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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) 1896-10-01 Volume 7 Issue 5 Pages Page range in volume 97–116 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 18961001 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin TLhc Hutbor* (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vol. VII.—No. 5.] OCTOBER 1, 1896. [Price Sixpence. CONTENTS. General Considerations Literary Property— 1. The Berne Congress 2. Thirteen as Twelve ... 3. Booksellers and Publishers 4. A Photographer's Copyright Onion The Third Point of View New York Letter. By Norman Hapgood Reviewing The Prairie Songs of Hamlin Garland ... NoteB and News. By the Editor PAOi, ... 97 . 99 . 99 . 100 . 100 . 101 . 102 . 104 . 105 . IOC From a Penman's Workshop Loose English. By H. E. Keen* •• When I am Gone." By F. B. Doveton Book Talk Literature in the Periodicals Correspondence—1. The First Book. 2. Royalty on First Books. 3. Onr Brains. 4. Monsters in Fiction. 5 The Title The Publishing Season Sir John Erichsen A Cricket Match PAGB .. 108 .. 109 .. 110 .. 110 .. 112 114 118 116 no PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY. of 1. The Annual Report. That for January 1896 can be had on application to the Secretary. 2. The Author. A Monthly Journal devoted especially to the protection and maintenance of Literary Property. Issued to all Members. Back numbers are offered at the following prices: Vol. I., ios. 6(2. (Bound); Vols. II., HI., and IV., 8«. 6d. each (Bound) j Vol. V., 6s. 6d. (Unbound). 3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. Morris Colles, Barrister-at-Law. (Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C.) 3*. 4. The History of the Societe des Gens de Lettres. By S. Squire Sprigge, late Secretary to the Society, i*. 5. The Cost of Production. In this work specimens are given of the most important forms of size of page, &c., with estimates showing what it costs to produce the more common kirn books. Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 2*. 6d. 6. The Various Methods Of Publication. By S. Squire Sprigge. In this work, compiled from the papers in the Society's offices, the various forms of agreements proposed by Publishers to Authors are examined, and their meaning carefully explained, with an account of the various kinds of fraud which have been made possible by the different clauses in their agreements. Henry Glaisher, 95, Strand, W.C. 3*. 7. Copyright Law Reform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill now before Parlia- ment. With Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, and an Appendix containing the Berne Convention and the American Copyright Bill. By J. M. Lely. Eyre and Spottiswoode. is. 6d. 8. The Society of Authors. A Record of its Action from its Foundation By Walter TStoktsi (Chairman of Committee, 1888—1892). 11. 9. The Contract of Publication in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and w .^et^- W Lunge, J.U.D. 2.9. 6d.  ## p. 96 (#128) ############################################# 11 AD VERTISEMENTS. ^i)e $octetp of Jluf^ors (gncotporateb). Sir Edwin Arnold, K.C.I.E., C.S.I. Alfred Austin. J. M. Barbie A.. W. X Beckett. C E. Beddard, P.B.S. Robert Bateman. Sir Henry Bergne, K.C.M.G. Sir Walter Besant. Augustine Birrell, M.P. Bev. Prop. Bonnet, P.B.S. Rioht Hon. James Brtce, M.P. Right Hon. Lord Burghclere, P.C Hall Caine. Eoerton Castle, F.S.A. P. W. Clatden. Edward Clodd. W. Morris Colles. Hon. John Collier. Sir W. Martin Conwat. P. Marion Crawford. PRESIDENT. O-IEO IRQ-IE MEREDITH. COUNCIL. The Earl of Desart. Austin Dobson. A. Conan Doyle, M.D A. W. Dubourg. Sir J. Eric Erichsen, Bart., F.B.S. Prof. Michael Foster, P.B.S. Bichard Garnett, C.B., LL.D. Edmund Gosse. H. Bider Haggard. Thomas Hardy. Anthony Hope Hawkins. Jerome K. Jerome. Eudyard Kiplino. Prof. E. Bay Lankkster, F.B.S. W. E. H. Lkcky. J. M. Lely. Mrs. E. Lynn Linton. Bev. W. J. Loftie, F.S.A. Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mua.D. Prof. J. M. D. Meiklejohn. Hon. Counsel — E. M. Underdown, Herman C. Merivale. Bev. C. H. Middleton-Wakk. Sir Lewis Morris. Henry Norman. Miss E. A. Obmerod. J. C. Parkinson. Bight Hon. Lord Pirbkight. Sir Frederick Pollock, Bart., LL.D. Walter Herries Pollock. W. Baptiste Scoones. Miss Flora L. Shaw. G. B. Sims. S. Squire Sprigge. J. J. Stevenson. Prof. Jas. Sully. William Moy Thomas. H. D. Traill, D.C.L. Mrs. Humphry Ward. Miss Charlotte M. Yonge. Q.C. A. W. a Beckett. Sir Walter Besant. Eoerton Castle. W. Morris Colles. COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT. Chairman—H. Bider Haggard. Hon. John Collier. Sir W. Martin Conway. Anthony Hope Hawkins. J. M. Lely. „ .. .. ( Messrs. Field, Eoscoe, and Co., Lincoln's Inn Fields. solicitors ^ Q Herbert Thring, B.A., 4, Portugal-street, W.C. Sir A. C. Mackenzie, Mus.D. Henry Norman. S. Squire Sprigge. Secretary—G. Herbert Thring, B.A. OFFICES: 4, Portugal Street, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C. .A.. IP. WJ^TT &c SOIDsT, LITERARY AGENTS, Formerly of 2, PATERNOSTER SQUARE, Have now removed to HASTINGS HOUSE, NORFOLK STREET, STRAND. LONDON-, W.C. WINDSOR HOUSE PRINTING WORKS, BREAM'S BTJIT-jXJIZLSTG-S, E.O. Offices of "The Field," "The Queen," "The Law Times," &e. Mr. HOBACE COX, Printer to the Authors' Society, takes the opportunity of informing Authors that, having a very large Office, and an extensive Plant of Type of every description, he is in a position to EXECUTE any FEINTING they may entrust to his care. ESTIMATES FORWARDED, AND REASONABLE CHARGES WILL BE FOUND.  ## p. 97 (#129) ############################################# XIbe Hutbor* (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.) CONDUCTED BY WALTER BESANT. Vol. VII.—No. 5.] OCTOBER 1, 1896. [Price Sixpence. For the Opinions expressed in papers that are signed or initialled the Authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or para- graphs must be taken as expressing the collective opinions of the committee unless they are officially signed by G. Herbert Thring, Sec. THE 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 should 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, bnt on no other sub- jects whatever. Articles which cannot be accepted are returned if Btamps for the purpose accompany the MSS. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. THERE are several methods of publishing by agree- ments. Thus (1) an author may sell his work for a sum of money down: (2) he may take a share of the profits: (3) he may accept a royalty. The first method is the readiest and, where a proper price is paid, perhaps the beBt. It involves a certain amount of risk or doubt as to the result on the part of the buyer, and a certain amount of hesitation on the part of the seller. The author would do well to Bell through an agent. But let him beware as to his choice of agent. At a time when the production of new books involved great riBks and where the possible circle of purchasers was very small, the publishers, joining together, took half the profits as a return for their risk and services. At the present time in many cases, where there are no risks, they often take two-thirds and even more of the profits, and that after setting apart a large sum for "office expenses," allowing the author nothing at all for his office expenses. In other words, it is as if a steward were to charge first for his office and desks and then to take half or two-thirds of the remainder for himself as steward's fee. Therefore the author must in every case ascertain carefully) before Bigning the agreement, what proportion is appropriated under its clauses by the publisher for himself. If the any,or is in doubt, let him submit the agreement to the seorM, 0r to one of the VOL. VII. literary agents recommended by the secretary. Above all things he must remember that in any business transaction the one who accepts an agreement in ignoranoe will quite certainly get the worst of it. The folly of signing in ignorance is the main cause of half the quarrels between anthor and publisher. In the case of profit-sharing.agreements, remember that a very common form of getting the better of an author is the practice of advertising the book in the publisher's own organs, very likely magazines of small circulation. Sometimes, also, he " exchanges " advertisements with other magazines, and charges the author as if he had paid for them. In this way the publisher may put the whole profits of a book in his own pooket. One way to prevent thiB sharp practice is to insert a clause to the effect that advertisements shall only be charged at the actual price paid for them. A better way, however, is to agree beforehand npon the papers in which advertisements may be inserted. As regards the right of inspecting the books, that neeo not be claimed, because it exists as the right of every partner, or joint venturer. You have only to demand the inspection of the books by your solicitor, your accountant, or the secretary of the Society. If the book is a first book, or one that carries risk, it is fair to make an arrangement for the first edition and another for the second, and following, if any. The publisher confers so Bignal a service upon the yonng anthor by producing his work at all—i.e., by giving him the chance he desires above all things—that it seems fair in such a case to yield him the larger share. In a profit-sharing agreement do not let the cost of pro- duction form a part of the agreement, otherwise yon will be unable to contest it afterwards. It will be wisest never to enter into relations with any publisher unless recommended by the Society. There are many other dangers to be avoided. SeriaO rights: stamping the agreement: American rights: future work: cession of copyright—these things cannot possibly be attended to by the young author. Therefore his agree- ment should always be shown to the secretary. It has been objected that these precautions presuppose a great success for the book, and that very few books indeed attain to this great success. That is quite true: but there is always this uncertainty of literary property that, although the works of a great many authors carry with them no risk at all, and although of a great r^v-ny it ibknown witbi—o>£ev< copies what will be their mi ^ ^utn cucu\a,_«nv,\\> S» known what will be their anthor, for every book, shoul^ ^ ^ge success which will not, proVw>. JjX*9, 0« may come. ^"YJ \ The four points which the \& from the outset are:— *4 (1.) That both sides sh^-v ^ means. \>v' V 0  ## p. 98 (#130) ############################################# 98 THE AUTHOR. (2.) The inspection of those account books which belong to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or withheld. (3.) That there shall be no secret profits. (4.) That nothing shall be charged which has not been actually paid—for instance, that there shall be no charge for advertisements in the publisher's own organs and none for exchanged advertisements: and that all discounts shall be duly entered. If these points are carefully looked after, the author may rest pretty well assured that he is in right hands. At the same time he will do well to send his agreement to the secretary before he signs it. HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. 1. 1/1 VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive Pj advioe upon his agreements, his choice of a pub- lisher, or any dispute arising in the oonduct of his business or the administration of his property. If the advice sought is such as can be given best by a solioitor, 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- 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 aooounts 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 ohange 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 oase of fraudulent houses—the tricks of every publish- ing firm in the oountry. 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 Author 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 now offers :—(1) To read and advise upon agreements and publishers. (2) To stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements. THE AUTHORS' SYNDICATE. MEMBERS are informed: I. That the Authors' Syndicate takes charge of the business of members of the Society. That it submits MSS. to publishers and editors, conoludes 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' Syndioate works only for those members of the Society whose work possesses a market value. 4. That the Syndioate can only undertake any negotiations whatever on the distinct understanding that those negotia- tions are placed exclusively 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 to defray postage. 7. That the Authors' Syndicate does not invite MSS. without previous correspondence j 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 Borne of the leading members of the Society; that it has a "Transfer Department" for the sale and purohase 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 oase of dispute or difficulty. It is perhaps necessary to state that the members of the Advisory Committee have no pecuniary interest whatever in the Syndioate. NOTICES. THE 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 6*. 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 f 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 otherB who wish their MSS. read are requested not to send them to the Office without previously  ## p. 99 (#131) ############################################# THE AUTHOR. 