-
https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/390/1909-02-01-The-Author-19-5.pdf
937e0ae798b419caa288e4f781279d78
PDF Text
Text
El u t b or .
organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors.
** *
** *
**
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
---
-
PAGE
123
123
124
134
124
124
125
126
127
129
129
131
133
135
...
...
,,
,
e6
*
&
---
** - -- -- - -* - - * - - * - - -- -- -- - -
tº
e
º'
-- 6
- -
** *
* =
s *
* *=
e
a &e
- e
- * - c
&&
-- *-*
-
-- ** -
- - -- ... -
º tº
tº
a
...
tº
... tº
e
c.
** *
sº
tº
tº
º ºº
**
*
...
*-
Warnings
Dramatic Authors
Warnings Musical Composers
** *
How
Use the Society
et e
-To Musical Composers
***
The Reading Branch
Legal and General Life AssuranceSociety...
GeneralNotes ...
--Arthur William Beckett
British Authors and American Copyright
**
-On Rendering Accounts
To Be Ol'Not To JBe ...
---The DecadenceOf the Novel ...
--*
--The Literary Year look
Correspondence
*e ºs
º e
T S.
*
N
[PRICE SINPENCE.
A.
in
--- --- --
* * tº
* -tº
- -
... --
e
of
|
...
- tº
- ** -- -- -- - ** -- - -
e
*
- -- - - - ... ...
of
-- ...
...
.
- ***
º,
a
&e
e
... --
in of
e e tº
** as
* *
&&
s
& ſº
e º ºg ** ..
tº ©*s e
** ---
-
tº
º tº
e
of º is
*- tº
*G
... -.
in
...
in
of
to
to
TE
1909.
**
CO N
-
PAGE
.
109,124
Notices,
-----...
112
'QommitteeNotes
Books published by Members the Society
114
...
ºs
115
Books published America by Members
Literary, Dramatic and Musical Notes
-...
115
tº
-...
117
Paris, Notes
Spanish Notes
...
118
-Copyright Musical Compositions...
-...
I.19
...
120
The Dramatisation Novels
Performing Rights
-...
121
*
Sketch...
...A Bill
Abolish the Powers
the Lord Chamberlain
Respect Stage Plays, &c.
e...
-º
121
e- tºtº MagazineContents
...
**
122
Warnings
Producers Books
**
...
123
1,
**
*
EEBRUARY
5.
to
Vol. XIX.-No.
Monthly.
toto
(The
-- - --- ... --
C be
...
...
...
...
-
18.
The Annual Report for the current year.
The Author. Published ten months
the year (August
in
and September omitted), devoted especially
Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Property.
and maintenance
Issued
non-members, 6d.,
Members gratis.
Price
- 58. 6d. per annum, post free.
Back
numbers from 1892,
10s. 6d. per Vol.
By
3s.
18.
In
of
by
an
of
of
the
3s.
of
of
Copyright Law Reform.
at
G.
to
the
by
S.
in
the Society's
are examined,
to
of
SQUIRE SPRIGGE.
this work, compiled from
offices, the various forms
agreements proposed
Publishers
carefully explained, with
Authors
and their meaning
account
various kinds
fraud which have been made possible
the different clauses therein.
By
Being additional
Addenda
the Above.
HERBERT THRING.
facts collected
the office
the Society since the publication
the
Methods.
With comments
advice.
28.
papers
and
of
of
An Exposition
Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill
1890.
With
1878, the Berne
Convention, and the
Extracts from the Report
the Commission
By
American Copyright Bill.
M. LELY.
18. 6d.
The Society
Authors.
Record
Action from
Foundation.
WALTER BESANT
Committee, 1888 1892).
(Chairman
Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. By ERNST
The Contract
Publication
LUNGE, J.U.D.
2s. 6d.
By
18.
its
its
of
A
by
in
By
of
of
9.
of
8.
J.
of
of
T.
SQUIRE SPRIGGE.
of
print.)
The Cost
Production.
(Out
The Various Methods
Publication. By
S.
COLLES, Barrister-at-Law.
de
of
Literature and the Pension List. By W. MORRIS
The History
the Société des Gems
Lettres.
of
6. 5. 4. 3.
at
-
or
to
of
protection
the
all
to to
2.
1.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.
Apply
Members.
the
prices met.
List
to
[All
Authors.
of
;
18.
on
G.
by
of
12. Society
of
Agreement issued
the Publishers' Association
with Comments.
HERBERT THRING, and Illustrative Examples
Sir WALTER BESANT.
2nd Edition.
Giving the Terms
11. Periodicals and their Contributors.
which the different Magazines
and Periodicals deal with MSS. and Contributions.
6d.
Forms
10.
Published
October, 1907, price 6d.
Secretary, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W.]
�AD VERTISEMENTS.
(Ilje Šuriefn of Autburg
Telegraphic
AUTORIDAD,
Address :
LONDON.
(ſmrurpurated).
Telephone No. : 374 Victoria.
PRESIDENT,
G-EBOIERG-EB
SIR ROBERT ANDERSON, K.C.B.
SIRWM.REYNELL ANSON, Bart., D.C.L.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD AVE
J. M. BARRIE.
[BURY, P.C.
A. W. A BECKETT.
ROBERT BATEMAN.
F. E. BEDDARD, F.R.S.
THE RIGHT HON. AUGUSTINE
RELL,
BIR
P.C.
E. NESBIT BLAND.
THE REV. PROF. BONNEY, F.R.S.
THE RIGHT HON. JAMES BRYCE, P.C.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD BURGB
CLERE, P.C.
MRS.
HALL CAINE.
J.
W. COMYINS CARR.
EGERTON CASTLE, F.S.A.
EDWARD CLODD.
W. MORRIS COLLES.
THE HON. JOHN COLLIER.
SIR. W. MARTIN CONWAY.
F. MARION CRAW FORD.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD CURZON
OF KEDLESTON.
AUSTIN DOBSON.
TMIETRIET).ITIET,
COUNCIL.
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
A. W. DUBOURG.
DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
THE HON. MRS. ALFRED FELKIN
(ELLEN THORNEYCROFT
FOWLER).
SIR. W. S. GILBERT.
SCOTT
E. NESBIT BLAND,
W. COMYINS CARR.
THE HON. MRS. ALFRED FELKIN
(ELLEN THORNEYCROFT
Fowl ER).
G. BERNARD
BARKER.
STANFORD,
Mus.
Doc.
WILLIAM MOY THOMAS.
MRS. HUMPHRY WARD.
PERCY WHITE.
FIELD MARSHAL THE RIGHT HON.
THE WISCOUNT WolsFLEY, K.P.,
P.C., &c.
SIDNEY WEB.B.
OF MANAGEMENT,
S. SQUIRE
SPRIGGE.
FRANCIS STORR.
SIDNEY WEBB,
SHAW.
SUB-COMMITTEE,
IDRAIMIATIC
H. GRANVILLE
SIR CHARLES VILLIERS
KELTIE, LL.D.
Chairman DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
MAURICE HEWIETT.
SIDNEY LEE.
ARTHUR RACKHAM.
MRS.
MRS,
OWEN SEAMAN.
G. BERNARD SHAW,
G. R. SIMS.
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE,
FRANCIS STORR.
RUDYARD KIPLING.
SIR EDWIN RAY LANKESTER, F.R.S.
THE REv. W. J. LOFTIE, F.S.A.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR ALFRED
LYALL, P.C.
LADY LUGARD (MISS
FLORA.
L.
SHAw).
J.
ARCHER.
E. NESBIT BLAND.
MAxwell (M. E. BRADDON).
JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
THE REV. C. H. MIDDLETON-WAKE,
SIR HENRY NORMAN, M.P.
SIR GILBERT PARKER, M.P.
A. W. PINERO.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR HORACE
PLUNKETT, K.P.
ARTHUR RACKHAM.
MRS. HARRISON ( LUCAS MALET").
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS,
E. W. HORNUNG.
MAURICE HEWLETT.
JEROME K. JEROME.
HENRY ARTHUR JONES.
COIMIMITTEE
WILLIAM
SIDNEY LEE.
MRS.
EDMUND GOSSE, LL.D.
SYDNEY GRUNDY.
H. RIDER HAGGARD.
THOMAS HARDY.
J.
MI
O.
Chairman HENRY ARTHUR JONES.
J. W. COMYNS CARR.
JEROME K. J.EROME.
W. J. LOCKE.
W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM.
CAPT. ROBERT MARSHALL.
PAUL RUBENS.
G. BERNARD
SHAW.
PENSION FUND COIMIMITTEE.
Chairman DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
ANSTEY GUTHRIE.
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS,
NIORLEY ROBERTS.
|M. H. SPIELMANN.
MRS.
MRS.
ALEC TWEEDIE.
HUMPHRY WARD.
COPYRIGHT SUB-COMMITTEE.
HARDY.
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS.
HAROLD
E. J. MACGILLIVRAY.
SIR. GILBERT
SIR CHARLES WILLIERS
PARKER, M.P.
Mus.
J.H. H.
STANFORD,
Doc.
Yox ALL, M.P.
ART sub-COMMITTEE.
THE HON. JOHN COLLIER.
SIR. W. MARTIN CONWAY.
ARTHUR RACKEIAM.
M. H. SPIELMANN.
JOHN HASSALL, R.I.
J. G. MILLAIS.
FIELD, Roscoe & Co., 36, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.
Solicitors,
G. HERBERT THRING, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W. }
Secretary G.
LAWRENCE GoDKIN, 30, Pine Street, New York, U.S.A., Counsel in the United States.
OFFICES.
39, OLD
QUEEN
STREET, STOREY's
GATE, S.W.
HERBERT THRING,
Solicitor in England to
La Société des Gemsde L8ttres,
�C be
the Incorporated Society
SIR
FoundED BY
5.
BESANT.
1st, 1909.
[PRICE
of
is
in
it
is
LIST
HE
at
to
as
of
is
to
to
201
19
0 0
11
3
291.
250
0
...............
200
()
Stock
0
dated Inscribed
War Loan ..............
London and North-Western 3% Deben
ture Stock ..............................
Egyptian
Irrigation
Government
Trust 4% Certificates ...............
()
of
in
:
to in
a
2;
of
of
is
to
of
be
is
to
Consols 23%.............................. 31,000
Local Loans .............................. 500
Victorian Government 3% Consoli
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
e
a
e
in to
in
be
in
in
is
it
or
to
of
on
of
to
to
of
place
have decided
The Author
order
cognisant
that members may
those funds
paid.
which these contributions may
The funds suitable for this purpose are (1) The
Capital Fund. This fund
kept
reserve
necessary for the Society
case
incur heavy
prin
fighting question
expenditure, either
ciple,
assisting
obtain copyright reform,
of
these members,
XIX,
of
of
in
FUNDS.
ROM time
time members
the Society
desire to make donations
its funds in
recognition
work that has been done for
them.
The committee, acting
the suggestion
this permanent paragraph
1908, the Trustees
the beginning
the Pension
Fund
the Society, after
the secretary had placed before them the
financial position
the Fund, decided
invest
per
£230
the purchase
Irish Land Act
cent. Guaranteed Stock.
£258, and
The amount purchased
added
the list printed below.
The investments are steadily increasing from
year
year, the amount varying between £200
and £250.
T
to
º-º-º
WOL,
e-º-e
0 0
or
in
a
THE SOCIETY'S
one
PEN SION FUND,
of
of
on
º- a
v-u-v
of
to
at
to
in
to
of
* º- a
w--~-w
of
to
of
of
cases that have come before the notice
the
knowledge
the Secretary
the Society, and that
those members
the Society who desire
have
the names
the publishers concerned can obtain
application.
them
be of
of
It of
at
to
is
THE Editor begs
inform members
the
Authors Society and other readers
The Author.
that the cases which are quoted
The Author are
9
as
or
of
para
responsible.
None
the papers
graphs must
expressing the opinion
taken
especially stated
the Committee unless such
be the case.
be
or
in
papers that are
OR the opinions expressed
signed
initialled the authors alone are
Authors,
List
Members
the Society
published October, 1907, can now
obtained
the offices
the Society
the price
July,
6d., post free 7#d.
includes elections
1907, and will
sold
members and associates
the Society only.
dozen blank pages have been added
the
end of the list for the convenience of those who
they are chronicled
desire
add future elections
from month
month
these pages.
of
º-º-º
MEMBERs.
º-º-º
of
NOTICES.
to of
of
LONDON.
OF
s e-e
all
of
AUTORIDAD,
SIXPENCE.
A
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS
be
WALTER
or
VICTORIA.
374
Monthly.)
dealing
with any other matter closely
+
connected with the work
the Society.
slowly
(2) The Pension Fund. This fund
increasing, and
hoped will,
time, cover the
needs
the members
the Society.
NUMBER:
:
TELEPHONE
FEBRUARY
of Authors.
in
(The Organ of
Vol. XIX.-No.
bor.
El u t
�.
g
. .
.
E.
()
I
()
()
.
K.
lI
() () () () 1 3 1 () () () () #.
.
e
T.
S.
F.
º
tº
.
A.
G.
&
&
.
&
T.
.
L. E.
E.
T.
e
ſº
tº .
.
.
.
tº .
.
º
i
ge
&
º
.
*
tº
1
.
M
A. .
.
º
S.
T.
J.
Sharwood,
Jan. 12, Durand, Ralph
Jan. 12, Laing, Mrs.
Jan. 14, Banks, Mrs. M. M.
Jan. 14, Steel, Richard
º
1
.
A.
7, 7, 4, 4, 4, 4, 2, 1,
R.
J. L.
.
Jopp, Miss
A.
Wintle, Harold R..
e
Malcolm, Mrs. Ian.
Felkin, The Hon. Mrs.
º
Ward, Wilfrid
iº
Marks, Mrs. Mary
M.
Twycross, Miss
Macquarie, Arthur
Sproston, Mrs. Stanley
Phipson, Miss Emma
Middlemas, Miss Jean
gº
Pott,
A.
Marchmont,
W.
i
.
. .
:1
1
F.
Montgomery, Miss
Dummelow, The Rev.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
&
K.
Fenwick, Miss
E. .
G. E.
*
S.
Lewis,
.
F.
&
of
.
Forrester
Carr, Miss Mildred
O Brien, The Rev.
Wills, The Rev. Freeman
1
G.
o
the Countess
Sutro, Alfred.
Kipling, Rudyard
Pope, Miss Jessie
Scott,
10
.
E.
tº
K.
.
Cromartie,
.
l
l
§ .
Freshfield, Douglas
Rowsell, Miss Mary
Bell, Lady
Sanders, Miss
Count Plunkett
Victoria Cross
28,
28, Chesterton,
ge
30, Sherwood, Miss
wº
30, Hutchinson, The Rev. H. N.
Dec.
©
Sachs,
&
T.
Truman, Miss Olivia
Dec.
Yolland, Miss
Dec.
Dec.
*
Bagnall, Miss
Dec.
Humphreys, Mrs. Desmond (Rita)
g
Dec.
Anon.
Dec.
Westrup, Miss Margaret
Dec.
Lynch, H.
B., M.P.
Caillard, Miss
Dec.
M.
Dec.
Askew, Claude
Dec.
Felkin,
Dec.
Rosetti, W. M.
Dec.
Miller, Miss Esther
Dec. 11, Woodward, Miss Ida
Dec. 12, Mann, Mrs. Mary
©
Dec. 12, Lack, H. Lambert
e
Dec. 14, Winchilsea and Nottingham
The Countess of
Dec. 14, Sinclair, Miss May
Dec. 14, Weyman, Stanley
Dec. 17, Macpherson, John
T)ec. 17, Hills, Mrs. Martha
Dec. 18, Hands, Mrs. Morris
Dec. 18, Geddes, Mrs.
Dec. 22, Miles, Bertram
Dec. 23, Mackenzie, Miss Helen
1909.
E.
Bloundelle-Burton,
J.
sº
.
Summers,
J.
E.
E.
.
Carolin, Mrs.
e
Bland, Mrs.
Nesbit
Hichens, Robert
e
Grogan, W.
Stowell, Mrs. Rodolph
g
Gay, Mrs.
28,
28,
28,
28,
L.
º
G.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
tº
Colquhoun,
Holmes, Miss Eleanor
Hussey, Eyre
Capes, Bernard
&
Hecht, Mrs. Arthur
Festing, Miss Gabrielle
E.
Now.
*
Margaret
C.
Nov.
Noy.
Nov.
Nov.
Dixon, Miss
T.
Mov.
Now.
21,
21,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
23,
24,
24,
24,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
26,
26,
26,
26,
26,
26,
26,
26,
A. H. G.
J.
1
G.
A.
Oct. 10, Macnaughton-Jones,
Oct. 20, Garvice, Charles
Nov. 12, Woods, Miss Mary
Nov. 20, Boycott,
W. M..
Nov. 20, Budgeon, Miss
Nov. 21, Benjamin, Lewis
Nov. 21, Coulton,
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
9, 9, 8, 8, 8, 7, 7, 4, 4, 4, 3, 1, 1,
1908.
Smith, Bertram
Niven, Frederick
Nembhard, Miss Isabel
Smith, Miss M.
Brandon, Miss Dorothy.
Pasture, Mrs. Henry
Scott, Mrs.
Harrison, Mrs. Darent
Logan, The Rev. Robert
C.
Nov.
Subscriptions.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Noy.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
.
18
Heath, Miss Ella
Thomas, Edward
Shaw, Mrs. Bernard
A.
#3,376
Nov.
E.
Prideaux, Miss
Saies, Mrs.
H.
la
.0
258
8.O
Total
247
26,
27,
27,
27,
27,
27,
27,
27,
27,
27,
E.
New Zealand 34% Stock...........
Irish Land Act 23% Guaranteed Stock
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
de
...
e
º
e
º
sº
e
º
e
tº
Cape of Good Hope 33% Inscribed
tock .......................... 'º
3200
Glasgow and South-Western Railway
228
4% Preference Stock..................
ſe
tº
THE AUTHOR.
110
�A UITISIOR.
J.
.
J.
L.
.
G.
A.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
5
1
1
()
5
()
&
l
I
10
1()
0
tº
*
Sidney
5
5
1
O
()
I
*
Cullen,
N.
Lyall, The Right Hon.
Alfred, P.C., etc.
Underdown, Miss Emily
Paternoster,
O
() O () 5
.
C.
Abercrombie, Lascelles
Bradgate, Mrs.
Leach, Henry
Omond,
I
()
I
Francis
Falmouth, The Wiscountess
Carrel, Frederick
$
Laws,
G.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Stopford,
S.
Jan.
Zangwill, Israel
Hamilton, John
.
0 0 0 0
tº
0 0 0
5 0
0 0
0 0 0
6 0
0 0
1
C.
10 5 0 1
1 1
5 5
5 1
5
1
1 1
1
0 0 1 5 5
10
10
.
0
.
1
E.
1
0
A.
0
0
.
1
0
0 10
J.
6
6
1
0
...
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
10
0 10
1
5
2
0
2 () 1 ()
0
1
0
1
10
()
l
0
1
I
3
1
0
1
1
2
1
Dec. 7, Parker, Mrs. Nella.
Dec. 7, Montrésor, Miss F. F.
Dec. 7, Shepherd, George H.
Dec. 9, Maartens, Maarten.
Dec. 9, Y. F. S.
&
Dec. 9, Lefroy, Mrs. .
Dec. 9, Bourdillon, Miss Rose
Dec. 9, White, Mrs. Woollaston
Dec. 10, Gilliatt, The Rev. E.
g
Dec. 13, Evans, Miss C. M.
Pennell,
14,
Dec.
Mrs. Elizabeth Robins
Dec. 14, Oppenheim,
Dec. 16, Blake,
Dec. 17, Medlicott, Cecil
Dec. 18, Tansley,
Dec. 19, Thurston, Mrs. Ratherine Cecil
Dec. 19, Todd, John
Dec. 21, White, Percy
Dec. 23, Vance, Louis
Dec. 28, Guthrie, Anstey
Dec. 29, Roberts, Miss Edith
Dec. 30, Coke, Desmond
Dec. 30, Mackenzie, Miss
Dec. 30, Lathbury, Miss Eva
Dec. 31, Egbert, Henry
1909.
5
1
5
5
1
0 0
0
()
O
() 10
0 0 0
0
0
() 10
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
1
5
1
5 5 5
1
0 10
5
O
I
0
0
O
() 1 5
0
2
1()
5 5
6
1
5
2
I
0
1
O
10
5
0
2
1
Sir
1.
0
2
2
1 1 )
1
5
0
T.
1
0
1
F.
A.
.
Trevor, John
Wacher, Francis
Hughes-Gibb, Mrs.
Farmer, Miss A.
Hunt, Holman
Tuckett,
Allen, Mrs. Grant
G
Hole, W.
Granville, Charles
Henoch, Miss Emily
0
0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1
C. .
.
S.
F.
A.
Nash,
T.
Knight, Mrs. Maude
Bowen, Miss Marjorie
Turner, Reginald
.
.
P.
Page, Herbert W.
Brereton, Capt.
1
0 1
.
.
E.
B.
H.
tº
©
.
Anon.
©
A.
&
Crouch,
Hawtrey, Miss Walentin
Sedgwick, Miss Anna Douglas
F.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Batty, Mrs. Braithwaite
G.
INov.
24,
24,
24,
24,
24,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
25,
26,
27,
27,
1
1
.
H.
A.
21,
21,
24,
24,
Shepeard-Walwyn,
W.
Church, Prof.
H.
James, Miss
Boucher
Ramsden, The Lady Gwendolen
sº
Spielmann, M.
Saville, Frank
Kennedy,
Bennett, Prof. W. H.
S.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
0
1
{
}
21,
21,
21,
21,
0
0
0 5 1 1
.
5
5 5
.
0
21
2 1 5
&
*
16, Carolin, Mrs.
28, Atherton, Mrs. Gertrude
Aug. 21, Beckett, Arthur W.
.
Sept. 28, Whitworth Wynne " .
Oct. 23, Woolf, Miss Bella Sidney
gº
Oct. 31, Robinson, J. R.
.
Nov. 6, Wroughton, Miss Cicely .
g
Nov. 7, Sherard, R. H.
.
Nov. 7, Cameron, Miss Charlotte
Nov. 12, Tweedie, Mrs. Alec.
.
Nov. 17, Tench, Miss Mary F. A.
º
e
©
Nov. 17, Anon. .
Nov. 21, Anson, Sir William, Bart.
Nov. 21, Cordeaux, Miss K. M. .
Nov. 21, Drewitt, F. Dawtrey, M.D.
Nov. 21, Delaire, Madame Jean .
Nov. 21, Hecht, Mrs. Arthur
.
Nov. 21, Collier, The Hon. John
tº
Nov. 21, Keltie, G. Scott
2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1 1
July
July
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nº.
Nº.
Domations, 1908.
2
I
0
0
1
O 1 ()
J
5
5
I
2 ()
5
0
8.
O
1 1 1
0
6
:#
() () () () () 2 0
0
27, Simes, Miss O. Kathleen
27, Penny, The Rev. Frank
27, Westell, W. P.
e
.
28, Coolidge, The Rev. W. A. B.
Nov. 28, Tennant, Lady Pamela
28,
&
H. . .
Wov. 30, Northcote, The Rev. H.
Nov. 30, Dexter, Walter
.
Nov. 30, Oliver, Miss Selwyn
.
Nov. 30, Kaye-Smith, Miss Sheila
Nov. 30, Bent, Mrs. Theodore
Nov. 30, Atkins, Miss Margaret A.
gº
te
Dec. 7, Hood, Francis
Lloyd
7,
Maunsell,
Dec.
A. E.
Dec. 7, Carolin, Mrs. .
Dec. 7, Drake, Lady Eliott
1
1
1
0 10
-
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
() ()
0
T.
Fenn, Frederick
Hering, Henry A.
Fox, Archibald, D.
©
Anon .
1
I
s. d.
1
H.
.
T.
Edward
P.
3
.
Garnett,
6, 6, 6, 5, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 1,
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
8, 8, 7,
-
16,
16,
18,
18,
31,
111
1 1 ()
TISIES
�Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
9, Stockley,
Mrs.
9, Tanner, James T. .
12, Tighe, Henry
12, Aitken, Robert
12, Bolton, Miss Anna
14, Williamson, W. H.
16, Furze, Miss Bessie
16, Shirley, Arthur
18,
Austin
Clare
"
tº
e
.
22, Williamson, Mrs. C. N.
©
22, Williamson, C. N.
o
The names of those subscribers and donors which
are not included in the lists printed above, are
unavoidably held over to the March issue.
We regret the omission in the January number
among the new subscribers of the names of the
Hon. Mrs. Felkin (£1) and Wilfrid Ward (10s.).
The total amount of annual subscriptions
received and promised since the issue of the
circular amounts to £71. The total amount of
donations to £105.
COMMITTEE
e
NOTES.
º-0
rTYHE
first meeting of the committee in the
year 1909 was held at the offices of the
society on January 11. The New Year
has opened well with the election of thirty-four
members and associates.
There were, however,
twenty-three
resignations.
At the commencement
of the year an increase in the number of resigna
tions is to be expected.
At the same time the
committee would like to call attention to the fact
that when, as is often the case, members who have
resigned for one reason or another desire to return
to the society, they are liable to be called on for a
statement of the reasons for their resignation, and
also for their seeking re-election ; and that the
committee will further consider the amount of
work which the society undertook for the applicant
during his former membership.
These matters
will be taken into account by the committee in
determining the payment in respect of arrears to
be called for in each case.
It is obviously unfair
that authors who only support the Society when
and while in direct need of its assistance should
reap the benefit of the society's machinery, which
has been built up mainly through the funds contri
buted by constant subscribers who, very often
without need of its direct help, have nevertheless
felt it their duty to support the trades union of their
profession.
This is not the first time that attention
has been drawn in these notes to this subject ; but
at this period of the year the committee deem it
desirable to put clearly before our members their
view and the action by which they propose to
enforce it.
The question of the Berlin Conference was
mentioned by the secretary, who reported the
action he had taken since the last meeting of
the committee, and it was decided to write to
the Music Publishers Association, the Publishers'
Association, and the Copyright Association with a
view to the formation of a joint sub-committee to
consider the question of copyright legislation, and
to take action, should it be necessary, to bring the
matter before the Government.
The committee
appointed two delegates from the copyright sub
(Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins and Mr.
MacGillivray) to represent the society.
Mr.
MacGillivray has consented to serve, but Mr.
Hawkins has, to the committee's regret, been
unable to take up the duties.
Another delegate
will be selected in his place. The secretary was
instructed to get the matter in train as early as
committee
E.
J.
possible.
A case of infringement of copyright in China
was brought to the notice of the committee.
The
Secretary was instructed
to make the fullest
inquiries and to ascertain whether it was possible
to stop such infringement by action in the Consular
Courts.
It is hoped to place a full report in The
Author at a later date.
Mr. Anstey Guthrie, one of the committee s
nominees on the pension fund committee, retired
at the beginning of the year under the rules of the
Scheme, and was unanimously
re-elected.
The sub-committee appointed, as stated in the
January issue of The Author, on the invitation of
Mr. C. J. Longman, on behalf of his firm and other
publishers, to discuss
the book trade, have
and accordingly, the
next meeting.
The report of the
ment was considered,
certain questions relating to
not, as yet, settled their report,
matter was adjourned to the
committee on office manage
and it was decided that, in
View of the increase of work at the office, another
clerk should be engaged and that other steps should
be taken to relieve the present pressure.
The
committee have taken an extra room for the storage
of papers at the rent of £10 per annum.
The opinion of the society's counsel in the
United States on the dramatic case mentioned in
previous committee notes, was read, and it was
decided, as the matter is of great importance to
dramatists, to obtain another opinion.
The Chair
man proposed also to communicate the facts of the
case to the Right Hon. James Bryce, the British
Ambassador
at Washington, a member of the
Society's council,
and to ask him whether he
could in any way advise the Society as to
best course.
its
Jan.
Jan,
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
2A DITSIOR,
.
T ISIES
112
�TFIES
A UTISIOR.
The opinion of the society s solicitors in a case
of alleged infringement of copyright was then read
to the committee who, after full consideration of
the facts, regretted their inability to take the
matter up,
-
During the past year the committee authorised
the inspection of a publisher's
books by their
accountant.
The accountant appeared before the
committee, and in his report expressed his inability
to satisfy himself on a good many items in the
accounts owing to the publisher's reluctance to
produce his books.
It was decided to take the
matter up on behalf of the member and to proceed
with an action at law as soon as possible.
One of the dramatic
members of the society
brought forward a case which appeared to the
committee to be of great importance
to all
They accordingly decided to
dramatic
authors.
place the matter at once in the solicitors hands
and instructed
the secretary to report to the
dramatic sub-committee what they had done.
It
was impossible to refer the matter to the dramatic
sub-committee in the first instance as immediate
action was essential.
Mrs. E. Nesbit Bland's resolution which was
adjourned from last month has now been with
drawn at her request.
The date of the General Meeting of the society
has been definitely fixed for Monday, the 22nd day
of March. Formal notice, together with the report
for the past year, will be sent round to members in
due course.
The committee have to thank Mrs. Gunn, a
member of the Society, for a donation
to the
society s funds for work which had been carried
through on her behalf.
Mr. S. L. Clemens ( Mark Twain ) has accepted
his nomination as a member of the council of the
society.
A vote of condolence was passed to the firm of
Messrs. Field, Roscoe & Co. on the loss they sus
tained by the death of Mr. Basil Field, the senior
partner in that firm.
Mr. Field's connection with
the society was fully set forth in the January issue
of The Author.
e-º-º
Cases.
SINCE
been
ten
the last issue of The Author there have
cases
in the hands of the Secretary.
Five of this number were claims for money; three
for the return of MSS.; and two for accounts.
Two of the claims for money were against a firm
which is now in liquidation
Messrs. Sisleys.
Other members of the society are involved in this
case.
The liquidator is Mr. H. Wingfield, of
64, Cannon Street, E.C.
The secretary will be
obliged
if
those members who have books published
113
by this firm will place their papers in his hands
that he may conduct the negotiations for them
through the society's solicitors.
Of the other
three demands for money, one has been settled ; one
has been placed in the solicitors hands, and action
will be commenced in the County Court if neces
Sary. Part of the claim in the last one has been
Settled, but there is still an amount due.
One
of the MSS. cases has been settled, and the others
are in the course of negotiation. The cases of
accounts have only recently come into the secre
tary's hands and at the time of going to press no
answer has been received to his letters.
There are five cases still outstanding from the
previous month. One of these has been placed in the
Solicitors
hands with instructions, to commence
County Court proceedings; one is in the course of
settlement, and the three others being respectively
in Madras, New Zealand and the United States of
America require some time before they can be
brought to a successful issue.
January Elections.
Baring, The Hon. Francis
34, Great Cumberland
Place, W.
Woodhouse,
Sir Alfred,
R.C.M.G.
Bateman,
Biss, Gerald
.
Carlyle, The Rev. A.
Clifford, Mrs. W.
Wimbledon
*
.
J.
.
K.
J.
Grossmith,
B.
Junr.
George,
Hamilton, Miss Cicely
Hamilton, Mrs. C.
J.
Ring, Mrs. Paul H.
Lagden,
Place,
Wood,
St.
Edmund's Hall
House, Oxford.
7, Chilworth Street,
.
. 18,
Queensborough
Terrace,
Park,
Fox, Archibald D.
Park,
W
Farringdon, Herbert M.
Fegan,
S.W.
1,
Melina
St. John's
N.W.
.
Sir Godfrey,
R.C.M.G.
Morton, Michael
Mulliken, Mrs. E. G.
Hyde
W.
22,
Great
Marl
borough Street, W.
© Seaforth,
Malvern.
4, Portman Mansions,
.
W.
28,
Place,
Glebe
Chelsea, S.W.
88, Twyford Avenue,
Acton, W.
Customs
House,
Canton.
The Croft,
Walton-on-Thames.
Lyceum Club, 128,
Piccadilly, W.
�-
Broomhouse
Hurlingham,
Court,
CLASSICAL.
34,
Street,
THE YEAR s WORK IN CLASSICAL STUDIES, 1908. Edited
for the Council of the Classical Association by W. H. D.
ROUSE, M.A., Litt.D.
(3rd Year of Issue).
53.
176 pp. Murray. 2s. 6d.
LAND.
n.
an
C.
84
G.
5.
74
×
5.
×
J.
5.
73
×
B.
73
×
x
5.
5.
73
7
×
r
7#
×
5.
73
×
7#
328 pp.
312 pp.
By RICHARD MARSH.
Cassell.
68.
By GERTRUDE WARDEN.
MERELY MAN.
White, 68.
Chapman
and
73
×
COKE.
5.
By MRs. E. Row
AND TEDDIE. A true story.
by
Published
the Author, Llwyn-y-Brain,
Whitland, South Wales.
18.
MINNIE
DESMOND
Hall. 6s.
THE INTERRUPTED KISS.
x
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
73
12s. 6d. n.
THE LONG ARM. By
PHILLIPs OPPENHEIM.
53.
Ward, Lock.
318 pp.
6s.
By
Murray.
pp.
SEPTIMUS.
W.
LoCKE.
360
6s.
By
THE GOLDEN KEY:
CoMEDY of TEMPERAMENTs.
5:
BIOGRAPHY.
THE LIFE STORY OF SIR CHARLES TILSTON BRIGHT,
By
Civil Engineer.
Revised and Abridged Edition.
8; x 5}. xx + 478 pp.
C. BRIGHT, F.R.S.E.
Con
×
ART.
Being Part III. of the
AT FLORENCE.
Benaissance in Italian Art and containing a separate
analysis of Artists and their Works in Sculpture and
Painting. By SELwyN BRINTON.
7# × 5%. 149 pp.
Fairbairns. 2s. 6d. n.
By ANANDA IK. COOMAR
MEDIAEVAL SINBALESE ART.
ASWAMY.
Fellow of University College, London.
133 × 10%. 339 pp.
The Essex House Press. 43 38. m.
THE MEDICI
By CHARLOTTE MANSFIELD.WOMAN.
330 pp.
Werner Laurie. 6s.
By ROSA NOCCHETTE CAREY.
LITTLE MISS MUFFET.
5%. 160 pp. The Leisure Hour Library Office. 6d.
By CHARLES GRAN VILLE.
GOD's ABYSS AND
WOMAN.
4%. 156 pp. (Cheap Reprint). The Open Road
Publishing Co. 1s.
THE GIRL FROM GATFORD. By OLIVIA RAMSEY.
43.
307 pp.
John Long. 6s.
THE MARRIAGE OF LIONEL GLYDE. By OLIVIA RAMSEY.
4%. 316 pp. John Long. 6s.
By H. F.Low ERDEw.
THE WAYS OF MEN.
7%
344 pp.
Unwin. 6s.
THE HOUSE CALLED HURRISH.
By RITA.
372 pp.
Hutchinson.
6s.
THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAS.
By H. BYALT.
Long.
318 pp.
68.
LOVE AND
n.
of
-º-º-º
stable.
n.
H.
* º- a
w-v-w
Books PUBLISHED BY MEMBERs
THE SOCIETY.
A
R.
W.
members desire neither their names, their
pseudonyms, nor their addresses published.
E.
Avenue,
-
Four
5.
Road,
J.
Lansdone
Holl a n d Park
73
3,
WOOLLASTON
WHITE.
196 pp.
Washbourne.
By MRs.
LEILA AND HER RING COPHETUA..
Row
LAND.
Published by the Author, Llwyn-y-Brain, Whit
land, South Wales.
2s. 6d.
By
HARRY OF ATHOL.
H. FOSTER.
315 pp.
.
Long.
68.
THE WHIPS OF TIME. By ARABELLA KENEALY.
Long. 68.
384 pp.
SARAH VALLIANT'S PROBLEM.
By
BLAIR. 129 pp.
Ouseley.
1s.
A
Vaux, Patrick .
Winter, Miss E. Saxon
FICTION.
By MRS.
MARAMA.
E.
.
Wassal, Mrs.
H
.
North End,
N.W.
Whatrang, Annan,
French Indo-China.
Thundersley, Essex.
Hampstead,
X.
Wolverhampton.
Wyldes,
ECONOMICS.
LANDHOLDING IN ENGLAND, CONSIDERED IN RELATION
By MRS. ALFRED MARKs.
TO POVERTY.
193 pp. Fifield.
1s.
By REV. FRANCIS
THE EVIL OF THE MILLIONAIRE.
MINTON, M.A.
208 pp.
Swan Sonnenschein.
3s. 6d. n.
A
Alma
Taylor,
Miss
Elizabeth
Annie .
tº
tº
tº
Unwin, Raymond
Haven,
The
Fair
Wittersham, Kent.
23, Tottenhall Road,
A
.
J.
Miss Laurance
d,
+
10,
5.
c acia
Ro a
Regent's
Park.
A
J.
.
DRAMA.
Comedy.
HYMENAEUs.
Now first printed with
Introduction and Notes by
MooRE SMITH, Litt.D.
pp.
Cambridge University Press.
xvi
2s. 6d. m.
5.
Constance
Cheshire.
House,
Acacia
X
Winchfield, Hants.
Zig Zag Hall, Liscard,
.
6#
Hartford Bridge,
:
Brooke
Holborn, E.C.
83,
X
W.C.
2, Whitehall
S.W.
7}
x
.
THE CATHOLIC WHO's WHO AND YEAR-Book, 1909.
Edited by SIR. F. C. BURNAND.
7+ x 43.
555 pp.
Burns and Oates. 3s. 6d. n.
DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY.
Edited by
SIDNEY LEE.
Vol. XI.
Kennett-Lluelyn.
9; x 6+.
15s,
m.
Smith, Elder.
1,335 pp.
8}
x
Tadema,
.
OF REFERENCE.
BOOKS
×
Sutcliffe,
Newport Street,
Frank
Steel, Richard
S.W.;
Bishop
6s, n.
7
St. Aubyn, F.
Road,
Branksome,
stoke, Hants.
Newport House, Great
Shirley, Arthur
Stanley, Lady
CHILDREN FOR EVER.
By JOHN F. MACPHERSON.
83 ×
6%. 352 pp.
Illustrated by TONY SARG.
J. Long.
Fairfield, 48,
74
×
Pigott, J. W. .
Potter, Frank E.
Stayton,
A Pſ"TRIOR.
TRIES
114
311 pp.
�TISIE AUTISIOR.
SQUARE HIGH SCHOOL.
$1.25.
ROUGHRIDERS
OF THE PAMPAs.
By CAPTAIN
South America.
$1.25.
GOLDEN
DRAMA.
MYSTERY PLAY IN HONOUR OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR
By ROBERT HUGH BENSON. Longmans, Green.
LORD.
906.
n.
By WILLIAM SHAKES
MIDSUMMER-NIGHT s DREAM.
PEARE.
Illustrated by ARTHUR RACKHAM. Doubleday,
Page,
$5.
By MRS.
18. n.
Pº
By H. MAC
Kegan Paul.
FICTION.
MISCELLANEOUS.
ENGLISH FIGURE SKATING.
5s.
E.
A
n.
m.
G.
G.
n.
NOTES.
º-º-º
our December number
The Adventures
Cock Robin and His Mates,
Kear
ton, F.Z.S., was erroneously announced
published
Messrs. Macmillan. The actual pub
lishers are Messrs. Cassell,
whom We beg
express our regrets for the error.
At the last meeting
the Académie Royale
d Archéologie
Belgique, Count Plunkett (author
of
to
of
BY
a
of
of
to
I.
foreign
Sandro Botticelli ) was nominated
corresponding member
the Academy.
Messrs. Hodder
and Stoughton announce for
early
the Spring
volume
humorous sketches
a
FOR THE YOUNG.
OF MERRY ENGLAND.
(William
Richard III.) By Rol,AND CARSE.
Illustrated by W.
HEATH ROBINSON.
Fred A. Stokes. $1.50.
MONARCHS
in
BOOKS
THE
of
de
BOOKS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA
MEMBERS.
to
by
as
REYNOLDS BALL.
10s.
Unwin.
n.
405 pp.
A.
By
LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL
P.
5.
×
73
8
×
PARIS IN ITS SPLENDOUR.
Two vols.
53. 354
E.
TRAVEL.
+
3s. 6d.
º-e
by
Kegan Paul.
n.
P.
Green.
e
N
5.
7;to
x
216 pp.
By THE
PAUL THE MISSIONARY, AND OTHER STUDIES.
REV.
W. DE QUETTEVILLE.
265 pp.
By SIR ROBERT
SOCIOI, OGY.
THE MISERY OF BOOTS. By HERBERT
WELLs. Ball
Publishing Co. 506.
By HERBERT
SocIALISM AND THE FAMILY.
WELLs.
Ball Publishing Co. 500.
in
of
FATHER
Expository
TYRRELL's
MoDERNISM.
An
Through Scylla and Charybdis,
Criticism
an
open letter
By HAKLUYT
Riley.
Mr. Athelstan
TREATISE ON SPHERICAL ASTRONOMY.
STAWELL BALL. Putnam.
$3.75
R.
',
6.
7s.6d. n.
×
-9
R.
J.
THE ONE VOLUME BIBLE COMMENTARY.
Edited by
DUMMELOW., M.A.
1,092 pp.
Macmillan.
A
x
TEIEOLOGY.
EGERTON.
SCIENCE.
+
n.
5.
~
* 73
×
n.
8
IN
By BERNARD SHAW AND
FABIAN ESSAYS
SOCIALISM.
OTHERs.
5%. xxi
233 pp. Walter Scott Pub
lishing Co. 6d.
by
Holl,INs.
UTOPIAN PAPERs. Edited
DOROTHEA
to
Guide
the Theory and
Style.
By
the English
2.50,
Macmillam.
Skating
in
Practice
FREDERIC BENSON.
3s.6d.
Stokes.
Fred
CAPTAIN MARGARET
ROMANCE. By JOHN MASEFIELD.
Lippincott. $1.50
AS MAN LIVES
OR THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW
By
EIOUSE.
PHILLIPs OPPENHEIM. $1.50.
By W.
SEPTIMUs.
LocKE. John Lane.
$1.50.
of
-
SOCIOLOGY.
Masters.
Page.
By BEATRICE HARRADEN.
1.50.
I.
THE COVENTRY LEET Book, PART
Edited by MARY
DORMER HARRIS. (Early English Text Society.)
*
Doubleday,
n.
REPRINTS.
208 pp.
-
each.
-
$1.50
-
***
1.50.
Page.
By UNA LUCY SILBERRAD.
A.
Doubleday,
m.
HANDICAP. MANY INVENTIONS.
THE SEVEN
By RUDYARD
SEAS.
Kipling.)
RIPLING.
(Pocket
r
F.
in
F. A
$4.25
LIFE'S
GEORGE
A
A
BOOKS OF REFERENCE.
J.
In.
, BEADS
By
FROM A LovER's ROSARY.
George Allen.
WILSON.
2s. 6d. n.
THE DAWN OF LIFE, AND OTHER PoEMs.
NAUGHTON-Jon ES.
83 × 6%. 31 pp.
2s. 6d.
JACBERNs.
RAYMOND
DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY. By SIR LESLIE
STEPHEN AND SIDNEY LAZARUs LEE.
New edition.
In 22 vols. Vol. X. Howard Kenneth. Macmillan.
By LADY
POETRY.
By
SECRET.
$1.25.
:
m.A
GAMES FOR LONDON DRAWING-ROOMS.
BELL. 6 x 43. 30 pp. Humphreys.
6d.
THE CORN LAW's : A POPULAR HISTORY.
pp.
ALFRED MARKS.
74 × 5. 166
Fifield.
AND
E. ;
MISCELLANEOUS.
LITTLE
BOY
Lippincott.
BALDWIN.
Tale
Ranch Life
SADLIER BRERETON.
n.
MEDICAL.
THE FOOD INSPECTOR'S HANDBOOK. By FRANCIS WACHER.
73 × 5. xxiv. -- 268 pp.
Fifth Edition. The Sanitary
Publishing Co. 7s.6d. n.
DOCTORS.
An Address [9 pp.] delivered to the Students
of the Medical School of the Middlesex
Hospital.
October,
1st
1908. Sold for the benefit of the Middlesex
Hospital. By RUDYARD
KIPLING.
With preface [12
pp.] 7} x 4%. 21 pp. Macmillan. 1S. m.
By MARY
Lippincott.
A
OF PARADISE LOST.
By M. A. WooDs.
Ouseley.
73 × 5. 149 pp.
28.
THE COLLECTED WORKS IN VERSE AND PROSE OF
WILLIAM
BUTLER YEATS.
Wols. VII. and VIII.
(Bibliography 111 pp.) 9 × 53. 299 + 287 pp. Strat
ford-on-Avon.
The Shakespeare Head Press.
By FDOUARD SCHURf.
HERMES AND PLATO.
Trans
lated by F. RotRWELL.
73 × 5. 117 pp. W. Rider.
1s. 6d.
A
THE CHARACTERS
of
LITERARY.
115
�TISIES
116
A UITISIOR.
by Mr. Charles Garvice, entitled The Scribblers
Club.
Some of these have appeared from time to
time in the Westminster Gazette, and other journals
and magazines.
It will be remembered that, by
the courtesy of the proprietors of the Westminster
Gazette,
we printed one of these sketches,
The
Transformation of a Great Novelist, in an issue
of The Author. Mr. Garvice desires to state that
the Scribblers' Club does not exist, excepting in his
imagination. Judging by those sketches we have
read, this fact is rather to be deplored.
E. Nesbit (Mrs. Hubert Bland) has just finished
a novel of a sensational and original kind.
It will
be published early this year by Alston Rivers.
It
is called Salome and the Head, and the heroine
is a famous dancer whose popularity involves her
in intrigue, mystery, and crime.
George Allen and Sons are publishing this month
a collection of E. Nesbit's stories that have been
written about children, not for them ; and the
author hopes that they may enable some readers to
understand children better.
This book is called
These Little Ones.
Daphne in Fitzroy Street is the story of a
girl s life among the art students of London, and
has engaged E. Nesbit intermittently during the
past two years.
It is being published by G. Allen
and Sons.
E. Nesbit is also contributing a serial story for
children to the Strand Magazine, and has written
the first chapters of a novel to be called
Heron
Hall.
We have
received from Mr. Henry Froude,
and his Brethren, a dramatic poem by
Charles Wells, with an introduction by A. C. Swin
burne, and a note on Rossetti and Charles Wells,
by Theodore
Watts-Dunton.
The volume is
No. 143 of The World s Classics series.
Miss Arabella Kenealy's new novel, The Whips
of Time (Mr. John Long), is a study in heredity.
A professor of science, believing that persons are
Joseph
the resultant of their environment and upbringing,
and that heredity plays no part in the formation
of character, exchanges the child of a notorious
murderess for that
of a cultured, highly-bred
mother.
The American publishers of the book are
Messrs. Little, Brown, of Boston.
The Treatise on Zoology,
edited by Sir E.
Ray Lankester and published by Messrs. A. and C.
Black, in now nearing completion.
Five volumes
have already been issued, and two more will appear
immediately, viz., Part I.
Introduction and Pro
tozoa by Prof. F.
Hickson and others, and
Part VII., Crustacea, by W. T. Calman, D.Sc.
J.
Mr. Werner Iaurie is publishing shortly Nights
with the Gods, by Dr. Emil Reich.
It is a study
of present day social, religious, literary and political
features, clothed in form of humorous criticism of
things and persons. The gods of ancient Greece
are depicted discussing modern England from the
standpoint of Hellenic and Roman civilisation with
Plato, Aristotle,
Julius
Cæsar,
and
other
great
of the past.
The Burglars' Club, by Henry A. Hering,
which first came out in Cassell's Magazine, is now
appearing in a Paris Weekly.
It has been trans
lated into German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and
Dutch.
Greeks
and
Romans
In Trees and Shrubs of the British Isles,
Native and Acclimatised, the authors, Messrs.
C. S. Cooper, F.R.H.S., and W. Percival Westell,
F.L.S., have produced a work which deals popularly
and authoritatively with over 550 species.
The
book includes a glossary, a lengthy introduction,
and eighty-six illustrations, of which sixteen are in
colour.
Messrs. Dent are issuing it in sixteen
parts at a shilling each part.
In connection with the recent award of the
Nobel Prize for Literature, it may be noted that
Rudolf Eucken's Philosophy of Life, by Prof.
W. R. Boyce Gibson, is already in a second
edition.
Professor and Mrs. Gibson have almost
ready for publication in the Spring Eucken's
The Meaning and Value of Life.
The
publishers are Messrs. A. and C. Black.
Love and a Woman, a new novel by Charlotte
Mansfield,
has just been brought out by Mr.
Werner Laurie.
Mrs. Irene Harborough-Sherard (Irene Osgood)
has gone to Jamaica to obtain materials for a new
novel.
We have received the following books from Mr.
Ouseley :
The Characters of Paradise
Lost, by M. A. Woods; Girl-life in the Harem,
by Annie Reichardt ; Little Dorothy, by T. H.
Chetwynd ; Sarah Walliant's Problem, by H. B.
John
Blair
;
Dallas.
Paul
Richards,
Detective,
by Duncan
Mrs. E. Rowland has just brought out Leila :
and her King Cophetua. and Minnie and Teddie :
They may be obtained of the
a True Story.
author, Llwn-y-Brain, Whitland, South Wales.
Messrs. Crewsher's latest issues in their School
King Frost,
Series of Songs by L. Budgen are
Early June,
Spring Weather, and
The
Scent of the May.
The Kingsgate Press are publishing a definitive
edition of Poems by Mackenzie Bell.
Mr. Bell
dedicates the book to Mr. Theodore Watts-Dunton.
Mrs. Florence Gay is at present engaged on a
new romance, entitled
Brude the Pict,
which
will be published by Mr. John Ouseley.
Sir
Gilbert Parker will contribute an introduction to
the book, which deals with the same early period
of British history as Mrs. Gay's recent publication,
The Druidess.
�TRIE AUTISIOIR,
to its
its
all
is
he
its
of it
he
of
of
by
?
"
is
to at
in of
by
a a
on
so
is
of
a
us
in
of
all
he
by
!
so
by
be
to
be
be
A
to
he
of
of
&
on
of
to is
by
is
!
by
of
an
of
is
in
so
to
of
of
to
in
be
to to
It
of
an
he of
haunted
the faces
these women and
their
explanation
hats.
He says that
has heard
given for the peculiar ugliness
the women who
appears that all
travel with Cook's tickets.
English women who are not considered pretty
enough
marry receive
unlimited amount
They are
money
spent
Cook's tickets.
doomed, therefore,
travel for the rest
their
lives,
that they may not have time
think
other things.
This arrangement
made
order
that the English race
women may not deteriorate.
Cette explication m'await séduit d'abord, says
Loti
mais un examen plus attentif des bandes
qui infestent
Nil m'a permis
constater que
toutes ces Anglaises
Sont d'un age notoirement
canonique
catastrophe
procréation,
done
produire chez elles
tant est qu elle ait
doit remonter
des époques bien antérieures
leur
enrôlement.
demeure perplexe
la
de
It
.
.
.
.
à
se
pu
la
y
de
du
je
sº-º
by Pierre Loti, is a
de Philae,
book on Egypt, dedicated to his friend
Moustafa Kamel Pacha, who died in
February, 1908, in the midst of his admirable
attempt to uphold the dignity of his country and
A Mort
barians.
table for about thirty men and
arranged for luncheon, and these guests
Women
belong
humanity which
that special race
frequents Thos. Cook
Son.
He goes
whisky-and-soda
describe the meal
and sand
wiches, and the pieces
greasy paper strewed
about the marble flags afterwards.
And the ladies
says,
oh, the ladies, what scare
the party,
crows for the birds
After this scene Abydos
and the desert no longer exist for Loti.
He
Et
e
&6.
claims, to
greater
a
PARIS NOTES.
the arrival
another band
Oh, poor temple
ex
anything
profaned
grotesque
pillaged
insult than
bar
;
*w-v-w
º- a
Loti
English tourists.
:
success
at the Teatro Principal at Barcelona.
There were seven curtains after Act III.
The
Liars
will be produced at the same theatre in
April.
January 23 was the first night of Our Miss
Gibbs, by J. T. Tanner and Cryptos at the
Gaiety Theatre.
The plot concerns the adventures
of an assistant at Garrod's Stores, who is engaged
to an earl disguised as a bank clerk.
Miss Gertie
Millar in the name part was supported, among
others, by Miss Jean Aylwin, Miss Denise Orme,
Mr. O. B. Clarence, Mr. George Grossmith, and
|Mr. Edmund Payne.
The music is - by Ivan Caryll
and Lionel Monckton.
more for
a
concerns the efforts finally crowned with success
of a young wife to reclaim her erring husband.
The cast included Miss Marie Tempest, Miss Kate
Bishop, Miss Norma Whalley, Mrs. Calvert, Mr.
Eric Lewis, and Mr. Graham Browne.
The Afternoon Theatre Company are producing
in a series of matinées at His Majesty's Theatre,
The Admiral Bashville, by Bernard Shaw, and
Tilda s New Hat, by George Paston.
The latter
is a revival, while the former has previously only
been privately staged.
The first performances were
given on January 26.
Diana of Dobson's, by Cicely Hamilton, was
revived at the Kingsway Theatre by Miss Lena
Ashwell last month.
The Hypocrites has been produced with
is
On January 9, at the Comedy Theatre, a
comedy in three acts by W. Somerset Maugham
was produced.
It is entitled Penelope, and
Egypt. He
the sans géne
the English,
huge
tells
that behind the Chéops pyramid
hotel has been built which
full
snobs and
elegant women, befeathered like
many Red
Indians for their scalp dance.
Later
mosque and the evening prayer dis
describes
turbed
band
tourists laughing and talking.
Pierre Loti asks,
what European church, when
people were
prayer, would Mussulman tourists
disport themselves
allowed
like these
spoilt once
Savages
At Abydos everything
of
Magazine.
of Islam.
The volume contains twenty chapters,
each one describing in Loti s exquisite language
and poetical style the various places and scenes
Among
which made the most impression on him.
these chapters are the following :- Minuit d'hiver
en face du grand sphinx,
La mort du Caire,
Un centre d Islam, La Race de bronze,
La
déchéance du Nil,
A Thébes, la nuit, Thebes
au Soleil, and
La mort, de Philae. In these short
chapters the author succeeds in giving the atmo
sphere of Egypt, with
poetry,
mystery,
antiquity.
and
From the first line
the last,
though,
very evident that
resents the in
vasion
the modernists, and perhaps more than
si
Miss Emily Baker has contributed to the Occult
for January a biographical article on
Two Famous Astrologers of the 17th and 18th
Centuries Vincent and Tycho Wing.
Mr. John Lane will issue shortly a new colour
book by Miss Agnes Herbert, with illustrations by
Mr. Donald Maxwell.
Miss Herbert is the author
of Two Dianas in Somaliland, and Two Dianas
in Alaska.
Mr. Robert Machray, who is busy this winter on
the biography of his uncle, the late Archbishop of
Rupert's Land, the first Primate of Canada, will
publish in mid-February his new novel,
The
Disappearance of Lady Diana,
which has been
running for the past six months in the Novel
Review
117
�THE AUTHOR.
ofde
of
du
of of
of to
at
its
a
of
is
of
of
is
It
in
to
it of
is
of
in
/
in
of
a
is
by
;
by
;
by
de
de
by
an
is
at
a
a
is
la
is
a
to
et
of
in
de
by
in
of
a
a
on
of
in
et
L'esprit d'inde
an
of
as
of
la
et
République
des Etats-Unis ;
M. André Beaunier publishes some
Gounod's
letters, and André Chaumeix writes an article on
the new Academician,
M. Francis Charmes, who
succeeded Brunetière
editor
the Revue des
Deua Mondes.
Frédéric Masson gives
interest
pendance
;
a
J.
J.
of
of
ing account
Sir Hudson Lowe and his earlier
life before
was made Governor
St. Helena
Rousseau, aristo
Jean Izoulet writes on
Guglielmo Ferrero writes
crate
curious article
on
Le Vin
dans l'histoire
applying what
de Rome,
and finishes
to
of
has said
Rome
the Paris
Paris,
to-day.
says,
is the modern
Rome, the metropolis
the Latin world.
of he
de de
M. Henry Van Dyke writes
he
a
to
to
of
at
a
la
de de
effect.
Saint Cyriens,
and Le Tabernacle,
are
the other stories
the book.
In the latest numbers
La Revue hebdomadaire
with distinct dramatic
La Proie l'Ombre,
he
at
to
he
in
of
in he
all
endeavouring
to prove that Wisconti
was an
impostor, and the accused man on his side did
Court, and
could
influence his protectors
the end
won his cause.
The marriage was
celebrated
1688.
Comte Primi Visconti seems
have been
privileged person
Court and
have come into
great number
contact with
the historical
personages
his times.
He tells anecdotes about
Vallière, Madame
Montespan,
Mademoiselle
Rohan, Mademoiselle
Fontanges,
the Chevalier
novel Ecrit sur
l'Eau. Among other new books
L Idylle
are the following:
Marie Biré,
Gustave Geffroy
La Montée,
Pierre
Willetard
Un grand homme,
Gaston Rageot.
Cyrène,
reality,
Ossit,
novel which,
the love story
somewhat enigmatic man and
Cyréne from her childhood has
strange
woman.
passionate nature.
early age
She
married
man whom she afterwards despises and detests.
After her husband's death she meets again
man
who has always interested her, and this time her
tragedy.
love ends
The minor characters
the book are well drawn, the interest sustained,
and the whole story very real and living.
Bovet,
La Jolie Princesse,
Marie Anne
volume
short stories told
the vivacious
style peculiar
this author.
Le Sabre
very clever psychological study told
Plume
;
the Republic of Naples rather a remarkable feat
for a woman in those days.
Marguerite was first married to a M. Herbin,
and on consulting Wisconti about her future lot
in life, the latter prophesied her husband's death
and her second marriage.
When M. Herbin died
she was accused of poisoning him, and was not
acquitted for several months.
She was shortly
after engaged to Wisconti, but her father would
not hear of the marriage, and although she was at
that time thirty-two years old he obtained a decree
of Parliament to prevent it and to send his daughter
to a convent. Leonard published various pamphlets
effect but
the most natural manner possible.
particularly
The description
Calabria
interesting just now.
The author speaks
the
terrible earthquake which had devastated
1788.
He tells that the shocks continued for
Several months, and he relates some of the stories
told by the survivors.
prize for 1908 has
The Académie Goncourt
been awarded
Francis de Miomandre for his
to
to have the lines of their hands told by him.
In 1682 Primi published the first volume of his
History of the Dutch War.
As he gave details
about the visit of Madame to Dover for the pur
pose of negotiating an alliance between England
and France against Holland, the English ambas
sador Preston took offence, and the consequence was
that Louis XIV. wrote to La Reynie requesting that
the book should be withdrawn from circulation.
The King's orders were obeyed, and Primi was
imprisoned in the Bastille for six months.
At
the end of that time, though, we are told that the
King took him back into favour, so that the im
prisonment was evidently merely diplomatic policy.
In 1687 Comte Primi Visconti married Mar
guerite, the daughter of Frédéric Leonard, one of
Marguerite had
the first publishers
in Paris.
translated, from the Italian, a work on the state of
Maintenon, and very many
other
Louis XIV.'s Court.
The Mémoires
Géneral Griois cover the
period from 1792
1822.
He tells
his edu
Châlons,
cation
his family,
the early days
the Revolution, the emigration
the aristocrats,
the September massacres.
He then describes his
military career, his departure for Elba and life
there. He gives details about the Italian campaign.
The charm
the book
extreme simplicity.
just
soldier's account
his life and its
everyday events, told without any seeking-after
Madame
members
is
a
is very evident, from nearly every chapter of the
book, that the beauty and harmony of all that is
sacred in Egypt was completely destroyed for Loti
by the horde of tourists he met at every turn.
Mémoires de la Cour de Louis XIV., by
entertaining
Primi Visconti,
is an extremely
volume in which the author gives an account of
the every-day events which took place at the Court
of the Great Monarch.
Primi Visconti was born in 1648 in Italy. At
the age of nineteen he published a novel, and in
1672 he went to France.
He was very much
interested in the occult sciences, and before very
long became quite famous as a graphologist and
Very soon after his
a diviner of future events.
arrival in France the Court ladies were most eager
of by
118
�TFIES
A DITFIOR.
In the recent numbers of La Revue de Paris
Richard Wagner's letters to Otto Wesendonk are
published.
There are articles by Victor Bérard on
Autriche et Servie, and by Louis Houllevigne on
Da Synthèse de la Lumière.
Ernest Lavisse Con
tinues his account of his visit to Berlin, and Clara
Wiebig her novel,
Pécheresse.
There are also
articles on
L Accord Américain-japonais, by
Louis Aubert ; and on Discipline et Silence, by
Comte Leonce Abeille.
g
At the Théâtre Français
Le Foyer is still
being played.
-
*
Le
Poussin, by M. Edmond Guirand, is being
given at the Odéon. M. Guirand is well known to
the public by his clever adaptation
of
Anna
Rarenina, which was also given a short time ago
by M. Antoine.
The opening of a new theatre, the Théâtre
Michel, was quite a Parisian event. A comedy by
M. Tristan Bernard was given, entitled Le
Poulailler.
ALYS HALLARD.
La Mort de Philae'' (Calmann Lévy).
Mémoires de la Cour de Louis XIV. (Calmann Lévy).
Mémoires du Général Griois (Plon).
Cyrène, by Ossit (Lemerre).
L'Idylle de Marie Biré (Fasquelle).
La
Un
La
<4
(Fasquelle).
Montée
grand homme " (Calmann Lévy).
Princesse,
by Marie Anne de Boret (Lemerre).
Jolie
L
e
SPANISH
º-e
NOTES.
A
Ciudad de la Niebla
(The City of Fog),
by Pio Baroja, shows that this Spanish
author is a keen observer, and his descrip
tions of London, to which he gives the above title,
are interesting
as the impressions
our Capital
make on a Southern character.
The policeman's
power in the order of the traffic, the dreary fogs,
the aspects of a boarding-house in Bloomsbury, are
all well noted. The father and daughter, the chief
characters in the book, seem to have escaped from
Spain as they were suspected of being concerned
in the Bomb outrage. The girl is stimulated to
make her own living by the sight of the industry
of her English acquaintances.
But energy at last
dies down in the Southerner, especially as her father
forsook her on his marriage with a flighty French
woman in the boarding-house.
A Spaniard Sets
before the heroine the hard conditions of a life of
independence
in a foreign country compared to
the ease of a marriage in her own Sunny Spain.
The advocate for submission prevails, and the
girl returns to Madrid, where she becomes the wife
of her cousin, and occasionally dreams of the
experiences
England.
she
119
so
graphically
describes
in
Morales Sam Martin has just published
novelette called
Alma de Artista
(The Soul of an Artist).
The hero, Michael de la
Huerta, justifies the hopes and sacrifices of his
peasant parents by taking a very high place in the
world of art.
A marriage with a lady of high
degree seems to complete the artist's happiness.
But the lady wearies of her husband and starts a
flirtation with Michael s best pupil, and, as he
Finding a letter
thought, his staunchest friend.
from this man making an appointment
with his
wife, Michael, after the storm of indignation and
sorrow had swept his soul clean of love, determines
that he himself will make the way free to the
intriguing pair. So the dénouement comes in a
most original way.
The wife is bidden to take a
drive with her husband.
Fear fills the shallow
lady's heart when she finds herself at the spot
where the tryst had been arranged.
But Michael,
Seeing his traitor friend, quietly walks up to him
and, after putting the hand of his wife in his,
turns his back on them both ; his delicate soul
could brook no tampering with loyalty, and with
his own hand he set the seal on his wife's course
which proved her to be no longer worthy to be
queen of his soul.
Morales San Martin has written another story, to
which I will refer next month, showing the effect
of the same sort of treachery on a mind uncultured
and undisciplined; for the author is essentially a
psychologist.
Doctor Garcia Harta has just published an
Essay on Social Pathology, and its pages, which
throw much light on how the poor live, draw
attention to the necessary prevention of pauperism
by education,
Señor Luca de Tena, the energetic proprietor of
A. B. C., is Organising a special number of his
paper with contributions from those ranking high
in politics, art, and science, in aid of those suffer
Bernardo
a dramatic
ing from the disaster in Messina.
Señor Luca de
Tena has just been appointed a life Senator
(Senador Vitalico) by the King's order, and the
palatial hall of the paper was the scene the other
day of an enthusiastic ovation of congratulation to
the chief by his immense staff of employees.
The death of Don Cayo Lopez leaves a blank in
the company of those who worked loyally for the
Restoration, and who was an enthusiastic follower
of the great Sagasta, and as Civil Governor of
Barcelona
he did much useful
work.
La Avellaneda, the renowned Spanish
compared by Juan Valera to Victoria
poetess, was
Colonna, so
the publication of her letters and autobiography
has excited much interest.
In the letters of 1840
to Cepeda there is a falling off of the primal fervour,
�TISIE AICſ INFIOR.
120
and it is noteworthy that the public now owe this
collection of letters to the widow of this great friend
of the poetess.
The cession of the Island of Cortegada, off the
coast of Galicia, to H.M. King Alfonso of Spain
has now finally been completed, says El Mundo
(The World). The Galicians are delighted, for the
visit of their Majesties of Spain to this beautiful
neighbourhood is announced for the Spring, and it
is hoped that Mondariz will be included in the
royal tour of the Region.
Her Majesty Queen
Victoria of Spain has just united a large number of
illustrious ladies into a working party for the poor
under the appellation of Society of Saint Victoria.
Much sympathy is expressed in Madrid with
Señor Moret, the leader of the Liberal party, on
the death of his wife at Biarritz after a short illness.
The centenary of the death of Sir John Moore
was celebrated last month with enthusiasm.
The
army and navy both took part in the ceremonies,
and after General Arpe had delivered an eloquent
oration he placed on the tomb of the hero a magnifi
cent wreath of flowers tied with the colours of
France and Spain ; and all Corunna was en fête.
A book entitled Anthropologia Criminal has
just been published by Don Fructuoso Carpena.
The author gives the histories of many criminals,
and scientifically shows that their deficient morality
is for the most part due to physiological reasons.
When visiting the chief prison of Madrid I was
much struck with the attention given to this side of
criminality. Policemen attend regularly lectures
on physiology, and in another department the eyes,
ears, hands, heads, etc. of criminals are put under
the examination of a clever scientist.
RACHEL CHALLICE.
e
COPYRIGHT
IN MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS.
MABE
HE
º-e
v. CONNOR.
question in this case, which came before
the Divisional Court, was whether a per
forated music roll, adapted for use on an
instrument called a Cecilian piano player, so as to
produce the music of a copyright song entitled
Bandolero, was a pirated copy of a musical
work, in respect of which remedies are provided
by the Musical (Summary Proceedings) Copyright
Act, 1902. The perforated music roll had been
offered for sale in the street, and on behalf of the
owner of the copyright the roll was seized by a
constable, and the vendor was summoned before the
magistrate to show cause why the roll should not
be forfeited or destroyed, in accordance with the
provisions of the statute. The magistrate, follow
ing the decision in Boosey v. Whight, decided that
the perforated music roll was not a copy of the
musical composition, and dismissed the summons,
but he stated a case for the opinion of the High
Court.
-
In the more recent Act relating to summary
remedies for infringement of copyright in musical
compositions the Musical Copyright Act, 1906
pirated copies
is expressly provided that
referred to therein do not include perforated music
rolls used for playing mechanical instruments, or
records used for the reproduction of sound waves,
or the matrices or other appliances by which such
rolls or records are made.
It was contended, how
ever, that as there was no such clause in the Act
of 1902, the Legislature must have intended such
rolls to be considered as pirated copies. There is
no definition of pirated copies in the Act of
1902.
A pirated musical work" is mentioned in
the interpretation clause, but not elsewhere in the
Act, and is declared to mean any musical work
written, printed, or otherwise reproduced, without
the consent of the copyright owner.
It was urged
it
that any reproduction,
whether a copy or not,
àmounted to a piracy, and that the roll in question
was a reproduction to which the provisions of the
Act of 1902 applied.
The Lord Chief Justice, in delivering judgment,
pointed out that the Act of 1902 was passed two
years after the decision in Boosey v. Whight, and
it must be taken that Parliament knew that for an
action for infringement of copyright perforated
music rolls were not copies of a musical work.
It
had been argued that the Act of 1906 had altered the
position by saying that pirated copies for the
purposes of that Act should not include perforated
music rolls, and so implying that for the purposes
of other Acts they should be included.
He knew
of no rule by which he would be justified in
drawing that inference.
The Court held that they were bound by the
decision in Boosey v. Whight, and the appeal was
dismissed.
Leave to appeal was given.
THE DRAMATISATION
OF NOVELS.
AMERICAN CASE.
RECENT
case in the United States brings
into prominence the peculiarity of English
law relating to the dramatisation of novels,
and the more generous
treatment
accorded to
authors in other countries.
The widow of the late Henry
W. Dam
brought an action against the Kirke La Shelle
Company in respect of the infringement of the
J.
�to
at
a
of
of
to
to
in
of
to
to
byof
a
by
or
by
no
be
is
of
or
in by
of
in
of
is
by
in
In
to
is
it of
of
in
to
as
of
of
in
to
of
of
of
as
in
Clauses.
local authority
Lord Chamberlain.
power
Lord
of
of
of
censorship
of
to
Abolition
Transfer
of
Arrangement
2. 1.
it
is
of
of
to
as
the local
under the control
practically the whole
Great Britain
where theatres are found, except the central
London, the University cities
Oxford
district
and Cambridge, and places where His Majesty
Further, even
the central district
resides.
London, the London County Council
the local
authority has already extensive powers over the
theatres under the Metropolis Manage
structure
ment Act, 1878.
exercised
authority
of
of
of
the London County Council
transfer
lain and
licensing
the power
the local authority
the Lord
and controlling theatres exercised
the metropolis.
the central parts
Chamberlain
proposed
plays
the censorship
As
the same
make theatrical performances subject
performances
the
music halls.
control
censorship exists, but any
music halls
case
impropriety can
the police
dealt with
the licensing authority,
the licence
refusal
the London County Council.
London
which
plays does not exist
Ireland.
The censorship
now
theatres this power
the licensing
As
in
of
to
to
In
be
of
MEMORANDUM.
of
in
by
of
in
of
to of
is
the aims
º-e
abolish the censor
HE object
this Bill
ship
plays exercised
Great Britain
the Lord Chamber
under the authority
.
is
be
is
as
of
it
is
to
to
to
One
bring Great
the recent Berlin Conference was
this
Britain into line with the other countries
respect.
order
achieve this end, however,
Eng
necessary
amend the domestic law
will
;
is
of
e
BILL TO ABOLISH THE POWERS OF
THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN IN RESPECT
OF STAGE PLAYS AND TO TRANSFER
THE
AUTHORITY
THE LOCAL
TO
POWERS OF THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN
IN RESPECT OF THE LICENSING OF
THEATRES IN LONDON.
to
.
.
it
its
It
if
to
is
is
of
is
It
of
under the Berne Convention.
in
be
of
by
by
12
as
a
Author.
a
.
.
.
a
be
in
or
to
of
all
by
Australia).
novels, the
the dramatisation
With regard
unique among the
position
Great Britain
sixteen countries comprising the Copyright Union
of
of
no
to
is
made
the Revised Convention,
See Article
13, 1908,
translation
which
November
supplement
appeared
the
the January issue
Berlin,
of
of
or
itsis
of
it
a
of
by by
the
the Union constituted
the countries
Great
with the exception
Berne Convention,
authors
Australia
also given
Britain.
the Copyright Act, 1905 (Commonwealth
HARDY.
HAROLD
or
in
England the plaintiff must have
been brought
English law the author
failed, because according
story
other
not entitled,
novel
dramatising
countries,
the exclusive right
given
authors not only
his work. This right
recognised
the United States, but
the law
of
to
of
to
to
right Union.
or
of
or is
its
of
an
1896
but
Paris
the Declaration
assent
now that the British delegates have accepted the
principle under the Berlin Convention, there
amended, and
hope that the law will
reason
longer deny
authors
that this country will
dramatising
their works,
the exclusive right
recognised
all the other countries
which
within, and even
countries outside, the Copy
.
to
121
the
This was one
Parliament.
Great Britain
the refusal
which led
Act
*
substantial similarity between the literary com
position, which was duly copyrighted,
and the
play.
He held, therefore, that the author's
exclusive right, according to American law, to
dramatise his work had been infringed, and that
the plaintiff was entitled to an injunction and an
account of the profits arising out of the per
formances of the play produced by the defendant
company.
The following passages in the judgment may be
quoted:
The theme or subject of the story is
substantially imitated in the play.
. . It is true
the dialogue of the drama is not in the words of
not neces
exact phraseology
the story, but
subject,
sary
the plot
the adaptation
the
the different characters
the portrayal
portray the characters
play.
The actors imitate
the incidents and
the story, and make use
situations, which apparently give expression
the
purpose
the author.
central theme
dramatic composition,
not strictly
The story
incidents, per
special features,
although
sonages, and episodes, plainly indicate that
not without dramatic interest, and can, by appro
priate
dialogue, scenes, and stage business,
enough that
drama.
transformed into
the play has been taken from the
the essence
story.
Now,
may
this action had
observed that
land
difficulties
A
The Trans
dramatic rights in a story entitled
mogrification
of Dan, of which her husband was
the author, and which was published in the Smart
The defendant company, some four
Set in 1901.
years afterwards, produced in New York a play
by Paul
called
The Heir to the Hoorah,
Armstrong, and it was alleged that the play had
No part of the
been taken from the story.
dialogue in the play had been copied from the
magazine ; but the judge found that there was a
by
THE AUTHOR.
�A UITISIOR,
in
of
52
7
&
(6
of
be
of
C.
F.
By Professor Richard M. Meyer.
CORNHILL.
By Frederic Harrison.
Charles Eliot Norton.
By Jane H. Findlater.
Fogazzaro.
The Novels
G.
FORTNIGHTLY.
By John Masefield.
Daniel Defoe.
By Filson Young.
The New Poetry.
By
Sport.
Books
The Writing
Aflalo.
MONTH.
John Milton.
By the Rev. Herbert Thurston.
NATIONAL.
By Austin Dobson.
The Oxford Thackeray.
George Hookham.
The Shakespearean Problem.
PUTNAM'S.
:
Edgar Allen Poe
From
English Point
as
a
Norman Douglas.
Critic. By Sherwin Cody.
Poe
Brittany. By W.
Helm.
3alsac
Israel Zangwill. By Clarence Rook.
in
in
7
(6
&
of
and closing
of
or
for
in
as
CONTEMPORARY.
German Literature.
By
to
the licensing
s
of to in
In
3.
