https://historysoa.com/files/original/5/541/1914-06-02-The-Author-24-9.pdf 4d4a78512dfc1694bc7f9514926a1987 PDF Text Text ������������������������������ 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=&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bjoiner%5D=and&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Belement_id%5D=51&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Btype%5D=is+exactly&amp;advanced%5B0%5D%5Bterms%5D=Index&amp;collection=&amp;type=&amp;tags=&amp;exhibit=&amp;date_search_term=&amp;submit_search=Search+For+Items&amp;sort_field=Dublin+Core%2CTitle">indices</a> (not available for all volumes). Full text search for all issues, and other additional search functionality, will be added in 2022. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1890–1914 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context The-Author-Issues Publication Date The date of an event (in YYYY, YYYY-MM or YYYY-MM-DD format) 1914-06-02 Volume 24 Issue 9 Pages Page range in volume 233–262 Ngram Date Version of the date in YYYYMMDD format for use by the Ngram plugin 19140602 Ngram Text Version of the text with no HTML formatting for use by the Ngram plugin Che Huthbor. (The Organ of the Incorporated Society of Authors. FOUNDED BY SIR Vor. XXIV.—No. 9. Monthly.) WALTER BESANT. JUNE 2, 1914. [PRIcE SIXPENCE. TELEPHONE NUMBER: 374 VICTORIA. TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS: AUTORIDAD, LONDON. NOTICES. ——+—_ TT the opinions expressed in papers that are signed or initialled the authors alone are responsible. None of the papers or paragraphs must be taken as expressing the opinion of the Committee unless such is especially stated to be the case. Tur 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 motice 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. ARTICLES AND CONTRIBUTIONS. Tur Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of cost, its production 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, 1, Cen- tral Buildings, Tothill Street, Westminster, S.W., and should reach the Editor not later than the 21st of each month. o Communications and letters are invited by the Editor on all literary matters treated from Vou. XXIV. the standpoint of art or business, but on no other subjects whatever. Every effort will be made to return articles which cannot be accepted. ADVERTISEMENTS. Messrs. Matthews’ Advertising Service, Staple Inn Buildings, High Holborn, W.C., will act as agents for advertisements for “The Author.” All communications respect- ing advertisements should be addressed to them. As there seems to be an impression among readers of The Author that the Committee are personally responsible for the bona fides of the advertisers, the Committee desire it to be stated that this is not, and could not possibly be, the ease. Although care is exercised that no undesirable advertisements be inserted, they do not accept, and never have accepted, any liability. Members should apply to the Secretary for advice if special information is desired. pS ——- THE SOCIETY’S FUNDS. So | ‘ROM time to time members of the Society 4 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 con- tributions 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 principle, or in assisting to obtain copyright reform, or in dealing with any other  234 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. a THE PENSION FUND. oS N January, 1914, the secretary of the I Society laid before the trustees of the Pension Fund the accounts for the year 1918, as settled by the accountants. After giving the matter full consideration, the trustees instructed the secretary to invest a sum of £350 in the purchase of Great Eastern Railway Ordinary Stock. The amount pur- chased has been added to the investments set out below. The trustees desire to thank the members of the Society for the continued support which they have given to the Pension Fund. They have given notice to the Pension Fund Com- mittee that there is sufficient money at their disposal to enable them to give another pension. The nominal value of the investments held on behalf of the Pension Fund now amounts to £5,419 6s., details of which are fully set out in the following schedule :— Nominal Value. £8. d Enea) Boas 20.2.5 ie 500 0 0 Victoria Government 8% Consoli- dated Inscribed Stock ............ 291 19 11 London and North Western 3% Debenture Stock ................. 