99 <sommu»icating with the Seoretary. 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-oourt, Charing Cross. Address the Secretary for information, rules of admission, Ac. Will members take the trouble to ascertain whether they have paid their subscriptions for the year? 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 following warning. 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? 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 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 £g 4*. 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 oourse, 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. LITERARY PROPERTY. I. — The Berne Congress. f 11HE eighteenth Congress of the International I Association for the Protection of Literary Property was held iu August last. It is very much to be regretted that the efforts of the ■committee to send a delegate proved fruitless. No one could be found to go, perhaps because the association is not generally considered a very practical body. However, it is a good thing to bring before people in some official manner, at regular intervals, the fact that literary property is a real thing, meaning a great deal more than the world at large understands. England seems to have been represented by one lawyer, and the greater number of members present were French. An account of the proceedings was furnished by the Athenaeum of Sept. 5, from which.the follow- ing is a brief resume: A paper was read on the " Work accomplished by the Diplomatic Conference held at Paris in the Spring of the present year." The period during which works are protected against unauthorised translation was assimilated to that of ordinary copyright, on the condition that an authorised translation is made within ten years The artick of the Convention relating to articles in news- papers and magazines was made "more stringent." And the Conference passed certain resolutions in favour of penal legislation as regards the forgery of authors' names, &c. "The Congress expressed hopes that the reso- lutions of the conference may be ratified, and that the reform of the law of copyright, which is now well started in Germany, may extend to Great Britain also. It is possible, if the Authors' Society, the English Copyright Association, and other bodies could be induced to agree, that some- thing might be done in this direction, though the inefficiency of Parliament as a legislative machine renders the success of any reform to which any of our Parliamentary busybodies might raise an objection more than doubtful." During the discussion following the paper, the Congress pronounced in favour of a Dramatic Authors' Society—presumably international—and of the formation of a bureau in each country to give legal advice on the subject of copyright else- where. Copyright in newspaper articles was advocated. A model copyright law was laid before the Congress. The rights of unpaid creditors to an author's unpublished work was discussed. Certain points of law liable to be raised by collaborateurs were also discussed. A paper was read by a Parisian barrister pro- posing to give the author or his heirs a perpetual royalty to be given after the copyright term expires. Another account of the meeting is given in the Publishers' Circular, which contains a statement that in less than fourteen years the Socie'te des Auteurs Franrais has "netted forty million francs." It would be serviceable to us if we could find out what this meaus. II.—Thirteen as Twelve. The revelations recent made as to the prices exacted of booksellers h^v'e eafted attention te ^e clause frequently prop<w 1 yd tojaltj a^esme^8- that thirteen are to be >». votJ-C^ 88 The just to the ustification of « ^W^LTa trade is <*»  ## p. 100 (#132) ############################################ IOO THE AUTHOR. thirteen as twelve. If this were true, it might be considered, at least. But it is not true. The general rule is that when a dozen books at least are ordered—sometimes of the same work, sometimes of other books published by the firm —thirteen are sent as twelve. When a single book is ordered, or two or three only, the general rule is to charge for it, at a eertain fixed price, gene- rally 4*. 2d. on a 6s. book, occasional exceptions and modifications being made by certaiu houses. What is the average proportion of books sent out at thirteen as twelve P As no figures are forth- coming, it lies with the author to demand a modification of the clause. He must absolutely refuse to allow thirteen as twelve, unless the publisher does it also. If the publisher does allow it in every case, the author may, perhaps, do so, but not unless. Hitherto, the meanings of royalties, as published in the Author, have been based on the assumption that thirteen as twelve is the rule. Since we have now discovered that it is not the rule, we must reconsider the meanings, which shall l>e done in the next number. Note, however, that on those meanings, if you grant the clause of thirteen as twelve, you actually give the publisher that allowance twice over! A reasonable way out of the difficulty might lie to allow the publisher thirteen as twelve on a certain number of any edition. Thus on a thousand copies, if all were sent out at thirteen as twelve, there would be a loss, or giving away, of seventy-seven copies. Since the practice is not universal, but only partial, it would, perhaps, be fair to allow the publisher, say, forty copies or 4 per cent, of the edition on this account, taking the full royalty on all the rest. Authors have, surely, never yet realised what they are giving away by this clause. Take, for instance, two loyalties: that of one-sixth or i6f per cent.: and that of 25 per cent.: on the common 6*. book. By this clause the author loses 7r\ per cent. That is to say, in the former he loses nearly .£4, and in the latter he loses nearly =£6 on every thousand copies. The publisher gains therefore this amount less the deduction made in certain cases—not by any means all—as the united testimony of booksellers clearly proves. Since the deduction is only made in certain cases, what justification can be pleaded for charging it upon the author in all cases? And why should the publisher get the allowance twice over? ri III.—Booksellers and Publishers. It is pleasing to note that not all publishers attempt to represent themselves as victims by talking vaguely about awful expenses; by twist- ing figures; or by confidently stating in public things which they have to deny in private. I have received from a firm of publishers the exact figures concerned with the sale of a certain work recently issued by them. The numbers sold amounted to many thousands. The published price of the book was 6s. In the first place, this firm always allowed 5 per cent, on every copy taken at 4*. 2d. or at 4*., except an inconsiderable number sold for cash over the counter, not exceeding twenty-five at the outside. The prices obtained by the publisher varied from 3*. n^d. down to a fraction under 3*. \d. The retail trade was represented by 49 per cent, of the sales—it may be remembered that one of the persons who recently engaged in the "vague talk" spoke of the wholesale trade as forming "the great bulk" of their business. It is not, therefore, "the great bulk" in every house. The average price obtained by the publisher was what has always been assumed in these columns, namely, as nearly as possible, 38. 6d. These figures are supplied by a young and rising firm which enjoys the useful credit of making "easier" terms with the trade than some of the larger and older houses. W. B. IV.—A Photographic Copyright Union. Photographs are not books. But there is a law of copyright in photographs as in books and pictures. This Union is governed by a com- mittee consisting of well-known photographers. The rules show that the members mean busi- ness: they contemplate, especially, legal action. If the society takes a case into court, two-" thirds of the damages go to the member con- cerned, and one-third to the society: if no damages are obtained, the member must pay- half the expenses: where compensation has been obtained without litigation, the society shall take 25 per cent, of the amount. And the union limits the right of allowing a copyright picture to be reproduced to a certain minimum. A reserve fund is to be created. In these rules is there nothing that our Society might follow? We want a large reserve fund: we want some definite plan of action in the case of legal action: there are many cases which cry aloud to be taken into court, but members are unwilling and afraid of the consequences. If we could,- like the photo- graphers, increase our reserve by taking cases into court, surely there would be at least manifested some desire among our members to settle their disputes in this, the only possible, way.  ## p. 101 (#133) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 101 THE THIRD POINT OP VIEW. fT^HE following remarks represent an interview I with one of the trade:— "I am a bookseller. I want to point out to authors whose works I try to sell certain facta which may show them that they ought to be even more interested in the bookseller than in the publisher. There are three persons concerned in the presentation of a book to the public; they are the author who creates the book, and whoso pro- perty it is until he parts with it: the publisher, who sends it to the printer, pays the printer's bill, advertises it; and the bookseller, who orders so many copies and puts them in his window and sells them. If we ask what are the respective shares of the three in the control of the book, we very quickly discover that the second person of the three has not oniy got the whole control of the business into his own hands, but he takes the lion's share of the returns. He has obtained the control by carefully keeping things dark. He does not allow the author to know what he exacts of the bookseller: nor does he let the bookseller know what he allows the author: nor does he suffer either of them to know what he pays the printer: and by exchanges, and by charging for advertisements in his own magazine, he gets, according to the Author, a great part of his advertising done for nothing. And, of course, he keeps this last fact very dark indeed. "Your Society has broken down a part of this ignorance, which I, for one, believe to have been designed. Your Society has shown, first, what it actually costs to produce a book. I have read all the denials, and laughed over the shuffling with which they try to wriggle out of the truth. I daresay that a printer's bill is an elastic thing: but men in business do not pay more than they are obliged, and I am confident that your Society's figures are as nearly right as can be got. Moreover, I observe in all the letters that have appeared from the persons concerned that no one of the writers gives his own figures. Why? Because, if he cooked his accounts printers by the <lozen would offer to do the work for less: and if he told the truth, he would be confessing that the Society is right. Now, by exposing the Cost of Production and the meaning of Royalties, your society has done great service to booksellers, as well as to authors. I hope that every bookseller in the country will make haste to take in the Author and to procure a copy of the "Cost of Production." "The kind of service you have rendered to us is exactly the same as that which you have ren- dered to authors: the disclosure of the truth. It matters very little whether your figures are a penny above or below those of any particular book. Every book, of course, must have its own figures, and I do not suppose that yours are meant for more than the average. "I now ask permission to state the booksellers' case, and to show why authors ought to make common cause with them. "(i) Their risk.—The publisher of current lite- rature, not to speak of great ventures which require capital and carry risks, runs, as you have always said, practically little risk. If he runs any, considering the great number of popular writers, it is his own look out. That is, your Society is quite right in saying that he only publishes for authors for whose works there is some demand — generally enough to see him through by the first run of the book. The exceptions to this rule are few, but we must admit that there are exceptions. But the bookseller must buy on spec. Every book, except the earlier copies of a very popular author, is a risk. You may see on my shelves rows of books which mean failures. They cannot be sold. "(2) The office expenses.—In most publishers' houses these are reckoned at 10 per cent. In my house they are from 16 to 20 per cent. In other words, if a publisher makes 3*. 6d. for a 6*. book, or even only 3s. ^d., he pays about 4<f. for his office expenses, leaving himself, when author and printer are paid, about i*. 