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Title A name given to the resource The Author Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em> Description An account of the resource A digitised run of the Society of Authors' monthly periodical, <em>The Author</em>, 1890<span>–</span>1914, made available together for the first time.<br /><br />Currently users can browse issues and <a href="https://historysoa.com/items/browse?search=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1896-05-01 Volume 6 Issue 12 Pages Page range in volume 269–288 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 18960501 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin C be El u t b or, (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) C O N DU C T E D BY W.A. L TER BES.A. N. T. VoI. VI.-No. 12.] MAY 1, 1896. [PRICE SIXPENCE. For the Opinions eaſpressed in papers that are signed or initialled the Authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as eaſpressing the collective opinions of the committee unless they are officially signed by G. Herbert Thring, Sec. ---- HE Secretary of the Society begs to give notice that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post, and requests that all members not receiving an answer to important communications within two days will write to him without delay. All remittances showld be crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery-lane, or be sent by registered letter only. Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on all subjects connected with literature, but on no other sub- jects whatever. Articles which cannot be accepted are returned if stamps for the purpose accompany the MSS. *- - --→ r- ºr ~, WARNINGS AND ADWICE, I. RAWING THE AGREEMENT.—It is not generally understood that the author, as the vendor, has the absolute right of drafting the agreement upon whatever terms the transaction is to be carried out. Authors are strongly advised to exercise that right. In every form of business, this among others, the right of drawing the agreement rests with him who sells, leases, or has the control of the property. 2. SERIAL RIGHTS.–In selling Serial Rights remember that you may be selling the Serial Right for all time; that is, the Right to continue the production in papers. If you object to this, insert a clause to that effect. 3. STAMP YOUR AGREEMENTS. — Readers are most DRGENTLY warned not to neglect stamping their agreements immediately after signature. If this precaution is neglected for two weeks, a fine of £10 must be paid before the agree- ment can be used as a legal document. In almost every case brought to the secretary the agreement, or the letter which serves for one, is forwarded without the stamp. The author may be assured that the other party to the agree- ment seldom neglects this simple precaution. The Society, to save trouble, undertakes to get all the agreements of members stamped for them at no eaſpense to themselves eaccept the cost of the stamp. 4. ASCERTAIN WHAT A PROPOSED AGREEMENT GIVEs To BOTH SIDES BEFORE SIGNING IT.-Remember that an WOL. WI. arrangement as to a joint venture in any other kind of busi- ness whatever would be instantly refused should either party refuse to show the books or to let it be known what share he reserved for himself. 5. LITERARY AGENTs.—Be very careful. You cannot be too careful as to the person whom you appoint as your agent. Remember that you place your property almost un- reservedly in his hands. Your only safety is in consulting the Society, or some friend who has had personal experience of the agent. Do not trust advertisements alone. 6. COST OF PRODUCTION.——Never sign any agreement of which the alleged cost of production forms an integral part, until you have proved the figures. 7. CHOICE OF PUBLISHERS.–Never enter into any cor- respondence with publishers, especially with those who ad- vertise for MSS., who are not recommended by experienced friends or by this Society. 8. FUTURE WORK.—Never, on any account whatever, bind yourself down for future work to anyone. 9. PERSONAL RISK.—Never accept any pecuniary risk or responsibility whatever without advice. IO. R.E.JECTED MSS.—Never, when a M.S. has been re- fused by respectable houses, pay others, whatever promises they may put forward, for the production of the work. I I. AMERICAN RIGHTS.—Never sign away American rights. Keep them by special clause. Refuse to sign any agreement containing a clause which reserves them for the publisher, unless for a substantial consideration. 12. CESSION OF COPYRIGHT.-Never sign any paper, either agreement or receipt, which gives away copyright, without advice. I3. ADVERTISEMENTS. — Keep some control over the advertisements, if they affect your returns, by a clause in the agreement. I4. NEVER forget that publishing is a business, like any other business, totally unconnected with philanthropy, charity, or pure love of literature. You have to do with business men. Be yourself a business man. - Society’s Offices : — 4, PORTUGAL STREET, LINCOLN's INN FIELDs. *~ 2- 2–º HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY, I. VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub. lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his business or the administration of his property. If the advice Sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member has a right to an opinion from the Society’s solicitors. If the case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Com- H. H. 2  ## p. (#624) ################################################ 27O THE AUTHOR. mittee will obtain for him Counsel’s opinion. All this without any cost to the member. 2. Remember that questions connected with copyright and publisher's agreements do not generally fall within the experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use the Society first—our solicitors are continually engaged upon such questions for us. 3. Send to the office copies of past agreements and past accounts with the loan of the books represented. This is in order to ascertain what has been the nature of your agree- ments, and the results to author and publisher respectively so far. The Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The infor- mation thus obtained may prove invaluable. 4. If the examination of your previous business trans- actions by the Secretary proves unfavourable, you should take advice as to a change of publishers. 5. Before signing any agreement whatever, send the pro- posed document to the Society for examination. 6. The Society is acquainted with the methods, and—in the case of fraudulent houses—the tricks of every publish- ing firm in the country. 7. Remember always that in belonging to the Society you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are reaping no benefit to yourself, and that you are advancing the best interests of literature in promoting the indepen- dence of the writer. 8. Send to the Editor of the Awthor notes of everything important to literature that you may hear or meet with. 9. The committee have now arranged for the reception of members’ agreements and their preservation in a fireproof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as con- fidential documents to be read only by the Secretary, who will keep the key of the safe. The Society mow offers –(I) To read and advise upon agreements and publishers. stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements. > cº THE AUTHORS' SYNDICATE, EMBERS are informed : 1. That the Authors' Syndicate takes charge of the business of members of the Society. That it submits MSS. to publishers and editors, concludes agree- ments, examines, passes, and collects accounts, and, gene- rally, relieves members of the trouble of managing business details. 2. That the terms upon which its services can be secured will be forwarded upon detailed application. 3. That the Authors' Syndicate works only for those members of the Society whose work possesses a market value. 4. That the Syndicate can only undertake any negotiations whatever on the distinct understanding that those negotia- tions are placed ea clusively in its hands, and that all communications relating thereto are referred to it. 5. That clients can only be seen by the Director by appointment, and that, when possible, at least two days' notice should be given. 6. That every attempt is made to deal with all communi- cations promptly. That stamps should, in all cases, be sent o defray postage. (2) To 7. That the Authors' Syndicate does not invite MSS. without previous correspondence; does not hold itself responsible for MSS. forwarded without notice; and that in all cases MSS. must be accompanied by stamps to defray postage. 8. That the Syndicate undertakes arrangements for lectures by some of the leading members of the Society; that it has a “Transfer Department’’ for the sale and purchase of journals and periodicals; and that a “Register of Wants and Wanted '' is open. Members are invited to communicate their requirements to the Manager. There is an Honorary Advisory Committee, whose services will be called upon in any case of dispute or difficulty. It is perhaps necessary to state that the members of the Advisory Committee have no pecuniary interest whatever in the Syndicate. NOTICES. HE Editor of the Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest 6s. 6d. subscription for the year. The Editor is always glad to receive short papers and communications on all subjects connected with literature from members and others. Nothing can do more good to the Society than to make the Author complete, attractive, and interesting. Will those who are willing to aid in this work send their names and the special subjects on which they are willing to write P Communications for the Author should reach the Editor not later than the 21st of each month. All persons engaged in literary work of any kind, whether members of the Society or not, are invited to communicate to the Editor any points connected with their work which it would be advisable in the general interest to publish. Members and others who wish their MSS. read are requested not to send them to the Office without previously communicating with the Secretary. The utmost practicable despatch is aimed at, and MSS. are read in the order in which they are received. It must also be distinctly under- stood that the Society does not, under any circumstances, undertake the publication of MSS. The Authors’ Club is now open in its new premises, at 3, Whitehall-court, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary for information, rules of admission, &c. Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they have paid their subscriptions for the year P If they will do this, and remit the amount, if still unpaid, or a banker's order, it will greatly assist the Secretary, and save him the trouble of sending out a reminder. Members are most earnestly entreated to attend to the warning numbered (8). It is a most foolish and may be a most disastrous thing to enter into an agreement binding for a term of years. Let them ask themselves if they would give a solicitor the collection of their rents for five years to come, whatever his conduct, whether he was honest or dishonest ? Of course they would not. Why then hesitate for a moment when they are asked to sign them- selves into literary bondage for three or five years P Those who possess the “Cost of Production ” are requested to note that the cost of binding has advanced 15 per cent. This means, for those who do not like the trouble of “doing sums,” the addition of three shillings in the pound on this head. In other words, if the cost of binding  ## p. (#625) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 271 is set down in our book at eight pounds, to this must now be added twenty-four shillings more, so that it now stands at £9 4s. The figures in our book are as near the exact truth as can be procured; but a printer's, or a binder’s, bill is so elastic a thing that nothing more exact can be arrived at. Some remarks have been made upon the amount charged in the “Cost of Production ” for advertising. Of course, we have not included any sums which may be charged for inserting advertisements in the publisher's own magazines, or in other magazines by exchange. As agreements too often go, there is nothing to prevent the publisher from sweeping the whole profits of a book into his own pocket, by inserting any number of advertisements in his own magazines, and by exchanging with others. Some there are who call this a form of fraud; it is not known what those who practise this method of swelling their own profits call it. *- r- - ---e. FROM THE COMMITTEE, T a meeting of the Committee held on Wednesday, the 18th inst., it was decided, as it had been impossible to arrange the Authors’ Society dinner in May, to postpone the date until the autumn. It was also decided to have a soirée after the dinner as usual. When the date is settled the notices will be issued from the office. The Committee are at present engaged in considering the question of a reform in the Copyright Law. G. HERBERT THRING, Secretary. April 28, 1896. LITERARY PROPERTY. I.