250 0 0 Egyptian Government Irrigation Trust 4% Certificates............ - 200 0 0 Cape of Good Hope 84% Inscribed e NLOCK a as 200 0 0O Glasgow and South-Western Rail- way 4% Preference Stock ...... 228 0 0 New Zealand 34% Stock .......... 247 9 6 Irish Land 22% Guaranteed Stock 258 0 0 Corporation of London 24% Stock, 102% 6% ie vccoccas 438 2 4 Jamaica 84% Stock, 1919—49 ... 18218 6 Mauritius 4% 1987 Stock ......... ~ 120 12 4 Dominion of Canada, C.P.R. 34% Land Grant Stock, 1988 ......... 198 8 8 Antofagasta and Bolivian Railway 5% Preferred Stock ........:05.04. 237 0 0 Central Argentine Railway Or- GBORY BOCK cosh piceisss ci ccensy est 282 0 0 THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. Nominal V alue. £ 8. a $2,000 Consolidated Gas and Electric Company of Baltimore 44% Gold Bonds ................ 400 0 0 250 Edward Lloyd, Ltd., £1 5% Preference Shares <...........-... 250 0 0 55 Buenos Ayres Great Southern Railway 4% Extension Shares, 1914 (fully paid) .................. 550 0 0 8 Central Argentine Railway £10 Preference Shares, New Issue... 30 0 0 Great Eastern Railway Ordinary Stock wieceiccccece 655 0 0 Total 4.3..5:.4...; £5,419 6 0 PENSION FUND. —— Tue list printed below includes all fresh dona- tions and subscriptions (i.e., donations and subscriptions not hitherto acknowledged) received by, or promised to, the fund from October, 1913. It does not include either donations given prior to October, nor does it include sub- scriptions paid in compliance with promises made before it. Subscriptions. 1913. Oct. 8, Rees, Miss Rosemary Oct. 8, Pearce, J. : : : Oct. 9, Drummond, Miss Florence Oct. 9, Rumbold, Hugo 1 Oct. 18, Knowles, Miss Oct. 20, Collison, Harry Oct. 21, Buchanan, Miss Meriel Oct. 25, Baker, E. A. . : Nov. 6, Bentley, E. C. y Nov. 6, Petersen, Miss Margaret Noy. 7, Lang, Mrs. John Nov. 19, Langferte, Raymond Nov. 24, Webb, W. Trego Nov. 24, Mackenzie, Compton Dec. 4, Vansittart, Robert Dee. 4, Lunn, Arnold . ‘ Dec. 4, Stewart, Miss Marie . Dec. 4, Berry, Miss Ana Dec. 4, Vallois, Miss Grace Dec. 17, Beresford, J. D. Dec. 29, Inge, Charles . ; Dec. 29, Cross, Miss May . . Dec. 29, Hardy, Thomas, O.M. _ i NOooaannods aan Oo Oe OO Ot Or Or woeoscooooHrocoSoooSoCOHSSCOOOm SOmeoccooaoccoOoSC SoS OSOSCOSCOSCCOF  JUNE, 1914.] 1914. Jan. 7, Ford, Miss May Jan. 7, Sephton, J. Jan. 16, Singer, I. Jan. 16, Cooke, Arthur 0. Jan. 23, Exley, Miss M. Jan. 26, Sarawak, The Rance of Mar. 11, Dowson, Oscar F. April 8, " Stoeving. Paul : . April 14, Buckle, Gerard, F. » April 14, Grattan, Harry . : April 17, Rubenstein, H. F. . . April 20, Anon. . : April 25, Stacpoole, Mrs. de Vere . May 1, Miigge, Maximilian A, May e Davies, Miss Mary May 8, Simon, Andre L. May 8, Deutsch, H. . May 9, Campbell, Miss E. Hope May 12, Lardner, E. G. D. 1918. Donations. Oct. 7, Darwin, Sir Francis . Oct. 9, Carroll, Sydney Wentworth Oct. 21, Troubetzkoy, The Princess Oct. 27, Frankish, Harold Oct. 30, Rosman, Miss Alice Grant Nov. 8, Holland, Theodore Nov. 3, Steane, Bruce Nov. 3, Batty, Mrs. Braithwaite Nov. 10, Elrington, Miss Helen Novy. 10, Waterbury, Mis... : Dec. 5, Dymock, R. G. Vaughton . Dec. 6, Macdonald, Miss Julia Dec. 11, Little, Mrs. Archibald Dec. 11, Topham, Miss Ann . Dec. 20, Edwards, Percy J. Dec. 21, Keating, J. Lloyd 1914. Jan. 8, Church, Sir Arthur Jan. 5, Anon . Jan. 5, Joseph, L. ; Jan. 5, Swan, Miss Myra Jan. 5, Vernede, R. E. Jan. 6, De Crespigny, Mrs. + Champion Jan. 6, Rankin, Miss I. ; Jan. 7, Sneyd- es E. M. Jan. 7, Lathbury, Miss Eva . Jan. 7, Toplis, Miss Grace Jan. 8, Palmer, G. Molyneaux Jan. 9, Mackenzie, Miss J. Jan. 10, Daniell, Mrs. E. H. . Jan. 12, Avery, "Harold ; Jan. 12, Douglas, Mrs. F. A. Jan. 15, Pullein, Miss Catherine Jan. 15, Thomas, Mrs. Fanny Jan. 16, James, Mrs. Romane Jan. 19, P. H. and M. K. ; ; coor oceceocoocoeoooooo oY, _ COCO OFRrFOCOCOC COSHH ON _ oS emoocooocececococqcouccescr “e a ok fee OOo © Or Gr Ot © Or Or Or OF Or rt oc 10 _ od Or Ov Or An1n°onkteH Aanananododcsd edie et MHOKMIOOCAUWMBNUMNMONOMNAOH _ ccoomeocoooeoco Oo 0 eooocoooonacooooeao eceoceoaoaceooeocanaceo Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Feb. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. THB AUTHOR, 19, Greenstreet, W. J. . 19, Gibbs, F. Leonard A. 23, Campbell, Mrs. L. A. R. . 23, Cameron, Mrs. Charlotte, ERGS. . : 28, Blunt, Reginald : 24, Raphael, Mrs. Mary. 25, Plouman, Miss Mary 80, Gibson, Miss L. S. . 5, Brooker, Lt.