author<br />
that he cannot, under the guidance of the Society, de<br />
equally well or better for himself, The collection of fees<br />
is also a matter in which in many cases no intermediary is<br />
required. For certain purposes, such as the collection of<br />
fees on amateur performances, and in general the trans-<br />
action of frequent petty authorisations with different<br />
individuals, and also for the collection of fees in foreign<br />
countries, almost all dramatic authors employ agents; and<br />
in these ways the services of agents are real and valuable.<br />
But the Society warns authors against agents who profess<br />
to have influence with managers in the placing of plays, or<br />
who propose to act as principals by offering to purchase<br />
the author's rights. In any case, in the present state of<br />
the law, an agent should not be employed under any<br />
circumstances without an agreement approved of by the<br />
Society.<br />
——_—__—_+— 0<br />
<br />
WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS.<br />
<br />
ees<br />
ITTLE can be added to the warnings given for the<br />
assistance of producers of books and dramatic<br />
authors. It must, however, be pointed out that, as<br />
a rule, the musical publisher demands from the musical<br />
composer a transfer of fuller rights and less liberal finan-<br />
cial terms than those obtained for literary and dramatic<br />
property. The musical composer has very often the two<br />
rights to deal with—performing right and copyright. He<br />
should be especially careful therefore when entering into<br />
an agreement, and should take into particular consideration<br />
the warnings stated above.<br />
<br />
ee<br />
<br />
STAMPING MUSIC.<br />
<br />
ee<br />
The Society undertakes to stamp copies of music on<br />
behalf of its members for the fee of 6d. per 100 or part<br />
of 100. The members’ stamps are kept in the Society’s<br />
safe. The musical publishers communicate direct with the<br />
Secretary, and the voucher is then forwarded to the<br />
<br />
members, who are thus saved much unnecessary trouble,<br />
<br />
——$$§$§_— —e_____<br />
THE READING BRANCH.<br />
—1—~o—+ —<br />
EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this<br />
M branch of its work by jnforming 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 />
—————_ «> ¢<br />
<br />
REMITTANCES.<br />
<br />
oo<br />
<br />
The Secretary of the Society begs to give notice<br />
that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post.<br />
All remittances should be crossed Union of London and<br />
Smiths Bank, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered<br />
letter only,<br />
20 THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
COLLECTION BUREAU.<br />
<br />
— a<br />
<br />
f | \HE Society undertakes to collect accounts and money<br />
due to authors, composers and dramatists.<br />
1. Under contracts for the publication of their<br />
works.<br />
<br />
2. Under contracts for the performance of their works<br />
an! amateur fees.<br />
<br />
3. Under the Compulsory Licence Clauses of the Copy-<br />
right Act, i.e., Clause 3, governing compulsory licences for<br />
books, and Clause 19, referring to mechanical instrument<br />
vecords.<br />
<br />
The Bureau is divided into three departments :—<br />
<br />
1. Literary.<br />
2. Dramatic.<br />
3. Musical.<br />
<br />
The Society does not desire to make a profit from the<br />
collection of fees, but will charge a commission to cover<br />
expenses. If, owing to the amount passing through the<br />
of! ce, the expenses are more than covered, the Committee<br />
of Management will discuss the possibility of reducing the<br />
commission,<br />
<br />
For full particulars of the terms of collection, application<br />
must be made to the Collection Bureau of the Society.<br />
<br />
AGENTS.<br />
<br />
Amsterdam ‘ ; . A. REYDING.<br />
New York : ‘* WALTER C. JORDAN.<br />
<br />
The Bureau is in no sense a literary or dramatic<br />
agency for the placing of books or plays.<br />
<br />
GENERAL NOTES.<br />
<br />
— to<br />
<br />
Liprary CENSORSHIP.<br />
<br />
WE have pleasure in publishing herewith a<br />
letter addressed by the chairman of the Com-<br />
mittee of Management to the editor. The<br />
contents of the letter set out the reason for<br />
its publication. The members of the Society<br />
are entitled to know the action that is being<br />
taken by the Committee of Management. The<br />
chairman, in consequence, has put forward<br />
this statement for the perusal of all members.<br />
Why the committee have not thought fit to<br />
write to the papers and join in the public<br />
controversy is here fully explained.<br />
<br />
To the Editor, “‘ The Author.”<br />
<br />
Dear Sitr,—As I understand that various<br />
letters have been received by the secretary of<br />
the Society with regard to the attitude of the<br />
‘Committee of Management on the question of<br />
library censorship, I think it well, as chairman<br />
-of the Society, to give the members the follow-<br />
ing information :—<br />
<br />
The library censorship, as at present con-<br />
‘ducted, has on several occasions in past years<br />
been very seriously considered, not only by<br />
the Committee of Management of the Society,<br />
<br />
but also by sub-committees especially ap-<br />
pointed for that purpose.<br />
<br />
The Committee of Management feel that it<br />
is not a question of this book or that book,<br />
written by this author or that author, but that<br />
the question involved is an important question<br />
of principle which stands above all books and<br />
all authors.<br />
<br />
The reason why the Committee of Manage-<br />
ment have not on this or on former occasions<br />
written letters to the papers, is because they<br />
appreciate that, in a matter of this kind, letters<br />
to the papers are of little permanent value,<br />
though such letters may draw attention to<br />
some particular book and regain for it a cir-<br />
culation to which it was no doubt entitled, but<br />
which it had lost by the action of the libraries.<br />
<br />
The practical issue is the only issue with<br />
which the Committee of the Society intend to<br />
deal. In every case in time past they have<br />
asked the authors concerned to make any<br />
proposals or suggestions that might seem good<br />
to them, and such proposals as have been<br />
made have received consideration. In the<br />
same way at the present time any proposals<br />
put forward by the authors concerned, or any<br />
suggestions made by any member with a view<br />
to bringing about a practical issue, will be<br />
most carefully and gratefully considered.<br />
<br />
I understand from the secretary that he<br />
suggests that there shall be a small permanent<br />
council of authors, publishers, librarians and<br />
booksellers, which should sit once or twice a<br />
year to consider any important questions<br />
which may arise in this connection. If the<br />
Committee of Management could organise<br />
such a council, the question of library censor-<br />
ship would no doubt then be adequately dealt<br />
with, and it is possible that the combination of<br />
the four bodies referred to might find a solution<br />
which would be satisfactory to all parties.<br />
<br />
Because the Committee have not entered<br />
the arena of newspaper discussion, it does not<br />
mean that they have not the whole matter<br />
very much at heart.<br />
<br />
Yours, etc.<br />
(Signed) HeEskeTH Pricnarp,<br />
Chairman of the Committee of Management.<br />
<br />
AUTHORS AND EDITORS.<br />
<br />
In the article under the same title, printed<br />
in this month’s issue, in the last paragraph but<br />
one, it is pointed out that many authors have<br />
a fear (in many cases well founded) that if they<br />
make a demand for money, their future con-<br />
tributions to a paper may be set aside. This<br />
remark was made apropos of contributions<br />
<br />
j<br />
;<br />
i<br />
i<br />
‘<br />
i<br />
j<br />
;<br />
4<br />
i<br />
i<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
a<br />
<br />
ro LESSEE ES.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 21<br />
<br />
which have been accepted and not published.<br />
The ordinary editor and the ordinary author<br />
would hardly think that the same fear would<br />
be justified in the case of a MS. which had<br />
actually been published, but in support of the<br />
contention the following example is quoted :<br />
<br />
A member of the Society sent some verses to<br />
a paper called The Literary Monthly. The<br />
poem was accepted, and printed in the July<br />
issue of that paper. During the month the<br />
author wrote to inquire the terms on which<br />
contributors were paid, and the editor replied<br />
stating that all contributions were paid for in<br />
the month in which they appeared. As the<br />
author did not receive the amount in accord-<br />
ance with this statement, a letter was written<br />
to the editor, drawing attention to the fact<br />
that payment had not been made, and saying<br />
a remittance would be esteemed a favour. To<br />
this no reply was received, and ultimately the<br />
author wrote pressing for payment, and that<br />
unless a cheque was received within seven days,<br />
the matter would have to go into the hands of<br />
the Society of Authors. In answer to that<br />
letter the contributor obtained a reply, dated<br />
September 1—that is a month after the time<br />
when the editor said he would pay for contri-<br />
butions—which ran as follows :—<br />
<br />