—CANADIAN COPYRIGHT. LETTER on this subject addressed to Mr. Goldwin Smith by Mr. Henry Charles Lea, of Philadelphia, has been sent by the former to the Times (April 27). The writer points out, as if it were a new thing, that the real aim of the pro- posed legislation on the subject is the American market, and that if a certain section of Canadian legislators have their way, the long fought for, and hardly won, International Copyright will be more certainly lost. It is absurd to suppose that Mr. Hall Caine was ignorant of this danger when he went to Canada last autumn. The whole object of his mission was to avert that danger. Recent alarms and newer dangers have for the moment obscured this; but it still remains. Mr Lea’s letter reminds us of what we all knew very well eight months ago: it is useful as a reminder, though as a warning it comes too late. The gist of the reminder is in the following paragraph : tion of sales in the United States. Its most serious aspect is the peril to which it exposes the Act of 1891, which permits the copyright of English books in this country, subject to the condition of manufacture here. For fifty years there has not been a copyright measure discussed in which I have not taken a more or less active part, and I am familiar with the influences which for so many years prevented the enactment of international copyright, and which finally secured the adoption of the existing law. So long as the labour interests opposed it there was no chance of its passage. When they were won over to its support it was adopted, though not without prolonged exertion against strenuous opposition. If it be once fairly understood that Canadian printers are enjoying an advantage which is denied to our labour and is used to its detriment, there is no little danger that the labour organisations will seek to undo the work in which they assisted five years ago; and, if once aroused to this, you know as well as I do how respectfully their remonstrances will be received. If you have means of warning the English interests which are threatened, it would be wise for you to do so, for I am sure that they do not recognise the danger inherent in the present and prospective anomalous condition of Canadian copyright. II.--THE “Twent IETH CENTURY.” The following paragraph is taken from the Westminster Gazette :- “In the Queen's Bench Division to-day, before Mr. Justice Grantham, sitting without a jury, Dr. Forbes Winslow sued Mr. Graham, the editor of the Twentieth Century, for £48, for two magazine articles supplied in May and June, 1895. The price agreed upon was £2 a page, and the articles ran to twenty-four pages. Defendant was not represented, and judgment was entered for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, with costs.” Readers are requested to take a note of this case. The secretary has in his hands claims of the same kind against the same person repre- senting, together, over £60. He does not take action for the reason that it would be of no use, as the defendant has disappeared. III.-Associate D AUTHORs’ PUBLISHING CoMPANY. I have read with much interest your admirable review of the prospectus of this company, in your last issue, and your remarks seem to me to be very much to the point. You say that, given certain conditions, there can be no doubt whatever that an immense business awaits such a company. These conditions you specify as, (1) Sufficient capital; (2) An established business; (3) A manager of probity and experience; (4) “Methods of publishing based upon the points always advocated by the Society,” viz.: (5) No secret profits; (6) No charge for unpaid advertise- , ments; (7) A full understanding of what the The importance of the matter to the English author and iſ agreement means on both sides; (8) The right publisher, however, by no means rests solely on the diminu- of access to the author's own books; (9) The con-  ## p. (#626) ################################################ 272 THE AUTHOR. fidence of authors; and (IO) professions honourably carried out. These points, I think, cover the ground abso- lutely, and I can give English authors the most complete assurance that the importance of each has been foreseen and special provision made to meet it. - It has been felt that the question of honest and accurate book-keeping would be a very important one from the authors' point of view, and after careful reflection it has been decided to secure the services of some eminent firm of accountants, known both in London and New York, for the purpose not only of auditing the accounts but of keeping them properly posted up. Messrs. Price, Waterhouse and Co. have agents in this city—Messrs. Jones and Caesar, chartered accountants—and they have been seen on the subject, and preliminary arrangements discussed for the proper keeping and auditing of the company’s books. This question will be settled at an early date. - The standing of the incorporators and directors will no doubt influence the members of your Society. General James Grant Wilson is president of the American Authors’ Guild and is himself a well-known author; Mr. Frank R. Lawrence is president of the world-renowned Lotos Club, whose hospitality so many of England's most illustrious men have enjoyed both under his presidency and that of Mr. Whitelaw Read, pro- prietor of the New York Tribune and late American minister to Paris. Mr. Lawrence is an eminent counsel. Col. Sickely is late American minister to Siam and vice-president of the great American Surety Company. Hon. R. S. Ransom is late surrogate of New York. It is unnecessary to go further. New York has no better or sounder business men than these, and all are interested in literature and acquainted with the publishing business. It is expected that this company will begin business immediately. - C. L. BETTS, Sec. pro tem. *— = -º e- - - NEW YORK LETTER, April 17, 1896. - HE number of short stories of New England T life published during the last year is un- usual. It is true that the number of short stories of all kinds published during the year was unusual; it is true also that Americans produce short stories in much greater number, and of a much higher degree of excellence, than their novels; but even after these two things are taken into consideration the especial attention given to New England life is noticeable. Just why the short story is in so much favour here cannot be dogmatically stated; the publishers are said not to favour them, yet last fall some of the leading publishers published more volumes of them than they did of novels. Commenting on the superiority of our stories to our novels, Mr. Howell asks: “Is this so because the American life is scrappy and desultory, and instinctively seeks its expression in the sketch, the little tale, the miniature romance; or because the short story seems in all literatures to find its development earlier than the full-sized novel? Did our skill in writing short stories create the demand for them in the magazines, or did the demand of the magazines foster the skill P If the reader likes them so much in the maga- zines that the editors feel they must supply them at all hazards, why should they abhor them so much in the bound volume P” Each month seems to give a greater sign that the publishers abhor less and less the short stories in volumes. Where we have one novelist of high and deserved reputation, we have a number of story-tellers. In studies of Western life, Bret Harte, and now Hamlin Garland and Owen Wister, give us some of our best writings. On New England there are several writers who, in substance and especially in execution, are among the first, Miss Mary E. Wilkins and Miss Sarah Orne Jewett being easily first. In the works of each of these writers there is a thorough mastery of the New England types, combined with a sufficiency and lack of redundance of means that is not approached by any of the newer comers in the field of New England fiction. It is, however, of the less known names that this paper is to say a few words. First in importance among writers of New England stories whom the past year has brought into notice is Alice Brown. Her first book, “Meadow Grass,” published last summer by Cope- land and Day, of Boston, gives promise that she will shortly stand on a level with Miss Jewett and Miss Wilkins. Although she deals, like them, with the homely, well-known New England characters and events, in which humour and pathos are brought nearer together by being set in the bleakness of the physical surroundings, the crudity of expression, and the stern, ascetic Puritan spirit, her study is altogether first hand, and suggests no other writers. Her tone is less severe than that of Miss Wilkins, but she has much of the same austerity. She is more fond of humour than Miss Wilkins, and this is both a merit and a fault. It sometimes gives charm to her stories, and sometimes leads her to weaken  ## p. (#627) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 273 them by prolixity. entertaining, and is not used to excess. Her touch in suggesting the intimate, especially the lighter, details of the New England country life, is particularly happy. The reputation which less than a year has established seems to be well founded. “Tales of the Maine Coast,” by Noah Brooks, published by Charles Scribner's Sons, should be mentioned in an account of recent New England fiction, although it was published a little over a year ago. His stories deal mainly with life in seaport towns, and bring in close contrast the native village traits and the odd bits of foreign life brought by the sailors. No one has recently given the character of these amphibious towns in some ways as well as Mr. Brooks. “Lover's Saint Ruth's, by Louise Imogene Guiney, published last year by Copeland and Day, is the writer's first attempt at fiction, although she has been well known in other branches of literature for some years. She touches in this volume some aspects of New England life with decided intelligence, but without any natural gift of narration. Another little book, “The Love Story of Ursula Wolcott,” is announced for an early appearance by Lamson, Wolffe, and Company, of Boston. It is to be a tale of early New England life, and to be historical. The same firm has recently issued a book by Mrs. Harrison, called “A Virginia Cousin and Bar Harbor Tales,” which are popular, but of no special value. They announce a novel by John P. Wheelwright, author of “Rollo's Journey to Cambridge,” which is to portray New England types of character at the time of the war of 1812. This firm, like several others of our newest firms, pay special attention to sectional stories, especially by new writers. They have another novel by F. J. Stimson (J. S. of Dale), who wrote “Guerndale.” during his law school course at Harvard and made his reputation at once, but since then has given most of his time to the law, although his ten or twelve books of fiction show him to be one of our strongest writers. This story will deal with early life in Devonshire and the early settlement of the American colonies. As he has worked for five years on the novel, it is likely to be of some permanent importance, as the writer's work has unusually strong dramatic qualities as well as subtle character drawing. By the same writer, a novel called “Pirate Gold,” a story of Boston in the middle of this century, is published by Houghton, Mifflin and Co., of Boston. It reproduces with a great deal of charm the special social characteristics of the town. Copeland and Day, also one of the newer firms of Boston, announce a New England story by Pier dialect is accurate and William M. Cole, formerly a Harvard professor; and they have also recently published “Moody’s Lodging House,” a collection of stories of Boston life, which has had considerable vogue. The Chicago firm of Way and Williams, also but a few years old, publishes a volume of New England stories by Mrs. Madeline Yale Wynne, a new comer in the field. She has considerable skill, especially in plot, but the thread of her stories is very slight, and their execution not distinguished. Among the stories published by Copeland and Day within a few months is “An Old Man's Romance,” by Christopher Craigie. Although this book, which is also a first attempt, has no special power, it is remarkably full of the real, typical New England spirit. It deals less with the picturesque externals which tempt most writers, and more with the social spirit as it seems to persons who have been long familiar with it. Bliss Perry is a writer already known for his pictures of New England life. “The Plated City,” published by Scribners, gives a picture of the social atmosphere in one of the New England manufacturing towns, which for distinctness, vividness, and faithfulness deserves a high place. These towns bring into sharp contrast the lowly life of the mill operatives and the prosperous life of those who have made their fortunes in the business. These classes are sharply separated geographically, the low lands being occupied by the poorer classes, and the hills further from the rivers by the rich. It is especially the picture of the more prosperous parts of such populations that Mr. Perry gives, but when he does touch the poorer parts of the town he is equally success- ful. His stories are romantic and old fashioned in a sense, but deal with entirely modern problems. An accidental find of considerable interest in New England literature was made by Lamson, Wolffe, and Co. of two essays by Ralph Waldo