540 | https://historysoa.com/items/show/540 | The Author, Vol. 24 Issue 08 (May 1914) | <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+08+%28May+1914%29"><em>The Author</em>, Vol. 24 Issue 08 (May 1914)</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> | 1914-05-01-The-Author-24-8 | | | | | 207–232 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <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=1914-05-01">1914-05-01</a> | | | | | | | 8 | | | 19140501 | Che Autbor.<br />
<br />
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors.<br />
<br />
Monthly.)<br />
<br />
FOUNDED BY SIR WALTER BESANT.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Vor. XXIV.—No. 8.<br />
<br />
May 1, 1914.<br />
<br />
[PricE SIXPENCE.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
TELEPHONE NUMBER :<br />
874 VICTORIA.<br />
<br />
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS:<br />
AUTORIDAD, LONDON.<br />
<br />
———_—_—__+_—~¢<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
NOTICES.<br />
<br />
ae<br />
: 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 />
Tur 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 />
Author are cases that have come before the<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 />
<br />
<br />
ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS.<br />
<br />
Tur 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. S<br />
<br />
Communications and letters are invited by<br />
the Editor on all literary matters treated from<br />
<br />
Von. 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 />
Messrs. Matthews’ Advertising - Service,<br />
Staple Inn Buildings, High Holborn, W.C.,<br />
will act as agents for advertisements for<br />
“The Author.” All communications respect-<br />
ing advertisements should be addressed to<br />
<br />
em.<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 />
case. 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 />
ee<br />
<br />
THE SOCIETY’S FUNDS.<br />
<br />
— 1<br />
<br />
ROM time to time members of the Society<br />
K desire to make donations to its funds in<br />
recognition of work that has been done<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 rinciple, or in assisting to obtain<br />
copyright reform, or in dealing with any other<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
208<br />
<br />
matter closely connected with the work of the<br />
Society. :<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 />
—\_—_+—>—_—__—_—_-<br />
<br />
THE PENSION FUND.<br />
<br />
——<br />
<br />
N January, 1914, the sccretary of the<br />
I Society laid. before the trustees of the<br />
Pension Fund the accounts for the year<br />
1918, as settled by the accountants. After<br />
giving the matter full consideration, the<br />
trustees instructed the secretary to invest a<br />
sum of £350 in the purchase of Great Eastern<br />
Railway Ordinary Stock. The amount pur-<br />
chased has been added to the investments set<br />
out below.<br />
<br />
The trustees desire to thank the members of<br />
the Society for the continued support which<br />
they have given to the Pension Fund. They<br />
haveJgiven notice to the Pension Fund Com-<br />
mittee that there is sufficient money at their<br />
disposal to enable them to give another<br />
pension.<br />
<br />
The nominal value of the investments held<br />
on behalf of the Pension Fund now amounts<br />
to £5,419 6s., details of which are fully set out<br />
in the following schedule ;—<br />
<br />
Nominal Value.<br />
<br />
£ 8 a.<br />
Eocal Loans visi. eres ess 500 0 0<br />
Victoria Government 3% Consoli-<br />
<br />
dated Inscribed Stock ............ 291 19 11<br />
London and North Western 3%<br />
<br />
Debenture Stock ...............088 250 0 0<br />
Egyptian Government Irrigation<br />
<br />
Trust 4% Certificates............. 200 0 0<br />
Cape of Good Hope 34% Inscribed<br />
<br />
Stock we a oe 200 0 0<br />
Glasgow and South-Western Rail-<br />
<br />
way 4% Preference Stock ...... 228 0 O<br />
New Zealand 34% Stock .......... 247 9 6<br />
Irish Land 22% Guaranteed Stock 258 0 0<br />
Corporation of London 24%<br />
<br />
Stock, 1927—57 ..........0c0.000. . 488 2 4<br />
Jamaica 34% Stock, 1919—49 ... 182 18 6<br />
Mauritius 4% 1987 Stock ......... -° 120 12° 1<br />
Dominion of Canada, C.P.R. 34%<br />
<br />
Land Grant Stock, 1988 ......... 198 3 8<br />
Antofayasta and Bolivian Railway<br />
<br />
5% Preferred Stock ............... 237 0 0<br />
Central Argentine Railway Or-<br />
<br />
dinary Stock... es 232 0 0<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
Nominal Value.<br />
<br />
£ os. 4<br />
$2,000 Consolidated Gas and<br />
Electric Company of Baltimore<br />
<br />
44% Gold Bonds ...,...-0-0.s20- 400 0 0<br />
250 Edward Lloyd, Ltd., £1 5%<br />
<br />
Preference Shares ...........0..++ 250 0 0<br />
55 Buenos Ayres Great Southern<br />
Railway 4% Extension Shares,<br />
<br />
1914 (fully paid) ..............000. 550 0 0<br />
8 Central Argentine Railway £10<br />
<br />
Preference Shares, New Issue... 380 0 0O<br />
Great Eastern Railway Ordinary<br />
<br />
Stock so ccpecciocee hangin ee 655 0 0<br />
<br />
Total {cas . £5,419. 6 O<br />
—_——\_1——_o_—<br />
<br />
PENSION FUND.<br />
<br />
—+—<—+<br />
<br />
Tue list printed below includes all fresh dona-<br />
tions and subscriptions (7.¢e., donations and<br />
subscriptions not hitherto acknowledged)<br />
received by, or promised to, the fund from<br />
October, 1918.<br />
<br />
It does not include either donations given<br />
prior to October, nor does it include sub-<br />
scriptions paid in compliance with promises<br />
made before it.<br />
<br />
Subscriptions.<br />
1918.<br />
<br />
Oct. 8, Rees, Miss Rosemary<br />
Oct. 8, Pearce, J. : : :<br />
Oct. 9, Drummond, Miss Florence<br />
Oct. 9, Rumbold, Hugo<br />
Oct. 18, Knowles, Miss<br />
Oct. 20, Collison, Harry :<br />
Oct. 21, Buchanan, Miss Meriel<br />
Oct. 25, Baker, E. A. .<br />
Nov. 6, Bentley, E. C. :<br />
Nov. 6, Petersen, Miss Margaret<br />
Nov. 7, Lang, Mrs. John<br />
Nov. 19, Langferte, Raymond<br />
Nov. 24, Webb, W. Trego<br />
Nov. 24, Mackenzie, Compton<br />
Dee. 4, Vansittart, Robert<br />
Dec. 4, Lunn, Arnold . ‘<br />
Dec. 4, Stewart, Miss Marie .<br />
Dec. 4, Berry,. Miss Ana<br />
Dec. 4, Vallois, Miss Grace . :<br />
Dec. 17, Beresford, J.D. . ‘<br />
Dec. 29, Inge, Charles . j<br />
Dec. 29, Cross, Miss May. ‘<br />
Dec. 29, Hardy, Thomas, O.M. ,<br />
<br />
_<br />
<br />
_<br />
<br />
a<br />
NASCSCAAMMANMOOAAAAAAAHEaAoaanse<br />
<br />
wWwoococoooo oH COSC SCOOCOHSCOSCOSOOnm<br />
Soacccoascoscocoocooocoscoceoo<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.] THE<br />
<br />
1914.<br />
Jan. 7, Ford, Miss May<br />
Jan. 7, Sephton, J.<br />
<br />
Jan. 16, Singer, I. :<br />
Jan. 16, Cooke, Arthur O.<br />
Jan. 23, Exley, Miss M. :<br />
Jan. 26, Sarawak, The Ranee of<br />
Mar. 11, Dowson, Oscar F.<br />
April 8, Stoeving, Paul ;<br />
April 14, Buckle, Gerard, F.<br />
April 14, Grattan, Harry.<br />
April 17, Rubenstein, H. Eo.<br />
April 20, Anon. . ‘<br />
<br />
1913, Donations.<br />
Oct. 7, Darwin, Sir Francis . ;<br />
Oct. 9, Carroll, Sydney Wentworth<br />
Oct. 21, Troubetzkoy, The Princess<br />
Oct. 27, Frankish, Harold :<br />
Oct. 30, Rosman, Miss Alice Grant<br />
Nov. 3, Holland, Theodore<br />
Nov. 3, Steane, Bruce ;<br />
Nov. 3, Batty, Mrs. Braithwaite<br />
Nov. 10, Elrington, Miss Helen<br />
Nov. 10, Waterbury, Mrs. . ‘<br />
Dec. 5, Dymock, R. G. Vaughton .<br />
Dec. 6, Macdonald, Miss Julia<br />
Dee. 11, Little, Mrs. Archibald<br />
Dec. 11, Topham, Miss Ann .<br />
<br />
Dec. 20, Edwards, Percy J. .<br />
<br />
Dec. 21, Keating, J. Lloyd<br />
<br />
1914.<br />
<br />
Jan. 8, Church, Sir Arthur<br />
<br />
Jan. 5, Anon : ‘<br />
<br />
Jan. 5, Joseph, L. :<br />
<br />
Jan. 5, Swan, Miss Myra<br />
<br />
Jan. 5, Vernede, R. E.<br />
<br />
Jan. 6, De Crespigny, Mrs. Champion<br />
<br />
Jan. 6, Rankin, Miss F. M. .-<br />
<br />
Jan. 7, Sneyd-Kynnesley, E. M.<br />
Jan. 7, Lathbury, Miss Eva .<br />
<br />
Jan. 7, Toplis, Miss Grace<br />
<br />
Jan. 8, Palmer, G. Molyneaux<br />
Jan. 9, Mackenzie, Miss J. :<br />
Jan. 10, Daniell, Mrs. E. H. . ‘<br />
Jan. 12, Avery, Harold ‘<br />
Jan. 12, Douglas, Mrs. F. A.<br />
<br />
Jan. 15, Pullein, Miss Catherine<br />
Jan. 15, Thomas, Mrs. Fanny<br />
<br />
Jan. 16, James, Mrs. Romane<br />
<br />
Jan. 19, P. H. and M. K.<br />
<br />
Jan. 19, Greenstreet, W. J. .-<br />
<br />
Jan. 19, Gibbs, F. Leonard A.<br />
Jan. 23, Campbell, Mrs. L. A BR. .<br />
Jan. 28, Cameron, Mrs. Charlotte,<br />
a F.R.GS. . ;<br />
Jan. 28, Blunt, Reginald.<br />
<br />
Jan. 24, Raphael, Mrs. Mary.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
UTHOR.<br />
<br />
aH<br />
<br />
w<br />
OO Oo ore Or or or Or Ors<br />
<br />
seeooeooeoocoooos,<br />
et<br />
<br />
eccooooron<br />
et<br />
eooo<br />
<br />
_<br />
or or Or O Or et et Or dO Or Or Or<br />
<br />
ro<br />
<br />
oo os Ore Oo<br />
coococooooaaoocoooens<br />
<br />
_<br />
S<br />
<br />
coomoocooocoosooooeoeooooooor<br />
—_ et<br />
<br />
et<br />
MANMOOSCHUBMDAMOUCBONACH<br />
<br />
_<br />
<br />
_<br />
<br />
ore COoOnwngn So<br />
ooo eceococooooaocooaoocoooooaaceo<br />
<br />
ore<br />
_<br />
<br />
209<br />
<br />
Jan. 25, Plouman, Miss Mary<br />
<br />
Jan. 30, Gibson, Miss L. S. .<br />
<br />
Feb. 5, Brooker, Lt.-Col. E. P.<br />
<br />
Feb. 6, Buchrose, J. E.<br />
<br />
Feb. 7, Smith, Herbert W.<br />
<br />
Feb. 20, Eden Guy : ‘ :<br />
<br />
Feb. 21, Mayne, Miss Ethel Col-<br />
bourn : :<br />
<br />
Feb. 21, K. ; : :<br />
<br />
Feb. 25, Aspinall, Algernon E.<br />
<br />
Mar. 2, Dalziell, J. j<br />
<br />
Mar. 2, S. F. G. . :<br />
<br />
Mar. 5, Saies, Mrs. F. H. ;<br />
<br />
Mar. 5, Thorne, Mrs. Isabel .<br />
<br />
Mar. 5, Haviland, Miss M. D. :<br />
<br />
Mar. 5, Todd, Miss Margaret, M.D.<br />
<br />
Mar. 13, Cabourn, John :<br />
<br />
Mar. 20, Fenwick Miss S. F. . :<br />
<br />
Mar. 26, Prendergast, Mrs. J. W. .«<br />
<br />
—______+—_+<br />
<br />
COMMITTEE NOTES.<br />
——<br />
HE April meeting of the committee was<br />
Si held on Monday, April 6, at the offices<br />
of the Society, 1, Central Buildings,<br />
Tothill Street, Westminster.<br />
<br />
After the minutes of the previous meeting<br />
had been read and signed, the committee<br />
proceeded with the election of members.<br />
Forty members and associates were elected,<br />
bringing the total for the current year up to<br />
135. The total number of resignations amounts<br />
to sixty-seven. The committee consider they<br />
may congratulate the Society on so large an<br />
election.<br />
<br />
The cases were next laid before the com-<br />
mittee. The solicitor attended and made a<br />
report. :<br />
<br />
ie an action for non-publication, authorised<br />
by the committee at their last meeting,<br />
the solicitor was glad to report that the<br />
defendant, through his solicitor, was coming<br />
to a settlement, and hoped that the matter<br />
would shortly be adjusted. He next reported<br />
the conclusion of the case of Raleigh v. The<br />
Kinematograph Trading Co., and that an<br />
injunction had been obtained as well as<br />
payment towards the costs. In a case 0<br />
account the matter had_ been settled me<br />
factorily, the author having Seccgtiea :<br />
payment of the amount due. In a a<br />
arising out of accounts and monies au: on. Wk<br />
reproduction of a. cinematograph fi ae he<br />
solicitor reported that the statement £ ve<br />
had been delivered. He also reportec t . a<br />
writ had been issued against a publisher for.<br />
<br />
SOHrHoeo,<br />
—_<br />
<br />
eocorocoocornNwrcoco<br />
ee<br />
<br />
none aon &<br />
<br />
Cacscoa®<br />
<br />
—<br />
oOo ONE DOO oO<br />
aoegocooocoece<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
210<br />
<br />
money due on accounts, but only part of the<br />
sum due had been paid. A question of literary<br />
libel, which originating in the United States<br />
had taken place also in Great Britain, the<br />
solicitor reported had been settled, so far as<br />
the publication in this country was concerned,<br />
by the payment by the defendants of a sum<br />
in damages and costs, and by an undertaking<br />
to publish an apology if desired.<br />
<br />
In regard to the same issue in the United<br />
States the secretary reported that a letter<br />
had been received, and that he hoped to have<br />
further information to report to the next<br />
meeting. The committee sanctioned the<br />
placing of the matter in the hands of the<br />
Society’s United States lawyers if no satis-<br />
factory arrangement could be reached.<br />
<br />
In a ease of breach of agreement for the<br />
production of a play a writ had been issued,<br />
and the defendant had come forward with a<br />
proposal for settlement. It was hoped that<br />
the matter would be arranged amicably before<br />
the next meeting. The solicitors reported<br />
that in one of two small county court cases<br />
judgment had been signed and execution<br />
issued, and in the second the amount had been<br />
recovered with costs, and that in two other<br />
county court cases proceedings were being<br />
taken in the usual way.<br />
<br />
Another question of infringement of title<br />
by a film production, and possibly of infringe-<br />
ment of copyright, was considered. The<br />
solicitor reported he had gone carefully into<br />
the matter, and thought it was impossible,<br />
as far as the infringement of title was con-<br />
cerned, to take action until the film had<br />
actually been performed. On the question<br />
of the copyright infrimgement the solicitor<br />
had written to the author’s agent for further<br />
information, and was now awaiting his reply.<br />
‘Two counsel’s opinions had been taken on the<br />
instructions of the committee, (1) dealing<br />
with the question of mechanical rights in<br />
cases where the composer had made an assign-<br />
ment before the new Act came into force;<br />
and (2) in regard to the publication of a whole<br />
novel in one issue of a magazine. The<br />
opinions will be filed for reference.<br />
<br />
A question was put forward of alleged<br />
infringement of an author’s play by a play<br />
now running in London. The committee<br />
decided to obtain some competent witness to<br />
attend a performance of the alleged infringing<br />
play and to report to them as to the question<br />
at issue.<br />
<br />
The secretary then dealt with other cases<br />
on his list.<br />
<br />
The committee decided, in the case of a<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
publisher against whom the Society had five<br />
or six claims, to transfer the papers to the<br />
solicitors that they might deal with the issues.<br />
A small case against a publisher for non-<br />
delivery of account was, with the committee’s<br />
sanction, placed also in their hands.<br />
<br />
A question was raised by a member in respect<br />
to an endorsement on the back of a cheque<br />
which had been sent to him in payment for<br />
contributions, such endorsement purporting<br />
to be a conveyance of the copyright. The<br />
matter was seriously discussed, and one of<br />
the members of the committee undertook to<br />
see the editor of the paper on the point. A<br />
claim arising from non-payment of an article<br />
in a United States magazine was referred to<br />
the committee, who authorised the placing of<br />
the case in the hands of the Society’s American<br />
lawyers.<br />
<br />
The committee discussed and arranged for<br />
the settlement of a case in Germany where<br />
the Society had obtained judgment, and was<br />
unable, at present, to obtain satisfaction<br />
owing to the defendant’s inability to pay the<br />
whole amount at one time. In a case of<br />
dispute between an author and the editor of<br />
a series, the committee decided to write to<br />
the editor for an explanation, and lastly it was<br />
decided to place a claim for money due to<br />
one of the members in the hands of the Society’s<br />
solicitors.<br />
<br />
The committee then considered a statement<br />
laid before them by a member regarding an<br />
alleged infringement of ideas, and the secretary<br />
was instructed to write to the member. Ina<br />
small claim for money alleged to be due the<br />
committee regretted they could not support the<br />
member, as there appeared to be no legal right<br />
which could be enforced.<br />
<br />
The secretary reported a case of mutilation<br />
of an author’s work by a magazine, and was in-<br />
structed to write to the editorforan explanation.<br />
<br />
The chairman then reported what had<br />
taken place at the Film Trade Conference,<br />
at which representatives of the manufacturers,<br />
exhibitors, renters and hirers of films, as well<br />
as theatrical managers, were present, and the<br />
committee decided to leave to the Dramatic<br />
Sub-Committee the appointment of delegates<br />
to serve on the Joint Board which it is proposed<br />
to form.<br />
<br />
In regard to the Society’s change of name,<br />
it was decided to spend £25 in advertising<br />
as soon as the legal formalities have been<br />
carried through.<br />
<br />
The committee regretted they were bound to<br />
decline a request made by the Society’s former<br />
advertising agents for an honorarium.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Re er Ne ree en ee RAO ae Se<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
Correspondence was laid before the com-<br />
mittee dealing with the question of the re-<br />
payment of subscriptions, but the committee<br />
regretted they were unable to accede to the<br />
request of the member concerned.<br />
<br />
The secretary placed before the committee<br />
a letter he had received from the American<br />
Authors’ League on the subject of the Presi-<br />
dent’s Proclamation in connection with the<br />
section of the British Act dealing with mechani-<br />
eal reproduction.<br />
<br />
The committee begged to thank Mr. Charles<br />
Garvice for a donation of £1 1s.<br />
<br />
eee<br />
Dramatic SuB-CoMMITTEE.<br />
<br />
Tue April meeting of the Dramatic Sub-<br />
Committee was held on Friday, the 24th of<br />
that month, at three o’clock After the<br />
signing of the minutes of the previous meeting<br />
and of the conference with the cinematograph<br />
trade, the formation of the Joint Board was<br />
fully discussed.<br />
<br />
The secretary reported that the following<br />
associations had already appointed delegates :—<br />
<br />
The Incorporated Society of Kinemato-<br />
graph Manufacturers.<br />
<br />
he Society of West End Theatre Managers.<br />
<br />
The Theatrical Managers’ Association.<br />
<br />
The Cinematograph Exhibitors’ Association<br />
of Great Britain and Ireland.<br />
<br />
The Touring Managers’ Association.<br />
<br />
Further, that he had not heard definitely<br />
from the Entertainments Protection Associa-<br />
tion and the Incorporated Association of Film<br />
Renters, as these two bodies were awaiting<br />
meetings of their respective committees. He<br />