“The editor encloses cheque for , for<br />
poem published in July issue. No further<br />
contributions will be received from Hes<br />
<br />
The fair deduction to make from this letter<br />
is that because the author refused to wait<br />
longer than the time mentioned by the editor<br />
himself for the payment of contributions, and<br />
because, in consequence, the author threatened<br />
to put the matter into the hands of the Society,<br />
the editor refused to take any further contri-<br />
butions. It is quite clear that the refusal did<br />
not arise from the fact that the author’s work<br />
was not sufficiently good, otherwise the first<br />
poem would not have been printed, It would<br />
be interesting to know whether the editor has<br />
got any other explanation that he would like<br />
to put forward.<br />
<br />
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF PUBLISHERS.<br />
<br />
AN interesting paper was read by Mr.<br />
William Heinemann before the International<br />
Congress, of Publishers at Budapest. It<br />
dealt with the danger to the maintenance of<br />
the published price of books arising out of<br />
excessive discounts to the retail trade which<br />
were frequently offered by certain publishers<br />
as an inducement to the bookseller to stock<br />
their publications to the exclusion of the works<br />
of their competitors. The matter, as Mr.<br />
<br />
Heinemann stated, concerns authors equally<br />
with publishers, for it is clear that, in the end,<br />
if the retailer is given an excessive discount,<br />
the royalties paid to the author will be reduced<br />
in proportion. Obviously, if one publishing<br />
house yields to the pressure of the bookseller,<br />
others will, in sheer self-defence, be bound to<br />
follow, with the inevitable result that the<br />
author will lose what the bookseller gains.<br />
The only possible action is for the Publishers’<br />
Association to bind themselves to take joint<br />
action on the lines taken by the United States<br />
publishers. What sometimes happens when<br />
the publisher goes to the bookseller is best<br />
told in Mr. Heinemann’s own words :—<br />
<br />
** Who of us has not been told that Mr. X.<br />
gives better terms than we do, and that unless<br />
equal terms are conceded the bookseller in<br />
question must give preference to Mr. X.’s<br />
books ?. Who of us has never yielded to such<br />
pressure ? Who of us has never found such<br />
a statement inaccurate? And who of us,<br />
having yielded to untruthful representation,<br />
has not afterwards heard the same argument<br />
used against the very rival who was described<br />
as so much more liberal than ourselves ? Such<br />
demands may go on ad infinitum: demands<br />
which seem to me, even if they are honestly<br />
made, contemptuous towards ourselves and<br />
our goods.”<br />
<br />
Reverting, however, to the position of the<br />
author in this matter, we should like to<br />
drawt he attention of authors to the prac-<br />
tice of one of the publishing houses and to<br />
its form of contract. This house provides<br />
in its contract with the author for the pay-<br />
ment of a certain royalty on the published<br />
price. So far, so good. But in a subsequent<br />
clause it also provides for the payment of a<br />
reduced percentage on those sales at less than<br />
half the published price, and a still further<br />
reduced percentage on sales at a quarter of the<br />
published price. Moreover, the percentage is<br />
paid, not on the published price, but on the<br />
nett returns. As we have shown in a previous<br />
issue of The Author, it often happens that it<br />
pays the publisher better to give a large dis-<br />
count to the bookseller, paying less to the<br />
author, than to keep the price to the book-<br />
seller up to the normal standard, paying the<br />
author the agreed royalty on the published<br />
price.<br />
<br />
Here there is a conerete case demonstrating<br />
that the special terms allowed to booksellers<br />
result in very material loss to the author.<br />
Even if an increased sale results, the author<br />
gains nothing under these conditions by the<br />
increase. And, as we have already stated, we<br />
22<br />
<br />
do not think, in the last resort, authors gene-<br />
rally would gain by these improved terms to<br />
the retailers. While it is improbable that<br />
their royalties would be reduced in_ the<br />
manner favoured by the publisher referred to,<br />
it is certain that their royalties would tend<br />
to be reduced on the published price, and the<br />
whole book trade would be upset and finally<br />
ruined.<br />
<br />
We notice that at the same Congress a<br />
reference was made to the question of copy-<br />
right and cinematographs, and that pub-<br />
lishers were advised to provide for cinemato-<br />
graph rights in their agreements with authors ;<br />
further, that an association of authors and<br />
publishers should be founded to protect these<br />
rights from infringement.<br />
<br />
In the absence of more definite information<br />
on this matter we defer detailed criticism of<br />
the proposal till a later issue. We would,<br />
however, counsel all authors to keep very<br />
close control of the cinematograph rights of<br />
their stories, as these rights are likely soon to<br />
become valuable, and there is no more reason<br />
why they should be given to the publisher<br />
than that the dramatic rights should be given<br />
to him. The publisher’s work should begin<br />
and end with the publication of the author’s<br />
MS. in book form.<br />
<br />
THE NEW POET LAUREATE.<br />
<br />
-\INCE the last issue of The Author appeared<br />
the much-discussed vacancy in the office<br />
of Poet Laureate has been filled up.<br />
<br />
The appointment of Dr. Robert Bridges<br />
took the general public by surprise. His<br />
name had, indeed, been mentioned in the<br />
literary press as that of a possible candidate,<br />
and the July number of the Quarterly Review<br />
contained a warm recommendation of his<br />
claims, from the pen of Mr. John Bailey.<br />
But to the man-in-the-street he was unknown,<br />
and probably the ordinary comment on his<br />
appointment was, “I’ve never read a line<br />
of him!” Now publicity has been given<br />
to the facts that Dr. Bridges is sixty-nine<br />
years old, was educated at Eton and Corpus<br />
College, Oxford, has been a practising physician<br />
and has produced a body of poetry which<br />
includes plays and masques, metrical experi-<br />
ments, lyrics, and even a few hymns, which<br />
appear in the “ English Hymnal.”<br />
<br />
If, however, the man-in-the-street has only<br />
just been helped to the discovery of Dr. Bridges,<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
among his fellow-poets he has long been<br />
honoured. He may certainly be called “a<br />
poet’s poet.” It is remarkable that the<br />
contributors to the volume entitled “‘ Georgian<br />
Poetry, 1911—12,” unanimously inscribed<br />
it with the name of Robert Bridges.<br />
Mr. Asquith’s selection of a Laureate, there-<br />
fore, may certainly claim the approval of an<br />
influential band of artists ; for the ‘* Georgian<br />
poets’ included more than one who was<br />
looked on as a possible Laureate himself, and<br />
not one who had not done something worthy<br />
of note.<br />
<br />
Before the appointment there was an agita-<br />
tion, on the part of a few revolutionary folk,<br />
that the Poet Laureateship should be abolished<br />
as obsolete and meaningless. In resisting this<br />
demand and choosing for the office a man with<br />
whom the public was practically unacquainted<br />
the Premier has taken an interesting step.<br />
<br />
————— <> —____—_<br />
<br />
AUTHORS AND AGENTS.<br />
<br />
— +<br />
I.—FrEES AND ACCOUNTS.<br />
<br />
ISPUTES between authors and their<br />
agents are constantly coming before<br />
the secretary of the Society. These<br />
<br />
disputes are of many different kinds, but<br />
attention should be called to one serious<br />
difficulty which is of frequent occurrence.<br />
After an agent has placed a work, either a<br />
dramatic piece with a manager, or a novel with<br />
a publisher, all that remains to be done in the<br />
future is to see that the accounts are regularly<br />
rendered, to check them when they are re-<br />
ceived to see that they agree with the former<br />
accounts and are in accordance with the<br />
agreement which has been fixed up between<br />
the author and the party of the other part.<br />
<br />
For this he draws 10 per cent. on the moneys |<br />
<br />
received under the contract during the life |<br />
<br />
of the author and fifty years afterwards. |<br />
<br />
As, however, he is entitled under the form of<br />
agreement on which he usually insists, from<br />
which it is impossible for the author or drama-<br />
tist to get free, to this 10 per cent. as soon as<br />
he has placed the work, he often takes but little<br />
trouble with the rest of his duties. In many<br />
cases where the publisher delays sending in<br />
the accounts, the agent does not push the<br />
publisher for an immediate delivery, but makes<br />
one or other excuse to the author. If he was<br />
too exacting with the publishers, he might<br />
prejudice his position so far as placing other<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
~ for the author.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
contracts is concerned. It seems unfair that<br />
the author should suffer because of this, as<br />
the agent is, after all, the agent of the author<br />