2d. or is. The book- seller, however, has to reduce his earnings by i^d., leaving him about b\d. on the volume. The publisher speaks of advertisements. Well, your Society has pointed out that <£io spent on advertising 2000 copies means just over id. a copy. "I would, therefore, with these facts before me, appeal to the authors. I ask them these questions: "(1.) For what reasons, for what services, should the publisher be allowed to take the lion's share? "(2.) Is it fair that the booksellers' office ex- penses and risks should be absolutely ignored? Is it fair that authors' expenses should be also ignored? "(3.) Is it right that the literature of the country should be wholly managed by the class which takes the least share of the work, the risk, and the responsibility, and for their own interests alone? "Next. I put to you authors and readers the following considerations: "V^\iat do you wish to gain by your writings'? jfc fame and name' Is it money? I take it th_» « 'wa,at ^>^V*A'aAae and your own money: but v\\ tneae {^jytf^ be obtained bv means to have a clear understan.^^ N^^Vvea. ^^3^  ## p. 102 (#134) ############################################ 102 THE AUTHOR. your Society rightly calls the administration of your own estate. The value of this estate rests, I would urge you to consider, ultimately with the bookseller and the libraries. The bookseller, especially, can place your books on his shelves. He can give you a fair show: he can offer you to the public: he can recommend you: he can cause you to live on and on for years: most books die almost as soon as they are born, even good and popular books, because the bookseller has no interest to make them live. He can, in a word, do more to advance your reputation than any reviews. He wants nothing more than an encouragement to do so. But it is impossible for him to stock his shelves with your books unless he is properly treated. Remember that he has rent and ordinary expenses to pay: and that he has a wife and family to keep. There must, therefore, be a sufficient margin. Formerly, he was told that the greed of authors caused this margin to grow smaller and smaller. He now under- stands that the authors have no knowledge at all of this diminution; but it is, on the other hand, a desperate clutching at the lion's share which makes the margin grow smaller. If you ask a man to sell your book on a margin of 4</., he will not do so unless he is obliged. "I would ask you, therefore, as authors, to con- sider your position with reference to the book- seller. Do not let your attention be diverted by any false scent: if publishers claim that the figures are wrong—well, then, give them a penny or so if they like, and still ask this question— What has a publisher done for a book which is sure to sell by thousands, that he should take for his own profit as much as author and bookseller together: or that he should take more than the author, or as much as the author: or more than the bookseller, or as much as the bookseller? And if some way can be found out by which this injustice can be set right, will the authors make common cause with the booksellers? As a book- seller I can promise, in the name of the trade, that if they do, they will speedily find out where their true interests lie." NEW YORK LETTER. New York, Sept. 17. HILL AND COMPANY, who have been preparing a large Encyclopedia of Ency- clopedias, have just given notice to those employed on the work that they are dismissed, and the whole venture postponed until after the election. Their other principal undertaking, the "Library of World Literature," conducted by Charles Dudley Warner, continues, but is being kept back as much as possible in order to see what the situation will be after Nov. 3. Mr. Warner, by the way, whuse experience in the magazine business is great, commented yester- day on the paragraph in the last Author about the effect of mailing rates on the prosperity of magazines. The art editor of one of our three principal magazines also expressed his opinion on the same subject, and the business aspect was represented by a member of the publishing department of one of the principal houses. The business manager was especially strong in agreeing with the statement in the Author that the mailing rate was a very important factor in the prosperity of American magazines. He said that his house was making every effort to get as large a part as possible of its circulation on its subscription books, rather tban sell through the American News Company, which does all the distributing here, except that of Munsey's Magazine, which does its own rather than pay the high distributing charge. Scribner's Magazine now has 30,000 names on its subscription list, most of them in America. Harper's and the Century also have a very large subscription list. All possible methods are used, such as offering the magazine with books, or offering two magazines together, and having agents on the road. There is some possibility, probably not very serious, that the present privi- leges will be restricted by the next Legislature. The movement for restriction grows out of the fact that some publishers are taking advantage of the favourable laws to mail what is really onlv advertising under the guise of a regular monthly or weekly periodical. These three representatives, however, of the various departments, while they agreed that this was an important element, laid a great deal of emphasis on other facts. All three of them said that decidedly the leading cause was the illustra- tion, the number and excellence of the pictures, and that all expected to see the illustrations in England grow more numerous and better. Enter- tainment has been the idea on which the circula- tions of our magazines have been built up. As Mr. Warner said: "No where else can a man get so many really good pictures for 25 cents, and the text, although not as well written as in England, is more entertaining to the large mass of people. The English magazine seems more as if it were written by experts, ours by amateurs; but ours are new in subjects, fresh and popular. This is wanted also in England, as shown by the success of Bret Harte there, which is greater than it is here, and by the former circulation there of such papers as the Detroit Free Press, with their local stories." After emphasising this literary  ## p. 103 (#135) ############################################ THE AUTHOH. 103 difference, he returned to his former statement that the picture side was the most important cause. The business manager referred to spoke specially of the excellence of the illustrated advertisements as one of the great reasons for the success of our magazines. Bret Harte, by the way, although less popular here than he was some years ago when his vein was new, is still much read, and Houghton, Mifflin, and Co. are to get out a complete edition of his works. It will be interesting to see whether they or the English edition, appearing about the same time, will have the greater sale. Colonel Thomas Wentworth Higginson said recently in Harper's Bazaar: "Henry James speaks contemptuously of Thoreau as parochial; but who can help seeing that Thoreau's parish of thoughtful readers grows and grows, while that of James is long since stationary? Who can doubt that fifty years hence the disproportion will be far greater than now? After all is said and done, the circle of American writers who established our nation's literature nearly half a cycle ago, were great because they were first and chiefly American; and of the Americans who permanently transplanted themselves for literary purposes it is pretty certain that James and Bret Harte and Leland would have developed more staying powers had they remained at home." Severe as the effect of the silver craze is on the publishing business, it has its compensations. Books on financial questions sell in unusual numbers ; almost every house has several of them, and so great is the demand for them that it seems to effect the announcement for some time ahead. On a list of the highest sales made by John Wannamaker, the great dealer in cheap books, the only novel in the first six was the " Damnation of Thereon Ware," sold in England under the title of "Illumination;" all the others were books on finance, ranging upwards from Coin's " Financial School" to several of the most sober arguments on the subject. D. Appleton and Co., who are going in especially for the publication of books on politics and finance, write me: "The political campaign has increased the demand for books upon economic and financial subjects, like Wells's 'Recent Economic Changes,' Laughlin's ' History of Bimetallism in the United States,' McPherson's 'Monetary and Banking Problems,' and Jevens's 'Money and the Mechanism of Exchange.' So far as the present trade in general books is con- cerned business is dull, and the usual quiet of this particular season is doubtless augmented by the effects of the campaign. So far as orders for the future are concerned, however, our business is satisfactory. By this we mean orders from the trade for autumn and holiday books which VOL. VII. will be sold at retail after the election. These orders are larger than last year, indicating a trade belief in a prosperous business after the election." The American News Company has political pamphlets of all kinds sold on its stands all over the country. Macmillan and Co., who are reprinting John Morley's "Life of Richard Cobden," and pub- lishing other. volumes touching more or less on what is the absorbing interest of the day, write: "There is no doubt whatever, we think, that the present political excitement unfavour- ably affects the general business of bookselling, but it would be a little difficult, we think, to explain exactly how this comes about. We also think it probable that the lighter literature would be more affected than that for which for the most part we publish, and hence other firms dealing in light literature to a greater extent might find more difference in their business than we ourselves do. "There has been, we think, a considerable increase in the demand for political literature, and particularly for literature in any way relating to the question of money during the past six or eight weeks." Henry Holt and Co. say: "The sale of books in general literature has not been as good during the spring and summer as last year. "We find that our books on money have sold; one of them nearly three times as many as last year, counting from the beginning of January to date and the same period last year; a work on wages has increased in sale somewhat during the same period, whilst another on currency has increased 50 per cent. Scribner's Sons write: "The demand for the kind of books you mention has been increased, we think, by the political campaign. As a straw and symptom we inclose a catalogue we have recently had prepared by Professor Laughlin." Professor Laughlin is the head of the Political Economy Department at Chicago University, and one of the leading authorities of the country. The fifty books published by the Scribners on the list made by him, include recent works of all kinds, short and long, and also standard books on currency, finance, and banking. A noticeable thing about the list is that the books are intended for the general reader ratber than the student, and that is true in genera\ oi the immense sale that works on these sm ;ect8 816 IK>,W \ffl»,'m?' showing how largely ^ yv&Vttn Yu^d OaSs. Another straw to show X > 0«8 ^s ari^^r3 -eading public, is given V W* etotea. .\«(« n the list report to CV^^WS of F. H. Hill, librari^ ^^^Jj*  ## p. 104 (#136) ############################################ io4 THE AUTHOR. to show that the proportion of fiction has been growing less for the past few years. The circula- tion of books and periodicals during the past year was greater according to the report than in any other institution in the world, 2,542,244, an increase of 52,192 over the preceding year. The following is the list of books:—English Prose, Fiction, 489,503; Juvenile Literature, 252,791; History and Biography, 96,703; Geo- graphy and Travels, 52,694; Sciences and Arts, 89,428; Poetry and Drama, 39,901; Miscel- laneous, 28,753; Foreign Languages, 123,813.— Total, 1,173,586. Next in order is the report from Manchester, England ; Boston, Mass.; and Birmingham, Eng- land. Scribners will publish in the fall " Problems of American Democracy," by E. L. Godkin, whose comments and criticisms they already publish. Mr. Godkin is the editor of the Nation, as well as of the Evening jPo**,and as an important and picturesque figure in American journalism he has but one rival, Charles A. Dana of the Sun. The active courses of both men are probable nearly over, and this is likely to be for each the last campaign. Mr. Dana has represented intelligence of a high order without moral sympathy, and has steadily opposed all efforts for political improvement. He has been a staunch defender of Tammany Hall and the spoils system, but his paper has kept its place because it was the best written and keenest of any in the country. Mr. Godkin has been the inno- vator of many of the most important improve- ments made in this country in the last twenty- five years. His new lx>ok, which contains selec- tions from his articles, comes at an opportune time in the present great political interest. It shows the originality and fearlessness of his mind and of his style. Norman Hapgood. REVIEWING. I.