hoped, however, to receive the names of their<br />
delegates in a few days. ?<br />
<br />
The next matter that arose was the appoint-<br />
ment of delegates from the Society of Authors.<br />
After considerable discussion, the following<br />
motion, proposed by Mr. Justin Huntly<br />
McCarthy, and seconded by Mr. Haddon<br />
Chambers, was passed unanimously :—<br />
<br />
“That the Authors’ Society be represented<br />
on the Joint Board by its Dramatic Sub-<br />
Committee.”<br />
<br />
It was decided to call a meeting of the<br />
Joint Board for Thursday, May 14, when the<br />
future working of the Board would be fully<br />
discussed. ;<br />
<br />
The secretary reported on the matter of the<br />
Managerial Treaty, that he had heard from<br />
Mr. Fladgate, who was acting as solicitor for<br />
the Society of West End Theatre Managers,<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. Olt<br />
<br />
that the matter had been further delayed<br />
owing to Mr. Gatti’s absence, but that he<br />
hoped to send a report in due course.<br />
<br />
Certain cases were then considered. The<br />
committee confirmed the action of the chair-<br />
man in a small case for the collection of a<br />
dramatist’s fees, and in a case of some import-<br />
ance for the collection of fees on cinemato-<br />
graph rights in America. It was decided to<br />
advise the committee of the Society to drop<br />
a small case of infringement of copyright in<br />
Canada, as the issues were exceedingly small<br />
and the expenses would be very heavy, as it<br />
would be necessary for a commission to be<br />
appointed to come to England in order to<br />
collect evidence. The secretary then reported<br />
that the solicitor’s opinion on a claim for<br />
alleged infringement of copyright put forward<br />
by a member was adverse to the claim, and the<br />
sub-committee decided that nothing further<br />
could be done.<br />
<br />
There was one case in which the French<br />
Society was involved, and the secretary was<br />
instructed to write to the secretary of the<br />
French Society on the matter.<br />
<br />
In regard to the copyrighting of a member’s<br />
work in Canada by Mr. Frohman, the secretary<br />
was instructed to write to Mr. Lestocq, Mr.<br />
Frohman’s London agent, for full particulars.<br />
<br />
7<br />
<br />
CONFERENCE FOR THE PROTECTION OF<br />
FILM PRODUCTION<br />
<br />
(CALLED By THE Dramatic SuB-CoMMITTEE),<br />
—_t-—— +<br />
<br />
CONFERENCE between the Dramatic<br />
Sub-Committee and representatives of<br />
the associations mentioned below was<br />
<br />
held on Friday, March 27, at three o’clock at<br />
the Society’s address.<br />
<br />
Touring Managers’ Association.—Messrs.<br />
H. Ralland and G. Carlton Wallace.<br />
Theatrical Managers’ Association.—Messrs.<br />
Walter Melville and Perey Hutchison.<br />
Incorporated Association of Kinematograph<br />
Manufacturers.—Messrs. H. A. Browne<br />
and J. F. Brocklies, and J. Brooke<br />
Wilkinson (Secretary). oS<br />
Cinematograph Eahibitors’ Association.—Mr.<br />
W. Fowler Pettie,<br />
Film Renters’ Association.—Mr. Cluett Lock.<br />
Mr. R. C. Carton, chairman of the Dramatic<br />
Sub-Committee, opened the proceedings by<br />
thanking the members of the various associa-<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
212<br />
<br />
tions for their presence, and placed before the<br />
meeting the following agenda :— |<br />
<br />
(1) To consider what joint actions should<br />
be taken to safeguard—<br />
<br />
(a) Titles.<br />
: (b) Subject-matter. :<br />
<br />
(2) The appointment of a Joint Board to<br />
protect the common interests of authors,<br />
manufacturers and the film trade generally.<br />
<br />
Mr. Carton quoted the case which had just<br />
been carried through, viz., “ Sealed Orders,”<br />
and read a letter he had received from<br />
Mr. Cecil Raleigh, who was, unfortunately,<br />
unable to attend.<br />
<br />
Considerable discussion followed on different<br />
points which were raised, viz., the protection<br />
of titles and of cinema property generally,<br />
the representatives of the Kinematograph<br />
Manufacturers’ Association being very strong<br />
on the point that legislation was necessary.<br />
<br />
Finally, the following resolution :-—<br />
<br />
“That the appointment of a Joint Board<br />
to protect the common interests of authors,<br />
film manufacturers, exhibitors, renters, thea-<br />
trical managers and the film trade generally<br />
would be to the advantage of all parties<br />
concerned,”<br />
<br />
proposed by Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy,<br />
and seconded by Mr. Haddon Chambers, was<br />
carried unanimously.<br />
<br />
The matter will be referred to the board of<br />
each association represented at the meeting,<br />
so that two delegates from each association<br />
may be appointed to sit on the Joint Board.<br />
<br />
It was decided also to ask the Society of<br />
West End Managers and the Music Halls’<br />
Association to appoint delegates also.<br />
<br />
a<br />
Cases.<br />
<br />
Durine the past month the secretary has<br />
handled fifteen cases. Five of these dealt with<br />
disputes on contracts. It is interesting to<br />
note that these cases are referred to the<br />
Society in larger numbers, and that the<br />
publishers or editors concerned are often<br />
willing to accept the informal arbitration of<br />
the secretary.<br />
<br />
Out of five, two have been satisfactorily<br />
settled, and three are still in the course of<br />
negotiation. Disputes of this kind generally<br />
involve a good deal of letter writing before<br />
they are concluded.<br />
<br />
There are three cases,where accounts have<br />
not been rendered. ‘Two had to be handed to<br />
the solicitors of the Society and are now<br />
finished. In the third case the accounts were<br />
rendered in due course.<br />
<br />
- There were three cases where MSS. had been<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
retained. In one instance the MS. has<br />
been recovered and forwarded to the member,<br />
and in the others the secretary is still waiting<br />
for a reply.<br />
<br />
In two cases of infringement of copyright,<br />
one lying in the United States is still in course<br />
of negotiation, and the other has been satis-<br />
factorily settled.<br />
<br />
In two claims for money, one in France has<br />
not yet been settled and the other has had to be<br />
handed over to the solicitors of the Society.<br />
This last is the case of a magazine against<br />
which the Society has had a fair number of<br />
claims. They have all been met in the end,<br />
but it is generally necessary that the solicitors<br />
should deal with the matter before a satis-<br />
factory result is obtained.<br />
<br />
Out of the total of fifteen cases, therefore,<br />
five have been successful, three have had to be<br />
handed to the solicitors, and two are out of<br />
England. :<br />
<br />
There are still a good many cases remaining<br />
over from last month. This is no doubt owing<br />
to the fact that little business has been done<br />
during the Easter holidays. There are two<br />
disputes on contracts. Of these one is in the<br />
United States, and will naturally take some<br />
time to settle. The second, having been<br />
referred to the committee, cannot be closed<br />
until after the committee meet in May.<br />
<br />
There are still four claims where the demand<br />
for the return of MSS. has not been complied<br />
with. It has often been pointed out in these<br />
columns that claims of this nature are difficult<br />
to deal with. In many cases it is only possible<br />
to bring the delinquent to book by continually<br />
reminding him by letter. As answers have<br />
been received from the retainers of the MSS.<br />
in all four cases, it is possible that they will<br />
terminate satisfactorily.<br />
<br />
There are two other matters still open, oné<br />
of infringement of copyright in the United<br />
States, which will be some time before it is<br />
settled, and a complicated dispute on accounts,<br />
which also will need further handling.<br />
<br />
te<br />
<br />
April Elections.<br />
<br />
Borthwick, Miss Jessica 22, The _ Bolton<br />
: Studio, Redcliffe<br />
Road, S.W.<br />
2, St. John’s Hill,<br />
Lewes, Sussex.<br />
cfo Sir C. R<br />
McGrigor, Bart. &<br />
Co., 25, Charles<br />
Street, S.W.<br />
<br />
Brown, Mrs. Frances<br />
<br />
Buckle, Gerard Fort .<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914]<br />
<br />
Campbell, Miss M. M.<br />
<br />
Chalmers, C. ,<br />
Chovil, A. Harold<br />
<br />
Clue, G. Leo<br />
<br />
Collins, Sewell<br />
Croysdale, Mrs. Agnes.<br />
<br />
Drummond, The Hon.<br />
Capt. Robert Charles<br />
<br />
Dunlop, Miss Jocelyn.<br />
<br />
Fairbridge, Miss<br />
Dorothea<br />
<br />
Farrer, Miss M. Bruce .<br />
<br />
Girdwood, John .<br />
<br />
Gordon, Miss Helen C..<br />
<br />
Grattan, Harry . :<br />
<br />
Green, Emanuel, F.S.A.,<br />
F.R.S.L.<br />
<br />
Haig, Elizabeth .<br />
<br />
Heape, Walter<br />
Inman, Arthur Conyers<br />
Leeney, G. H.<br />
Leeney, Harold,<br />
<br />
M.R.C.V.S.<br />
Lonsdale, Miss Eva<br />
<br />
MacMunn, Lt.-Col.<br />
G. F., D.S.O., R.L.F.<br />
<br />
a eens, Stephen<br />
<br />
M.<br />
<br />
Moore, William . .<br />
Morgan, Mrs. Caroline.<br />
Paine, Mrs. Josephine .<br />
<br />
_ Piercey, Benjamin H. .<br />
Platt, Charles.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
Marchfield<br />
<br />
Bracknell.<br />
<br />
House,<br />
<br />
“Maison,” Russell<br />
Road, Moseley,<br />
Birmingham. —<br />
<br />
3, Milton<br />
Herne Hill, S.E.<br />
<br />
88, Loudoun Road,<br />
St. John’s Wood,<br />
N.W.<br />
<br />
London and South<br />
Western Bank,<br />
Notting Hill, W.<br />
<br />
11, Walpole Street,<br />
Chelsea, S.W.<br />
<br />
Paradise, Claremont,<br />
S. Africa.<br />
<br />
5, Kent Gardens,<br />
Ealing, W.<br />
<br />
16, Ainslie<br />
Edinburgh,<br />
29, Queen<br />
Street, S.W.<br />
<br />
Place,<br />
and<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
4, Regent Street, W.<br />
<br />
6, Piazza d’Azeglio,<br />
Florence, Italy.<br />
10, King’s Bench<br />
Walk, Temple, E.C.<br />
34, Hereford Square,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Pilton,<br />
Mallet.<br />
<br />
Pilton,<br />
Mallet.<br />
<br />
21, Talgarth Road,<br />
West Kensington,<br />
W.<br />
<br />
c/o Cox & Co., 16,<br />
Charing Cross,<br />
W.C.<br />
<br />
6, Clement’s<br />
Strand, W.C.<br />
<br />
23, Avenue du Bois<br />
de Boulogne, Paris,<br />
France.<br />
<br />
38, Agincourt Road,<br />
Hampstead, N.W.<br />
<br />
16, Emperor’s Gate,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Medstead, Hants.<br />
<br />
5, Queen’s Gate, S.We<br />
<br />
60, Stapleton Road,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Shepton<br />
<br />
Shepton<br />
<br />
Inn,<br />
<br />
Road,”<br />
<br />
Roscoe, Ada<br />
<br />
Ross, Charles<br />
<br />
, Rubenstein, H. F.<br />
<br />
Somerset, Raglan H. E.<br />
<br />
H<br />
<br />
Stacpoole, Mrs.<br />
<br />
Margaret de Vere<br />
Stoeving, Paul<br />
<br />
213<br />
<br />
c/o Shurey’s Publi-<br />
cations, 2 and 3,<br />
Hind Court, E.C.<br />
<br />
The Hippodrome,<br />
Aldershot.<br />
<br />
76, Addison Road,<br />
Kensington, W.<br />
Raglan, Monmouth-<br />
<br />
shire.<br />
<br />
Swiss Cottage, Vent-<br />
nor, Isle of Wight.<br />
<br />
29, Blenheim Road,<br />
<br />
Abbey Road,<br />
<br />
N.W.<br />
20, Minford Gardens,<br />
West Kensington<br />
Park, W.<br />
<br />
Hunter Street,<br />
Brunswick Square,<br />
W.C.<br />
<br />
Williams, Hugh<br />
Wood-Jones, F., D.Se.. 8,<br />
<br />
Wrightson, Prof. John.<br />
————_1 <_<<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 possible, 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 />
<br />
ANTHROPOLOGY.<br />
<br />
INTERMEDIATE TYPES AMONG PRIMITIVE Fotx. A Study<br />
in Social Evolution. By E. Carpenter. 8} x 5}.<br />
185 pp. Allen. 4s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
ARCHITECTURE.<br />
<br />
DILAPIDATIONS AND Fixtures. A Textbook in Tabulated<br />
Form for the use of Architects, Surveyors, and Others.<br />
By Proressor BANISTER FLETCHER. Seventh Edition.<br />
Revised and largely re-written by B, F. Frercumr and<br />
H.P.Frietcunr. 7} x 5. 191 pp. Batsford. 6s. 6d.<br />
<br />
BIOGRAPHY.<br />
<br />
RICHARD CORFIELD OF SOMALILAND.<br />
Barrerssy. 9 X 53. xviii + 259 pp.<br />
10s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tuer Doass or VENICE.<br />
9 x 5}. 394 pp. Methuen. 12s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tue Lire or Cesare Boraia. By. Raraet SABATINI.<br />
465 pp. [First published 1912.] Honore DE Bauzac.<br />
His Life and Writings. By Mary F.Sanpars. 312 pp.<br />
[First published 1904.] (The Essex Library.) 8} x 5}.<br />
Stanley Paul. 5s. n. each.<br />
<br />
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.<br />
<br />
Tan Boy Scours’ Rott or Honour. By Eric Woop.<br />
With a Foreword by Lizvut.-Gen. Sir Ropert Bapen-<br />
Powe, K.C.B. 8} x 5}." 308 pp. Cassell. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
By H. F. Prevost<br />
Arnold.<br />
<br />
By Mrs. Ausrey RIcHARDSON,<br />
<br />
<br />
212<br />
<br />
tions for their presence, and placed before the<br />
meeting the following agenda :— _<br />
<br />
(1) To consider what joint actions should<br />
be taken to safeguard—<br />
<br />
(a) Titles.<br />
(b) Subject-matter.<br />
<br />
(2) The appointment of a Joint Board to<br />
protect the common interests of authors,<br />
manufacturers and the film trade generally.<br />
<br />
Mr. Carton quoted the case which had just<br />
been carried through, viz., ‘‘ Sealed Orders,”<br />
and read a letter he had received from<br />
Mr. Cecil Raleigh, who was, unfortunately,<br />
unable to attend.<br />
<br />
Considerable discussion followed on different<br />
points which were raised, viz., the protection<br />
of titles and of cinema property generally,<br />
the representatives of the Kinematograph<br />
Manufacturers’ Association being very strong<br />
on the point that legislation was necessary.<br />
<br />
Finally, the following resolution :—<br />
<br />
“That the appointment of a Joint Board<br />
to protect the common interests of authors,<br />
film manufacturers, exhibitors, renters, thea-<br />
trical managers and the film trade generally<br />
would be to the advantage of all parties<br />
concetned,”’<br />
<br />
proposed by Mr. Justin Huntly McCarthy,<br />
and seconded by Mr. Haddon Chambers, was<br />
carried unanimously.<br />
<br />
The matter will be referred to the board of<br />
each association represented at the meeting,<br />
so that two delegates from each association<br />
may be appointed to sit on the Joint Board.<br />
<br />
It was decided also to ask the Society of<br />
West End Managers and the Music Halls’<br />
Association to appoint delegates also.<br />
<br />
Oo<br />
Cases.<br />
<br />
Durine the past month the secretary has<br />
handled fifteen cases. Five of these dealt with<br />
disputes on contracts. It is interesting to<br />
note that these cases are referred to the<br />
Society in larger numbers, and that the<br />
publishers or editors concerned are often<br />
willing to accept the informal arbitration of<br />
the secretary.<br />
<br />
Out of five, two have been satisfactorily<br />
settled, and three are still in the course of<br />
negotiation. Disputes of this kind generally<br />
involve a good deal of letter writing before<br />
they are concluded.<br />
<br />
There are three cases where accounts have<br />
not been rendered. T'wo had to be handed to<br />
the solicitors of the Society and are now<br />
finished. In the third case the accounts were<br />
rendered in due course.<br />
<br />
There were three cases where MSS. had been<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
retained. In one instance the MS. has<br />
been recovered and forwarded to the member,<br />
and in the others the secretary is still waiting<br />
for a reply.<br />
<br />
In two cases of infringement of copyright,<br />
one lying in the United States is still in course<br />
of negotiation, and the other has been satis-<br />
factorily settled.<br />
<br />
In two claims for money, one in France has<br />
not yet been settled and the other has had to be<br />
handed over to the solicitors of the Society.<br />
This last is the case of a magazine against<br />
which the Society has had a fair number of<br />
claims. They have all been met in the end,<br />
but it is generally necessary that the solicitors<br />
should deal with the matter before a satis-<br />
factory result is obtained.<br />
<br />
Out of the total of fifteen cases, therefore,<br />
five have been successful, three have had to be<br />
handed to the solicitors, and two are out of<br />
England. .<br />
<br />
There are still a good many cases remaining<br />
over from last month. This is no doubt owing<br />
to the fact that little business has been done<br />
during the Easter holidays. There are two<br />
disputes on contracts. Of these one is in the<br />
United States, and will naturally take some<br />
time to settle. The second, having been<br />
referred to the committee, cannot be closed<br />
until after the committee meet in May.<br />
<br />
There are still four claims where the demand<br />
for the return of MSS. has not been complied<br />
with. It has often been pointed out in these<br />
columns that claims of this nature are difficult<br />
to deal with. In many cases it is only possible<br />
to bring the delinquent to book by continually<br />
reminding him by letter. As answers have<br />
been received from the retainers of the MSS.<br />
in all four cases, it is possible that they will<br />
terminate satisfactorily.<br />
<br />
There are two other matters still open, one<br />
of infringement of copyright in the United<br />
States, which will be some time before it is<br />
settled, and a complicated dispute on accounts,<br />
which also will need further handling.<br />
<br />
—<br />
<br />
April Elections.<br />
<br />
Borthwick, Miss Jessica 22, The — Bolton<br />
Studio, Redcliffe<br />
Road, S.W.<br />
<br />
2, St. John’s Hill,<br />
Lewes, Sussex.<br />
cfo Sir C. R,<br />
McGrigor, ‘Bart. &<br />
Co., 25, Charles<br />
<br />
Street, S.W.<br />
<br />
Brown, Mrs. Frances<br />
<br />
Buckle, Gerard Fort .<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914]<br />
<br />
Campbell, Miss M. M. .<br />
<br />
Chalmers, C. : :<br />
Chovil, A. Harold :<br />
<br />
M2 Clue, G. Leo<br />
<br />
Collins, Sewell<br />
Croysdale, Mrs. Agnes.<br />
<br />
Drummond, The Hon.<br />
Capt. Robert Charles<br />
<br />
Dunlop, Miss Jocelyn.<br />
<br />
Fairbridge, Miss<br />
Dorothea<br />
<br />
Farrer, Miss M. Bruce .<br />
<br />
Girdwood, John . :<br />
<br />
Gordon, Miss Helen C..<br />
<br />
Grattan, Harry . :<br />
<br />
Green, Emanuel, F.S.A.,<br />
F.R.S.L.<br />
<br />
Haig, Elizabeth . :<br />
<br />
Heape, Walter<br />
Inman, Arthur Conyers<br />
Leeney, G. H.<br />
Leeney, Harold,<br />
<br />
M.R.C.V.S.<br />
Lonsdale, Miss Eva<br />