and not the agent of the publisher, though<br />
from some of the agreements that are made,<br />
the opposite deduction might be possible.<br />
<br />
But when the accounts do come in the agent<br />
has still no need to trouble. His 10 per cent.<br />
is safe. So, as it would appear, he sends<br />
them on to the author without any comment<br />
whatever, whether they are right or wrong,<br />
whether they are in accordance with the<br />
agreement or opposed to it. Sometimes, in<br />
fact, the agent sends on copies of his own<br />
accounts without allowing the author to vouch<br />
them by the sight of the accounts which have<br />
been forwarded to him by the publisher or<br />
manager.<br />
<br />
It would have been unnecessary to draw<br />
attention to these points if many and serious<br />
difficulties had not arisen owing to the fact<br />
that an author by his own insight has dis-<br />
covered lapses and mistakes in the accounts<br />
which ought to have been checked by the<br />
agent. If the author has continuously to<br />
watch the agent’s accounts to see that they<br />
are rendered on the proper dates, to see when<br />
they are rendered they are in accordance with<br />
the agreement, he might as well not employ an<br />
agent at all.<br />
<br />
It seems, therefore, that there ought to be<br />
two distinct transactions and two distinct fees<br />
_in order that an agent’s position might be<br />
| clear and unsullied ; to confuse the placing of<br />
the work with the collection of monies may be<br />
a good business for the agent but disastrous<br />
The agent should receive:<br />
(1) a certain fee for placing the work, and he<br />
should be paid this fee by say, a slightly raised<br />
percentage on the returns until the fee is<br />
reached ; (2) after the fee has been covered,<br />
he should receive a continuing percentage so<br />
long as the author gives him the authority to<br />
collect the money under the contract. For<br />
this his percentage should not exceed 5 per<br />
cent. ; but the second part, that is the authority<br />
for collection of monies, should be able to be<br />
terminated immediately by the author if<br />
he found the agent was careless with the<br />
accounts or indifferent to his interests, playing<br />
for the hand of the publisher rather than for<br />
the hand of the author. It should not be<br />
possible for an agent to benefit by an action<br />
which would be likely to prejudice the author<br />
for whom he is working.<br />
<br />
If some such arrangement as the one sug-<br />
gested could be come to, then the agent would<br />
not be taking 10 per cent. during the whole term<br />
<br />
23<br />
<br />
of copyright for merely placing the play or<br />
making a contract for the production of a<br />
book. Such terms are clearly extravagant ;<br />
but if he continued, with the author’s authority,<br />
to collect the moneys, and in collecting the<br />
monies, to check the accounts carefully, he<br />
would be, no doubt, saving the author from<br />
a great deal of trouble and would be entitled<br />
to his percentage so long as the author felt<br />
it was worth paying for the protection.<br />
<br />
At the present the agent, once secure in his<br />
10 per cent., is inclined to neglect his future<br />
duties.<br />
<br />
II.—WuoseE SERVANT.<br />
<br />
Tue author’s agent is constantly appearing<br />
under a new character and in a new part.<br />
We have had reason to complain that on<br />
some occasions he acts as principal, on some<br />
occasions for editors and on some occasions<br />
for publishers when he ought to act solely for<br />
those from whom he takes his percentage.<br />
<br />
It is as well to draw attention to the<br />
difficulties that may arise from this complex<br />
action. First, when the agent acts as<br />
principal. When he does so even in the purest<br />
good faith he is taking away from the author<br />
that very advice and assistance for which he<br />
is being paid and causing the author a great<br />
deal of extra trouble. But it has been known<br />
that the agent has acted as principal without<br />
letting the author know either that he is the<br />
purchaser, or, if not the purchaser directly,<br />
is interested in the purchase. Again, an<br />
agent who is interested as principal will natu-<br />
rally be more interested in pushing forward<br />
those works in which he has sunk his capital<br />
than those on which he merely gets a percen-<br />
tage. This position is unfair to the other<br />
authors who employ him. There are still<br />
worse possibilities, but as they seldom occur<br />
it is perhaps unnecessary to mention them.<br />
<br />
Secondly, when the agent acts for editors.<br />
Editors sometimes come to agents and ask<br />
them if they can supply a story by a certain<br />
author. If the author is not on the agent’s<br />
books it not infrequently happens that the<br />
agent does not say so, but tries to draw the<br />
author into his net by holding before him<br />
tempting offers.<br />
<br />
This occurs more frequently when the agent<br />
himself goes round to editors and asks them<br />
whether they want a story from Mr. or<br />
Mr. If the answer is in the affirmative<br />
the author is pestered with letters and worried<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
24<br />
<br />
till he finally yields, often to find that the con-<br />
tract cannot be obtained.<br />
<br />
Thirdly, when the agent acts for publishers.<br />
There are certain agents who act for publishers<br />
in selling those rights beyond the book rights<br />
which the latter have taken from the author.<br />
No wonder it pays the agent in settling a<br />
contract to allow the author to give away his<br />
minor rights to the publisher if the publisher<br />
immediately hands them back to the agent to<br />
place. In addition to making it easier for the<br />
agent to settle with the publisher it enables<br />
him to obtain a double fee. Again, there are<br />
agents who appear to give certain publishers<br />
the first refusal of the good work that comes<br />
to their hands and in other ways to hamper<br />
the freedom of the author.<br />
<br />
The following example appears to represent<br />
the very latest development. An author offers<br />
a book to a publisher. The publisher inquires<br />
when making a proposal for the acceptance<br />
whether the author is employing a certain<br />
agent whom he names. Resenting somewhat<br />
the inquiry, the author replies that if an agent<br />
were necessary the choice would be with<br />
himself. The publisher then informs the<br />
author that in that case he will be unable to<br />
handle the book.<br />
<br />
It is an interesting question whether the<br />
publisher receives any consideration for his<br />
sturdy championship. But one point is certain<br />
—that such a position increases the author’s<br />
servitude to the agent.<br />
<br />
There are no doubt good agents and bad<br />
agents, but no agent is good for all his authors<br />
if he is employed by many and does not limit<br />
his scope. Such an agent is bound to bring<br />
his authors into competition and to assist one<br />
at the expense of another. This has been<br />
clearly pointed out by another hand in these<br />
columns, but while in many cases an agent’s<br />
livelihood depends upon his not being an ideal<br />
agent, authors should be strongly warned<br />
against many of the practices indulged in<br />
which tend to make an agent a bad agent.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
BOOK PUBLISHING IN THE U.S.A.<br />
<br />
——_—— +<br />
<br />
E have received a letter from a well-<br />
known American author dealing with<br />
<br />
; some points put forward in an article<br />
in the June number on “ Book Publishing in<br />
the United States,” and we have much pleasure<br />
in putting forward his views. We regret<br />
that it was impossible to insert it in the July<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
issue, and in consequence have had to hold<br />
it over to the autumn.<br />
<br />
He rather smiles at Mr. Brett falling back<br />
on the old excuse ‘‘ that all the fault is due to<br />
<br />
the rapacity of those derned authors ... .!”<br />
and continues :—<br />
<br />
“Mr. Brett points out that too many books are being<br />
published and too few being sold; that the methods of<br />
distribution employed by publishers are crude and anti-<br />
quated, and that no improvement in conditions is possible<br />
without improvement in those methods. And _ then,<br />
appalled by his candour in confessing his incapacity for the<br />
job he holds, and in deadly fear lest he be drawn into<br />
adding something incriminating or degrading on the<br />
subject of over-production, he lights hastily across the<br />
street, and slams the unhappy author over the head for<br />
wanting to make money enough to pay for his typewriter’s<br />
ribbons—both kinds ! ”’<br />
<br />
And he goes on to explain that the real fault<br />
is with the publishers and not the authors, and<br />
we think that these remarks may well apply<br />
to the same conditions at present standing in<br />
the English market. He says :—<br />
<br />
“The public never kicks about paying $1.50 or thereabout<br />
for a novel it thinks it really wants to read, but it is getting<br />
awtully sick of being fed with novels (and works of general<br />
literature—at a higher price, usually) which it has been<br />
misled into purchasing by the imprint of a respectable<br />
publishing concern, a flashy make-up, or the appetite for<br />
something to read coupled with sheer human inability to<br />