-Col. E. P. 6, Buchrose, J. E. 4 7, Smith, Herbert W. 20, Eden Guy 21, Mayne, Miss Ethel Four | Col 21 KK 25, Aspinall, Algernon I E. 2 Dalziel, J: : 2.8. 8.G. . 5, Saies, Mrs. F. H 5, Thorne, Mrs. Isabel . 5, Haviland, Miss M. D. 5, Todd, Miss Margaret, M.D. 13, Cabourn, John . 20, Fenwick Miss S. F. . 26, Prendergast, Mrs. J. W. May 6, Ward, W. J. . May 7, Crosse, Gordon. May 8, Williamson, CoN: pad Mrs. CN. i May 21, Colebroke, Miss H. E. May 21, Munro, Neil. May 21, O'Higgins, Harvey May 25, Broadbent, D. R. HE May me being of mem was ele Jacobs, seconded by Mr. Hesketh Prichard was una This is his second year of of the former meeting were after which the elections were course, thirty-five mem being added to t total for the year 170. were accepted, bringing the to sixty-nine. .; The next ma was the solicitor’s repor —__—__+——>—_>+>—____——_ COMMITTEE NOTES. SOSCp ocrcoocorooornNooce COOFRrF OCC OME BOR oH 235 = bet oad Aone Aom=HOAbd OHH rt et aoe ee OL Or OS CUR Or OF OE es aaa tO pet OOH SOHROSSOSOSSOSOSSCOSCSO ScnSDSoOCaOSCO Coo onoos eting of the Committee of Management was held at the offices of the Society on Monday, May 4. the first meeting after the general meeting office. Hs ted, and, on the pro yosal of Mr. peers Ped Shaw, Mr. nimously re- -elected. The minutes then read and signed taken in due bers and associates he Society’s lists, making the Two resignations resignations up This bers the chairman for the current year W. W. tter dealt with by the committee t on the cases.  go 25 In a question arising from the non-publica- tion of a work the solicitor reported that an order of the Court had been made by which the book had to be published by a certain date, subject to a penalty of £50 if publication did not ensue, the defendant undertaking to pay the costs of the action. In the case dealing with the title of Mr. Raleigh’s drama, “Sealed Orders,’’ the solicitor reported that further action had been taken, owing to the fact that managers of theatres in the country had used the title contrary to the order of the Court. The solicitor was pleased to report that in all cases where the title had been thus wrongfully used satisfaction had been obtained and the offending advertisements had been withdrawn. He also reported that, by the desire of the author, he had made full copies of the papers which had been sent over to the author’s American lawyer explaining that, without the express sanction of the com- mittee, the Society could not be responsible for the costs in the United States. There were two cases of non-payment, one on accounts delivered, and one for a sum due under a contract. In the first case the debt and costs had been paid, and, in the second, part of the sum had been paid and a proposal for settlement had been made. In four cases against magazine editors the follow- ing results had been obtained: In the first, judgment was obtained, but on execution being levied, the debenture holders had appointed a receiver. It was obvious that nothing further could be done. In the second case, the debt and costs had been paid, and in the remaining two cases proceedings were pending. It was probable that both would be settled, as other claims against the same magazine had recently been satisfied. In a case by a member against a film company for unauthorised use of a title, the solicitor was glad to report that, when the company’s attention had been drawn to the matter, the title was changed. ’ In a case of alleged infringement of dramatic copyright, the solicitor reported that the evidence of an expert had been obtained, and after consideration of his report, the solicitor had come to the conclusion that it would not be possible to take action. The member had been informed of the result. The position of a publishing company against whom the Society has claims on behalf of some dozen members was fully reported by the solicitor who had investigated the matter, and it was hoped that the reconstitution of the com- pany would be carried through successfully. THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. Where judgment had been signed on behalf of one of the members, it was decided, after consideration of all the details by the com- mittee, to throw the defendant into bank- ruptey if the claims were not properly met. There was a claim of one of the members against a cinematograph company for piracy and infringement of copyright. The company was a French company with offices in England. The solicitor reported that, as far