<br />
MacMunn, Lt.-Col.<br />
G. F., D.S.O., R.L.F.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ns, Stephen<br />
<br />
M.<br />
<br />
Moore, William .<br />
Morgan, Mrs. Caroline.<br />
Paine, Mrs. Josephine .<br />
<br />
Piercey, Benjamin H. .<br />
Platt, Charles. :<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
Marchfield<br />
Bracknell.<br />
<br />
House,<br />
<br />
‘*Maison,”? Russell<br />
Road, Moseley,<br />
Birmingham.<br />
<br />
3, Milton’ Road,<br />
Herne Hill, S.E.<br />
38, Loudoun Road,<br />
St. John’s Wood,<br />
<br />
N.W.<br />
<br />
London and South<br />
Western Bank,<br />
Notting Hill, W.<br />
<br />
11, Walpole Street,<br />
Chelsea, S.W.<br />
<br />
Paradise, Claremont,<br />
S. Africa.<br />
<br />
5, Kent Gardens,<br />
Ealing, W.<br />
<br />
16, Ainslie<br />
Edinburgh,<br />
29, Queen<br />
Street, S.W.<br />
<br />
Place,<br />
and<br />
Anne<br />
<br />
4, Regent Street, W.<br />
<br />
6, Piazza d’Azeglio,<br />
Florence, Italy.<br />
10, King’s Bench<br />
Walk, Temple, E.C.<br />
34, Hereford Square,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Pilton,<br />
Mallet.<br />
<br />
Pilton,<br />
Mallet.<br />
<br />
21, Talgarth Road,<br />
West Kensington,<br />
W.<br />
<br />
c/o Cox & Co., 16,<br />
Charing Cross,<br />
W.C.<br />
<br />
6, Clement’s<br />
Strand, W.C.<br />
<br />
23, Avenue du Bois<br />
de Boulogne, Paris,<br />
France.<br />
<br />
38, Agincourt Road,<br />
Hampstead, N.W.<br />
<br />
16, Emperor’s Gate,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Medstead, Hants.<br />
<br />
5, Queen’s Gate, S.We<br />
<br />
60, Stapleton Road,<br />
S.W.<br />
<br />
Shepton<br />
<br />
Shepton<br />
<br />
Inn,<br />
<br />
, Rubenstein, H. F.<br />
<br />
213<br />
<br />
Roscoe, Ada c/o Shurey’s Publi-<br />
cations, 2 and 8,<br />
Hind Court, E.C.<br />
<br />
The Hippodrome,<br />
Aldershot.<br />
<br />
76, Addison Road,<br />
Kensington, W.<br />
Somerset, Raglan H. E. Raglan, Monmouth-<br />
<br />
H. shire.<br />
<br />
Stacpoole, Mrs. Swiss Cottage, Vent-<br />
Margaret de Vere nor, Isle of Wight.<br />
<br />
Stoeving, Paul 29, Blenheim Road,<br />
Abbey Road,<br />
N.W.<br />
<br />
20, Minford Gardens,<br />
<br />
West Kensington<br />
<br />
Park, W.<br />
<br />
Hunter Street,<br />
<br />
Brunswick Square,<br />
<br />
W.C.<br />
<br />
Ross, Charles<br />
<br />
Williams, Hugh<br />
Wood-Jones, F., D.Se.. 8,<br />
<br />
Wrightson, Prof. John.<br />
i<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 possible, 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 />
<br />
ANTHROPOLOGY.<br />
<br />
INTERMEDIATE TYPES AMONG PRIMITIVE Fotx. A Study<br />
in Social Evolution. By E. Carpenter. 83 x 53.<br />
185 pp. Allen. 4s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
ARCHITECTURE.<br />
<br />
DILAPIDATIONS AND Fixtures. A Textbook in Tabulated<br />
Form for the use of Architects, Surveyors, and Others.<br />
By PRroressor BaNniIsTER FLETCHER. Seventh Edition.<br />
Revised and largely re-written by B. F. Fiumrcuur and<br />
H.P.Furrcumr. 74 x 5. 191 pp. Batsford. 6s. 6d.<br />
<br />
BIOGRAPHY.<br />
<br />
RICHARD CORFIELD OF SOMALILAND.<br />
BaTrersBy. 9 X 53. xviii + 259 pp.<br />
<br />
10s. 6d. n.<br />
Tur Dogus or Venice. By Mrs. AuBREY RIcHARDSON,<br />
<br />
9 x 53. 394 pp. Methuen. 12s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Tue Lire or Cusarn Borat. By. Rarazt SaBaTInNi.<br />
465 pp. [First published 1912.] Honors pr Bauzac,<br />
His Life and Writings. By MaryF.Sanpars. 312 pp.<br />
[First published 1904.] (The Essex Library.) 8} x 54.<br />
Stanley Paul. 5s. n. each,<br />
<br />
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.<br />
<br />
Tae Boy Scours’ Rott or Honour. By Eric Woop.<br />
With a Foreword by Limut.-Gen. Sir Ropert Bapen-<br />
Powstt, K.C.B. 8} x 5}.° 308 pp. Cassell, 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
By H. F. Prevost<br />
Arnold.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
214<br />
<br />
BOOKS OF REFERENCE.<br />
<br />
Coxoisz Dictionary or Proper NAMES AND NoTaBLeE<br />
Marrers in tae Works or Dante. By PAGET<br />
ToyNBEE. 8X5. 568 pp. Oxford University Press.<br />
7s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
DRAMA AND ELOCUTION.<br />
<br />
Tue Two Virturs. A Comedy in Four Acts. By<br />
Atrrep Svurro. 6} x 54. 100 pp. Duckworth.<br />
ls. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Prays By Leo Toxstoy. Translated by LovisE and<br />
‘Ayumer Mavpr. (Complete Edition, including the<br />
<br />
Posthumous Plays.) 8} x 5}. 413 pp. Constable.<br />
5s. n.<br />
<br />
Anpromacuz. A play in Three Acts. By GILBERT<br />
Murray. (Revised Edition.) 7} x 43. 104 pp.<br />
Allan. 1s. n.<br />
<br />
Dramatic Actuanitias. By W. L. Grorcs. 7} x 5.<br />
124 pp. Sidgwick and Jackson. 2s. n.<br />
<br />
Rors Enovcn. A Play in Three Acts. By ConaL<br />
O’Riorpan. (Norrey’s Connell.) 73 x 5. 112. pp.<br />
<br />
Maunsel. 2s. n.<br />
Srx Monoroauss (performed by BRANSBY WILLIAMS). By<br />
<br />
Harry WYNNE. 7} x 43. 11 pp. Joseph Williams,<br />
Ltd. 6d. n.<br />
Tar Doctor’s Diremma. By Brrnarp SHaw. (Cheap<br />
Edition.) 8 x 53. 128 pp. Constable. 6d.<br />
FICTION.<br />
Tun Men wo Fovcut ror Us. A tale of the ‘‘ Hungry<br />
Forties.’ By Atuen CrarKe. 7} x 5$. 300 pp.<br />
<br />
Co-operative Newspaper Printing Society. 5s.<br />
Tanza. A Russian Story. By Merrie, BucHanan.<br />
<br />
7% x 5. 328 pp. Jenkins. 6s.<br />
Jupas THE Woman. By F.C. Puitresand A. T. PHILies.<br />
74 x 5. 283 pp. Eveleigh Nash.<br />
<br />
Tue Passionate ELOPEMENT. By Compron MACKENZIE.<br />
(Cheap Reprint.) 74 x 5. 344pp. MartinSecker. 2s.n.<br />
<br />
A Tuier in THE Nicut. By E. W. Hornune. (Cheap<br />
Reprint.) 376 pp. Nelson. 7d. n.<br />
<br />
Lismoyye. An Experiment in Ireland. By B. M.<br />
Croker. 74 x 5. 386 pp. Hutchinson. 6s. n.<br />
<br />
Mistress Cuariry GopoLPHin. By Guapys MURDOCK.<br />
7% x 5. 309 pp. Murray. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tore Herm to THE THRone. By A. W. Marcumont.<br />
74 x 5. 334 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Heart or Monica. By Rosina Fivippi. 7} X 5.<br />
214 pp. Cassell. 3s. 6d.<br />
<br />
Wuat wit Prorte Say? By RupertHvucues. 7} x 5.<br />
510 pp. Harpers. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Jupament or Eve. By May Sincuarr. 7} xX 5.<br />
323 pp. Hutchinson. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Fortunate Youtsu. By W. J. Locxr. 7} x 5}.<br />
352 pp. Lane _ 6s.<br />
<br />
James WuITAKER’s DuKEDOoM. By E. Jepson. 7} X 5.<br />
355 pp. Hutchinson. 6s.<br />
<br />
A Free Hanp. By Herren C. Roserts. 7} x 5.<br />
322 pp. Duckworth. 6s.<br />
<br />
Unto Cmsar. By Baroness Ornczy. 73 X 5. 331 pp.<br />
<br />
Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.<br />
<br />
Joan Buirret’s Davauturs. By KaTHARINE TYNAN.<br />
7% x 54. 333 pp. Smith, Elder. 6s.<br />
<br />
Jmi-Aut-ALonE. By “Rita” (Mrs. Desmond Hum-<br />
phreys). 73% x 5. 335 pp. Stanley Paul. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Gates or Doom. By Rararn Sapatini. 7} Xx 4}.<br />
343 pp. Stanley Paul. 6s.<br />
<br />
Firemen Hor. By C. J. Curcnirre Hynn. 7 x 5.<br />
309 pp. Methuen. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Hippen Mask. By C. Guise Mirrorp. 7} x 5.<br />
336 pp. Greening. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue Crimson Mascot. By Cuarues E.PEARCE, 7} x 4}.<br />
335 pp. Stanley Paul. 68.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
Lonpon Crrovs. By Henry BazrRuern. 7} x 5}.<br />
316 pp. Fifield. 6s.<br />
<br />
Turn Foot Errant. By Maurice Hew err. 383 pp.<br />
<br />
Tre Prince or Prosperity. By H.A.VACHELL. 320 pp.<br />
(The Wayfarers’ Library.) 7 x 44. Dent. 1s. each.<br />
Tae Spats of THE Miauty. By Sir GiperT PARKER.<br />
6} x 44. 469 pp. Nelson’s Sevenpenny Library.<br />
<br />
Tun Wispom oF Fouuy. By Eten THORNEYCROFT<br />
Fowier. 260 pp. Napa tHe Liry. By H. Riper<br />
Haacarp. 321 pp. BreTrerTHan Lire. By CHARLES<br />
Garvice. 320 pp. (Sevenpenny Library.) Hodder<br />
and Stoughton.<br />
<br />
DopoTHESrconD. By E. F. Benson.<br />
Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tue OrLEY TRADITION. By Rap STRAUS.<br />
360 pp. Metheun. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tur ReBELLion or EsTHEr.<br />
<br />
7% x 5. 317pp.<br />
717i x 5.<br />
<br />
By Marcaret LEGGE.<br />
<br />
72 x 5. 314 pp. Alston Rivers. 6s.<br />
A Urrrue Raprant Girt. By Karuarinn Tynan.<br />
63 x 54. 384 pp. Blackie. 6s.<br />
<br />
Tar Devries Proression. By GeRTIE DE S. WENT-<br />
<br />
wortH JamEs. 73 x 5. 319 pp. Everett. 6s.<br />
LeviaTHan. By Jeannette Marks. 7} x 5}. 329 pp.<br />
Hodder and Stoughton. 6s.<br />
HISTORY.<br />
HANNrBAL ONCE More. By D. W. FRESHFIELD. 9 X 5}.<br />
120 pp. Arnold. 5s. n.<br />
LITERARY.<br />
<br />
Tam FRANCISCAN Ports IN ITALY AND THE 13TH CENTURY.<br />
By Freperick Ozanam. Translated and annotated by<br />
A. E. Neuien and W. E..Craic. Messrs. David Nutt.<br />
<br />
6s. n.<br />
Wuere no Far was. A Book about Fear. By A. C.<br />
Benson. 8 x 5}. 240 pp. Smith, Elder. 68. n.<br />
<br />
In Pursuit oF SPRING.<br />
301 pp. Nelson. 5s.<br />
<br />
Lerrers to Caroyine. By Exmyor Guyn. 7} X 5.<br />
154 pp. Duckworth. 2s. n.<br />
<br />
Love. By Gipert Cannan. 55 pp. FLOWERS. By<br />
J. Foorp. 68 pp. TrRexs. By ELEANOR FaRJEON.<br />
54 pp. Naturs. By W. H. Davins. 54 pp. THE<br />
Meaning or Lire. By W. L. Courtney. 72 pp.<br />
Portry. By A. QuitueR-CovcH. 64 pp. (Fellowship<br />
Books. Edited by Mary Stratton.) 7 Xx 4}. Bats-<br />
ford. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
Sounps AND Siens. A Criticism of the Alphabet, with<br />
Suggestions of Reform. By A. Witpr. 7} xX 5.<br />
180 pp. Constable. 4s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
MUSIC.<br />
<br />
By Epwarp Tuomas. 8} x 6.<br />
<br />
Tue Music or Hinpostan. By A. H. Fox Straneways ~<br />
<br />
9} x 5%. 364 pp. Oxford: Clarendon Press. London:<br />
Milford. 21s. n.<br />
<br />
NATURAL HISTORY.<br />
<br />
British Frowerine Prants. Ilustrated by 300 Full-<br />
Page Coloured Plates, reproduced from Drawings by<br />
Mrs. Henry Perrin, with detailed descriptive notes<br />
and an Introduction by Prorsssor Bovunesr, F.L.S.<br />
Vol. L., xiii. +10}. Quaritch. £12 12s. the set of<br />
four vols.<br />
<br />
PAMPHLETS.<br />
<br />
EvucnHarist AND BisHop. By the Rrv. J. H. SKRINE,<br />
D.D. Longmans. Ils. n.<br />
<br />
In Quust or TRuTH. Being a Correspondence between<br />
Sim Artruur Conan Doyir and CaprarIn STANSBURY,<br />
R.N. Watts. 2d.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
E<br />
1<br />
|<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
POETRY.<br />
<br />
‘Tus Sea is Kiyp. By T. Srurce Moors.<br />
<br />
*-174 pp. Grant Richards. 6s. n.<br />
<br />
Tue REVERBERATE Hints. By E. OprpeNHEIM.<br />
<br />
m 56 pp. Constable. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
A Raapsopy For Lovers. By A. Maquarie.<br />
47 pp. Bickers.<br />
<br />
& x 62.<br />
ue & 6.<br />
5 x 3h.<br />
<br />
POLITICS.<br />
<br />
Tue TrutTH apout Utster. By F. Franxrort Moor.<br />
9 x 5%. 286 pp. Nash. 7s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
REPRINTS.<br />
<br />
Karty Bett tHE ORPHAN. Possibly an Earlier Version<br />
of Charlotte Bronté’s ‘‘ Jane Eyre.”” With an Introduc-<br />
tion by Mrs. Exuis H. Caapwick. 7$ x 5. xxviii. +<br />
146 pp. Sir Isaac Pitman. 2s. 6d. n,<br />
<br />
‘Tue Poems or Sir Tuomas Wiat. From the MSS. and<br />
Early Editions. Edited by A. K. Foxwnty. 7} x 5.<br />
268 pp. Published for the University of London Press<br />
by Hodder and Stoughton. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
‘THe Fire or Love anp THE MenpinG or Lire. By<br />
Ricuarp Rotie. Translated by Ricnarp MiIsyn.<br />
Edited and done into Modern English by Francis M. M.<br />
Comesr. With an Introduction by Evetyn UNDER-<br />
HILL. 7? x 5. Ixii. +278 pp. Methuen. 3s. 6d. n.<br />
<br />
SCIENCE.<br />
<br />
THe WoNpDERS oF Brirp-Lire.<br />
128 pp. (Twentieth Century Science Series.)<br />
Manchester: Milner. ls. n.<br />
<br />
SOCIOLOGY.<br />
<br />
PREPARATIONS FOR Marriace. By W. Hears, F.R.S.<br />
168 pp. Wuat ir Means To Marry: Or, YOUNG<br />
Women anp Marriage. By Dr. Mary ScHARLIEB.<br />
140 pp. (‘Question of Sex” Series.) 73 x 43.<br />
Cassell. 2s. 6d. n. each.<br />
<br />
SPORT.<br />
<br />
AmatTeuR Samtinc. Reminiscences by C. F. ABpDY<br />
Wiuutams. 8} x 54. 110 pp. Potter. 4s.<br />
<br />
Necro Fork Sinerne-GAMES AND FoLtK GAMES OF THE<br />
Hasrrants. Traditional Melodies and Text tran-<br />
scribed by Grace CLEVELAND Porter. Accompani-<br />
ments by H. W. Loomis. 12 x 9. xix. +35 pp.<br />
<br />
Curwen.<br />
THEOLOGY.<br />
<br />
CatHouiciry; Concionrs ap Cuinrum. By T. A.<br />
Lacey. 73 x 5}. 149 pp. Mowbray. 2s. 6d. n.<br />
Tue Gotpen Censor. By Fiorence L. Barcnay.<br />
64 x 41. 71 pp. Hodder and Stoughton. ls. 6d. n.<br />
Tue Orpinaky Man anp THE EXTRAORDINARY THING.<br />
By Harotp Brasie. (Popular Edition.) 74 x 5.<br />
<br />
160 pp. Hodder and Stoughton. 1s. n.<br />
TRAVEL.<br />
How to Ses tue Vatican. By Dovaetas SLADEN.<br />
8k x 54. 441 pp. Kegan Paul. 6s. n.<br />
ALBANIA. The Foundling State of Europe. By WapHAM<br />
Pracock. 9 x 53. 256 pp. Chapman and Hall.<br />
7s, 6d. n.<br />
<br />
By W. P. WESTELL.<br />
7k x 5.<br />
<br />
—___+——_+-__—_——_-<br />
<br />
LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL<br />
NOTES.<br />
paceser nee one oneany<br />
R. EDWARD CLODD has rewritten<br />
his ‘“‘ Childhood of the World,” which<br />
was first published in 1872. The new<br />
edition, to which illustrations are added, is<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
215<br />
<br />
divided into three parts: Man the Worker,<br />
Man the Thinker, Man the Discoverer<br />
(Macmillan & Co.).<br />
<br />
Mr. Clement Edwards Pike, F.R.Hist.S.,<br />
edits for the Royal Historical Society “ Selec-<br />
tions from the Correspondence of Arthur Capel,<br />
Ear! of Essex, 1675—1677.”’ This book makes<br />
the twenty-fourth volume of the Camden Third<br />
Series, and may be obtained from the offices of<br />
the Society, 6 & 7, South Square, Gray’s Inn.<br />
<br />
‘ Albania: the Foundling State of Europe ”<br />
is the title of a new book by Mr. Wadham<br />
Peacock, formerly private secretary to<br />
H.B.M.’s Chargé d Affaires in Montenegro.<br />
The book, which has numerous illustrations,<br />
deals with history, customs, scenery, and<br />
politics (Chapman and Hall, 7s. 6d. net).<br />
<br />
In “ The Philosophy of Welsh History ” the<br />
Rev. J. Vyrnwy Morgan, D.D., author of<br />
‘The Welsh Religious Revival, 1904-5,” ete.,<br />
does not pretend, he says, to give a history of<br />
Wales or a consecutive narrative of the<br />
movements that have affected the principality.<br />
He calls, however, for a reconsideration of<br />
many of the conclusions formed by Welsh<br />
nationalist historians, whose deductions he<br />
contends to be without justification (John Lane,<br />
12s. 6d. net).<br />
<br />
There has been just brought out by the<br />
firm of Elkin Mathews “ Florentine Vignettes,<br />
being some metrical letters of the late Vernon<br />
Arnold Slade, edited by Wilfrid Thoiley.”<br />
The author is of course the editor, and the<br />
letters are written in the guise of an art-<br />
student newly arrived in the Tuscan capital.<br />
There is a frontispiece adapted from the<br />
marble pediment of Cellini’s “ Perseus ”’ and<br />
a Finis taken from masks on a fountain in the<br />
Cascine.<br />
<br />
Mr. Wharndford Moffatt has a volume of<br />
‘“‘ New Canadian Poems,” of which a copy has<br />
been accepted by H.E. the Governor-General.<br />
The book is being published by Simpkin,<br />
Marshall, & Co., price 2s. 6d. net.<br />
<br />
In “ Dodo the Second” Mr. E. F. Benson<br />
returns to an early mood and an heroine whose<br />
literary birth took place a score of years ago<br />
(Hodder and Stoughton). oe<br />
<br />
Mr. W. J. Locke’s new novel is “ The<br />
Fortunate Youth ” (John Lane).<br />
<br />
It is stated of Mrs. Elinor Glyn’s “ Letters<br />
to Caroline ” that it is not a story but a series<br />
of letters of wisdom and counsel from a god-<br />
mother to a goddaughter who is just entering<br />
Society (Duckworth, 2s. net). :<br />
<br />
Mr. Charles Garvice’s new novel is entitled<br />
“© A4 Woman’s Way,” and has just been<br />
published by Hodder and Stoughton.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
216<br />
<br />
Miss May Wynne has a romance of the<br />
Huguenot period on the point of publication,<br />
under the name of ‘“‘ The Silent Captain.”<br />
<br />
K. L. Montgomery’s forthcoming romance,<br />
which was announced in the last issue of The<br />
Author as “ Ears of Leather,” will be published<br />
by John Long in London and the Colonies<br />
under the title “‘ Maids of Salem.”<br />
<br />
Holden and Hardingham are publishing<br />
immediately Mr. Kineton Parkes’s novel * The<br />
Money Hunt : A Comedy of Country Houses.”<br />
<br />
Miss K. Everest’s new romance “ Beaufoy,”<br />
<br />
is published this month by Lynwood & Co.<br />
This is a tale for young people. A copy has<br />
been graciously accepted by H.R.H. Princess<br />
Mary.<br />
“The Good Shepherd,” by John Roland,<br />
is the romance of a young American doctor in<br />
a remote Tyrolese valley, who comes to play<br />
the part of saviour to the suffering peasants<br />
and, in doing so, himself regains a faith which<br />
he has lost and wins a wife (Blackwood).<br />
<br />
Miss Edith M. Keate’s “A Garden of the<br />
Gods ” is the love-story of a blind man in a<br />
beautiful garden, though introducing numerous<br />
other characters (Alston Rivers).<br />
<br />
Miss Meriel Buchanan, author of “ Tania:<br />
a Story of Russian Life’ (Jenkins), is the<br />
daughter of the British Ambassador at Con-<br />
stantinople.<br />
<br />
‘“‘ Lovers’ Meetings” is the title of a new<br />
collection of short stories by Mrs. Katharine<br />
Tynan (Werner Laurie).<br />
<br />
A new edition has just been published of<br />
“Pink Purity,” by Mrs. Gertie de S. Went-<br />
worth James (Werner Laurie, 1s. net).<br />
<br />
Mrs. C. Romanné James has been appointed<br />
to the editorship of the quarterly Buddhist<br />
Review.<br />
<br />
“The Art of Dainty Decoration,” by<br />
Mrs. Emily J. Skeaping, is a little paper-<br />
covered book dealing with such subjects as<br />
how to paint on silk, satin, or velvet, how to<br />
decorate with stencils, how to make original<br />
cards, ete. (Winsor and Newton, 1s.).<br />
<br />
“‘ Jehane of the Forest,’ by L. A. Talbot<br />
(Mrs. Ferguson) is a lively romance of a period<br />
and place which has attracted no novelist of<br />
note since Scott wrote “‘ The Betrothed ” ;<br />
namely, the marches of Wales in the reign of<br />
Henry II.<br />
<br />
“Infatuation,”” by Marcu; Knox, is pub-<br />
lished by Robert Ashley.<br />
<br />
DraMatTIc.<br />
<br />
The long run of Mr. G. K. Chesterton’s<br />
“Magic” at the Little Theatre concluded on<br />
March 28. On April 11, at the same theatre,<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914<br />