discriminate between one book and another of the thou-<br />
sands that are annually shoved under its poor nose.<br />
And this is so because the publisher, in his wild anxiety to<br />
miss no bets, publishes three or four times as many books<br />
as he ought to, simply on the off-chance that one or two of<br />
them may pick up and prove winners; and then he<br />
advertises them all (if he does advertise at all) in terms of<br />
the most glowing praise, overprints in order that he may<br />
fill the bookseller’s show-windows with “ displays,” and<br />
make a respectable showing in quantity alongside the<br />
output of other publishers on the bookseller’s shelves ;<br />
thereby confusing the public until it can’t tell one book<br />
from another, and stops buying through weariness of the<br />
lottery.<br />
<br />
‘* Several years ago Mr. Brett’s concern boasted that it<br />
was publishing 365 books in the calendar year. Two years<br />
ago (circa) another old-time firm announced (but not<br />
publicly) that they had finished with being conservative<br />
and were hereafter going to publish a great many books<br />
per annum, regardless of merit, with small first editions<br />
and no advertising to speak of, simply in order not to miss<br />
any winners that might chance their way in disguise. Not<br />
that this was any new thing; Appleton’s had been doing<br />
the same thing for years, to their own profit, but unhappily<br />
for authors, and to the confusion of the public. At the<br />
same time Doubleday, Page & Co. were fomenting a<br />
project, through the medium of the future ambassador to<br />
England, to induce publishers to band together and agree<br />
to publish fewer books, under the slogan ‘ Fewer books and<br />
better!’ They even gave a luncheon to boost the project—<br />
and the next season came forward with a list of fiction<br />
longer than any they had ever fathered previously !<br />
<br />
“The point of this business (of publishing a great many<br />
books of small editions and with scanty advertising) is<br />
as follows: The publisher doesn’t do it altogether because he<br />
is afraid of losing a winner, but because it really pays him.<br />
It works out this way: the average publisher puts out<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
upwards of twenty or thirty books every- spring and<br />
autumn—I mean novels. He spends as little as he can—<br />
naturally—on their make-up, advertises the titles, along<br />
with a dozen others, only meagrely, and prints a first<br />
edition of each that seldom exceeds 1,500 copies. Of this<br />
edition he is almost sure of disposing among the several<br />
thousand booksellers of the United States. He has a<br />
mighty poor book salesman if he can’t induce each book-<br />
seller to take a chance on at least one copy. All of which<br />
nets the publisher a modest profit on each book, and a<br />
comfortable one on the season’s output, with the minimum<br />
of risk. And there is always the chance that one book out<br />
of his score or so per season will on its own merits forge<br />
ahead, make a hit with the public, and by word of mouth<br />
advertising—one reader passing it on to another—create<br />
a demand which will warrant the publisher in spending a<br />
little more money giving it individual advertising, to push<br />
it into the best-selling list. If this doesn’t happen, he<br />
hopes it will next season; and meantime he hasn’t lost<br />
anything—the authors are the only losers in this game.”<br />
<br />
Thestatement contained in this last paragraph<br />
is very interesting as it demonstrates so clearly<br />
that what is happening in America has been<br />
going on for a long time in the English market,<br />
owing to the curse of the publishers demanding<br />
in their contracts a series of books, and authors<br />
being foolish enough to bind themselves to the<br />
publishers for a series. The publisher puts<br />
the book on the market. He does not take<br />
much trouble in the matter except to push it<br />
through sufficiently to cover his expenses and<br />
to bring him in a profit ; he then lets the book<br />
drop because he knows he is quite safe as the<br />
author is bound to him for several more books.<br />
If, as suggested by our correspondent, the book<br />
looks like going, then he takes it up as a winner<br />
and gives it individual advertising and turns<br />
round and says to the author: ‘ Look what<br />
I have done for you!” The fault is a very<br />
serious one ; whether the publishers will make<br />
any effort to remedy it, or whether the authors<br />
will take any united action by refusing to bind<br />
themselves in this absurd manner remains to<br />
be seen.<br />
<br />
Our correspondent<br />
follows :—<br />
<br />
“The truth of the matter is that two-thirds of us<br />
haven't any right to be writing at all—we do it so poorly—<br />
and would long since have turned, in warranted discourage-<br />
ment, our abilities to some more profitable field of endea-<br />
vour, if it were not for the rapacity of the publisher who<br />
leads us on to believe we have some excuse for sticking to<br />
the game simply that he may make his insignificant<br />
profit per book and so swell his handsome profit per<br />
annum.”<br />
<br />
He seems to sum up the position so far by<br />
saying :—<br />
<br />
“The solution is not cheaper books. Brett had only<br />
to investigate the conditions here and in France and<br />
Germany to find that out ; assuming that he was ingenuous<br />
in making the suggestion on the basis of conditions in those<br />
countries as he understood them. The real solution is<br />
<br />
that of Doubleday, Page & Co., ‘ Fewer books and better,<br />
and a revolution in the method of attacking the public.’ ”<br />
<br />
then continues as<br />
<br />
25<br />
<br />
He then gives an example of a certain pub-<br />
lisher in Chicago who devotes himself exclu-<br />
sively to selling the books of one man and with<br />
unexampled success, both for the author and for<br />
the company. American publishers, he says,<br />
know of this thing, but they seem unable to<br />
profit by the lesson it teaches, that even a<br />
second-rate book at $1.50 can be unloaded by<br />
the hundreds of thousands by concentration<br />
and the employment of available, if new to the<br />
publishing trade, avenues of distribution.<br />
<br />
And he finally sums up by repeating what he<br />
has already stated, that the cheap book is<br />
not what is wanted in America any more than<br />
it is wanted in England or in France, and that<br />
after a time it is impossible to unload the<br />
numbers of cheap books which it is necessary<br />
should be unloaded in order to make a profit<br />
for the publisher, for the author and for the<br />
bookseller. And he points out by example,<br />
that those American publishers who have<br />
already endeavoured to make a success of the<br />
cheap book have produced nothing but<br />
failure. Perhaps it is as well to add that he<br />
ends up his letter in the following words:<br />
<br />
«These tumultuous thoughts are now beginning to sub-<br />
side and it is nearly time for me to break off and chew<br />
three Pepsin and Bismuth tablets and drink a bucket of<br />
hot water and sit down at the luncheon table and hat> a<br />
piece of dry toast, but if any of the stuff is useful, I allow<br />
you to make free use of it.”<br />
<br />
We have quoted his letter at some length<br />
as the writer is not merely a person who writes<br />
and then, leaving the work, places it in the<br />
hands of an agent, but he writes as one in<br />
authority with full knowledge of the trade n<br />
the United States and the capacities of th»<br />
publishers to endeavour, though unsuccess-<br />
fully, to meet the real demands of the public.<br />
<br />
——_—_1+—> +___<br />
<br />
ARTISTS AND THEIR CRITICS.<br />
<br />
—_—<br />
<br />
FTER the correspondence which took<br />
place last summer in the Morning Post<br />
and other newspapers, or, indeed, with-<br />
<br />
out reference to it, it is not necessary to prove<br />
laboriously that artists at the present time, or a<br />
large proportion of them, are discontented with<br />
the conditions of art criticism, or rather with<br />
the criticism which is produced under those<br />
conditions, and that, on the other hand, a<br />
certain number of art critics are profoundly<br />
contemptuous with regard to the productions<br />
of the artists who thus express their discon-<br />
tent. The term artists is here used to include<br />
all who earn, or try to earn, a living by painting,<br />
26<br />
<br />
sculpture, engraving and other similar arts,<br />
without any attempt to define an “ artist,”<br />
or to draw invidious distinctions between those<br />
whose art is of the highest order, and those not<br />
so gifted—mere academicians, perhaps, who<br />
are just what they are, with no hope or perhaps<br />
ambition for better things. It is not proposed<br />
to discuss here the basic essence of art, or<br />
whatever it may be, which should inspire the<br />
artist before he is worthy of the name. It is<br />
enough to say that if reviewers are sometimes<br />
not altogether beloved by the reviewed, the<br />
art critic, or art journalist, as some one has<br />
recently labelled him, has even fewer admirers<br />
in proportion to his enemies among those to<br />
whom (according to some of them) he should<br />
be guide, philosopher and _ friend. Why is<br />
this ? - Is it possible to point out a reason—<br />
an easier task than to suggest a remedy ?<br />
<br />