as England was concerned, the matter had been finally settled, but it was decided that he should send in his full report, in order that the papers might be forwarded to Paris to be dealt with by the Society’s French lawyer. There were two small cases for the collection of dramatic fees, and in both the solicitor reported that writs had been issued. A difficult case of alleged misrepresentation by a music publisher came before the committee, and here also, so far as England was concerned, the matter had been settled. As the main difficulty arose in Germany, it was decided that the solicitor should make a full report to the secretary in order that the matter might be placed in the hands of the German lawyer of the Society. Finally, in a case of dispute between author and agent, after mature con- sideration, it was decided that the author’s contention could not be upheld, and that the matter must be left in the hands of the solicitors to make the best settlement they could on behalf of the author. The secretary then placed before the committee questions which had arisen during the past month. There were four cases in which the chairman having given authority for immediate action asked for confirmation from the committee of that authority. The first dealt with the collection of dramatic fees in England, the second with a dispute in the United States in respect of cinema fees, the third was a claim against a United States magazine for money due on a published article, and the fourth a question of documents alleged, by one of the members of the Society, to have been stolen. The chair- man’s sanction was confirmed. In a case of dispute between one of the members of the Society and the society with whom his con- tract had been made, the committee, after reading the letters from both sides, taking into consideration the fact that the conflict of verbal evidence would make it almost impossible for the member to substantiate his contention in Court, decided with regret to take no action on his behalf. There was a case of dispute between one of the members and a publisher  JUNE, 1914.] as to the terms of a contract. The matter was referred to the committee for arbitration. The committee decided, with the sanction of the author, to leave the legal question involved to the decision of the Society’s lawyers. In a case of disputed accounts which had already been investigated by the Society’s accountants it was decided that no further action should be taken, as the committee felt that they could not go behind the accountants’ report. In a case of infringement of dramatic copyright in Canada they regretted they could not take the matter further, while it was decided to place an infringement by an Australian paper in the hands of the Society’s Australian lawyers as soon as the member had established a title to take action. The secretary read letters that one of the members desired referred to the committee, dealing with some negotiations between him- self and one of the religious publishing houses. It was decided to thank the member for the action he had taken, and, if possible, to get into communication with the publishing house mentioned. One of the members of the Society had referred to the committee an offer he had received from a magazine for the pur- chase of work submitted, and it appeared to the committee that the matter should be mentioned in The Author with the name of the magazine. A somewhat similar case, where the issues were not quite so clear, the committee left to the discretion of the secretary to act as he thought best. — 2 A question arose as to a contribution pro- mised by the Society to the Authors’ League of America, and the secretary was authorised to forward the sum due. The sub-committees of the Society were formally re-elected, the only change being the election of Mr. Charles Klein on the Dramatic Sub-Committee in the place of Mr. James T. Tanner, resigned. The motion passed at the General Mecting of the Society, on the subject of the Libraries Censorship was referred to the committee, and the committee felt that they were bound to carry through, to the best of their ability, the request made at the gene ral meeting. Accordingly, the secretary and chairman a instructed to get into touch once again with the publishers, the libraries and the _book- sellers, and Mrs. Belloc Lowdnes, Mr. Charles Garvice, Mr. Bernard Shaw and the chairman of the committee were elected delegates