Emerson that date from his college days. One is a study of Socrates, and the other a study of the state of ethics at that time. Both are crude and decidedly young, but of importance in any study of Emerson's development. D. Appleton and Co. have issued recently several books dealing with New England life. “In Old New England,” by Hezekiah Butterworth, is a popular novel of a crude, fairly clever story- teller. “In Defiance of the King,” by Chauncey C. Hotchkiss, another first work, has some value as to plot, but is rambling, and, although it deals with important facts in American history, has no value as a character study either of indi- viduals or of the times. A stronger story than  ## p. (#628) ################################################ 274 THE AUTHOR. either of these deals not with New England, but with life in a closely neighbouring State, Penn- sylvania, among a class of labourers in the mining and manufacturing towns who have been very little studied. It is called “Stone Pastures,” is by Eleanor Stuart, and has vividness and strength enough to give promise. - Among the new books of interest is a novel by Gilbert Parker, called “The Pomp of the Lavil- lettes,” a story of forty-five thousand words, of which the scene is in Canada, and the story relates to the French-Canadian War. This has not yet been announced, but will be within two or three weeks. Another story by Gilbert Parker, “The Seats of the Mighty,” a romance of old Quebec, is pub- lished by D. Appleton and Co. Miss Ida C. Tarbell’s “Madame Roland’” is one of the most valuable books of the year. It will be handled by the Scribners in England. Miss Tarbell is one of our most conscientious students of history, and has within a few years gained a high reputation through her lives of Napoleon and Lincoln, which appeared serially in M“Clure’s Magazine. Next fall she will study in London preparatory to writing a history of that part of Lincoln's life which is connected with the Civil War. During five years of study in Paris, she obtained evidence about the life of Madame Roland which had not hitherto been used by biographers. These new letters showed that Madame Roland at one time sought a title, and they show the more important fact that at the time of her marriage she was passion- ately in love with her husband. All earlier biographers have accepted the statement made in her journal, that the marriage was one of cool reason. Miss Tarbell is able to show conclusively that this story was made up by Madame Roland after she was hopelessly in love with Buzot. Miss Tarbell goes deeply into the general move- ments of the Revolution with which her heroine was associated, and on them, as on the individual, she has produced a valuable study. Rudyard Kipling has come down from his home in Vermont to spend two weeks in the city. He has just finished his first serial, which deals entirely with American character. It is a tale of the sea, of a fishing fleet. The serial rights have not yet been disposed of. . The fourth volume of Theodore Roosevelt’s “Winning of the West” is published this month by Putnam. It covers the North-West and Louisiana, and brings the story down to 1809. On March 30, J. Selwin Tait, a New York publisher, started again by a letter to a newspaper the discussion about the present fortunes of American Literature—a subject which just now is very much in vogue. He speaks especially of the dark outlook for the native novelist. The result, of his reading of the thousands of manuscripts submitted to him is that the young American novelist has as much ability as the English beginner, though of a different kind. He is on the average less wordy, more sympathet c, and quicker to learn, but is over-confident, less patient, and more slovenly, and less willing to work. Mr. Tait gives several reasons for the cloud which he believes is hanging over American fiction. He says that last year foreign authors contributed two-thirds of the presentable fiction published in this country, whereas American authors con- tributed less than I per cent. of the fiction pub- lished abroad. The Io cent magazines, which have a very large circulation, and are supported mainly by advertisements, publish a great deal of fiction, and this cuts into the heart of the book trade and lessens the demand for new works. The daily papers are also blamed, on the ground that their sensational nature is doing much to spoil the public taste for fiction of the better kind. He thinks that the papers also fail to do. their duty in not giving more space to reviews of domestic literature. This subject was discussed the other night at a meeting of the Lanthorn Club given to Mr. Stephen Crane, author of the “Red Badge of Courage,” in which Mr. W. D. Howells took a view directly the contrary of that of Mr. Tait. He thought that the work of Mr. Crane, like that of Miss Wilkins and Miss Jewett, showed that the work produced by American story-tellers and novelists was as good as that produced anywhere, and would be recog- nised in a short time, if it is not already. *- > * * NOTES FROM PARIS. HERE is one unpleasant day every year in M. Emile Zola's life, and that day is rapidly coming round upon him once more. On this day his pen will be busily occupied for some hours in a task unremune- rative and tedious. He will have to go to Charpentier's warehouse, where, in an office specially arranged for the purpose, he will find stacked up some hundred copies of his new novel “Rome.” There will be two tables in the room. At one of these M. Zola will seat himself; at the other will be a clerk with a book of addresses before him. Another clerk will stand between the stack of volumes and the table at which the master is seated. Zola will sigh and say “Allons.” Then a copy of the book will be handed to him, and at the same time the clerk  ## p. (#629) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 275 with the address-book will read out the first name on his list. Then Zola will write on the fly-leaf of the volume his “ dédicace,” the formula of which will vary according to the degree of intimacy in which he stands towards this person. For strangers, amongst the pressmen and re- viewers who are entitled to receive presentation copies of his book, he will merely write “A Monsieur X., son dévoué confrère.” For a friend, or a brother author of distinction, he will write several lines of comment and compliment. This will go on until the whole stack of yellow backs has been exhausted, when Zola will throw down his pen with an “Ouf!” of relief and go off to lunch at Foyot's. There are more presentation copies of Zola's books distributed than of any other French author, and Zola makes a point of writing an autograph dédicace in each. Journalism and literature in France most often lead to a political career and to office, though the very highest office in France is usually given to the candidate who has attracted least attention to himself. In most cases men who have passed from journalism to politics do not return to it. There are, however, notable exceptions. There is Henri Rochefort, who threw up his seat in the Chamber because his political work did not leave him enough time for his journalism. But a more striking example is Clemenceau ; more striking because, whilst Rochefort never took any pro- minent part in politics at the Chamber, Clemenceau was always a most ardent politician, ever forming Ministries or overthrowing them. Well, he too, like Rochefort, to use the expression of Monsieur Thiers when he had resigned the Presidency, has returned to his chères études. And so notable a success has he made of it, that we who read the French papers cannot but regret the many years that Clemenceau was talking when he might have been writing. It is true he was writing all the time, for nearly every day he contributed an article to his own paper, La Justice, but that was political writing of limited interest, whereas now he gives us critiques, feuilletons, and general articles, which are as good as anything in the French Press. Everybody looks out for the Clemenceau article in Le Journal, and Daudet has often said to me that with Coppée Clemenceau is the foremost journalist in France. He seems to write, and to write well, on every conceivable subject. I think that his last article was about a man with a tail, who had been discovered in Annam, and on this subject Clemenceau wrote two sparkling columns. The politician, of course, always betrays himself. For instance, he con- cludes the article on “The Man with a Tail” in the following words: “All we need now is the man with a tail. The Government has him. WOL. VI. Tet the Government show him to us, instead of keeping him selfishly for its own enjoyment. This should be easier to do than to reform taxation.” - - Gounod's Memoirs have been published by Calman-Levy under the title of “Memoires d'un Artiste.” The book is made up of articles written by Gounod and various letters to and from him. It divides itself into “Memoires de Jeunesse” and “Souvenirs Artistiques.” His account of the difficulties he had in getting a hearing for Faust should prove interesting to brother artists who have had similar experiences. We very nearly missed having Faust altogether. It was refused everywhere: publisher after pub- lisher bundled it back. At the first performance it was nearly hooted off the stage. Jules Massenet has often told me of that memorable night. At that time he was playing in the orchestra, where he wielded the cymbals. He said that he was so enraged with the public for hissing what he considered a masterpiece that it was with difficulty that he restrained himself from jumping over the partition and using his cymbals on the blockheads in the orchestra stalls. Another interesting volume of memoirs is the second of Rochefort's autobiography, which takes us from the author's first exile up to the Com- mune. The third volume, dealing mainly with the part that Rochefort played in these troubled times, should be still more interesting, as it will give him an opportunity of vindicating his con- duct, which has been bitterly attacked. But I think most people will look with most anticipation for the story of his connection with the unfor- tunate General Boulanger. That, however, will not come for some time yet. - At a recent literary soirée the idea was pro- pounded that the immense popularity of some books may be attributed to the fact that, public interest having been whetted by preceding works on the same subject, they arrive at the psycho- logical moment, so the authors of the preceding works, by being too previous, act only as the pioneers of the success of the book which comes just at the right moment. A number of instances were cited which bore out this theory. Sic vos mon vobis might be said to the pioneer authors. I know of more than once French writer who has adopted the typewriter. Daudet tried it, but abandoned its use, as the noise was too great for his nerves. The French printers are delighted at the increasing popularity of the machine-pen. This, I believe, is the opposite of what was mani- fested by English printers when the machine first came into general use for the production of copy. But, then, was there not some talk of reducing the rates per IOOO ems, for type set up I I  ## p. (#630) ################################################ 276 THE AUTHOR. from typed copy P. In France no master would dare to suggest such a diminution, as the working printers are a very powerful body. And as most French hommes de lettres write a terrible hand, the advantage to the printers is great. Much of the MS. copy sent into the composing- room of a French newspaper would be absolutely undecipherable to an English comp. Your French homme de lettres often prides himself on the number of erasures, corrections, and addenda On his page. Balzac is still famous amongst French printers for his beautiful copy, but then Balzac reserved his corrections, erasures, and addenda for the first proofs. These were so numerous that most of his royalties were swallowed up by the expenses. A pretty present was sent me the other day from Hawkshead. It was a Paschal-egg, or Easter-egg, carved by James Dixon, who was for forty years valet to William Wordsworth. After the poet's death he went to live at Hawks- head, and used to spend most of his time in carving Paschal-eggs with his pocket-knife. He had gone into Wordsworth’s service from the workhouse, and was much attached to his master. The cottage at Hawkshead, where Wordsworth lived as a boy, when he was attending Hawks- head Grammar School, was recently taken by a lady who lives in America, and has been hand- somely furnished. She does not, however, appear to have any intention of living there. ROBERT H. SHERARD. *-- ~ *-* NOTES AND NEWS, T has been resolved by the Committee to hold | the annual dinner of the Society in the autumn instead of May or June. This step has been often advised, chiefly on account of the great number of functions which are held in the spring months, some of which always interfere with our own. It has also been suggested that after the dinner there should be one speech only, after which a conversazione should be held. The late after dinner gatherings have hitherto been too short on account of the long speeches made at the dinner. A member of the Society