It is a feature of art criticism, or art jour-<br />
nalism, distinguishing it from book criticism,<br />
that it is in very few hands. Dramatic<br />
criticism, to some extent, resembles it in this,<br />
but is produced under different conditions,<br />
to which reference may be made hereafter.<br />
Book criticism on most newspapers is entrusted<br />
to a variety of reviewers. The author in a<br />
particular instance may believe that his work<br />
has been foredoomed by the selection of a<br />
critic known to be hostile to the opinions likely<br />
to be found in it, or may ascribe a lack of<br />
appreciation of his virile style to the prejudices<br />
of the editor’s, or proprietor’s, lady relatives<br />
and friends. This, however, should be in<br />
exceptional instances. On the whole, books<br />
are distributed with a desire to discriminate<br />
among persons believed to be suited by taste<br />
and capacity to the task of reviewing them.<br />
The same person would not be likely to review<br />
for a leading daily or weekly paper a work on<br />
military history, a novel written to prove<br />
marriage superfluous, and a volume of rhymes<br />
for the nursery. On most newspapers, how-<br />
ever, in which art criticism is published, there<br />
is but one art critic. On some there is not<br />
quite so much—there is only part of one. The<br />
same gentleman, or, possibly, lady, ‘‘ does the<br />
art notices ”’ for two or possibly more papers,<br />
and it may be insisted upon, though it should<br />
hardly be necessary to labour the point.<br />
that the fact of several criticisms of the same<br />
work being written by one critic, whether in<br />
art or literature, tends to create the idea that<br />
there is a consensus of well-informed opinion<br />
with regard to that work. That is to say, if<br />
the critic writes to the same intent in two or<br />
more papers he gives an impression of un-<br />
animity that does not exist. . If he writes quite<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
differently in two or more articles, he must<br />
almost necessarily be insincere in some of his<br />
observations.<br />
<br />
Apart, however, from this multiplication of<br />
one man’s opinion, the fact of there being but<br />
one art critic on a newspaper, and conse-<br />
quently a very limited number of critics<br />
writing on art topics, must have its effect.<br />
It is not intended to discuss here whether such<br />
a system is necessary, or desirable, or con-<br />
venient, or conducive to consistent criticism.<br />
It may be all of these, but at the same time it<br />
may be responsible for much of the discontent<br />
with art criticism certainly felt by many who,<br />
whether it would be right to apply to them the<br />
term “artist” in a laudatory sense or not, are<br />
trying to make a living by art, and in the<br />
popular meaning of the word are artists. The<br />
art critic may be an acknowledged authority<br />
on old masters, and he may be very much<br />
more interested in them than in any modern<br />
work. He may be warmly in sympathy with<br />
the methods of our senior Royal Academicians,<br />
or may have grasped and clasped to his<br />
bosom the inner inwardness of Post-Impres-<br />
sionism. The exhibitions of the Royal Water<br />
Colour Society may be his ideal of what such<br />
exhibitions should be, or he may find nothing<br />
really to please him outside the new English<br />
Art Club. Anyhow, he has got to have a<br />
pretty catholic taste if he can assimilate them<br />
all with enjoyment, and the cards for press<br />
views that are showered upon him from the<br />
editorial office will take him to more than<br />
these. Bond Street and Regent Street, Pall<br />
Mall, Piccadilly and the by-streets of St. James’s<br />
are full of one-man shows, and the exhibitions<br />
of minor clubs and societies. It is not sug-<br />
gested that all are worthy of praise, or, indeed,<br />
of notice at all. It is, however, submitted<br />
that the works shown differ quite as widely<br />
among themselves—in their aims, and in their<br />
claims to public attention—as do the works<br />
put upon the market by publishers, and that<br />
to hand over all varieties for comment to one<br />
critic is not very different from sending all<br />
varieties of books to one reviewer.<br />
<br />
The practice, no doubt, is due in part to<br />
convenience, and in part to different concep-<br />
tions of the functions of an art critic and those<br />
of a literary critic—or should they be called<br />
an art journalist and a book journalist? As<br />
a rule, it is apparently thought that the book<br />
journalist should be able and willing to accord<br />
praise or blame to a book judged by the stan-<br />
dard of books of its class; but that the art<br />
journalist should judge all art productions by<br />
canons of art formulated by him and others<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
no<br />
16<br />
rid<br />
uq<br />
od<br />
te<br />
ue<br />
dé<br />
ud<br />
on<br />
ue<br />
3<br />
1 d<br />
<br />
slg<br />
<br />
sd<br />
ad.<br />
sd<br />
0%<br />
og<br />
dd<br />
oe<br />
ak<br />
dd<br />
03<br />
ry<br />
Or<br />
si<br />
Te<br />
ad<br />
96<br />
1h<br />
as |<br />
BL<br />
ie<br />
te<br />
Te<br />
fe<br />
lye<br />
te<br />
tw<br />
yi |<br />
ad<br />
he<br />
1G<br />
a<br />
<br />
A<br />
<br />
ob<br />
<br />
through the assiduous study and appreciation<br />
of masterpieces. He may judge everything<br />
that is submitted to him for criticism in the<br />
public press according to standards which he<br />
honestly believes are of universal application,<br />
and may accord nothing but contempt,<br />
outspoken or silent, to everything. which falls<br />
Short of them. He is quite entitled to do so,<br />
but at the same time men and women who make<br />
no extravagant pretence of -conforming to<br />
such lofty standards, but who are merely<br />
trying to earn a living, perhaps. successfully<br />
by selling pictures to persons who are quite<br />
pleased to buy them, may think it a little<br />
hard that: their admirers should be informed<br />
that they are incompetent and futile charla-<br />
tans. An artist of this class may say with<br />
some show of reason that he does not pretend<br />
to be a Rembrandt or a Turner, not to mention<br />
the names of members of the newest art<br />
societies of to-day, and that all he asks for<br />
is to be judged according to the standard of<br />
those with whom he obviously enters into<br />
competition. Of course, he may be quite<br />
wrong in this, but the point is worth putting<br />
forward on his behalf. Dramatic criticism<br />
has been referred to, and, no doubt, there is<br />
on most papers one dramatic critic, Just as<br />
there is one art critic. Something, however,<br />
Seems to temper the wind in the matter of<br />
dramatic ciiticism ; perhaps the comparative<br />
importance of dramatic advertising, or the<br />
fact that first nights clash and that thus very<br />
often a variety of criticism and an allocation<br />
of plays to the persons most likely to be in<br />
Sympathy with them are brought about. At<br />
any rate, one of the causes of the ill-feeling<br />
which exists between a large body of artists<br />
and a large proportion of the gentlemen<br />
writing (often very ably) modern art criticism<br />
has been suggested. One of its results has<br />
been that recently an important society of<br />
artists sent out no invitations to art critics for<br />
one of its exhibitions, and another did not<br />
assign the usual special day for the press view.<br />
Recent outbursts of acrimonious correspon-<br />
dence in newspapers have already been<br />
referred to. Of course, a good deal may be<br />
<br />
‘“e said in favour of art criticism being conducted<br />
on from the point of view of the loftiest ideals in<br />
“™% art, but would it not be equally right to say<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
no right to complain of critics who more or less<br />
<br />
the same with regard to literature? It may<br />
be said that a great many persons are trying<br />
to make a living by art who had much better<br />
be otherwise employed, and that these have<br />
<br />
plainly tell them so. But might not the same<br />
<br />
be said of many who live, or. try to live, by<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
27<br />
<br />
literature, if similar principles of criticism<br />
were applied to their works under a similar<br />
system ?<br />
<br />
Se ase<br />
<br />
AUTHORS AND FREE LIBRARIES.<br />
<br />
a<br />
<br />
N UCH advance has been made of late<br />
in the matter of protecting authors’<br />
copyright. But that is not the same<br />
thing as protecting the rights of authors. At<br />
least one other form of much-needed protection<br />
seems to have been overlooked: protection<br />
from free libraries. Perhaps a case in point<br />
will make this clearer.<br />
<br />
A work of fiction was published in April of<br />
the current year. It was in the free library of<br />
a certain manufacturing. town within a month<br />
of publication. Enquiries elicited the fact<br />
that the library copy was in eager demand,<br />
though the book was not selling in that par-<br />
ticular town. It is easy to see that a librarian<br />
promotes his own popularity by promptly<br />
securing the newest fiction for free circulation,<br />
but is such action fair to the writer? I sub-<br />
mit that it is neither fair to author nor pub-<br />
lisher. The money which pays for the books<br />
in free libraries, is public money, raised by<br />