—Si stem and Prejudice. THE article in your September number is well chosen. The present system of reviewing leaves much to be desired. To a great extent it is a matter of personalities and of cliqueism. A. has reviewed B.'s book favourably; he meets B. at dinner, congratulates him on his success, and hints that he has contributed to it. A., himself an author, is about to publish a book; B. gets it from one of his oilices to review, and, mindful of his friend's favour, he cannot—that is, he does not wish to—avoid giving a favourable notice in return. It is with him a moral obligation—or, say, a moral politeness. Again, it happens that a man gets a book by his close friend—and he praises it to the skies. Writers who get hard things said about them in a certain paper ferret out the names of its reviewing staff, and take the opportunity of dealing a return blow when they think they have their critic's book—very often a mistaken fancy. We may observe a distinguished critic " saying things " about this or that review, and then see the latter journal discovering absurdities of composition in the reviews of novels in that critic's own organ. Not long since a writer in one of the magazines instanced the case of a prominent reviewer of books whose batch to the second-hand bookseller he had seen. He was surprised, knowing the weighty reviews which appeared from that pen, to notice how exceedingly sparing with the paper- knife the critic had been. Reviewing to-day is monstrously facile. Let me give you a contrast. One London paper devotes a column to a review of a book of travel, finds it a "truly delightful" work, and compliments the writer finally by saying that while some men who have lectured in America have made money, others made para- graphs, and others made silence, this particular man has made a book. Another London paper gives seven lines to a notice of the same work. I reproduce these lines as an instance of the facile and simple method which requires no read- ing of the book: A great deal of talk, very little account of travel, and both equally uninteresting. The two volumes are egotism rampant. Bat what can be expected from one who accepts a lady's hospitality in a foreign country for two days, and then writes complaining that "she got on oar nerves," especially when the lady and her husband are both dead P As for the question of the wholesale extracts from any important book, publishers should get over it, in my opinion, by specifying when they send out such books a limit of space for extracts which they wish to be observed. Editors have no reason to quarrel with publishers, and they would hardly wish to go in the face of such a request as I indicate. In some papers the principle of reviewing has been lost sight of in the obvious desire to make interesting reading by quoting the main contents of a book. Will not some publishers give the Author their views on this subject? Recently I met a gentleman who was pro- posing to translate the works of a popular German writer. But he was fearful of the reception English critics might give the venture. "Nothing's done without palm oil," he remarked, with a significant gesture. I was astounded, and wondered how on earth he could get such an idea. On pressing the question I discovered that he had once been on the selected list of candidates for a librarianship, and had been told how he could  ## p. 105 (#137) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. ensure getting the post. From what he said it seemed clear that the man who did get the post descended to the method suggested. But I pointed out that this was not a case of literary criticism, and that no breath of that type of scant1 al tainted the atmosphere of English literary circles. As a matter of fact, we have many fearless, conscientious critics. I have known such to decline reviewing a work by a personal great rival whose work he could say nothing good of, and would not review it on the ground that it might be he was prejudiced. The capable, kindly men who can be severe are wanted; the smart, facile men, to whom the penning of harsh phrases is little else than a form of self-indulgence, our journals would be well rid of. It is for this reason I offer my humble suggestion for signed reviews in all cases. Let everybody know who is criticising them. Then they will know, and the public will know, how much value to place upon that opinion. To-day, on the contrary, the merest novice may do dis- graceful harm to an author, especially to a young author. It is to be hoped that this subject will be fully and patiently discussed. Behind the Scenes. II.—Educational Criticism. In the last number of your journal Mr. M. Boss has pointed out the folly, from a commercial point of view, of critics who " sneer and carp at a widely popular author," because his admirers do not like to see their favourite insulted. Allow me to supplement this remark by calling attention, from an ethical point of view, to the injustice and unfairness so often met with in educational criticisms. Writers of fiction are, on the whole, rarely attacked from sordid motives — from "pro- fessional envy." The appetite for novel reading is insatiable, and there is room for all readable stories. Not so as regards educational books. The field is more limited, and the use of one book may preclude the use of a rival publication on the same subject; hence the great partiality and the virulence so often to be found in educational criticisms. The reign of Zoilus seems to be fairly at an end in all departments of literature, except in that of education. Some educational authors certainly pass just verdicts on the works of their confreres, although they may be rivals; but as this is not done by all writers of educational books, the editors of journals should always be on their guard when they receive from educational authors carping criticism's, mingled with personal insults, on the works of their colleagues. I leave it for another occasion to dilate more fully on this subject, which should be brought under the special notice of conductors of journals, but in the meantime I hope you will find room for these lines, more especially as your Society has begun to pay friendly attention to the welfare of educa- tional writers. An Educational Author. III.—Bevikwino. As a reviewer of books, and one who reads what he reviews, let me enter a protest against the practice of altering novels between their serial and their volume form. When we have read a work month after month in a magazine, we do not expect to have to read it all over again for review. Moreover, when the reader has got in his mind one sequence of events and has connected them with the character, it is most confusing to learn that they behaved quite otherwise, talked differently, and were moved by unexpected and hitherto unexplained motives. And the better the book, the more vexatious is the alteration. One thing, at all events, we might ask as a right: that the author should state in a preface the nature and extent of the changes made. "Critic." "PRAIRIE__SONQS." THE "Prairie Songs " are by Hamlin Garland, and they come from Chicago, where they were published in the year 1893 by Messrs. Stone and Kimball. Have they been published in this country? If so, the present writer has not seen the English edition. Whether they have appeared in English dress or not, the present writer may be pardoned for introducing to his readers a poet of originality and force if with no other quality. The volume is small, containing about a hundred short poems contained in less than two hundred pages. We will let him speak for himself, which is, after all, the readiest introduction of a poet, and, in most cases, better than the finest criticism. The songs are all of the Prairie; one feels the Prairie through and through, in every page. Before the close of the volume the reader is filled with the air, the sunshine, the loneliness, the terror, of the Prairie. O wide dun land, where the fierce Buqg sx&\te, And the wind is a furnace breath, Where the beautiful sky has a sinister \\ And the earth lies dread and dry as <ie» ^ Where the sod lies scorching and wa^ • Jo*1 And the hot red morning has no bir^Jj, O songfless sunset land! I close In sheer despair of thy dim reach— O level waste! so lone thou art, no x>» Can tell, no pictures teaqb.  ## p. 106 (#138) ############################################ io6 THE AUTHOR. A presence like a ourse! no insects hum— No chirping crickets' oheery ring— A white mist-wall of bounding space Flecked with the swift gull's fluttering, Alone confronts the asking face! No tree stands green against the sky— The hawk swims in the blazing air, He scarce can find (though keen his eye) A human heart beat anywhere. The Prairie is not always the land of drought and scorching heat:— O the music abroad in the air, With the autumn wind sweeping His hand on the grass, where The tiniest blade is astir, keeping Voice in the dim, wide ohoir, Of the infinite song, the refrain, The wild, sad wail of the plain! And there is spring:— When the hens begin a-squawkin' An' a-rollin' in the dust; When the rooster takes to talkin', An' a-orowin' fit to bust; When the crows are cawin', flockin' And the chickling boom and sing, Then it's spring! When the roads are jest one mnd-hole And the worter trioklin' round, Makes the barn-yard like puddle, A.n' softens np the ground Till y'r ankle-deep in worter, Sayin' words y'r hadn't orter— When the jay-birds swear an' sing, Then it's spring! And here, to conclude this introduction, is the song called " Growing Old," showing the cheerless, joyless life of never-endiDg grinding poverty. We are likely to hear a great deal more—one hopes —from Mr. Hamlin Garland. F'r forty years next Easter day, Him and me in wind and weather Hare been a-gittin' bent V gray Moggin' along together. We're not so very old, of course! Bnt still, we ain t so awful spry As when we went to singin'-school Afoot and 'oross lots, him and I— And walked back home the longest way— An' the moon a-shinin' on the snow. Makin the road as bright as day An' his voice talkin' low. Land sakes! Jest hear me talk— F'r all the world, jest like a girl, Me—nearly sixty !—Well-a-well! I was so tall and strong, the curl In my hair, Sim said, was like The crinkles in a medder brook, So brown and bright! but there! I guess he got it from a book. His talk in them there days was full Of jest sech nonsense—Don't you think I didn't like it, for I did! I walked along there, glad to drink His words in like the breath o' life— Heavens and earth, what fools we women be! And when he asked me for his wife, I answered, " Yes," of course, y' see. An' then come work, and trouble bit— Not mnch time for love talk then! We bought a farm and mortgaged it, And worked and slaved like all possessed To lift that tumble grindin' weight. I washed and churned and sewed— An' childurn come, till we had eight As han'some babes as ever growed To walk beside a mother's knee. They helped me bear it all, y' see. It ain't been nothin' else but scrnb An' rub and bake and stew The hull, hull time, over stove or tub— No time to rest as men folks do.— I tell yeh, sometimes I Bit and think How nice the grave'll be jest One nice, sweet everlastin' rest! 0 don't look scart! I mean Jest what I say. Ain't crazy yet. But it's enough to make me so— Of course it ain't no use to fret— Who said it was P It'6 nacherl, though, But O, if I was only there— In the past, and young once more— An' had the crinkles in my hair— An' arms as round and strong, and side As it was then!—I'd—I'd— I'd do it all over again, like a fool, I s'pose. I'd take the pain An' work an' worry, babes and all. 1 s'pose things go by some big rule Of God's own book, but my ol' brain Can't fix 'um np, so I'll just wait An' do my duty when it's clear, An' trust to Him to make it straight. Goodness! noon is almost here, And there the men come through the gate! NOTES AND NEWS. SIE EDWIN ARNOLD'S case, concerning which everybody feels the greatest sym- pathy for him, should be a warning. When a poet parts with his copyright the purchaser buys—what? The right of printing it wherever he pleases? Certainly. Yet the poet would never dream of such a right. But Sir Edwin parted with the copyright: that is, with all rights. The owner of the property may even use it for adver- tising purposes if he likes. That is, at least, my opinion. The poet must therefore stipulate that the poem is not to be published except in the accepted meaning of the word—that is, in maga- zines, in books, in those columns of papers which contain the news, the reports, the communications. But not with the advertisements. There is another point which we want to clear up. If a man buys the copyright can he alter the work in any way Y That is, as yet, uncertain, the case of Lee v. Gibbings having been left un- decided. Let those, therefore, who part with  ## p. 107 (#139) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. copyright stipulate that no change is to be made in the text. I commend general attention to the " New York Letter" of this number, and the expression of opinion on the wide success of American maga- zines compared with our own. The greater facilities of postage, especially, account for a great part of their superior circulation. As was set forth in these columns, if a publisher can send out a shilling magazine for a penny, he is obviously in a far better position than if he has to pay i\d. ■. he is also in a far better position if his magazine costs a shilling than if it costs nine- pence. Cannot something be done with our post- office? It is at all events worth trying. We greatly desire an increased demand for our magazines. Cheaper postage: the abolition of the discount: these two gains would surely bring about a speedy reformation. Whether illustra- tions are necessary or not is another question. Personally, I prefer the unassisted imagination, except with papers which really want illustration. But I believe that there is a large class of readers who cannot have too many pictures. I also recommend the contribution of the book- seller on p. 101 of this number. It should lead us to realise the fact that the bookseller is as impor- tant a factor in the management of a book as the author. He is, in fact, indispensable. The man who creates the book: then the man who distributes the book to the world: and shows the book: and calls attention to the book, these are the two who cannot possibly stand without each other. The man who goes between saves trouble; but he is not indispensable. It is, for instance, quite within the power of authors to create their own machinery to do the publisher's part. It is also equally within the power of the booksellers to do exactly the same thing. There are English writers in all branches by the hundred, who might quite fearlessly resolve on creating such machinery. For instance, in the Athenaeum of Sept. 26 there are eight pag. s of advertisements of new books and reprints, not counting the religious aud scientific books, and among these one can count without hesitation at least 120 announcements of books, concerning which it is perfectly certain that they carry no risk whatever. This is a point which must be repeated over and over again. Nothing dies harder than a bad character, and the general belief about litera- ture, that the presentation of it to the world is always risky and generally disastrous, still lingers and is still encouraged by interested persons. The second point to remark is that, above all things, authors want to be placed on the shelves and offered, at least, to the public. Unless, however, it is made worth their while booksellers simply cannot do this. One or two copies taken and sold, no more are ordercl, and the book dies. Surely it is a foolish policy to expect them to be eager about selling a book for 4.V. 6d. for which they have to pay 4*. 