sends me the circular of a newly-established agency for playwriters. I do not present the name of the agent, because, as I know nothing at all about him, I should be unwilling to seem to be recommending him on the one hand, or, on the other, to be saying any- thing that might injure him. We have said so * - much in favour of the literary agent that the playwriters' agent might expect some considera- tion as well. Now, it is notorious that the number of plays written and submitted to managers is, like the articles submitted to editors, very far above the number which can be produced; and, for many reasons, it is, and always must be, very much more difficult to get a play put on the stage than to get a MS. published in a magazine. The managers, however, keep their theatres open under the present system : they seem never at a loss for a new play : and it is not easy to discover in what way an agent can be useful to them. How then can an agent help a candidate for the stage P Let us see how this agent before us proposes to help. First, he will give the author, for a small fee, a “thoroughly competent” opinion of his work; if the opinion is favourable he will “use his utmost influence and energy" to get the play accepted by a manager. There is more: but this is the only important part. If the agent gets hold of a good play he will try to introduce it. This brings us to the important question of the qualifications of such an agent. They seem to be : first, that he should know a good play when he reads one; next, that he must be personally acquainted with, and trusted by, managers or actors or both. Of course, he must also be an entirely honourable person. This is understood without further words. Now, if any of our readers desire to avail themselves of such a dramatic agent they are hereby invited to con- sider carefully the following advice and warning: Let them ascertain for whom the agent has worked before they entrust any work to him : let them find out who knows him : who recommends him ; and what is his “record,” so far. If in all these points their inquiries prove satisfactory, they may save themselves a great deal of trouble by going to him. Whether he will be able to persuade managers to produce their pieces is quite another matter. - The first and inaugural meeting of the Society of Publishers was held at Stationers' Hall, on Tuesday, the 21st April last. The proceedings consisted of the presidential address by Mr. Charles J. Longman. The address was eminently Calculated to inspire confidence that the new Society, whilst prepared to stand firmly for the rights of publishers, is not contemplating destructive measures against the two classes on whom publishers live and flourish—viz., those who do the real work: the authors and the book- sellers. This Society will welcome Mr. Long- man's Sober and sensible address, and will gladly recognise in the words of the President a sincere desire that their business should be conducted  ## p. (#631) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 277 fairly and equitably ; which, of course, means, among other things, that both parties should know what proportion of the returns by any agreement shall go to each. It is said that a certain writer, enraged, justly or unjustly, at his treatment by the reviewers, has resolved that in future he will not allow any of his books to be sent to the Press for review. As editors can hardly be expected to buy books for review, this means that in future he will dispense with the publicity and therefore, in a sense, the assistance hitherto given him by the critic. The question arises whether this course of action is wise or not. First, what does he gain by it P. He will get rid of the reviewer: not only the incompetent, the venomous, and the lying reviewer: but he will also get rid of the honourable, capable, and con- scientious reviewer—the truest friend to literature that exists. It is, of course, exasperating for a writer to find his book “slated” venomously by some anonymous person who shows in every line that he has not read the book : observe, that to “slate” a book is perfectly easy without reading it; but to praise it requires first some study of the book, otherwise the reviewer is certain to make blunders that will expose him. Next, it will be a relief to him to feel that the man who does not read will not review. At the same time, in order to get rid of him, he must at the same time lose the unbiassed and impartial and conscientious critic. But there are other losses: he will throw away a large and very valuable advertisement of his his book. If fifty press copies are sent round and forty notices appear; if only half are appreciative, what an excellent and wide-spread recommenda- tion is thus given On the whole, it seems better to go on under the present system; to groan under the affliction of the venomous and the incompetent, and to be thankful for the man who understands the duties and the responsibities of his post. A letter has been written to the Times by “An Author” concerning the payment of income tax. It was needless to write to the Times, because his solicitor would have set that matter straight for him with no difficulty whatever. The letter, how- ever, was useful in calling attention to the fact that the “office expenses” or “outgoings” of an author must be taken into account whether in sending in an income tax return or in sending in an agreement to a publisher. The writer of the letter says, “I wrote a book not long ago about a distant country. In order to make myself competent to treat the subject I spent three-fourths of the price in visiting and studying it.” By the “price” he means the sum for which he parted with this literary estate of his. The principle applies to almost every kind of book. Here, for instance, before me is a volume of literary essays. The investment of house, furniture, library, and years of study, corresponds exactly to the publisher's investment of capital, time and work of clerks, personal services, atten- tion and experience. In the case of a book of travels, of course, there is an enormous preliminary outlay which can hardly ever be recouped. In fiction work it would seem as if all came straight from the brain. Not at all : it comes from observa- tion of humanity, and it means sketches, journeys, observations, books, all kinds of things. For instance, I once wrote a novel dealing with life in Northumberland nearly two hundred years ago. For this novel I made four journeys into that county: I bought a great quantity of books: in my journeys “en zigzag" I had to resort to the old method of posting, which is pleasant but costly. Now, when one sees a claim of so much per cent, for “office expenses” one thinks of these things, and naturally asks what right the publisher has to charge office expenses while the author does not. There is another curious point about this letter. The writer says, “I am a member of the literary profession so much overstocked, and which has been subject to so many diminutions of profit in these latter days.” This is amazing. The lite- rary profession has never been so flourishing, so well paid, so prosperous as at present. Very large incomes are made by educational writers; by dramatists; by historians; by novelists; by writers of religious books; by writers of travels. Never before have literary men and women been so prosperous. And there seems room for all. The field enlarges daily and rapidly. Perhaps—but he says that his income is in the four figures— this writer is considering the immense gap between those who wholly succeed and those who only half succeed. Literature, as a profession, is like the Bar: there are a great many solid prizes in every branch of it. Between the prize winners and those who come after them there is too often a huge gap. The secretary of the Associated Authors’ Publishing Company has sent a letter on my remarks which will be found under the head of “Literary Property.” He claims that all the conditions which were laid down as necessary for success are fulfilled in his company. Without endorsing his statement, I have inserted it because, if a bond fide attempt to publish on those terms is to be made, it will be necessary to inquire further into the matter, WALTER BESANT,  ## p. (#632) ################################################ 278 THE AUTHOR. ADDRESS TO PUBLISHERS’ ASSOCIATION, APRIL 21, 1896. Reproduced from a copy presented by Mr. Longman to the Chairman, Mr. H. Rider Haggard. |ENTLEMEN, It is with a considerable (i. feeling of responsibility that I rise to address you to-day. Your Association has been formed owing, I believe, to the fact that a real need for such a body has been widely felt throughout the trade. That feeling received expression in the motion made by Mr. Murray at our first meeting here, in November last, to the effect that steps should be taken to form an Association of the Publishers of Great Britain and Ireland, and the fact that the motion was carried by acclamation in so large a gathering of publishers, coupled with the unanimity and har- mony which have attended our subsequent pro- ceedings, prove that the feeling of which I have spoken was widely felt and deeply rooted. But so far no attempt has been made to lay down the lines of policy which our Association shall follow. In our rules the objects of the Association are stated to be to promote and protect by all lawful means the interests of the publishers of Great Britain and Ireland. This definition is wisely drawn very widely, and it is now necessary to come to closer quarters with the work that lies before us. The character of the Association and its usefulness in the future will much depend upon the position it takes up during the first year or two of its existence, and it is on this account that I feel a great weight of respon- sibility in expressing to you my views of what work it is that we should take in hand. Since, however, you have done me the great honour of electing me your first President, I feel that I should be failing in a duty which you have a right to expect from me were I to shrink from the task, and, though of course I speak for myself alone, I hope that what I say may be so fortunate as to meet with your approval. The first subject that naturally must claim the attention of such an Association as ours, is also perhaps the most complicated and difficult—I allude of course to the question of copyright. A satisfactory law of copyright is the prime need of all who are engaged in the production and sale of books, whether as authors, publishers, booksellers, printers, or in any other capacity whatsoever. This subject is so complex, so many sided, and has such an extraordinary faculty for cropping up at the least opportune times and places, that it is obviously impossible for me to attempt now any lengthy examination of the question. At the same time I should like to state briefly my view of what is the ideal to the attainment on which this Association should devote its efforts. The Copy- right Law which I should like to see is one which should have four salient features: it should be easy to comprehend, liberal in its provisions to the producers of literature, universal in its application, and capable of being readily enforced. Whether such an ideal is attainable I will not undertake to say, but you will all, I believe, admit that we are at present far short of it. This subject has long been under the attention of the Copyright Associa- tion (a body which has done much good work) and also of the Society of Authors. A draft Bill has been prepared by each of these bodies, which drafts have since been compared and consolidated, and no doubt when the time comes for seriously pressing this question on the attention of Parlia- ment your Association will be able to render valuable assistance in this difficult question. In the meantime I think it very necessary that we should have this important matter constantly before us, and be prepared, at suitable oppor- tunities, either to promote fresh legislation, to ascertain definitely what the law now is on obscure points, or to assist to enforce obedience to the law where we have reason to think it is being violated. I would especially at this moment call your attention to the third of the four points which I think should be found in any satisfactory copy- right law—viz., that it should be universal in its application, because I believe that we are at the present moment in some danger in this country of taking a step of a retrogade character which may put back the hope of a single universal copy- right law indefinitely. I do not know that any- one will claim for the British Law of Copyright that it is in all points particularly simple or easy to define ; still less will it be said that it is under all circumstances easy to enforce; it has, however, at present this virtue, that, within the limits of the British Empire, it is universal in its application. There are certain local modifications in existence even now, but it is at present true that any man, whether he be a British subject or an alien, who writes a book and first publishes it within the limits of the British Empire does by that act of publication secure a copyright in it for a term of forty-two years, or for his life and seven years after, which ever term is the