local taxation. This differentiates the case of<br />
the free lending library from that of private<br />
lending. Now as things are, there is nothing<br />
to prevent an enterprising free librarian, by<br />
the clever use of a few copies of a book, and a<br />
shortened time limit, from absolutely barring<br />
the sale of that particular book in his particular<br />
area. This is not as it ought to be.<br />
<br />
A rule in force in the library of the British<br />
Museum bars access to fiction within a certain<br />
space of time after publication. A similar<br />
rule should be legally in force in every free<br />
library ; and the time limit should be so fixed,<br />
that a book should be kept out of free circula-<br />
tion for two years after publication. A book<br />
is printed to sell. Supposing the author is so<br />
full of the lofty aim of setting right a perverted<br />
universe, as to be quite indifferent to remunera-<br />
tion for his labours! Is it reasonable to expect<br />
a publisher to take that point of view? I<br />
think not. Unlike the plutocratic author, the<br />
publisher has to eke out a precarious livelihood<br />
by selling books. When he can no longer sell<br />
books, he has finished with publishing. I<br />
believe I could demonstrate—given time<br />
that a book which cannot be published, had<br />
better not be written.<br />
<br />
This is a question of the public sense of<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
28<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
justice—concerted action on the part of<br />
authors and publishers, and a small measure<br />
passed through Parliament. Planting trees<br />
on your own sand heap is a noble and soul-<br />
lifting amusement. But the law does not<br />
support you when you plant trees to shut out<br />
the light from your neighbour’s window. It<br />
is a fine thing to supply the free citizen with<br />
taxed literature; but to do that, the dis-<br />
bursers of public money have first to take<br />
scisin of the regular meals which might other-<br />
wise fall to the lot of a number of authors.<br />
This legal gap in that fine old mandate “ Thou<br />
shalt not steal ” ought to be filled up.<br />
<br />
C. KE. S.<br />
——————_-—~>— > —____<br />
<br />
A ROMANCE OF WORDS.*<br />
<br />
——»—+ —.<br />
<br />
HETHER highly gratifying instances<br />
of the rapid sale of works of real<br />
merit are common is a question that<br />
<br />
it might be dangerous to put before a body of<br />
authors. The reply would be only too likely<br />
to be some equivalent of the parliamentary<br />
circumlocution “The answer is in the nega-<br />
tive.” Indeed, it is difficult in the present<br />
days not to be troubled with many misgivings<br />
respecting the relations of popularity and real<br />
value in the case of a book. All the more<br />
cheering, therefore, is the prompt welcome<br />
which has been given to Mr. Weekley’s<br />
“Romance of Words.” Published first in<br />
March, it reappeared in a second edition in<br />
May, a most welcome indication of a sound<br />
taste for work of substantial value, and of a<br />
distinctly cultivated kind. The author has<br />
been at great pains to make his treatment of<br />
his subject appeal to those to whom it may be<br />
new, and has been in this respect completely<br />
successful, but he has, at the same time, had<br />
the courage to treat his subject as it ought to<br />
be treated, and we may say frankly that new<br />
hope for the English reader has been inspired<br />
into us by the revelation that a book about<br />
words (of strictly philological value) can so<br />
readily find itself a market. The experienced<br />
philologist will not expect to mect here any-<br />
thing that is new to him. What are to him<br />
familiar words, familiar ‘‘ laws,” and familiar<br />
phenomena occur on every page; but he will<br />
be none the less delighted to think that an<br />
author has had the courage, and the ability,<br />
so to handle the history of words as to make“it<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* «The Romance of Words,” London. Murray.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
popular. To all who are not philologists the<br />
book will prove full of novelties, and must<br />
be recommended as one of the very best of<br />
its kind. The various phenomena of word-<br />
wanderings, word-manufacture, and so forth,<br />
are explained in ‘several chapters, amongst<br />
which by no means the least interesting will<br />
be found to be the chapters on “ Semanties,”’<br />
though the name may seem a strange one, and<br />
that on Family names. The introduction of<br />
a chapter on semantics is particularly laudable,<br />
as the subject is of primary importance, and<br />
in all teaching of languages generally over-<br />
looked. In conclusion, amongst the many<br />
merits of the book, must be mentioned this<br />
one, that it lends itself readily to perusal in<br />
odd moments, whilst no one can scan a page<br />
<br />
of it without becoming better acquainted with<br />
his own language.<br />
<br />
————p---~«e<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
BOOK-PRICES CURRENT,*<br />
<br />
——<br />
<br />
Ne T., II. and III. of Book-Prices<br />
7 | Current for 1913 are lying before us.<br />
It is unnecessary to say that the pub-<br />
lication maintains its high level of accuracy<br />
and interest ; but most necessary to add that<br />
no notice of the publication can convey an<br />
adequate idea of the amount of valuable<br />
information and the mass of interesting<br />
matter to be discovered in these volumes.<br />
Our practice has been always to select for<br />
notice some of the more striking “lots,”<br />
or such as seem most likely to be of more<br />
immediate interest to authors; but this<br />
amounts to merely skimming over the surface<br />
of the subject, and looking out for what may<br />
be of general interest, whilst the publication<br />
is one that appeals essentially to individual<br />
tastes. The book lover is very seldom bent<br />
upon hearing of what is popular alone; he has<br />
his own tastes and his own interests, often of a<br />
very special and uncommon kind, and it is<br />
these that he will find gratified if he will<br />
for himself peruse the pages of Book-Prices<br />
Current, where the enormous diversity of the<br />
entries provides matter of the greatest interest<br />
for every serious bookman whatsoever his<br />
speciality may be.<br />
Numbers IL., II. and III. for 1913 contain<br />
records of the book sales for October 8, 1912,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* A bi-monthly record of the prices at which books<br />
have been sold at auction. Vol. XXVII. » London:<br />
Elliot Stock. 1913.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
of<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 29<br />
<br />
to March 13, 1913. At the sale of a selection<br />
from the libraries of Mr. S. R. Crockett and<br />
Mr. G. E. Cower (Sotheby), first editions of<br />
Borrow’s works fetched prices running as high<br />
as £125 (‘The Zincali”’). In the same sale<br />
was offered Lewis’ ‘“‘ Tales of Wonder,” 1801,<br />
containing the first poems published by Sir<br />
Walter Scott (12s.). Lady Napier’s library,<br />
sold on November 11, 12, 18 (Sotheby), con-<br />
tained, among a number of interesting lots,<br />
twenty-eight different works (art books and<br />
others) by Stirling Maxwell, among which were<br />
many privately printed or presentation copies.<br />
In a miscellaneous sale (Sotheby, November 20,<br />
21) “ Poliphili Hypnerotomachia,” 1499, sold<br />
for £111. A few days later the same salesman<br />
sold the “* Kelmscott Chawcer,’’ 1896, for £61.<br />
The library of Mr. H. J. Adams, of Enfield<br />
(Sotheby, December 2, 3, 4), exhibited a highly<br />
interesting collection of works on_ natural<br />
history. On December 16 Christie sold a first<br />
edition of Charlotte Bronté’s ‘‘ Jane Eyre ”’ for<br />
£27. Another particularly interesting collec-<br />
tion of books was that of Mr. H. Clutton<br />
(Puttick, December 17). It comprised a<br />
number of first and rare editions of Dickens,<br />
and the first English translation of ‘ Don<br />
Quixote,” by Thomas Shelton; the latter<br />
fetched £300. In a “Miscellaneous Collec-<br />
tion” sold by Sotheby on December 20, were<br />
included the rare second edition of ‘‘ Othello,”<br />
1630 (£85), and Lord Byron’s “ Fugitive<br />
Pieces,” 1806. Of this work only three other<br />
copies (one of them imperfect) are known, and<br />
the present copy must have been one of the<br />
earliest printed, for it contains words that have<br />
been altered in the others; it sold for £445.<br />
This high price was exceeded by that paid for<br />
the first edition of Walton’s ‘‘ Compleat<br />
Angler,” 1635 (£500). Original drawings by<br />
various artists for ‘‘ Nicholas Nickleby,”<br />
“Old Curiosity Shop,” “‘ Our Mutual Friend,”<br />
were sold by Puttick (January 23, 24, 1913) for<br />
prices ranging from £4 15s. to £21. On<br />
February 13 the same firm sold other original<br />
drawings for the ‘“ Household Edition” of<br />
“Old Curiosity Shop,” ‘‘ Our Mutual Friend,”<br />
and “ Little Dorrit,’ at prices ranging from<br />
£1 7s. 6d. to £9 10s. On February 11 and the<br />
following days the very remarkable library of<br />
Mr. M. G. Dunn was sold (Sotheby), consisting<br />
of 684 lots of early manuscripts, incunabula,<br />
and old bindings. Here we can only regret<br />
that space does not permit of our quoting many<br />
of the entries at full length. On February 24<br />