<br />
Mrs. Percy Dearmer’s ‘“‘ Brer Rabbit and<br />
Mr. Fox,” with music by Mr. Martin Shaw,<br />
commenced a matinée season.<br />
<br />
On April 11 was the first performance at<br />
His Majesty’s Theatre of Mr. G. Bernard<br />
Shaw’s ‘“ Pygmalion.”<br />
<br />
On the same night Mr. G. R. Sims’s “ The<br />
Lights 0’ London ” was revived at the Aldwych.<br />
<br />
Mr. Israel Zangwill’s ‘“‘ The Melting Pot”<br />
was transferred on April 18 from the Queen’s<br />
to the Comedy Theatre.<br />
<br />
‘The Mob,” a four-act play by Mr. John<br />
Galsworthy, was seen at the Coronet Theatre<br />
on April 20 and succeeding days.<br />
<br />
On April 21 the first performance took place<br />
of ‘“‘My Lady’s Dress,” by Mr. Edward<br />
Knoblauch, the theatre being the Royalty.<br />
<br />
““The Clever Ones,’”’ Mr. Alfred Sutro’s new<br />
comedy, opened at Wyndham’s Theatre on<br />
April 23.<br />
<br />
The play chosen for the matinée at His<br />
Majesty’s Theatre on May 22, in aid of King<br />
George’s Pension Fund for Actors and Actresses,<br />
is Mr. Henry Arthur Jones’s and the late<br />
Mr. Henry Herman’s “‘ The Silver King.”<br />
<br />
A new one-act play, ‘‘ Beastly Pride,” by<br />
Miss Elizabeth Baker, was produced at the<br />
Croydon Repertory Theatre on April 23.<br />
<br />
The West End Productions, Ltd., on<br />
April 22, gave their sixth special matinée at<br />
the London Pavilion, among the plays pro-<br />
duced being ‘“‘ The Girl from Australia,” by<br />
Mrs. E. H. Harris.<br />
<br />
Two of Mr. Charles Garvice’s plays are now<br />
on tour—‘‘ The Heritage of Hale,” a four-act<br />
piece in which Mr. Garvice had the assistance<br />
of Mr. Arthur Shirley and which was first seen<br />
on January 7; and ‘‘ Marygold,’’ by Messrs.<br />
Charles Garvice and Allen F. Abbott, first<br />
produced at the Royalty Repertory Theatre,<br />
Glasgow, on March 23.<br />
<br />
The Authors’ Producing Society is “an<br />
association of subscribers formed for the<br />
purpose of producing plays—particularly those<br />
of an educational and sociological character—<br />
hitherto unseen in England.” The society’s<br />
first season began with the performance at the<br />
Little Theatre on February 16 of John Pollock’s<br />
translation of M. Brieux’s ‘“‘ Les Avariés ”<br />
(‘Damaged Gocds’’). Other performances<br />
of the play took place at the Court Theatre<br />
on April 19 and 30, and a fourth is announced<br />
for May 10. The address of the secretary of<br />
the society is 4, Duke Street, Adelphi, W.C.<br />
<br />
Mr. Herbert Jenkins, author and publisher,<br />
has now become a playwright also. A one-act<br />
<br />
play of his, “‘ With Her Husband’s Permission,”’<br />
is to be produced by Miss Muriel Pratt at the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
Theatre Royal, Bristol, on May 18. Later on<br />
a West End production is contemplated.<br />
<br />
Musica.<br />
<br />
“Negro Folk Singing Games and Folk<br />
Games of the Habitants”’ is the title of a<br />
collection of traditional melodies and text<br />
transcribed by Grace Cleveland Porter, with<br />
accompaniments by Harvey Worthington<br />
Loomis. The work is published in this<br />
country by J. Curwen and Sons, Berners Street,<br />
W.., at 2s. 6d.<br />
<br />
““The Music of Hindostan,” by A. H. Fox<br />
Strangways, is an attempt to deal, in one<br />
volume, with the music of the Indus and<br />
Ganges basins. Seventeen separate plates<br />
illustrate the book, which is published by the<br />
Clarendon Press at 21s.fnet.<br />
<br />
—— se<br />
PARIS NOTES.<br />
<br />
——+ <><br />
<br />
REAT preparations were made _ for<br />
the Royal visit to Paris. The Palais<br />
des Affaires Etrangeres was furnished<br />
<br />
for the occasion with historical furniture<br />
which had belonged to Louis XIV., Louis XV.,<br />
Louis XVI., and to Napoleon I. The Avenue<br />
de l’Opéra and various other streets of Paris<br />
were decorated with garlands of roses. The<br />
magazines and reviews have been vying with<br />
each other in giving articles concerning the<br />
English King and Queen. :<br />
<br />
‘“Croquis d’Outre-Manche ” is the title of<br />
the latest book on England by M. Jacques<br />
Bardoux. Most foreign writers content them-<br />
selves with visiting London for giving their<br />
opinion on England and its people. M. Bardoux<br />
has taken the trouble to go to the more remote<br />
parts of our island and to study the far back<br />
history of our nation, in order to explain the<br />
present by the past. He takes his readers<br />
to the old-world county of Somerset. He goes<br />
back to Hugues de Lincoln, and gives us an<br />
interesting account of Glastonbury, of Wells,<br />
and of Bath. :<br />
<br />
““ Entre deux Mondes,” by Inés’ Bello, is a<br />
curious psychological study of a woman.<br />
The story opens with a journey from Florence<br />
to Rome and a chance meeting in the train.<br />
There is no plot and very little episode. The<br />
whole volume is taken up with the senti-<br />
ments of the two persons who meet in this way.<br />
Incidentally we have descriptions of Rome<br />
and of the very soul of Rome. The book is<br />
distinctly original as a psychological study.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
217<br />
<br />
“ L'Homme de désir,”” by M. Robert Vallery-<br />
Radot, is a novel which might certainly take<br />
rank among the books belonging to the<br />
~ Spiritualistic literature’ so much in vogue<br />
now in France.<br />
<br />
The President of the French Republic was<br />
represented at the funeral of Mistral, the<br />
celebrated meridional poet.<br />
<br />
The event of the month in the theatrical<br />
world has been Antoine’s resignation of his<br />
post as Director of the Odéon. It is not yet<br />
known who will be invited to succeed him at<br />
the second State Theatre. It is rumoured<br />
that M. Camille de Sainte Croix, who has for<br />
some years been running the French Shake-<br />
speare Theatre, stands a very good chance<br />
of being elected. M. Lugné Poe is also men-<br />
tioned as a candidate, and there are two or<br />
three other names on the list.<br />
<br />
The last play put on by Antoine was Psyché,<br />
a tragedy-ballet in five acts by Moliére, Pierre<br />
Corneille et Quinault, with music by Lulli,<br />
arranged by M. Julien Tiersot. This recon-<br />
stitution was extremely artistic and interesting,<br />
and was a fitting close to Antoine’s career at<br />
the Odéon.<br />
<br />
At the Gymnase, Henri Lavedan’s three-<br />
act play “‘ Pétard’”’ has been given. There<br />
is plenty of episode and there are good dramatic .<br />
situations, but the chief interest is the study<br />
of modern life. We see the old world giving<br />
way to the new and the old traditions being<br />
sacrificed for the sake of gold. Pétard is a<br />
nouveau riche, a parvenu, and we see him<br />
buying the ancestral home of an old family.<br />
M. Lavedan shows us the forces of the past<br />
waging war with the material force of our<br />
epoch.<br />
<br />
In honour of the Royal visit the Little<br />
English Theatre arranged to come over from<br />
London and give a special three-play bill<br />
during the week of the festivities. The pieces<br />
chosen were ‘“‘ The Critic ’’ by Sheridan, ‘* The<br />
Tents of the Arabs’ by Lord Dunsany, and<br />
“The Music Cure’? by George Bernard<br />
Shaw.<br />
<br />
The Cinema Commission appointed by the<br />
French Society of Authors for studying the<br />
question of cinematograph rights has now<br />
given in its report. There has been some<br />
difficulty in this matter, which is now happily<br />
settled, as the Society of Authors and Society<br />
of Dramatic Authors have come to an arrange-<br />
ment by which they will combine to protect<br />
the rights of their respective authors. The<br />
French law of 1793 protects authors, and last<br />
November the Society of Dramatic Authors<br />
changed its statutes, including the cinema<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
218<br />
<br />
rights, in such a way that, according to the<br />
law of 1791, it would be impossible for the<br />
cinema rights of any dramatic author belonging<br />
to the Society to be appropriated by outsiders.<br />
The Cinema Commission has now arranged<br />
that the two societies shall work together in<br />
the interests of authors. In future, according<br />
to Article 34 bis, every member of the Society<br />
of Authors agrees to make no contract pri-<br />
vately with manufacturers, hirers, or exploiters<br />
of cinematographic films, concerning the<br />
adaptation of his or her present or future<br />
literary works or unpublished cinematographic<br />
scenarios.<br />
<br />
All contracts made previously to this new<br />
<br />
_rule are to be held binding.<br />
<br />
Every contract of this nature is to be made<br />
by the intermediary of the (Société des Gens de<br />
Lettres) French Society of Authors.<br />
<br />
The Society of Authors may pass any conven-<br />
tion or arrangement with any enterprise or<br />
society of authors for exercising, directly or<br />
indirectly, the rights belonging to its authors.<br />
<br />
The present arrangement is to apply to<br />
cinematographic’ adaptations by all present<br />
or future methods.<br />
<br />
The author shall give a written declaration<br />
to the committee, indicating the rights he had<br />
already disposed of before the date of the<br />
present arrangement.<br />
<br />
Such is the article decided upon by the<br />
Commission. During what is called the transi-<br />
tion period authors will fix the terms of their<br />
contracts themselves, but these contracts<br />
must pass through the hands of the managing<br />
agents of the Society of Authors. The<br />
Commission reports that quite recently the<br />
Society succeeded in obtaining, for one of its<br />
authors, an increase of nearly half the amount<br />
already offered.<br />
<br />
The definitive period will be when the<br />
Society of Authors will have concluded general<br />
treaties. ‘The Society will then have to agree<br />
to the rules that the Society of Dramatic<br />
Authors now has with the theatres. Authors<br />
will then have to accept the minimum of<br />
rights agreed upon, but it will be impossible<br />
to accept less than this minimum. Above<br />
this minimum, authors will be able to ask what<br />
terms they wish.<br />
<br />
As long as the transition period lasts,<br />
authors must pay the agents who draw up the<br />
contracts 6 per cent., but 1 per cent. of this<br />
will be returned to the general funds of the<br />
Society of Dramatic Authors and 2 per cent. to<br />
the general funds of the Society of Authors.<br />
The Society of Dramatic Authors will take<br />
upon itself the responsibility of any lawsuits<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
which may arise in connection with cinema<br />
rights.<br />
Atys HALiarp.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“ Croquis d’Outre-Manche’”’ (Hachette).<br />
‘*Entre deux Mondes”’ (Grasset).<br />
“L’Homme de désir” (Plon).<br />
<br />
—_—_—_—__— +> 6<br />
<br />
U.S.A. COPYRIGHT LAW AMENDMENT.<br />
<br />
st<br />
<br />
AS Act to amend section twelve of the<br />
Act entitled “An Act to amend and<br />
<br />
consolidate the Acts respecting copy-<br />
right,” approved March fourth, nineteen<br />
hundred and nine.<br />
<br />
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of<br />
Representatives of the United States of<br />
America in Congress assembled, That section<br />
twelve of the Act entitled “‘ An Act to amend<br />
and consolidate the Acts respecting copy-<br />
right,” approved March fourth, nineteen<br />
hundred and nine, be, and the same is hereby,<br />
amended so as to read as follows :<br />
<br />
Work BY, FOREIGNER, PUBLISHED ABROAD,<br />
ONLY ONE COPY REQUIRED.—“ Sec. 12. That<br />
after copyright has been secured by publica-<br />
tion of the work with the notice of copyright<br />
as provided in section nine of this Act, there<br />
shall be promptly deposited in the copy-<br />
right office or in the mail addressed to the<br />
register of copyrights, Washington, District<br />
of Columbia, two complete copies of the best<br />
edition thereof then published, or if the work<br />
is by an author who is a citizen or subject of<br />
foreign state or nation and has been published<br />
in a foreign country, one complete copy of the<br />
best edition then published in such foreign<br />
<br />
country, which copies or copy, if the work be a -<br />
<br />
book or periodical, shall have been produced<br />
in accordance with the manufacturing pro-<br />
visions specified in section fifteen of this Act ;<br />
or if such work be a contribution to a periodical,<br />
for which contribution special registration is<br />
requested, one copy of the issue or issues con-<br />
taining such contribution ; or if the work is<br />
not reproduced in copies for sale there shall be<br />
deposited the copy, print, photograph, or<br />
other identifying reproduction provided by<br />
section eleven of this Act, such copies or copy,<br />
print, photograph, or other reproduction to be<br />
accompanied in each case by a claim of copy-<br />
right. No action or proceeding shall be main-<br />
tained for infringement of copyright in any:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
work until the provisions of this Act with<br />
respect to the deposit of copies and registra-<br />
tion of such work shall have been complied<br />
with.”<br />
<br />
Sec. 2. That all Acts or parts of Acts in<br />
conflict with the provisions of this Act are<br />
hereby repealed.<br />
<br />
Approved, March 28, 1914.<br />
[Note.—Nevw legislation in italics.]<br />
<br />
The copyright law of the United States has<br />
been amended by the Act of Congress, approved<br />
March 28, 1914, providing, in the case of a<br />
work by an author who is a citizen or subject<br />
of a foreign state or nation and which has been<br />
published in a foreign country, that of the<br />
best edition published in such foreign country<br />
ONE complete copy shall be promptly deposited<br />
in the Copyright Office at Washington, after<br />
publication, in lieu of two copies as heretofore<br />
required. (See full text of the amendatory<br />
act above.)<br />
<br />
This provision of law applies to books,<br />
| dramas, music, maps, photographs, prints and<br />
<br />
all other works by foreign authors published<br />
in a foreign country, which are not required<br />
by the copyright laws to be printed or manu-<br />
factured in the United States in order to secure<br />
copyright protection in the United States.<br />
<br />
The new Act does not change any provisions<br />
of the Copyright Act of March 4, 1909, as<br />
regards the requirements of American manu-<br />
facture.<br />
<br />
The application for registration should<br />
state the place and foreign country where the<br />
work was first published.<br />
<br />
Only one copy should be deposited in the<br />
case of any such work published abroad.<br />
Attention is particularly directed to this amend-<br />
ment in order that no more than the one copy<br />
required may be sent, as the Copyright Office<br />
has no funds with which to defray the postage<br />
for the return of any extra copies received.<br />
<br />
Application forms to be used for filing<br />
claims to copyright in accordance with the<br />
new provision of law will be at once prepared<br />
and will be forwarded to all persons requesting<br />
them. Meantime it will be possible to use<br />
the old application forms for published works<br />
by changing with a pen “‘ two copies ”’ to “* one<br />
copy” wherever these words occur In the<br />
forms. :<br />
<br />
Copyright relations have been established<br />
between the United States and the following<br />
countries, and the citizens or subjects of such<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
219<br />
<br />
countries can secure copyright protection in<br />
the United States upon compliance with the<br />
requirements of the copyright acts of the<br />
United States : .<br />
<br />
Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, Costa Rica,<br />
Cuba, Denmark, Fiance, Germany, Great<br />
Britain and her _ possessions, Guatemala,<br />
Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg,<br />
Mexico, Netherlands and__ possessions,<br />
Nicaragua, Norway, Portugal, Salvador, Spain,<br />
Sweden, Switzerland, and Tunis.<br />
<br />
THORVALD SOLBERG,<br />
Register of Copyrights.<br />
<br />
+> ¢ —_____—<br />
<br />
U.S.A. PLAY PIRACY.<br />
<br />
—1.—<—+ —_<br />
<br />
(From the U.S.A. ‘“ Publishers’ Weekly.’’)<br />
<br />
A interesting dramatic copyright case<br />
is pending on both the civil and<br />
criminal sides in respect to the produc-<br />
<br />
tion of “A Pair of White Gloves” at the<br />
<br />
Princess Theatre in New York.<br />
<br />
The play is the work of two French play-<br />
wrights, André de Lorde and Pierre Chaine,<br />
for whom the French Society of Dramatic<br />
Authors is acting. The counsel for this society<br />
in this country is the firm of Coudert Brothers.<br />
The play, though copyrighted in this country in<br />
1908, was produced without authorisation, and<br />
it is said that the manager of the theatre,<br />
F. Ray Comstock, had expressed a willingness,<br />
after his attention had been called to the fact<br />
that he was producing a copyrighted play<br />
without authority, to pay royalty. An option<br />
covering American rights had, however, been<br />
given to a dramatic agent, John Pollock, of<br />
London, who had not exercised the option,<br />
which was still open—so that neither the<br />
authors, the French society nor anyone had<br />
the right to accept royalties until the option<br />
had determined. :<br />
<br />
The play ran a month at the Princess<br />
Theatre, and the run was made the basis of<br />
two suits, one by Coudert Brothers from the<br />
civil side and one by the United States District<br />
Attorney on the criminal side under the<br />
criminal provisions of the copyright law. The<br />
Grand Jury found a true bill and the defendant<br />
is on bail. Both cases have yet to be brought<br />
to trial, Justice Coxe, in the civil case, having<br />
granted a preliminary injunction and the play<br />
having been withdrawn.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
220<br />
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.<br />
<br />
ot<br />
<br />
1. VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive<br />
advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-<br />
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his<br />
<br />
business or the administration of his property. The<br />
Becretary 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 ordinarysolicitors. 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 />
jars 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 />
7. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements, This<br />
must be done within fourteen days of first execution. The<br />