longest; and, moreover, he will at the same time acquire rights of copyright in all countries which are signatories of the Con- vention of Berne. It is, however, now in contemplation to intro- duce a bill into the Legislature of the Dominion of Canada, which will absolutely destroy this inesti- mable boon which we now have—viz., that British copyright runs throughout the British Empire. By demanding certain special conditions on which  ## p. (#633) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 279 copyright is to be granted in the Dominion, the Canadians also run the risk of defeating their own claim, and possibly the claims of their fellow sub- jects throughout the Empire, to reciprocal advan- tages from the Powers who have signed the Berne Convention. There is also a possibility that by their action British subjects may be deprived of copyright in America. It is fortunately the case that at the present moment we have no bill before us. The draft which was sent over last year has not been proceeded with. Since then Mr. Hall Caine and, on behalf of the Copyright Association, Mr. Dalby, have been in Canada, and it is said that these gentlemen, by their tact and courtesy, have produced a better feeling, and that it is probable that the next bill may be less disas- trous than the last one would have been. But, gentlemen, this is no case for compromise. We are playing with fire. If it is once admitted that copyright is a subject on which the Colonies are free to legislate—not only for their own citizens, but also to the detriment of the inhabitants of these islands—the mischief will not stop with Canada. We shall soon have to deal with half a dozen different and conflicting codes, I trust, therefore, that the influence of this Association, and I trust that the influence of all who are in- terested in any degree in the trade of bookselling, will be exerted to the full to prevent any tampering with the unity of British copyright, and I hope that when the true interests of literature are better understood, both at home and abroad, the result will be that a simple, liberal, easily enforced law of copyright will come into existence, not only in the British Empire, which is much—not only aluong all English-speaking peoples, which would be much more—but throughout the whole of the civilised world. I now turn to a widely different subject, but one that is not less interesting or important, I mean the relations between publishers and authors. A society such as this can hardly fail to have some effect on those relations. If its policy is guided in the narrowest trade union spirit it seems to me improbable that much advantage will arise. If, however, we endeavour to handle any questions that may from time to time be subjects of con- troversy in a liberal and broad spirit; if, while firmly maintaining our rights, we at the same time endeavour to consider such subjects not only from our own point of view, but also from the point of view of other interested parties, then it seems to me that we shall be in a fair way to promote what is the greatest interest of all to those who are engaged in the publication of books—namely, harmonious and pleasant rela- tions with their authors. Fortunately, we are all of us able to testify, from our own experience, that in the large majority of cases these cordial relations now exist—that, in fact, as many close friendships exist between authors and their publishers as between solicitors and their clients, between doctors and their patients, or between any other classes which have intimate business relations. Still, no doubt, differences do from time to time occur, and as human nature is constituted it is probable that they must occur. I believe that it will be in the power of this Association, if its proceedings are guided in the spirit I have indi- cated, to do something to minimise the occasions on which such differences could arise, and also to render them easier of arrangement. I have one subject in my mind that seems to me ripe for treatment, and should it be successfully treated I believe that much opportunity for friction will have been removed. It is sometimes said that there is a natural antagonism between authors and publishers, owing to the fact that their pecuniary interests are divergent; and, on the other hand, it is not less frequently asserted that there is no such antagonism—that we row in the same boat, and that what is good for one is necessarily good for the other. Neither of these views is true, or rather neither is the whole truth. In the first stage of the business between the author and the publisher there is an obvious diversity of interest —the diversity which always exists between the buyer and the seller. When this stage is got over the antagonism should cease, and for the future the interests of the two parties should be identical. Nevertheless, when disagreements arise it is not seldom that they occur at this second stage, when any real cause for difference ought to have disappeared. The reason of this is that in a large number of cases a simple sale is not effected. Where an author comes with a MS. ready for the printer and offers it for sale the transaction is a simple one: so much money is offered, and if it is accepted the MS. is handed over and the money paid, and there is an end of it. But though this often takes place the business frequently takes a different course. Possibly the MS. is not in existence—the author merely con- tracts to deliver it at some future time. Possibly it is in existence, but the author, instead of selling it, publishes it on one of the many systems of payment by results known in the trade—such as royalties, division of profits, publication on com- mission, and so forth. It is in the subsequent interpretation of the arrangements made that an opportunity occurs for differences of opinion. These arrangements are not always committed to paper, and even when they are expressed in an agreement the agreement is not always explicit,  ## p. (#634) ################################################ 28o THE AUTHOR. comprehensive, and easy to enforce. Now I think this Association would do well to take up seriously this question of agreements. I think it is most advisable that we should draw up model forms of agreement, designed to cover all the usual terms on which books are published, and that those model forms should be supplied to anyone, whether author or publisher, who may require them. The task would probably not be an easy one, and it would no doubt be most desirable that it should be undertaken in concert with able and experienced authors. It would perhaps be presumptuous on the part of so young an Association as ours to issue any invitation to co-operate in this work to the older established Society of Authors. But it is obvious that if any given form of agreement should receive the sanction of both Societies, it would have very great authority, and that an important step would have been gained. Before leaving this subject I would add that I do not for a moment propose that this Society should interfere in the preliminary arrangements which must of necessity be carried on by the individual author and publisher. Our functions would commence when a bargain has been struck ; we should then endeavour to supply the means of recording accurately and simply, and of duly enforcing, the contract. Another important interest of the publishing trade is that cordial and satisfactory relations should exist with a numerous and a prosperous body of retail booksellers. It is matter for deep regret that prosperity in the retail trade has by no means gone hand in hand with the increase in the volume of the trade which has taken place. The cause is of course well known— namely, the excessive discount which is given by the booksellers to the public. This subject has been so thoroughly discussed of late, and has received so much attention from all classes in the trade, that I confess that I despair of any satisfactory solution being found by this associa- tion, since none has occurred to the various gentlemen of whom it is composed, in spite of the earnest thought they have given to it. I am sure, however, that the Association will do well to give sympathetic consideration to any proposal which may be brought forward by the retail trade which has a reasonable chance of success. I do not propose now to go over this well-trodden ground in detail, but I feel it incumbent on me to say that I believe that no good purpose would be served by reviving a proposal which has been recently made, and, after thorough consideration, rejected by the publishing trade. I mean the proposal for the establishment of a ring of publishers to raise prices, and to maintain them by the application of coercion to those who did not obey its regulations. I trust that this Asso- ciation will never fall to the level of a ring. The large and influential meeting of publishers which constituted the Association also declined unani- mously to discuss this proposal further, which I believe to be entirely outside the region of what is practicable or desirable. It is my object to-day to lay before you the general lines on which I hope to see the busi- ness of this Association conducted, rather than to enumerate in detail the points which will occupy the attention of the council. These will, no doubt, be numerous and varied. Many points will come up which are at present entirely unforeseen; others are already in contemplation, of which I would mention one as an example. It has come to the notice of several publishers recently that a large contraband trade is going on in some of our colonies in pirated editions of copyright books. Steps are now being taken by individual pub- lishers, and by groups of publishers acting together, to abate this nuisance. The matter has been brought before your Council, who are considering whether it will not be possible to go further in this matter and devise some means to stamp it out altogether. This is one instance of useful work which may be properly undertaken by this association. There seems, in fact, to be every prospect that the hands of those gentlemen whom you have honoured by electing as your officers and council will be full. I would ask you, therefore, to judge our work leniently, and if the results seem to you, as is very probable, to be scanty and long in coming, I hope you will remember that we are all men whose time is already fully occupied, and that the hours which we have already given, and shall continue to give, to the affairs of this association must be taken from a leisure which has not been hitherto regarded as excessive. But whether our work proves fruitful or whether it be barren, it will always be our endeavour so to conduct the affairs of this association that it shall not be an unworthy representative of your ancient and honourable trade. In conclusion, I would like to say with what great satisfaction it is that we have received the kind permission of the Worshipful Company of Sta- tioners to hold in their ancient hall our general meetings and the meetings of our council; further, by their kind permission we have been able to engage the services of Mr. Poulten as secretary to the council; and it is also a matter of congratulation that we shall be able to rely on the valuable legal assistance of Mr. C. R. Rivington, the clerk of the company. The Stationers' Company have—unlike many of the  ## p. (#635) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 281 City companies—always preserved their connec- tion with the trade from which they derived their origin, and I hope that from this friendly alliance, which undoubtedly will be a source of great con- venience and stability to our Association, the company itself may eventually derive some benefit. C. J. LONGMAN. *-*. 2.