BLACKWOOD.
By Oliver Elton.
Crabbe.
to
respect
of
in
c.
68),
CONTENTS.
º-º-º
BIBLIOPHILE.
Owlett.
Edgar Allen Poe, 1809-1849. By
By Bertram Dobell.
James Thomson.
The Poetry
if
be
of
of
of
in
Vict.
º-e
MAGAZINE
to
&
to
c.
7
&
(6
3.
Lord Chamberlain's Jurisdiction
Royal Residence outside London. Nothing
Places
the Lord
this Act shall affect the powers
Act, 1843
Chamberlain under the Theatres
Savinſ
Sections twelve, thirteen,
fourteen, and fifteen.
-º-º:
Act,
e
the
Repeal.
of
as
fit
of to
of be or
as
to
or
in
The Theatres
1843.
Extent
F.
the same manner as if no letters patent had been
granted in respect thereof.
County Council
(3) The licence of the London
year as
shall be for such period not exceeding one
the Council may think proper.
delegate
(4) The London County Council may
without any
powers under this Act with
thought
may
conditions
restrictions
the county
the justices
committee (or
these powers had
the same manner
Ilondon
by
the
virtue
Council
the
been transferred
Wict. c.41).
Local Government Act, 1888 (51
the Lord Chamberlain
(5) The fees payable
the Theatres Act, 1843
under section four
payable
the London
68), shall
Vict.
patent theatres.
County Council and shall apply
its
Vict.
68.
authorised
boundaries
by virtue of letters patent from His Majesty or his
predecessors (in this Act called a patent theatre) in
a
Short Title.
of
parliamentary
Sessionand
Chapter.
cited
Vict.
Repealed.
Jºnactment
of
said ancient
Short Title. This Act may
Theatres Act, 1908.
SCHEDULE.
H.
County Council.
County Council
(2) The licence of the Ilondon
shall be required in respect of a theatre within the
-
an
fo
the Theatres Act, 1843
68).
of
Transfer
is
in
Local Authority of Power to Lord
Chamberlain to License Theatres in Parts of the
County of London. (1.) The powers of the Lord
Act, 1843 (6 & 7
Chamberlain under the Theatres
closing
Vict. c. 68), in respect of the licensing and
parliamentary
of theatres within the ancient
boundaries of the cities of London and West
Finsbury and
minster and of the boroughs of
Marylebone,
the Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, and
to the London
Southwark, shall be transferred
2.
º
of
not be necessary to submit any stage
before the first
Lord Chamberlain
acting or presenting thereof, whether for hire or
otherwise, and it shall not be lawful for the Lord
Chamberlain to forbid the acting or presenting in
Great Britain of any stage play.
shall
play to the
º
C.
Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of
Commons,
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and
by the
in this present Parliament assembled, and
authority of the same, as follows:
1. Abolition of Censorship of Lord Chamberlain.
6.
Schedule.
6
c. &
7
Short title.
It
in
to
. Definitions.
as
;
Repeals.
in
Saving of Lord Chamberlain s jurisdiction in
places of royal residence outside London.
4.
3.
those places outside the adminis
which His Majesty,
London
their royal persons
his heirs and successors, shall
Occasionally reside.
the
Repeals.-The enactment mentioned
hereby repealed
the
this Act
schedule
that
the third column
extent specified
schedule.
this Act the expression
Definitions.
any
other place
house
theatre means
stage
the public performance
resort
playS.
stage play
has the same
The expression
theatres
trative county
of
parts of
Chamberlain to license theatres in
the county of London.
of
TISIES
122
View.
By
�THE AUTHOR.
e
ERE
are a few standing rules to be observed in an
agreement.
There are four methods of dealing
with literary property
I.
Selling it Outright.
This is sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be
obtained.
But the transaction should be managed by a
competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary
of
the Society.
e
of
in
a
in
,
TO
ITTLE
.
of
the Society.
Q e
MUSICAL
COMPOSERS.
sº-0
be
of
It of
to
can be added
the warnings given for the
producers
assistance
books and
dramatic
must, however,
authors.
pointed out that,
rule, the musical publisher demands
from the musical
composer
transfer
fuller rights and less liberal finan
cial terms than those obtained for literary and dramatic
property.
The musical composer has very often the two
rights
deal with performing right and copyright. He
of
a
to
EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the
Secretary of the Society of Authors or some
com
petent legal authority.
2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for
the production of a play with anyone except an established
manager,
-
of
a
WARNINGS
L
AUTHORS.
of
.
of
a
is
a
in
:
a
e
e
TO DRAMATIC
e-Q-0--
to
or
A
in
a
7.
8.
9.
the Secretary
a
WARNINGS
º-0
are referred
as
.
withheld.
tº
(3.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright.
cannot
the words.
Never forget that United States rights may be exceed
ingly valuable.
They should never be included
English.
agreements without the author obtaining
substantiał
consideration.
Agreements
for collaboration
should
be carefully
drawn and executed before collaboration
commenced.
10. An author should remember that production
play
highly speculative
very great risk
that he runs
delay and
breakdown
the fulfilment
his contract,
He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully
beginning.
the
11. An author must remember that the dramatic market,
exceedingly limited, and that for
novice the first object
obtain adequate publication.
As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete, on
account
the wide range
the subject
dramatic con
tracts, those authors desirous of further
information
of
º
(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
print the book
of
:
(1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement
In 622.
IlS.
Authors should remember that performing rights
play are distinct from literary copyright.
manager.
holding the performing right
perform
licence
of
All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four
above mentioned.
Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author.
Never sign any agreement without competent advice from
the Secretary of the Society.
Stamp all agreements with the Inland
Revenue stamp.
Avoid agreements by letter if possible.
The main points which the Society has always demanded
from the OutSet are
5. Authors should remember that performing rights can
be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and,
time.
This is most important.
6. Authors should not assign performing
rights, but
should grant a licence to perform.
The legal distinction
great importance.
is
The Royalty System.
This is perhaps, with certain limitations, the best form
of agreement. "It is above all things necessary to know
what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now
possible for an author to ascertain
approximately
the
truth. From time to time very important figures connected
with royalties are published in The Author.
IV. A Commission Agreement.
The main points are :
(1) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production.
(2) Keep control of the advertisements.
(3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book.
General.
paid in advance of such fees in any event.
It is extremely
important that the amateur rights of one-act plays
should
be reserved.
is is
to
III.
performed.
(c.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to.
perform on the basis of royalties (i.e., fixed
nightly fees). This method should be always.
avoided except in cases where the fees are
likely to be small or difficult to collect.
The
other safeguards set out under heading (b.) apply
also in this case.
4. Plays in one act are often sold outright, but it is
better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum
of
II.
A Profit-Sharing
Agreement (a bad form of
agreement).
In this case the following rules should be attended to :
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro
duction forms a part without the strictest investigation.
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the
profits into his own pocket by charging for
advertisements
in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise
keep
ments.
Therefore
control of the advertisements.
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for office expenses,
unless the same allowance is made to the author.
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental
rights.
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights.
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or
doctor |
3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays
in three or more acts:
(a.) Sale outright of the performing right.
This
is unsatisfactory.
An author who enters into
such a contract should stipulate in the contract
for production of the piece by a certain date.
and for proper publication
of his name on the
play-bills.
(b.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to
perform on the basis of percentages on
grOSS receipts.
Percentages
vary between 5.
and 15 per cent.
An author should obtain a
percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts,
in preference to the American system. Should
obtain a sum in advance of percentages.
A fixed
date on or before which the play should be.
is.
TO THE PRODUCERS
OF BOOKS.
to
WARNINGS
123;
�TFIE A CITISIOR.
MUSICAL COMPOSERS.
TO
HE Society undertakes to stamp
copies of music on
6d. per 100
members for the fee
part
the
100. The members' stamps are kept
Society's Safe. The musical publishers communicate direct
then forwarded
with the Secretary, and the voucher
the members, who are thus saved much unnecessary trouble.
-
or
a
a º- w
wº
VERY
in
by
is
by
a
of
of
fiction, but poetry
of
e
is
Readers are writers
one guinea.
fee
is
possible, under
The
technical and scientific works.
competence and experience.
The
it
M
as
a
not only works
Works, and when
Special arrangement,
º-e
NOTICES.
e
HE Editor
º-0
it
of
be
a
is
to
to
of
remind members
The Author begs
them
sent
the Society that, although the paper
producing
charge, the cost
would
free
great
very heavy charge
the Society
the resources
many members did not forward
the Secretary the modest
5s. 6d. Subscription for the year.
Communications for The Author should be addressed
the Society, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's
the Offices
Gate, S.W., and should reach the Editor not later than the
21st of each month.
any kind,
literary work
All persons engaged
not, are invited
the Society
whether members
the Editor any points connected with their
communicate
the general interest
advisable
would
work which
publish.
a
if
of
to
10. The subscription to the Society is £1 1s. per
annum, or £10 10s. for life membership.
in
be
to
of
or
to
of
in
of
to
it
be
to
be
on
write
requests
who
members
do
not
receive
an
sent
to
important communications
within two days
All remittances should be
him without delay.
of
London, Chancery
crossed Union Bank
by registered letter only.
e
Lane,
or
he
and
answer
be
of
to
of
give notice
the Society begs
The Secretary
post,
that all remittances are acknowledged by return
º-e
LEGAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY.
e-O-0
at
any selected age,
commence
without Life Assurance, can
either with
obtained from this Society.
obtained from the City
Full particulars can
Branch Manager, Legal and General Life Assurance
Society, 158, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
ENSIONS
be
9. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from
referring matters to the Secretary of the Society; so
Members can make their own
do some publishers.
deductions and act accordingly.
accepted.
º-º-º
or
This
Th
return articles which cannot
to
7. No contract should be entered into with a literary
agent without the advice of the Secretary of the Society.
Members are strongly advised not to accept without careful
the contracts with publishers submitted to
consideration
them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit
and explanation to the Secretary
them for interpretation
of the Society.
Communications and letters are invited by the
all subjects connected with literature, but on
Every effort will
made
no other subjects whatever.
Editor
to
documents to be read only by the Secretary,
confidential
who will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers:
(1) To read and advise upon agreements and to give
(2) To stamp agreements
advice concerning publishers.
in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep
agreements.
(4) To enforce payments due according to
agreements.
Fuller particulars of the Society s work
can be obtained in the Prospectus.
be
6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception
of members' agreements and their preservation in a fire
proof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as
to
5. Remember always that in belonging to the Society
you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you
no benefit to yourself, and that you are
are reaping
advancing the best interests of your calling in promoting
the independence of the writer, the dramatist, the composer.
8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements.
must be done within fourteen days of first execution.
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.
and dramatic
on
send
treated
MSS. includes
to
4. Before signing any agreement whatever,
the document to the Society for examination.
greatly assist the Society
the
informing young writers
its work
branch
and
read
be
can
MSS.
Their
of its existence.
composition
The term
coach.
treated
EMBERS will
of
3. Send to the Office copies of past agreements and past
accounts, with a copy of the book represented.
The
Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new
The information thus
or old, for inspection and note.
obtained may prove invaluable.
º-º-º
|
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright
and publishers' agreements do not fall within the experi
Therefore, do not scruple to use
ence of ordinary solicitors.
the Society.
BRANCH,
THE READING
of
member has a right to ask for and to receive
advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his
The
of his property.
business or the administration
Secretary of the Society is a solicitor, but if there is any
special reason the Secretary will refer the case to the
Further, the Committee, if they
Solicitors of the Society.
All this
deem it desirable, will obtain counsel's opinion.
without any cost to the member.
1.
is
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.
e-S-0
to
of
in
of
behalf
of
should be especially careful therefore when entering into
an agreement, and should take into particular consideration
the warnings stated above.
its
124.
�A [Cſ INFIOR.
TFIES
an
GENERAL NOTES.
he
a
to
of
in
is
a
is
at
to
an
be
an
of
is
de
to
of :
no
or
to
to
to
a
.
and rest for the more important, the artistic, side
of his work.
to
:
v.
of
a
It
of v.
by
A
or
is
be
of
of
an
is
2
a
it
of
of
to
of
be
of
a
is
to
of
dramatic copyright.
going
Appeal
As the matter
the Court
we refrain from making
detailed comment.
One
place.
two remarks, however, may not
out
The first point
determined
the date
the first production
each piece,
the date when
each completed piece first came within the baneful
influence
the Copyright Statutes.
When this
question
has been settled,
then remains
infringement
piece
fact whether piece No.
No.
The Judge remarked, when going through
the
there was ample opportunity for
other words, that
was possible
might have seen the play
that author No.
author No.
But there appears
have been
direct evidence
this point.
ample opportunity for
Now direct evidence
leakage might,
case where the infringement
copyright was doubtful,
strong factor
determining
the issue
but
there
clear
that
or
in
a
of
on
1.
to
2
no of
it
in
;
evidence,
leakage
of
no is
a
if a
in
be
;
we
infringement
1.
or
of or
is
of
in
2,
2,
or
1,
a
decided
by
only
or in is
a
at
of
is
submit that there
need
all;
leakage
evidence
other Words, that
always liable.
innocent infringer
The real
difficulty that arises
case
this kind
poem
whether book No.
drama No.
copy
No.
colourable imitation
book
poem No.
No.
drama No.
This can
is
of
an
in
the
Amasis,
be
to
a
is
be
as
of
50
some cases,
the returns.
of interest to all dramatic authors was
Mr. Justice Jelf last month Scholz
infringement
Ld.
was
case
1.
or
an
on
to
to
if
to
be
a
clause, especially when,
publisher takes
per cent.
decided
1, 2,
a on
is
he
to
he
if
is
to a
be
he
a
on
a
the exclusive right
deal with his foreign rights,
agent
his dramatic rights, and his serial rights,
should not
allowed his agency fees under such
LD.
or
be
by
a of it
of
to be
he to
to a
an
agent.
The period over which, under any agree:
ment,
agent draws his fees, and the amount
possible,
his fées, should,
limited.
contract the author allows the publisher
CASE
AMASIS,
of
as in
a
be
in
a
be
a
in
on
the agent should not
allowed
draw his fees
the other books unless the further transaction,
with the author's consent, passes through
his
hands.
The mere fact that
has allowed the author
show he
bad
sign such
clause tends
SCHOLZ
an
is
be
is
an
a
If
an
to
be
he
a
be
an
in
to
the author under that agreement
the agent alone
entitled
settle
disputes arising under that agreement.
very careful when an
An author should
agent, who
not his regular agent, approaches
publisher, for
him with
offer from
that
acting merely
case
the agent may
the
publisher's tout.
many cases,
The agent
must
said with
regret, acts for the benefit
the publisher, and
difficulty
placing
prefers the easier solution
publisher with whom
contract with
friendly terms, than trying
can obtain
better market elsewhere.
No agent should
allowed
bind the author
for
settled period
take the author's work
should
allowed
obtain his fees on any contract
beyond the one
actually fixes
author's
behalf.
contract there
clause binding the
author
offer other books
the same publisher,
That
If
is
to
a
a
an
is,
a
1.
publisher:
That the agent alone can collect the monies
It
essential to many authors, if they are
the best price for their work, the best
and numerous markets, but an author's
agent, in order to do his best for the author, must
be in a position of great trust.
therefore, much more important that the
It
author should supervise with the greatest care and
stringency
agent than
contract with
contract
publisher.
with
No agent should
allowed such
hold over
the author's property that
can destroy his
market.
No agent should
allowed
insert
agreement between author and
clause
absolutely
a
to
lisher
to obtain
contracts,
2.
bad agent, that
has allowed the pub
do his work and the unfortunate author
pay
double fee, first
the publisher, and,
Secondly,
himself.
book, fails
An agent, too, who, when brought
give full information
return MSS. and then
responsibility beyond
Writes
We assume
accounting
that
the author
the event
sales,
Vere, not one
like Lady Clara Were
to be desired.
These are some
the reasons, shortly stated,
why
author must
most careful about his
dealings and contracts with
agent.
We make
these statements as certain matters in their usual
cycle have again become prominent.
the same time almost unnecessary
good agent
state that
often essential, may
double
author's income, and leave him time
he
AGENTS.
to
author
ONCE again it is necessary to call the attention
of the members of the society to the position of
authors agents.
Authors' agents are no doubt
due
to
agent has allowed the
The mere fact that
assign this exclusive right tends
show
º-º-º
AUTHORS
125
those who have read both and
�in
to
to
in
a
by
if
a
and larger
royalties
higher
to
of
in
of
the society may remember that
MEMBERS
November the Pension Fund Committee awarded
pension
Mrs.
£25 per annum
the rate
of
in
of
of
of
to
of
of
of
of
a
A
an
of
of
A.
a of
of
in
on
of to
a
as
to
in
of
of
an
an
a
of
on
a
à
à
of
well-known metropolitan magistrate and humorist,
the
Comic
other things,
who wrote, among
England, and the Quizziology
History
the
the original staff
British Drama, and was one
He was born sixty-four years ago and
Punch.
that excellent old Eastern County
educated
eighteen
School, Felstead, whence
the age
of
he
of
at
a
of of
to
by
?
in
2
to
sitting
Have they
they to use
in
no
of
If
is
it
say
the distressing circumstances
whom had heard
operation had become necessary,
under which
sadness was caused by
additional note
while
with
the fact that his death nearly synchronized
his elder son.
India
the marriage
Beckett was the member of
Arthur William
good grounds
family
claiming
descent
Wiltshire
He was
Beckett.
St. Thomas
from the father
Beckett,
the
Gilbert Abbott
the third son
of
of of of
of
so
to
is
if
as
of
of
it
is
to
Will
Thursday,
Beckett,
whose death occurred
January 14,
St. Thomas's
the Home attached
great shock
Hospital. The news came
Mr.
Beckett's friends and acquaintances, few
a.
of
It
is
it
is
or
to
us
to
What have the publishers
regret the loss
old and
have
prominent
the Society
member
Mr.
W.
the person
Authors
of
at
be
to
in It
of
to
of
growing
one
colonial sales
The question
English authors.
importance
the English
energy and enterprise,
publishers, through lack
the
are being ousted from the colonial markets
time that the English
American publishers,
his business
made some alteration
author
methods.
BECKETT.
sº-º
to
a
E
;
t
is
be
;
a
a
is
so
is
E.
A.
as
in
;
In
4
WILLIAM
ARTHUR
of
a
Life.
Gentle
in
of
of
OP-e
of
a
very much needed from the reader's
great deal that
point
view.
coming in, and
last the
New books will shortly
the best
have specimens
will
able
libraries
has been thought that we were
American literature.
reality our choice has been con
amply supplied
but
one
two men, and the freedom
trolled by the edicts
the way
choice has been abolished altogether.
say that
not the fault
and we hasten
trade
individuals, but the perfectly normal working
the absurd
many sheep.
system which judges for
all
we were
single
see that
While that lasts, our only chance
flood our markets with rubbish and
man has power
high-class work.
exclude the smallest specimens
make
take
The
record
his life. One
Reminiscences, pub
book
In the
Sixties
the title
-
of
in
:
WE print the following cutting from the Australian
paper, Z'he Book Lover
push
The American publishers have taken the matter
ing their goods into the Australian markets very seriously
special
large editions
of late. Besides the selling
books,
number
firms have appointed Messrs. Nott and
represent
Ramsay
Woodd
their agents, and Mr.
Among those firms who have
ing them
Melbourne.
Co.;
Dodd,
Century
Mead and
acted may be mentioned the
Little, Brown and Co.; Chas.
Co.; Harper and Bros.
Sons,
team which might
etc. This looks like
Scribner's
proposals
colloquial phrase
or
author
1898 she published
her last Works was
1905, under
lished
and the Seventies.
well-known
SALES.
COLONIAL
a
Authors
it
of
of
authors.
the Society
The dramatic committee
now for the first time.
sees
of
16
Myall (Laura Hain Friswell) under clause
By this clause the
the Pension Fund Scheme.
pension
and while
committee may grant
totally incapacitated
for work, even
member
though
she has not attained the age limit.
the last few days
state that
We regret
that illness which
1908 Mrs. Myall succumbed
had stopped her from pursuing her literary labours.
Mrs. Myall she wrote under her maiden name
the
Laura Hain Friswell was the daughter
to
of
to
to
or
representative
interesting
know whether the
any
was drafted, was submitted
gathering
dramatic
committee
sales.
MYALL.
MRS.
he
be
it
would
JBill, before
any
try and
good thing for authors
with some enterprising houses
Africa, Australia, New Zealand,
obtaining
direct they
contract
at
A.
E.
R.
on
be
1908.
-do
be
It
and see
cannot obtain
a
of
in
by
by
to
P.
is
would
get into touch
Canada, South
of
The Author
another column
WE publish
the Censorship, which
the Bill for the Abolition
Mr.
Vernon Harcourt, and
was introduced
W.
Mr.
the following names
backed
Mason, Sir Gilbert Parker, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr.
O'Connor, and Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, and
T.
printed
the 17th December,
was ordered
to
be
of
it.
of
We cannot discuss the evidence, not only for the
reason stated, that the case is going to the Appeal
*Courts, but also for the better reason that as yet
we have not had an opportunity of carefully
digesting
the society
All dramatic members
the appeal with anxiety.
will await the result
It
appears that their organisation
the colonies
judge from the accounts
very defective,
must
the office.
that come
if
literary and legal acumen to weigh
have sufficient
the facts.
CITISIOR.
It
A
TISIE
126
�AICTEIOR,
in
in
of
at
of
in
of
of
a.
of
of
In
of
he
as
a
he
of
to
a
he
of
byis
in
of
all
at
as
its
of
to
as
of
in
as
of
is
it
to
I
of
in
I
of
is
it
to
I
to
of
on
of is
to
be
in
at
to
of
a
we
of
of
an
It
is
of
ways his desire
remain
one
the Society, even while
present constituted.
American copyright law,
therefore imperatively necessary that
those
concerned with the business should study the
question and, being convinced
urgency,
may appear
should take such action
them
safeguard their various interests.
the likeliest
Emphatically am convinced that
high time
the attitude and probable action
the authors,
primal
factors
this business, were known.
Investigation has convinced me that,
the three
main bodies
men concerned
British book pro
duction authors, publishers, printers and men
allied trades certain amongst the two latter bodies
will shortly propose definite and drastic action.
Of the probable course
this action
shall speak
later
meantime
shall give, broadly, my reasons
for thinking that
the duty, and very much
authors,
the interest,
make haste and join
the leaders of the other two bodies of men.
Copyright,
measure for the safeguarding
precisely
author's interests,
all fours with
Patent,
protection for the inventor;
measure
this connexion, certain recent legislation suggests
reflection,
too obvious
call for more than
suggestion.
U.S.A., pre-copyright days were
moderate, and say whole
the days
sale annexation.
But even
those primitive
times, certain American publishers recognised that
us
all
a
in
of
of
of
A.
of of
all
in
possible
with the main objects
business
book production
Great
being more and
Britain and the Empire
more seriously affected
the working
of
upon the
HE
of
1890, he was elected almost immediately,
motion of his friend, the late Mr. J. M. Lely, a
member of the managing committee, upon which
he sat without intermission
for seventeen years,
serving for a time as vice-chairman a post since
abolished as unnecessary.
He was a member for
varying periods of the copyright sub-committee,
the pension fund committee, and the dramatic sub
committee, and ungrudgingly responded to the
calls upon his time which
this entailed.
His
associates
the society throughout his long official
colleague who was
tale
work found
him
alike industrious, adaptable and tactful, and
recording our sense
take this opportunity
the
open Secret that
value
his services.
during recent discussions which arose among those
then responsible for the government
the society.
Mr.
Beckett considered eventually that Wrong
counsels prevailed.
He attended, however, meetings
both
the committee and council after the differ
opinion had been made public, and showed
ence
º-º-º
as
Mr. a Beckett's connection with the Society of
Authors was a long one. Joining the Society in
COPYRIGHT.
let In
Aſagazine.
º-e
BRITISH AUTHORS AND AMERICAN
a
(1891 1895) he found time to edit the Sunday
Times, in which he also wrote copiously.
His
early connection with the War Office gave him
particular interest in military affairs, and he was
for a short time editor of the Naval and Military
-
e
as
had a chance -wrote a novel, and at least one
play.
In 1870 he was sent to the seat of the
Franco-German
war as special correspondent to
the Standard and Globe, his knowledge of war
being derived from keen work both in the militia
and the volunteers.
On his return he became
private secretary to the then Duke of Norfolk, and
in 1874 joined the staff of Punch, of which he
remained a member for no less than twenty-eight
years, acting as assistant editor to Sir Francis
Burnand. Among his most successful contribu
tions to Punch was a series called Papers from
Pump-handle Court, the topical knowledge being
due to the fact that he was now called to the bar.
During these years he wrote four or five novels
and several plays, which duly made their appear
ance in West End theatres, while for five years
of
and edited another
In
started
:
called the Glowworm,
small paper called the Britannia- these
were the
days when small individual efforts in journalism
It
Office, and even in these early
is
ferred to the Post
days the hereditary instinct towards literature began
to tell. He proceeded to dabble in journalism, wrote
a comic guide to the Royal Academy in collabora
tion with his brother Gilbert, edited a small paper
differing,
company with other members, from the
pursued
certain instances.
He welcomed
cordially the reconstitution
the society which
took place recently, and
the bringing about
which he had no small share.
Mr.
Beckett was also
different
times
president
and chairman
the council
the
Institute
Journalists and president
the News
paper Society.
journalist, author,
his many capacities
dramatist,
littérateur,
affairs,
and man
showed great activity and versatility, and possessed
bright and varied qualities which served him well
throughout
long and hard-working life.
private
was
well-known club man, with much
say
that was amusing and piquant
the very
many interesting
people
had been intimate
with during his career.
Course
an
obtained a clerkship in the War Office.
After
three years' service in the War Office he was trans
127
in
TISIES
�TRIES A. LITISIOR.
in
to
up
in
set
it
;
if
to
of
1.
in a
of
It
be
is
no
it
be
to
an in
a
of
at
of
by
in
of
to
of
in
of
to
or
a
of
of
in
to
be
a
by
I
is,
as
or
to
If
is
of
in
it
to
;
;
in
on
of
so
;
in
is
to
of
"
as
of
is
in
its
of
book-production,
the business
concerned
recognise them also.
The trade unions, rank and
file, are becoming aware
this steady and growing
work and wages; and the present trouble,
loss
shortly
together with its only possible remedy,
of
it
it
be
to
book-production
with
British workmen goes
ever-increasing momentum.
Here, then,
Unless past
the central problem.
ultimate
eventuate
and present damage
disaster, there can
but one solution, we must
square deal
have open competition the
President Roosevelt or equal laws.
the only
Certain publishers recognise these
possible alternatives.
Certain printers, and others
be
to
)
is
of
of
by
of
in
all
to
It
of
to it
of
do
of
in
to
the technical branches, and
also workers
science; the infinitely patient, who devote their
research work, mayhap invaluable
lives
Upon
the meritorious obscure.
kind in short,
these, who most deserve and need protection and
encouragement, this law presses with the most
relentless severity.
presses upon these, because
the expense,
";
are
the Americans
best man win
the open
our men are
entrenched and armed
and, under present conditions, defenceless.
rivals have wit enough
Our transatlantic
more
these conditions aforesaid
make the most
type, paper
and more they study English taste
British
and
the loss
and the rest
is
an
in
if
of
;
found,
our colonial markets.)
On the commercial and industrial side, these
necessarily and inevitably drive the
complications
many instances,
British author and publisher,
large proportion
simply
British
hand over
America. Here, the Publishers Associa
books
ready
believe,
list
draw up
tion would,
part
British authors, wholly
British books,
produced beyond the Atlantic.
Certain master
my certain knowledge, can unfold
printers also,
steady and growing loss
British work.
tale
being
producing British books
So, the work
given more and more
American workmen.
Our own men and our rivals worked on level terms,
Sportsman
business-man would say, Let the
in
of
is
is
of
of
4,
to
in
it
yet amongst them are
raiding
to to
of
of
a
of
by
in
as
5.
is or
notoriety
likely, the most faithful and painstaking workers:
imaginative literature;
maybe the coming giants
tection, not only
his own country, but through
the simple and quite
out the British Empire,
registering
inexpensive business
Stationers
Hall, and fulfilling other simple conditions.
healthy
things,
course, gives
(This state
impetus
American book-production, and accounts,
amongst many other things, for their successful
of
It
It
of
3.
4.
so
to
in
a
on
A
2.
the production
substantial proportion
commanding
the
both sides
sale
America, and
being
Atlantic has been done
greater and greater extent.
done
has given the American author copyright
throughout the British Empire, irrespective
the
country wherein his copyright
manufactured.
improved the
course, materially
has,
position
his own country,
the American author
greatly checking,
end
not altogether putting
popular
reprints
to, the issue
unauthorised
British books.
(Referring
course, even now, popular
very well
authors who command big royalties
Incidentally, the popular author
both countries.
commanding his
any case
does very well
pre-copyright days, such
home market even as,
Thackeray, Scott, Byron, George
Dickens,
Eliot, and the rest did very well. But
Where the present law bears once again,
mildly with gross injustice, and while
put
bear,
upon the rank
prevails will continue
These have not fame,
British authors.
and file
books
promptly issued
worth reprinting,
America, giving him
would
return.
striking list that
British
extensive and
this manner: no doubt the
books annexed
Authors Society could easily furnish the same. On
the other hand, the American author gains pro
out
of
a
to
in
it
as
It
1.
of
is,
in
substantially as it exists to-day, was passed.
This law, the best say, the only thing we
could get, embodies the notorious industrial clause,
which provides that before a British author can
get copyright in U.S.A. his book must be set up
There are, of
in type by American workmen.
upon British authors.
course, other restrictions
At the outset, however, I want to emphasise the
mischief wrought upon us by this industrial clause.
Firstly, it is the worst we have to bear ; and
secondly, any author who cannot
or will not
recognise the mischief, and do his part in curing
my opinion, past praying for. Now, the
it
this American Copyright
direct consequences
Act, with its industrial clause, were mainly
these :
was not before, for
became possible,
America.
obtain copyright
British author
getting
delay and infinite complexity involved
America, according
this
their work
utterly inequitable law.
Here, the position bristles with technicalities;
broadly speaking, however, the practical
results
are perfectly clear.
these complex obstructions
They are, chiefly
afford American
The author, not being able
copyright, leaves his book unprotected
turns
2.
prevailing conditions savoured somewhat of free
booting : these, to their lasting honour, extended to
British authors certain courtesy rights, the fruits
of which appeared in, occasional, considerable
Ultimately, after some fifty odd years of
returns.
agitation, in 1891 the American Copyright Law,
a
128
�A UTISIOR,
or
is
he
3
is
to
of
by
is
as
as
in
to or
he
to
If
in
on
If
of
12
on
a
it
be
of
I.
of
of
a
is
of
be
of of
to
It
as
to
us
of
is
It of
of
of
as
a
to
I
or
of
to
It
a
in
it
as
a
The agreement's signed the profits we divide,
just decision.
half
each applaud
Christmastide,
all
Publisher Peace and goodwill
Surely
'twixt you and me there's no
division.
Author
at
to
a
to
A
:
of
do
recalls
We print
for various reasons.
later
little verse that was printed
our mind
number, which ran somewhat
follows:
:
to
of
in
to
E
7
V
V
I
lisher, said
letters the other day,
man
well-known
therefore,
The remark and
have not joined the society.
look
common disposition
the inference alike illustrate
patch
one which exists for the purpose
on the Society
grievances
creating
quarrels
ing up
with
and
even
course, only one
publishers.
well
not the case,
That
persons
repeating the fact.
nigh tired
suits certain
hostility
keep
regard
this delusion
with natural
who
such,
The Society has no quarrel with publishers
alive.
maintains continually that the
and never has had any.
literature are solid, and
services which publishers render
must be substantially paid for. The Society exists, however,
maintaining
mainly for the purpose
the rights, the
literary property.
Therefore
sacredness and the reality
supported
fights the battle
all authors, and should
by all who approve
its principles.
it
in of
to
.
.
.
to
as
a
to
in
pen
to
he
to
on
by
12
is
13
to
6%
as
is
It
be
a
If
is
º-º-º
through
glancing
happened
the
pages
Wol.
The Author, and came
across the following paragraph from the
our founder
have never yet had any disagreement with my pub
of
on
on
a
a
to
he
to
7
is
this kind.
statement
quite clear from the wording
the clauses
above that publishers are well aware
referred
not
the results, and that they
the difference
no excuse for
to
in
be
to
to
13 On
all
Q 0
TO BE OR NOT TO BE.
at
in
on
be
to
to
in
in
as
on
to
in
...
copies and
regard
the difference between
say the
computed, we beg
which your royalty
the booksellers,
odd copies are not sold but given away
copies, and we give
buy
order
induce them
12.
and
the booksellers
There
at
to
he
is
a
it
be
of
On
he
of
to to
he
is
e
is
as
to
A
the following instance.
publisher entered into
with an
contract
royalty
every copy
pay
author and agreed
rendering the royalty accounts
sold, but
took
the whole number sold, deducted the thirteenth
copies, and paid the royalties
the lower figure.
this method,
The author naturally objected
letter the publisher
remonstrated
and when
replied
follows:
With
on
as
to
6%
A
7
he
a
is
is
to
the author chooses
December Author, 1907.)
responsible for the consequent
sign, then
alone
depreciation
He must, however,
his income.
circumstances, having signed the agreement
every copy sold,
royalty
receive
that
copies out
13.
content
receive
the accounts are rendered on this basis he had
the papers before the society.
better place
as
be
as ; a
of on
a is
;
of
to
an
by
on
to
of
to
It
as
11
undertake
the clause running,
every copy sold.
per cent.
some
This custom has been broken through
make
the younger publishers, who desired
the older houses
and some
extra percentage
The new method
have followed their example.
every copy sold, with
pay
percentage
proviso
the clause running some
the wording
In estimating the royalty on
follows:
what
copies sold thirteen copies shall
reckoned
twelve.
manifest from these two arrangements that
clearly
publishers
the
difference
understood
every copy sold,
between paying the royalty
what
whatever quantities they were sold and
thirteen
ever price, and paying the royalties
apparent
copies
the
This would
twelve.
meanest capacity, but particular attention has been
the different form
the point and
drawn
order
elucidate the position
the agreement
wording
no
pay
publishers
book sold, the
be
of on
used to be the custom of
every copy
royalties
pay
.
a
10
ACCOUNTS.
to
º-º-º
a
RENDERING
ON
T
º-0
of all
e
of
I
to
I
is
I
I
129
being given away,
reckon the thirteenth copy
pay
every copy
when they undertake
customer, buying oranges, when
Sold.
for 1d.,
for 2d., supposing the price
offered
given the extra orange,
does not reckon that
him
that price
but that the Oranges are sold
taking
quantity.
The publisher's
because
order
avoid pay
mere quibble
answer
the royalty.
ment
bring
possible
hoped that
will
the judge
this point into Court. The opinion
interesting.
and jury would
add
further remark about
We should like
cutting down the author's royalty.
this method
asking
counteract the loss
The only way
the author would usually
for higher royalty.
every copy sold
per cent.
get
should get
12,
copies being reckoned
per cent.
sign the agreement.
(Full details
refuse
the
were printed
the different percentages
7
to be definitively stated to certain associations of
workmen.
shall have more to say of
Granted permission,
am aware, authors as a body, or
So far as
this.
even singly, have not as yet testified in this, their
recognised organ, where they stand as regards this
vital and urgent affair. As said in the beginning,
they are the primal factors in the business of book
production ; and it is high time they were heard
trust I have said enough to induce at
from.
least some expression of opinion on their part, an
expression to my mind distinctly overdue.
HERBERT C. MACILWAINE.
It
TISIES
�THE AUTHOR,
of
is,
of
at
a
in
on on
as
to
20
be
if,
a
10
a
on
if
of
an
do or
an
he
to
all
in
to
-
an
of
it.
he
to
is
in
be
a
of
it
is
to
of
In
the case
dramatists this gift
exclusive.
perform
licence
more disastrous still.
When
manager gets holds
once
does not let
go, and the piece may practically
killed all over
the world save
the one West End theatre where
the actor-manager exhibits himself.
The ignorance
of the dramatist
fatal
his success.
or
The musical publisher takes from the composer
such
his business capacity,
rather rapacity
both his copyright and performing right, for
profitable.
much music the double right
book the primary right
course copyright.
theatrical piece the primary right
course
performing right, but
musical composition the
side, and might bring
two often exist side
large sums
practically marketed.
the composer
book,
To the ignorant author, whether
drama,
piece
music,
should
essential
in
In
In a
is
of
is
is
of
of
a
be
it
of of
a
of
if
in
byin
a
to
a
of
join the ranks
Every
his fellow members.
author with
little understanding can gauge his
knowledge.
own ignorance
The buyer
horse does not purchase without the certificate
veterinary surgeon, nor the purchaser
motor
expert.
car without the opinion
When
first made the quotation from Vol.
The Author
was not our intention
write more
than
few words, but the subject started
Sir
Walter Besant and his lucid remarks, not all
which are contained
the paragraph, brought
thought
fresh train
what unfortunately
not
every author, dramatist,
composer,
self
evident proposition.
of a
to
I.
of
y
an
of
a
of
or
of
a
by
it
we
a of
%
a
or
is
on in
of
The following case came to the notice of the
Secretary: A novelist who had been a member for
Some years was at length persuaded by a friend to
place his contracts for review.
The terms he was
receiving were quite absurd.
This was pointed
out to him.
He in turn pointed it out to the
publisher.