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.<br />
<br />
8. Some agents endeayour 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 />
————-—>—2__—_—_<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 Outright.<br />
<br />
This is sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
(MAY, 1914.<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 />
Il. 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 />
anless the same allowance is made to the author.<br />
<br />
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental<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 />
—_———_—>—_-—_______<br />
<br />
WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.<br />
<br />
—— to<br />
<br />
EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the<br />
Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com-<br />
petent 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 into<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,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ay<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
(>.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to<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 inadvance of percentages. A fixed<br />
date on or before which the play should be<br />
performed.<br />
<br />
(c) Sale of performing right or of a licence to<br />
perform on the basis of royalties (i.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 exceec-<br />
ingly valuable. They should never be included in English<br />
agreements without the author obtaining a stbstantial<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 />
is highly speculative: that he runs a very great risk of<br />
delay and a breakdown in the fulfilment of his contract.<br />
He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully in<br />
the beginning.<br />
<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 />
CENARIOS, typewritten in duplicate on foolscap paper<br />
forwarded to the offices of the Society, together with<br />
<br />
: a registration fee of two shillings and sixpence, will<br />
be carefully compared by the Secretary or a qualified assis-<br />
tant. One copy will be stamped and returned to the author<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 2s. 6d. per act.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
221<br />
DRAMATIC AUTHORS AND AGENTS.<br />
<br />
—*———+—_<br />
<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 />
<br />
who has once had a play in his hands may acquire au<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, do-<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 />
a ag<br />
<br />
WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS.<br />
<br />
—<br />
ITTLE can be added to the warnings given for the<br />
tr 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 />
<br />
STAMPING MUSIC.<br />
<br />
te<br />
<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 />
members, who are thus saved much unnecessary trouble.<br />
<br />
Se ee<br />
<br />
THE READING BRANCH.<br />
<br />
cs<br />
EMBERS will greatly assist the Svciety in this<br />
branch of its work by informing young writers-<br />
of its existence. Their MSS. can be read and<br />
treated as a composition is treated by a coach, The term<br />
MSS. includes not only works of fiction, but pvetry<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 />
<br />
--—<— 9<br />
<br />
REMITTANCES.<br />
SSO as<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 ant<br />
Smithe Bank, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered<br />
letter only.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
COLLECTION BUREAU.<br />
<br />
—+—>+—_<br />
<br />
due to authors, composers and dramatists.<br />
<br />
[Ne Society undertakes to collect accounts and money<br />
1. Under contracts for the publication of their<br />
<br />
works. ;<br />
2. Under contracts for the performance of their works<br />
and amateur fees.<br />
3. Under the Compulsory Licence Clauses of the Copy-<br />
<br />
right Act, i.e., Clause 3, governing compulsory licences for<br />
books, and Clause 19, referring to mechanical instrument<br />
<br />
records.<br />
The Bureau is divided into three departments :—<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 amonnt passing through the<br />
office, 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 />
Holland . : * A. REYDING.<br />
United Statesand Canada. WALTER C. JORDAN,<br />
Germany Mrs PoGSON.<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 />
—_+-——+<br />
Notice.<br />
<br />
Tur Committee of the Society of Authors<br />
deem it important, in case any question<br />
should arise affecting their separate interests,<br />
to have a complete separate list of the novelists,<br />
dramatists and composers of the Society. The<br />
committee would be obliged, therefore, if every<br />
member or associate of the Society who has<br />
not previously published a novel, or a musical<br />
composition, or had a dramatic piece per-<br />
formed in public, would give notice to the<br />
secretary of the Society as soon as publication<br />
takes place, in order that his or her name<br />
may be enrolled on the separate lists above<br />
referred to.<br />
<br />
INDIAN CopyricHt BI...<br />
<br />
WE are informed by the India Office that<br />
the approval of the Secretary of State for<br />
India has been given in Council to the Indian<br />
Copyright Act, 1914. A copy of the Act will<br />
be printed in The Author at the earliest<br />
possible opportunity.<br />
<br />
‘We understand that in clause 4, dealing<br />
with translation rights, the period of limitation<br />
has been extended from five to ten years.<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
An explanation of the term “ translation<br />
rights’ will be cleared up as soon as it is<br />
possible to place the Act before the members<br />
of the Society.<br />
<br />
Unitrep STATES COPYRIGHT.<br />
<br />
We are publishing in this month’s Author<br />
the new American Copyright Act, or rather the<br />
amendment to the old Act. It is not of any<br />
great benefit to English authors. Any amend-<br />
ment, however, of the United States Act which<br />
simplifies the technical proceedings must be<br />
valuable to the cause of the owners of copy-<br />
right property. We hold copies of the Act at<br />
the office in case any member would like to<br />
have a separate copy.<br />
<br />
Tue Lerezic CONGRESS.<br />
<br />
Tut thirty-seventh Congress of “‘ The Inter-<br />
national Literary and Artistic Association ”<br />
will be held in Leipzig on September 10—14<br />
next, under the august patronage of His<br />
Majesty Frederick Augustus, King of Saxony.<br />
Among the more interesting questions which<br />
will be discussed are cinematographic rights,<br />
methods of assuring the rights of translation,<br />
and a review of the incidents affecting literary<br />
and artistic property during the last twelve<br />
months. A fuller programme of the Congress<br />
will be hereafter published. Person» desiring<br />
to visit Leipzig for the Congress should address<br />
themselves to M. M. A. Taillefer, 215 bis,<br />
Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.<br />
<br />
Tur AutHors’ LEAGUE OF AMERICA.<br />
<br />
WE have just received a letter from the<br />
Authors’ League of America. From it we are<br />
glad to hear that the authors are moving their<br />
headquarters to 122, East 17th Street. The<br />
League has taken the house which was formerly<br />
occupied by Washington Irving, and the<br />
library and reception room will be the room<br />
in which Irving did most of his work.<br />
<br />
“Tae DutcH AUTHOR.”<br />
<br />
We have much pleasure in welcoming the<br />
appearance of a new contemporary devoted to<br />
the rights of authors, the Dutch Auteursrecht-<br />
belangen, a monthly periodical published<br />
conjointly by the committees of Musical<br />
Copyright and of Literary Copyright of the<br />
“ Vereeniging van Letterkundigen,” of which<br />
the first three numbers have been courteously<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
j<br />
i<br />
E<br />
i<br />
<br />
f<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
‘sent tous. The pages of the opening numbers<br />
are necessarily occupied chiefly with registers<br />
of authors, pieces at the disposal of the<br />
‘society, and classifications of the Dutch<br />
theatres ; but the essentially practical aim of<br />
the journal has our warmest sympathies, and<br />
we shall look forward to the fulfilment of the<br />
promise of articles on copyright subjects in<br />
subsequent numbers. The address of the<br />
journal is 22, Hooghstraat, Amsterdam.<br />
<br />
Tue AUSTRALIAN Book MARKET.<br />
<br />
In a recent issue of The Publishers’ Weekly<br />
of the United States, there is a picture showing<br />
the importation of American books in bulk at<br />
the Australian docks. The pride with which<br />
this is shown only confirms the statements<br />
which have so often appeared in The Author<br />
that the Americans are taking hold of the<br />
Australian book market very firmly, and unless<br />
English publishers are careful they will find<br />
the Australian market, as well as other<br />
colonial markets, entirely lost to them.<br />
<br />
We note in The Book-Fellow, an Australian<br />
paper, a statement that there are one or two<br />
English publishers who are energetic enough<br />
to secure good markets in Australia, and the<br />
paper states that the English author should<br />
therefore be careful, if he desires the Australian<br />
market, of the choice of his English publisher.<br />
The editor does not mention the names of these<br />
English publishers; but it is quite possible<br />
that the English publisher who has a good<br />
connection in Australia might have a bad<br />
connection on the English market, and in<br />
consequence it would be better for the author<br />
to stick to the better publisher in the English<br />
market and lose his Australian market than<br />
obtain a large Australian market and lose his<br />
English market. /<br />
<br />
There is another point dealing with the<br />
same subject which has been brought to our<br />
notice in a letter from the American Authors’<br />
League. The secretary of the League 1s<br />
evidently experiencing a difficulty on_ behalf<br />
of his members in obtaining a market for<br />
American authors in England, because the<br />
English publisher demands the Australian<br />
market and the market in Canada and the other<br />
colonies. The American publisher, having<br />
proved that he can do better business than the<br />
English publisher, naturally demands these<br />
markets for himself. The question, therefore,<br />
will resolve itself into this: Is it better. for<br />
an American author to leave his American<br />
circulation and his colonial circulation 1n the<br />
hands of an American publisher and lose his<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
223<br />
<br />
English market entirely, or, obtaining his<br />
English market and his colonial market with<br />
an English publisher, run the chance of<br />
offending his American publisher, and in con-<br />
sequence perhaps lose some of his American<br />
profits. The answer to this question lies on<br />
the face of the statement.<br />
<br />
————___+—_ ee —_____-<br />
<br />
THE ANNUAL MEETING.<br />
<br />
—<br />
<br />
HE Annual General Meeting of the<br />
Society took place on Friday, April 17,<br />
at No. 1; Central Buildings, Tothill<br />
<br />
Street, Westminster, the chair being taken at<br />
4.30 by Mr. Hesketh Prichard, chairman of<br />
the Committee of Management.<br />
<br />
In laying the Report of the Committee before<br />
the members present, Mr. H. Hesketh Prichard<br />
asked that it might be taken as read, and<br />
proceeding to comment upon its salient<br />
features, congratulated the Society upon the<br />
continued growth of its membership. The<br />
elections, he pointed ovt, had been bigger<br />
than in any previous years of the Society’s<br />
existence, the figures for 1913 and 1912 being<br />
349 and 345 respectively. It was satisfactory<br />
to note, also, that the loss of members arising<br />
from resignation and non-payment of subscrip-<br />
tions was proportionately less. On the other<br />
hand, he desired to emphasise the fact that<br />
the enormous increase of membership during<br />
the past few years had _ correspondingly<br />
increased the work which had to be done by the<br />
Society. As an instance he might mention<br />
that the summoning of members to the annual<br />
meeting now entailed the sending out of 2,600<br />
circulars. New sub-committees had also come<br />
into existence during recent yeats, adding to<br />
the work accomplished by the Society. He<br />
referred to the loss sustained through the<br />
deaths of the members of its council—Lord<br />
Avebury, the late Poet Laureate, and Field<br />
Marshal Lord Wolseley—saying that he felt<br />
sure that the sincere sympathy of those<br />
present would be extended to the relatives<br />
of these famous men. Turning to the passages<br />
in the report relating to “* Library Censorship,<br />
the chairman said that he wished to explain<br />
the policy of the committee with regard to<br />
this subject. It desired to treat the matter<br />
broadly and from the point of view of the<br />
Society as a whole. It was im possible for the<br />
committee to take up individual cases or to<br />
champion the cause of individual books, as<br />
this might lead in effect to setting up a new<br />
and most invidious form of censorship. As to<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
ee nee<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
224<br />
<br />
what had in fact been done he referred members<br />
to the pages of the report. In the report also<br />
would be found what had been accomplished<br />
during the year by the various sub-committees.<br />
The recently instituted Collection Bureau had<br />
made satisfactory progress in its work, and<br />
its usefulness would increase as members<br />
realised the work which it was prepared to do.<br />
With regard to copyright legislation of an<br />
international character during the past year,<br />
Australia had passed a Copyright Act and so<br />
also had New Zealand. ‘The Council cf India<br />
had approved the Act of 1911, and the com-<br />
mittee was endeavouring to put things on a<br />
more satisfactory footing for British authors<br />
in India and in the United States. Here he<br />
might call attention to the world-wide area<br />
covered by the work of the Society. It had<br />
dealt with cases during the past year in the<br />
United States, in Canada, Switzerland, Ger-<br />
many, Austria, France, Australia and India,<br />
in addition to the large number which it had<br />
conducted in the United Kingdom. Details<br />
of the work referred to would, again, be found<br />
in the report.<br />
<br />
With regard to financial matters, the capital<br />
account had been increased by the investment<br />
of £150 and of £215 standing to the credit of<br />
the Society at its bankers ; and there had been<br />
a total increase of subscriptions during the<br />
year amounting to £130. The debit balance<br />
had, however, increased to the extent of £280,<br />
this increase being due to extra expense<br />
entailed by moving to new offices, to the pur-<br />
chase of furniture arising out of this, and to<br />
heavy legal expenses, legal fees paid in London<br />
<br />
aving alone increased by over £300. The<br />
chairman concluded by thanking the members<br />
of the committee and of the various sub-<br />
committees for their unflagging zeal in the<br />
performance of their functions, and _ the<br />
secretary for the single-minded way in which<br />
he had attended to the Society’s affairs. His<br />
hours of work had increased with the increase<br />
in the work done by the Society, until he was<br />
one of the most hard-worked men in London,<br />
and he might be assured that the members<br />
of the Society appreciated his efforts. The<br />
chairman, in resuming his seat, invited any<br />
member who might desire to do so to call<br />
attention to any point in the report as to which<br />
he might desire further explanations.<br />
<br />
Mr. W. L. George rose and expressed a wish<br />
that there should be further elucidation of the<br />
steps taken by the committee with regard<br />
to the question of “ Library Censorship.”<br />
Members might not be interested in knowing<br />
why the Society was not in the same camp as<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914,<br />
<br />
the booksellers and publishers, but authors.<br />
might and did want to know in respect of<br />
what, whether it might be plot or incident<br />
or words, a book was going to be banned. He<br />
did not mean to suggest that in the light of<br />
such knowledge an author would deviate from<br />
the course he had marked out for himself.<br />
An author was not likely to emasculate his.<br />
book or, indeed, to make any difference in it<br />
to meet the views of library censors. The<br />
whole matter was often before him in connec-<br />
tion with his own work as a reviewer. A book<br />
sometimes came before him conceived and<br />
written in bad taste, a book which might<br />
fairly be termed “indecent,” but which was:<br />
accepted and circulated by the libraries,<br />
whereas another crudely expressed, perhaps,.<br />
but neither indecently conceived nor written.<br />
with indecent intent, would be banned.<br />
<br />
The chairman in answer said that when the<br />
suggestion of a conference referred to in the<br />
report was made he had seen Mr. Acland of<br />
Messrs. W. H. Smith and Sons, and had made<br />
the suggestion that there should be an informal<br />
meeting of representatives of bodies interested<br />
—a round table meeting for discussion. The<br />
committee had assented to this course being<br />
taken, but when the matter was laid before the<br />
council, it was referred back by the council<br />
to the committee which, therefore, found it<br />
impossible to go forward. The chairman did<br />
not profess to understand the principles of<br />
library censorship. He had suggested a con-<br />
ference to discuss the whole subject. The<br />
committee wished for it. The council did not,<br />
and so the matter stood.<br />
<br />
Mr. George remarked that this did not.<br />
entirely settle his difficulty and that what<br />
he wanted to obtain from the conference<br />
was a settlement on the part of the libraries<br />
of exactly what it was that determined the<br />
banning of a book. He wished to know<br />
whether it was certain words or certain<br />
definable situations which procured exclusion.<br />
He had no means of knowing what it was<br />
governed the action of the libraries, but he<br />
assumed there must be some rule, and he<br />
thought it would be greatly to the advantage<br />
of the members to know in advance whether a<br />
certain course would or would not cause them<br />
to be banned. They could then decide, .<br />
according to their artistic conscience or to<br />