Messrs. Sotheby sold a large collection of books<br />
illustrating British and foreign military cos-<br />
tumes formed by Mr. S. M. Milne. The collec-<br />
<br />
tion sold for £2,759 14s. 6d. Another collection<br />
abounding in interesting books was a miscel-<br />
laneous collection sold by Messrs. Sotheby,<br />
March 5, 6, 7. Among them is the very<br />
noticeable entry, ‘‘ Erasmus Alphabetum<br />
Hebraicum et Grecum. Gaza (Theodore) de<br />
lingue Greece institutione liber secundus<br />
Erasmo Roterodami interprete,”’ 1518; a<br />
work that is apparently hitherto unknown.<br />
From the prices paid at various sales it is<br />
evident that among the works of recent authors<br />
first editions of books by Kate Greenaway,<br />
Andrew Lang, R. L. Stevenson, and Oscar<br />
Wilde, are much sought for and command high<br />
prices. The owners of such works should<br />
treasure them, as they are certainly valuable.<br />
Here, however, it may be added that Book-<br />
Prices Current is the only work from which<br />
any man can learn which of his books are<br />
valuable and which are not, and what is the<br />
actual value of those which are precious.<br />
Prices vary capriciously, and reliance can be<br />
placed only on this record, which is carefully<br />
brought up to date.<br />
<br />
———__+-—.—_ ——_<br />
<br />
THE STAGE CENSOR.*<br />
<br />
a<br />
<br />
" ESSRS. FOWELL AND PALMER have<br />
7 produced a book which is at once<br />
<br />
entertaining and instructive. With<br />
the entertaining side of it we are not concerned<br />
here. Of the instructive side we shall attempt<br />
to give an idea by sketching, after the picture<br />
drawn by our authors, the origin of the Stage<br />
Censor. (Although the book is called simply<br />
“Censorship in England,” it deals only with<br />
the stage censorship.) We shall not follow<br />
the story down to the present day, but stop<br />
short when the historical merges into the<br />
modern and controversial.<br />
<br />
The Censor of Plays is a descendant of the<br />
old Lords of Misrule, who figured prominently<br />
in the Christmas festivities of medizeval times,<br />
both at Court and in the houses of the nobility.<br />
The earliest reference which can be traced to<br />
such a personage under the title of ‘** Master<br />
of the Revels ” isin a document of Edward III.,<br />
dated 1347. Such a title did not at first imply<br />
permanence of office. In an account written<br />
in Elizabeth’s reign we read as follows: ‘* The<br />
Office of the Revels, as it shoulde seeme by<br />
reporte, hath in tymes past bene in that order<br />
that the prince beinge disposed to pastyme<br />
woulde at one tyme appoynte one persone, at<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
* “Censorship in England,” by Frank Fowell and Frank<br />
Palmer. London: Frank Palmer.<br />
30<br />
<br />
sometyme an other, suche as for creditte,<br />
pleasaunte witte, and habilitye in learnynge<br />
he thought meete to be the master of the<br />
Revelles for that tyme, to sett fourthe suche<br />
devises as might be most agreable to the<br />
princes expectacion.”’ Since, however, people<br />
as eminent as the Earl of Essex acted as<br />
superintendent of the revels, we may, as<br />
Messrs. Fowell and Palmer say, be sure that<br />
it was not long before a minor, and possibly<br />
permanent, official was appointed by the<br />
superintendent, ‘‘ bothe to his own ease and<br />
the prince’s good service’; and, as the work<br />
of the office increased, several subordinate<br />
posts were created. The love of the Court<br />
for masquing provided the Master and his<br />
assistants with a good deal of drudgery, for<br />
““masks, dresses, stuffs, and ornaments had<br />
to be obtained, architects, builders, carpenters,<br />
tailors, and embroiderers to be engaged, and<br />
the actual performances chosen and_ piloted<br />
to an acceptable conclusion.”” So far we can<br />
scarcely discern the germ of the censor.<br />
With the appointment in 1544 of Sir Thomas<br />
Cawarden as Master, the office became more<br />
important. Cawarden was appointed for life,<br />
his patent styling him Magister Iocorum<br />
Revelorum et Mascorum-omnium et singularium<br />
nostrorum vulgariter nuncupatorum Revells and<br />
Masks. His jurisdiction did not extend<br />
beyond the Court, though he tried to stretch<br />
his powers, and the terms of the patent (which<br />
were adopted as a model) were interpreted by<br />
one of his successors, Sir Henry Herbert,<br />
Master from 1623 to 1642 and from 1660 to<br />
1663, as giving him a licensing authority over<br />
shows and performances generally. Both under<br />
Mary and under Elizabeth proclamations had<br />
been issued against the too great freedom of<br />
the stage, but the Revels office had not been<br />
specially associated with such action. The<br />
Masters exercised their selective and censorial<br />
rights with regard to entertainments pre-<br />
sented to the Sovereign. In 1574, however,<br />
a definite extension of authority was made<br />
necessary, when Elizabeth granted a patent<br />
to the Earl of Leicester’s players to act in all<br />
towns of the realm without molestation from<br />
the local magistrates. As a check on possible<br />
abuse of this privilege, the players were to have<br />
their plays “ seen and allowed ”’ by the Master<br />
of the Revels. Tilney, who became Master in<br />
1579, seems to have given similar licences to<br />
other companies, but thereby brought himself<br />
into conflict with the Lord Mayor of London,<br />
who claimed, and indeed exercised, a censorial<br />
power within the City limits. So arose “a<br />
struggle between the Court and the representa-<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. :<br />
<br />
tives of the people for the control of the<br />
popular stage.”<br />
<br />
In this struggle the Court prevailed. A<br />
commission was appointed in 1589, the Arch-<br />
bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Mayor<br />
-being asked to nominate a representative each<br />
to act with Tilney. Before these three all<br />
companies of players were compelled to come<br />
and submit their books. The result was to<br />
make Tilney Licenser of Plays, his two co-<br />
adjutors soon ceasing to take an active share<br />
in the work. His successor, Sir George Buck,<br />
continued the process of magnifying the office,<br />
beginning tentatively to issue licences for the<br />
printing of plays in 1606. But it was Sir<br />
Henry Herbert who saw the real possibilities<br />
of the job. Acquiring the Mastership by<br />
purchase in 1623, he determined to interpret<br />
the vague wording of the Cawarden patent to<br />
the utmost personal advantage. He began to<br />
claim the right to license every form of public<br />
show or performance, including ‘‘ two droma-<br />
daries,” ‘‘a show of pictures in wax,” “a<br />
musical organ with divers motions in it,” ete.,<br />
etc. He raised the fee for reading a play, once<br />
only 7s. per play, to £1 and sometimes £2.<br />
That this was a reading, not a licensing, fee is<br />
shown by an entry made by Herbert himself<br />
in his diary : ‘‘ Received from Kirke for a new<br />
play which I burnte for the ribaldry and offence<br />
that was in it, £2.” He revived Buck’s plan<br />
for printing licences ; and in every way grasped<br />
at what money could be made out of authors<br />
and actors, so that previously to the Civil War<br />
his income as Master was £4,000 a year. He<br />
bought the office, we may add, for £150 a year.<br />
<br />
After the Restoration, Herbert only<br />
nominally resumed his old position. The<br />
practical control of the stage passed by Royal<br />
warrant to Sir William Davenant and Tom<br />
Killigrew. Herbert fought against this usurpa-<br />
tion, as it seemed to him, for a time, but finally<br />
compounded with Killigrew and in 1663<br />
abandoned his office to deputies of no import-<br />
ance. When he died, ten years later, Killigrew<br />
became Master of the Revels—‘ though it is<br />
doubtful if his authority was in any way<br />
increased by the appointment ’’—and_ con-<br />
tinued in the post till his own death in 1683,<br />
exercising his duties with extraordinary laxity.<br />
His son Charles succeeded him, and under<br />
William and Mary was obliged to be a very<br />
different kind of Censor. It was the era of<br />
Jeremy Collier’s “Short View of the Profane-<br />
ness and Immorality of the English Stage”;<br />
and the rake Tom Killigrew’s son “ assisted<br />
the reforming movement with embarrassing<br />
<br />
energy,’ indeed with oppressive austerity.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. 31<br />
<br />
On his death in 1725 he was succeeded by<br />
Charles Henry Lee, who “during nineteen<br />
years exercised such authority as was not<br />
opposed, and received such fees as were<br />
willingly paid.” The tendency was for the<br />
authority 1 in connection with the general con-<br />
trol of the theatre to revert to the Lord<br />
Chamberlain (who was all along the real power<br />
behind the Censor), and the Revels Office was<br />
discredited. The last Master seems to have<br />
been Lee’s successor, Solomon Dayrolle; but<br />
in 1737 the ancient jurisdiction of the office<br />
was transferred to a legally appointed Stage<br />
Licenser—who, by the Theatres Act of 2<br />
George II., was ““the Lord Chamberlain of<br />
the King’s household for the time being.”<br />
<br />
The Duke of Grafton was Lord nee<br />
at the time, and he, in February, 1738,<br />
appointed W illiam Chetwynd as eae of<br />