As he was able to bring some pressure
to bear by a threat to remove his books, he was in
rather a strong position.
The publisher doubled
his royalties.
easy conscience.
is
from an American publisher or editor.
It is
a cheap investment if he gets the amount for
£1 1s. a year. With a composer the matter is even
of greater importance, for music is a universal
Piracy and infringement is therefore
language.
so much easier.
For selfish, as well as altruistic reasons, therefore,
the author who knows ought to become a member.
For the author who does not know the reasons
importance.
are of greater
There are many
authors making a pretty income by their work,
who are in absolute ignorance of the true value of
literary property.
This sometimes occurs even
with writers of fiction.
outside the mere publication
the British Empire,
give
and consequently
their rights
so,
publish when asked
exclusive licence
and the publisher takes what
can get with
a
1. Authors that know the value of their property
and the nature and variety of the rights they
possess.
2. Those authors who don t.
If the first do not join the society they ought to
for the following reasons: Firstly, the altruistic and
unselfish reason that they ought, by their support,
to strengthen the position of their less fortunate
By their less fortunate is not
fellow craftsmen.
meant, those who flood the market
with their
illiterate effusions, but those who turn out good
work with but poor return.
Bacon put this point
in a more practical way when he said, Every man
is a debtor to his own profession.
Secondly, the practical reason that though they
have no dispute with their own pet publisher, yet
their property may be attacked by thieves and
pirates, of whom they have but little knowledge.
sé1 1s. a year insurance Inay save them from £100
law costs when the crisis comes. This fact becomes
more self-evident year by year.
A dramatist has his work pirated on the
Continent.
He thinks twice before he enters into
a long and costly lawsuit.
While he is thinking
his property has gone.
A writer of books, or
contributor to magazines, cannot get his money
I
a
I
to
I
case no charge was brought against the
He had made no false assertions as.
unfortunately
sometimes occurs when publishers
My reader reports favourably on your MS.,
write,
and
am ready to publish it on the payment of
3.150.
He had merely made a good bargain.
This author then had no dispute with his
publisher,
but was merely ignorant of cost of
production, publishers' profits, and literary values.
however, much more.
The ignorant author
frequently found
the ranks
technical writers,
and among those who write more solid books.
larger.
These books are generally published
price compared with the cost
production
than
fiction, and are almost always published net.
works
Many think that they are dealt with liberally
they get #50,
per cent. royalty
£1 1s.
looking
net book, and would
astonished
through the returns, they were told that the book
They are
per cent.
could have easily paid
ignorant, too,
the many rights that exist
In this
publisher.
a
That was no doubt merely meant as a jest, but
there is a more serious side to the author's original
remark,
have never yet had any disagreement
with my publisher, therefore
have not joined the
society.
This remark is still made, and will pro
bably continue to be made so long as human
nature remains the same.
There are two kinds of authors:
to
130
�THE AUTHOR.
choose
:
of
an
to
to
in
to
to
be
to
to
Is
it
2
of
of
to
of is
it
of
as
if
de
la
to
In
of
is
to
is
to
be
a
of
be
to
of
it
a
of
as
it
is
to
at to
all
of of
to
in
at
to
no
distinguish the various
less necessary
which these novels appeal.
present running
half
Are the serials
penny prints, and (whatsoever may
their merits
also
classes
be
to
was all before them where
to
or
of
in
!
of
it
of is
of
:
a
is
it
of
of
this dominant
the fact that for those
be
It
of
in
;
of
all
It
a
if
In
no
is
by
of
;
of
in
be
is
to
The world
found
a
so
is
in
all
is
as
a
a
phenomenon
who came first
A
as
;
to to
be
a
to
of
Hypnerotomachia Pamphili.
partial explanation
Possibly
sup
novels than might
smaller number
only
posed survives
fraction survives
decade
century.
the work.
not entirely the fault
Sir Walter Scott remarked very justly that after
rightly understood requires
fifty years
novel
demands
does not require notes,
Or
notes.
state
the reader some such knowledge
only Well-informed
society that has passed away
consequence
people possess.
obtain anything
resembling
the actual situation
lucid view
distinguish novels
not only requisite first
very various merit published
the same date, but
a
of
us
in
of
is
It
2
by
Indeed,
soon reached
best
the
that
on.
pro
phenomenon dominant
appears
vinces connected with letters. No document
Babylonian tablet.
The Script
indestructible
the
the oldest inscriptions and manuscripts
The Mazarine Bible still remains
handsomest.
letterpress
and
an unrivalled example
printer has ever produced pages and type
more
the
beautiful proportions than those presented
unjust.
of
him. Quintilian opined Lyricorum
Had time, and
Horatius fere solus legi dignus.
the works
the Byzantine monks, spared
Terpander and
the other early Greek lyric poets,
them things not surpassed
should we have found
certain that the poetess who can
Pindar
and
make her appearance
rival Sappho has still
appear.
No Englishman
seems very unlikely
And so
Milton.
has written such blank verse
wever equalled
to
is
of
as
to
of
to
Italos.
is
it
is
to
it
of
so
to
ad
of
in
of
of
ofin
of a
of
modos,
Deduxisse
an
in
by
to
its
it
of
to
Princeps Aeoleum carmen
be
any phenomenon
some reason, not yet
every literary
explained, the superlatively best
very
appearance
Greece
soon.
form makes
rival the Iliad; nor,
never produced anything
any
any work
indeed, has
been approached
which are
the Western literatures, all
one
essentially offshoots
the supreme Homeric torrent
spreading itself
the divergent winding streams
No Greek dramatist
delta.
and backwaters
the Orestea. No Roman lyric
the height
rose
Horace,
Successor
For
by
regarding
of
is
of
a
reasonable way
literary production.
is of
on
the
in
the standard,
English novel has been certainly
the down
grade since February 28, 1749. But this
not
on
In to
to
it
is
to
is
If
of
court.
will put him out
Tom Jones
be
be
in
or to
to
at
he
to
say,
Because, sad
one that
ten
consequence
detractor has not read Fielding.
entangle him
once proceed
will
of which
conceal his ignorance, which
efforts either,
self
justify his neglect, which
impossible,
will
authors whose writings are adduced
the works
all
their successors are
shame the labours
represented
they
perfect
This
be.
are
cases
such novelists
the very greatest,
does not apply
Fielding and Cervantes.
But Sir Walter Scott
difficult entirely
would
has certain longueurs.
exaggeration and playing
exonerate Dickens
And will any one defend her eyes
the gallery.
many
different to,
almost tears,
were full
opprobrious epithets
the English and French
speech are
language,
all which flowers
possible
find the
Pendennis
found
any novelist
parallels
the pages
these
careful about his style
1908 who
But many are disgracefully careless. You
average.
must judge
Oh, but there were novelists
who were not
Scotts nor Thackerays even when Scott and
Thackeray
instructive
And
were living
fifty years ago
peruse
fiction
the fly-leaves
They
the day.
the novels
the press notices
exactly
notices;
press
generous,
are
those
are
many press notices now.
what they said
And
lettre those stories
taken au pied
was
They are not. Their
ought still
favourites.
find
often difficult
and
titles are forgotten
any one who can say who the authors were.
But
Dickens
these writers were the contemporaries
effect, the
count.
and Thackeray and ought
being written to-day with
comparison
that
fifty and more years ago
the exceptional work
essentially
survive
which has been found worthy
be
.
the
as
is,
it permitted to have doubts - regarding the
decadence of the novel ?
Where are your Dickens, your Thackerays,
immediately
the
retorts
and your Scotts P
impugner of contemporary fiction.
To which the best reply
to to
TS
And Fieldings P
and they chose the best. Afterwards their less
fortunate successors had either to tell the same
story,
take what the
use the same form,
first comers had prudently eschewed. But seeing
the best
this phenomenon
how far-reaching
evidently always
being very soon reached,
easy thing for anyone who wishes
insist upon
prove his point.
literary decadence
question whether
open
At the same time
to
THE DECADENCE OF THE NOVEL.
- º-º-º
131
�A UITISIOR.
bybe
a
in at
If
to
in
a
is
to
is
if
a
to
if
be
if
no no
of
byno
a
of
to
be
to
is
at
no
of
a do
do
no
of
be
of
a
of
is
as
a
a
a
of
a
B,
it
of
of
A.
of
of
and 500
1,500
and,
same
be
a
of
of
A,
;
It
is
as
of
on
is
no
a
of
work
to
*
coolly sets
to
reduced from
2 #,*/
he
of be
in
if
he a
of
in
write
viduals; just
Sequence
of
of
of a
to
is
committing literary
place
two novels
one
novel,
suicide.
The time necessary
write
and still more the all-important period
incuba
any story,
tion that must precede the invention
very different
will
the case
different indi
the final result will differ
con
their different abilities.
But no writer
in
is
500
upon
novels; not
Next the author does the
Publishing three
noted, with
far less excuse.
one,
above, means only spend
books instead
ing rather more
composition.
true that
the modification
one that leads to sinister effects
upon percentages
gain, more capital being
Wested
earn the same return.
But
man
has the capital, and particularly when
can
invest the same capital thrice successively
three
merely
small ventures, the result may
con
siderably increased production
books with
But,
very great corresponding
extra expenditure.
copy
the author who, because
finds the value
of
as
a
to
do
volumes,
taking the place
in
is
it
to
of
so
be
do
that, the
and 500
y
an
he
to
to
do
is
It
In
If
the public would
necessarily
to
be
to
be
to
is
a
to
to
of
offered them.
profit
That multiplies the output
as
to
if
;
to
it
to
as
A
is
paper, printing, and binding,
prices that
once have been considered impossible,
these prices may still not
small
publisher could wish.
fact, none
the pre
liminary expenses are very serious. But
sell the
book demands genius.
Books
not sell them
selves; publishers wish they would.
Nor will the
public part with their money for any book that
Cost
Would
though
One.
three novels instead
by
is
of
it
of
be
to
is
And
one
the gifts
nature
humanity
or,
scramble for halfpence
the coin
any larger worth,
scramble with propor
tionately keener ardour.
accepted
That has
accepted, howsoever
the viper's sting
has
much
hadn t ought
be.
publisher
man who hopes
make
income by bringing out books.
To
that
has
get the copy, and afterwards
purchase
first
paper,
pay the printer and binder, and this last
the rub to sell the books.
said that there
are people who will give away copy; and
cer
tain that mechanical inventions have reduced the
beautiful.
Of
in
I
of to
be
it
be
of
it
no
of
its by
In
Don Quixote Marcela justly excuses her
self for having turned the head
Grisostomo
remarking,
As the viper deserves
blame for
sting, although
mortal, because
the gift
nature, neither ought
reviled for being
on
it
to is
to it
it
to
be.
of
C,of
of
or
be
to
it
is.
is,
but hadn t ought
to
no
in
to
a
is
it
as
be
It
of
of
a
be
is
if
to
is
it
as
gravitation
and magnetism, and, whether
not,
What any one would wish
has
accepted
help
say,
Neither does
doubt offer the com
first-class scholar,
cut out" the other
Well, the public
not want the Rig-Veda.
And they
want
certain number
novels.
How many they want
one knows.
But they
cheaper rates.
Would like them
This also
piece with the viper's sting and Marcela's
gift
beauty,
nature.
But
matter how
manipu
ingeniously the cost
production may
lated,
ruthlessly diminished
the selling-price
the bidding
furious competition, the actual
vanishing point.
Many
profits tend towards
Small profits now become the remedy for shrinking
returns; and the publisher plays for
profit
be
of
to
of
no
a
be
of
or
Now,
quarrel with human nature.
useless
phenomenon
Human nature
the same kind.
the original, the pub
Rig
sell them the
thousands;
hundreds
a
of
to
or
so
Here we probably touch the secret
the
Undeniably
decadence,
there
decadence.
the conditions favour decadence.
And the condi
justly charged against either
tions are not
They are
publishers.
authors
small degree
results of human nature.
-
wanted the Rig-Veda
delighted
lishers would
any number
Veda up
and some publisher would
plete Sanscrit text, edited
for fourpence-halfpenny to
publishers.
of
of
a
If
vendor observed
the present writer
there
were only one
two
these weekly penny fiction
periodicals they would
gold mine.
But there
many that they are
any one.
are
value
And since then the competition for the penny
cheap weekly fiction has certainly not
the reader
diminished.
at
at
by
is
;
it
of
to
a
public
about the same intellectual level.
There were then
far fewer publications
this
kind
and
now many years since
news
Every author
situation would become too sunny.
would bring out his own works, and there would
publishers.
But the public will purchase,
means generously,
their expectations have
they can
persuaded (no
been properly tickled,
matter how) that they are going
have
little
more than their money's worth for their money,
and, this
the chief thing,
the humour takes
purchase
problem
them.
What they ought
for the critic, not for the publisher.
What they
supply
will purchase the publisher desires
the
profit.
largest quantity saleable
the public
Q?
a
by
at
of
is
all
or demerits) devoured with avidity by a certain
class of readers, inferior to the tales in the Penny
Penny
Readers
of fifty years ago 2 Those
Readers had a public. Had they not had one
they would not have been published.
It seems not
improbable
at
that their publishers reaped
larger profit than
present reaped
the pub
lishers
the penny fiction
the present day offered
3
TISIES
132
�A UITISIOR.
in
of
of
of
;
by
at
v.
it
it.
do
a
to
or
in
of
in
of to
to
It
understand the mental attitude
he
to
to
at
;
to
is
it
a of
as
and others who gave testimony
they appreciated
said.
their own pen
their own style and the value
they ought
have recognised those points
others;
they did not, then their little minds
This
could not rise above the level of cash value.
be
if
to
in
of
but little
If
the editors
to
Of
there
do
to
of
is
with the
the way, and has nothing
Literary Year Book.
the Copyright Laws has been
The epitome
so is
it
it
a
so
to as
as
carefully and accurately done, and
far
possible within twenty-three pages
deal with
subject,
been dealt with satis
far has
vast
factorily.
The very contentious Section XVIII.
fairly explained, but will this explanation convey
the minds of the uninitiated
much
Right"
The Assignment
The paragraph
possible that the perusal
studied.
should
the unstudied
will carry any information
assert strongly that the
We should like
reader
print and publish
grant
exclusive licence
assignment
totally distinct
the
law from
copyright.
point out
well also
would have been
clearly
the article dealing with the Fine Art
Copyright the danger
the artist's rights falling
deduced
into the public domain, though this may
nowhere positively declared, and the positive
of
it
Is
be
on
P
to
to
to
to
be
of
in
to
as
of
an
at
of ?
to
much more likely
viction with those who do not know.
declaration
is
to
in
is
If
it.
impossible
be ruth
of an author who would allow his work
lessly altered.
He cannot care for his art,
he must live without
cannot value his own work
the issue from the
But still, looking
ideals.
dangerous
view,
risk your
Sordid point
reputation
alter
writer by allowing others
may damage the
your work.
Such alteration
financial returns in the future.
is
a
is
a
in
1908.
the past
tried
any importance
year which
have been
are
among the number, the case
epitomised
Humphreys
the
The writer
Thomson.
An interesting
the end
remarks
article
the case was the opinion expressed
feature
certain authors, editors and others connected with
any specific
literature,
the absence
that
agreement
other
the contrary the editor
story for serial use may alter
purchaser
nothing
almost any extent, while the author can
prevent
The jury thought otherwise, and
common-sense view of the matter.
took
been
of
it
in
a
no
a
in
©
in
with the same subject
The fresh cases that have
is
in is
to
as
it
is
at
is
?
a
be
to
of
of
be
to
1909
Law and Letters
dealing
slightly
article
from
the
differs but
article devoted
It
If
is
is
of
to
If
of
a
he
of
LETTERS.
AND
it
is
be
of
to
is
a to
to of
?
of a
be
to
a
a
HE
to
in
be
a
of
of
it of is
is
a
he
a
LAW
an
it
of
a
a
to
of of
a
of
by
to
if
if
is
It
in
all
of
-º-e
BOOK.
0-º-º
is a
;
in
is
So
be
of
of
feverish pro
the combined forces
new,
duction and demand for nothing but what
newest, and only just out, fiction
threaten
ing
that should
become purely ephemeral.
arrive,
the jour
know that
the novelist
day only, his
exist
life
ºnalist's work has
possible,
month,
human
but for
nature, that
should put into his book the quali
compass
work
man might labour
ties that
genera
favourite with
that might hope
being remembered when
tion, that had
chance
deca
there
its writer had passed away
present done
dence,
the work
less and less
that due
what extent
has permanent value,
only
the novelist's labouring for the moment
future
has lost hope
because
possible enough that when time shall have
date from
sifted the work, and shall have brought
to-day can
viewed
which the literature
the present genera
due perspective, the fiction
reckon with
found quite worthy
tion may
the generations that have preceded
that
distinct decadence)
but the very best
small degree the
visible that will have been
competition.
idiotic
result
headlong
THE LITERARY YEAR
is
to
at
of
it
is
be
a
one another's
books exceeding the demand stand
way.
this avowedly the case that
much
conjecture that
hazard
indiscreet
will not
the much wider popularity
certain proportion
the fact
the past was due
the novels
some
consequence
wider reading
that the tales got
taken up
there not being others that could
ten novels that are pub
At present
instead.
lished, seven never have
The
fair chance.
numerous others that succeed them week by Week
new
their claim
rob them immediately
all
the biggest
And the new novel
novels.
Swept
public.
the novel-reading
the fetiches
133
by
of
an
of
a
in
by
to
no
is,
and run out two novels in
can put on steam
the time that he would normally spend upon one,
without incurring an enormous risk of drifting into
No man can in such
work.
mere journeyman
circumstances do his best. And the novelist who
is not writing his best would be by far better
however,
advised in not writing at all. It
remedy
secret that some men have been trying
prices
increased output.
reduction
Such tactics would certainly make for decadence.
But the mischief does not end with the probable
When
the individual.
the work
deterioration
play
publisher and author deliberately combine
low profits,
forced production
double game
inevitably exaggerated.
Pro
the output must
already grossly exaggerated
bably
and the
to
TFIES
carry
con
�ALTISIOR.
he
to
of
to
is
If
the agent
not financially sound,
has been
known
retain the money due
his client, and
some cases play for the interests
the publisher
rather than the author.
in
The advice given
the pages
of
in
the Year Book
sound and most important, and the editor quite
right when
states that the protection
the
frequently sought
Authors' Society
almost
against agents
against publishers.
Agents; for
We have emphasised the article
useful,
some cases the agent
others
absolutely essential.
they intend
But
hold
they
large
control
the author's property,
must
bound
contract
act only for the
benefit
that property.
Their control must not
hamper the author's action
damage
such
is
of
is
as
he
so is in
to
byof
if
to
is
in
he
on
as
of
or
as of
to
be a
him financially.
But little space
is,
to
?
at
to
be
is
in
.
of
is
to
left
criticise the forms
agreement.
perhaps,
This part
the article
the least satisfactory, and shows less experience and
knowledge than
contained
the first section.
For example, under the commission agreement,
why should the books
accounted for
the
author
the lowest prices charged
wholesale
booksellers and exporters
To account for every
book
the actual price received might complicate
the accounts and
irksome
the publisher.
average.
easy
would
arrive
It
to
an
at
empowers the agent
disputes that may
settle
arise under the contract.
Such clause,
the
signed only
writer
the article says, should
necessary
with the utmost caution.
state
the strongest
terms that such clause
signed
should never
all.
put his business into the
the author desires
may have
pay twice
hands
another agent,
OVer On One COntract.
The reasons for this advice have been set forth
the columns
The Author over and over again.
get
But still,
difficult
authors who
employ agents, and oftentimes
agent impresses
upon the author that
not
his advantage
join the Society.
Further, for
sale outright
author should
encourage
take less than £1 per thousand words;
encourage sweating.
lower prices
On the Profit-sharing Agreement the advice
given,
Authors should only enter upon
with
further, and
the utmost caution.
We would
advise that authors
should never accept these
terms.
Constant experience shows that the result
eminently unsatisfactory
the author.
On the Royalty Agreement
and the remarks
passed upon this system
publication
should
have liked
write
entire article, but space will
not permit.
This
the most important
pity that the comments upon
agreements.
and the clauses included
should be the
least satisfactory part
the whole review.
The
writer seems
have had the publisher's influence
he
at
as
;
to
of
is
in
it
is
a
It
it
of
all
of
is an
of
we
to
go
is
to
is
to
a
no
of
be
a
to as
a
by
as
an
; to
be
to a
be
is
If
:
of
a
a
he
at
it
is
In
to
to
to
to
all
an to
to
to
is
is
it
is
to
be
is
It
he
to
at
be
of
of
it
it
of
of
is
of
all
to
of
in
If
In
be
Again, the book should never
sold
reduced
prices without the author's sanction
for
has
paid for the book
right
has
control the
price lest
figure which could not
sold
possibly bring him any profit.
Copyright one most important
the Sale
point has been omitted
publication.
the date
the book
not published
certain date the
publisher should
penalised.
Publication
important
public performance
author
dramatist
that either should allow his property
gross error
buried for ever would
.
judgment.
all
on
to
be
be
at
cengratulate
on the second section of his article,
Author, Publisher, and Agent.
By far the best part is that which deals with the
relation between author and agent.
In the pages of The Aufhor it has been stated
Over
and over again, that the position between
author and agent is in many cases most dangerous.
An author will naturally, until the agreement is
signed, keep the publisher more or less at arms
length ; but with an agent, if he is to be of any
use, the author must be on the most intimate and
footing from the first ; agents are
confidential
inclined to take advantage of this position and
protect their own interests at the expense of the
author.
It is therefore with the utmost care that
the latter must bind himself to the former.
He
must make no contract which will prejudice the
proper marketing of his literary efforts, nor agree
to any terms that hamper his action if the work
with his agent is irksome or intolerable. The Year
Book says:
The author should be warned
against a clause which requires him to pay the
agent a commission, not merely on the book under
discussion but on future books which the author
may write during a stated number of years.
Let
the author take this to heart : the agent may claim
On all books under one contract.
To save himself
trouble he may bind the author under that most
iniquitous form of contract, for one, two, or three
books to one publisher. The author will, unless he is
careful, be bound to pay the agent on each of those
books as they are delivered to the publisher.
An
agent has even been known to claim commission on
any books placed with that publisher under any
contract during the author's life.
If he becomes
displeased with the agent's work and wishes to with
draw his business he may find in the agreement an
agency clause which entitles the agent to collect
and receive
monies due under the terms
the
agreement.
explained
The danger
this
page 501.
But the clause often goes further than
monies, and
the mere collection
and receipt
is
We cannot, however, unreservedly
the author
be
TISIES
134
�A UTISIOR,
of
of
of
to in
I
a
by
if
OF CRITICISMI.
SIR,--I
If
?
of
all
at
to
its
of
of
a
º'
a
of
a
enclose herewith, not for publication,
review, clipped from Truth,
recent novel of
which, except for
single.
mine a review
critical adjective, consists
inaccurate synopsis
my story.
supply
Had Truth any right
readers with
any synopsis
On the title-page
the book
the printed caution:
All rights reserved.
dealing fairly with
Truth had that right, was
publishers
treating thus
either author
novel
good faith and dependent
entrusted
its plot for possible sale
quote the Dundee.
As
the latter point, may
Courier :
.
events culminate
in
most
exciting climax, which
course
would
most
give away here.
wnfair
The italics within the quotation are mine. And,
am), sir,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT AITREN.
it
a
in
2
on
all
or
it
a to
it
be a
I
to
of
of to
be
"
METHODS
cº-e
I
to
to
go
in
to
it
t
is
is
on
it
if
by
by
in
a
Ia
in
to
I
Yours truly,
CECILY SIDGWICK.
of
is
to
in
publish
the licence
book form
the
Enough has been said
language.
show the danger
this most common form
agreement
propounded
the Literary Year
as
I
a
I
no
I
in
a
I
in
to
to
'
of
us
of
-
of
it
by
in
:
of
be of
he
an
of
licence
English
t-sº-0
Writers'
be
I
a
YEARBOOK.
U.S.A. contributor may
make
a
to
mitted
the
of
In
to
of
THE WRITERS
SIR,-As
per
few observations on the review
and Artists' Yearbook
last.
in
to
an
so
it
in
to
a
on
is
do
not propose nor
this the place to
model agreement
the royalty basis, but
our duty
warn authors
avoid the present
example.
We regret that,
otherwise good review
Law and Letters, this form should have been
purposely
included unless
was done
assist
the publisher rather than the author.
that
is
in
in
a
as
to
to
to an
a
exclusive
to
beyond
it
informed that Messrs. Harper are now publishing
novel called
The Inner Shrine,
new
author,
understand, not
their magazine, and
only that
redress, but that
my novel,
have
cheap reprint.
The Inner Shrine, comes out
shall have
find
new title.
admit that for
my novel
poor title,
The Inner Shrine was
my own.
but
had always supposed
In be
a
to
is
an
publish, should still safeguard himself
other
clauses and limitations, and should
never
Book.
We
draft
novel, The Inner Shrine, appeared
Serially
the weekly edition
the Times.
In
1900
was published
volume form
London.
Messrs. Harper. Accounts relating
its sales
have passed between
ever since, and
think the
year ago.
last copy was sold about
am
no
it
of
.
to to
or to
England, her colonies and depen
the English language.
An author,
convey
IN TITLES.
SIR,-My
be
a
to
if
or
of to
if
forced
it
0-0-0
a
a
CORRESPONDENCE.
PROPERTY
to
to
an
of
is
In
limited
dencies,
of
the other
Rººts
the Year Book has been unavoidably
print
delayed.
We hope
the March.
number. EDITOR.
the review
à.
-º
w -º
consideration that the copyright and plant, includ
ing therein such foreign and colonial rights
translation
and reproduction
the author may
arrange
part with,' shall forthwith belong
and become the property
the publisher,
etc.
He then proceeds, by way
comment:
He
willing
(the publisher) will commonly
con
printing
accept the exclusive right
sent
lieu
the copyright.
Should
demur
this
variation, and should the author genuinely prefer
it in practice has real significance the advice
intermediary should
sought.
practice the difference
The italics are ours.
very real, and the result
author
the
conveyance
copyright
publisher
disas
quoted, that
trous.
One case
Mr. Warwick
Deeping.
This case alone ought
have made
some further advice
the author essential.
Another case was tried last year bearing
the
same issue.
plain words,
author should never con
vey his copyright
publisher
even
for the
G. H. T.
regret that
to
of
Note:-We
to
be
is
as
to
in
is
It
be
a
as
to
no
of
business, ought to know
details
the legal
aspect, and
coaching.
need
But the author
holds
different position, and
other parts
the book are written generally for the author, this
particularly so.
portion should
curious that
the parties
the agreement
the publisher
mentioned
the party
the first
part, and not the author.
sign
This may
the influence
which we have referred.
assignees
publishers
The successors and
the
are
included, without any remark.
Some comment on
this form was absolutely necessary;
contract for
publication should,
possible,
personal con
tract.
The writer then states:
A royalty agree
ment proceeds thus,
this effect
That
appended
have been
an
all
note, should
author's guidance.
Case
in
; but his review ought to be
The publisher, if he knows his
him
in
upon
a
strongly
for the author.
135°
of
TISIES
�A UTISIOR,
to of
to
of
of
a
to
by
to
to
it
as
to
by
he
I
of
in
in
*
2
of
a
to
2
if
be
-
a
is
to
in
I
responsibility for mine.
Finally,
M. has not yet discovered the
difference between the Strand published
America
and that published
this side,
should put
himself wise at once.
Yours, etc.,
in
he
on
of
in
is
5
is is
a
to a
is
few calculated
mislead.
periodicals pub
the number
lished
the States, my expression was well over
20,000.
How far this differs from 25,000
general terms perhaps
M. will explain.
periodicals
gave (which,
The list
the
way, did not come from the source
suggests)
was inspired
the desire
make the list
thoroughly representative,
ought
be.
On
say
the other hand, does M. seriously mean
journals and magazines
that
the American
given
The Writers' Year Book are leading
for one instance,
5 cent productions
such
People's
the Family Story Paper, Housekeeper,
Home Journal, Vick's Magazine, and the Wasp
quarter
Can
affirm that
the American
magazines given
the Year Book are likely
accept English MSS.
The Sunset Magazine used
pay good cash
pre-earthquake
days,
my
quite
leading
own knowledge, and even now
magazine out West.
As
U.S.A. publishers,
M. will
personally responsible for the probity and right
dealing
the Year Book" list,
will undertake
SIR,-No
As
or
I
to
a
is
of
doubt there are many members
the
the former.
understand
permanent library
there
small circulating
respect
the Club, the following suggestion
fully made for the favourable consideration
the
committee
That authors
the society might
present works which
loan
have been well
reviewed, with,
course, approbation
the Com
mittee,
young author's Works
above library.
might receive glance during
spare half-hour's
lounge
the library, might take the interest
member, and perhaps lead
his work becoming
capricious public library
known over the head
bookseller, who acquire works simply
the
writer's name, irrespective
contents.
Why should leaflets, which cost the editors
nothing,
tabooed from the pages
The Author?
latter who belong
of
is
of
:
of
of
or
of
to
by
a
of
of
of
MEMBER
OF THE
SOCIETY.
a
a
a
A
to
A
of
I
OF MEMBERS
OF AUTHORS.
in
If
as
an
of
be
a
it
of
of
AND WORKS
SOCIETY
be
is
in
as to of
a
to its
as
in is
it
"
;
to
M.
CLUB
OF THE
in
as
he
a
is
of
a
I
publishers not
U.S.A.
all
the
sharks
and
Z.,
think, must have
crocodiles
the trade.
done his review with Sell s World s Press, U.S.A.
Yours, etc.,
section, lying
his eye.
THE AUTHORS'
or
he
if
on by
at
I
as
as
a
of
in
to
it
in
on
a
in
in
is
a
no
a
of
of
a a
quoted matter.
Spare Moments,
Journal,
American
London
particularly American production, and uses only one
especially
short story every month.
Its material
indigenous.
People Popular Monthly
cent.
magazine, and
leading production than
more
Home Notes, London,
Sunset Magazine pays
transportation
for matter
over its proprietary s
railways, except
few instances, and accepts
work and fiction dealing only with the Californian
Slope and Further America
the Pacific.
For the English contributor, who knows not the
States
an intimate manner,
waste
stamps and time
send
MSS.
Holland's
Magazine,
indigenous
monthly,
another
that
occasionally uses British matter from fictionalists
Youth, Philadelphia, has
the highest rank.
been dead
considerable time, and the American
Boy and Practical Young America cry for American
matter written in an American manner.
As for
Z.,
the religious papers given
had wasted
many stamps
have
our religious Weeklies
1,000
$1 $2
words
that crib most
courageously, and pay abominably
low rates
whole for original matter,
would not have
quoted them
Regarding the list
U.S.A. publishers, what
complete one, but one that
wanted
not
represents the most creditable firms
the States,
those known for probity and right dealing.
the more espouse the cause
the
Year
help
book
because
such
one.
the
English list was
details
full
the
length
American one, i.e.,
stories wanted,
character, setting, etc.,
would
ideal pro
plus,
course,
dependable list
duction
to
of
is
...
compilation
species
minute
if
U.S.A.
and
With regard
in all
have yet to learn that there is a
are erroneous
he
I
Strand which is not the same as the English one !
Technical World uses material based only on some
phase of engineering or invention.
Living Age
extraordinarily
to
I
M.'s"
of
I
cals is just what
reckon the
Writers' and
Artists Yearbook editors have wisely eschewed, for,
personally know, the majority of them do not
as
desire English contributions except in so far as
they deal directly with American subjects. . An
American might as well send contributions in to
Punch as a Britisher into Life, Scrip, Theater, and
others.
reply
in
I
°
SIR,-In
my review
criticism
The Writers' Year
Book, which you have kindly permitted me
see,
would
turn remark that some
his statements
as
month's Author. Some of Z.'s " statements are
erroneous, and a few calculated to mislead the
Britisher essaying sales to certain U.S.A. monthlies
and weeklies.
The periodicals published through
out the United States are not over 20,000
leading periodi
but 25,000.
His short list of
to
TISIES
136
�AD VERTISEMENTS.
SIRES
TYPEWRITING.
Authors MSS. copied from 9d. per 1,000
words; in duplicate, 1/-. Plays and General
Copying. List and specimen of work on appli
cation.
-
ONE OF NUMEROUS
TESTIMONIALS.
Miss M. R. HORNE has typed for me literary matter to the
extent of some hundreds of thousands of words.
have nothing
but praise for the accuracy, speed, and neatness with -which she
.
does her Work,-FRANIK SAVILLE.
I
MISS M. R. HORNE,
ESKDALE,
(Established 1883.) 35,
The West Kensington Typewriting
0ffices,
(Established 1893)
223a, Hammersmith Road, LONDON, W.
Authors' MSS. ; Translations; Duplicating; Plays and Actors' Parts ;
Legal, General and Commercial Documents. Private Rooms for
Dictation. Usual Terms. References.
TYPEVVRITING
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION,
9d. PER 1,000 WoRDs.
Two COPIEs, 1s. PER 1,000 WORDS.
Mrs. SOUTHEE, 273, Francis Rd., LEWION, LONDON, E.
Typewriting Office,
LUDGATE HILL,
and SIPKES,
Authors MSS., Legal Documents, Reports, &c., carefully and
accurately copied.
Orders by Post promptly attended to.
WEST DRAYTON, MIDDLESEX.
MRS. GILL,
iii
E.C.
Authors' MSS. carefully copied from 1s, per 1,000
Duplicate copies third price. French and German
MSS. accurately copied ; or typewritten English trans
lations supplied.
References kindly permitted to Messrs.
A. P. Watt & Son, Literary Agents, Hastings House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C. Telephone 84.64 Central.
words.
TYPEWRITING.
AUTHORS
MSS. FROM 10d. PER 1,000 WORDS
WORKMANSHIP AND NMATERIALS OF THE BEST.
Accurate
ERNEST
Prompt.
and
Testimonials,
Jºccellent
PEARCE, 30, College
Road,
READING.
have pleasure in announcing that we have made an arrange
WE ment
with Mr. William Archer by which, upon request of
0
to
a 2
as
The Whitefriars Press,
LONDON and TONBRIDGE,
IBIAVING LARGELY
THEIR
INCREASED
to
a
it
Printing and B00kbinding Plant
in
undertake,
{
short notice, the production
of
at
complete
the most
the British Isles), are prepared
to
now one
of
is
(which
of
Works
Fiction,
Legal and Medical
Text Books,
in
High-class Magazines,
Newspapers, etc.
on
to
to
us
FREE.
Booklet
descriptive
Firm sent on receipt
the Country
a
the
of of
of
be toon
Branch
Post Card,
Telegrams:Chariwari,
London; Chariwari,Tonbridge,
;
19
&
An Illustrated
28
asof
of
to
a
of
it It
is
in
it
of
to
is
in
in
by
us to
to
ESTIMATES
to
to
be
is
be
is
it
It
of
of
to
of
be
a
be
in
as
bea to
be
If,
:
or
in to &
as
in
if
is
&
5,
to
a
of
a
to
if
in of to
Cº.L.
BRADBURYAGNEW.&
to
as
It
if
or
to
is
at
so
a
of
in
of
to
...
the author, he undertakes to read, criticise, and advise upon any
plays entrusted to us, and he will read no manuscript plays which do
not reach him through us.
# S. d.
The reading feesare fixedas follows:
1 10 0
For scenariosof not over 2,000words
... l 10 0
For plays of one or two acts
...
10
For plays of three or moreacts
The payment
thesefeesentitles the author
written opinion
length, dealing with the theme, con
from 300
800 words
Struction, characterisation, and diction
his play, suggestingaltera
possible) conveying
tions where they seem called for, and (so far
both theoretical criticism and practical advice.
play has been submitted
The fact that
Mr. Archer will be
treated by him, and by us,
confidential. On the other hand, the
liberty
managers,actors,
author
show Mr. Archer's opinion
etc.,
he
desires.
would manifestly be misleading, however,
to quote detached phrases
make garbled extracts from
detailed
criticism. Mr. Archer thereforeleaves to the author's sense of fair
mess show to managers,etc., the whole opinion
he shows any
part
it.
If,
addition
the opinion, the author should desire personal
interview with Mr. Archer,
further fee
two guineas would be
charged.
Plays re-submitted after alteration are subject to the samefees
plays submitted for the first time.
Manuscripts should be addressed
Messrs. Curtis Brown Massie, Henrietta, St., Covent Garden,W.C.,
and,
Mr. Archer's opinion required, they should be accompanied
by the reading fee
advance. Cheques should
made payable
may sometimes happen,
Messrs. Curtis Brown
Massie.
play does not seem
call for serious consideration, but can
adequately dealt with
three
four lines, half the reading fee will
be returned.
Plays should
type-written
all cases
(or printed), and copy
should be retained by the author. While all reasonablecare will be
manuscripts,
responsible
taken
we cannot
for their loss
the
post, or otherwise.
any play within two
Mr. Archer will endeavour give his opinion
weeks receiving the manuscript.
not necessary that plays entrusted
us for placing with
managersshould
submitted
Mr. Archer, and,
the other hand,
necessary
plays
not
that
sent
for Mr. Archer's inspection
should
entrusted
us for placing, although we have many open
ings for good plays. Our agency for playWrights, and our arrange
ments with Mr. Archer are not interdependent.
Especial attention
called
the advantage expert criticism
practically, impossible
scenarios. On the other hand, we find
plays not complete
every detail.
interest managers
our
practice
managersonly
plays
send actors and
which
can
said they are worth the manager'spersonal and immediateattention.