their commercial desires, whether they would<br />
elect to be banned or not. He accordingly<br />
suggested that he should move a resolution on<br />
the subject, if it would be in order to do so, and<br />
eventually it was moved by him and duly<br />
seconded that ‘‘ A conference composed of<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
two authors, two publishers, two members of<br />
the Libraries Association and two booksellers<br />
be invited to meet, the representatives of such<br />
conference to be appointed by the standing<br />
committees of their respective associations.”<br />
<br />
Mr. Charles Garvice, in support of the resolu-<br />
tion, said that the committee had given the<br />
matter the most earnest consideration, and<br />
he expressed the opinion that if the conference<br />
proposed in the autumn had been held it<br />
might well have led to some definite result.<br />
If the meeting would support unanimously<br />
the resolution moved by Mr. George, the hands<br />
of the committee would be greatly strengthened.<br />
It was not the fact that pressure could not be<br />
brought to bear upon the libraries ; it could<br />
be done through the public. Mr Garvice drew<br />
a humorous picture of the lady who goes to the<br />
lending library and asks for a banned book<br />
and is at once put off by the library assistant<br />
with a different book by a different author,<br />
accepted by the library as innocuous and at a<br />
lower rate than the usual trade one. He<br />
suggested, however, that to take without<br />
murmuring a book which was not the one<br />
asked for was not a necessary and certainly<br />
not a wise course for the library subscriber to<br />
adopt. Experience showed that the libraries<br />
were not inevitably masters of the situation.<br />
<br />
The motion, on being put to the vote, was<br />
carried nemine contradicente, and the pro-<br />
ceedings closed with an unanimous and hearty<br />
vote of thanks to the chairman, proposed by<br />
Mr. Armstrong and seconded by Mr. Anstey<br />
Guthrie.<br />
<br />
———_1——____—_<br />
<br />
THE U.S.A. AUTHORS’ LEAGUE ON THE<br />
AGENT QUESTION.<br />
<br />
——+—~ +<br />
<br />
(REPRINTED FROM ‘THE AUTHORS’<br />
BULLETIN.’’)<br />
<br />
EVERAL years ago a young and inexperi-<br />
enced author wrote a one-act play and,<br />
on the representations of a well-meaning<br />
<br />
but misguided friend, entrusted it to the hands<br />
of an inconspicuous agent. There was no<br />
written agreement between this author and<br />
his agent—merely such vague oral understand-<br />
ing as that on which author’s relations with<br />
agents are commonly based. Now the play<br />
happened to be a good play ; and the agent's<br />
efforts to place it were limited to handing it to<br />
a certain actor, who accepted it at once on<br />
the oral understanding that he was to pay<br />
<br />
the author a fee of $50 for each week in which<br />
<br />
he presented the piece. With this the author<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
225<br />
<br />
was well content, but his enquiries ‘after an<br />
agreement were always met by the agent’s<br />
assurance that it would be all right : he would<br />
draw up the agreement as soon as he could get<br />
round to it. And so the actor went ahead<br />
borrowed money enough (from the author) to<br />
make the production, and had nearly finished<br />
rehearsing the piece when, of a sudden, the<br />
agent announced that he would insist not only<br />
on a commission of 20 per cent. of the author’s<br />
fees but on a commission from the actor of<br />
10 per cent. of the gross earnings of the play.<br />
That he had not a shadow of right to make<br />
any such demand did not affect his effrontery ;<br />
he persisted unblushingly, to the point of<br />
engaging a shyster lawyer to support his<br />
claim to the sole right to license the production<br />
of the play. About that time the author woke<br />
up and retained a lawyer on his own account,<br />
with the upshot that he was permitted to<br />
license the production of his own play for a fee<br />
of $50 per week, but had to cencede the agent’s<br />
claim to a 20 per cent. commission on that fee.<br />
The play ran for something like eighty weeks<br />
and the agent got $800 commission for a<br />
transaction that had not required more than<br />
half an hour of his time—exclusive of the time<br />
he wasted trying to bleed the actor; and the<br />
author was put to the further expense of the<br />
fees demanded, and earned, by a good lawyer.<br />
<br />
At about the same time the same author<br />
received an enquiry from the secretary of the<br />
(English) Society of Authors, asking him to<br />
investigate statements made to one of his<br />
clients by a certain literary agency. This<br />
concern had sold to a certain American<br />
magazine a series of stories by an English<br />
literary woman, informing her first that the<br />
magazine paid only on publication and later,<br />
when her stories began to appear, that it didn’t<br />
pay until several months after publication.<br />
The American author happened to know the<br />
editor and proprietors of the magazine in<br />
question, and had done a great deal of business<br />
with them, always receiving a cheque on the<br />
first Friday following a sale. So he asked the<br />
editor to explain this odd departure from his<br />
customary methods of business. The editor<br />
promptly produced a receipt signed by the<br />
agent for payment in full for all the stories<br />
and dated the Friday following their accept-<br />
nce.<br />
: The agent first mentioned is believed to<br />
be no longer in any way connected with the<br />
writing game, but the other is still doing<br />
business in New York and, indeed, represents<br />
several prominent members of the Authors’<br />
League. He should have been put out of<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
226<br />
<br />
business ; but there was no Authors’ League,<br />
in those days, and the English writer, having at<br />
length received her cheque, refused to move<br />
an action against him through the Society of<br />
Authors. So there is nothing to lead this<br />
agent to believe that he cannot repeat the<br />
offence in his discretion. In fact, he has<br />
repeated it. The present writer met in London<br />
last winter a prominent American author who<br />
spends most of his time abroad. The latter<br />
observed in the course of a discussion of agents :<br />
“ Well, I stick to — Of course I know<br />
he’s tricky, but he’s honest about his dis-<br />
honesty—the one time, that I found out he’d<br />
held up a cheque of mine for some months, he<br />
admitted it and made good.” . . .<br />
<br />
Not very long ago an agent now operating<br />
in New York approached a certain author<br />
for manuscript to market. The author gave<br />
him one story and, at the agent’s invitation,<br />
named $50 as the lowest price he would accept.<br />
The agent sold the story to The Popular<br />
Magazine for $150, paid the author $50, and<br />
pocketed the difference of $100. His explana-<br />
tion was that, although he styled himself an<br />
agent, he was in reality a middle-man, whose<br />
business it was to purchase from authors at<br />
their lowest cash prices (neglecting, however, to<br />
pay cash at the time of purchase—or at all in<br />
the event of no sale) and sell to the highest<br />
bidder, pouching the difference !<br />
<br />
There exists in New York a dramatic agency<br />
which has been conspicuously prosperous for<br />
many years. So far as this writer is aware,<br />
its probity has never been questioned. And<br />
yet when he had occasion, a few weeks ago, to<br />
consult a copy of the printed form of contract<br />
employed by this agency in closing all agree-<br />
ments between manager and author, he dis-<br />
covered that the agency makes itself a third<br />
party to all such contracts—the manager<br />
cannot proceed against the author, and the<br />
author cannot proceed against the manager for<br />
any delinquency under the agreement, without<br />
the full consent and active assistance of the<br />
agent. In other words, the author surrenders<br />
absolutely, under such agreement, all his right<br />
to protect his own interests in his own work ;<br />
if the agent should prove venal and side with a<br />
dishonest manager the author is absolutely<br />
powerless to protect his own property.<br />
<br />
These anecdotes illustrate, doubtless, ex-<br />
treme instances of the dangers latent in the<br />
commonly lax understandings between authors<br />
and agents; but they are strictly true in<br />
every particular. And as long as authors<br />
tolerate such turpitude, so long will they suffer<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
from it. The remedy is obvious—make an’<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. [MAY, 1914,<br />
<br />
agreement with your agent providing that alt<br />
fees and royalties shall be paid to you im<br />
person, and that you shall personally pay the<br />
agent’s commissions. There is no earthly<br />
reason why an agent should not repose the<br />
same trust in his principal as he commonly<br />
insists the principal must repose in him,<br />
especially when he has an agreement enforee-<br />
able through the courts. No reputable agent<br />
can object to such a provision. And there<br />
is at least one who does not object to it. Some<br />
years ago he negotiated an agreement for me<br />
involving an advance of a large sum of money.<br />
My lawyer thoughtfully wrote into the agree-<br />
ment the provision that the payment should<br />
be made to me personally. The agent never<br />
uttered a word of protest, though it was the<br />
first transaction in which we had been asso-<br />
ciated.<br />
<br />
As a matter of fact, no author should employ<br />
an agent except under a written agreement as<br />
carefully formulated as his contract with his<br />
publishers, which agreement should contain,<br />
among other provisions, the following: (1)<br />
That it shall terminate automatically at the<br />
end of six months if the agent has not within<br />
that time secured an acceptable offer for the<br />
work ; (2) that he shall accept no offer without<br />
consulting, and that no agreement shall be<br />
valid unless signed by the author; (3) that<br />
the author shall have the right to sell his work<br />
at any tim2 without consulting the agent, but<br />
with written notice to the agent of his inten-<br />
tion; (5) that the agent’s commission shall<br />
in no case exceed 10 per cent.; (6) that the<br />
total commission shall not exceed an agreed<br />
sum, ceasing automatically when that sum<br />
has been reached ; (7) that all payments shall<br />
be made direct to the author; (8) that the<br />
agent shall keep a record of his efforts to dis-<br />
pose of the work and surrender it to the author<br />
on demand.<br />
<br />
The strict necessity for incorporating the<br />
last provision will perhaps be more readily<br />
understood by those to whom it comes as a<br />
novelty when they consider such circumstances<br />
as the following :<br />
<br />
A woman playwright, not a member of the<br />
Authors’ League, recently sought advice about<br />
securing readings for her plays. She stated<br />
that she had left several plays for over two<br />
years in the hands of a woman agent, who<br />
positively and at all times refused any informa-<br />
tion as to what she was doing or had done with<br />
the plays, treating all such enquiries as reflect-<br />
ing on her ability, good-will and probity.<br />
This playwright has no agreement with her<br />
agent, beyond an oral understanding as to the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<—<br />
<br />
2<br />
Fo<br />
ge<br />
A<br />
iG<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
rate of commission ; she cannot get her manu-<br />
scripts back without a row, has no idea of<br />
their fortunes, and cannot well submit them to<br />
managers of her own choosing, because she<br />
does not know that they have not been so<br />
submitted before and because she fears such<br />
action may hinder the alleged activities of the<br />
bent... :<br />
<br />
Publishers should never sign agreements with<br />
agents who cannot produce written authority<br />
to represent the author in question.<br />
<br />
Many agents make a business of claiming<br />
to represent any and every author for whose<br />
work there is a demand. Of one of this class<br />
a certain Philadelphia editor said: ‘“‘ He will<br />
run down from New York and come boiling<br />
into my office with the claim that he is in a<br />
position to secure me an article, signed by the<br />
Creator ; he’ll name his price, collect a thou-<br />
sand in advance, run back to New York and—<br />
wire me with the last dollar of the advance that<br />
the Creator has refused to sign the said article,<br />
but he can get the devil to sign it for the same<br />
money.”’<br />
<br />
Again, an English agent carries my name on<br />
his letter-head with the claim that he is my<br />
general European representative. He is<br />
nothing of the sort. He once secured per-<br />
mission to sell Swedish translation rights in<br />
some of my novels; that is the sole basis for<br />
his pretensions. But an English publisher<br />
who happened to want some of my work would,<br />
on seeing this claim on the agent’s letterhead,<br />
naturally open negotiations through the agent,<br />
instead of personally with me, thereby sub-<br />
jecting me toa loss of 10 per cent. of my terms.<br />
<br />
Mr. H. G. Wells finds it necessary to adver-<br />
tise regularly in The Author, the organ of the<br />
Society of Authors, to the effect that he does<br />
not employ a literary agent except for special<br />
work, in which case the agent will be able to<br />
produce written authority from Mr. Wells.<br />
<br />
The Society of Authors has drafted a model<br />
form of agent’s agreement, a copy of which is on<br />
file in the office of the Authors’ League. With<br />
certain modifications to cover differences<br />
between American and English conditions, it<br />
is an excellent formula; and it may be con-<br />
sulted by any member of the League, on<br />
application to the Managing Secretary. . - -<br />
<br />
There is still another phase of the agent<br />
i demanding more extended discussion<br />
than is possible in this limited space. It is<br />
the question of the value of an agent to the<br />
beginning author. Beginning authors are<br />
frequently most anxious to enlist the services<br />
of well-known agents, apparently considering<br />
such association in some way a cachet of dis-<br />
<br />
ial casa cm 227<br />
<br />
tinction ; but it is gravely to be doubted<br />
whether their services are worth much to the<br />
beginner. {t is my experience that an author<br />
must make himself known by his own efforts<br />
before the agents will accord his work the<br />
attention it requires. It is obvious that an<br />
agent, no matter how much he may admire<br />
the work of Jonsmith, a new writer, is not<br />
going to give it as much attention as he will<br />
the work of, say Mr. Rudyard Kipling; it<br />
takes as much time—generally, much more—to<br />
sell Jonsmith’s manuscripts, and the commis-<br />
sions are not one-tenth as large, and the agent<br />
pursues his business with the notion of making<br />
the best living he can. Give an agent a manu-<br />
script of Jonsmith’s and a manuscript of Mr.<br />
Kipling’s, with an opening where Jonsmith’s<br />
would fit, and it is Mr. Kipling’s manuscript<br />
that gets sold.<br />
<br />
But the author of this article wishes to<br />
disclaim any animus toward agents qua agents.<br />
He has found them excellent servants, though<br />
he believes the best of them to be poor masters.<br />
And he is satisfied that there are many agents<br />
of immaculate probity. But he would<br />
earnestly advise his fellow-members to take<br />
counsel with the Managing Secretary—who<br />
has at his command the experience of the<br />
entire membership—before entering into<br />
relations with any agent whatsoever.<br />
<br />
The Authors’ League cannot, indeed, fulfil<br />
its first purpose until its members form the<br />
habit of consulting the Managing Secretary<br />
with the same freedom that they would con-<br />
sult their family lawyers, on all matters per-<br />
taining to their literary and dramatic ventures,<br />
and of reporting any irregularities that come<br />
to their notice, with the explicit understanding<br />
that ali such enquiries, complaints and reports<br />
will be respected as strictly confidential and<br />
divulged not even to the Executive Committee<br />
save with consent of the member.<br />
<br />
—____——an-9-4 4-0<br />
<br />
UNITED STATES NOTES.<br />
<br />
HAT competition among authors —or,<br />
perhaps I should rather say, anon<br />
publishers—which takes the ne of<br />
<br />
struggling to get on to the list of best He ee<br />
has an interesting international side to it. .<br />
New York Publishers’ Weekly brings out a<br />
consensus for the year, based on. the ae<br />
of best-selling books during 1913, and in t i<br />
the result of the race between American an<br />
<br />
foreign, that 1s, practically, English writers can<br />
<br />
In fiction the three first places are<br />
<br />
be seen.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
228<br />
<br />
taken by native authors ; Churchill (“The<br />
Inside of the Cup’’) easily first, Harrison<br />
(‘“ V. V.’s Eyes ”) second, and Stratton-Porter<br />
(‘* Laddie ”’) third. The last-named only just<br />
beat the first English author, Parker (“* The<br />
Judgment House ”’). Another American comes<br />
fifth, Fox (‘‘ The Heart of the Hills’); and<br />
then two more English writers, Farnol (** The<br />
Amateur Gentleman ’’), and Hall Caine (“* The<br />
Woman Thou Gavest Me”). Consequently,<br />
Englishmen may be said to hold their own very<br />
successfully in the first seven, though lower<br />
down the list becomes preponderatingly<br />
American. In non-fiction the first four places<br />
go to Americans—Lee (“ Crowds ’’), Collier<br />
(“Germany and the Germans”’), Frank<br />
(‘* Zone Policeman 88 ”’), and President Wilson<br />
(“The New Freedom’’). Viscount Bryce<br />
(‘South America”), and Arnold Bennett<br />
(‘‘ Your United States ”) secure the next two<br />
places for England. A larger number of<br />
foreign authors, including French and Belgian,<br />
figure below the leaders than in the fiction class.<br />
<br />
So much for 1918. In coming to the present<br />
year, the first point that strikes one is that the<br />
early months do not seem to have been very<br />
brisk. I say ‘“‘do not seem,” because, as a<br />
matter of fact, I have not seen any figures,<br />
and so do not know whether the appearance<br />
is supported by reality. I shall attempt the<br />
usual classification of the books, among which,<br />
some at least, may be expected to survive the<br />
test of time.<br />
<br />
The biographies are not as numerous or as<br />