to represent the Society at a round-table con- ference. Dealing with the question of International THE AUTHOR. ify Copyright, the secretary drew the attention of the committee once again to the fact that when France made a treaty with Russia the attention of the Foreign Office was called to the fact by the committee, and it was suggested that England should take the opportunity of obtaining a similar treaty. A polite letter had been received in reply ; when subsequently Germany made a similar treaty with Russia the attention of the Foreign Office was again called to the position, and, again, a polite reply was received. The secretary now suggested that as the matter was of vital importance to all members whose literary and dramatic works were being translated and pirated in Russia, another attempt should be made to obtain a treaty with Russia. The committee decided to leave it with the chairman and the secretary to arrange that a deputation should wait on the responsible parties in the Government, with a view to pressing forward the settlement of a treaty with Russia at-the earliest opportunity. The ‘secretary put before the committee a letter he had received from the India Office in regard to the passing of the Indian Copyright Act, and stated that he hoped to have the Act for insertion in The Author shortly. He then referred to the difficulties surrounding Canadian copyright, owing to the law of 1842 still running in Canada, as the Canadian Government had not passed any new legisla- tion adopting the Act of 1911. It was decided in this matter, also, to see if it would not be possible, by representation to the Colonial Office, to remove some of the difficulties from the present position, and the committee determined, should it prove politic, that a deputation should attend the Colonial Office also. . Questions regarding the salaries of the clerks of the office and an articled clerk to serve under the secretary of the Society were considered and settled, and two or three minor matters of no general interest. et Dramatic SUB-COMMITTEE. I. ig of the Dramatie Sub- Committee was held on Friday, May 1, at the offices of the Society, to meet the Society’s American agent, Mr. W alter Jordan, who had come over to England. The main subject for discussion was the question of cinematograph ights and prices. : oie Jordan pointed out that ten or twelve A speEcIAL mecetil  ‘238 of the theatres in New York had gone over entirely to the production of picture plays, that the demand for good plays and good films was greatly on the increase, and that much higher fees could be obtained now than formerly. Mr. Jordan stated that he would forward to the Society of Authors, for the use of the secretary, a copy of the contract he had been making for the use of authors and dramatists. The legal questions respecting authors’ rights, which had been assigned before moving pictures were known, were also discussed, also questions of piracy and the legal decisions which had been given bearing on these points. The sub-committee thanked Mr. Jordan for his attendance, and for the information which had been given, which would be of undoubted assistance to them and to the secretary when dealing with these increasingly important questions. Il. Tue May meeting of the Dramatic Sub- Committee was held at the offices of the Society on Friday, May 15. After the minutes of the previous meeting had been read and signed, the first business dealt with by the committee referred to a dramatic agency agreement that had been sent for the consideration of the committee by one of the members of the Society. The agent was present at the meet- ing. It was clearly pointed out to him that the Society could not possibly advise any member to sign any agreement on the lines of the one put forward. After a considerable amount of questioning and discussion, the agent expressed himself willing to accept any reasonable agreement submitted by the Drama- tic Sub-Committee for the use of members of the Society of Authors. After the agent had retired, the sub-committee discussed at some length the position of agents in regard to the Society, and the secretary was instructed to draft an agency agreement for use in these particular cases, to be placed before the sub- committee at their next meeting. The next question dealt with cinematograph business. Mr. Carton reported that the meeting of the Joint Board, which had been held on the 14th had been