2d. In the correspondence on this subject this fact was never denied. "The policy is, as our bookseller says, a desperate attempt to grab, and to hold, the lion's share. It is sometimes argued that the weak point in the royalty system is that the publisher has to pay the royalties before his liabibties for produc- tion are paid. For instance, if a first edition of 3000 costs him .£150; if in six tuonths he sells only 1200 he has to pay the author—say—/"6o, together with this £150, and he has only received £210, so that he has, so far, made nothing for himself; after that, however, his very large profit begins. Remember, however, that he does not bind the whole edition to begin with. I have sometimes thought that the best plan would be to deduct the actual cost of production and then to divide the selling price — say 4.S. 6d.—into three equal parts, one to author, one to publisher, and one to bookseller; or into five parts, two to author, one to publisher, and two to bookseller. Yet one remembers the half-profit system, and how it has become a thing suspect and accursed on account of the voluminous overcharges and secret profits which disgrace it still in certain quarter-". Since the recent publication of Mr. Thring's articles on the consideration of agreements, one has been brought before the notice of the secre- tary, in which the publisher, instead of attempt- ing to charge the 50 per cent, in agency clauses as was the common practice, pointed out in those articles, now proposes to hand over to the author 90 pei cent, of the returns, taking the customary agency fee of 10 per cent. I think it only fair that this fact should be mentioned. Whether the change is due to these articles or to the prompt- ings of conscience does not appear, and need not be asked. To me, personally, the book of t\xe season is Skeat's "Student's Pastime." W^vft one bas known a man intimately for forty -y^ "Vv"*» known also the fixed and delilwraWV" 66°* A life; and has watched the resolute ^VsSV0 a «f°^L&» that purpose, it is intelligible that ^ ^tfV , \)1 %o^- may be, to this old friend, the b(Xi\5*~ This, however, is no ordinary bool^ 4^  ## p. 108 (#140) ############################################ io8 THE AUTHOR. there, to begin with, a collection of contributions made by our best Anglo-Saxon and early English scholar to literary journals during this long period. These alone are of the greatest value and interest. But it contains more. The author has prefixed certain notes autobiographical. I should like to have written those notes for him, because I could say in them what he cannot. I should then have related how Professor Skeat, when quite a young man, deliberately resigned every kind of work by which money can be made, and chose a line of research in which it was absolutely impossible to derive any profit of a pecuniary kind. For thirty years and more he went on enriching Anglo-Saxon and English literature with the long-lost treasures of the past. These treasures, when he began, were received even by students coldly: it is now acknowledged that they have caused the history of our litera- ture, from Beowulf to Lydgate, to be entirely rewritten. He has received his reward: not only in the Professorship which he holds: but in the consciousness of the first position among the scanty company of English students, and in the foremost place among living scholars. Walter Besant. FROM A PENMAN'S WORKSHOP. MY destiny pointed with unrelenting finger to the typewriter. So I began to learn the machine, and used to practise in the evening at a school where the use of it was taught. An employment bureau was attached to this school, and the notices of available employment were pinned to a board in the entrance hall. I did not always spend the evening in front of the typewriter; it seemed to tap the terrors of competition into my mind, and I frequently shirked it. Once I strolled into the school- building after I had avoided my duty for four nights running, and on the notice-board I saw the following announcement: "Wanted, amanuensis to literary man. Salary, £1 i$s. per week." That was just the work to which I aspired, the work for which I had vainly hoped—and the announcement was three days old already. I thought of the competition with a shudder as I walked into the employment manager's office. "I don't know whether the place is filled," said the manager. "We have sent several people down. He wants—let me see his letter—he wants someonp who has had experience in the atelier of an English literary man. Have you that qualification r" I had not. The words "experience in the atelier" struck me as odd. Hope dies hard, and I wrote to the literary man who wanted an amanuensis. He replied that the place was taken; but he noted my acquirements, and if he were not well suited he would revert to my application. Hope became comatose. But it seemed that the popular author had not been well suited, and in a few days he wrote to me again, with a request that I would call upon him. Of course I called. "I have to deliver a plot," he observed, " the plot of a story. I don't know anything about it yet. I have to deliver it to-morrow." I was raw to the me'tier, and found nothing better to say in response than "Oh!" He seemed to hesitate for awhile; then he said, "Come upstairs." So I followed him to his workroom. It was very plainly furnished ; nothing found a place there but the tools and a few photo- graphs. He walked up and down for a few minutes, wrapped in meditation. Then he cried of a sudden, "Take your pen and write." I took my pen and soon my shorthand abilities were taxed to keep pace with current literature— current with a vengeance. My stupor increased as we proceeded, and did not expedite my pen. "Is this what sells?" I ask myself. "Is this what some some large class of people buys and reads?" For we were with the army of a first-class Continental power, and we were in the middle of the present century; yet side by side with the captain of a company in action appeared our English hero—and he was arrayed in no kipi, in no pan talon g aranee, but in a straw hat and in flannels; in one hand he bore a sword—for which, by the way, he had no scabbard—and in the other hand a pistol. Both "reeked." Soon we were introduced to a hybrid villain advanced in years, and to the beautiful young orphan, heiress to large estates and untold wealth, whom he had abducted in childhood; thus she was ignorant of her real English name and legitimate English status. "Does a responsible, known author dictate this?" I asked myself. "Well, he will find no conceivable editor or publisher to pay him for it." We finished an instalment of six thousand words (I think), and at the end of it the hero, accompanied by the French captain, had forced his way over heaped corpses into the presence of the villain; and the villain had fired a mine of powder prepared beneath his sitting-room, and had blown all the principal characters in the story through the roof, except the heroine, who had  ## p. 109 (#141) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. 109 fled through the window in the nick of time. It is needless to add that the hero survived this treatment. "There!" said the literary man to his wife, when we were at supper, for the work kept us late, and he had kindly invited me to his table, "I haven't given him a plot, but I've got an in- stalment to take him, a whole instalment." The word "him" referred to the proposed editor. Then he turned to me and said, laughing, "I don't know what the plot will be yet." Well, my anticipations proved to be groundless; that story sold, and it sold well, and the book- rights were worth something after the serial pub- lication was completed. And before the story was ended I learned a rule of the workshop. The literary man had a valuable knack. He began the tale with some- thing that caught the reader's attention; he wove a story round that incident; he "kept on telling the story " (I quote him); and he always remained in touch with that central interest on which he had fixed the reader's attention. These methods do not show the application of principles of art, but they are worth knowing— at least they were very well worth knowing in his case. G. B. LOOSE ENGLISH. fl^HE question, often discussed in the Author I and elsewhere, as to whether our noble language would be seriously benefited by the establishment of a Royal Literary Association (of the nature of the French Academy) involves two distinct questions. The general consensus of opinion as to the futility of expecting any great and durable l>enefit to English letters from the constitution of such an authority derives support from French expe- rience. From the days of Richelieu downwards the Academy has failed to capture some of the greatest literary artists ; it has hardly engendered any important production; it has never even carried much weight in the pedantic province to which its operation has been chiefly confined. Pascal, La Bruyere, Boileau, Molicre, Rousseau, the Guncourts, Flaubert, Daudet, Zola, are names which shine by their absence from the lists of membership; such a self-made master as Littre repudiates the Academy's judgment on many points of grammar and orthography ; Prof. Saints- bury answers us that the purity of the French tongue has not been preserved. "The language and literature have been flooded with new words, new forms of speech, new ideas, new models." (" Short History of French Literature," 2nd edit., p. 508.) Such changes, so far as they are required by new methods of living and scientific progress are not only deserving of discouragement, but cannot in the long run be anyhow discouraged. But there are other innovations, which may be more deplorable and may admit of correction (if opposed in time) without the cumbrous and uncertain machinery of Academies. The develop- ment of Democracy and diffusion of primary education tend to the production of vulgar neolo- gisms of which we may cull a few samples as we go- Some of these are of the nature of what are called '"Americanisms." Many of the best American authors use a style which is admirable for flexible strength and musical modulation; but certain locutions, taken from high-class trans- atlantic periodicals, will be recoguised by a little trained observation. For instance: "Back of," instead of behind; surely unneces- sary as a substitution. The same may be said of "around," used as a preposition. "Round the mahogany tree," sings Thackeray, and it is enough. Why spoil the metre, no less than the grammar, by employing a dissyllable which is an adverb; and, in good English, intransitive? As for neuter verbs, a constant mistake is to give them an active meaning. In a recent tale by so distinguished a writer as Mark Twain, an edu- cated man is represented as saying, "Nothing shall swerve me," meaning make me swerve. This is worse than the feminine "I did not trouble to go," when Lindley Murray—himself a native of Pennsylvania—would demand the full trouble myself. Another uncalled-for practice is the employment of substantives as verbs; "to mail a letter" is perhaps not worse than to post a letter; but what conceivable excuse can there be for saying, "He loaned me a hatchet?" The word "to advocate" may perhaps be cited, but it must be remembered that there was no exact verb at hand; whilst in the other case that is not so, "loan" being an established substantive of which the verb is " to lend." Some neologisms are common to both sides of the Atlantic. One can hardly take up a London paper without seeing such a sentence as "The man whom we see did this . . "-where a. small expansion would show the t^or. who did this, as we see ;" that is , tf^*6- \» actual meaning. Another palp^KA^ JwS*1^^ the phrase "Santa Claus" lor gift-bringer. The proper wor<J. -vv^ «!