the Stage, with a salary of £400 a year, and<br />
with a ‘deputy to assist him at £200 a year.<br />
And so, through Larpent, Colman, Charles<br />
Kemble, J. M. Kemble, Donne, Piggott, and<br />
G. A. Redford, we arrive to-day at the<br />
censorship of Charles Brookfield.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
+8<br />
++<br />
<br />
CORRESPONDENCE.<br />
<br />
— +<br />
AUTHORS AND AGENTS.<br />
I.<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. WEtts,—I write to say that after<br />
thirty years of authorship, I find myself in<br />
agreement with you, rather than with Mr.<br />
Bennett, on the subject of the likely agent.<br />
<br />
I have never employed but one, once, and I<br />
think I could show that I have not lost by<br />
doing my business myself.<br />
<br />
The essential informity of the position of the<br />
agent as the representative of the author, is<br />
admirably shown in the paragraph of your<br />
Jetter in The Author, beginning, ‘“ Also let me<br />
assure the beginner.”<br />
<br />
It is the beginner who does not (perhaps may<br />
not) see that it is the necessity “ for keeping<br />
in’’ with the publishers, which makes the<br />
agent indifferent as to whose 19 per cent. he<br />
takes, except when the capital sum is going to<br />
be a large one, and then it is the beginner who<br />
suffers. If an author could have an agent<br />
entirely to himself, the situation would be<br />
quite different.<br />
<br />
My experience (on the whole) has been, that<br />
the agent is apt to become the servant of the<br />
other man, though he is paid by you—and that<br />
he is not generally of much use to you until<br />
you can do without him.<br />
<br />
At the same time I was well served by my<br />
one agent in my single transaction, and have<br />
on two occasions been truly well served by a<br />
dramatic agent.<br />
<br />
With kind regards,<br />
Hau Carne.<br />
<br />
P.S.—I can, however, very easily talk of<br />
circumstances in which an intermediary may<br />
do better for a man than he can do for himself.<br />
But the handing of yourself over, body and<br />
bones, in all the literary affairs of life, seems<br />
to me, with all respects for Mr. B.’s opinion, a<br />
childish absurdity.<br />
<br />
[We have much pleasure, with Mr. Hall<br />
Caine’s consent, in printing the above letter,<br />
in continuance of the correspondence that<br />
appeared in the July issue.—Ep1rTor. |<br />
<br />
at<br />
<br />
IL,<br />
<br />
Sir,—Since the stars of the first magnitude<br />
in the literary firmament have had their say,<br />
the views of one that is scarcely visible may<br />
be of interest.<br />
<br />
Before I was so fortunate as to get into the<br />
hands of one of the leading, if not the leading,<br />
agents, I did my own business, and was<br />
hundreds of pounds out of pocket thereby ;<br />
indeed, I have paid somewhat heavily to buy<br />
back rights I should never have signed away.<br />
Since that time, my income has trebled, and<br />
all business worries have been lifted from my<br />
shoulders.<br />
<br />
And this is the experience of most authors I<br />
have spoken with who are in the hands of good<br />
agents.<br />
<br />
Quite as a matter of curiosity, it would be<br />
interesting to know which of Mr. Wells’ books<br />
was mishandled by an agent and valuable<br />
rights parted with.<br />
<br />
Yours, etc.,<br />
<br />
Horace W. C. NEwrtme.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
UNREVIEWED Books.<br />
<br />
Dear S1r,—Mr. Herbert Jenkins takes up<br />
the cudgels so valiantly for ‘ distressed<br />
literary editors”? that one would almost<br />
imagine him more at home in the editorial<br />
office of a popular daily than on the turf—as<br />
his closing paragraph implies! I do not think<br />
that literary editors have so hy been very<br />
mercilessly attacked in The Author, but<br />
perhaps Mr. Jenkins feels himself vulnerable<br />
in this matter and has haunting visions of piles<br />
of neglected and unreviewed books—for I<br />
prefer to look upon him as a littérateur (in spite<br />
32<br />
<br />
of his letter) and not as a “‘ bookie”! But, to<br />
be serious, I don’t think his letter throws much<br />
light on the vexed question, and I consider a<br />
great deal of what he says is beside the mark<br />
altogether. I like to think that literary<br />
editors are guided by principles of sanity,<br />
commonsense, and justice, and Mr. Jenkins’<br />
remarks anent such incline one to infer that<br />
those he alludes to are hardly qualified for their<br />
responsible posts. But there are literary<br />
editors and literary editors, and the class<br />
that would be demoralised, and sit agape<br />
when confronted with problematical ‘‘ Golden<br />
Agates ’? by obscure authors, are outside the<br />
ale.<br />
<br />
Editors have their rules, customs, and prece-<br />
dents, but the question is whether some of<br />
these cannot be improved upon. But so many<br />
aspects of the subject of reviews of books have<br />
been already dealt with in The Author that I<br />
suppose it leaves nothing fresh to Mr. Jenkins<br />
to suggest, or he would point out a satisfactory<br />
solution. I do not see why literary editors<br />
should be singled out from among all members<br />
of the human race for special care and con-<br />
sideration; if they do their work conscientiously<br />
and methodically, why in the name of all that’s<br />
wonderful cannot they deal seriatim, day by<br />
day, in a businesslike spirit, with their share<br />
of the 18,000 books—a matter that comes<br />
within their province? If the staff, or the<br />
auciliary staff, is not adequate, the sooner<br />
things are readjusted the better. Surely, if<br />
13,000 books are published, a publisher has to<br />
deal annually with a very large percentage of<br />
a much bigger number of MSS. ? and publishers<br />
either publish, or return unavailable manu-<br />
scripts at their own expense. The “ sorting out<br />
of ten thousand lots of stamps ”’ is too trivial<br />
a point to dwell on, though it suggests straining<br />
at a gnat and swallowing a camel !—for,<br />
somebody’s conscience is elastic over the<br />
volumes which have been perverted to some<br />
mythical, though no doubt praiseworthy,<br />
purpose ! It is refreshing to be told that books<br />
sent in are acknowledged under the heading of<br />
“Books Received,” but Mr. Jenkins should<br />
not take ‘‘ Reviews” too seriously, and<br />
imagine that in all cases they are inspired ;<br />
neither should he confound a few inches of<br />
space in a periodical with the winning post at<br />
Epsom! for there are other tests, and if a<br />
book is temporarily disqualified by non-<br />
recognition in a certain number, or section of<br />
august journals, it may yet win in the race of<br />
Time. :<br />
<br />
Yours faithfully,<br />
F. R. M. Furspon.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
Epirors AND THEIR CONTRIBUTORS.<br />
<br />
Str,—Is there no unwritten law, no code of<br />
manners for editors with regard to their<br />
treatment of manuscripts? Have they no<br />
rules for, no authority over the menials to<br />
whom they entrust the task of returning the<br />
work they cannot or will not use? These<br />
emphatic queries have been engendered in me<br />
by receiving in a torn, soiled, or disfigured<br />
condition many a manuscript I had sent out<br />
in an immaculate state. Sometimes when<br />
the manuscript is too thick, it escapes the<br />
maltreatment of being folded in new places,<br />
but almost invariably when a thin new<br />
manuscript of one or two pages, all crisp and<br />
clean, is submitted, it is returned (when not<br />
accepted) in a crumpled condition and folded,<br />
with malice prepense, into a new shape. This<br />
occurs even when envelopes of the proper size<br />
are enclosed. What diabolical wantonness<br />
actuates the office factotum needlessly to<br />
fold an innocent manuscript into new and tell-<br />
tale creases—thus ruining or debasing the<br />
copy for use elsewhere—is beyond me.<br />
<br />
Perhaps an author’s black list might do<br />
something towards enforcing the rules of the<br />
game ?<br />
<br />
Editors have a certain right to refuse to<br />
consider or read manuscripts, but in the light of<br />
modern journalism and fair play they have no<br />
right to damage, destroy, or confiscate the<br />
property of others.<br />
<br />
Another rank abuse which cries aloud for<br />
regulation is the interminable length of time<br />
a manuscript is sometimes retained before<br />
publication. One of my own was held over<br />
for more than six years. Then there are the<br />
pericdicals which keep the author waiting for<br />
weeks and months after publication ere they<br />
deign to send him payment.<br />
<br />
Lance-HEab.<br />
EEG<br />
REVIEWS IN FRANCE.<br />
<br />
Srr,—If any authors who read this care to<br />
receive notices of their books in La Nouvelle<br />
Revue, will they ask their publishers to send a<br />
review copy to the Editor, Monsieur Paul<br />
Louis Hervier, 23, Rue de Beaumont, Bourges.<br />
(Cher), France? He takes a great interest in<br />
English literature, and gives interesting and<br />
painstaking reviews. He cannot give space<br />
to novels, but welcomes all other kind of books.<br />
La Nouvelle Revue is one of the best known<br />
reviews in France.<br />
<br />
Yours truly,<br />
<br />
Paris, MauprE ANNESLEY.<br />
<br />
September 16. | https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/532/1913-10-01-The-Author-24-1.pdf | publications, The Author |