Plays placed
are subject
commission ten per cent
the
receipts. We can undertake arrangementsfor only such plays
are
exclusively
left
our hands.
CURTIS BROWN
MASSIE.
Telephones: Holborn
Tonbridge; 9108
Central,
�AD VERTISEMENTS.
BREEly Wºlſ|NG PMS.
THE TIDE MILL
ºr
tº:
to
2
a
St.
at
If
I
Homefield, Woodstock
Road,
NumerousTestimonialsfrom First Novel Competitors. Pleasementionthis Paper
The
Press,
Wessex
post free.
good paper and by
competent Operator;
so, write
once for my Price List and
2
on
a
neatly and accurately typed
pay
right
reasonable price. Am
IE.C.
lists on application,
RI[G] HIT
[
>
AIVI
be
HILL,
Full
HERBERT CAESAR,
ESTABLISHED]
to
H. STO CRVVELL,
29, LUDGATE
a
toto
it
I
d
of
AERTHUR.
:
LONDON
Al UTE [O] RS
C.
in
in
to
Papers of Eminent
OFFER.
in
A
in of
a of
Rosſ. PERKINs. Bound
cloth covers, with pretty
design, black and gold lettering, Is...net.
These stories have pathos and beauty and literary skill.
Baptist.
Will be rememberedafter they are read.
Authorsshouldforward MSS. any description
(Novels,Stories,Poems,Essays,&c.)direct Mr.
STOCIXWELL, whowill immediately
advise,free
of charge,as publication.
Office, Southport, Lancs.
NEW YEAR
KNOW.
SINNER AND JUDGE, and other Stories.
JBy
Two for Is. I d., or three for Is. 6d., post free,
of THE MAGAZINE SYNDICATE, Publishing
SPECIAL
in
WE MUSICANS
By Jocer,WN IRENE RAINEY.
capital story, well and
attractively produced. With Frontispiece onart paper,2s. met.
A story love and music. The Globe.
The lives
the four principal people
this story become
love, tragedy and music.
Literary
interwoven
network
JJ orld.
Recipes for Authors.
that you require your MSS.
for which Service you are prepared
by
. a
.
-
is
is
of
*TIS
SEVENPENCE EACH,
TAKE
Poerms.
By CHAs. II. PRITCHARD. Dound attractively
cloth, with
bevelled boards, 2s. 6d. Inet.
Mr. Pritchard s ode inspiriting and will appeal lovers
the heroicmuse. There much good work
his volume.
Dundee Advertiser.
Money-making
From the Private
193O.
and other
OWEN GLYN DWR
Bright Stories: How to Write and Where
to Sell Them at Best Prices.
By R. A. H. GOODYEAR.
Writers.
as
in
of
and How to Find Them.
2. Tale-Writing for Money.
101
REIGN
Front'spiece.) 2s. net. Hand
(With Queen Alexandra
somely bound cloth, with bevelledboards
gold lettering.
A lively tale
the future
writer who holds strong
views. The ladies comeinto power
.
The Times.
By R. A. H. GOODYEAR.
3.
THE WOMEN
WHEN
shall I Write about?
, , ess. Plots,
it.
...
AU 1.HORS, anxious to diverge from the
should read the following new guides :
;I.:
| n
ſ
tº a
tº
:
JS
44'IO
beaten track,
\.
SEC2' Tºr.
By PERCY YoUNG. Handsomely
ºted on antique
paper, with Frontispiece. 320 pps.
5:
r ºº
A novel of exceptionaloriginality al.g.,,,, .
*I'yºf
, ;
..
*The book hasa fascination all its own." The Aiii}r. "'t
of
fiv
Albans.
[XVIII.
Taztººto22.
CENT.
BARNICOTT & PEARCE
INVITE
GIVEN.
20
FOR AD VERTISEMENTS.
0
()
...... ...
0Q9 1
6 7 13
0 %9 0
tº
...... .
of
25
** ... e
tº
of
tº
is
ſº
º ... tº
-
it
tº
º ...
a
-
Advertisements should reach the Officenot later than the 20th for
insertion
the following month's issue.
All letters respecting Advertisements should
addressed
the
ADvERTISEMENTMANAGER, The Author Office, 39, Old Queen Street,
Storey's Gate, S.W.
Co. LD., and Published
them for THE SOCIETY
10, Bouverie Street, London, E.C.
OF
AUTHORS
to
be
in
of
of
20
of of a
a a
[ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY
PER CENT.]
...#4
Front Page
Other Pages
10
Page
ee e
Half of
Page
Quarter
Eighth
Page
per inch
Single Column Advertisements
per cent.madefor Series Sia,and
per cent. for
Reduction
Twelve Insertions.
by
AGNEw,
at
BRADBURy,
PROMPTLY
**
&
* ... e
a
2
to
{
%
Jºcellent Testimonials from Play Writers.
&
by
t
Aft;
º º
Address
STREET,
SCALE
3y
OFFICES.
(Established 1897.)
T
r
Yew Tree Cottage,
COVENTRY.
PRINTING.
DETAILS,
TELE AUTIEIOIER.
Copies, 1ſ
1/3
35
1/4
Please ??
note Change
rry
r Tºn
WESTLEIGH,
KING RICHARD
from Oswald House, Queen
21%;" Victoria Road. TyphºwRITING
OF EVERY
DESCRIPTION, from 9d. per 1,000 words.
#####
Printed
OTHER
MACCLESFIELD.
TYPEWRITING
#Fºr
#º
ºW
5y
-
STEVENSON,
SUTTON,
*3 3y
1
... ...
-
(a
A. B.
RESPECTING
TYPEWRITING.
AUTHORS
Novel and Story Work
9d. per 1,000words;
e.
*General Copying
73
Plays, ruled
Speciality)
1)Specimens and Price List on application.
MISS
AND
...,
COST,
OF
is
tº
$
tº... e
a
ENQUIRIES
ESTIMATES
(INCORPORATED),
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Author
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=&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&collection=&type=&tags=&exhibit=&date_search_term=&submit_search=Search+For+Items&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)
1909-02-01
Volume
19
Issue
5
Pages
Page range in volume
109–136
Ngram Date
Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin
19090201
Ngram Text
Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin
C be El u t b or .
(The organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.
Vol. XIX.-No. 5. EEBRUARY 1, 1909. [PRICE SINPENCE.
C O N T E N T S.
|
- . PAGE PAGE
Notices, ... * - G * - tº tº e is - - - - - - • . . - - - 109, 124 Warnings to Dramatic Authors - - - * - - s º e - - - ... 123
'Qommittee Notes - - - tº º º - - - • * * * * * - - - ... 112 Warnings to Musical Composers ... * * * * e º - - - ... 123
Books published by Members of the Society * g º - - - ... 114 How to Use the Society tº tº a - - - e - - * * * - - - ... 124
Books published in America by Members ... tº º ºs - * * ... 115 To Musical Composers e tº e - - - 6 º' - * = & - - - ... 134
Literary, Dramatic and Musical Notes ... e e e - - - ... 115 The Reading Branch ... * * * - - - tº - - * c & - - - ... 124
Paris, Notes - - - - - - tº e e * * * - - - • * s - - - ... 117 Legal and General Life Assurance Society... e 6 - - - - ... 124
Spanish Notes ... . ... º, a & - - - e - - e & © - - - ... 118 General Notes ... * * * tº tº e - * * - - - * * * - - - ... 125
“Copyright in Musical Compositions... - - - & ſº tº - - - ... I.19 Arthur William A. Beckett ... - - - - - - & e - - - - ... 126
The Dramatisation of Novels ... . ... * - - as s & - * * ... 120 British Authors and American Copyright ... s = & - * * ... 127
Performing Rights in Sketch... - - - - - - * * * - tº - ... 121 On Rendering Accounts * * * - - - - - - * e a - - - , , , 129
...A Bill to Abolish the Powers of the Lord Chamberlain in To Be Ol' Not To JBe ... c. * * - - - - - - - e - - - - ... 129
Respect of Stage Plays, &c. e - - - tº º - - - ... 121 The Decadence Of the Novel ... - - - - - - * * * - - - ... 131
Magazine Contents e - - tº e tº - - - tº - - * * * - - - ... 122 The Literary Year look sº º º * * * - - - * * * - - - ... 133
Warnings to Producers of Books ... • * - * * * - - - ... 123 Correspondence ... • * * tº tº º - - - * * * * * * * * * ... 135
PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY.
1. The Annual Report for the current year. 18.
2. The Author. Published ten months in the year (August and September omitted), devoted especially
to the protection and maintenance of Literary, Dramatic, and Musical Property. Issued
to all Members gratis. Price to non-members, 6d., or 58. 6d. per annum, post free. Back
numbers from 1892, at 10s. 6d. per Vol. - -
3. Literature and the Pension List. By W. MORRIS COLLES, Barrister-at-Law. 3s.
4. The History of the Société des Gems de Lettres. By S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE. 18.
5. The Cost of Production. (Out of print.)
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 therein. 3s.
Addenda to the Above. By G. HERBERT THRING. Being additional facts collected at
the office of the Society since the publication of the “Methods.” With comments and
advice. 28.
T. Copyright Law Reform. An Exposition of Lord Monkswell's Copyright Bill of 1890. With
Extracts from the Report of the Commission of 1878, the Berne Convention, and the
American Copyright Bill. By J. M. LELY. 18. 6d.
8. The Society of Authors. A Record of its Action from its Foundation. By WALTER BESANT
(Chairman of Committee, 1888–1892). 18.
9. The Contract of Publication in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Switzerland. By ERNST
LUNGE, J.U.D. 2s. 6d.
10. Forms of Agreement issued by the Publishers' Association ; with Comments. By
G. HERBERT THRING, and Illustrative Examples by Sir WALTER BESANT. 2nd Edition. 18.
11. Periodicals and their Contributors. Giving the Terms on which the different Magazines
and Periodicals deal with MSS. and Contributions. 6d.
12. Society of Authors. List of Members. Published October, 1907, price 6d.
[All prices met. Apply to the Secretary, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W.]
## p. 108 (#152) ############################################
AD VERTISEMENTS.
(Ilje Šuriefn of Autburg (ſmrurpurated).
PRESIDENT,
COUNCIL.
SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE.
A. W. DUBOURG.
DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
THE HON. MRS. ALFRED FELKIN
(ELLEN THORNEYCROFT FOWLER).
SIR. W. S. GILBERT.
EDMUND GOSSE, LL.D.
SYDNEY GRUNDY.
H. RIDER HAGGARD.
THOMAS HARDY.
MRS. HARRISON (“LUCAS MALET").
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS,
E. W. HORNUNG.
MAURICE HEWLETT.
JEROME K. JEROME.
HENRY ARTHUR JONES.
J. SCOTT KELTIE, LL.D.
RUDYARD KIPLING.
SIR EDWIN RAY LANKESTER, F.R.S.
THE REv. W. J. LOFTIE, F.S.A.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR ALFRED
LYALL, P.C.
LADY LUGARD (MISS FLORA. L.
SHAw).
SIDNEY LEE.
MRS. MAxwell (M. E. BRADDON).
JUSTIN MCCARTHY.
THE REV. C. H. MIDDLETON-WAKE,
SIR HENRY NORMAN, M.P.
SIR GILBERT PARKER, M.P.
A. W. PINERO.
THE RIGHT HON. SIR HORACE
PLUNKETT, K.P.
ARTHUR RACKHAM.
OWEN SEAMAN.
G. BERNARD SHAW,
G. R. SIMS.
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE,
FRANCIS STORR. -
SIR CHARLES VILLIERS STANFORD,
Mus. Doc.
WILLIAM MOY THOMAS.
MRS. HUMPHRY WARD.
PERCY WHITE.
FIELD MARSHAL THE RIGHT HON.
THE WISCOUNT WolsFLEY, K.P.,
P.C., &c.
SIDNEY WEB.B.
MAURICE HEWIETT.
SIDNEY LEE.
ARTHUR RACKHAM.
G. BERNARD SHAW.
S. SQUIRE SPRIGGE.
FRANCIS STORR.
SIDNEY WEBB,
Chairman—HENRY ARTHUR JONES.
J. W. COMYNS CARR.
JEROME K. J.EROME.
W. J. LOCKE.
W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM.
CAPT. ROBERT MARSHALL.
PAUL RUBENS.
G. BERNARD SHAW.
Chairman—DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
NIORLEY ROBERTS.
|M. H. SPIELMANN.
MRS. ALEC TWEEDIE.
MRS. HUMPHRY WARD.
E. J. MACGILLIVRAY.
SIR. GILBERT PARKER, M.P.
ART sub-COMMITTEE.
JOHN HASSALL, R.I.
J. G. MILLAIS.
} Solicitors,
SIR CHARLES WILLIERS STANFORD,
Mus. Doc.
J.H. H. Yox ALL, M.P.
ARTHUR RACKEIAM.
M. H. SPIELMANN.
Secretary—G. HERBERT THRING,
Solicitor in England to
La Société des Gems de L8ttres,
OFFICES.
Telegraphic Address : “AUTORIDAD, LONDON.”
Telephone No. : 374 Victoria.
G-EBOIERG-EB TMIETRIET).ITIET, O. MI-
SIR ROBERT ANDERSON, K.C.B.
SIRWM.REYNELL ANSON, Bart., D.C.L.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD AVE-
J. M. BARRIE. [BURY, P.C.
A. W. A BECKETT.
ROBERT BATEMAN.
F. E. BEDDARD, F.R.S.
THE RIGHT HON. AUGUSTINE BIR-
RELL, P.C. -
MRS. E. NESBIT BLAND.
THE REV. PROF. BONNEY, F.R.S.
THE RIGHT HON. JAMES BRYCE, P.C.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD BURGB-
CLERE, P.C.
HALL CAINE.
J. W. COMYINS CARR.
EGERTON CASTLE, F.S.A.
EDWARD CLODD.
W. MORRIS COLLES.
THE HON. JOHN COLLIER.
SIR. W. MARTIN CONWAY.
F. MARION CRAW FORD.
THE RIGHT HON. THE LORD CURZON
OF KEDLESTON.
AUSTIN DOBSON.
COIMIMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT,
MRS. E. NESBIT BLAND,
J. W. COMYINS CARR.
THE HON. MRS. ALFRED FELKIN
(ELLEN THORNEYCROFT Fowl ER).
Chairman—DOUGLAS FRESHFIELD.
IDRAIMIATIC SUB-COMMITTEE,
WILLIAM ARCHER.
MRS, E. NESBIT BLAND.
H. GRANVILLE BARKER.
PENSION FUND COIMIMITTEE.
ANSTEY GUTHRIE.
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS,
COPYRIGHT SUB-COMMITTEE.
HAROLD HARDY.
ANTHONY HOPE HAWKINS.
THE HON. JOHN COLLIER.
SIR. W. MARTIN CONWAY.
FIELD, Roscoe & Co., 36, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C. -
G. HERBERT THRING, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's Gate, S.W.
LAWRENCE GoDKIN, 30, Pine Street, New York, U.S.A., Counsel in the United States.
39, OLD QUEEN STREET, STOREY's GATE, S.W.
## p. 109 (#153) ############################################
C be El u t bor.
(The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. Monthly.)
FoundED BY SIR
WALTER BESANT.
Vol. XIX.-No. 5.
FEBRUARY 1st, 1909.
[PRICE SIXPENCE.
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
374 VICTORIA.
TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS :
AUTORIDAD, LONDON.
—s—e-e—
NOTICES.
—º-º-º-
OR 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 opinion
of the Committee unless such is especially stated
to be the case.
THE Editor begs to inform members of the
Authors’ Society and other readers of The Author.
that the cases which are quoted in The Author are
cases that have come before the notice or to the
knowledge of the Secretary of the Society, and that
those members of the Society who desire to have
the names of the publishers concerned can obtain
them on application.
a —º- a
v-u-v
THE SOCIETY'S FUNDS.
—º-º-º-
ROM time to time members of the Society
desire to make donations to its funds in
recognition of work that has been done for
them. The committee, acting on the suggestion
of one of these members, have decided to place
this permanent paragraph in The Author in order
that members may be cognisant of those funds to
which these contributions may be paid.
The funds suitable for this purpose are : (1) The
Capital Fund. This fund is kept in reserve in
case it is necessary for the Society to incur heavy
expenditure, either in fighting a question of prin-
ciple, or in assisting to obtain copyright reform,
WOL, XIX,
or in dealing with any other matter closely
connected with the work of the Society. +
(2) The Pension Fund. This fund is slowly
increasing, and it is hoped will, in time, cover the
needs of all the members of the Society.
— — — —
LIST OF MEMBERs.
—º-º-º-
HE List of Members of the Society of Authors,
published October, 1907, can now be obtained
at the offices of the Society at the price of
6d., post free 7#d. It includes elections to July,
1907, and will be sold to members and associates
of the Society only.
A dozen blank pages have been added at the
end of the list for the convenience of those who
desire to add future elections as they are chronicled
from month to month in these pages.
*—º-— a
w--~-w
PEN SION FUND,
—e-º-e—
T the beginning of 1908, the Trustees of
the Pension Fund of the Society, after
the secretary had placed before them the
financial position of the Fund, decided to invest
£230 in the purchase of Irish Land Act 2; per
cent. Guaranteed Stock.
The amount purchased is £258, and is added to
the list printed below.
The investments are steadily increasing from
year to year, the amount varying between £200
and £250.
Consols 23%.............................. 31,000 0 0
Local Loans .............................. 500 0 0
Victorian Government 3% Consoli-
dated Inscribed Stock ............... 291. 19 11
War Loan .............. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e a e 201 9 3
London and North-Western 3% Deben-
ture Stock .............................. 250 0 0
Egyptian Government Irrigation
Trust 4% Certificates ............... 200 () ()
## p. 110 (#154) ############################################
110
THE AUTHOR.
Cape of Good Hope 33% Inscribed
tock .......................... ... e º 'º e º sº e º e tº 3200
Glasgow and South-Western Railway
4% Preference Stock.................. 228
New Zealand 34% Stock........... 247
Irish Land Act 23% Guaranteed Stock 258
Total … #3,376
Subscriptions.
1908.
Oct. 10, Macnaughton-Jones,
Oct. 20, Garvice, Charles
Nov. 12, Woods, Miss Mary A.
Nov. 20, Boycott, G. W. M..
Nov. 20, Budgeon, Miss
Nov. 21, Benjamin, Lewis J.
Nov. 21, Coulton, G. G. º *
Nov. 21, Dixon, Miss H. Margaret
Nov. 21, Colquhoun, A. tº
Nov. 23, Holmes, Miss Eleanor
Nov. 23, Hussey, Eyre
Nov. 23, Capes, Bernard
Nov. 23, Hecht, Mrs. Arthur &
Nov. 23, Festing, Miss Gabrielle .
Nov. 23, Carolin, Mrs. . e §
Nov. 23, Bland, Mrs. E. Nesbit
Nov. 23, Hichens, Robert
Nov. 23, Grogan, W. E. e
Nov. 23, Stowell, Mrs. Rodolph
Nov. 23, Gay, Mrs. g
23, Summers, J. . sº
23, Bloundelle-Burton, J.
23, Freshfield, Douglas
24, Rowsell, Miss Mary
24, Bell, Lady tº
24, Sanders, Miss E. K.
25, Count Plunkett
25, Victoria Cross &
25, Cromartie, the Countess of
25, Sutro, Alfred. o
25, Kipling, Rudyard .
25, Pope, Miss Jessie .
25, Scott, G. Forrester
25, Carr, Miss Mildred E. .
25, O’Brien, The Rev. G. E.
25, Wills, The Rev. Freeman
25, Lewis, T. C. * &
25, Fenwick, Miss S. F.
26, Montgomery, Miss K. L.
26, Dummelow, The Rev. J. R.
26, Jopp, Miss E. A. .
26, Wintle, Harold R..
26, Malcolm, Mrs. Ian. e
26, Felkin, The Hon. Mrs. .
26, Ward, Wilfrid iº º ge
26, Marks, Mrs. Mary A. M. º
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Noy.
Nov.
Mov.
Now.
Nov.
Noy.
Nov.
Nov.
Now.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
i
.0
18
1
l
l
:1
1
1
1
8.O
Dec.
tº #.
Nov. 26, “E.” . ſe e . ()
Nov. 27, Prideaux, Miss S. T. ()
Nov. 27, Saies, Mrs. F. H. . ()
Nov. 27, Heath, Miss Ella ()
Nov. 27, Thomas, Edward 1
Nov. 27, Shaw, Mrs. Bernard 3
Nov. 27, Smith, Bertram 1
Nov. 27, Niven, Frederick . g ()
Nov. 27, Nembhard, Miss Isabel . ()
Nov. 27, Smith, Miss M. E. . ()
Nov. 28, Brandon, Miss Dorothy. ()
Nov. 28, de la Pasture, Mrs. Henry I
Nov. 28, Scott, Mrs. C. ()
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
28, Harrison, Mrs. Darent .
28, Logan, The Rev. Robert
28, Chesterton, G. K. º
30, Sherwood, Miss A. wº ge
30, Hutchinson, The Rev. H. N. .
1, Sachs, E. T. . © tº &
1, Truman, Miss Olivia
3, Yolland, Miss E.
4, Bagnall, Miss L. T. . & *
4, Humphreys, Mrs. Desmond (Rita)
4, Anon. . g & &
7, Westrup, Miss Margaret
7, Lynch, H. T. B., M.P.
8, Caillard, Miss E. M.
8, Askew, Claude
8, Felkin, A. L. .
9, Rosetti, W. M. e
9, Miller, Miss Esther .
11, Woodward, Miss Ida
12, Mann, Mrs. Mary E. . ©
12, Lack, H. Lambert . tº e
14, Winchilsea and Nottingham
The Countess of ſº
14, Sinclair, Miss May
14, Weyman, Stanley .
17, Macpherson, John F. .
17, Hills, Mrs. Martha .
Dec. 18, Hands, Mrs. Morris
Dec. 18, Geddes, Mrs. .
Dec. 22, Miles, Bertram
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
T)ec.
Dec. 23, Mackenzie, Miss Helen .
1909.
Jan. 1, Twycross, Miss M . &
Jan. 2, Macquarie, Arthur tº
Jan. 4, Sproston, Mrs. Stanley
Jan. 4, Phipson, Miss Emma *
Jan. 4, Middlemas, Miss Jean .
Jan. 4, Pott, J. A. . gº º
Jan. 7, Marchmont, A. W. .
Jan. 7, Sharwood, T. S. º
Jan. 12, Durand, Ralph
Jan. 12, Laing, Mrs. . º
Jan. 14, Banks, Mrs. M. M. .
Jan. 14, Steel, Richard tº
(
)
lI
()
10
i
1
## p. 111 (#155) ############################################
TISIES A UITISIOR.
111
- . 3 s. d. - :# 8.
Jan. 16, Garnett, Edward . 1 1 0 Nov. 27, Simes, Miss O. Kathleen O 5
Jan. 16, Fenn, Frederick 1 1 0 Nov. 27, Penny, The Rev. Frank I 1
Jan. 18, Hering, Henry A. 0 10 6 Nov. 27, Westell, W. P. . e O 1 ()
Jan. 18, Fox, Archibald, D. 0 5 0 Nov. 28, Coolidge, The Rev. W. A. B. 2 2
Jan. 31, Anon . © • 0 5 0 Nov. 28, Tennant, Lady Pamela 2 2
Nº. 28, Nº. H. . . & 1 1
• Wov. 30, Northcote, The Rev. H. O 5
Domations, 1908. Nov. 30, Dexter, Walter . 2 2
July 16, Carolin, Mrs. & * 0 5 0 Nov. 30, Oliver, Miss Selwyn . O 5
July 28, Atherton, Mrs. Gertrude 21 0 0 Nov. 30, Kaye-Smith, Miss Sheila O 5
Aug. 21, Beckett, Arthur W. . 1 1 0 Nov. 30, Bent, Mrs. Theodore 1 0
Sept. 28, “Whitworth Wynne " . 1 1 0 Nov. 30, Atkins, Miss Margaret A. () 5
Oct. 23, Woolf, Miss Bella Sidney 0 5 0 Dec. 7, Hood, Francis te gº O 5
Oct. 31, Robinson, J. R. . gº 0 6 0 Dec. 7, Maunsell, A. E. Lloyd () 10
Nov. 6, Wroughton, Miss Cicely . 1 0 0 Dec. 7, Carolin, Mrs. . () 10
Nov. 7, Sherard, R. H. . g 1 1 0 Dec. 7, Drake, Lady Eliott 1 1
Nov. 7, Cameron, Miss Charlotte 0 10 0 Dec. 7, Parker, Mrs. Nella. 1 I
Nov. 12, Tweedie, Mrs. Alec. . 1 1 0 Dec. 7, Montrésor, Miss F. F. 3 ()
Nov. 17, Tench, Miss Mary F. A. 0 10 0 Dec. 7, Shepherd, George H. 1 I
Nov. 17, Anon. . e © º 1 1 0 Dec. 9, Maartens, Maarten. 5 ()
Nov. 21, Anson, Sir William, Bart. 10 0 0 Dec. 9, Y. F. S. O 5
Nov. 21, Cordeaux, Miss K. M. . . 0 10 6 Dec. 9, Lefroy, Mrs. . & 1 1
Nov. 21, Drewitt, F. Dawtrey, M.D. . 1 1 0 Dec. 9, Bourdillon, Miss Rose () 5
Nov. 21, Delaire, Madame Jean . 1 0 0 Dec. 9, White, Mrs. Woollaston () 5
Nov. 21, Hecht, Mrs. Arthur . 0 10 0 Dec. 10, Gilliatt, The Rev. E. 1 ()
Nov. 21, Collier, The Hon. John 1 1 0 Dec. 13, Evans, Miss C. M. g ... O 5
Nov. 21, Keltie, G. Scott . tº 1 1 0 Dec. 14, Pennell, Mrs. Elizabeth Robins l I
Nov. 21, Shepeard-Walwyn, H. W. 1 0 0 Dec. 14, Oppenheim, E. C. 2 ()
Nov. 21, Church, Prof. A. H. 5 5 0 Dec. 16, Blake, J. P. . I 1
Nov. 21, James, Miss S. Boucher 0 10 6 Dec. 17, Medlicott, Cecil () J ()
Nov. 21, Ramsden, The Lady Gwen- Dec. 18, Tansley, A. G. . tº . 2 2
dolen { } sº . 1 1 0 Dec. 19, Thurston, Mrs. Ratherine Cecil 1 1
Nov. 21, Spielmann, M. H. 1 1 0 Dec. 19, Todd, John L. 1 l
Nov. 21, Saville, Frank 5 0 0 Dec. 21, White, Percy 1 1
Nov. 24, Kennedy, E. B. . 0 5 0 Dec. 23, Vance, Louis J. 0 10
Nov. 24, Bennett, Prof. W. H. 0 5 0 Dec. 28, Guthrie, Anstey . 2 2
Nov. 24, Batty, Mrs. Braithwaite 0 5 0 Dec. 29, Roberts, Miss Edith () 5
Nov. 24, Crouch, A. P. . & 0 5 0 Dec. 30, Coke, Desmond () 1()
Nov. 24, Hawtrey, Miss Walentin 0 5 0 Dec. 30, Mackenzie, Miss J. () 5
Nov. 24, Sedgwick, Miss Anna Douglas 0 5 0 Dec. 30, Lathbury, Miss Eva () 5
Nov. 24, Anon. . © © tº . 1 1 0 Dec. 31, Egbert, Henry () 5
Nov. 25, Page, Herbert W. 2 2 0 1909.
Nov. 25, Brereton, Capt. F. S. . 1 1 0 Jan. 1, Zangwill, Israel 1 I
Nov. 25, Knight, Mrs. Maude C. 0 5 0 Jan. 1, Hamilton, John A. . 0 5
Nov. 25, Bowen, Miss Marjorie . 1 1 0 Jan. 4, Stopford, Francis I 1
Nov. 25, Turner, Reginald 1 1 0 Jan. 4, Falmouth, The Wiscountess 5 ()
Nov. 25, Nash, T. A. 1 1 0 Jan. 4, Carrel, Frederick () 1()
Nov. 25, Trevor, John 0 5 0 Jan. 4, Laws, T. C. . $ O 5
Nov. 25, Wacher, Francis . 0 10 0 Jan. 4, Abercrombie, Lascelles () 5
Nov. 25, Hughes-Gibb, Mrs. 0 5 0 Jan. 5, Bradgate, Mrs. I I
INov. 25, Farmer, Miss A. A. 0 5 0 Jan. 6, Leach, Henry () 10
Nov. 25, Hunt, Holman 1 1 0 Jan. 6, Cullen, H. N. tº * . () 5
Nov. 25, Tuckett, F. F. 1 0 0 Jan. 6, Lyall, The Right Hon. Sir
Nov. 25, Allen, Mrs. Grant 0 1 0 6 Alfred, P.C., etc. I 1.
Nov. 26, Hole, W. G. G 1 1 0 Jan. 7, Underdown, Miss Emily () )
Nov. 27, Granville, Charles 0 10 0 Jan. 8, Omond, T. S. * & 1 1
Nov. 27, Henoch, Miss Emily T. 1 1 0 Jan. 8, Paternoster, G. Sidney 1 1
## p. 112 (#156) ############################################
112
DITSIOR,
T
ISIES
2A
Jan.
Jan,
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
Jan.
9, Stockley, Mrs.
9, Tanner, James T. .
12, Tighe, Henry
12, Aitken, Robert
12, Bolton, Miss Anna
14, Williamson, W. H.
16, Furze, Miss Bessie
16, Shirley, Arthur tº
18, “Austin Clare " . e
Jan. 22, Williamson, Mrs. C. N.
Jan. 22, Williamson, C. N. © o
The names of those subscribers and donors which
are not included in the lists printed above, are
unavoidably held over to the March issue.
We regret the omission in the January number
among the new subscribers of the names of the
Hon. Mrs. Felkin (£1) and Wilfrid Ward (10s.).
The total amount of annual subscriptions
received and promised since the issue of the
circular amounts to £71. The total amount of
donations to £105.
COMMITTEE NOTES.
—e—º-0–
rTYHE first meeting of the committee in the
year 1909 was held at the offices of the
society on January 11. The New Year
has opened well with the election of thirty-four
members and associates. There were, however,
twenty-three resignations. At the commencement
of the year an increase in the number of resigna-
tions is to be expected. At the same time the
committee would like to call attention to the fact
that when, as is often the case, members who have
resigned for one reason or another desire to return
to the society, they are liable to be called on for a
statement of the reasons for their resignation, and
also for their seeking re-election ; and that the
committee will further consider the amount of
work which the society undertook for the applicant
during his former membership. These matters
will be taken into account by the committee in
determining the payment in respect of arrears to
be called for in each case. It is obviously unfair
that authors who only support the Society when
and while in direct need of its assistance should
reap the benefit of the society's machinery, which
has been built up mainly through the funds contri-
buted by constant subscribers who, very often
without need of its direct help, have nevertheless
felt it their duty to support the trades union of their
profession. This is not the first time that attention
has been drawn in these notes to this subject ; but
at this period of the year the committee deem it
unable to take up the duties.
desirable to put clearly before our members their
view and the action by which they propose to
enforce it.
The question of the Berlin Conference was
mentioned by the secretary, who reported the
action he had taken since the last meeting of
the committee, and it was decided to write to
the Music Publishers’ Association, the Publishers'
Association, and the Copyright Association with a
view to the formation of a joint sub-committee to
consider the question of copyright legislation, and
to take action, should it be necessary, to bring the
matter before the Government. The committee
appointed two delegates from the copyright sub-
committee (Mr. Anthony Hope Hawkins and Mr.
E. J. MacGillivray) to represent the society. Mr.
MacGillivray has consented to serve, but Mr.
Hawkins has, to the committee's regret, been
Another delegate
will be selected in his place. The secretary was
instructed to get the matter in train as early as
possible.
A case of infringement of copyright in China
was brought to the notice of the committee. The
Secretary was instructed to make the fullest
inquiries and to ascertain whether it was possible
to stop such infringement by action in the Consular
Courts. It is hoped to place a full report in The
Author at a later date.
Mr. Anstey Guthrie, one of the committee’s
nominees on the pension fund committee, retired
at the beginning of the year under the rules of the
Scheme, and was unanimously re-elected.
The sub-committee appointed, as stated in the
January issue of The Author, on the invitation of
Mr. C. J. Longman, on behalf of his firm and other
publishers, to discuss certain questions relating to
the book trade, have not, as yet, settled their report,
and accordingly, the matter was adjourned to the
next meeting.
The report of the committee on office manage-
ment was considered, and it was decided that, in
View of the increase of work at the office, another
clerk should be engaged and that other steps should
be taken to relieve the present pressure. The
committee have taken an extra room for the storage
of papers at the rent of £10 per annum.
The opinion of the society's counsel in the
United States on the dramatic case mentioned in
previous committee notes, was read, and it was
decided, as the matter is of great importance to
dramatists, to obtain another opinion. The Chair-
man proposed also to communicate the facts of the
case to the Right Hon. James Bryce, the British
Ambassador at Washington, a member of the
Society's council, and to ask him whether he
could in any way advise the Society as to its
best course. .
## p. 113 (#157) ############################################
TFIES A UTISIOR.
113
The opinion of the society’s solicitors in a case
of alleged infringement of copyright was then read
to the committee who, after full consideration of
the facts, regretted their inability to take the
matter up, -
During the past year the committee authorised
the inspection of a publisher's books by their
accountant. The accountant appeared before the
committee, and in his report expressed his inability
to satisfy himself on a good many items in the
accounts owing to the publisher's reluctance to
produce his books. It was decided to take the
matter up on behalf of the member and to proceed
with an action at law as soon as possible.
One of the dramatic members of the society
brought forward a case which appeared to the
committee to be of great importance to all
dramatic authors. They accordingly decided to
place the matter at once in the solicitors’ hands
and instructed the secretary to report to the
dramatic sub-committee what they had done. It
was impossible to refer the matter to the dramatic
sub-committee in the first instance as immediate
action was essential. -
Mrs. E. Nesbit Bland's resolution which was
adjourned from last month has now been with-
drawn at her request.
The date of the General Meeting of the society
has been definitely fixed for Monday, the 22nd day
of March. Formal notice, together with the report
for the past year, will be sent round to members in
due course.
The committee have to thank Mrs. Gunn, a
member of the Society, for a donation to the
society’s funds for work which had been carried
through on her behalf.
Mr. S. L. Clemens (“Mark Twain’’) has accepted
his nomination as a member of the council of the
society.
A vote of condolence was passed to the firm of
Messrs. Field, Roscoe & Co. on the loss they sus-
tained by the death of Mr. Basil Field, the senior
partner in that firm. Mr. Field's connection with
the society was fully set forth in the January issue
of The Author.
—e-º-º-
Cases.
SINCE the last issue of The Author there have
been ten cases in the hands of the Secretary.
Five of this number were claims for money; three
for the return of MSS.; and two for accounts.
Two of the claims for money were against a firm
which is now in liquidation — Messrs. Sisleys.
Other members of the society are involved in this
case. The liquidator is Mr. H. Wingfield, of
64, Cannon Street, E.C. The secretary will be
obliged if those members who have books published
by this firm will place their papers in his hands
that he may conduct the negotiations for them
through the society's solicitors. Of the other
three demands for money, one has been settled ; one
has been placed in the solicitors’ hands, and action
will be commenced in the County Court if neces-
Sary. Part of the claim in the last one has been
Settled, but there is still an amount due. One
of the MSS. cases has been settled, and the others
are in the course of negotiation. The cases of
accounts have only recently come into the secre-
tary's hands and at the time of going to press no
answer has been received to his letters. -
There are five cases still outstanding from the
previous month. One of these has been placed in the
Solicitors’ hands with instructions, to commence
County Court proceedings; one is in the course of
settlement, and the three others being respectively
in Madras, New Zealand and the United States of
America require some time before they can be
brought to a successful issue.
January Elections.
Baring, The Hon. Francis 34, Great Cumberland
Place, W.
Bateman, Sir Alfred, Woodhouse,
R.C.M.G. Wimbledon Park,
S.W.
Biss, Gerald . * . 1, Melina Place,
St. John's Wood,
N.W.
Carlyle, The Rev. A. J. . St. Edmund's Hall
House, Oxford.
Clifford, Mrs. W. K. 7, Chilworth Street,
W
Farringdon, Herbert M. . . 18, Queensborough
Terrace, Hyde
Park, W.
Fegan, J. B. 22, Great Marl-
borough Street, W.
Seaforth, Malvern.
4, Portman Mansions,
W.
28, Glebe Place,
Chelsea, S.W.
88, Twyford Avenue,
Fox, Archibald D. ©
Grossmith, George, Junr. .
Hamilton, Miss Cicely
Hamilton, Mrs. C. J.
Acton, W.
Ring, Mrs. Paul H. . Customs House,
Canton.
Lagden, Sir Godfrey, The Croft,
R.C.M.G.
Morton, Michael
Mulliken, Mrs. E. G.
Walton-on-Thames.
Lyceum Club, 128,
Piccadilly, W.
## p. 114 (#158) ############################################
114
TRIES A Pſ"TRIOR.
Pigott, J. W. . -
Potter, Frank E. Fairfield, 48,
Broomhouse Road,
Hurlingham, S.W.;
“Branksome,” Bishop-
stoke, Hants.
Newport House, Great
Newport Street,
W.C.
2, Whitehall Court,
S.W.