-- -> AMERICAN AND ENGLISH FICTION, HE following appeared in the Evening Post, New York, on March 31 last :- “Sir, The Evening Post has always been prominent in the cultivation of arts and letters, and for that reason I invite its attention to the darkening fortunes of the native novelist of respectable tastes. To some it may seem a matter of Small importance if, as a class, he should become altogether extinct, because, say they, “as a nation we have not got the “novel habit”’; but I am very certain that such a judg- ment is hastily snatched, and is, moreover, entirely wrong. During the past five years I have read—personally and not by deputy—fully as many manuscripts as any single publisher in this country—read them, too, carefully and criti- cally, and, although sympathetically as a brother author, still, with a perfectly unbiassed mind, and with this great advantage over the pro- fessional reader, that I come in contact with the book trade and know what is wanted by its members, who are the book-buyers crystallised. As a result of this experience I would say that, in my judgment, the young American novelist has just as much ability and natural aptitude for novel- writing as an English beginner, while he is less wordy—excepting where he has taken an over- dose of our classic writers—and quicker in getting at the point or pith of his subject. He is more sympathetic too, swifter to learn, and brings a freer mind to his task. On the other hand, he is over-confident, he lacks the patient drudgery of his British rival, his work is apt to be slovenly, he is prone to think that success in fiction-writing is all a question of native talent, whereas, unlike the poet, the novelist is made and not born— made by years of patient toil, study, and observa- tion, Still his faults are those of strength and not of weakness; and if his countrymen believe in the wholesome novel as an institution, and in my judgment it is one of the greatest in the world — he should be encouraged and not strangled. Is that too strong a word P. Well, let the reader reserve his judgment until he has glanced at a few of the influences dragging at the rope: - “(I.) Last year foreign authors contributed two-thirds of the presentable fiction published in this country—reciprocally, our authors con- tributed less than I per cent. of the fiction published abroad. “(2.) Of the ten cent magazines subsidised by generous advertisers to the extent of probably 2,OOO,OOO dols, per annum, 2O,OOO,OOO copies are sold annually at a third of the price possible without the advertising. This business cuts right into the heart of the book trade, and so lessens the demand for new fiction. “(3.) The daily press throughout the country is so superabundant in its sensationalism that it leaves the ordinary reader—male and female— neither time nor inclination to take up fiction, unless it be of the kind which tends to further vitiation of the taste. - “ (4.) The sellsationalism which the press culti- Vates in its news it denounces—even when in its most harmless form—in its reviews of fiction, as if it wanted a monopoly of the business; so that When a native writer endeavours to cater in an honest way to the appetite made by the press and writes a book after the style of the works of Doyle, Weyman, or Hope, the reviewers promptly dub his work ‘a dime novel,' solely on account of its romanticism and without regard to its style or general merit. “(5.) The adoration of the foreign writer. London's imprimatur is omnipotent; without it nothing in fiction goes. The result is our American writers are carting themselves off to the English metropolis in the same ships with California claret and with the same object, a foreign label ! - “(6.) And the result of all these actual condi- tions is that the majority of our domestic pub- lishers do not care to publish native works, because it is so much easier and more profitable to handle the foreign article. “Is ‘strangling’ too severe a term F Scarcely a year passes without London making three or four great literary reputations. How long is it since New York made one, and whose fault is it that this great city has to accept such a subordi- nate position in literature ?' I will vouch for the fact that it is not the fault of the domestic authors. I think, however, that it is very largely the fault of the press, which could do so much, and, with one or two notable exceptions like the Evening Post, does so little. There is no busi- . ness in the country which deserves so well of the press as the publishing business, because none advertises so freely in proportion to its profits; nevertheless, the tendency of the sensational press to-day is to encourage the demand for literature which does not advertise at all, and is never sub-  ## p. (#636) ################################################ 282 THE AUTHOR. mitted to the criticism of the reviewer. A glance at the average bookstall will convince the most sceptical, as the space not occupied by magazines and periodicals is covered by books which it would be outrageous flattery to call ‘literature.’” *... a 2-sº s- * == THE CHICAGO PRIZE COMPETITION. T will be remembered that the Record of Chicago recently offered prizes to the extent of 30,000 dols. for novels. They were to be of what used to be known here as “three volume '’ length, i.e., consisting of about 150,000 words divided into chapters of 2500 words each. The prizes ranged in value from Io,000 dols. to 600 dols. There were 816 candi- dates. The winners of the prizes are enumerated in the Author's Journal (New York), from which paper we copy it, as follows: FIRST PRIZE–Io,ooo dols. : Harry Stillwell Edwards of Macon, Ga... for the story entitled “Sons and Fathers.” SECOND PRIZE - 3000 dols. : Bernard Edward Joseph Capes of Winchester, England, for the story entitled “The Mill of Silence.” THIRD PRIZE—1500 dols. : Bert Leston Taylor and Alvin T. Thoits of Manchester, N. H., for the story entitled “Under Three Flags.” . FourTH PRIZE—IOOO dols. : William Augustine Leahy of Boston, Mass , for the story entitled “The Incendiary.” FIFTH PRIZE—8oo dols. : Edward S. Ellis of Engle- wood, N. J., for the story entitled “The Eye of the Sun.” SIXTH PRIZE—6OO dols. : Miss Edith Bland of Grove Park, Lee, England, for the story entitled “The Marden Mystery.” SEVENTH PRIZE – 600 dols. : Jesse C. Cowdrick of Ogdensburg, N.J., for the story entitled “The Cask of Gold.” EIGHTH PRIZE–5oo dols.; Thomas H. A. McGill of Denver, Col., for the story entitled “Tangled Threads.” NINTH PRIZE–5oo dols. : John D. Parsons of Newbury- port, Mass., and Frederick R. Burton of Yonkers, New York, for the story entitled “The Mystery of a Time-Lock.” TwPLFTH PRIZE — 5oo dols. : Crittenden Marriott of Shelbyville, Ky., for the story entitled “The More Mystery.” - SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : William Sands Laurie, B.A., of Manchester, England, for the story entitled “The Yellow Horse Caravan.” SPACE RATEs—5oo dols. : Miss Blanche Timmonds of Louisville, Ky., for the story entitled “A Mystery of Resemblance.” SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : Miss Katherine Lee Bates of Wellesley, Mass., for the story entitled “The Turret Chamber.” SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : Miss Belle Moses of New York City, for the story entitled “The Quest for Sophie.” SPACE RATEs—5oo dols : Frederick W. Davis of Chelsea, Mass., for the story entitled “Under Oath.” SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : Edgar Pickering of Margate, Rent, England, for the story entitled “The Wanishing of Cornelius Druce.” SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : E. H. Clough of Oakland, Cal., for the story entitled “The Going Out of Gordon Ledyard.” SPACE RATEs—5oo dols. : Miss Bessie E. Duffett of St. Leonard’s-on-the-Sea, England, for the story entitled “The Mysteries of Legh Hall.” SPACE RATEs—500 dols. : Mrs. Jeanette H. Walworth of New York City, for the story entitled “Under One Star.” SPACE RATEs—5oo dols. : Miss Amy Skene of Hatfield, Herts, England, for the story entitled “The Swansborough Diamonds.” Twenty prize winners in all and six from our country. Now let us get up such a competition here and see what the proportions would be. It is remarkable that, although MSS. were sent in from all parts of the world, no competitor from any part except the United States and England succeeded. Meantime we shall look forward with interest to the appearance of the first three or four of the prize stories. sº wº. -- LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS. THE LAW OF DRAMATIC CoPYRIGHT. Correspondence of the Times: H. Beerbohm Tree, April 16; H. H. Morell and James M. Glover, April 17; G. Herbert Thring (Society of Authors), April 18. Leading article in Daily Chronicle, April 16. CANADIAN COPYRIGHT. Letter from Henry Charles Lea to Goldwin Smith. The Times for April 27. A QUESTION OF COPYRIGHT. Frances Hindes Groome. Athenæum for April II. BEN JONSON. T. E. Brown. New Review for May. HAMPSTEAD AND KEATS. Edwin Oliver. Atalanta for May. THE DUTY OF A BIOGRAPHER. Sign of the Ship.” Andrew Lang. for May. M. ZOLA AND THE POOR AUTHOR. for April 18. GEORGE BORRow. National Observer for April 18. BOOTS AND Books. National Observer for April 18. THE ENGLISH DICTIONARY AND THE CLARENDON PRESS. Saturday Review for April 18. DANTE IN AMERICA. Speaker for April 4. DEAF AND DUMB HEROINEs IN FICTION. Cromarty and the author of “In a Silent World.” spondence in Athenaewm for April 4 and I 1. ENGLISH LETTER-WRITING IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. Edinburgh Review for April. UNFINISHED Books. Macmillan’s Magazine for April. THE CONNECTION OF NAMES AND CHARACTERs. Inter alia in “Without Prejudice.” I. Zangwill. Pall Mall Magazine for May. THE ART OF NoMENCLATURE. May. THE SUPPosLTIOUs WICKEDNEss of MINor PoETs. F. Norroys Connel. To-Morrow for May 5. SOME MEMORIES OF HAwTHORNE : III. Rose Haw- thorne Tathrop. Atlantic Monthly for April. THE NEw EDITION OF PoE. Atlantic Monthly for April. MARK TwAIN. Joseph H. Twichell. Harper's Monthly for May. JEAN BAPTISTE AND HIS LANGUAGE. ennedy. Contemporary Review for April. NATURE IN THE EARLIER Roman PoETs. The Countess Martinengo Cesaresco. Contemporary Review for April. Inter alia in “At the Longman’s Magazine National Observer Deas Corre- Cornhill Magazine for Howard Angus  ## p. (#637) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 283 BEVIEWS AND REVIEWING. J. Leisure Howr for May. NOVALIS. May. The Rev. J. Rice Byrne. Humanitarian for NoTABLE REVIEWs. Of H. G. Wells’s “The Island of Dr. Moreau.” Daily Telegraph for April 3. Satwrday Review (by P. Chalmers Mitchell), for April 11. Of Mr. Fraser Rae’s “Sheridan.” Of H. S. Salt's “Shelley.” April 23. Of Mr. Gladstone on the Bible. Spectator for April 18. Of the “Centenary" Burns. Times for April 13. Of “Recent Poetry '' (Austin, Watson, Thompson, David- son, and others). Edinburgh Review for April. Mr. Beerbohm Tree calls attention to the in- adequate protection which the dramatic copyright laws afford to novelists, playwrights, and theatrical managers. He is advised, he writes, that (accord- ing to the Fauntleroy decision) in certain circum- stances the author, in order to prevent his story being dramatised and played without his consent, has to base his claim not, as a layman might suppose, on the fact that a dramatic version of his book has been played, but on the fact that there has been a multiplication of copies of the play in manuscript or in print containing sub- stantial extracts from his book. The author of a play and the manager who has bought it, Mr. Tree continues, are so beset with difficulties in protecting their property against “pirates” that before long piracy will probably be far more profitable than legitimate labour. Mr. Tree's precise case, then, is that “by the anomalies and weakness of the copyright laws, and the cumber- some and costly procedure which has to be resorted to in order to protect property of this kind,” provincial speculators are enabled to play “Trilby,” the rights of which in the British Isles are his, without paying a farthing. A side point is that “the public is likely to be seriously prejudiced against the play by the manner in which it is represented by persons who have neither money nor reputation to stake.” He suggests that the time has come for combined action towards formulating a draft of a moderate and practical Bill such as is likely to be accept- able to the Legislature. Mr. Thring, for the Society of Authors, writes cordially seconding Mr. Tree's suggestion for combined action, and adding that “such a Bill ought to secure the rights of an author to the dramatisation of his own work at any time during which copyright exists in his book, and also to secure to the author a like property in his title.” In America, the dramatisation at any rate is secured to the author, and this point, Mr. Thring observes, was not neglected in a Bill drafted on behalf of the Society of Authors and placed in Lord Monkswell's hands in 1886. The following Times for April 27. Daily Chronicle for are the remaining passages of Mr. Thring's letter:— There is no need to point out that the case commonly known as the “Little Lord Fauntleroy Case ’’ has no proper protection for the author against “pirates.” If the un- authorised dramatiser had, instead of duplicating copies of his play with dialogue taken from the novel, chosen to buy copies of the novel and cut out those portions of the dialogue that he required for his dramatic version, then it would have been, according to the present law, impossible for the author of the book to have obtained redress. TJnder these circumstances, it is highly essential that the remedial measures suggestions should at once be taken, and with the authority of the chairman of the Society of Authors I have much pleasure in stating that the Society will gladly aid Mr. Tree or any one else interested in dramatic copyright in their endeavour to amend and strengthen the law. Mr. Morell’s letter concerns a personal point, namely, it makes known that he and Mr. F. Mouillot leased the play from the proprietor of the provincial rights. [Mr. Tree, in an after- note, explains that his charge, of course, does not refer to companies thus legitimately leasing the play.] Mr. Glover argues that Mr. Tree's failure to obtain an absolute injunction in the case of “Tree v. Bowkett’’ was due merely to an irregu- larity in procedure; that is to say, that the judge obviously would have granted it if the proprietor of the provincial rights, Mr. Abud, had raised the action, or had been joined with Mr. Tree in it. The Daily Chronicle is sympathetic, but oppressed by the difficulties of drafting such a bill, and remarks that, unless Mr. Tree and his fellow-managers are prepared to go the length of demanding that any dramatic