unsatisfactory, owing to the small attendance, but that some important points had been discussed, and it had been decided to call a meeting for June 12. The question of cinema business, however, appeared to the chairman to be of such importance that he THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. proposed to the sub-committee that the Com- mittee of Management should be asked to consider the appointment of a sub-committee to deal only with cinematograph matters. The industry was, at present, in its infancy, and it was impossible, therefore, to come to any definite conclusion at the present time on the many important points involved; that cine- matograph representations were not simply matters concerning the dramatist, but also the novelist, and writers on educational subjects and on natural history—in fact, were so wide that it appeared essential to have a separate sub-committee to deal with the issues. Mr. Shaw was appointed delegate of the sub-com- mittee to attend and discuss the matter with the Committee of Management. ‘The secretary also brought to the notice of the sub-committee the question of cinema contracts and bad debts so far as they affected the author. The secretary pointed out that publishers paid royalties on all books sold and were responsible for all bad debts. It was most important that the same position should be adopted in regard to authors’ contracts with cinema manufac- turers. The sub-committee then considered certain cases. The first was a case of non-payment of fees by an American producer, and the sub- committee recommended the Committee of Management to do what was possible in the matter. The next case, the secretary reported, was also a case of non-payment of fees by an American manager. Immediate action had been taken and the papers sent to the Society’s lawyers in America. The Dramatic Sub-Committee this action. The third case, which was one of alleged copyright infringement, the secretary was glad to report had been settled. The fourth case also referred to the non- payment of fees by an American manager. The sub-committee recommended action to be taken in this case should an answer, which the author was awaiting from America, prove unsatisfactory. confirmed — Firm Ricuts Jomst Boarp. Tue first meeting of the Joint Board to deal with Film Rights was held at the offices of the Society on Thursday, May 14, at three o’clock in the afternoon. Regret was expressed by those present that the attendance was so small, owing to the fact that many of the delegates had important engagements elsewhere.  JUNE, 1914] In these circumstances, it was decided that it would be inadvisable to pass any important measures, but it was determined to call another meeting for Friday, June 12, at three o’clock at the same place. The agenda before the meeting will include the rules for guidance of the committee, such as financial questions, the number to form a quorum, and other details. Beyond these there will be joint action in regard to piracy, and a proposal put forward by Mr. Browne, of the Kinematograph Manufacturers’ Associa- tion, that a sub-committee for purposes of arbitration should be appointed. 3 Dunrine the past nivnth the secretary has dealt with nineteen cases, of which seven have been satisfactorily settled. The record runs as follows :— There were six claims for the return of MSS., one has been settled, two have only recently come to the office, one has had to be abandoned, and in settling the remaining two it is possible that the Society will be unsuccessful, as they date back a considerable time. It is therefore difficult to obtain the necessary evidence. There were five claims for money. Three have been settled and the money has been paid; one in South Africa will necessarily take some time, and the remaining case has only recently come to the office. Two applications for accounts have been acknowledged, and the accounts have been forwarded to the authors. There were three disputes on contracts ; one has been settled, one has only recently come to the office, and one has had to be trans- ferred to the Society’s solicitors in the U.S.A. One infringement of copyright will take some time, as that is also in the U.S.A. There have been two claims for accounts and money; one has been settled and the other is still in the course of negotiation. The cases still open from the former month are all outside England, and consequently cannot be settled quickly; one is a case of infringement of copyright in the U.S.A., one a case of dispute on contract in the U.S.A., one a case of accounts in South Africa, and the last a question of royalties due in France. The record varies little from month to month, but during the last two or three months a much larger number of cases have come forward in foreign countries. These are naturally some- times very difficult to deal with. THE AUTHOR. 