34, Brooke Street,
Holborn, E.C.
Hartford Bridge,
Winchfield, Hants.
Zig Zag Hall, Liscard,
Cheshire.
Acacia House, 10,
A c acia Ro a d,
Regent's Park.
Shirley, Arthur
Stanley, Lady .
St. Aubyn, F. .
Stayton, Frank
Steel, Richard .
Sutcliffe, Constance .
Tadema, Miss Laurance . The Fair Haven,
Alma Wittersham, Kent.
Taylor, 23, Tottenhall Road,
Miss Elizabeth
Annie . tº tº tº
Unwin, Raymond
Wolverhampton.
“Wyldes,” North End,
Hampstead, N.W.
“Whatrang,” Annan,
French Indo-China.
Vaux, Patrick . . Thundersley, Essex.
Winter, Miss E. Saxon . 3, Lansdone Road,
Holl a n d Park
- Avenue, W.
Four members desire neither their names, their
pseudonyms, nor their addresses published.
Wassal, Mrs.
*—º-—a
w-v-w
Books PUBLISHED BY MEMBERs of
THE SOCIETY.
•-º-º-º-
ART.
THE MEDICI AT FLORENCE. Being Part III. of the
Benaissance in Italian Art and containing a separate
analysis of Artists and their Works in Sculpture and
Painting. By SELwyN BRINTON. 7# × 5%. 149 pp.
Fairbairns. 2s. 6d. n.
MEDIAEVAL SINBALESE ART. By ANANDA IK. COOMAR-
ASWAMY. Fellow of University College, London.
133 × 10%. 339 pp. The Essex House Press. 43 38. m.
BIOGRAPHY.
THE LIFE STORY OF SIR CHARLES TILSTON BRIGHT,
Civil Engineer. Revised and Abridged Edition. By
C. BRIGHT, F.R.S.E. 8; x 5}. xx + 478 pp. Con-
stable. 12s. 6d. n.
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
MINNIE AND TEDDIE. A true story. By MRs. E. Row-
LAND. Published by the Author, Llwyn-y-Brain,
Whitland, South Wales. 18.
CHILDREN FOR EVER.
6%. 352 pp.
6s, n.
By JOHN F. MACPHERSON. 83 ×
Illustrated by TONY SARG. J. Long.
BOOKS OF REFERENCE.
THE CATHOLIC WHO's WHO AND YEAR-Book, 1909.
Edited by SIR. F. C. BURNAND. 7+ x 43. 555 pp.
Burns and Oates. 3s. 6d. n.
DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY. Edited by
SIDNEY LEE. Vol. XI.
1,335 pp. Smith, Elder.
Kennett-Lluelyn.
15s, m.
9; x 6+.
CLASSICAL.
THE YEAR’s WORK IN CLASSICAL STUDIES, 1908. Edited
for the Council of the Classical Association by W. H. D.
ROUSE, M.A., Litt.D. (3rd Year of Issue). 83, X 53.
176 pp. Murray. 2s. 6d. n.
DRAMA.
HYMENAEUs. A Comedy. Now first printed with an
Introduction and Notes by G. C. MooRE SMITH, Litt.D.
6# X 5. xvi + 84 pp. Cambridge University Press.
2s. 6d. m.
ECONOMICS.
LANDHOLDING IN ENGLAND, CONSIDERED IN RELATION
TO POVERTY. By MRS. ALFRED MARKs. 74 × 5.
193 pp. Fifield. 1s. n.
THE EVIL OF THE MILLIONAIRE. By REV. FRANCIS
MINTON, M.A. X. —H 208 pp. Swan Sonnenschein.
3s. 6d. n.
FICTION.
MARAMA. By MRS. WOOLLASTON WHITE. 73 × 5.
196 pp. Washbourne.
LEILA : AND HER RING COPHETUA.. By MRs. E. Row-
LAND. Published by the Author, Llwyn-y-Brain, Whit-
land, South Wales. 2s. 6d.
HARRY OF ATHOL. By R. H. FOSTER.
Long. 68. .
THE WHIPS OF TIME. By ARABELLA KENEALY. 73 × 5.
384 pp. J. Long. 68.
SARAH VALLIANT'S PROBLEM.
Ouseley. 1s.
LOVE AND A WOMAN. By CHARLOTTE MANSFIELD.
7} x 5. 330 pp. Werner Laurie. 6s. -
LITTLE MISS MUFFET. By ROSA NOCCHETTE CAREY.
8} x 5%. 160 pp. The Leisure Hour Library Office. 6d.
GOD's ABYSS AND A WOMAN. By CHARLES GRAN VILLE.
7 × 4%. 156 pp. (Cheap Reprint). The Open Road
Publishing Co. 1s. n.
THE GIRL FROM GATFORD. By OLIVIA RAMSEY. 73 × 43.
307 pp. John Long. 6s.
THE MARRIAGE OF LIONEL GLYDE. By OLIVIA RAMSEY.
74 × 4%. 316 pp. John Long. 6s. r
THE WAYS OF MEN. By H. F.Low ERDEw.
344 pp. Unwin. 6s.
THE HOUSE CALLED HURRISH.
372 pp. Hutchinson. 6s.
THE TESTAMENT OF JUDAS.
318 pp. J. Long. 68.
THE LONG ARM. By E. PHILLIPs OPPENHEIM. 7# × 53.
318 pp. Ward, Lock. 6s.
SEPTIMUS. By W. J. LoCKE. 73 × 5. 360 pp. Murray. 6s.
THE GOLDEN KEY: A CoMEDY of TEMPERAMENTs. By
DESMOND COKE. 7# × 5: 312 pp. Chapman and
Hall. 6s.
THE INTERRUPTED KISS.
328 pp. Cassell. 68.
MERELY MAN. By GERTRUDE WARDEN. 73 x 5. 311 pp.
White, 68.
315 pp. J.
By H. B. BLAIR. 129 pp.
7% x 5.
By RITA. 73 × 5.
7
By H. BYALT.
By RICHARD MARSH. 73 × 5.
## p. 115 (#159) ############################################
TISIE AUTISIOR.
115
LITERARY.
THE CHARACTERS OF PARADISE LOST.
73 × 5. 149 pp. Ouseley. 28.
THE COLLECTED WORKS IN VERSE AND PROSE OF
WILLIAM BUTLER YEATS. Wols. VII. and VIII.
(Bibliography 111 pp.) 9 × 53. 299 + 287 pp. Strat-
ford-on-Avon. The Shakespeare Head Press.
By M. A. WooDs.
HERMES AND PLATO. By FDOUARD SCHURf. Trans-
lated by F. RotRWELL. 73 × 5. 117 pp. W. Rider.
1s. 6d.
MEDICAL.
THE FOOD INSPECTOR'S HANDBOOK. By FRANCIS WACHER.
73 × 5. xxiv. -- 268 pp. Fifth Edition. The Sanitary
Publishing Co. 7s.6d. n.
DOCTORS. An Address [9 pp.] delivered to the Students
of the Medical School of the Middlesex Hospital.
1st October, 1908. Sold for the benefit of the Middlesex
Hospital. By RUDYARD KIPLING. With preface [12
pp.] 7} x 4%. 21 pp. Macmillan. 1S. m.
MISCELLANEOUS. -
LITTLE GAMES FOR LONDON DRAWING-ROOMS. By LADY
BELL. 6 x 43. 30 pp. Humphreys. 6d.
THE CORN LAW's : A POPULAR HISTORY. By MRS.
ALFRED MARKS. 74 × 5. 166 pp. Fifield. 18. n.
POETRY.
, BEADS FROM A LovER's ROSARY. By GEORGE F.
WILSON. George Allen. 2s. 6d. n.
THE DAWN OF LIFE, AND OTHER PoEMs. By H. MAC-
NAUGHTON-Jon ES. 83 × 6%. 31 pp. Kegan Paul.
2s. 6d. In.
REPRINTS.
THE COVENTRY LEET Book, PART I. Edited by MARY
DORMER HARRIS. (Early English Text Society.)
SOCIOLOGY. -
FABIAN ESSAYS IN SOCIALISM. By BERNARD SHAW AND
OTHERs. 8 x 5%. xxi + 233 pp. Walter Scott Pub-
lishing Co. 6d. n.
UTOPIAN PAPERs. Edited by DOROTHEA Holl,INs.
73 × 5. 208 pp. Masters. 3s.6d. n.
* ~ * TEIEOLOGY.
THE ONE VOLUME BIBLE COMMENTARY. Edited by J.
R. DUMMELOW., M.A. 9 × 6. 1,092 pp. Macmillan.
7s.6d. n. - ',
FATHER TYRRELL's MoDERNISM. An Expository
Criticism of “Through Scylla and Charybdis,” in an
open letter to Mr. Athelstan Riley. By HAKLUYT
EGERTON. 7; x 5. 216 pp. Kegan Paul. 5s.
PAUL THE MISSIONARY, AND OTHER STUDIES. By THE
REV. P. W. DE QUETTEVILLE. 73 × 5. 265 pp. P.
Green. 3s. 6d. n.
TRAVEL.
PARIS IN ITS SPLENDOUR. By E. A. REYNOLDS BALL.
Two vols. 8 × 53. 354 + 405 pp. Unwin. 10s. n.
BOOKS PUBLISHED IN AMERICA BY
MEMBERS.
BOOKS FOR THE YOUNG.
THE MONARCHS OF MERRY ENGLAND. (William I. to
Richard III.) By Rol,AND CARSE. Illustrated by W.
HEATH ROBINSON. Fred A. Stokes. $1.50.
GOLDEN SQUARE HIGH SCHOOL.
Lippincott. $1.25.
ROUGHRIDERS OF THE PAMPAs. A Tale of Ranch Life in
South America. By CAPTAIN F. SADLIER BRERETON.
By MARY BALDWIN.
$1.25.
A BOY AND A SECRET. By RAYMOND JACBERNs.
Lippincott. $1.25.
BOOKS OF REFERENCE.
DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY. By SIR LESLIE
STEPHEN AND SIDNEY LAZARUs LEE. New edition.
In 22 vols. Vol. X. Howard—Kenneth. Macmillan.
$4.25 n.
DRAMA.
A MYSTERY PLAY IN HONOUR OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR
LORD. By ROBERT HUGH BENSON. Longmans, Green.
906.
A MIDSUMMER-NIGHT’s DREAM. By WILLIAM SHAKES-
PEARE. Illustrated by ARTHUR RACKHAM. Doubleday,
Page, $5. n.
FICTION.
LIFE'S HANDICAP. MANY INVENTIONS. THE SEVEN
SEAS. By RUDYARD RIPLING. (Pocket Kipling.)
Doubleday, Page. $1.50 m. each. -
Pº By UNA LUCY SILBERRAD. Doubleday, Page.
1.50. -
*** By BEATRICE HARRADEN. Fred A. Stokes.
1.50. -
CAPTAIN MARGARET : A ROMANCE. By JOHN MASEFIELD.
Lippincott. $1.50 m. r
AS MAN LIVES ; OR THE MYSTERY OF THE YELLOW
EIOUSE. By E. PHILLIPs OPPENHEIM. $1.50.
SEPTIMUs. By W. J. LocKE. John Lane. $1.50.
MISCELLANEOUS.
ENGLISH FIGURE SKATING. A Guide to the Theory and
Practice of Skating in the English Style. By E.
FREDERIC BENSON. Macmillam. 2.50, n.
SCIENCE.
A TREATISE ON SPHERICAL ASTRONOMY. By SIR ROBERT
STAWELL BALL. Putnam. $3.75 m.
SOCIOI, OGY.
THE MISERY OF BOOTS. By HERBERT G. WELLs.
Publishing Co. 506. n.
SocIALISM AND THE FAMILY. By HERBERT G. WELLs.
Ball Publishing Co. 500. n.
Ball
—e—º-e—
LITERARY, DRAMATIC, AND MUSICAL
NOTES.
—º-º-º-
N our December number “The Adventures of
Cock Robin and His Mates,” by R. Kear-
ton, F.Z.S., was erroneously announced as
published by Messrs. Macmillan. The actual pub-
lishers are Messrs. Cassell, to whom We beg to
express our regrets for the error.
At the last meeting of the Académie Royale
d’Archéologie de Belgique, Count Plunkett (author
of “Sandro Botticelli”) was nominated a foreign
corresponding member of the Academy.
Messrs. Hodder and Stoughton announce for
early in the Spring a volume of humorous sketches
## p. 116 (#160) ############################################
116
TISIES A UITISIOR.
by Mr. Charles Garvice, entitled “The Scribblers’
Club.” Some of these have appeared from time to
time in the Westminster Gazette, and other journals
and magazines. It will be remembered that, by
the courtesy of the proprietors of the Westminster
Gazette, we printed one of these sketches, “The
Transformation of a Great Novelist,” in an issue
of The Author. Mr. Garvice desires to state that
the Scribblers' Club does not exist, excepting in his
imagination. Judging by those sketches we have
read, this fact is rather to be deplored.
E. Nesbit (Mrs. Hubert Bland) has just finished
a novel of a sensational and original kind. It will
be published early this year by Alston Rivers. It
is called “Salome and the Head,” and the heroine
is a famous dancer whose popularity involves her
in intrigue, mystery, and crime.
George Allen and Sons are publishing this month
a collection of E. Nesbit's stories that have been
written about children, not for them ; and the
author hopes that they may enable some readers to
understand children better. This book is called
“These Little Ones.”
“Daphne in Fitzroy Street” is the story of a
girl’s life among the art students of London, and
has engaged E. Nesbit intermittently during the
past two years. It is being published by G. Allen
and Sons.
E. Nesbit is also contributing a serial story for
children to the Strand Magazine, and has written
the first chapters of a novel to be called “Heron
Hall.”
We have received from Mr. Henry Froude,
“Joseph and his Brethren,” a dramatic poem by
Charles Wells, with an introduction by A. C. Swin-
burne, and a note on Rossetti and Charles Wells,
by Theodore Watts-Dunton. The volume is
No. 143 of “The World’s Classics” series.
Miss Arabella Kenealy's new novel, “The Whips
of Time ’’ (Mr. John Long), is a study in heredity.
A professor of science, believing that persons are
the resultant of their environment and upbringing,
and that heredity plays no part in the formation
of character, exchanges the child of a notorious
murderess for that of a cultured, highly-bred
mother. The American publishers of the book are
Messrs. Little, Brown, of Boston.
The “Treatise on Zoology,” edited by Sir E.
Ray Lankester and published by Messrs. A. and C.
Black, in now nearing completion. Five volumes
have already been issued, and two more will appear
immediately, viz., Part I. Introduction and Pro-
tozoa by Prof. F. J. Hickson and others, and
Part VII., Crustacea, by W. T. Calman, D.Sc.
Mr. Werner Iaurie is publishing shortly “Nights
with the Gods,” by Dr. Emil Reich. It is a study
of present day social, religious, literary and political
features, clothed in form of humorous criticism of
things and persons. The gods of ancient Greece
are depicted discussing modern England from the
standpoint of Hellenic and Roman civilisation with
Plato, Aristotle, Julius Cæsar, and other great
Greeks and Romans of the past.
“The Burglars' Club,” by Henry A. Hering,
which first came out in Cassell's Magazine, is now
appearing in a Paris Weekly. It has been trans-
lated into German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish and
Dutch.
In “Trees and Shrubs of the British Isles,
Native and Acclimatised,” the authors, Messrs.
C. S. Cooper, F.R.H.S., and W. Percival Westell,
F.L.S., have produced a work which deals popularly
and authoritatively with over 550 species. The
book includes a glossary, a lengthy introduction,
and eighty-six illustrations, of which sixteen are in
colour. Messrs. Dent are issuing it in sixteen
parts at a shilling each part.
In connection with the recent award of the
Nobel Prize for Literature, it may be noted that
“Rudolf Eucken's Philosophy of Life,” by Prof.
W. R. Boyce Gibson, is already in a second
edition. Professor and Mrs. Gibson have almost
ready for publication in the Spring Eucken's
“The Meaning and Value of Life.” The
publishers are Messrs. A. and C. Black.
“Love and a Woman,” a new novel by Charlotte
Mansfield, has just been brought out by Mr.
Werner Laurie.
Mrs. Irene Harborough-Sherard (Irene Osgood)
has gone to Jamaica to obtain materials for a new
novel.
We have received the following books from Mr.
John Ouseley : —“The Characters of Paradise
Lost,” by M. A. Woods; “Girl-life in the Harem,”
by Annie Reichardt ; “Little Dorothy,” by T. H.
Chetwynd ; “Sarah Walliant's Problem,” by H. B.
Blair ; “Paul Richards, Detective,” by Duncan
Dallas.
Mrs. E. Rowland has just brought out “Leila :
and her King Cophetua.” and “Minnie and Teddie :
a True Story.” They may be obtained of the
author, Llwn-y-Brain, Whitland, South Wales.
Messrs. Crewsher's latest issues in their School
Series of Songs by L. Budgen are “King Frost,”
“Early June,” “Spring Weather,” and “The
Scent of the May.”
The Kingsgate Press are publishing a definitive
edition of “Poems” by Mackenzie Bell. Mr. Bell
dedicates the book to Mr. Theodore Watts-Dunton.
Mrs. Florence Gay is at present engaged on a
new romance, entitled “ Brude the Pict,” which
will be published by Mr. John Ouseley. Sir
Gilbert Parker will contribute an introduction to
the book, which deals with the same early period
of British history as Mrs. Gay's recent publication,
“The Druidess.”
## p. 117 (#161) ############################################
TRIE AUTISIOIR,
117
Miss Emily Baker has contributed to the Occult
Review for January a biographical article on
“Two Famous Astrologers of the 17th and 18th
Centuries—Vincent and Tycho Wing.”
Mr. John Lane will issue shortly a new colour
book by Miss Agnes Herbert, with illustrations by
Mr. Donald Maxwell. Miss Herbert is the author
of “Two Dianas in Somaliland,” and “Two Dianas
in Alaska.”
Mr. Robert Machray, who is busy this winter on
the biography of his uncle, the late Archbishop of
Rupert's Land, the first Primate of Canada, will
publish in mid-February his new novel, “The
Disappearance of Lady Diana,” which has been
running for the past six months in the Novel
Magazine.
On January 9, at the Comedy Theatre, a
comedy in three acts by W. Somerset Maugham
was produced. It is entitled “Penelope,” and
concerns the efforts—finally crowned with success—
of a young wife to reclaim her erring husband.
The cast included Miss Marie Tempest, Miss Kate
Bishop, Miss Norma Whalley, Mrs. Calvert, Mr.
Eric Lewis, and Mr. Graham Browne.
The Afternoon Theatre Company are producing
in a series of matinées at His Majesty's Theatre,
“The Admiral Bashville,” by Bernard Shaw, and
“Tilda’s New Hat,” by George Paston. The latter
is a revival, while the former has previously only
been privately staged. The first performances were
given on January 26.
“Diana of Dobson's,” by Cicely Hamilton, was
revived at the Kingsway Theatre by Miss Lena
Ashwell last month.
“The Hypocrites” has been produced with
success at the Teatro Principal at Barcelona.
There were seven curtains after Act III. “The
Liars ” will be produced at the same theatre in
April.
January 23 was the first night of “Our Miss
Gibbs,” by J. T. Tanner and “Cryptos” at the
Gaiety Theatre. The plot concerns the adventures
of an assistant at Garrod's Stores, who is engaged
to an earl disguised as a bank clerk. Miss Gertie
Millar in the name part was supported, among
others, by Miss Jean Aylwin, Miss Denise Orme,
Mr. O. B. Clarence, Mr. George Grossmith, and
|Mr. Edmund Payne. The music is by Ivan Caryll
and Lionel Monckton. -
*—º- a
w-v-w
PARIS NOTES.
—e—sº-º-
& 6. A Mort de Philae,” by Pierre Loti, is a
book on Egypt, dedicated to his friend
“Moustafa Kamel Pacha, who died in
February, 1908, in the midst of his admirable
attempt to uphold the dignity of his country and
of Islam.” The volume contains twenty chapters,
each one describing in Loti’s exquisite language
and poetical style the various places and scenes
which made the most impression on him. Among
these chapters are the following :-‘Minuit d'hiver
en face du grand sphinx,” “La mort du Caire,”
“Un centre d’Islam,” “La Race de bronze,” “La
déchéance du Nil,” “A Thébes, la nuit,” “Thebes
au Soleil,” and “La mort, de Philae.” In these short
chapters the author succeeds in giving the atmo-
sphere of Egypt, with all its poetry, its mystery,
and its antiquity. From the first line to the last,
though, it is very evident that he resents the in-
vasion of the “modernists,” and perhaps more than
all the sans géne of the English, in Egypt. He
tells us that behind the Chéops pyramid a huge
hotel has been built which is “full of snobs and
elegant women, befeathered like so many Red
Indians for their scalp dance.” Later on he
describes a mosque and the evening prayer dis-
turbed by a band of tourists laughing and talking.
Pierre Loti asks, in what European church, when
people were at prayer, would Mussulman tourists
be allowed to disport themselves “like these
Savages " ? At Abydos everything is spoilt once
more for Loti by the arrival of another band of
English tourists. “Oh, poor temple !” he ex-
claims, “to be profaned by anything so grotesque
is a greater insult than to be pillaged by bar-
barians.” A table for about thirty men and
Women is arranged for luncheon, and these guests
belong to “that special race of humanity which
frequents Thos. Cook & Son.” He goes on to
describe the meal of whisky-and-soda and sand-
wiches, and the pieces of greasy paper strewed
about the marble flags afterwards. “And the ladies
of the party,” he says, “ oh, the ladies, what scare-
crows for the birds !” After this scene Abydos
and the desert no longer exist for Loti. He is
haunted by the faces of these women and by their
hats. He says that he has heard an explanation
given for the peculiar ugliness of the women who
travel with Cook's tickets. It appears that all
English women who are not considered pretty
enough to marry receive an unlimited amount of
money to be spent in Cook's tickets. They are
doomed, therefore, to travel for the rest of their
lives, so that they may not have time to think of
other things. This arrangement is made in order
that the English race of women may not deteriorate.
“Cette explication m'await séduit d'abord,” says
Loti : “mais un examen plus attentif des bandes
qui infestent du Nil m'a permis de constater que
toutes ces Anglaises y Sont d'un age notoirement
canonique ; done la catastrophe de la procréation,
si tant est qu’elle ait pu se produire chez elles
doit remonter a des époques bien antérieures à leur
enrôlement. Et je demeure perplexe . . . .” It
## p. 118 (#162) ############################################
118
THE AUTHOR.
is very evident, from nearly every chapter of the
book, that the beauty and harmony of all that is
sacred in Egypt was completely destroyed for Loti
by the horde of tourists he met at every turn.
“Mémoires de la Cour de Louis XIV., by
Primi Visconti,” is an extremely entertaining
volume in which the author gives an account of
the every-day events which took place at the Court
of the “Great Monarch.”
Primi Visconti was born in 1648 in Italy. At
the age of nineteen he published a novel, and in
1672 he went to France. He was very much
interested in the occult sciences, and before very
long became quite famous as a graphologist and
a diviner of future events. Very soon after his
arrival in France the Court ladies were most eager
to have the lines of their hands told by him.
In 1682 Primi published the first volume of his
“History of the Dutch War.” As he gave details
about the visit of Madame to Dover for the pur-
pose of negotiating an alliance between England
and France against Holland, the English ambas-
sador Preston took offence, and the consequence was
that Louis XIV. wrote to La Reynie requesting that
the book should be withdrawn from circulation.
The King's orders were obeyed, and Primi was
imprisoned in the Bastille for six months. At
the end of that time, though, we are told that the
King took him back into favour, so that the im-
prisonment was evidently merely diplomatic policy.
In 1687 Comte Primi Visconti married Mar-
guerite, the daughter of Frédéric Leonard, one of
the first publishers in Paris. Marguerite had
translated, from the Italian, a work on the state of
the Republic of Naples—rather a remarkable feat
for a woman in those days.
Marguerite was first married to a M. Herbin,
and on consulting Wisconti about her future lot
in life, the latter prophesied her husband's death
and her second marriage. When M. Herbin died
she was accused of poisoning him, and was not
acquitted for several months. She was shortly
after engaged to Wisconti, but her father would
not hear of the marriage, and although she was at
that time thirty-two years old he obtained a decree
of Parliament to prevent it and to send his daughter
to a convent. Leonard published various pamphlets
endeavouring to prove that Wisconti was an
impostor, and the accused man on his side did all
he could to influence his protectors at Court, and
in the end he won his cause. The marriage was
celebrated in 1688.
Comte Primi Visconti seems to have been a
privileged person at Court and to have come into
contact with a great number of the historical
personages of his times. He tells anecdotes about
Mademoiselle de la Vallière, Madame de Montespan,
the Chevalier de Rohan, Mademoiselle de Fontanges,
Madame de Maintenon, and very many other
members of Louis XIV.'s Court. -
The “Mémoires du Géneral Griois” cover the
period from 1792 to 1822. He tells of his edu-
cation at Châlons, of his family, of the early days
of the Revolution, the emigration of the aristocrats,
the September massacres. He then describes his
military career, his departure for Elba and life
there. He gives details about the Italian campaign.
The charm of the book is its extreme simplicity.
It is just a soldier's account of his life and its
everyday events, told without any seeking-after
effect but in the most natural manner possible.
The description of Calabria is particularly
interesting just now. The author speaks of the
terrible earthquake which had devastated it in
1788. He tells that the shocks continued for
Several months, and he relates some of the stories
told by the survivors.
The Académie Goncourt prize for 1908 has
been awarded to Francis de Miomandre for his
novel “Ecrit sur de l'Eau.” Among other new books
are the following:—“L’Idylle de Marie Biré,”
by Gustave Geffroy ; “La Montée,” by Pierre
Willetard ; “Un grand homme,” by Gaston Rageot.
“Cyrène,” by Ossit, is a novel which, in reality,
is the love story of a somewhat enigmatic man and
woman. Cyréne from her childhood has a strange
passionate nature. She is married at an early age
to a man whom she afterwards despises and detests.
After her husband's death she meets again a man
who has always interested her, and this time her
love ends in tragedy. The minor characters of
the book are well drawn, the interest sustained,
and the whole story very real and living.
“La Jolie Princesse,” by Marie Anne de Bovet,
is a volume of short stories told in the vivacious
style peculiar to this author. “Le Sabre et la
Plume” is a very clever psychological study told
with distinct dramatic effect. “Saint Cyriens,”
“La Proie et l'Ombre,” and “Le Tabernacle,” are
the other stories in the book.
In the latest numbers of La Revue hebdomadaire
M. Henry Van Dyke writes on “L'esprit d'inde-
pendance et la République des Etats-Unis’’;
M. André Beaunier publishes some of Gounod's
letters, and André Chaumeix writes an article on
the new Academician, M. Francis Charmes, who
succeeded Brunetière as editor of the Revue des
Deua Mondes. Frédéric Masson gives an interest-
ing account of Sir Hudson Lowe and his earlier
life before he was made Governor of St. Helena ;
Jean Izoulet writes on “J. J. Rousseau, aristo-
crate ’’; Guglielmo Ferrero writes a curious article
on “Le Vin dans l'histoire de Rome,” and finishes
by applying what he has said of Rome to the Paris
of to-day. “Paris,” he says, “is the modern
Rome, the metropolis of the Latin world.”
/
## p. 119 (#163) ############################################
TFIES A DITFIOR.
119
In the recent numbers of La Revue de Paris
Richard Wagner's letters to Otto Wesendonk are
published. There are articles by Victor Bérard on
“Autriche et Servie,” and by Louis Houllevigne on
Da Synthèse de la Lumière. Ernest Lavisse Con-
tinues his account of his visit to Berlin, and Clara
Wiebig her novel, “Pécheresse.” There are also
articles on “L’Accord Américain-japonais,” by
Louis Aubert ; and on “Discipline et Silence,” by
Comte Leonce Abeille. g
At the Théâtre Français “Le Foyer” is still
being played. - *
“Le Poussin,” by M. Edmond Guirand, is being
given at the Odéon. M. Guirand is well known to
the public by his clever adaptation of “Anna
Rarenina,” which was also given a short time ago
by M. Antoine.
The opening of a new theatre, the Théâtre
Michel, was quite a Parisian event. A comedy by
M. Tristan Bernard was given, entitled “Le
Poulailler.” -
ALYS HALLARD.
“La Mort de Philae'' (Calmann Lévy).
“Mémoires de la Cour de Louis XIV.” (Calmann Lévy).
“Mémoires du Général Griois’’ (Plon).
“Cyrène,” by Ossit (Lemerre).
“L'Idylle de Marie Biré” (Fasquelle).
“La Montée’” (Fasquelle).
“Un grand homme " (Calmann Lévy).
“La Jolie Princesse,” by Marie Anne de Boret (Lemerre).
—e—º-e—
SPANISH NOTES.
< 4 A Ciudad de la Niebla’’ (The City of Fog),
L by Pio Baroja, shows that this Spanish
author is a keen observer, and his descrip-
tions of London, to which he gives the above title,
are interesting as the impressions our Capital
make on a Southern character. The policeman's
power in the order of the traffic, the dreary fogs,
the aspects of a boarding-house in Bloomsbury, are
all well noted. The father and daughter, the chief
characters in the book, seem to have escaped from
Spain as they were suspected of being concerned
in the Bomb outrage. The girl is stimulated to
make her own living by the sight of the industry
of her English acquaintances. But energy at last
dies down in the Southerner, especially as her father
forsook her on his marriage with a flighty French-
woman in the boarding-house. A Spaniard Sets
before the heroine the hard conditions of a life of
independence in a foreign country compared to
the ease of a marriage in her own Sunny Spain.
The advocate for “submission ” prevails, and the
girl returns to Madrid, where she becomes the wife
of her cousin, and occasionally dreams of the
experiences she so
England.
Bernardo Morales Sam Martin has just published
a dramatic novelette called “Alma de Artista”
(The Soul of an Artist). The hero, Michael de la
Huerta, justifies the hopes and sacrifices of his
peasant parents by taking a very high place in the
world of art. A marriage with a lady of high
degree seems to complete the artist's happiness.
But the lady wearies of her husband and starts a
flirtation with Michael’s best pupil, and, as he
thought, his staunchest friend. Finding a letter
from this man making an appointment with his
wife, Michael, after the storm of indignation and
sorrow had swept his soul clean of love, determines
that he himself will make the way free to the
intriguing pair. So the dénouement comes in a
most original way. The wife is bidden to take a
drive with her husband. Fear fills the shallow
lady's heart when she finds herself at the spot
where the tryst had been arranged. But Michael,
Seeing his traitor friend, quietly walks up to him
and, after putting the hand of his wife in his,
turns his back on them both ; his delicate soul
could brook no tampering with loyalty, and with
his own hand he set the seal on his wife's course
which proved her to be no longer worthy to be
queen of his soul.
Morales San Martin has written another story, to
which I will refer next month, showing the effect
of the same sort of treachery on a mind uncultured
and undisciplined; for the author is essentially a
psychologist.
Doctor Garcia Harta has just published an
“Essay on Social Pathology,” and its pages, which
throw much light on how the poor live, draw
attention to the necessary prevention of pauperism
by education,
Señor Luca de Tena, the energetic proprietor of
A. B. C., is Organising a special number of his
paper with contributions from those ranking high
in politics, art, and science, in aid of those suffer-
ing from the disaster in Messina. Señor Luca de
Tena has just been appointed a life Senator
(Senador Vitalico) by the King's order, and the
palatial hall of the paper was the scene the other
day of an enthusiastic ovation of congratulation to
the chief by his immense staff of employees.
The death of Don Cayo Lopez leaves a blank in
the company of those who worked loyally for the
Restoration, and who was an enthusiastic follower
of the great Sagasta, and as Civil Governor of
Barcelona he did much useful work.
La Avellaneda, the renowned Spanish poetess, was
compared by Juan Valera to Victoria Colonna, so
the publication of her letters and autobiography
has excited much interest. In the letters of 1840
to Cepeda there is a falling off of the primal fervour,
graphically describes in
## p. 120 (#164) ############################################
120
TISIE AICſ’’INFIOR.
and it is noteworthy that the public now owe this
collection of letters to the widow of this great friend
of the poetess.
The cession of the Island of Cortegada, off the
coast of Galicia, to H.M. King Alfonso of Spain
has now finally been completed, says El Mundo
(The World). The Galicians are delighted, for the
visit of their Majesties of Spain to this beautiful
neighbourhood is announced for the Spring, and it
is hoped that Mondariz will be included in the
royal tour of the Region. Her Majesty Queen
Victoria of Spain has just united a large number of
illustrious ladies into a working party for the poor
under the appellation of Society of Saint Victoria.
Much sympathy is expressed in Madrid with
Señor Moret, the leader of the Liberal party, on
the death of his wife at Biarritz after a short illness.
The centenary of the death of Sir John Moore
was celebrated last month with enthusiasm. The
army and navy both took part in the ceremonies,
and after General Arpe had delivered an eloquent
oration he placed on the tomb of the hero a magnifi-
cent wreath of flowers tied with the colours of
France and Spain ; and all Corunna was en fête.
A book entitled “Anthropologia Criminal” has
just been published by Don Fructuoso Carpena.
The author gives the histories of many criminals,
and scientifically shows that their deficient morality
is for the most part due to physiological reasons.
When visiting the chief prison of Madrid I was
much struck with the attention given to this side of
criminality. Policemen attend regularly lectures
on physiology, and in another department the eyes,
ears, hands, heads, etc. of criminals are put under
the examination of a clever scientist.
RACHEL CHALLICE.
—e—º-e—
COPYRIGHT IN MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS.
MABE v. CONNOR.
HE question in this case, which came before
the Divisional Court, was whether a per-
forated music roll, adapted for use on an
instrument called a Cecilian piano player, so as to
produce the music of a copyright song entitled
“Bandolero,” was a pirated copy of a musical
work, in respect of which remedies are provided
by the Musical (Summary Proceedings) Copyright
Act, 1902. The perforated music roll had been
offered for sale in the street, and on behalf of the
owner of the copyright the roll was seized by a
constable, and the vendor was summoned before the
magistrate to show cause why the roll should not
be forfeited or destroyed, in accordance with the
provisions of the statute. The magistrate, follow-
ing the decision in Boosey v. Whight, decided that
the perforated music roll was not a copy of the
musical composition, and dismissed the summons,
but he stated a case for the opinion of the High
Court. -
In the more recent Act relating to summary
remedies for infringement of copyright in musical
compositions—the Musical Copyright Act, 1906–
it is expressly provided that “pirated copies”
referred to therein do not include perforated music
rolls used for playing mechanical instruments, or
records used for the reproduction of sound waves,
or the matrices or other appliances by which such
rolls or records are made. It was contended, how-
ever, that as there was no such clause in the Act
of 1902, the Legislature must have intended such
rolls to be considered as pirated copies. There is
no definition of “pirated copies” in the Act of
1902. A “pirated musical work" is mentioned in
the interpretation clause, but not elsewhere in the
Act, and is declared to mean any musical work
written, printed, or otherwise reproduced, without
the consent of the copyright owner. It was urged
that any reproduction, whether a copy or not,
àmounted to a piracy, and that the roll in question
was a reproduction to which the provisions of the
Act of 1902 applied.
The Lord Chief Justice, in delivering judgment,
pointed out that the Act of 1902 was passed two
years after the decision in Boosey v. Whight, and
it must be taken that Parliament knew that for an
action for infringement of copyright perforated
music rolls were not copies of a musical work. It
had been argued that the Act of 1906 had altered the
position by saying that “pirated copies” for the
purposes of that Act should not include perforated
music rolls, and so implying that for the purposes
of other Acts they should be included. He knew
of no rule by which he would be justified in
drawing that inference.
The Court held that they were bound by the
decision in Boosey v. Whight, and the appeal was
dismissed.
Leave to appeal was given.
THE DRAMATISATION OF NOVELS.
AMERICAN CASE.
RECENT case in the United States brings
into prominence the peculiarity of English
law relating to the dramatisation of novels,
and the more generous treatment accorded to
authors in other countries.
The widow of the late Henry J. W. Dam
brought an action against the Kirke La Shelle
Company in respect of the infringement of the
## p. 121 (#165) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
121
dramatic rights in a story entitled “The Trans-
mogrification of Dan,” of which her husband was
the author, and which was published in the Smart
Set in 1901. The defendant company, some four
years afterwards, produced in New York a play
called “The Heir to the Hoorah,” by Paul
Armstrong, and it was alleged that the play had
been taken from the story. No part of the
dialogue in the play had been copied from the
magazine ; but the judge found that there was a
substantial similarity between the literary com-
position, which was duly copyrighted, and the
play. He held, therefore, that the author's
exclusive right, according to American law, to
dramatise his work had been infringed, and that
the plaintiff was entitled to an injunction and an
account of the profits arising out of the per-
formances of the play produced by the defendant
company.
The following passages in the judgment may be
quoted:—“The theme or subject of the story is
substantially imitated in the play. . . . It is true
the dialogue of the drama is not in the words of
the story, but its exact phraseology is not neces-
sary to the adaptation of the plot or subject, or
the portrayal of the different characters of the
play. The actors imitate or portray the characters
in the story, and make use of the incidents and
situations, which apparently give expression to the
central theme or purpose of the author. . . .
The story is not strictly a dramatic composition,
although its special features, its incidents, per-
sonages, and episodes, plainly indicate that it is
not without dramatic interest, and can, by appro-
priate dialogue, scenes, and stage business, be
transformed into a drama. . . . It is enough that
the essence of the play has been taken from the
story.”