*•" las; for a male saint could ^ W ^ ^f^V^ Then, again, why do we fiud" x^^X^ \jl  ## p. 110 (#142) ############################################ 1 IO THE AtlTHOU. I>eeuuiary is the right word? Moneta is a mint; and the adjective should be kept for use when we mean things of coinage or currency. All these appear gratuitous corruptions of the idiom of Shakspere, Addison, Washington Irving, and Macaulay; things that could be perhaps even now repressed by concurrent vigilance on the part of accepted authors. H. G. Keene. Brussels, August, 1896. WHEN I AM GONE! When I am gone far—very far away Beyond the glory of the dying day, Oh! let there be no pageantry of woe; No hideous hearse—no mourners moving slow. But let me to my pleasant conch be borne By comrades in the golden light of morn, Looking my last npon the soft bine sky With blythe birds singing as they bear me by! No leaden bier for me, But let my coffin be Fashioned of flowers from the greenwood wild; Then, in some corner green. Where violets bloom unseen, Lay me to rest like some poor weary child! II. When I am gone beyond the evening star, And sweet church bells from villages afar Are faintly pealing in the balmy night Of leafy June—then, in the fading light, Oh! give one thonght in some dim brambled dell To him who loved that fairy music well! One thought to him who nevermore will roam In twilight woods till darkness calls him home! But never weep for me, As haply I shall be Where restless souls at last are lulled to rest! No pang or doubt again Shall rack this fevered brain, When Mother Earth has clasped me to her breast! in. When day his course has run, And with the setting sun, Four daily cares have also found an ond, In the deep hnsh that steals Across the darkening fields, Kemember then your fond yet faulty friend. But shed no tears—the violets blue May weep for me in tears of dew, I loved them so in my past earthly days! The birds may miss me in the glen, And trembling blooms unseen by men May mourn me in the dewy tangled ways. F. B. Dovkton. Okehampton, Devon. BOOK TALE. THIS month will witness the appearance of the Progressive Review, a new shilling monthly, to be edited by Mr. J. A. Hobson and Mr. William Ciarke. It is intended to apjjeal specially to the thinking class of workmen, and trade union or co-operative society members. Consisting of 100 pages, and priced is., it will provide in each number some half-dozen articles, rather shorter than the ordinary review article. Sir Charles Dilke will contribute to the opening issue, and Mr. Edward Carpenter will have an article on "Democracy and Art." The publishers are Messrs. Horace Marshall and Son. The novels by the author of " John Westacott" having run out of print, are all to be reissued in a uniform edition, at a popular price, by Messrs. Chapmau and Hall. "John Westacott' will start the series, and during the season a new historical fifteenth century romance by Mr. James Baker will be issued by the same firm. Mr. Baker's lecture on Egypt, which was so success- ful last year at the Imperial Institute, will be given before the Aberdeen Philosophical Society in November, as well as before other lecture societies during the winter months. Mr. F. B. Doveton has made a selection of ton essays from his "Fisherman's Fancies," and has issued them in cheap form, viz., a sixpenny little volume called "Delightful Devon." The poem by him published in another column reminds us that "Q." in the Speaker calls Mr. Doveton " one of the sweetest of Devon singers now alive." The most notable publication of any kind within the last few weeks has been the first of two volumes of the Travels of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar in the East (1890-91), when Cesarewitch. Messrs. Archibald Constable and Co. have the distinction of publishing this large work, which is finely illustrated. It is written by a ltussian Prince, and edited by Sir George Birdwood. Mr. Crockett's story, which has l>een appearing in the Graphic, entitled " 1 he Grey Man," will be published immediately. There will also be an Edition dc luxe, with illustrations by Mr. Lucas. The long-announced novel by Mrs. Craigie (John Oliver Hobbes), entitled "The Herb Moon," will be published this autumn by Mr. Unwin. This publisher also announces a volume of literary criticisms by Mr. Zangwill. Mrs. Henry Norman (Mi'nie Muriel Dowie) is the writer of the first volume of short stories in a new scries which Mr. Lane is inaugurating. The title of Mrs. Norman's volume is that of the  ## p. 111 (#143) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. leading story in it, namely, " The Hmt o' Hairst" —title suggested by a line from the Scottish poet Ainslie. Among other contributors of volume.-: to this series will be R. V. Risley and Mrs. Murray Hickson. Mr. Barrie's story of child life, "Sentimental Tommy," which ran serially in Scribner's, will be published early this autumn by Messrs. Cassell. A cycling romance by Mr. H. G. Wells is very shortly to be published by Messrs. Dent, entitled "The Wheels of Chance.'*' Mr. Louis Becke has written another story of the South Seas for publication in Mr. Fisher Unwin's Century Library under the title "His Native Wife." Mr. Guy Boothby's story "Dr. Nikola," and Mr. Arthur Morrison's "Adventures of Martin Hewitt," both of which have run in the Windsor Magazine, are announced by Messrs. Ward, Lock, and Co. Mr. H. D. Lowry has now ventured into a long story, which will be issued soon by Messrs. Bliss, Sands, and Co., entitled " A Man of Moods." Mrs. Mannington Caffyn, author of "The Yellow Aster," has written a new story entitled "A Quaker Grandmother," which Messrs. Hutchinson will issue immediately. The following volumes of fiction will appear in Mr. Lane's "Kevnote" series: "Maris Stella," by Miss Marie Clothilde Balfour; "Ugly Idol," bv Mr. Claud Nicholson; " Shapes in the Fire," by Mr. M. P. Shiel; "Kakemonos," by Mr. W. Carlton Dawe; "God's Failures," by Mr. J. S. Fletcher; "A Deliverance," by Mr. Allan Monk- house; "Mere Sentiment," by Mr. A. J. Dawson. A three-volume novel by Miss Brooke, author of the "Superfluous Woman," is about to be published by Mr. Heinemann. The title is " Life the Accuser." Mr. G. A. Henty has a three-volume novel, entitled "The Queen's Cup," in the hands of Messrs. Chatto and Windus for early publication. During the autumn Messrs. Henry will publish the following new novels: "The Passion for Romance," by Edgar Jepson; "The Tides Ebb Out to the Sea," by "Hugh Langley ;" and "Lady Levallion," by George Widdrington. Mr. Clark Russell will add to his sea-stories this autumn with "What Cheer!" The scenes are laid in Deal. Mr. J. A. Barry will also have a volume of tales of the sea entitled "In the Green Deep." Mr. Hardy is including "The Pursuit of the Well-Beloved" in the collected edition of his works, the issue of which is now almost complete. Mr. L. F. Austin has put together a volume of his essays, which will be published at once by Messrs. Ward and Lock, under the title, " At Random: Recollections of Literary Men." Mr. S. J. Stone, who was deputy inspector- general of police in the N.W. Provinces of India, has written a record of his sporting and explor- ing expeditions, some of which were to practically unknown country. The volume will be called "In and beyond the Himalayas," and Mr. Edward Arnold will publish it. Sir James Ramsay has written a "History of England to theDe ithof Stephen," which Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein will publish. Professor Max Muller, Dr. Garnett, Mr. F. E. Baines, and Sir Hugh Gilzean Reid, are among the writers of a book, to be called "The Civilisation of Our Day," which Messrs. Sampson Low will publish. It will consist of twenty-five essays, relating and sketching the progress in all depart- ments during this century. Mr. James Sainuel- son is editor. Another autobiography which may be expected soon is that of Sir Richard Temple. It will be in two volumes, published by Messrs. Cassell. Mr. Aubrey de Vere's reminiscences of the last fifty years will be published shortly by Mr. Arnold. Mr. Arthur Dasent is engaged on a work to be called " Through the Heart, of Mayfair." It will appear next year, from Messrs. Macmillan's, as a companion volume to the ajthor's "History of St. James's Square." "Annals of the Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival" is a work written at intervals during the last three years bv Mr. Robin H. Legge, assisted by Mr. W. E. Hansell, which will be ready in time for the approaching Norwich Triennial Musical Festival. Messrs. Jarrold are the publishers. Mr. J. T. Cunningham, M.A., is the author of a book about to be published under the auspices of the Marine Biological Association, on the natural history of commercially valuable sea-fishes. The work is in the press, and will be published by Messrs. Macmillan. Sir Edwin Arnold has translated for the first time—as a holiday task—a very old Sanskrit love poem, which is about to be publisfo^A ^es8rt?- Kegan Paul and Co. A novelty tbe cation, which is to be called" \ ind"**^ ^°"'e Lament," is that it will be i^T^ \ facsimile of Sir Edwin's marv^^v^ fanciful illuminations bv him i x^^i-t^ ^ Mrs. Mevnell has written a Vi-V"*"^!^ '"W ^ entitled "The Darling Yo*i»g.  ## p. 112 (#144) ############################################ 1 I 2 THE AUTHOR. lished by Mr. John Lane. From the Bodley Head publishing house there will also appear shortly, "The Quest of the Golden Head," by Mr. Le Gallienne," and " The Battle of the Bays," by Mr. Oscar Seaman. Mr. W. J. Stillman is engaged on an art volume entitled "Venus and Apollo in Painting and Sculpture," which will contain eighty-one large-sized photogravures of works by the most celebrated of the old masters. The only modern example will be a Burne-Jones, the original of which belongs to the editor. Messrs. Bliss, Sands, and Co. are to publish the book towards the end of the year. Following their " Temple " Shakespeare, Messrs. Dent are about to publish a series of "Temple" dramatists, and another of "Temple" classics. Mr. Israel Gollancz will edit these new series also. Mr. Kipling's volume of poems, " The Seven Seas," is expected to be in the hands of the book- sellers within a month from this date. The pub- lishers, Messrs. Methuen, have also a volume of vprse by Mr. A. T. Quiller-Couch. A volume of verse by Mr. Theodore Watts- Dunton will be published this autumn by Mr. John Lane. Many of the poems have appeared in the Athenmim. The same publisher will also issue a volume of " New Ballads" by Mr. John Davidson, a new volume of poems by Mr. A. C. Benson, and another volume of poems, illustrated, by Mr. Lawrence Housman. Mr. John Farmer is engaged upon a volume of "Songs for Soldiers and Sailors," selected from among the best English ballads. Sir George Robertson, British Agent at Gilgit, has written an account of his experience in Kafirstan, entitled "The Kaffirs of the Hindu Kush." It will be illustrated by Mr. A. D. McCormick. and published by Messrs. Lawrence and Bulleu. Mr. George Du Maurier has lately been occu- pied on a number of original drawings for a new book by Mr. Felix Moscheles entitled "In Bohemia with Du Maurier," which Mr. Fisher Unwin is about to publish. Mrs. K. L. Parker has collected and retold in English a number of "Australian Legendary Tales," which will be published in one volume under that title by Mr. Nutt. The author lived for over twenty years among the few remaining members of the Noongahburrah tribe in inner New South Wales. There will be illustrations in the book by a native artist, and a glossary of native words will be provided. Miss Francis Armstrong, author of "A Fair Claimant, &c, will publish in October a new story in one volume entitled " A Girl's Loyalty, price 5s. (Messrs. Blackie.) Mr. John Robert Robinson, author of "The Princely Chandos," "The Last Earls of Barry- more," " Old Q.," &c, has completed a biography of Philip Duke of Wharton. It will be published, among the autumn books by Messrs. Sampson Low and Co. Mr. J. W. Oddie, M.A., Fellow of Corpus Christi, Oxford, will publish immediately a volume of translations entitled " Choice Poems of Heinrich Heine" (Messrs. Macmillan and Co.). In these translations an effort has been made to combine almost literal faithfulness to their originals, with a thoroughly poetic rendering of most of the best pieces of the great German song writer. In addition to many gems from the "Buch der Lieder," there are included several of the later poems, which have seldom been trans- lated, such as the wonderful fourteenth chapter of "Deutschland," and the terrible "Spanische Atride." Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has accepted a copy of Mr. Arthur Lee Knight's book for children, "The Adventures of a Gunroom Monkey." LITERATURE IN THE PERIODICALS. [This precis is compiled up to the 26th of each month. All publications should reach the office of the Author by the 25th at the latest.] The Question of Reviewing. Leading article in Publishers' CircuUir for Sept. 12. Booksellers as Literary Censors. Bookseller for Sept. 4. Booksellers and Publishers. Paragraph in Athenseum for Aug. 29; Mr. Longman's letter in Athenmum for Sept. 5; Letters of Mr. S. E. WiUon and Mr. Alfred Wilson in Bookseller for Sept. 4; Letter of Mr. E. W. Humphries in Publishers' Circular for Sept. 5; Letter of Mr. James P. Britten in Publishers' Circular for Sept. 19; and leading article in last-mentioned paper. Minor Poets. Monthly Packet for September. Teaching the Spirit of Literature. W. P. Trent. Atlantic Monthly for September. The English Language. Frank GiUett. Idler for September. The Story of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Charles Dudley Warner. Atlantic Monthly for September. The Author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Richard Burton. Century for September. Edmond de Goncourt. Yetta Blaze de Bury. Fort ■ nightly Review for September. Library Association. Report of Annual Meeting at Buxton. Athenamm for Sept. 5 and 12. English and Americans in French Fiction. Andrew de Tcrnant. Gentleman's Magazine (or September. Literary and Numismatic Sales of 1896. Times for Sept. 8. A New Well of Literature. Speaker for Sept. 19. Goldsmith's Conversation. Speaker for Sept. 19.  ## p. 113 (#145) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. Mors Reflections of a Schoolmaster: Waverley and the Iliad. Blackwood's Magazine for September. M. Paul Hervieu. Hannah Lynch. Fortnightly Review for October. H. C. Bunner. Brander Matthews. Scribner's Maga- zine for September. Dante Gabriel Bossetti. Janet Harper. Westminster Review for September. "A Literary Outrage." Letters of Sir Edwin Arnold in Times for Sept. 24 and 25, and Times' comment on former date. Notable Reviews. Of G. Thorn Drury's edition of the Poems of John Keats. Athenseum for Sept. 12. Of Mrs. Alexander's Poems. (Hymns v. Poetry.) Daily Chronicle for Aug. 26. Of Mrs. Humphry Ward's "Sir George Tressady.'' W. L. Courtney. Daily Telegraph for Sept. 25. Sir Edwin Arnold was naturally surprised and indignant to find a poem -which he had written, on the subject of the Queen's reign, for a monthly magazine, reprinted on the morning of the 23rd. ult. in the middle of a page advertisement in the newspapers, *' in intimate connection of manner, type, and place with advertisements of bovril, patent medicines, and other articles useful, but not in any way connected with the august subject of the poem." The Times, however, had made inquiries before accepting the advertisement, and the advertisement agent produced the correspon- dence. "Of course," the latter had written, "it is understood that, as I mentioned in my previous letter, on receiving your poem and paying you cash your price, I become the absolute proprietor of the copyright of this poem, and I am at liberty to use it as I like, whenever and wherever Hike." To this Sir Edwin Arnold had replied: "I accept in full the conditions which you attach to this payment." In his rejoinder in the Times, Sir Edwin states that, in this acceptance, he never heard and never dreamed of any advertising element. It is a difficult question, says the Publishers' Circular, to say what are the proper limits of quotation in reviews, inasmuch as no hard and fast lines can be drawn for the guidance of the reviewer. The writer is discussing the matter it propos the article in the Author last month, which suggested that the whole question of reviewing ought to be taken up by the Society of Authors, either in conjunction with the Society of Publishers or separately. "There can be no question whatever," our contemporary proceeds, "that long quotations tend to damage the fortunes of a book." Indeed, "it is well known that many brilliant people derive almost their entire knowledge of current literature from extracts in so-called reviews." How, then, to stop the evil? Most editors leave reviewing wholly to subordinates; but if their attention were drawn to the abuses of which the writer in the Author complains, not without cause, we feel sure that reform would follow. And on the general question, after allowing that as a rule reviewers do their work "with intelligence and judgment," the Publishers' Circular concludes as follows: Reviews, it is sometimes said, have not the influence they onoe had. Perhaps not. But in one respect, if in one only, their power seems to us to be increasing; if they are no longer potent to help, they are, when unfairly done potent to hinder. So far the contributor to the Author is unquestionably right. The cry of the booksellers goes up to the pub- lishers. "The latter, however," says Mr. Britten, "like the Great Powers of Europe, stand by and watch the massacre, apparently too much dis- tracted to agree to an effectual remedy." It is the discount system that is complained of prin- cipally, but there is also a feeling against the interference of drapery and other stores with the trade. On this latter point, to take it first, the Publishers'1 Circular remarks as follows: Is a man who adds a book department to his drapery or his grocery business to be excluded from the magic oircle because he happens to be a draper or a grocer, as well as a seller of books? A unanimous answer to that qnestion would do much to restore the peace, if not the prosperity, of the trade. But for complete unanimity we are likely to hare some time to wait. Mr. Alfred Wilson and Mr. E. W. Humphries suggest that as the leading tobacco manufacturers have recently laid down the law that merchants who sell their goods under the published prices will, after a certain date, not be supplied, so pub- Ushers should act in regard to booksellers who undersell. The Athenseum a few weeks ago inquired what the use of the Publishers' Association was, seeing that it had declined to discuss two proposals for amendment made by the Associated Booksellers, and had said with regard to a third that it was a matter for the individual publisher to decide. Mr. C. J. Longmau, Chairman of the Pub- Ushers' Association, replied to the Athenseum to say that it had omitted the most important part of the proposal, namely, that in reference to the first and second points "steps should be taken to enforce them." These points, it may be recalled, were (1) "that all books published at net prices be sold at the fuU price," and (2) "that no greater discount than 25 per cent, be allowed upon books published on the old terms, and that steps be taken to enforce both these regulations." Mr. Longman continued. • The only suggestion made for enforcing the% te8a^a't*0nft involved coercion or boycotting in some t0>.^ «AVt>*** this that the oouncil of the Publishers' ^0.*etCe not willing to discuss. The general qu^f^tji* v\ °0^: up again before the Publishers' Associatio^***^ ^  ## p. 114 (#146) ############################################ ii4 THE AUTHOR. and no doubt before the Booksellers' Association also, and Bhonld any feasible solution be found, it will be welcomed by the publishers no less than by the booksellers themselves. Mr. Alfred Wilson states, however, that Messrs. Longmans on one occasion refused to supply him with a book unless he promised not to let a certain firm have copies of it. This corre- spondent adds: The system by which high-priced books are credited by publishers to the authors twenty-five as twenty-four, though not a retail bookseller in the oountry is able to avail himself of the odd copy offered in mockery, is hardly an honest one, and if the publishers could see their way to allow the book- sellers that 4 per cent, on single copies, an advantage would be 'given us which would re-act to the benefit of the publishers in the long run. Mr. S. R. Wilson says bookselling has de- generated to the huckster's barrow, and recom- mends his country friends to stand aloof and let the publishers sell tbeir books themselves. Meanwhile the Publishers' Circular asks book- sellers not to expect the impossible, and reminds them that the interests of publisher and book- seller are indissolubly bound together. On the subject of booksellers as censors of literature, referred to in this column last month in connection with the action of Messrs. Smith withdrawing a certain novel from their stalls, the Bookseller does not suppose that either side would always carry out their contention to its logical, for, after all, booksellers are men of business first, and they will always in these doubtful cases act as they think will be best for their business reputation in the long run. COBBESPONDENCE. I.—The First Book. IQUITE agree with the editor that an author is lucky if he gets his first book taken on any terms, provided that he is not obliged to pay for its production. I have just experienced this "luck," having parted with all rights of a short novel for a small sum. I had thoughts of submitting the proposal to the secretary before accepting, but, on second thoughts, decided it was not necessary, the offer coming from a well-known man of letters, and one of the leading houses. I do not think many new writers are in a position to do as the editor advises, namely, to print their first book themselves; for these nothing remains but to write on and submit their stories till success comes; this is what I have had to do, and it has taken years, but I do not think my fortune is made yet. Alan Oscar. [Note.—My own experience in printing at my own exj>en.se was related as an example to those who are willing to take the risk of a first book. By this method one at least avoids the common overcharges of paying for production.—Ed.] II.—Royalty on First Books. As both you and Mr. Moncure Conway ask for au instance where an English author has obtained gradually increasing payments for successive editions of a "first book," and as it seems fair that publishers, when liberal, should have the credit of it, I may mention a case where I con- ducted the arrangements with Messrs. Blackwood on the above footing. The author received ,£50 for the first edition, and was paid on a gradually rising scale for each successive edition, until the royalty reached 2 5 per cent of the published price (counting thirteen as twelve), and has remained at that rate for the last six editions. The sales in this country havf exceeded 14,000 copies; in America about half that number (for which the author has received about .£75 in spite of the Copyright Act); and about 5000 in the Colonies. The author's total receipts have considerably exceeded £1000, and the book is still selling, so that I doubt not that the publishers, have done very well tod. The arrangement was an entirely business one, as I was a complete stranger to Messrs. Black- wood, and they were unaware of the name of the author (who had never published anything before) for some time after publication. Sept. 14. in A Member. III.—Our Brains. The practice which prevails amongst certain journals of appropriating gratis or at the meanest possible figure, all they can lay their hands upon, has of late been severely condemned in the columns of the A uthor. A system equally unfair is that whereby contributions are utilised for the purpose of elaborating more or less viva- cious paragraphs without our receiving a cent of recompense. Surely he, or she, who supplies stock for the editorial stewpan deserves a share of its nutrition? Many papers thrive exceedingly upon this inglorious method of brain-sucking. Their defence is that it is necessary to manipu- late the substance by deft hands into a shape which shall be palatable to the particular organ's clientele. That is a very convenient excuse for paying nobody, and is altogether unsound. One is reluctant to price such wares straight off, trusting to mutual consideration and courtesy. And this is only too often all the reward we get for our confidence! Does not my complaint apply also in a degree to  ## p. 115 (#147) ############################################ THE AUTHOR. "letters to the editor?" A writer may chance to initiate a correspondence which proves quite a godsend to some newspaper in want of a fillip. But recognition, save that of private glory, rarely comes his way. As the topic has, in all probability, been launched anonymously, he does not even enjoy the benefit of an advertisement. Cecil Clarke. Author's Club, S.W. Sept. 19, 1896. IV.