representation should be penalised which a jury might consider to be based in whole or in part upon a copyright novel, they will not succeed in making such alteration in the present situation. Even then a man would have to prove his case, and there would be the question of costs. It thinks that on the whole the authors are very handsomely pro- tected by the law. Mr. Francis Hindes Groome says that “The Oracle Encyclopædia’’ has reprinted verbatim et literatim an article on Guizot, which he wrote in “The Globe Encyclopaedia.” Replying to his complaint, Messrs. J. S. Virtue and Co. Limited wrote that :— We are afraid we differ from you entirely on the question of copyright. Had you written to us in a more friendly strain some time ago, we should have been pleased to give you further particulars. We may say, however, that although our opinion at that time was that you had neither the right nor the power to interfere with our publication, we have since confirmed this by consulting several gentlemen respecting copyright, and, amongst others, one of the lead- ing authorities on the subject—a gentleman, we may add, who is always consulted by the Government on copyright matter. He informs us that you have not the slightest right to interfere with our publication. Therefore their solicitors would be prepared to  ## p. (#638) ################################################ 284 THE AUTHOR. defend any action brought. “Comment upon this letter (says Mr. Groome to the Athenæum) were superfluous. But I should like a set-off to record the fact that a few weeks since I received from the American publishers, Messrs. Appleton, the munificent sum of £7 18s. Iod. for the mere revision of the articles ‘Fan' and “Gypsies’ in their new edition of ‘Johnson’s Cyclopaedia.’” Astonishment and indignation, says the Saturday, will be felt by many upon hearing that the delegates of the Clarendon Press are now considering whether they will continue to defray the expense of carrying on the great English Dictionary, except on the condition that its scale is greatly reduced. Such a decision would be a national calamity; and if matters come to this pass it feels sure that an appeal to the public, and perhaps even to the Government, would not be made in vain. En passant, our contemporary expresses surprise that the chief seat of learning should have given no official recog- mition of the immense services of Dr. Murray. In the article “Boots and Books’’ the National Observer bestows praise of the flippant order upon the action of the Parisian poet M. Jacques de Lorrain in turning from the pen to shoemaking. “If all our minor poets and novelists would follow his example and choose a second string to their bow, there might be less confusion in the world of letters, and less debate in public about these mysterious phrases— limited editions, the cost of production, and the price per thou.” Mr. Andrew Lang takes that view of the duty of a biographer which the majority of commen- tators on the question—raised out of Mr. Purcell's “Life of Cardinal Manning ”—have supported, namely, that limits must be placed on “the whole truth.” If a biographer discovers a single action (of which no trace is now left) in an honourable life in which his hero “ sails near the wind,” truth does not compel him to drag it into the central lights; the feelings of other people, too, must be considered, and the secrets of the dead. “Ali the characters of interesting persons long ago with Tullus and Ancus are part of our stock of pleasure in life. If I discovered, per impossibile, that Jeanne d’Arc ever did a wrong thing, my duty to the stock of human pleasure would out- weigh my duty to the truth.” Writing upon the presentation by Mr. Willard Fiske of 3000 Dante works to Cornell University, the Speaker declares that this case is a striking illustration of the advantage of having a millionaire as librarian, but hopes, nevertheless, than an effort will be made to establish a Dante library in London, the adopted home of Baretti and Foscolo, Rosetti and Mazzini. BOOK TALK, D" JOSEPH PARKER, of the City Temple, has just issued three works of fiction: (1) “Wilmot's Child” (Fisher Unwin), price 1s. 6d. ; (2) “Walden Stanyer” (Sampson Low), 6s. ; (3) “Tyne Folk : Masks, Shadows, and Faces” (Allenson), 3s. 6d. Mr. E. J. Goodman, author of “The Best Tour in Norway,” has in the press “New Ground in Norway,” so called as it relates to the Ringerike, Telemarken, and Soetersdalen, which are very little known to English travellers. It will be illustrated with a large number of pictures from original photographs by Mr. Paul Lange, of Liverpool, and will be published by George Newnes (Limited) about the middle of May. Professor Saintsbury has written a paper on the literature of the age, for the fifth volume of Mr. Traill’s “Social England.” Mr. Quiller Couch’s volume of “Adventures in Criticism" is expected to be ready this month. Mr. Churton Collins (the Athenaeum under- stands) has in view the preparation of an anno- tated anthology of examples of verse drawn from hitherto unknown sources, or from the less- known works of authors known to the public by single masterpieces only. Mr. Swinburne has an important work in the press, namely, a poem on Malory's story of Balen. It is told in an elaborate rhymed measure, but with great closeness to the original. Messrs. Chatto and Windus will publish the work. A story in English by M. Alphonse Daudet and Mr. R. H. Sherard will shortly be published. Mr. F. W. Bussell, a young Oxford man, is engaged on a work on “The School of Plato,” in which he will endeavour to trace the origin and revival of the Platonic school under the Roman Empire. In the first volume (to be published immediately by Messrs. Methuen) he will give a general survey of the Roman period, and in the second the various philosophic systems of that time will be dealt with in detail. The selection from the poems of the late Pro- fessor Blackie, edited, with an appreciation, by his nephew, Dr. Stodart Walker, will be pub- lished shortly by Mr. John Macqueen. The Hon. Mrs. Henniker is bringing out a volume of stories, some of which she has contri- buted to periodicals, while others are now to appear for the first time. One of the tales was written in collaboration with Mr. Thomas Hardy; it is of a dramatic character, and styled “The Spectre of the Real.” The title of the volume will be “In Scarlet and Grey.”  ## p. (#639) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 285 Mrs. Oliphant writes a volume on “Joan of Arc,” in the Heroes of the Nations Series pub- lished by Messrs. Putnam. It will appear in a few days hence. Mr. J. E. Muddock, who was in India during the time of the Sepoy Rebellion, has finished a story on that subject which Messrs. Hutchinson will publish shortly, called “The Great White Band.” A South African story, entitled “Isban Israel,” by Mr. George Cossins, will be published this month by Messrs. Gay and Bird. Isban Israel of the story is the high priest of a powerful tribe of cave-dwellers who kidnapped the daughters of an English sportsman. The author took part in the Zulu War, and he lays his story in the Transvaal and Matabeleland. Mrs. Hylton Dale has written a romantic novel of the French Revolution around the characters and exploits of Camille Desmoulins and his wife Lucile. It will be published at once by Mr. H. S. Nichols. “The Wooing of Phyllis,” by Katherine E. Colman, and “Kate's Wise Woman,” by Clara Louise Burnham, are among the new books which Messrs. Gay and Bird will send out this month. They have also nearly ready a volume of verse by Eleanor Foster, entitled “With the Tide, and other Poems.” The three-volume novel by Mr. Justin M’Carthy, which we mentioned some time ago as one of several productions to be expected from him early, is to be called “The Riddle Ring,” and will appear this month from Messrs. Chatto and Windus. His monograph on “Pope Leo XIII.” will be issued also before long by Messrs. Bliss, Sands, and Foster. Mr. “Sutcliffe March" has laid the scene of his new novel in Holland. It will be called “A Stumbler in Wide Shoes,” and Messrs. Hutchinson will publish it soon. The biography of Dr. Jowett has been under- taken by his old Balliol friends, Professor Lewis ‘Campbell and Mr. Evelyn Abbott. It will be in two volumes, and its publication—by Mr. Murray —will not take place for some time. Major-General Robley has written and illus- trated a book on “Moko or Maori Tattooing,” an art which, it seems, is fast disappearing in New Zealand. Messrs. Chapman and Hall will publish the book. Professor J. K. Laughton, R.N., is writing a volume on “Naval Strategy and the Protection of Commerce,” for the popular series of naval handbooks published by Messrs. Bell. Sir Benjamin Ward Richardson is preparing a Volume with reminiscences of his professional life, an account of some of the aims of his career, and a number of essays on scientific and philo- sophical topics. The house of Messrs. Longman will publish the work. Sir Benjamin has also finished a work on the question of experimenta- tion on living animals, which will be issued by Messrs. Bell shortly, called “Biological Experi- mentation.” Mr. Henry James is writing a love story for the Illustrated London News, beginning in July and lasting to thirteen instalments. He has finished a new volume of stories which is to be called “ Embarrassments.” Mr. Standish O'Grady has edited a new two- volume issue of “ Hibernia Pacata ; or The Wars in Ireland during the Reign of Queen Elizabeth.” Among the illustrations will be some new portraits. A book of travel by Katharine S. and Gilbert S. Macquoid is to be published by Messrs. Butchinson, entitled “In the Volcanic Eifel : a Holiday Ramble.” Three maps, and over fifty pictures by Mr. Thomas R. Macquoid, R.I., will adorn it. “Dr. Johnson and the Fair Sex" was published a few months ago, and more recently there has been a book on Queen Elizabeth’s Courtships. The same class of literature is about to receive “The Story of Sir Walter Scott's First Love,” now told for the first time in all its detail. There will be portraits of Sir Walter and Lady Scott, and of Sir William and Lady Forbes in the book, of which Messrs. Macniven and Wallace, Edinburgh, are the publishers. Mr. W. Roberts, in the Athenæum of the 4th ult., told that the missing MSS. of the first two volumes of the Paston Letters are in the hands of Captain Pretyman, of Orwell Park, Norfolk. As a part of the King's Library they are, he says, legally and morally the property of the British Museum. Mr. Fr. Norgate, in the issue of the 18th, says he announced five years ago where the MSS. were, and as to the right of possession, he says, George IV. made over to the Museum what he had — and these MSS. he certainly had not. A London bookseller suggests, in the April number of the Bookseller, that publishers should imitate in some respects the German system by sending to selected booksellers in each neigh- bourhood a suitable quantity of their publica- tions, on terms of “sale or return.” This custom, he thinks, would lead to increase circu- lation. A too sanguine friend of an author, evidently, has created some perturbation in the mind of Messrs. Chapman and Hall, publishers. By common course an announcement was issued to the Press of a new book about to be issued.  ## p. (#640) ################################################ 286 THE AUTHOR. Extraordinary statements were added, however, including one that “we have read the author's manuscript, and his arguments appear quite unassailable.” One London paper in printing this remarked sapiently that it preferred as a rule to take its opinions from its reviewers. A letter of surprise immediately followed from the pub- lishers, totally disclaiming the “puff,” and stating that they had now been informed by the author that a friend of his was responsible for the information and the opinions put forward. More Napoleon, and this time from no other than Mr. T. P. O'Connor. The M.P. has just finished a book on Napoleon's social and domestic life, which will come from Messrs. Chapman and Hall in a week or two. A bibliography of the works about Napoleon published during, say, the last four years would probably be chiefly interesting because of its length. Mr. David S. Salmond, whose name as a lecturer on South Africa is familiar to many parts of the kingdom, especially to central Scot- land, is publishing a book called “The Diary of a Trip to South Africa.” The publishers are Messrs. Brodie and Salmond, Arbroath. The author is connected with the Castle Line of vessels. The most important books which have appeared during the past month are: in fiction Mr. William Black’s “Briseis” (Sampson Low), which has run in Harper's, was most noticeable ; of political interest “Boer and Uitlander,” by Mr. William F. Regan, got a good deal of attention. The outstanding work in April was, however, Mr. W. Fraser Rae's biography of Sheridan (Bentley). It is in two volumes, with an introduction by the Marquess of Dufferin and Ava, Sheridan's great grandson, who roundly condemns previous bio- graphies as vastly imperfect. An interesting point cleared up in the new work is the circum- stances of Sheridan's death, which were not, as is so generally supposed, sordid, but peaceful, the patient having every comfort and suffering no pain. - Another of a common pattern of story is supplied by a correspondent of the New York Critic. “Searching in St. Louis for a de lure copy of ‘Trilby,’” he says, “I called at Boland's —the largest and oldest establishment in that city—and, on asking if they had a copy, received the answer, “We have Du Maurier’s ‘Trilby,' but do not keep Deluxe's.’” A new work on “The Labour Problem,” by Mr. Geoffrey Drage, M.P., will be published during May by Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co. The life of Sir Frederick Gore Ouseley, of ecclesiastical music fame, has been written by the Rev. F. W. Joyce, rector of Burford. Two. chapters on Sir Frederick as a musician are: by Mr. G. R. Sinclair, organist of Hereford Cathedral. Messrs. Methuen will publish the book. A volume of varied Ulster stories, by Mr. Caldwell Lipsett, entitled “Where the Atlantic. meets the Land,” will be published immediately by Mr. Lane. The same publisher announces. that the second volume of his Pierrot Library will be a historical story called “My Little Lady Anne,” by Mrs. Egerton Castle. The following extract is from the New York. Critic. It is Mr. Arthur Waugh who speaks, and upon a practice reported common in a section of the London publishing trade :- It would appear that nowadays no book can be called successful which does not pass through several editions. before it is published at all. This morning's papers are full of advertisements of a new book by a well-known purveyor. of sensational fiction, whose story is not to be issued till. Monday, and will then be in its fourth edition. Whether. the public is taken in by this sort of thing or no, it is diffi- cult to say ; but it is certainly the cheapest kind of mani- pulation. It means either one of two things. The pub-. lisher may, firstly, have underrated the number of copies. likely to be sold upon subscription, and so given a first. printing-order inadequate to the demand; or, secondly, he may have printed the words “First Edition ” upon the first, few thousand, “Second ’’ on the next batch, and so on. In neither case do the additional copies constitute a genuine. edition, which means, if it means anything, a reprint, rendered necessary by the exhaustion of stock placed upon the market in the usual course of business. “Soaps and mustards,” adds Mr. Waugh, “ have their methods, but one wishes better treat- ment for even the most vulgar and incompetent. of novels.” Carrying out a family arrangement, Mr. Theodore Watts has added to his surname that. of his mother, and will in future sign himself as Theodore Watts Dunton. In periodicals a new penny morning paper for London has to be recorded this month. This is the Daily Courier—owned by Sir George Newnes, and edited by Mr. Earl Hodgson assisted by Mr. L. F. Austin—of which the first number appeared on the 23rd ult. It eschews a political side, but, cultivates social interest, and contains thirty-two. pages of the St. James's size. Messrs. Harms- worth will start a new halfpenny daily paper, the Daily Mail, on the 4th inst. Cheshire is about to follow the example of Essex and Kent by establishing a quarterly journal of local anti- quarian record and folk-lore, called “Cheshire Notes and Queries.” It is now definitely stated that Mr. Clement. Scott's first volume of dramatic criticisms will appear in the course of a few days. It will be concerned exclusively with the Irving productions  ## p. (#641) ################################################ THE AUTHOR. 287 at the Lyceum, and will be called “From ‘The Bells' to “King Arthur.’” The publisher is Mr. Macqueen. A six-volume edition of “Boswell's Life of Johnson,” with an introduction and some notes by Mr. Augustine Birrell, is about to be published by Messrs. Constable. Mr. James Baker, who last year was acting as special correspondent upon the Nile, is going to Moscow for the coronation festivities ; he will journey to St. Petersburg by the “ss. Midnight Sun * instead of by the overland route. Messrs. A. Constable and Co. have just pub- lished a collection of short stories by Mrs. Nella Parker, entitled “Dramas of To-day.” A report on the conference at Ottawa on the copyright question, at which Mr. Hall Caine and Mr. Daldy were present, has been published as an appendix to the annual report of the Minister of Agriculture for 1895. Copies of this appendix may be obtained at the offices of the High Commissioner for Canada, 17, Victoria-street, S.W. Mr. Charles J. Mansford has in the press, to be published very shortly (Mentz, Kennor, and Co.), a romance of sea and shore called “The Dutchman’s Luck.” The same author will pro- duce in the autumn (John Hogg, Paternoster- row) a story of adventure in Northern India, illustrated by Mr. J. Ayton Symington. Esmé Stuart has just published “A Mine of Wealth” (3 vols., Hurst and Blackett), and “Harum Scarum, a Poor Relation,” in one vol. (Jarrold and Sons). Mrs. Hartley Perks has in the press and will shortly publish a novel entitled “Among the Bracken” (Archibald Constable). Commander Claud Harding will shortly publish (Sampson Low, Marston and Co.) a new story entitled “Jack Stapleton,” or “The Romance of a Coral Island,” the scene of which is laid in the West Indies and Central America. Mr. John Lascelles’ new volume of verse— “The Great Drama and Other Poems”—will be issued immediately by the Leadenhall Press Limited. This will be the second volume of a “Sun and Serpent Series” of books of verse, each complete in itself, which will be published, at intervals, by the same author. - A long letter from Mr. Thomas Hutchinson, Dublin, the well-known Wordsworth authority, appeared in the Academy for April 18, with refer- ence to the recent edition of the poet by Professor Enight in the Eversley series. Mr. Hutchinson bitterly complains that his name has not been included in the acknowledgments which Professor Enight makes for assistance rendered in detecting errors in the previous text. It is shown, more- over, that Professor Knight acknowledged these services by letter. Mr. Anthony Hope's next book, “The Heart of Princess Osra,” will be published early in the autumn, by Messrs. Longmans. From time to time the Rev. Frederick Lang- bridge has produced verses, which, if slight, are yet pleasing, and have the true ring. He has now published, through the Religious Tract Society, a little volume of verse called “A Cluster of Quiet Thoughts.” Mostly they are quite short, as the following: Deem thou of no estate— As doomed and reprobate, And call thou no man devil, brute, or clod: One worketh in the dark, Whose ways are long to mark; Despair of man is black despair of God. Mrs. Helen C. Black has just published (Spottiswoode and Co.). “Pen, Pencil, and Mask,” being a collection of biographical sketches of sixty eminent persons connected with Art and the Drama. Mr. Tuer, author and publisher, has at last completed his “History of the Horn Book” after three years’ work. In his latter capacity no one excels Mr. Tuer in the “mounting ” of the book. In three volumes he has collected 3oo illustra- tions, including I 50 examples. Seven horn books and A. B. C. Battledores are recessed within the covers. In the binding a return has been made to the thick vellum so much used formerly. It is understood that both publisher and author are completely satisfied with the agreement as to the production of this book. In the Cymmrodorion section of the National Eisteddfod at Llandudno, Mr. W. Edwards Tirebuck is to read a paper entitled “Welsh Thought and English Thinkers.” Mr. Tirebuck's “Tales from the Welsh Hills,” which appeared in serial form in English, Scotch, and Welsh papers last year, are to be shortly published in cheap volume form, illustrated by a Welsh artist. Mr. Heinemann has added Mr. Tirebuck's latest book, “Miss Grace of All Souls',” to his Colonial Library. *- ~ *-* e- - -s CORRESPONDENCE, I.—Is IT RIGHT P ILL it be credited that, although I sent a W W stamped directed envelope to the editor of a certain weekly magazine, to know the fate of a poem, I never had the slightest inkling as to its fate, either directly or through the “Answers to Corrrespondents’ columns !  ## p. (#642) ################################################ 288 THE AUTHOR. I am quite aware, of course, that an editor is not bound to give his reasons in any case, but all I asked for was “Yes” or “No.” In the mean- time I could not send the poem elsewhere, as I had no copy of it (my own fault that (); but even had I kept one I should not have sent it else- where until I knew it would not appear, in the paper to which I had sent it. Assumption of rejection, through delay in answering, or no answer at all, is dangerous ; and I have got into trouble that way, and been charged for it ! This is an unanswerable argument, is it not? But my real grievance was that I could get no reply as to fate of verses in the acknowledged channel—i.e., “Answers to Correspondents”—where hundreds of comparative no-bodies were replied to weekly. Not very creditable to the paper in question, is it P What should we think of such a standard of courtesy—or discourtesy—in ordinary social life? And the ordinary discourtesy was intensi- fied here a thousandfold by the fact of the sub- editor having once been a friend of mine (save the mark 1), and I had offered social amenities to the editor. F. B. D. [Would it not be prudent in such cases always to keep a copy of the poem, and to send the editor a notice that if the contribution is not accepted within a certain time the author will hold himself free to send elsewhere? And may not the silence of the editor be accounted for in one of two ways: First, that, owing to the thousands of communications received, he had simply forgotten the case; secondly, that he had made it a rule never to explain his reasons for refusing or accepting 2–ED.] II.-EDITORS AND AUTHORs. An American writer asks (Authors’ Journal, April, 1896) why an editor does not, in accepting a contribution, state what he proposes to give for it before he uses it P *- “In common honesty ought not the sale of literary contributions to be conducted on the same principles that govern other mercantile transactions P Is not the author entitled, quite as much as the farmer or the merchant, to say whether he will accept or refuse the terms offered him for his wares? “‘Our regular rates’ are a very uncertain quantity, and usually an unknown one; but however liberal they may be, the author should surely be allowed his opinion about accepting or declining them.” The question is very pertinent, but there are so many contributors anxious above all things to see themselves in print that a writer must belong to the class of those whom the public desire to see º print before he can expect to be treated with the consideration that is paid to the farmer or the merchant. These two persons pursue their business from a business point of view. The young Writer does not : he is anxious, above all, to be accepted : when that is accomplished, and not till then, he begins to think about the money. III.-GRAB-ALLs of LITERATURE. Here is a pretty experience which adds to the sweets of our calling. A month back a produc- tion of mine appeared in a so-called “popular ” weekly paper. Neither MS. nor printed sketch has ever received a word of acknowledgment, notwithstanding letters to editor and proprietors. It is a scandalous shame that one’s work should be thus appropriated without even receiving the scanty bone of recognition. If this be not an example of literary theft, I know not what is. CECIL CLARKE. Authors’ Club, 21st April. [The Secretary of the Society would settle this case very quickly if it were placed in his hands,- ED.] - IV.-CoIPY OF ADVERTISEMENT IN A PARISIAN JOURNAL. “Auteurs inédits peuvent inserer manuscrit dans une revue indépendente illustrée.” This announcement appeared about a year ago, and I answered it out of curiosity, receiving the following postcard in reply: “Monsieur, La revue dont il était question dans l'annonce du Journal est la Libre Critique, 37, rue Souveraine à Bruxelles. Je vous en addresse un specimen en même temps que cette réponse. “Vous comprendrez qu'il nous soit tout à fait impossible d’accepter ou de refuser l'insertion de votre nouvelle sans l’a voir lue. Les conditions de collaboration se résument en l'acceptation par les auteurs d’un abonnement à la revue (IO francs l'an). Du Ist Octobre prochain, notre publication comportera I6 pages de texte et les pages supplémentaires seront consacrées à la littérature. “Croyez moi, Monsieur, votre tout dévoué, “ANDRE REMONT.” I could not resist sending the following reply: “Monsieur, Je vous remercie pour l'envoi de votre journal et de la carte que vous avez bien woulu m'adresser; d'après elle il me semble que l’exploitation des auteurs a fait un pas de plus— demanderait-on à un cordonnier de payer le plaisir de vous chausser P “Acceptez, monsieur, tinguées, - mes salutations dis- “ M. M. M.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 06 Issue 12 (May 1896) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 06 Issue 12 (May 1896) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013732253" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015013732253</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1896-05-01-The-Author-6-12 publications The Author