Now, it may be observed that if this action had
been brought in England the plaintiff must have
failed, because according to English law the author
of a novel or story is not entitled, as in other
countries, to the exclusive right of dramatising
his work. This right is given to authors not only
by the law of the United States, but it is recognised
by all the countries of the Union constituted by the
Berne Convention, with the exception of Great
Britain. It is also given to authors in Australia
by the Copyright Act, 1905 (Commonwealth of
Australia).
With regard to the dramatisation of novels, the
position of Great Britain is unique among the
sixteen countries comprising the Copyright Union
under the Berne Convention. One of the aims of
the recent Berlin Conference was to bring Great
Britain into line with the other countries in this
respect. In order to achieve this end, however, it
will be necessary to amend the domestic law of Eng-
land by an Act of Parliament. This was one of the
difficulties which led to the refusal of Great Britain
to assent to the Declaration of Paris in 1896 ; but
now that the British delegates have accepted the
principle under the Berlin Convention,” there is
reason to hope that the law will be amended, and
that this country will no longer deny to authors
the exclusive right of dramatising their works,
which is recognised by all the other countries
within, and even by countries outside, the Copy-
right Union.
HAROLD HARDY.
* See Article 12 of the Revised Convention, made at
Berlin, November 13, 1908, of which a translation
appeared as a supplement to the January issue of the
Author.
—e—º-e—
A BILL TO ABOLISH THE POWERS OF
THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN IN RESPECT
OF STAGE PLAYS AND TO TRANSFER
TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY THE
POWERS OF THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN
IN RESPECT OF THE LICENSING OF
THEATRES IN LONDON. -
MEMORANDUM.
HE object of this Bill is to abolish the censor-
ship of plays exercised in Great Britain
under the authority of the Lord Chamber-
lain and to transfer to the London County Council
as the local authority the power of licensing
and controlling theatres exercised by the Lord
Chamberlain in the central parts of the metropolis.
As to the censorship of plays it is proposed to
make theatrical performances subject to the same
control as performances in music halls. In the
case of music halls no censorship exists, but any
impropriety can be dealt with by the police or by a
refusal of the licence by the licensing authority,
which in London is the London County Council.
The censorship of plays does not exist in Ireland.
As to the licensing of theatres this power is now
exercised by or under the control of the local
authority in practically the whole of Great Britain
where theatres are found, except the central
district of London, the University cities of Oxford
and Cambridge, and places where His Majesty
resides. Further, even in the central district of
London, the London County Council as the local
authority has already extensive powers over the
structure of theatres under the Metropolis Manage-
ment Act, 1878.
Arrangement of Clauses.
1. Abolition of censorship of Lord Chamberlain.
2. Transfer to local authority of power of Lord
## p. 122 (#166) ############################################
122
TISIES A UITISIOR,
Chamberlain to license theatres in parts of
the county of London.
. Saving of Lord Chamberlain’s jurisdiction in
places of royal residence outside London.
Repeals.
. Definitions.
Short title.
Schedule.
3
;
Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent
Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of
the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons,
in this present Parliament assembled, and by the
authority of the same, as follows:—
1. Abolition of Censorship of Lord Chamberlain.
—It shall not be necessary to submit any stage
play to the Lord Chamberlain before the first
acting or presenting thereof, whether for hire or
otherwise, and it shall not be lawful for the Lord
Chamberlain to forbid the acting or presenting in
Great Britain of any stage play.
2. Transfer fo Local Authority of Power to Lord
Chamberlain to License Theatres in Parts of the
County of London.—(1.) The powers of the Lord
Chamberlain under the Theatres Act, 1843 (6 & 7
Vict. c. 68), in respect of the licensing and closing
of theatres within the ancient parliamentary
boundaries of the cities of London and West-
minster and of the boroughs of Finsbury and
Marylebone, the Tower Hamlets, Lambeth, and
Southwark, shall be transferred to the London
County Council. -
(2) The licence of the Ilondon County Council
shall be required in respect of a theatre within the
said ancient parliamentary boundaries authorised
by virtue of letters patent from His Majesty or his
predecessors (in this Act called a patent theatre) in
the same manner as if no letters patent had been
granted in respect thereof.
(3) The licence of the London County Council
shall be for such period not exceeding one year as
the Council may think proper. -
(4) The London County Council may delegate
its powers under this Act with or without any
restrictions or conditions as may be thought fit to
a committee (or to the justices of the county of
Ilondon in the same manner as if these powers had
been transferred to the Council by virtue of the
Local Government Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Wict. c.41).
(5) The fees payable to the Lord Chamberlain
under section four of the Theatres Act, 1843
(6 & 7 Vict. c. 68), shall be payable to the London
County Council and shall apply to patent theatres.
3. Savinſ of Lord Chamberlain's Jurisdiction in
Places of Royal Residence outside London.—Nothing
in this Act shall affect the powers of the Lord
Chamberlain under the Theatres Act, 1843 (6 & 7
Vict. c. 68), in respect of the licensing and closing
of theatres in those places outside the adminis-
trative county of London in which His Majesty,
his heirs and successors, shall in their royal persons
Occasionally reside.
4. Repeals.-The enactment mentioned in the
schedule to this Act is hereby repealed to the
extent specified in the third column of that
schedule.
3. Definitions. – In this Act the expression
“theatre’ means any house or other place of
º resort for the public performance of stage
playS.
The expression “stage play” has the same
º as in the Theatres Act, 1843 (6 & 7 Vict.
C. 68). -
6. Short Title.—This Act may be cited as the
Theatres Act, 1908.
SCHEDULE.
Jºnactment Repealed.
s
Session and
Chapter. Short Title.
Extent of Repeal.
The Theatres Act, Sections twelve, thirteen,
1843. fourteen, and fifteen.
6 & 7 Vict.
c. 68.
-º-º:
—e—º-e—
MAGAZINE CONTENTS.
—º-º-º-
BIBLIOPHILE.
Edgar Allen Poe, 1809-1849. By F. C. Owlett.
The Poetry of James Thomson. By Bertram Dobell.
BLACKWOOD.
By Oliver Elton.
CONTEMPORARY.
By Professor Richard M. Meyer.
Crabbe.
German Literature.
CORNHILL.
By Frederic Harrison.
By Jane H. Findlater.
Charles Eliot Norton.
The Novels of Fogazzaro.
FORTNIGHTLY.
Daniel Defoe. By John Masefield.
The New Poetry. By Filson Young.
The Writing of Books of Sport. By F. G. Aflalo.
MONTH.
John Milton. By the Rev. Herbert Thurston.
NATIONAL.
The Oxford Thackeray. By Austin Dobson.
The Shakespearean Problem. By George Hookham.
PUTNAM'S.
Edgar Allen Poe : From an English Point of View. By
Norman Douglas.
Poe as a Critic. By Sherwin Cody.
3alsac in Brittany. By W. H. Helm.
Israel Zangwill. By Clarence Rook.
## p. 123 (#167) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
123;
WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCERS
OF BOOKS.
——e——
ERE are a few standing rules to be observed in an
agreement. There are four methods of dealing
with literary property —
I. Selling it Outright.
This is sometimes satisfactory, if a proper price can be
obtained. But the transaction should be managed by a
competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of
the Society.
II. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of
agreement). • -
In this case the following rules should be attended to :
(1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of pro-
duction forms a part without the strictest investigation.
(2.) Not to give the publisher the power of putting the
profits into his own pocket by charging for advertisements
in his own organs, or by charging exchange advertise-
ments. Therefore keep control of the advertisements.
(3.) Not to allow a special charge for “office expenses,”
unless the same allowance is made to the author.
(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental
rights.
(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights.
(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher.
As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or
doctor |
III. The Royalty System.
This is perhaps, with certain limitations, the best form
of agreement. "It is above all things necessary to know
what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now
possible for an author to ascertain approximately the
truth. From time to time very important figures connected
with royalties are published in The Author.
IV. A Commission Agreement.
The main points are :—
(1) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production.
(2) Keep control of the advertisements.
(3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book.
General.
All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four
above mentioned.
Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author.
Never sign any agreement without competent advice from
the Secretary of the Society.
Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp.
Avoid agreements by letter if possible.
The main points which the Society has always demanded
from the OutSet are :–
(1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement
In 622. IlS. º
(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. tº
(3.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright.
e—º-0
WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.
—e-Q-0--
EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the
Secretary of the Society of Authors or some com-
petent legal authority. -
2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for
the production of a play with anyone except an established
manager, -
3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays
in three or more acts:—
(a.) Sale outright of the performing right. This
is unsatisfactory. An author who enters into
such a contract should stipulate in the contract
for production of the piece by a certain date.
and for proper publication of his name on the
play-bills.
(b.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to
perform on the basis of percentages on
grOSS receipts. Percentages vary between 5.
and 15 per cent. An author should obtain a
percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts,
in preference to the American system. Should
obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed
date on or before which the play should be.
performed.
(c.) Sale of performing right or of a licence to.
perform on the basis of royalties (i.e., fixed
nightly fees). This method should be always.
avoided except in cases where the fees are
likely to be small or difficult to collect. The
other safeguards set out under heading (b.) apply
also in this case.
4. Plays in one act are often sold outright, but it is
better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum
paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely
important that the amateur rights of one-act plays should
be reserved.
5. Authors should remember that performing rights can
be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and,
time. This is most important.
6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but
should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is.
of great importance.
7. Authors should remember that performing rights in a
play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager.
holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot
print the book of the words.
8. Never forget that United States rights may be exceed-
ingly valuable. They should never be included in English.
agreements without the author obtaining a substantiał
consideration.
9. Agreements for collaboration should be carefully
drawn and executed before collaboration is commenced.
10. An author should remember that production of a play
is highly speculative : that he runs a very great risk of .
delay and a breakdown in the fulfilment of his contract,
He should therefore guard himself all the more carefully in ,
the beginning.
11. An author must remember that the dramatic market,
is exceedingly limited, and that for a novice the first object .
is to obtain adequate publication.
As these warnings must necessarily be incomplete, on
account of the wide range of the subject of dramatic con-
tracts, those authors desirous of further information
are referred to the Secretary of the Society.
—e—Q–e—
WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS.
—e—sº-0–
ITTLE can be added to the warnings given for the
L assistance of producers of books and dramatic
authors. It must, however, be pointed out that, as .
a rule, the musical publisher demands from the musical
composer a transfer of fuller rights and less liberal finan-
cial terms than those obtained for literary and dramatic
property. The musical composer has very often the two
rights to deal with—performing right and copyright. He
## p. 124 (#168) ############################################
124.
TFIE A CITISIOR.
should be especially careful therefore when entering into
an agreement, and should take into particular consideration
the warnings stated above.
HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.
—e-S-0–
1. VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive
advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub-
lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his
business or the administration of his property. The
Secretary of the Society is a solicitor, but if there is any
special reason the Secretary will refer the case to the
Solicitors of the Society. Further, the Committee, if they
deem it desirable, will obtain counsel's opinion. All this
without any cost to the member.
2. Remember that questions connected with copyright
and publishers' agreements do not fall within the experi-
ence of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use
the Society.
3. Send to the Office copies of past agreements and past
accounts, with a copy of the book represented. The
Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new
or old, for inspection and note. The information thus
obtained may prove invaluable.
4. Before signing any agreement whatever, send
the document to the Society for examination.
5. 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 your calling in promoting
the independence of the writer, the dramatist, the composer.
6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception
of members' agreements and their preservation in a fire-
proof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as
confidential 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 to give
advice concerning 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. Fuller particulars of the Society’s work
can be obtained in the Prospectus.
7. No contract should be entered into with a literary
agent without the advice of the Secretary of the Society.
Members are strongly advised not to accept without careful
consideration the contracts with publishers submitted to
them by literary agents, and are recommended to submit
them for interpretation and explanation to the Secretary
of the Society.
This
8. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. Th
€
must be done within fourteen days of first execution.
Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members.
9. Some agents endeavour to prevent authors from
referring matters to the Secretary of the Society; so
do some publishers. Members can make their own
deductions and act accordingly.
10. The subscription to the Society is £1 1s. per
annum, or £10 10s. for life membership.
TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS.
HE Society undertakes to stamp copies of music on
behalf of its members for the fee of 6d. per 100 or
part of 100. The members' stamps are kept in the
Society's Safe. The musical publishers communicate direct
with the Secretary, and the voucher is then forwarded to
the members, who are thus saved much unnecessary trouble.
a—º- a
wº - w
THE READING BRANCH,
—º-º-º-
EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in the
M branch of its work by informing young writers
of its existence. Their MSS. can be read and
treated as a composition is treated by a coach. The term
MSS. includes not only works of fiction, but poetry
and dramatic Works, and when it is possible, under
Special arrangement, technical and scientific works. The
Readers are writers of competence and experience. The
fee is one guinea.
—e—º-e—
NOTICES.
—e—º-0–
HE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of
| the Society that, although the paper is sent to them
free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a
very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great
many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest
5s. 6d. Subscription for the year.
Communications for “The Author” should be addressed
to the Offices of the Society, 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's
Gate, S.W., and 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.
Communications and letters are invited by the
Editor on all subjects connected with literature, but on
no other subjects whatever. Every effort will be made to
return articles which cannot be accepted.
—º-º-º-
The Secretary of the Society begs to give notice
that all remittances are acknowledged by return of post,
and he requests members who do not receive an
answer to important communications within two days to
write to him without delay. All remittances should be
crossed Union Bank of London, Chancery Lane, or be sent
by registered letter only.
—e—º-e—
LEGAL AND GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE
SOCIETY.
—e-O-0–
ENSIONS to commence at any selected age,
either with or without Life Assurance, can
be obtained from this Society.
Full particulars can be obtained from the City
Branch Manager, Legal and General Life Assurance
Society, 158, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C.
## p. 125 (#169) ############################################
TFIES A [Cſ’INFIOR.
125
GENERAL NOTES.
—º-º-º-
AUTHORS’ AGENTS.
ONCE again it is necessary to call the attention
of the members of the society to the position of
authors’ agents. Authors' agents are no doubt
absolutely essential to many authors, if they are
to obtain the best price for their work, the best
contracts, and numerous markets, but an author's
agent, in order to do his best for the author, must
be in a position of great trust.
It is, therefore, much more important that the
author should supervise with the greatest care and
stringency a contract with an agent than a contract
with a publisher.
No agent should be allowed such a hold over
the author's property that he can destroy his
market. No agent should be allowed to insert
a clause in an agreement between author and
publisher:
1. That the agent alone can collect the monies
due to the author under that agreement :
2. That the agent alone is entitled to settle
disputes arising under that agreement.
An author should be very careful when an
agent, who is not his regular agent, approaches
him with an offer from a publisher, for in that
case the agent may be acting merely as the
publisher's tout.
The agent in many cases, it must be said with
regret, acts for the benefit of the publisher, and
prefers the easier solution of a difficulty by placing
a contract with a publisher with whom he is on
friendly terms, than trying if he can obtain a
better market elsewhere.
No agent should be allowed to bind the author
for a settled period to take the author's work or
should be allowed to obtain his fees on any contract
beyond the one he actually fixes on an author's
behalf.
If in a contract there is a clause binding the
author to offer other books to the same publisher,
the agent should not be allowed to draw his fees
on the other books unless the further transaction,
with the author's consent, passes through his
hands.
The mere fact that he has allowed the author to
sign such a clause tends to show he is a bad
agent. The period over which, under any agree:
ment, an agent draws his fees, and the amount of
his fées, should, if possible, be limited.
If on a contract the author allows the publisher
the exclusive right to deal with his foreign rights,
his dramatic rights, and his serial rights, an agent
should not be allowed his agency fees under such
a clause, especially when, as in some cases, the
publisher takes 50 per cent. of the returns.
The mere fact that an agent has allowed the
author to assign this exclusive right tends to show
he is a bad agent, that he has allowed the pub-
lisher to do his work and the unfortunate author
to pay a double fee, first to the publisher, and,
Secondly, to himself.
. An agent, too, who, when brought to book, fails to
give full information or return MSS. and then
Writes : “We assume no responsibility beyond
that of accounting to the author in the event of
sales,” is like Lady Clara Were de Vere, “not one
to be desired.”
These are some of the reasons, shortly stated,
why an author must be most careful about his
dealings and contracts with an agent. We make
these statements as certain matters in their usual
cycle have again become prominent.
It is at the same time almost unnecessary to
state that a good agent is often essential, may
double an author's income, and leave him time
and rest for the more important, the artistic, side
of his work.
SCHOLZ v. AMASIS, LD.
A CASE of interest to all dramatic authors was
decided by Mr. Justice Jelf last month—Scholz v.
Amasis, Ld. It was a case of infringement of
dramatic copyright.
As the matter is going to the Court of Appeal
we refrain from making a detailed comment. One
or two remarks, however, may not be out of place.
The first point to be determined is the date of
the first production of each piece, or the date when
each completed piece first came within the baneful
influence of the Copyright Statutes. When this
has been settled, it then remains a question of
fact whether piece No. 2 is an infringement of piece
No. 1.
The Judge remarked, when going through the
evidence, “that there was ample opportunity for
leakage ’’; in other words, that it was possible
that author No. 2 might have seen the play of
author No. 1. But there appears to have been no
direct evidence on this point.
Now direct evidence of or ample opportunity for
leakage might, in a case where the infringement
of copyright was doubtful, be a strong factor in
determining the issue ; but if there is a clear
infringement we submit that there is no need of
evidence of leakage at all; in other Words, that
an innocent infringer is always liable. The real
difficulty that arises in a case of this kind is
whether book No. 2, or drama No. 2, or poem
No. 2, is a copy or colourable imitation of book
No. 1, drama No. 1, or poem No. 1. This can
only be decided by those who have read both and
## p. 126 (#170) ############################################
126
TISIE A CITISIOR.
have sufficient literary and legal acumen to weigh
the facts.
We cannot discuss the evidence, not only for the
reason stated, that the case is going to the Appeal
*Courts, but also for the better reason that as yet
we have not had an opportunity of carefully
digesting it. All dramatic members of the society
will await the result of the appeal with anxiety.
WE publish in another column of The Author
the Bill for the Abolition of the Censorship, which
was introduced by Mr. R. Vernon Harcourt, and
is backed by the following names —Mr. A. E. W.
Mason, Sir Gilbert Parker, Mr. Ponsonby, Mr.
T. P. O'Connor, and Mr. Ramsay Macdonald, and
was ordered to be printed on the 17th December,
1908.
It would be interesting to know whether the
JBill, before it was drafted, was submitted to any
representative gathering or committee of dramatic
authors.
The dramatic committee of the Society of Authors
sees it now for the first time.
COLONIAL SALES.
WE print the following cutting from the Australian
paper, Z'he Book Lover :-
The American publishers have taken the matter of push-
ing their goods into the Australian markets very seriously
of late. Besides the selling of large editions of special
books, a number of firms have appointed Messrs. Nott and
Ramsay as their agents, and Mr. E. A. Woodd is represent-
ing them in Melbourne. Among those firms who have so
acted may be mentioned the Century Co.; Dodd, Mead and
Co.; Harper and Bros. ; Little, Brown and Co.; Chas.
Scribner's Sons, etc. This looks like a team which might
-do a great deal that is very much needed—from the reader's
point of view.
New books will shortly be coming in, and at last the
libraries will be able to have specimens of the best
American literature. It has been thought that we were
amply supplied ; but in reality our choice has been con-
trolled by the edicts of one or two men, and the freedom of
choice has been abolished altogether. It is the way of
trade ; and we hasten to say that it is not the fault of
individuals, but the perfectly normal working of the absurd
system which judges for us all as if we were so many sheep.
While that lasts, our only chance is to see that no single
man has power to flood our markets with rubbish and to
“exclude the smallest specimens of high-class work.
The question of colonial sales is one of growing
importance to English authors. If the English
publishers, through lack of energy and enterprise,
are being ousted from the colonial markets by the
American publishers, it is time that the English
author made some alteration in his business
methods.
What have the publishers to say ? Have they
any proposals to make Will they—to use a
colloquial phrase—take it sitting 2
It appears that their organisation in the colonies
must be very defective, to judge from the accounts
that come to the office.
It would be a good thing for authors to try and
get into touch with some enterprising houses in
Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand,
and see if by obtaining a contract direct they
cannot obtain higher royalties and larger sales.
MRS. MYALL.
MEMBERS of the society may remember that in
November the Pension Fund Committee awarded
a pension at the rate of £25 per annum to Mrs.
Myall (Laura Hain Friswell) under clause 16 of
the Pension Fund Scheme. By this clause the
committee may grant a pension if and while a
member is totally incapacitated for work, even
though he or she has not attained the age limit.
We regret to state that in the last few days of
1908 Mrs. Myall succumbed to that illness which
had stopped her from pursuing her literary labours.
Mrs. Myall—she wrote under her maiden name of
Laura Hain Friswell—was the daughter of the
well-known author of “The Gentle Life.” In
1898 she published a record of his life. One of
her last Works was a book of Reminiscences, pub-
lished in 1905, under the title of “In the Sixties
and the Seventies.” -
OP-e—4
ARTHUR WILLIAM A BECKETT.
—t—sº-º–
E have to regret the loss of an old and
prominent member of the Society of
Authors in the person of Mr. A. W. a
Beckett, whose death occurred on Thursday,
January 14, in the Home attached to St. Thomas's
Hospital. The news came as a great shock to
Mr. a. Beckett's friends and acquaintances, few of
whom had heard of the distressing circumstances
under which an operation had become necessary,
while an additional note of sadness was caused by
the fact that his death nearly synchronized with
the marriage in India of his elder son.
Arthur William a Beckett was the member of a
Wiltshire family claiming descent on good grounds
from the father of St. Thomas à Beckett. He was
the third son of Gilbert Abbott à Beckett, the
well-known metropolitan magistrate and humorist,
who wrote, among other things, the “Comic
History of England,” and the “Quizziology of the
British Drama,” and was one of the original staff
of Punch. He was born sixty-four years ago and
educated in that excellent old Eastern County
School, Felstead, whence at the age of eighteen he
## p. 127 (#171) ############################################
TISIES AICTEIOR,
127
obtained a clerkship in the War Office. After
three years' service in the War Office he was trans-
ferred to the Post Office, and even in these early
days the hereditary instinct towards literature began
to tell. He proceeded to dabble in journalism, wrote
a comic guide to the Royal Academy in collabora-
tion with his brother Gilbert, edited a small paper
called the Glowworm, started and edited another
small paper called the Britannia-—these were the
days when small individual efforts in journalism
had a chance—-wrote a novel, and at least one
play. In 1870 he was sent to the seat of the
Franco-German war as special correspondent to
the Standard and Globe, his knowledge of war
being derived from keen work both in the militia
and the volunteers. On his return he became
private secretary to the then Duke of Norfolk, and
in 1874 joined the staff of Punch, of which he
remained a member for no less than twenty-eight
years, acting as assistant editor to Sir Francis
Burnand. Among his most successful contribu-
tions to Punch was a series called “Papers from
Pump-handle Court,” the topical knowledge being
due to the fact that he was now called to the bar.
During these years he wrote four or five novels
and several plays, which duly made their appear-
ance in West End theatres, while for five years
(1891–1895) he found time to edit the Sunday
Times, in which he also wrote copiously. His
early connection with the War Office gave him
particular interest in military affairs, and he was
for a short time editor of the Naval and Military
Aſagazine. -
Mr. a Beckett's connection with the Society of
Authors was a long one. Joining the Society in
1890, he was elected almost immediately, upon the
motion of his friend, the late Mr. J. M. Lely, a
member of the managing committee, upon which
he sat without intermission for seventeen years,
serving for a time as vice-chairman—a post since
abolished as unnecessary. He was a member for
varying periods of the copyright sub-committee,
the pension fund committee, and the dramatic sub-
committee, and ungrudgingly responded to the
calls upon his time which all this entailed. His
associates of the society throughout his long official
tale of work found in him a colleague who was
alike industrious, adaptable and tactful, and we
take this opportunity of recording our sense of the
value of his services. It is an open Secret that
during recent discussions which arose among those
then responsible for the government of the society.
Mr. A. Beckett considered eventually that Wrong
counsels prevailed. He attended, however, meetings
both of the committee and council after the differ-
ence of opinion had been made public, and showed
in all possible ways his desire to remain at one
with the main objects of the Society, even while
differing, in company with other members, from the
Course pursued in certain instances. He welcomed
cordially the reconstitution of the society which
took place recently, and in the bringing about of
which he had no small share.
Mr. a. Beckett was also at different times
president and chairman of the council of the
Institute of Journalists and president of the News-
paper Society.
In his many capacities as journalist, author,
dramatist, littérateur, and man of affairs, he
showed great activity and versatility, and possessed
bright and varied qualities which served him well
throughout a long and hard-working life. In
private he was a well-known club man, with much
that was amusing and piquant to say of the very
many interesting people he had been intimate
with during his career.
—e—º-e—-
BRITISH AUTHORS AND AMERICAN
COPYRIGHT.
—º-º-º-
HE business of book production in Great
Britain and the Empire is being more and
more seriously affected by the working of
American copyright law, as at present constituted.
It is therefore imperatively necessary that all those
concerned with the business should study the
question and, being convinced of its urgency,
should take such action as may appear to them
the likeliest to safeguard their various interests.
Emphatically I am convinced that it is high time
the attitude and probable action of the authors, as
primal factors in this business, were known.
Investigation has convinced me that, of the three
main bodies of men concerned in British book pro-
duction—authors, publishers, printers and men of
allied trades—certain amongst the two latter bodies
will shortly propose definite and drastic action.
Of the probable course of this action I shall speak
later : meantime I shall give, broadly, my reasons
for thinking that it is the duty, and very much to
the interest, of authors, to make haste and join
the leaders of the other two bodies of men.
Copyright, as a measure for the safeguarding of
an author's interests, is precisely on all fours with
Patent, as a measure of protection for the inventor;
in this connexion, certain recent legislation suggests
reflection, too obvious to call for more than
suggestion. In U.S.A., pre-copyright days were
the days of let us be moderate, and say—whole-
sale annexation. But even in those primitive
times, certain American publishers recognised that
## p. 128 (#172) ############################################
128
TRIES A. LITISIOR.
prevailing conditions savoured somewhat of free-
booting : these, to their lasting honour, extended to
British authors certain courtesy rights, the fruits
of which appeared in, occasional, considerable
returns. Ultimately, after some fifty odd years of
agitation, in 1891 the American Copyright Law,
substantially as it exists to-day, was passed.
This law, the best—say, the only thing—we
could get, embodies the notorious industrial clause,
which provides that before a British author can
get copyright in U.S.A. his book must be set up
in type by American workmen. There are, of
course, other restrictions upon British authors.
At the outset, however, I want to emphasise the
mischief wrought upon us by this industrial clause.
Firstly, it is the worst we have to bear ; and
secondly, any author who cannot or will not
recognise the mischief, and do his part in curing
it is, in my opinion, past praying for. Now, the
direct consequences of this American Copyright
Act, with its industrial clause, were mainly
these :—
1. It became possible, as it was not before, for
a British author to obtain copyright in America.
2. A substantial proportion of the production of
books commanding a sale on both sides of the
Atlantic has been done in America, and is being
so done to a greater and greater extent.
3. It has given the American author copyright
throughout the British Empire, irrespective of the
country wherein his copyright is manufactured.
4. It has, of course, materially improved the
position of the American author in his own country,
by greatly checking, if not altogether putting an end
to, the issue of unauthorised reprints of popular
British books.
(Referring to 4, of course, even now, popular
authors who command big royalties do very well
in both countries. Incidentally, the popular author
does very well in any case by commanding his
home market—even as, in pre-copyright days, such
as Dickens, Thackeray, Scott, Byron, George
Eliot, and the rest did very well. But )
5. Where the present law bears—once again, to
put it mildly—with gross injustice, and while it
prevails will continue to bear, is upon the rank
and file of British authors. These have not fame,
or notoriety ; yet amongst them are to be found, it
is likely, the most faithful and painstaking workers:
maybe the coming giants of imaginative literature;
also workers in the technical branches, and in
science; the infinitely patient, who devote their
lives to research work, mayhap invaluable of its
kind—in short, all the meritorious obscure. Upon
these, who most deserve and need protection and
encouragement, this law presses with the most
relentless severity.
It presses upon these, because of the expense,
delay and infinite complexity involved in getting
their work set up in America, according to this
utterly inequitable law.
Here, the position bristles with technicalities;
broadly speaking, however, the practical results
of these complex obstructions are perfectly clear.
They are, chiefly —
1. The author, not being able to afford American
copyright, leaves his book unprotected ; if it turns
out to be worth reprinting, it is promptly issued
in America, giving him no return. It would be
an extensive and a striking list—that of British
books annexed in this manner: no doubt the
Authors’ Society could easily furnish the same. On
the other hand, the American author gains pro-
tection, not only in his own country, but through-
out the British Empire, by the simple and quite
inexpensive business of registering at Stationers’
Hall, and fulfilling other simple conditions.
(This state of things, of course, gives a healthy
impetus to American book-production, and accounts,
amongst many other things, for their successful
raiding of our colonial markets.)
2. On the commercial and industrial side, these
complications necessarily and inevitably drive the
British author and publisher, in many instances,
simply to hand over a large proportion of British
books to America. Here, the Publishers’ Associa-
tion would, I believe, be ready to draw up a list of
British books, by British authors, wholly or in part
produced beyond the Atlantic. Certain master-
printers also, to my certain knowledge, can unfold
a tale of steady and growing loss of British work.
So, the work of producing British books is being
given more and more to American workmen. If
Our own men and our rivals worked on level terms,
Sportsman or business-man would say, “Let the
best man win "; as it is, the Americans are
entrenched and armed ; our men are in the open
and, under present conditions, defenceless.
Our transatlantic rivals have wit enough to
make the most of these conditions aforesaid ; more
and more they study English taste in type, paper
and the rest of it ; and so the loss of British
book-production to British workmen goes on with
ever-increasing momentum.
Here, then, is the central problem. Unless past
and present damage is to eventuate in ultimate
disaster, there can be but one solution, we must
have open competition—the “square deal " of
President Roosevelt—or equal laws.
Certain publishers recognise these as the only
possible alternatives. Certain printers, and others
concerned in the business of book-production,
recognise them also. The trade unions, rank and
file, are becoming aware of this steady and growing
loss of work and wages; and the present trouble,
together with its only possible remedy, is shortly
## p. 129 (#173) ############################################
TISIES A UTISIOR,
129
to be definitively stated to certain associations of
workmen.
Granted permission, I shall have more to say of
this. So far as I am aware, authors as a body, or
even singly, have not as yet testified in this, their
recognised organ, where they stand as regards this
vital and urgent affair. As I said in the beginning,
they are the primal factors in the business of book-
production ; and it is high time they were heard
from. I trust I have said enough to induce at
least some expression of opinion on their part, an
expression to my mind distinctly overdue.
HERBERT C. MACILWAINE.
—e—º-0–
ON RENDERING ACCOUNTS.
—º-º-º-
T used to be the custom of all publishers to pay
royalties on every copy of a book sold, the
wording of the clause running, “undertake
to pay per cent. on every copy sold.”
This custom has been broken through by some
of the younger publishers, who desired to make an
extra percentage ; and some of the older houses
have followed their example. The new method is
to pay a percentage on every copy sold, with a
proviso ; the wording of the clause running some-
what as follows: “In estimating the royalty on
copies sold thirteen copies shall be reckoned as
twelve.”
It is manifest from these two arrangements that
publishers clearly understood the difference
between paying the royalty on every copy sold, in
whatever quantities they were sold and at what-
ever price, and paying the royalties on thirteen
copies as twelve. This would be apparent to the
meanest capacity, but particular attention has been
drawn to the point and to the different form of
the agreement in order to elucidate the position in
the following instance.
A publisher entered into a contract with an
author and agreed to pay a royalty on every copy
sold, but in rendering the royalty accounts he took
the whole number sold, deducted the thirteenth
copies, and paid the royalties on the lower figure.
The author naturally objected to this method,
and when he remonstrated by letter the publisher
replied as follows:—
“With regard to the difference between . . . copies and
... on which your royalty is computed, we beg to say the
odd copies are not sold but given away to the booksellers,
in order to induce them to buy 12 copies, and we give to
the booksellers 7 as 6% and 13 as 12.”
There is no excuse for a statement of this kind.
It is quite clear from the wording in the clauses
referred to above that publishers are well aware of
the difference in the results, and that they do not
reckon the thirteenth copy as being given away, or
7 as 6% when they undertake to pay on every copy
Sold. . A customer, buying oranges, when he is
offered 7 for 2d., supposing the price is 3 for 1d.,
does not reckon that he is given the extra orange,
but that the Oranges are sold to him at that price
because he is taking a quantity. The publisher's
answer is a mere quibble in order to avoid pay-
ment of the royalty.
It is to be hoped that it will be possible to bring
this point into Court. The opinion of the judge
and jury would be interesting.
We should like to add a further remark about
this method of cutting down the author's royalty.
The only way to counteract the loss is by asking
for a higher royalty. If the author would usually
get 10 per cent. On every copy sold he should get
11 per cent. On 13 copies being reckoned as 12, or
refuse to sign the agreement. (Full details as to
the different percentages were printed in the
December Author, 1907.) If the author chooses to
sign, then he alone is responsible for the consequent
depreciation of his income. He must, however, in
no circumstances, having signed the agreement
that he is to receive a royalty on every copy sold,
be content to receive it on 12 copies out of 13. If
the accounts are rendered on this basis he had
better place all the papers before the society.
——e—Q–0—
TO BE OR NOT TO BE.
—º-º-º-
7 E happened to be glancing through the
V V pages of Wol. I. of The Author, and came
across the following paragraph from the
pen of our founder —
“‘I have never yet had any disagreement with my pub-
lisher,’ said a well-known man of letters the other day,
‘therefore, I have not joined the society.’ The remark and
the inference alike illustrate a common disposition to look
on the Society as one which exists for the purpose of patch-
ing up or even of creating quarrels and grievances with
publishers. That is not the case, of course, only one is well
nigh tired of repeating the fact. It suits certain persons
who regard us with natural hostility to keep this delusion
alive. The Society has no quarrel with publishers as such,
and never has had any. It maintains continually that the
services which publishers render to literature are solid, and
must be substantially paid for. The Society exists, however,
mainly for the purpose of maintaining the rights, the
sacredness and the reality of literary property. Therefore
it fights the battle of all authors, and should be supported
by all who approve of its principles.”
We print it for various reasons. It recalls to
our mind a little verse that was printed in a later
number, which ran somewhat as follows:—
Author : The agreement's signed the profits we divide,
A half to each applaud a just decision.
Publisher : Peace and goodwill to all at Christmastide,
Surely 'twixt you and me there's no
division.
## p. 130 (#174) ############################################
130
THE AUTHOR,
That was no doubt merely meant as a jest, but
there is a more serious side to the author's original
remark, “I have never yet had any disagreement
with my publisher, therefore I have not joined the
society.” This remark is still made, and will pro-
bably continue to be made so long as human
nature remains the same.
There are two kinds of authors:–
1. Authors that know the value of their property
and the nature and variety of the rights they
possess.
2. Those authors who don’t.
If the first do not join the society they ought to
for the following reasons: Firstly, the altruistic and
unselfish reason that they ought, by their support,
to strengthen the position of their less fortunate
fellow craftsmen. By their less fortunate is not
meant, those who flood the market with their
illiterate effusions, but those who turn out good
work with but poor return. Bacon put this point
in a more practical way when he said, “Every man
is a debtor to his own profession.”
Secondly, the practical reason that though they
have no dispute with their own pet publisher, yet
their property may be attacked by thieves and
pirates, of whom they have but little knowledge.
sé1 1s. a year insurance Inay save them from £100
law costs when the crisis comes. This fact becomes
more self-evident year by year.
A dramatist has his work pirated on the
Continent. He thinks twice before he enters into
a long and costly lawsuit. While he is thinking
his property has gone. A writer of books, or
contributor to magazines, cannot get his money
from an American publisher or editor. It is
a cheap investment if he gets the amount for
£1 1s. a year. With a composer the matter is even
of greater importance, for music is a universal
language. Piracy and infringement is therefore
so much easier.
For selfish, as well as altruistic reasons, therefore,
the author who knows ought to become a member.
For the author who does not know the reasons
are of greater importance. There are many
authors making a pretty income by their work,
who are in absolute ignorance of the true value of
literary property. This sometimes occurs even
with writers of fiction.
The following case came to the notice of the
Secretary:—A novelist who had been a member for
Some years was at length persuaded by a friend to
place his contracts for review. The terms he was
receiving were quite absurd. This was pointed
out to him.
publisher. As he was able to bring some pressure
to bear by a threat to remove his books, he was in
rather a strong position. The publisher doubled
his royalties.
He in turn pointed it out to the
In this case no charge was brought against the
publisher. He had made no false assertions—as.
unfortunately sometimes occurs when publishers
write, “My reader reports favourably on your MS.,
and I am ready to publish it on the payment of
3.150.” He had merely made a good bargain.
This author then had no dispute with his
publisher, but was merely ignorant of cost of
production, publishers' profits, and literary values.
The ignorant author is, however, much more.
frequently found in the ranks of technical writers,
and among those who write more solid books.
These books are generally published at a larger.
price compared with the cost of production than
works of fiction, and are almost always published net.