239 May Elections. Douglas Anstruther Major J. B. Arbuthnot, M.V.O. Percy J. Barrow . M. V. Barty S. Bristowe. Evelyn Hope bell Sir Valentine Chirol Camp- Miss H. Emma Cole- brooke Richard St. Colthurst Denis Cox . ‘ (* D. H. Dennis.” ) Gordon Crosse John J. Madame Blaze de Bury (FE. Dickberry ). Henry Deutsch, Ph.D. . Alan Drew . Aleck T. Ellis Wilfrid H. G. Ewart Miss M. Z. Hadwen (‘‘ Margaret Hope’’). -H. W. Hicks The Rev. Russell H. Jeffrey Capt. E. G. D. Lardner ¥F. Gerald Miller ; Mrs. Muriel Minnitt : Mrs. Richardson . Reginald Rogers Cavendish Club; Piccadily, W. Derry House, Ross- earbery, Co. Cork, Ireland. 5, Kingdon Road, West Hampstead, N.W. Glenacros, Dun- blane, Scotland. 122, Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale, W. Templeton, Hunger- ford, Berks. ; 34, Carlyle Square, Chelsea, S.W. 85, Bruton Street, London, W. Blainey Castle, Co. Cork, Ireland. Weir Cottage, Har- low, Bucks. 64, Lauderdale Mansions, Maida Vale, W. 37, Rue Paris. 60, Venner Road, Sydenham, S.E. Lower House, Burn- ley. 512, Fulham Palace Road, S.W. 8 West Eaton Place, London, S.W. 20, St. Leonard’s Terrace, Chelsea, S.W. c/o Thomas Cook - & Son, London. Muckley Cross, Bridgnorth. The Army and Navy Club, Pall Mall, S.W. Studio Street, New- lyn, Penzance. Redmarley, Long- field Road, Ealing, W. 22, Egerton Gardens, S.W. 9, Upper Woburn Place, Tavistock Vaneau, Square, W.C.  240 The Rey. Ewart Rust . Hamsteels Vicarage, Durham. -é L. Simon . 24, Mark Lane, a London, E.C. The Rev. W. H. K. 6, Albany Road, Soames, M.A. Bexhill. Walter Stephens . 6, York Street, London, S.W. Gladys Unger . , 18, Pack. Village West, | Regent’s Park, N.W. William James Ward . 86, Westbourne Road, Penarth, Glam. Adéle Warren. . 47, Cornwall Gar- dens, S.W. 1, Pemberley Cres- cent, Bedford. F. W. Westaway . : F, Weston : . H. M. Dockyard, Hong Kong. Thomas Whittaker . 13, Sharples Hall Street, Regent’s Park Road, N.W. ————__+—>—_+___—__ BOOKS PUBLISHED BY MEMBERS. ——— 1 — While every effort is made by the compilers to keep this list as accurate and exhaustive as possible, they have some difficulty in attaining this object owing to the fact that many of the books mentioned are not sent to the office by the members. In consequence, it is necessary to rely largely upon lists of books which appear in literary and other papers. It is hoped, however; that members will co-operate in the compiling of this list, and, by sending particulars of their works, help to make it substantially accurate, ANTHROPOLOGY. THE CHILDHOOD OF THE WoRLD. A Simple Account of Man’s Origin and Early History. By Epwarp Oropp. (New Edition, rewritten and enlarged.) 74 x 5. 240 pp. New York. The Macmillan Co. 4s. 6d. n. ARCHITECTURE. MonvMentAL CLAsstc ARCHITECTURE IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND During THE EIGHTEENTH AND NINE- eTEENTH CENTURIES. By A. E. Ricnarpson. 15} x ll}. 124 pp. Batsford. £4 4s. n, : BIOGRAPHY. Tue Story or Dorotuy JorDAN. 9 x 53. 429 pp. Nash. 15s. n. RoMANcEs OF THE Pemrace. -By THorNTON Hatt, F.S.A. By Cuare JERROLD. 9x 53. 352 pp. HoldenandHardingham. 12s. 6d. n. My Variep Lire. By F.C. Puiirs. 9 x 53. 319 pp- Eveleigh Nash. 10s. 6d. n. 5 Lirze or WattrerR Bacenor. By Mrs. Russert B : TON. 9} x 58. y 8 ARRING 486 pp. Longmans. 12s. 6d. n. DRAMA. , Damacep Goops. A Play by Briuux. Translated b J. Pottock. With a Preface by Bernarp Saw ants Foreword by Mrs. Brr» : a Wiflelds. Je. a, RNARD SHAW. it Xx 5}. 244 pp- THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. Dusk. By R. Vansirrart. 7 x 4}. 43 pp. Hum- phreys. Is. n. Pures Wire. A Play by F. G. Layton. 7 x 5. 64 pp. Fifield. Is. n. PLAYWRIGHTING FOR THE CINEMA. Dealing with the Writing and Marketing of Scenarios. By E. A. Dencu. Tt x 43. 96 pp. Black. 1s. n. ECONOMICS. Tur Nation’s WEALTH. Witt it Expure? By L. G. CutozzA Money. 632 x 44. 264 pp. (The Nation’s Library.) Collins. 1s. n. FICTION. THe Woman’s Way. By C. Garvice. 7} x 5. 315 pp. Hodder and Stoughton. _ 6s. Tue Pricetess THrnc. By Mavup Srepney Rawson. 723 x 5. 