—Monsters in Fiction. Your contributor, D. F. Hannigan, raises a question about monsters, and regards the problem of monstrosity as one which has not yet been solved: "Perhaps the time is at hand when we shall find literature assisting science in throwing light on the question." The paper is concerning monsters in fiction, and assumes that the centaur and the man-bull are fabulous creations of a luxuriant imagination. This is no doubt the general impression; but may not the monsters of mythology have been symbolical of ideas and truths, and fashioned consistently in accordance with a principle? "Gorgons, and hydras, and chiniaeras dire." carry us back at once to Ancient Greece, where the legends meant something. Visitors to Athens and Rome, Pompeii and Naples, will remember how often the Minotaur is represented, as well as Medusa's snaky head. There was religious zeal and theological meaning in these frequent repro- ductions. Egyptian gods and goddess combine the human body with the head of a cow or ram, a hawk or an ibis. It is not to be supposed that learned priests conceived that such beings existed in any literal sense. In early times people talked in figure, and used emblems, to a much larger extent than now. The truths of their astro- religious system were set forth in symbol; and the religious teaching was acted in ceremony. The multitude could then see, as they did in a later age when Pilate washed his hands in token of innocency. It should be as possible to recover this lan- guage of symbol as it has been to decipher the hieroglyphics themselves; and then it would be found that there was a fitness in every representa- tion, however grotesque. As a single example let us take the man-bull of Assyria. It unites the parts of three animals, and sometimes four, namely, the head of a man, the body of a bull, the wings of an eagle, and the claws of a lion. These were four signs of the Zodiac — the four quarter signs, associated with the summer aud winter solstice, and the vernal and autumnal equinox. The eagle in some Zodiacs takes the place of the scorpion. The man-bull would thus be the symbol of the ecliptic circle and the four chief "houses" of the sun. The Greek sphinx, according to the common idea, comprised the head and breast of a woman, and a lion's body with wings; but sometimes the tail of a serpent was included. The Egyptian sphinx— uniting only the human head and breast and a lion without wings might possibly represent the two solstices. The sun might be viewed in two, aspects, or three, or four; and the symbolical figure would say—These are a 11 one! In the monsters of mythology there was., symbol and sense; but when Flaubert tells of "headless things with enormous shoulders," it is not so, nor when "Peter Wilkins" marries a flying woman. These are instances of what your contributor calls a human imagination with its excesses unchecked by science; but the man-bull of the Assyrians and the Centaur of the Greeks had a sober and serious origin. As to dwarfs, Stanley's African race run to more than four feet high, while the pygmy sons of Ptah were only of one cubit; and being seven in number, like the Cabiri, they meant something. Geo. St. Clair. V.—The Title. Referring to the answer which your correspon-. dent " Old Bird" has kindly given to my inquiry, does not the case seem eminently one for organisa- tion? Instead of each author hunting over Smith's or Mudie's catalogues at the British Museum, or paying some one else to do so, might not a catalogue of titles be compiled and kept up to date with comparative ease, if the co-operation of the authorities were obtained? A fee might be charged for consulting it, or, on application and payment by letter, a certificate that such and such a title was or was not in the list at such and such a date might be procured; and the scale could be so regulated that all expenses might be defrayed; to the saving in the long run of time and trouble to everyone concerned, not omitting the officials of the Museum themselves. Tyro. THE FUBLISHINa SEASON. TI^HE following is a resume of the an- I nouncements made in the Athcnceum for September: Athenaeum, Sept. 5, i&c\f, .. -w Cassell and Co. announce 21 woj-u 'j^, ■. and Tales, 12 (apparently and biography, 6 (one book a-tw \\%' 2 SHvjjSP risk); Poetry, 1; Reprints, z Mr. Fisher tlnwin announce^ ^ 1 \& HP  ## p. 116 (#148) ############################################ u6 THE AUTHOR. Novels and Tales, i 7; History and Biography, 17; Belles Lettrcs, 5; Children's books, 3; Travel, 5; Essays, &c, 5. Messrs. W. and R. Chambers announce 18 works, viz.: Novels and Tales, 14; Science, 1; His- tory and Biography, 2; Reprint, 1. Messrs. Skeffington and Son announce 9 works, all religious. Athenteum, Sept. 12. Clarendon Press:—Theology, 10; Classics, 5; Oriental, 7; General Literature, 5; Art and Archaeology, 7; History, Biography, and Law, 11; Science, 4; Sacred Books of E., 3; Anee- dota Oxon., 8.—58. Dent :—Fiction, 18; History, Belles Lett res, 6.—24. Innes :■—History and Law, 4 ; Travel, 1 ; Belles Lett res and Verse, 4; Sport, 3; Fiction, 10.—22. Nutt :—Folk and Fairy Lore, 11; Translation, 5; Belles Lett res, 6.—22. Hodder and Stoughton:—Fiction, 5; Theological, 12; History and Travel, Biography, 5. Skeffington:—Fiction, 2; History, 1; Belles Lettres, 1. Athenaeum, Sept. iy. Maemillan :—Reprints, 13 ; Fiction, 6 ; Travel, 9; Biography and History, 10; Theology, 2; Eco- nomics, 7; Classics, 12; Religious, 2. Heinemann :—Reprints, 7; Fiction. 23; Travels, 2; Biography and History, 16. Sampson Low:—Fiction, 7; Travel, 3; Biography and History, 8; Theology, 4; Boys', 5. Constable:—Reprints, 7; Fiction, 8; Travel, 1; Poetry, 3; Religious, 3. Athenaeum, Sept. 26. Cambridge University Press:—Theology, 18; Oriental, 4; Classical, 5; Law, History, and Economics, 12; Belles Lettres, 5 ; Educational, 3; History, Biography, and Miscellaneous, 11. Messrs. Sonnenschein :—Philosophy and Theo- logy. 7 ; History, 12 ; Belles Lett rex and Art, 3; Reprints, 3; Miscellaneous, 4; Social Eco- nomics, 9. Mr. John Lane :—History, 2; Belles Lettres and Poems, 41 ; Fiction, 18. Seeley :•—Fiction, 2; Miscellaneous, 4. SIB JOHN ERICHSEN. BY the death of Sir John Erichsen the Society has lost a warm friend and supporter, while the medical and scientific world have lost one of its greatest lights. The career of Sir John has been one long succession of dist inguished work, • rewarded by distinguished posts. He became a member of the Royal College of Sur- geons in 1839, and a fellow in 1845. He lectured on physiology at Westmiuster Hospital, became assistant surgeon at University; professor of surgery there in 1850; Holme Professor of Clinical Surgery in 1865; he was put on the Council of the College of Surgeons in 1869; examiner in 1875; president in 1880. He was LL.D. of Edinburgh; F.R.S. ; fellow of many foreign societies; President of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society; senior surgeon to the Queen, with other posts of honour. He was the author of the "Science and Art of Surgery. He was made a baronet in 1895, but leaves no children. AUTHORS v- PRESSMEN. ri^HIS match, played for the first time last I year, and won by the Press Club, took place on Lord's Cricket Ground a day late, having l>een postponed from the previous Thurs- day through rain. The Press won the toss and put their rivals in, with the result that the Authors scored 216 for the loss of only one wicket. The feature of the game was the fine play of Dr. Conan Doyle, who scored 101 not out. During three hours' cricket he gave no chance, and hit eleven fours, five threes, and eleven twos. With Tyssen, who made 97, the Doctor put on 178 for the first wicket. The Press Club had just a little over an hour's play, and in this period lost six wickets for 81, so that they had much the worst of the draw. Score: Authors' Club. A. Conan Doyle, not out 101 C. A. Tyssen, e Jones, b Groves 97 G. Duckworth, not ont 8 Extras 10 •Total (1 wkt) 216 * Inningrs declared closed. G. H. Duckworth, H. A. Holt, G. C. Ives, E. R. Tottenham, J. M. Barrie, W. H. Winter, R. Bennett, A. S. Openheimer, and Frankfort-Moore did not bat. Press Club. G. Groves, c Duckworth, b IveB 24 H. B. Smith, c and b Holt 18 H. V. Jones, c Tissen, b Doyle 17 G. Bull, b Holt ° H. Preston, not out 12 W. T. A. Beare, b Holt 2 S. J. Southerton, b Doyle ° J. Barr, not out 3 Kxtras 5 Total 81 "J. Wilson." C. Edwards, and E. R. Ward did not bat. Daily Kexcr.  ## p. 116 (#149) ############################################ A D VER TISEMENTS. iii LOWEST PRICES IN LONDON. Authors' MSS. correctly unci neatly oopieil at lOd. per lOOO words. Carbon Duplicates at 2d. ,, LEGAL AND GENERAL COPYING at Id. per folio. We have a skilled and irell educated staffi of operators. Give us a trial, and compare our work and jirices tcith those of other offices. LARGE ORDERS ESTIMATED FOR. Note our address— THE ECLIPSE TYPEWRITING AND SHORTHAND OFFICES, 28, FENCHURCH STREET. LONDON, E.C. Crown 8vo., cloth boards, price 6s. HATHERSAGE: A Tale of North Derbyshire. BY CHARLES EDMUND HALL, Author of " An Ancient Ancestor," &c. London: HORACE Cox, Windsor HouHe, Bream's-buildings. E.C. In demy 8vo., price 12s. net, by post 12s. 6d. Six Months in a Syrian Monastery. Being the Record of a Visit to the Headquarters of the Syrian Church in Mesopotamia, with some account of the Yazidis, or Devil Worshippers of Mosul, and El Jilwah, their Sacred Book. By OSWALD H. PARRY, B A. (Of Magdalen College, Oxford.) Illustrated by the Author. With a Prefatory Note by the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of Durham. M The author of tin* haudsomc volume presents 1 a detailed Btudy of a relic of history pursued off the track of general research;' he has sought to give, and has succeeded in giving, *a picture of quiet life in a country much abused, and among a people lhat command less than their share of ordinary interest.' 1 West ward the tide of Empire takes its way,' sang a prophetic divine of the olden days, and no less certainly, as Mr. Parry points out, does the ebb of travel rwturn towards the East. . . . As a volume descriptive of life and travel among a distant people, his work is well worth reading, but for those persons who are more particularly concerned with the old Syrian Church, or in the solution of the problem indicated above, it is one of quite unique attraction. A pathetic interest attaches to the account of the Yazidis included in this volume for it contains part of their sacred writings, the original manuscript of which was in the hands of Professor Robertson Smith for translation at the time of his death.' —Pabluheri Circular. London: Horace Cox, Windsor House. Bream's-buildings, E.C. Now ready, price 2s. 0d., cloth. A FLYING VISIT TO THE AMEBICAN CONTINENT. WITH NOTES BY THE WAY. By F. DALE PAWLE. Ixindon: Horack Cox, Windsor House, Brenm's-buikllngs, jj q Crown 8vo., cloth boards, 3s. 6d. Crimean & other Short Stories. BY WILLIAM ADDISOOSr. CONTENTS.— An Adjutant's Adventure; an Episode of the Crimean Campaign—From an Uuseen World—Characteristic Stories of Royal Personages—The Tsar's Axe—An Indian Legend Modernised —A Love Test—Atta; or, The Circassian's Daughter—Father Con- fessor—His Word of Honour (from the German)—Dearer than Life— A Polish PrinceBS—The Evil Eye: a Story of Superstition—The Parson's Daughter—Old Love Never Rusts. London: HORACE COX, Windsor House, Bream's-buildings, E.C. RECENT VERSE. LYRICS. By Dr. J. A. GOODCHILD. Cloth lettered, price 5s. NORTH COUNTRY BALLADS. By HENRY TODD, Price fls. TALES IN VERSE. By Dr. J. A. GOODCHILD. Cloth lettered, price 5b. SONGS OF THE CASCADES. By ERL VIKING. Fcap. 8vo., cloth boards, 3b. 6d. SONGS OF THE PINEWOODS. By ARTHUR CAMP- BELL. Price 3s. 6d. THE FAIREST OF THE ANGELS, and Other Verse. By MARY COLBORNE-VEEL. Fcap 8vo., cloth boards, :1s. 6d. "Some of the shorter lyrics are much above the average, being clear in thought and musical in expression. The merits of the collec- tion are considerable."— The Bookman. THE WANDERER IN THE LAND OF CYBI, and other Poems (1886-93). By CLIFFORD BROOKS. Fcap. 8vo., cloth boardB, 3s. 6d. POEMS. By THOMAS BARLOW. Crown 8vo., bevelled boardB, gilt edges, price 58. POEMS. By LEWIS BROCKMAN. Crown Svo., cloth boarda, 5s. "The ballads are full of the spirit and directness of 8ty\e proper to the ballad."—Saturday Herieir. "Mr. Brockman is a writer of good poetic metvu .Alio <W** reading world will hear more of him yet."—(llas,^ * u •<— "The graceful smoothness of Mr. Lewis nVr. Her", ' «oeS&»' Daily Telegraph. ^V^s*^* "He 1b decidedly inventive, and often uighlv » .^e -oos^' The element of originality pervades the book. * tfC^ *^-\° v °* 'Ronald's Cross,' is well sustained . . . it "« , VMl .^i* ^ 'Mariner,' and it holds uB."~Queen. "A reader who values cultured sentiments tion will find much to admire."__^c0(j(,nan. London: Horack Cox, winc\80t y0usc,  ## p. 116 (#150) ############################################ AD VER TISEMENTS. TEMPLE TYPEWRITING OFFICE. THE TYPEWRITING EXCEPTIONALLY ACCURATE. Moderate prices. Duplicates of Circulars by the latest process. References to the Society of Authors. • OPINIONS OF CLIENTS—Distinguished Author:—"The moat beautiful typing I have ever seen" Ladt or Title:—"The work was very well and clearly done." 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IN NEW SOUTH AFRICA. Travels in the Transvaal and Rhodesia. With Map and Twenty-six Illustration*. By II. LINCOLN TANOYE. CONTENTS. Introductory. PART I. Chapter I.—The Land of Gold and the Way there. ,, II.—Across Desert and Veldt. in.—Johannesburg the Golden. ,, IV.—A Transvaal Coach Journey. V.—Natal: the South African Garden. ,, VI—Ostracised in Africa. Home with the Swallows. PABT II —RAMBLES IN RHODESIA. Chapter I.—Eendragt Maakt Magt. II.—Into the Country of Lobengula. „ III.—The Trail of War. ,, IV.—Goldmining. Ancient and Modern. V.—Sic Transit Gloria Mundi. VI.—To Northern Mashonaland. .. VII.—Primitive Art. The Misadventures of a Wagon. Index. London: IIobace Cox. Windsor House, Bream's-buiMings, E.C. 35, =L8. GILL, TYPE-WHITING OFFICE, LUDGATE HILL, E.C. (ESTABLISHED 1883.) Authors' MSS. carefully copied from 1b. per 1000 words. Duplicate copies third price. Skilled typibts sent out by hour, day. or week. 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Title A name given to the resource The Author, Vol. 07 Issue 05 (October 1896) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 07 Issue 05 (October 1896) Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived <a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015049239455</a> Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1896-10-01-The-Author-7-5 publications The Author