Many think that they are dealt with liberally if
they get #50, on a 10 per cent. royalty on a £1 1s.
net book, and would be astonished if, on looking
through the returns, they were told that the book
could have easily paid 20 per cent. They are
ignorant, too, as to the many rights that exist
outside the mere publication in the British Empire,
and consequently give all their rights or an
exclusive licence to publish when asked to do so,
and the publisher takes what he can get with an
easy conscience. -
In the case of dramatists this gift of an exclusive.
licence to perform is more disastrous still. When
once a manager gets holds of it he does not let it.
go, and the piece may practically be killed all over
the world save in the one West End theatre where
the actor-manager exhibits himself. The ignorance
of the dramatist is fatal to his success.
The musical publisher takes from the composer—
such is his business capacity, or rather rapacity—
both his copyright and performing right, for in
much music the double right is profitable. In a
book the primary right is of course copyright. In
a theatrical piece the primary right is of course
performing right, but in a musical composition the
two often exist side by side, and might bring in
large sums to the composer if practically marketed.
To the ignorant author, whether of a book, of a
drama, of a piece of music, it should be essential
to join the ranks of his fellow members. Every
author with a little understanding can gauge his
own ignorance or knowledge. The buyer of a
horse does not purchase without the certificate of
a veterinary surgeon, nor the purchaser of a motor
car without the opinion of an expert. y
When we first made the quotation from Vol. I. of
The Author it was not our intention to write more
than a few words, but the subject started by Sir
Walter Besant and his lucid remarks, not all of
which are contained in the paragraph, brought a
fresh train of thought on what unfortunately is not
to every author, dramatist, or composer, a self-
evident proposition. %
## p. 131 (#175) ############################################
THE AUTHOR.
131
THE DECADENCE OF THE NOVEL.
-—º-º-º-
TS it permitted to have doubts regarding the
decadence of the novel ? -
“Where are your Dickens, your Thackerays,
and your Scotts P” immediately retorts the
impugner of contemporary fiction.
To which the best reply is,
“And Fieldings P’’ .
Because, sad to say, it is ten to one that the
detractor has not read Fielding. In consequence
of which he will at once proceed to entangle him-
self in efforts either, to conceal his ignorance, which
will be impossible, or to justify his neglect, which
will put him out of court.
If “Tom Jones” is to be the standard, the
English novel has been certainly on the down
grade since February 28, 1749. But this is not
a reasonable way of regarding any phenomenon of
literary production. For some reason, not yet
explained, the superlatively best in every literary
form makes its appearance very soon. Greece
never produced anything to rival the Iliad; nor,
indeed, has it been approached by any work in any
one of the Western literatures, all of which are
essentially offshoots of the supreme Homeric torrent
spreading itself in the divergent winding streams
and backwaters of a delta. No Greek dramatist
rose to the height of the Orestea. No Roman lyric
‘Successor of Horace,
“Princeps Aeoleum carmen ad Italos.
Deduxisse modos,”
wever equalled him. Quintilian opined “Lyricorum
Horatius fere solus legi dignus.” Had time, and
the Byzantine monks, spared us the works of
Terpander and of the other early Greek lyric poets,
should we have found in them things not surpassed
by Pindar 2 It is certain that the poetess who can
rival Sappho has still to make her appearance ; and
seems very unlikely to appear. No Englishman
has written such blank verse as Milton. And so
on. Indeed, that the best is soon reached
appears to be a phenomenon dominant in all pro-
vinces connected with letters. No document is so
indestructible as a Babylonian tablet. The Script
of the oldest inscriptions and manuscripts is the
handsomest. The Mazarine Bible still remains
an unrivalled example of letterpress ; and no
printer has ever produced pages and type of more
beautiful proportions than those presented by the
“Hypnerotomachia Pamphili.”
Possibly a partial explanation of this dominant
phenomenon is to be found in the fact that for those
who came first
“The world was all before them where to choose :”
and they chose the best. Afterwards their less
fortunate successors had either to tell the same
story, to use the same form, or to take what the
first comers had prudently eschewed. But seeing
how far-reaching is this phenomenon of the best
being very soon reached, it is evidently always an
easy thing for anyone who wishes to insist upon
literary decadence to prove his point.
At the same time it is open to question whether
the works of authors whose writings are adduced to
shame the labours of their successors are in all
cases so perfect as they are represented to be. This
does not apply to the very greatest, to such novelists
as Fielding and Cervantes. But Sir Walter Scott
has certain longueurs. It would be difficult entirely
to exonerate Dickens of exaggeration and “playing
to the gallery.” And will any one defend “her eyes
were full of almost tears,” “different to,” “many
opprobrious epithets in the English and French
language,” all which flowers of speech are to be
found in “Pendennis” Is it possible to find the
parallels of these in the pages of any novelist of
1908 who is careful about his style 2
“But many are disgracefully careless. You
must judge by an average.”
Oh, but there were novelists who were not
Scotts nor Thackerays even when Scott and
Thackeray were living ! And it is instructive to
peruse on the fly-leaves of fiction of fifty years ago
the press notices of the novels of the day. They
are generous, those press notices; exactly as are
many press notices now. And if what they said
was to be taken “au pied de la lettre” those stories
ought still to be favourites. They are not. Their
titles are forgotten ; and it is often difficult to find
any one who can say who the authors were. But
these writers were the contemporaries of Dickens
and Thackeray and ought to count. In effect, the
comparison of all that is being written to-day with
the exceptional work of fifty and more years ago
which has been found worthy to survive is essentially
unjust.
A smaller number of novels than might be sup-
posed survives a decade : only a fraction survives
a century. It is not entirely the fault of the work.
Sir Walter Scott remarked very justly that after
fifty years a novel to be rightly understood requires
notes. Or if it does not require notes, it demands
of the reader some such knowledge of a state of
society that has passed away as only Well-informed
people possess. In consequence to obtain anything
resembling a lucid view of the actual situation it is
not only requisite first of all to distinguish novels
of very various merit published at the same date, but
also no less necessary to distinguish the various
classes to which these novels appeal.
Are the “serials” at present running in half-
penny prints, and (whatsoever may be their merits
## p. 132 (#176) ############################################
132
TISIES A UITISIOR.
or demerits) devoured with avidity by a certain
class of readers, inferior to the tales in the “Penny
Readers” of fifty years ago 2 Those “Penny
Readers” had a public. Had they not had one
they would not have been published. It seems not
at all improbable that their publishers reaped a
larger profit than is at present reaped by the pub-
lishers of the penny fiction at the present day offered
to a public of about the same intellectual level.
There were then by far fewer publications of this
kind ; and it is now many years since a news-
vendor observed to the present writer “If there
were only one or two of these weekly penny fiction
periodicals they would be a gold mine. But there
are so many that they are of no value to any one.”
And since then the competition for the penny of
the reader of cheap weekly fiction has certainly not
diminished.
Here we probably touch the secret of the
“decadence,” if there is a decadence. Undeniably
the conditions favour decadence. And the condi-
tions are not to be justly charged against either
authors or publishers. They are in no small degree
results of human nature. -
Now, it is useless to quarrel with human nature.
Human nature is a phenomenon of the same kind.
as gravitation and magnetism, and, whether it is
What any one would wish it to be or not, it has to
be accepted as it is. Neither does it help to say,
“It is, but hadn’t ought to be.”
In “Don Quixote’ Marcela justly excuses her-
self for having turned the head of Grisostomo by
remarking, “As the viper deserves no blame for its
sting, although it be mortal, because it is the gift
of nature, neither ought I to be reviled for being
beautiful.” And it is one of the gifts of nature to
humanity to scramble for halfpence ; or, if the coin
be of any larger worth, to scramble with propor-
tionately keener ardour. That has to be accepted
as the viper's “sting ” has to be accepted, howsoever
much it “hadn’t ought to be.”
A publisher is a man who hopes to make an
income by bringing out books. To do that he has
first to get the copy, and afterwards to purchase
paper, to pay the printer and binder, and—this last
is the rub—to sell the books. It is said that there
are people who will give away copy; and it is cer-
tain that mechanical inventions have reduced the
Cost of paper, printing, and binding, to prices that
Would once have been considered impossible,
though these prices may still not be so small as a
publisher could wish. In fact, none of the pre-
liminary expenses are very serious. But to sell the
book demands genius. Books do not sell them-
selves; publishers wish they would. Nor will the
public part with their money for any book that is
offered them. If the public would do that, the
situation would become too sunny. Every author
would bring out his own works, and there would be
no publishers. But the public will purchase, by
no means generously, if their expectations have
been properly tickled, if they can be persuaded (no
matter how) that they are going to have a little
more than their money's worth for their money,
and, this is the chief thing, if the humour takes
them. What they ought to purchase is a problem
for the critic, not for the publisher. What they
will purchase the publisher desires to supply in the
largest quantity saleable at a profit. If the public
wanted the “Rig-Veda” in the original, the pub-
lishers would be delighted to sell them the “Rig-
Veda” up to any number of hundreds of thousands;
and some publisher would no doubt offer the com-
plete Sanscrit text, edited by a first-class scholar,
for fourpence-halfpenny—to “cut out" the other
publishers.
Well, the public do not want the “Rig-Veda.”
And they do want a certain number of novels.
How many they want no one knows. But they
Would like them at cheaper rates. This also is
of a piece with the viper's “sting” and Marcela's
beauty, a gift of nature. But no matter how
ingeniously the cost of production may be manipu-
lated, as the selling-price is ruthlessly diminished
at the bidding of a furious competition, the actual
profits tend towards a vanishing point. Many
Small profits now become the remedy for shrinking
returns; and the publisher plays for a profit
Q?
Of 3
One. That multiplies the output of novels; not
necessarily of volumes, 500 of A, and 500 of B,
and 500 of C, taking the place of 1,500 of A.
Next the author does the same ; and, be it
noted, with by far less excuse. Publishing three
books instead of one, as above, means only spend-
ing rather more on composition. It is true that
the modification is one that leads to sinister effects
upon percentages of gain, more capital being in-
Wested to earn the same return. But if a man
has the capital, and particularly when he can
invest the same capital thrice successively in three
small ventures, the result may be merely a con-
siderably increased production of books with no
very great corresponding extra expenditure. But,
the author who, because he finds the value of copy
*/ *
2’
two novels in place of one is committing literary
suicide. The time necessary to write a novel,
and still more the all-important period of incuba-
tion that must precede the invention of any story,
will be very different in the case of different indi-
viduals; just as the final result will differ in con-
Sequence of their different abilities. But no writer
on three novels instead of a profit of a upon
reduced from y to #, coolly sets to work to write
## p. 133 (#177) ############################################
TFIES A UITISIOR.
133
can “put on steam ” and run out two novels in
the time that he would normally spend upon one,
without incurring an enormous risk of drifting into
mere journeyman work. No man can in such
circumstances do his best. And the novelist who
is not writing his best would be by far better
advised in not writing at all. It is, however, no
secret that some men have been trying to remedy
a reduction in prices by an increased output.
Such tactics would certainly make for decadence.
But the mischief does not end with the probable
deterioration of the work of the individual. When
publisher and author deliberately combine to play
a double game of forced production at low profits,
the output must be inevitably exaggerated. Pro-
bably it is already grossly exaggerated ; and the
books exceeding the demand stand in one another's
way. So much is this avowedly the case that it
will not be indiscreet to hazard a conjecture that a
certain proportion of the much wider popularity of
some of the novels of the past was due to the fact
that the tales got a wider reading in consequence
of there not being others that could be taken up
instead. At present of ten novels that are pub-
lished, seven never have a fair chance. The
numerous others that succeed them week by Week
rob them immediately of their claim to be new
novels. And the new novel is the biggest of all
the fetiches of the novel-reading public. Swept
headlong by the combined forces of feverish pro-
duction and demand for nothing but what is “new,”
“newest,” and “only just out,” fiction is threaten-
ing to become purely ephemeral. If that should
arrive, if the novelist is to know that as the jour-
ºnalist's work has a life of a day only, his is to exist
but for a month, is it possible, is it in human
nature, that he should put into his book the quali-
ties that a man might labour to compass in a work
that might hope to be a favourite with a genera-
tion, that had a chance of being remembered when
its writer had passed away ? If there is a deca-
dence, if less and less of the work at present done
has permanent value, to what extent is that due to
the novelist's labouring for the moment only
because he has lost hope of a future ?
It is possible enough that when time shall have
sifted the work, and shall have brought a date from
which the literature of to-day can be viewed in
due perspective, the fiction of the present genera-
tion may be found quite worthy to reckon with
that of the generations that have preceded it. If
in all but the very best a distinct decadence) is
visible that will have been in no small degree the
result of idiotic competition.
-º-e
©
THE LITERARY YEAR BOOK.
–0-º-º-
LAW AND LETTERS.
HE article devoted to Law and Letters in 1909
differs but slightly from the article dealing
with the same subject in 1908.
The fresh cases that have been tried in the past
year which are of any importance have been
epitomised ; among the number, the case of
Humphreys v. Thomson. The writer of the
article remarks at the end —“An interesting
feature in the case was the opinion expressed by
certain authors, editors and others connected with
literature, that in the absence of any specific
agreement to the contrary the editor or other
purchaser of a story for serial use may alter it to
almost any extent, while the author can do nothing
to prevent it. The jury thought otherwise, and
took a common-sense view of the matter.”
It is impossible to understand the mental attitude
of an author who would allow his work to be ruth-
lessly altered. He cannot care for his art, he
cannot value his own work ; he must live without
ideals. But still, looking at the issue from the
Sordid point of view, it is dangerous to risk your
reputation as a writer by allowing others to alter
your work. Such alteration may damage the
financial returns in the future.
Of the editors and others who gave testimony
there is but little to be said. If they appreciated
their own style and the value of their own pen
they ought to have recognised those points in
others; if they did not, then their little minds
could not rise above the level of cash value. This
is by the way, and has nothing to do with the
Literary Year Book.
The epitome of the Copyright Laws has been
carefully and accurately done, and as far as it is
possible within twenty-three pages to deal with so
vast a subject, so far has it been dealt with satis-
factorily. The very contentious Section XVIII.
is fairly explained, but will this explanation convey
much to the minds of the uninitiated P
The paragraph on “The Assignment of Right"
should be studied. Is it possible that the perusal
of it will carry any information to the unstudied
reader ? We should like to assert strongly that the
grant of an exclusive licence to print and publish
is totally distinct at law from an assignment of the
copyright.
It would have been as well also to point out
clearly in the article dealing with the Fine Art
Copyright the danger of the artist's rights falling
into the public domain, though this may be deduced
it is nowhere positively declared, and the positive
declaration is much more likely to carry con-
viction with those who do not know.
## p. 134 (#178) ############################################
134
TISIES ALTISIOR.
We cannot, however, unreservedly cengratulate
the author on the second section of his article,
“Author, Publisher, and Agent.”
By far the best part is that which deals with the
relation between author and agent.
In the pages of The Aufhor it has been stated
Over and over again, that the position between
author and agent is in many cases most dangerous.
An author will naturally, until the agreement is
signed, keep the publisher more or less at arms’
length ; but with an agent, if he is to be of any
use, the author must be on the most intimate and
confidential footing from the first ; agents are
inclined to take advantage of this position and
protect their own interests at the expense of the
author. It is therefore with the utmost care that
the latter must bind himself to the former. He
must make no contract which will prejudice the
proper marketing of his literary efforts, nor agree
to any terms that hamper his action if the work
with his agent is irksome or intolerable. The Year
Book says: — “The author should be warned
against a clause which requires him to pay the
agent a commission, not merely on the book under
discussion but on future books which the author
may write during a stated number of years.” Let
the author take this to heart : the agent may claim
On all books under one contract. To save himself
trouble he may bind the author under that most
iniquitous form of contract, for one, two, or three
books to one publisher. The author will, unless he is
careful, be bound to pay the agent on each of those
books as they are delivered to the publisher. An
agent has even been known to claim commission on
any books placed with that publisher under any
contract during the author's life. If he becomes
displeased with the agent's work and wishes to with-
draw his business he may find in the agreement an
agency clause which entitles the agent to collect
and receive all monies due under the terms of the
agreement. The danger of this is explained on
page 501. But the clause often goes further than
the mere collection and receipt of monies, and
empowers the agent to settle all disputes that may
arise under the contract. “Such clause,” the
writer of the article says, “should be signed only
with the utmost caution.” It is necessary to
state in the strongest terms that such clause
should never be signed at all.
If the author desires to put his business into the
hands of another agent, he may have to pay twice
OVer On One COntract.
The reasons for this advice have been set forth
In the columns of The Author over and over again.
But still, it is difficult to get to all authors who
employ agents, and oftentimes an agent impresses
upon the author that it is not to his advantage to
join the Society.
If the agent is not financially sound, he has been
known to retain the money due to his client, and
in some cases play for the interests of the publisher
rather than the author.
The advice given in the pages of the Year Book
is sound and most important, and the editor is quite
right when he states that the protection of the
Authors' Society is almost as frequently sought
against agents as against publishers.
We have emphasised the article on Agents; for in
some cases the agent is useful, in others he is
absolutely essential. But if they intend to hold so
large a control of the author's property, they
must be bound by contract to act only for the
benefit of that property. Their control must not
be such as to hamper the author's action or damage
him financially.
But little space is left to criticise the forms of
agreement. . This part of the article is, perhaps,
the least satisfactory, and shows less experience and
knowledge than is contained in the first section.
For example, under the commission agreement,
why should the books be accounted for to the
author at the lowest prices charged to wholesale
booksellers and exporters ? To account for every
book at the actual price received might complicate
the accounts and be irksome to the publisher. It
would be easy to arrive at an average. -
Again, the book should never be sold at reduced
prices without the author's sanction ; for as he has
paid for the book he has a right to control the
price lest it is sold at a figure which could not
possibly bring him any profit.
In the Sale of Copyright one most important
point has been omitted : the date of publication.
If the book is not published by a certain date the
publisher should be penalised. Publication is as
important to an author as public performance to
a dramatist ; that either should allow his property
to be buried for ever would be a gross error of
judgment. .
Further, for a sale outright no author should
take less than £1 per thousand words; to encourage
lower prices is to encourage sweating.
On the Profit-sharing Agreement the advice is
given, “Authors should only enter upon it with
the utmost caution.” We would go further, and
advise that authors should never accept these
terms. Constant experience shows that the result
is eminently unsatisfactory to the author.
On the Royalty Agreement and the remarks
passed upon this system of publication we should
have liked to write an entire article, but space will
not permit. This is the most important of all
agreements. It is a pity that the comments upon
it and the clauses included in it should be the
least satisfactory part of the whole review. The
writer seems to have had the publisher's influence
## p. 135 (#179) ############################################
TISIES A UTISIOR,
135°
strongly upon him ; but his review ought to be
for the author. The publisher, if he knows his
business, ought to know all details of the legal
aspect, and to need no coaching. But the author
holds a different position, and as other parts of
the book are written generally for the author, this
portion should be particularly so.
It is curious that in the parties to the agreement
the publisher is mentioned as the party of the first
part, and not the author. This may be a sign of
the influence to which we have referred. -
The successors and assignees of the publishers are
included, without any remark. Some comment on
this form was absolutely necessary; a contract for
publication should, if possible, be a personal con-
tract. The writer then states:—“A royalty agree-
ment proceeds thus, or to this effect : “That in
consideration that the copyright and plant, includ-
ing therein such foreign and colonial rights of
translation and reproduction as the author may
arrange to part with,' shall forthwith belong
to and become the property of the publisher,
etc.” -
He then proceeds, by way of comment: “He
(the publisher) will commonly be willing to con-
sent to accept ‘the exclusive right of printing ' in
lieu of the copyright. Should he demur to this
variation, and should the author genuinely prefer
it—in practice it has no real significance—the advice
of an intermediary should be sought.”
The italics are ours. In practice the difference
is very real, and the result to an author of the
conveyance of copyright to a publisher is disas-
trous. One case is quoted, that of Mr. Warwick
Deeping. This case alone ought to have made
some further advice to the author essential.
Another case was tried last year bearing on the
same issue.
In plain words, an author should never con-
vey his copyright to a publisher even if it is
limited to England, her colonies and depen-
dencies, or to the English language. An author,
if forced to . convey an exclusive licence to
publish, should still safeguard himself by other
clauses and limitations, and should never go
beyond the licence to publish in book form in the
English language. Enough has been said to
show the danger in this most common form of
agreement as propounded by the Literary Year
Book.
We do not propose—nor is this the place—to
draft a model agreement on the royalty basis, but
it is our duty to warn authors to avoid the present
example.
We regret that, in an otherwise good review of
“Law and Letters,” this form should have been
included unless it was done so purposely to assist
the publisher rather than the author. In that
by Messrs. Harper.
Case a note, should have been appended for the
author's guidance.
G. H. T.
Note:-We regret that the review of the other
Rººts of the Year Book has been unavoidably
delayed. We hope to print it in the March.
number.—EDITOR.
à. -º-
w -º-
CORRESPONDENCE.
–0-0-0–
PROPERTY IN TITLES.
SIR,-My novel, “The Inner Shrine,” appeared
Serially in the weekly edition of the Times. In
1900 it was published in volume form in London.
Accounts relating to its sales
have passed between us ever since, and I think the
last copy was sold about a year ago. I am
informed that Messrs. Harper are now publishing
a novel called “The Inner Shrine,” by a new
author, in their magazine, and I understand, not
only that I have no redress, but that if my novel,
“The Inner Shrine,” comes out in a cheap reprint.
I shall have to find a new title. I admit that for
my novel “The Inner Shrine " was a poor title,
but I had always supposed it to be my own.
Yours truly,
CECILY SIDGWICK.
—t—cº-e—
METHODS OF CRITICISMI.
SIR,--I enclose herewith, not for publication, a
“review,” clipped from Truth, of a recent novel of
mine—a “review º' which, except for a single.
critical adjective, consists of an inaccurate synopsis
of my story.
Had Truth any right to supply its readers with
any synopsis at all ? On the title-page of the book
is the printed caution: “All rights reserved.” If
Truth had that right, was it dealing fairly with
either author or publishers in treating thus a novel
entrusted to it in all good faith and dependent on
its plot for a possible sale 2
As to the latter point, may I quote the Dundee.
Courier :—“. events culminate in a most
exciting climax, which of course it would be most
wnfair to give away here.”
The italics within the quotation are mine. And,
I am), sir,
Your obedient servant,
ROBERT AITREN.
—t-sº-0–
“THE WRITERS’ YEARBOOK.”
SIR,-As a U.S.A. contributor may I be per-
mitted to make a few observations on the review
of the “Writers' and Artists' Yearbook” in last.
## p. 136 (#180) ############################################
136
TISIES A UTISIOR,
month's Author. Some of “Z.'s " statements are
erroneous, and a few calculated to mislead the
Britisher essaying sales to certain U.S.A. monthlies
and weeklies. The periodicals published through-
out the United States are not “over 20,000 °–
but 25,000. His short list of “ leading periodi-
cals” is just what I reckon the “Writers' and
Artists’Yearbook” editors have wisely eschewed, for,
as I personally know, the majority of them do not
desire English contributions except in so far as
they deal directly with American subjects. . An
American might as well send contributions in to
Punch as a Britisher into Life, Scrip, Theater, and
others. I have yet to learn that there is a U.S.A.
Strand which is not the same as the English one !
Technical World uses material based only on some
phase of engineering or invention. ... Living Age is
a compilation of quoted matter. Spare Moments,
a species of American London Journal, is a
particularly American production, and uses only one
short story every month. Its material is especially
indigenous. People Popular Monthly is a 5 cent.
magazine, and no more a leading production than
Home Notes, London, is Sunset Magazine pays
for matter in transportation over its proprietary’s
railways, except in a few instances, and accepts
work and fiction dealing only with the Californian
Slope and Further America on the Pacific.
For the English contributor, who knows not the
States in an intimate manner, it is a waste of
stamps and time to send in MSS. to Holland's
Magazine, another indigenous monthly, that
occasionally uses British matter from fictionalists
of the highest rank. Youth, Philadelphia, has
been dead a considerable time, and the American
Boy and Practical Young America cry for American
matter written in an American manner. As for
the religious papers given by “Z.,” if he had wasted
as many stamps as I have on our religious Weeklies
—$1—$2 at 1,000 words — that crib most
courageously, and pay abominably low rates as
a whole for original matter, he would not have
quoted them
Regarding the list of U.S.A. publishers, what is
wanted is not a complete one, but one that
represents the most creditable firms in the States,
those known for probity and right dealing.
I the more espouse the cause of the “Year-
book " because it is such a help to one. If the
English list was in its details as full as the
American one, i.e., as to length of stories wanted,
character, setting, etc., it would be an ideal pro-
duction ; plus, of course, a dependable list of
U.S.A. publishers—not all the sharks and
crocodiles of the trade. “Z.,” I think, must have
done his review with Sell’s World’s Press, U.S.A.
section, lying to his eye. Yours, etc.,
M.
SIR,-In reply to “M.'s" extraordinarily minute
criticism of my review of “The Writers' Year
Book,” which you have kindly permitted me to see,
I would in turn remark that some of his statements
are erroneous and a few calculated to mislead.
With regard to the number of periodicals pub-
lished in the States, my expression was “well over
20,000.” How far this differs from 25,000 in
general terms perhaps “M.” will explain.
The list of periodicals I gave (which, by the
way, did not come from the source he suggests)
was inspired by the desire to make the list
thoroughly representative, as it ought to be. On
the other hand, does “M.” seriously mean to say
that all the American journals and magazines
given in “The Writers' Year Book” are “leading”
—for one instance, “5 cent productions * such
as the Family Story Paper, Housekeeper, People's
Home Journal, Vick's Magazine, and the Wasp 2
Can he affirm that a quarter of the American
magazines given in the “Year Book” are likely to
accept English MSS. 2 The Sunset Magazine used
to pay good cash in pre-earthquake days, to my
own knowledge, and even now is quite a “leading ”
magazine out West. - -
As to U.S.A. publishers, if “M.” will be
personally responsible for the probity and right
dealing of the “Year Book" list, I will undertake
responsibility for mine.
Finally, if “M.” has not yet discovered the
difference between the Strand published in America
and that published on this side, he should put
himself wise at once. Yours, etc.,
THE AUTHORS' CLUB AND WORKS OF MEMBERS
OF THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS.
SIR,-No doubt there are many members of the
latter who belong to the former. As I understand
there is a small circulating or permanent library
in the Club, the following suggestion is respect-
fully made for the favourable consideration of the
committee : That authors of the society might
loan or present works which have been well
reviewed, with, of course, approbation of the Com-
mittee, to above library. A young author's Works
might receive a glance during a spare half-hour's
lounge in the library, might take the interest of a
member, and perhaps lead to his work becoming
known over the head of a capricious public library
or bookseller, who acquire works simply by the
writer's name, irrespective of contents.
Why should leaflets, which cost the editors
nothing, be tabooed from the pages of The Author?
A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY.
## p. 136 (#181) ############################################
AD VERTISEMENTS. iii
TYPEWRITING.
Authors’ MSS. copied from 9d. per 1,000
words; in duplicate, 1/-. Plays and General
Copying. List and specimen of work on appli-
cation. -
ONE OF NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS.
SIRES and SIPKES,
The West Kensington Typewriting 0ffices,
(Established 1893)
223a, Hammersmith Road, LONDON, W.
Authors' MSS. ; Translations; Duplicating; Plays and Actors' Parts ;
Legal, General and Commercial Documents. Private Rooms for
Dictation. Usual Terms. References.
TYPEVVRITING
OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, 9d. PER 1,000 WoRDs.
Two COPIEs, 1s. PER 1,000 WORDS.
Authors’ MSS., Legal Documents, Reports, &c., carefully and
accurately copied. Orders by Post promptly attended to.
Mrs. SOUTHEE, 273, Francis Rd., LEWION, LONDON, E.
TYPEWRITING.
AUTHORS’ MSS. FROM 10d. PER 1,000 WORDS
WORKMANSHIP AND NMATERIALS OF THE BEST.
Accurate and Prompt. —
Jºccellent Testimonials,
ERNEST PEARCE, 30, College Road, READING.
“Miss M. R. HORNE has typed for me literary matter to the
extent of some hundreds of thousands of words. I have nothing
but praise for the accuracy, speed, and neatness with which she
does her Work,-FRANIK SAVILLE.” - .
MISS M. R. HORNE,
ESKDALE, WEST DRAYTON, MIDDLESEX.
MRS. GILL, Typewriting Office,
(Established 1883.) 35, LUDGATE HILL, E.C.
Authors' MSS. carefully copied from 1s, per 1,000
words. Duplicate copies third price. French and German
MSS. accurately copied ; or typewritten English trans-
lations supplied. References kindly permitted to Messrs.
A. P. Watt & Son, Literary Agents, Hastings House,
Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C. Telephone 84.64 Central.
WE have pleasure in announcing that we have made an arrange-
ment with Mr. William Archer by which, upon request of
the author, he undertakes to read, criticise, and advise upon any
plays entrusted to us, and he will read no manuscript plays which do
not reach him through us.
The reading fees are fixed as follows:– # S. d.
For scenarios of not over 2,000 words 1 10 0
For plays of one or two acts ... l 10 0
For plays of three or more acts ... ... 2 10 0
The payment of these fees entitles the author to a written opinion
from 300 to 800 words in length, dealing with the theme, con-
Struction, characterisation, and diction of his play, suggesting altera-
tions where they seem called for, and (so far as possible) conveying
both theoretical criticism and practical advice.
The fact that a play has been submitted to Mr. Archer will be
treated by him, and by us, as confidential. On the other hand, the
author is at liberty to show Mr. Archer's opinion to managers, actors,
etc., if he so desires. It would manifestly be misleading, however,
to quote detached phrases or make garbled extracts from a detailed
criticism. Mr. Archer therefore leaves it to the author's sense of fair-
mess to show to managers, etc., the whole opinion if he shows any
part of it.
If, in addition to the opinion, the author should desire a personal
interview with Mr. Archer, a further fee of two guineas would be
charged.
Plays re-submitted after alteration are subject to the same fees as
plays submitted for the first time.
Manuscripts should be addressed to :-
Messrs. Curtis Brown & Massie, 5, Henrietta, St., Covent Garden, W.C.,
and, if Mr. Archer's opinion is required, they should be accompanied
by the reading fee in advance. Cheques should be made payable to
Messrs. Curtis Brown & Massie. If, as may sometimes happen, a
play does not seem to call for serious consideration, but can be
adequately dealt with in three or four lines, half the reading fee will
be returned.
Plays should in all cases be type-written (or printed), and a copy
should be retained by the author. While all reasonable care will be
taken of manuscripts, we cannot be responsible for their loss in the
post, or otherwise.
Mr. Archer will endeavour to give his opinion of any play within two
weeks of receiving the manuscript.
It is not necessary that plays entrusted to us for placing with
managers should be submitted to Mr. Archer, and, on the other hand,
it is not necessary that plays sent to us for Mr. Archer's inspection
should be entrusted to us for placing, although we have many open-
ings for good plays. Our agency for playWrights, and our arrange-
ments with Mr. Archer are not interdependent.
Especial attention is called to the advantage of expert criticism on
scenarios. On the other hand, we find it practically, impossible to
interest managers in plays not complete in every detail. It is our
practice to send to actors and managers only plays of which it can be
said they are worth the manager's personal and immediate attention.
Plays placed by us are subject to a commission of ten per cent of the
receipts. We can undertake arrangements for only such plays as are
left exclusively in our hands.
CURTIS BROWN & MASSIE.
BRADBURYAGNEW.& Cº.L.
The Whitefriars Press,
LONDON and TONBRIDGE,
IBIAVING LARGELY INCREASED THEIR
Printing and B00kbinding Plant
(which is now one of the most complete in
the British Isles), are prepared to undertake,
— at short notice, the production of —
Works of Fiction,
Legal and Medical Text Books,
{
High-class Magazines,
Newspapers, etc.
ESTIMATES FREE.
An Illustrated Booklet descriptive of the Country
Branch of the Firm sent on receipt of a Post Card,
Telegrams: Chariwari, London; Chariwari, Tonbridge,
Telephones: 28 Holborn ; 19 Tonbridge ; 9108 Central,
## p. 136 (#182) ############################################
fiv AD VERTISEMENTS.
BREEly Wºlſ|NG PMS.
44'IO J S AU 1. HORS, anxious to diverge from the
beaten track, should read the following new guides :—
| n ;I.:
tº a ſ tº-
shall I Write about?
, , ess. Plots, and How to Find Them.
By R. A. H. GOODYEAR.
2. Tale-Writing for Money.
Bright Stories: How to Write and Where
to Sell Them at Best Prices. -
By R. A. H. GOODYEAR.
3. 101 Money-making
Recipes for Authors.
From the Private Papers of Eminent
Writers.
SEVENPENCE EACH,
Two for Is. I d., or three for Is. 6d., post free,
of THE MAGAZINE SYNDICATE, Publishing
Office, Southport, Lancs.
THE TIDE MILL SEC2' Tºr.
By PERCY YoUNG. Handsomely
paper, with Frontispiece. 320 pps. r
A novel of exceptional originality al.g.,,,,…. . . *I'yºf , ;
*The book has a fascination all its own." The Aiii}r. "'t it. ...
\. -
ºted on antique
5: ºº ºr tº:
WHEN THE WOMEN REIGN : 193O.
(With Queen Alexandra as Front'spiece.) 2s. net. Hand-
somely bound in cloth, with bevelled boards d gold lettering.
“A lively tale of the future by a writer who holds strong
views. The ladies come into power . . .”—The Times.
OWEN GLYN DWR - and other Poerms.
By CHAs. II. PRITCHARD. Dound attractively in cloth, with
bevelled boards, 2s. 6d. Inet.
“Mr. Pritchard’s ode is inspiriting and will appeal to lovers
of the heroic muse. There is much good work in his volume.”
Dundee Advertiser.
*TIS WE MUSICANS KNOW.
By Jocer,WN IRENE RAINEY. A capital story, well and
attractively produced. With Frontispiece on art paper, 2s. met.
“A story of love and music.”—The Globe.
“The lives of the four principal people in this story become
interwoven in a network of love, tragedy and music.”—Literary
JJ’orld. -
SINNER AND JUDGE, and other Stories.
JBy Rosſ. PERKINs. Bound in cloth covers, with pretty
design, black and gold lettering, Is... net.
“These stories have pathos and beauty and literary skill.
Will be remembered after they are read.”—Baptist.
Authors should forward MSS. of any description
(Novels, Stories, Poems, Essays, &c.) direct to Mr.
STOCIXWELL, who will immediately advise, free
of charge, as to publication.
LONDON :
AERTHUR. H. STO CRVVELL,
29, LUDGATE HILL, IE.C.
Full lists on application, post free.
Al UTE [O] RS >
AIVI [ RI[G] HIT 2
I TAKE it that you require your MSS. to be neatly and ‘accurately typed on a good paper and by a competent Operator;
for which Service you are prepared to pay a reasonable price.
SPECIAL NEW YEAR OFFER.
Am I right 2 If so, write at once for my Price List and
C. HERBERT CAESAR, Homefield, Woodstock Road, St. Albans.
Numerous Testimonials from First Novel Competitors.
Please mention this Paper
ESTABLISHED]
The Wessex Press,
[XVIII. CENT.
Taztººto22.
BARNICOTT & PEARCE
INVITE ENQUIRIES RESPECTING PRINTING.
ESTIMATES
OF COST, AND OTHER DETAILS, PROMPTLY GIVEN.
AUTHORS’ TYPEWRITING.
Novel and Story Work 9d. per 1,000 words; 2 Copies, 1ſ-
*General Copying - e. ... 1 - 73 3 y 35 1/3
Plays, ruled (a Speciality) ... 1)- 5 y 3 * 3 y 1/4
Specimens and Price List on application.
MISS A. B. STEVENSON, Yew Tree Cottage,
SUTTON, MACCLESFIELD.
TYPEWRITING OFFICES.
(Established 1897.)
#Fºr COVENTRY. — Please note Change of
r ##### { % rry r Tºn ??
#º Address to “WESTLEIGH,” KING RICHARD
ºW t STREET, T from Oswald House, Queen
Aft; 21%;" Victoria Road. TyphºwRITING OF EVERY
º º DESCRIPTION, from 9d. per 1,000 words.
Jºcellent Testimonials from Play Writers.
‘‘ TELE AUTIEIOIER.”
SCALE FOR AD VERTISEMENTS.
[ALLOWANCE TO MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY 20 PER CENT.]
Front Page ...#4 0 ()
Other Pages
Half of a Page ..., tº e a & e a e e e is tº - e - tº tº - - ... 1 10 0
Quarter of a Page ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 13 9
Eighth of a Page is $ tº * * * it tº º tº ſº º • * * ... . ... Q 7 %
Single Column Advertisements per inch 0 6 0
Reduction of 20 per cent. made for a Series of Sia, and of 25 per cent. for
Twelve Insertions.
Advertisements should reach the Office not later than the 20th for
insertion in the following month's issue. -
All letters respecting Advertisements should be addressed to the
ADvERTISEMENT MANAGER, The Author Office, 39, Old Queen Street,
Storey's Gate, S.W.
Printed by BRADBURy, AGNEw, & Co. LD., and Published by them for THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS (INCORPORATED),
at 10, Bouverie Street, London, E.C.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Author, Vol. 19 Issue 05 (February 1909)
Subject
The topic of the resource
<em>The Author</em>, Vol. 19 Issue 05 (February 1909)
Source
A related resource from which the described resource is derived
<a href="https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027638405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015027638405</a>
Type
The nature or genre of the resource
Publication
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
1909-02-01-The-Author-19-5
publications
The Author