important as when last I wrote. To the com-<br />
plete edition of the works of James Whitcomb<br />
Riley there is prefixed an authorised sketch of<br />
Riley’s life by E. H. Hitel, the editor. Oswald<br />
Garrison Villard has produced a life of ‘‘ John<br />
Brown,’ C. S. Alden one of ‘‘ Commodore<br />
Perkins, U.S.N.” “A Sunny Life,’”’ by Isabel<br />
Barrows, is a record of the career of Samuel<br />
Jane Barrows. Brand Whitlock writes his<br />
own life, or part of it, under the title of ‘‘ Forty<br />
Years of It’?; and Mr. S. S. McClure is the<br />
author of ‘“‘ My Autobiography.” The edition<br />
of the “ Journals of Ralph Waldo Emerson,”’<br />
by E. W. Emerson and W. E. Forbes, may<br />
perhaps be included also under biography.<br />
Another work on an inexhaustible subject is<br />
““The Everyday Life of Abraham Lincoln,”’<br />
by Francis I’. Browne.<br />
<br />
Later biographical publications are: ‘‘ My<br />
First Years as a Frenchwoman,” by Mary King<br />
Waddington ; “ Our Friend John Burroughs,”<br />
by Clara Barrus; ‘Thomas Wentworth<br />
Higginson,” by his widow; ‘‘ Landmarks<br />
of a Lawyer’s Lifetime,’ by Theron Strong ;<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
and ‘Confederate Portraits,’ by Gamaliel<br />
Bradford.<br />
<br />
The history section may commence with<br />
Admiral Mahon’s ‘“‘ Major Operations of the<br />
Navies in the War of American Independence.”<br />
George L. Rivés writes on “* The United States<br />
<br />
and Mexico’”’?; M. M. Quaife on ‘‘ Chicago and.<br />
<br />
the Old North-West, 16783—1835”; E. D.<br />
Adams on ‘‘ The Power of Ideals in American<br />
History’; G. W. James on ‘“‘ The Old Fran-<br />
ciscan Missions of California.” ‘‘ Readings in<br />
American History ”’ is by Professor J. J. Alton.<br />
Two other professors write on historico-legal<br />
subjects, C. G. Haines on ‘‘ The American Doc-<br />
trine of Judicial Supremacy,” and E.S8. Corwin<br />
on ‘“‘ National Supremacy : Treaty Power versus<br />
<br />
State Power.’ ‘“‘ The Tariff History of the .<br />
<br />
United States ” is by Professor Taussig.<br />
<br />
Professor Dean C. Worcester has out his<br />
expected book on ‘‘ The Philippines.”” Another<br />
work about the same part of the world is ‘“‘ The<br />
Philippine Problem,” by Frederick Chamberlin.<br />
J. K. Goodrich tells of ‘* The Coming Hawaii ” ;<br />
J. Saxon Mills writes about ‘‘ The Panama<br />
Canal,’ which is also the title of a book by<br />
Frederick Haskin, and Albert Edwards about<br />
“The Barbary Coast.” ‘Across Siberia<br />
Alone” is by a lady, Mrs. J. C. Lee; while<br />
adventure of another kind is the subject of<br />
“Alone in the Wilderness,” by Joseph<br />
Knowles, the Boston artist who plunged<br />
into the woods naked, foodless, and weaponless<br />
—and emerged alive. ‘‘ The Ascent of Denali<br />
(Mount McKinley)” is by the Archdeacon of<br />
the Yukon, Dr. Hudson Stuck, who also has<br />
produced “‘ Ten Thousand Miles with a Dog-<br />
Sled.” General Rafael Reyes, ex-President<br />
of Colombia, deals with ‘‘ The Two Americas,”<br />
and Sidney Gulick with ‘‘ The American-<br />
Japanese Problem.”<br />
<br />
Two sociological works are “‘ Heredity and<br />
Sex,” T. Hunt Morgan’s Columbia University<br />
lectures, and ‘‘ The Family and Society,” by<br />
Professor J. M. Gillette. President J. H<br />
Baker, of Colorado University, is the author of<br />
‘‘ Educational Aims and Civic Needs.” Edwin<br />
Brown writes “‘ Broke,”’ a tramp’s record, and.<br />
Adelaide Popp, ‘‘The Autobiography of a<br />
Working Woman.” In “‘ Love and the Soul-<br />
Maker’ Mary Austin deals with relations.<br />
between men and women.<br />
<br />
‘“‘ Nietzsche and Other Exponents of Indi-.<br />
<br />
vidualism ” is the name of the latest work by<br />
Dr. Paul Carus, editor of the Open Court.<br />
<br />
H. E. Krehbiel, whom Lafeadio Hearn’s.<br />
admirers will remember as his American<br />
musical friend, has a book on “‘ Afro-American<br />
Folk-Songs.”<br />
<br />
5<br />
B<br />
4<br />
<br />
j<br />
i<br />
oe<br />
a<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.]<br />
<br />
A remarkable feature in the novel list is the<br />
great number of feminine names among the<br />
authors this time—over 50 per cent. among<br />
those which I have picked out for mention.<br />
The order, I may note, has no significance.<br />
Mary Roberts Rinehart has written ‘* The<br />
After House’’?; Kate L. Bosher, ‘‘ The House<br />
of Happiness”; Jane Stone, ‘“‘The New<br />
Man’; H. K. Webster, “ The. Butterfly ”’ ;<br />
David Lisle, ‘“‘The Soul of Life’’; Anne<br />
Warner, ‘Sunshine Jane’’; Eleanor H.<br />
Porter, ‘‘ Miss Billy—-Married ’’; Zane Gray,<br />
“The Light of Western Stars”; Harold<br />
MacGrath, ‘‘ Pidgin Island’’; Beulah Marie<br />
Dix, ‘‘ Mother’s Son’’; Samuel Merwin,<br />
** Anthony the Absolute’’; and Gouverneur<br />
Morris, ‘‘The Incandescent Lily.” With<br />
** Diane of the Green Van,’’ Leona Dalrymple<br />
won a ten thousand dollar competition.<br />
““Westways’”’ is by the late Weir Mitchell.<br />
““The Red Emerald,” by John Reed Scott,<br />
and ‘‘ The White Sapphire,” by L. F. Hartman,<br />
make up a curious coincidence in nomen-<br />
elature. ‘“‘A Wise Son” is by Charles<br />
Sherman; ‘“ Victory Law,’ by Anne War-<br />
wick; ‘‘The Desert and Mrs. Ajax,” by<br />
E. S. Moffat; ‘‘ The Congresswoman,” by<br />
Isabel Curtis; ‘“‘ Van Cleve,” by Mrs. Watts ;<br />
“Dark Hollow,” by Anna Katherine Green ;<br />
** Penrod,” by Booth Tarkington; ‘‘ The<br />
Substance of his House,’ by Ruth Holt<br />
Boucicault ; ‘‘ The Peacock’s Feather,” by<br />
Leslie Moore; ‘‘ The Precipice,’ by Elia<br />
Peattie; ‘‘ Kazan,” by J. O. Curwood ; “* The<br />
First Step,’’ by Eliza Orne White; ‘‘ World’s<br />
End,” by Amélie Rives; and ‘‘ Shea of the<br />
Irish Brigade,’’ by Randall Parrish. Three<br />
anonymous novels are “‘ Home,’ which ran<br />
serially in the Century Magazine before appear-<br />
ing in- book form; “ Overland Red’’; and<br />
‘“* My Wife’s Hidden Life.’’ It seems that the<br />
practice of suppressing the author’s name, in<br />
order to provoke curiosity, is spreading on<br />
both sides of the Atlantic.<br />
<br />
Having had to reopen this letter I may add<br />
the names of the following later novels:<br />
L. J. Vance’s “The Lone Wolf’; C. T.<br />
Brady’s ‘“‘ The Sword Hand of Napoleon ” ;<br />
H. B. Wright’s “The Eyes of the World”<br />
Carolyn Wells’s ‘Anybody but Anne”<br />
G. B. McCutcheon’s ‘‘ Black is White” ;<br />
Grace Lutz’s ‘‘The Best Man”; Rupert<br />
Hughes’s ‘“‘ What will the People Say?” ;<br />
Doris Egerton Jones’s “‘ Peter Piper”; Vir-<br />
ginia Brooks’s “ Lost Little Sister”; B. W.<br />
Sinclair’s ‘‘ North of Fifty-Three”; and<br />
Caroline Lockhart’s ‘‘ The Full of the Moon.”<br />
<br />
The ‘‘ Authors’ League of America” on<br />
<br />
we vee<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
229<br />
<br />
February 14 held their first annual dinner, at<br />
the Hotel Biltmore, New York. Professor<br />
W. Milligan Sloane, of Colombia University,<br />
presided, Mr. W. J. Bryan, Secretary of State,<br />
was the guest of the evening, and the company<br />
has been described as the most distinguished<br />
body of literary persons ever assembled in<br />
America. Including members and_ guests,<br />
thére were 442 present in all. The League has<br />
now moved to new headquarters at 122, East<br />
17th Street, New York, which was the home<br />
of Washington Irving late in life.<br />
<br />
Since I last wrote, the most notable death<br />
has been that of Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, who<br />
succumbed to influenza at his home in Phila-<br />
delphia on the fourth day of the present year.<br />
His literary work is so well known in England,<br />
I imagine, that it is unnecessary to refer to it<br />
here ; but it may be mentioned that he was a<br />
prolific medical writer as well as novelist, poet,<br />
ete. He was 84 years of age.<br />
<br />
Captain F. H. Brownson, who died near the<br />
end of the Old Year, combined the professions<br />
of soldier, lawyer, and author. He trans-<br />
lated from the Italian and Spanish several<br />
works, and also wrote on masonry, religion,<br />
and_ politics. Another soldier-author was<br />
James Grant Wilson, who wrote a life of his<br />
old general, Ulysses Grant, and other military<br />
works. He was editing ‘The Lives of the<br />
Presidents of the United States ”’ when he was<br />
carried off. Charles Edmund Dana, who died<br />
in February, wrote a book called ‘‘ Glimpses<br />
of English History,’’ but was better known as<br />
an art critic. February also proved fatal to<br />
Mrs. Marie Robinson Wright, a great traveller<br />
in Central and Southern America, about the<br />
various countries of which she produced a<br />
number of books. George William Sheldon,<br />
who died in New Jersey, will be remembered<br />
in London as the literary adviser in London<br />
to the firm of Appleton between 1890 and 1900.<br />
His own writings were chiefly concerned<br />
with art and artists. Major-General Joshua<br />
Chamberlain (a third soldier author, by the<br />
way), who died on February 24, dealt with<br />
historical and political subjects in a number<br />
of books. He was one of the heroes of<br />
Gettysburg.<br />
<br />
Deaths in March include Frederick Townsend<br />
Martin (in London); J. B. Dunbar, an<br />
authority upon the Pawnee Indians ; Professor<br />
R. B. Richardson, whose writings were<br />
classical and archeological ; and Mrs. Frances<br />
Squire Potter, Professor at Minnesota Univer-<br />
sity, suffragist, and author.<br />
<br />
Putue Wa.sit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
230 THE AUTHOR. [MAY, 1914:<br />
<br />
SALE OF COPYRIGHT IN A BOOK.<br />
<br />
—<br />
<br />
N an article in The Author of April 1 it<br />
I was stated that ‘‘in the early days of<br />
the Society it was by no means an<br />
uncommon practice for publishers to purchase<br />
authors’ works outright for a lump sum.”<br />
This rather suggests that in the year 1913 it<br />
would be surprising to find a publisher or<br />
editor who would desire to purchase an<br />
author’s copyright for a lump sum rather<br />
than to pay him a royalty. Probably, how-<br />
ever, it was intended rather to convey that<br />
the publisher who has had to do with the<br />
Society, and who is aware that he is dealing<br />
with one of its members, would hesitate to<br />
suggest such a transaction, or at any rate<br />
would not be likely to press it. There are,<br />
it is submitted, plenty of offers made to<br />
authors to deal on the terms that they shall<br />
have money down in exchange for their rights,<br />
and a good many authors who are not unwilling<br />
to accept such terms. They may very likely<br />
not be members of the Society, and so may<br />
not have read its warnings not to sell literary<br />
property outright, or only to do so under the<br />
advice of the secretary, or of a competent<br />
agent. If, however, writers insist upon waiting<br />
until they get into trouble before joining the<br />
Society, there are naturally many who only<br />
learn the pitfalls of authorship by falling into<br />
them. An author once bit is probably shy<br />
on the next occasion. If he has discovered<br />
from the large sale of a book of which he has<br />
sold the copyright, that he has lost and that<br />
the publisher has been the gainer by the<br />
method of business adopted, he will stand out<br />
for royalties on the second occasion. It may<br />
be observed however that he will not have any<br />
account of its sales supplied to him by his<br />
publisher and so will have no definite figures<br />
to rely upon when he wishes to cite the success<br />
of his first work in endeavouring to secure<br />
good terms from the publisher of his second.<br />
There must be a good many occasions where<br />
a man writes one or perhaps two or three<br />
books, not because he wants to write or has<br />
any need to do so from a pecuniary point of<br />
view, but because a certain book is wanted<br />
and he is the particular man to do it. A great<br />
man may die, a statesman or a soldier, for<br />
example, and leave behind him material for<br />
a work which his relatives may well desire to<br />
see published, and there may be a son or<br />
nephew perfectly qualified to write his biography<br />
oe ee his letters, who in ordinary circum-<br />
: would probably never have produced<br />
<br />
a book. Public interest may be temporarily<br />
riveted upon some scientific discovery, in<br />
investigations relating to a disease, or ina social<br />
or religious question of absorbing interest and<br />
of some obscurity. Naturally when an enter-<br />
prising publisher is looking for material it may<br />
strike him that a book on a special topic such<br />
as these, written by as eminent an authority<br />
as his estimate of cost will stand (or at any<br />
rate by a sure hand who will do what is wanted<br />
correctly), will be a safe investment. It can<br />
easily be understood that in any of the circum-<br />
stances suggested a sum down for all rights.<br />
is likely to be offered and accepted. The<br />
vendor is not accustomed to such transactions<br />
and is glad to have a chance of concluding the<br />
business part of his undertaking at once,<br />
without any need to trouble himself further<br />
about it. The purchaser is not so unaccus-<br />
tomed, and if he has made up his mind that<br />
a speculation is likely to be profitable, he is<br />
naturally anxious that it should be as profitable:<br />
(to himself) as possible ; besides which he can<br />
act with independence if he has the whole<br />
matter in his own hands without need to<br />
consult anyone over any particular point that<br />
may arise. He probably can make himself<br />
safe in any case, but if he buys outright the<br />
profits (if there is success) will be larger than<br />
if he has to go on sharing them for ever with<br />
someone else. Besides which he may, as has<br />
been suggested above, be the person who has.<br />
started the idea of the book, and it is only<br />
natural that if he makes an offer he should<br />
make the one which will suit him best. It is.<br />
equally natural, however, that the Society<br />
should advise the author, if he comes to it for<br />
advice, not to accept such terms. They are<br />
the terms which the trade most readily offers.<br />
to the amateur, and which are more likely to<br />
be accepted by him if he is an amateur and the<br />
less experience he has, than by one who has<br />
qualified himself by previous dealings to<br />
dictate terms on his side, and gained the<br />
knowledge that he ought to do so. Very much<br />
the same thing takes place in picture dealing.<br />
The owner of an old master not perhaps of<br />
sufficient merit to command its value at<br />
auction approaches a dealer. He expects,<br />
perhaps, that the latter will offer to sell the<br />
picture for him taking a specified commission<br />
for which he will undertake to obtain the best<br />
price that professional skill can bargain for.<br />
The would-be seller is, however, much more<br />
likely to be told by the dealer that if he will<br />
name a price himself, he (the dealer) will be<br />
content to take anything realised above that<br />
ptice as his share in the profits. There again<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.3<br />
<br />
the professional treating with the amateur<br />
endeavours to make the best bargain possible<br />
for himself, and he very often succeeds.<br />
That, however, is no reason why the amateur<br />
should not be advised to resist, even though<br />
to do so may imperil his chance of making<br />
any bargain at al]. Whether he runs a serious<br />
risk of losing his deal altogether depends upon<br />
circumstances, which vary according to parti-<br />
cular cases. The author is spoken of above<br />
as an amateur because his business is to<br />
write ; to sell what he writes may be incidental<br />
to authorship, but is not the author’s busi-<br />
ness. Buying and selling literary matter is<br />
the business of the publisher.<br />
<br />
Now, the reasons for the author refusing to<br />
part with his copyright for a sum down, or,<br />
indeed, to part with it at all, are not entirely<br />
connected with the question of relative<br />
pecuniary profit. It is a matter of importance<br />
to authors, or to most authors, that they<br />
should get as much for their books as possible,<br />
and it is to most authors, whether money is of<br />
importance to them or not, extremely galling<br />
to see large profits obviously accruing to others<br />
and lost to themselves because in a moment<br />
of weakness, possibly of financial weakness,<br />
they made a bad bargain. The matter,<br />
however, is not ended when this is said. The<br />
man or woman who sells a copyright for a<br />
sum down, with no provision for royalties,<br />
or for any future profits, if editions are multi-<br />
plied as the result of success, presumably<br />
retains no control whatever over future<br />
editions, or over the conditions under which<br />
they will be published. There may be no<br />
obligation upon him to make any revision, and<br />
none upon the publisher to ask him for any<br />
such correction, or to permit him to make any.<br />
This may seem to be matter of little moment<br />
(to take an example from what has been<br />
suggested above) to the young scientist or<br />
theologian who has gladly accepted a fairly<br />
liberal offer for an exposition of his views,<br />
probably perfectly correct and _ generally<br />
interesting at the time, upon a topic of science<br />
or theology. It may be a very different affair<br />
twenty-five years later for a medical baronet<br />
or for a bishop, who has perhaps almost<br />
forgotten a pamphlet which others have quite<br />
forgotten or never realised as his, to find that<br />
an enterprising publisher has just grasped the<br />
fact that one of his former authors (whom he<br />
has long paid in full) is now a very eminent<br />
person, and that he has republished his book.<br />
<br />
The scientific or theological treatise may<br />
have correctly represented the accepted views<br />
of the best scientists and the most orthodox<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
231<br />
<br />
theologians some years before, or may have<br />
been to some extent coloured by the personal<br />
views of an author whom no one then troubled<br />
himself to criticise or correct. Appearing as.<br />
an exposition of the views of a leading authority<br />
in his profession, with a full statement of the<br />
dignities which his learning has won for him,<br />
and with no suggestion that the work is early,<br />
immature, and perhaps entirely out of date,<br />
such a book is likely to cause acute distress.<br />
to an author who by his own imprudent act<br />
has lost all power to prevent its publication.<br />
<br />
There is again to be considered the pos sibility<br />
that the author who, when young, has written<br />
a book on a special topic may wish to remodel<br />
it and to republish it in a more important form<br />
when he has thoroughly established himself as<br />
an authority on that topic. It will be par-<br />
ticularly galling for him to find that he cannot<br />
use his previous title again or perhaps any of<br />
his previously used material because to do so-<br />
would be to infringe upon rights which he has<br />
assigned to another.<br />
<br />
Wherefore it is not altogether a question<br />
of whether the offer made is the most profitable<br />
one which can be obtained. It is for the<br />
author to ask himself also: Is this a book<br />
of which it is important that I should keep<br />
control, at any rate to some extent ?<br />
<br />
There are other circumstances in which the<br />
manner of publication selected may be objec-<br />
tionable to the author besides those indicated,<br />
and, of course, what has been said as to books<br />
applies also to articles and contributions to<br />
periodical literature and encyclopedias. It is<br />
a question of entrusting that in which its<br />
author’s interest is rather more than merely<br />
commercial to those whose interest in it will<br />
be commercial only. It is a question of losing<br />
control over that of which the law has given<br />
its author control for his own good and as a<br />
valuable right, and not only for his profit.<br />
He has some control, even in these days of<br />
snapshots and cinematograph films over repro-<br />
ductions of his own features. If he chooses to<br />
part with the copyright in a portrait of himself<br />
by letting a photographer take it on the terms<br />
that the latter shall supply him with a few<br />
free copies and own the copyright, he can only<br />
complain afterwards effectively if some use<br />
made of it should come within the law of libel.<br />
Before this occurs he may be made ridiculous.<br />
on many occasions in a lesser degree without<br />
having any power to prevent it. The original<br />
purchaser of the copyright may not be to<br />
blame in the case of a book or of a photograph.<br />
He may become impecunious or bankrupt, and.<br />
the right to reproduce may pass on sale, and<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
230<br />
SALE OF COPYRIGHT IN A BOOK.<br />
<br />
—1—>— + —<br />
<br />
N an article in The Author of April 1 it<br />
I was stated that ‘in the early days of<br />
the Society it was by no means an<br />
uncommon practice for publishers to purchase<br />
authors’? works outright for a lump sum.<br />
This rather suggests that in the year. 1913 it<br />
would be surprising to find a publisher or<br />
editor who would desire _ to purchase an<br />
author’s copyright for a lump sum rather<br />
than to pay him a royalty. Probably, how-<br />
ever, it was intended rather to convey that<br />
the publisher who has had to do with the<br />
Society, and who is aware that he is dealing<br />
with one of its members, would hesitate to<br />
suggest such a transaction, or at any rate<br />
would not be likely to press it. There are,<br />
it is submitted, plenty of offers made to<br />
authors to deal on the terms that they shall<br />
have money down in exchange for their rights,<br />
and a good many authors who are not unwilling<br />
to accept such terms. They may very likely<br />
not be members of the Society, and so may<br />
not have read its warnings not to sell literary<br />
property outright, or only to do so under the<br />
advice of the secretary, or of a competent<br />
agent. If, however, writers insist upon waiting<br />
until they get into trouble before joining the<br />
Society, there are naturally many who only<br />
learn the pitfalls of authorship by falling into<br />
them. An author once bit is probably shy<br />
on the next occasion. If he has discovered<br />
from the large sale of a book of which he has<br />
sold the copyright, that he has lost and that<br />
the publisher has been the gainer by the<br />
method of business adopted, he will stand out<br />
for royalties on the second occasion, It may<br />
be observed however that he will not have any<br />
account of its sales supplied to him by his<br />
publisher and so will have no definite figures<br />
to rely upon when he wishes to cite the success<br />
of his first work in endeavouring to secure<br />
good terms from the publisher of his second.<br />
There must be a good many occasions where<br />
a man writes one or perhaps two or three<br />
books, not because he wants to write or has<br />
any need to do so from a pecuniary point of<br />
view, but because a certain book is wanted<br />
and he is the particular man to do it. A great<br />
man may dic, a statesman or a soldier, for<br />
example, and leave behind him material for<br />
a work which his relatives may well desire to<br />
see published, and there may be a son or<br />
nephew perfectly qualified to write his biography<br />
and to edit his letters, who in ordinary circum-<br />
stances would probably never have produced<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914,<br />
<br />
a book. Public interest may be temporarily<br />
riveted upon some scientific discovery, in<br />
investigations relating to a disease, or in a social’<br />
or religious question of absorbing interest and<br />
of some obscurity. Naturally when an enter-<br />
prising publisher is looking for material it may<br />
strike him that a book on a special topic such.<br />
as these, written by as eminent an authority<br />
as his estimate of cost will stand (or at any<br />
rate by a sure hand who will do what is wanted<br />
correctly), will be a safe investment. It can<br />
easily be understood that in any of the cireum-<br />
stances suggested a sum down for all rights.<br />
is likely to be offered and accepted. The<br />
vendor is not accustomed to such transactions<br />
and is glad to have a chance of concluding the<br />
business part of his undertaking at once,<br />
without any need to trouble himself further<br />
about it. The purchaser is not so unaccus~<br />
tomed, and if he has made up his mind that<br />
a speculation is likely to be profitable, he is<br />
naturally anxious that it should be as profitable:<br />
(to himself) as possible ; besides which he can<br />
act with independence if he has the whole<br />
matter in his own hands without need to<br />
consult anyone over any particular point that<br />
may arise. He probably can make himself<br />
safe in any case, but if he buys outright the<br />
profits (if there is success) will be larger than<br />
if he has to go on sharing them for ever with<br />
someone else. Besides which he may, as has<br />
been suggested above, be the person who has.<br />
started the idea of the book, and it is only<br />
natural that if he makes an offer he should<br />
make the one which will suit him best. It is<br />
equally natural, however, that the Society<br />
should advise the author, if he comes to it for<br />
advice, not to accept such terms. They are<br />
the terms which the trade most readily offers<br />
to the amateur, and which are more likely to<br />
be accepted by him if he is an amateur and the<br />
less experience he has, than by one who has<br />
qualified himself by previous dealings to<br />
dictate terms on his side, and gained the<br />
knowledge that he ought todo so. Very much<br />
the same thing takes place in picture dealing.<br />
The owner of an old master not perhaps of<br />
sufficient merit to command its value at<br />
auction approaches a dealer. He expects,<br />
perhaps, that the latter will offer to sell the<br />
picture for him taking a specified commission<br />
for which he will undertake to obtain the best<br />
price that professional skill can bargain for.<br />
The would-be seller is, however, much more<br />
likely to be told by the dealer that if he will<br />
name a price himself, he (the dealer) will be<br />
content to take anything realised above that<br />
ptice as his share in the profits. There again<br />
<br />
2<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
MAY, 1914.)<br />
<br />
the professional treating with the amateur<br />
endeavours to make the best bargain possible<br />
for himself, and he very often succeeds.<br />
That, however, is no reason why the amateur<br />
should not be advised to resist, even though<br />
to do so may imperil his chance of making<br />
any bargain at all. Whether he runs a serious<br />
risk of losing his deal altogether depends upon<br />
circumstances, which vary according to parti-<br />
cular cases. The author is spoken of above<br />
as an amateur because his business is to<br />
write ; to sell what he writes may be incidental<br />
to authorship, but is not the author’s busi-<br />
ness. Buying and selling literary matter is<br />
the business of the publisher.<br />
<br />
Now, the reasons for the author refusing to<br />
part with his copyright for a sum down, or,<br />
indeed, to part with it at all, are not entirely<br />
connected with the question of relative<br />
pecuniary profit. It is a matter of importance<br />
to authors, or to most authors, that they<br />
should get as much for their books as possible,<br />
and it is to most authors, whether money is of<br />
importance to them or not, extremely galling<br />
to see large profits obviously accruing to others<br />
and lost to themselves because in a moment<br />
of weakness, possibly of financial weakness,<br />
they made a bad bargain. The matter,<br />
however, is not ended when this is said. The<br />
man or woman who sells a copyright for a<br />
sum down, with no provision for royalties,<br />
or for any future profits, if editions are multi-<br />
plied as the result of success, presumably<br />
retains no control whatever over future<br />
editions, or over the conditions under which<br />
they will be published. There may be no<br />
obligation upon him to make any revision, and<br />
none upon the publisher to ask him for any<br />
such correction, or to permit him to make any.<br />
This may seem to be matter of little moment<br />
(to take an example from what has been<br />
suggested above) to the young scientist or<br />
theologian who has gladly accepted a fairly<br />
liberal offer for an exposition of his views,<br />
probably perfectly correct and generally<br />
interesting at the time, upon a topic of science<br />
or theology. It may be a very different affair<br />
twenty-five years later for a medical baronet<br />
or for a bishop, who has perhaps almost<br />
forgotten a pamphlet which others have quite<br />
forgotten or never realised as his, to find that<br />
an enterprising publisher has just grasped the<br />
fact that one of his former authors (whom he<br />
has long paid in full) is now a very eminent<br />
person, and that he has republished his book.<br />
<br />
The scientific or theological treatise may<br />
have correctly represented the accepted views<br />
of the best scientists and the most orthodox<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR. ae<br />
<br />
theologians some years before, or may have<br />
been to some extent coloured by the personal<br />
views of an author whom no one then troubled<br />
himself to criticise or correct. Appearing as.<br />
an exposition of the views of a leading authority<br />
in his profession, with a full statement of the<br />
dignities which his learning has won for him,<br />
and with no suggestion that the work is early,<br />
immature, and perhaps entirely out of date,<br />
such a book is likely to cause acute distress<br />
to an author who by his own imprudent act<br />
has lost all power to prevent its publication.<br />
<br />
There is again to be considered the possibility<br />
that the author who, when young, has written<br />
a book on a special topic may wish to remodel<br />
it and to republish it in a more important form<br />
when he has thoroughly established himself as<br />
an authority on that topic. It will be par-<br />
ticularly galling for him to find that he cannot<br />
use his previous title again or perhaps any of<br />
his previously used material because to do so:<br />
would be to infringe upon rights which he has.<br />
assigned to another.<br />
<br />
Wherefore it is not altogether a question<br />
of whether the offer made is the most profitable<br />
one which can be obtained. It is for the<br />
author to ask himself also: Is this a book<br />
of which it is important that I should keep<br />
control, at any rate to some extent ?<br />
<br />
There are other circumstances in which the<br />
manner of publication selected may be objec-<br />
tionable to the author besides those indicated,<br />
and, of course, what has been said as to books<br />
applies also to articles and contributions to<br />
periodical literature and encyclopedias. It is<br />
a question of entrusting that in which its<br />
author’s interest is rather more than merely<br />
commercial to those whose interest in it will<br />
be commercial only. It is a question of losing<br />
control over that of which the Jaw has given<br />
its author control for his own good and as a<br />
valuable right, and not only for his profit.<br />
He has some control, even in these days of<br />
snapshots and cinematograph films over repro-<br />
ductions of his own features. If he chooses to<br />
part with the copyright in a portrait of himself<br />
by letting a photographer take it on the terms<br />
that the latter shall supply him with a few<br />
free copies and own the copyright, he can only<br />
complain afterwards effectively if some use<br />
made of it should come within the law of libel.<br />
Before this occurs he may be made ridiculous.<br />
on many occasions in a lesser degree without<br />
having any power to prevent it. The original<br />
<br />
purchaser of the copyright may not be to<br />
<br />
blame in the case of a book or of a photograph.<br />
bankrupt, ~~<br />
an<br />
<br />
He may become impecunious or<br />
the right to reproduce may pass on sale,<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
932<br />
<br />
may be a valuable property to one who, it<br />
cannot be repeated too often, will have no<br />
interest in it but a purely commercial one.<br />
As the Encyclopedia Britannica patronisingly in<br />
its article upon publishing says of the Society of<br />
Authors: “It offered useful assistance to authors<br />
ignorant of business in the way of examining<br />
contracts.” It docs so still, and included in<br />
that advice is the recommendation as a general<br />
rule to refuse to part with all control over a<br />
copyright and to refuse to take a sum down<br />
as consideration for the right to publish,<br />
unless special circumstances of the case render<br />
this desirable or inevitable.<br />
<br />
CORRESPONDENCE.<br />
<br />
—_-—<>— +<br />
AGENTS versus BRAINS.<br />
<br />
Dear Sir,—I have received an offer of<br />
ideas from a literary bureau which is a reve-<br />
lation to me, and, I think, a glimpse at the<br />
terms at which brains are supplied by agents<br />
ought to serve as a warning to would-be<br />
‘writers who may not be aware of the condition<br />
of the literary market. The prospectus I<br />
‘received offered me :—<br />
<br />
(1) Plots of love, humorous and sensational<br />
short stories, 2s. each.<br />
<br />
(2) Ideas for humorous, interesting, instruc-<br />
tive and personal articles, 2s. each.<br />
<br />
(3) Jokes suitable for illustration or other-<br />
wise, 2s. each.<br />
<br />
(4) Ideas for new competitions, 2s. each.<br />
<br />
(5) Notes for speeches, sermons, addresses<br />
‘on any subject, 2s. per 100 words.<br />
<br />
(6) Topical and other facts and information<br />
‘written up in fiction and article form, 2s. per<br />
100 words.<br />
<br />
(7) Research and compilation, 2s. per hour.<br />
<br />
(8) Scenarios and synopses for plays, serials,<br />
‘and novels, 2s. per 100 words, etc., ete., etc.<br />
-All on the bargain counter, 2s. a piece ! !<br />
<br />
This is not a solitary case. Daily “ ghost<br />
‘work ” is supplied at prices that makes one<br />
‘Shudder at the traffic in brains going on in our<br />
midst.<br />
<br />
Is there no hope of organised literary labour<br />
and a minimum wage for writers ?<br />
<br />
A FREELANCE.<br />
<br />
——— —<br />
“Tam LITERARY YEAR-Book.”’<br />
<br />
Sir,—My attention has been drawn to an<br />
advertisement appearing on the front page of<br />
Lhe Atheneum of 11th inst., under the heading<br />
<br />
THE AUTHOR.<br />
<br />
[MAY, 1914.<br />
<br />
** Miscellaneous,”” wherein the advertiser seeks<br />
capital to finance the production of a “ Literary<br />
Year-Book.” T'o avoid misapprehension in<br />
the minds of those who may have seen. this<br />
advertisement, I write to say that it has<br />
nothing to do with ‘“‘ The Literary Year-Book,”<br />
of which I have been editor and proprietor<br />
since 1909, and which has been published<br />
annually since 1897, and is now published by<br />
Heath, Cranton and Ouseley, Ltd. I should<br />
be much obliged if you would kindly give<br />
publicity in your next issue to this disclaimer.<br />
<br />
Basin STEWART.<br />
<br />
—1——+—.<br />
<br />
MaGAZINE PAYMENTS.<br />
<br />
Dear Srr,—Can you enlighten me as to<br />
whether there is any principle governing the<br />
rate of payment for short stories in our monthly<br />
magazines ? In a writers’ Year-Book I find<br />
such payments as “ a guinea per 1,000 words,”<br />
“10s. 6d. a column,” “a guinea per page,”<br />
and even a “ guinea and a half.” Also, I<br />
observe, “‘ payment by arrangement with the<br />
editors,” ‘‘ payments according to value.”<br />
<br />
Let me relate my experiences.<br />
<br />
Some time ago, a friend and I belonged to an<br />
amateur magazine, and were inspired by our<br />
critic’s praises to fly higher. She sent a short<br />
story toa ls. magazine ; I, less bold, sent mine<br />
(11,345 words in length) to a 6d. one. Both<br />
were accepted and printed. Hers occupied<br />
sixteen pages; mine, eighteen much larger<br />
ones. On publication, she received seven<br />
guineas. Mine appeared with a greater<br />
flourish ; its title and my name were placed,<br />
with one other, as “‘ Special Contents,” at the<br />
top of the magazine cover. Four months<br />
after publication, after repeated applications,<br />
I received the magnificent sum of one guinea,<br />
and I shall never believe there had ever been<br />
an intention to pay me even that amount.<br />
Thus my friend was paid 9s. 2}d. per page ;<br />
I, for larger pages, 1s. 2d.—that amounts to<br />
1s. 2d. per 680 words. Later, I tried her 1s.<br />
magazine. For four and a_ half pages<br />
(2,083 words) I received 81. i.e., 188. 4d. per<br />
page. I ‘“‘ got into” another 1s. magazine<br />
with a twelve-page story, and was paid three<br />
<br />
uineas, 5s. 8d. per page. In each case the<br />
<br />
S. was promptly accepted. There was no<br />
‘arrangement with editor” suggested, no<br />
discussion as to ‘“ value.” And what deter-<br />
mines value in the case of an approved MS. ?<br />
<br />
Pray enlighten my<br />
PuzzLEDOM, - | https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/540/1914-05-01-The-Author-24-8.pdf | publications, The Author |