352 pp. Stanley Paul. 6s. Tures AGAINST THE WorLp. By Suema Kaye-Smiru. 73 x 5. 304 pp. Chapman and Hall. 6s. Tue Lost Tripes. By G. A. BirmMINcHAM. 7} x 5. 331 pp. Smith, Elder. 6s. A GARDEN OF THEGODs. By Epira M.Keate. 7} x 43. 339 pp. Alston Rivers. 6s. THe Sent Cartan. By 304 pp. Stanley Paul. 6s. Pink Puriry. By Gertie De 8. Wentwortu-J AMES. at May Wynne. 74 xX 43. (Popular Edition.) 7} x 5. 375 pp. Werner Laurie. ls. n. Quinney’s. By H. A. VacHELL. 7$ X 5. 336 pp. Murray. 6s. BrepEsMAN 4. By Mary J. H. Sxringe. 63 x 43. 198 pp. Duckworth. 2s. 6d. n. DeEsMonpD O'Connor. By Grorce H. Jessop. 73 x 4. 320 pp. John Long. Tur Crowninc Gitory. By E. R. Punsnon. 7} x 5. 301 pp. Hodder and Stoughton. 6s. Eve AND THE Minister. By M. H. Saw. 7} x 43. 248 pp. Murray and Evenden. 6s. Tue Betovep Premipr. By H. MaAxweELt. 319 pp. John Long. 6s. THe Works OF MsarTEN MAARTENS: Gtory. 470 pp. An Oxp Matn’s Lovs. 449 pp. Her Memory. 281 pp. My Lapy Nopopy. 535 pp. Gov’s Foon. 442 pp. Tse Sry or Joost AVELINGH. 72 x 5. Tor GREATER 316 pp. 7% x 5. Constable. 3s. 6d. each. Resecca oF SunNyBRooK Farm. By Kate Doucias Wiaain. (Twentieth Edition.) 7} x 5. 347pp. Gay and Hancock. 2s. n. Aut Sorts. By Dorr Wytiarpe. 140 pp. THESECRET or CHAUVILLE. 140 pp. (Cheap Reprints.) 8} x 5}. Stanley Paul. 6d. each. Tue Wortp Set FRrEx. A Story of Mankind. By H. G. Weis. 7} x 5. zx 286 pp. Macmillan. 6s. Private Arrairs. By Caartes McEvoy. 320 pp. Everett. 6s. BREADANDBUTTERFLIES. By Dion Chayton CALTHROP. 7% x 5. 343 pp. Millsand Boon. 6s. THe Istanp. By Exeanor Morpaunt. pp. Heinemann. 6s. Tun Monny Hunt. A Comedy of Country Houses. By Kryeton Parkes. 74 x 4%. 318 pp. Holden and Hardingham. 6s. Tir Haven or DESIRE. 1d xX 4. 72 x 5. 296 By Caprain Frank H. SHAw. 74 x 4%. 322 pp. Cassell. 6s. Tue Curse or Croup. By J. B. Harrtis-BurLanD. 7} <x 43. 342 pp. Chapman and Hall. 6s. A Strance Sotution. By Wrnirrep GRAHAM. 252 pp. Tue Furnace or Youtn. By J. 8. Fuercuer. 252 pp. Mysrrry Srorres. Told in Brief. (Cheap Reprints.) 63 x 43. Pearson. 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TINT 00€ Aq poyerzsni{y ‘SINVIG DNIMDMOTY HSILIAE u'sg ‘qessen ‘dd zog “fo X Fg _‘setteg Aq 4xoy, eatydiioseg. “I “p9 ‘SF yqueaog “TIVLLON GV I) “O YUM “FUNOD-HOTHNASSY “H. kg ‘oamnyen Wosy 4oor1 Mojoy Ut poydesso0j0yq 9 “MON}) AMHL SV SHUMOT] GITM Z S ‘U "pg “SOT ‘dd 6% ‘#9 X 8 STH ‘NoSdWOHY, ‘VHRIAIY] GHL JO SINVIG ONIATMOTA “AMOLSIN TVEOLVN ‘u‘pg's, ‘quoq ‘ddgge ‘fe x 8g ‘NVWMAN LSINAG Ag ‘ishiay ONV NVA SV HENOVM ‘DISOW : ‘u'sg ‘Tessey “dd gez “fo x f8 ‘d'W ‘ATTTIVS “M OD kg ‘soIndoog dO ssaupoud WHY, ‘ANTIOICAWN “1opla “WWM ‘dd ege ‘co x Fz ‘wosnag ‘QO °VAQ ‘aVvoOYy SHLONOTY ‘sor. “your =“dd gog Eg X 6 ‘“SATIMONOW I40H “UY V Aq ‘qy3trmyoog & Jo SUOTZDOT[OIVY ~pue suoloyey “SHOHLAY Laogy wood V ‘usp ‘quo, (‘Aeaqry storvpAv ay oyL) “dd o6z WX L ‘sosaoq Niusay Aq ‘SUIdaLg AYOINA) HINSALHOTY ‘eg ‘“meysurprvpy pux ueppy “ddetg “¢ x 4), ‘SHIZNIT LUvaALg ‘sup AG ‘“SAMITAISNOdSaY SAAT ‘AUVUALIT ‘use ‘ospoH “dd goz “fs = #8 (sen ysypsug e[qejoN) “NOLTWVY-NVAMOY “O '§ Aq poumpy ‘NVWMOI] UMGNVXATY NHOf 40 'IVI¥y, FH], *gUvUISUO'T ravasg ‘Ad “u "pg “SE (uorssord ly pany) “MV'T : : ‘u ‘sez ‘urpuoryy ‘dd gge ‘1 X $0T “Ayetoog ey} JO} pozyULIg ‘0J0 ‘sdoquIaW jo ysrT Teuoryrppy ‘jeqydvyH Arvqguoureyddng yyra pensst “Oy 'NIATON ASNAIS wig Aq poyIpy pue wsap IANOrT fq poyiduio) 9=“IINVLLIATIG: AO ALAINOG FHL FO AMOLSTIAL ‘U “pg ‘SZI ‘oUBrT ‘dd eje + smx ¥¢X6 ‘dd ‘NVOXO AMNUAA ‘pf ‘AOY Of} Ag ‘AUOISIE] HSTEA, JO AHAOSOTING AH, “AUOLSTH a UW "PQ “SS “UOpoUTyoys, ‘dd = ggT ‘Fc XS ‘“C4UvA AAXHIWOAR ‘sup, Aq oovjolg ® UVM “AaWIVd “LM Ag ‘“yjoy -sayeq ey} Aq ploy uorjysisdng pue ‘£r04S AT ‘gouvuloy jO SOATZVIIVN “GNVIGNW]T HSIIONY JO SNUVA aadg GdOTWION ‘yore “UW “ST ‘quoq. § (‘Areaqry sdorrjheM oy) ‘dd zoe “NVWATAL AWINVLG AG ‘NN] UNIsv) gHy, ‘dd 91g ‘NOSEVM\ LLOTaaVIY “Gq ‘H Sq ‘NaGuW NI axrivsoy ‘dd {T¢ ‘H10d1VM HOA AG + ‘“AsxoH NaGooM\ any, “dd ggz ONITLIHM “Y AG “IsauIg-NHOf ‘¢ ‘on ‘dd gee THMONVZ Iavusy Aq ‘OHH FHL 4O NaUCTIHD ‘dd [ez STIGM ‘H Ag “LISIA INdYGaNOA, GH, Po “Areaqry Suusduescg suosjay “dd zee ih X {9 ‘dO ANOHINY AG ‘aIdOag OA, 40 SAIVY, ust ‘uospayy “dd ege “Fp Xx Fo ‘(UOSTAaN WOTQDeTTOD) NOSVAL “M ‘OH 'V J@q “GAIA AVY,T ‘sg “MLeYySuTprep_ pue wepyo : AXGUVY @aT\\ GNNOMH Ag oe Ds aoe oe ‘sg ‘Avamnyy ‘dd Fe -¥F EP X EL ‘ec & E) ¢xosty 7 sr a r ¢ X gL ‘NOSLVM NOow] "H WQAg ‘Isdaway, ATIsHanOTD ‘YOHLAWV AHL CFI6L ‘ANAL  242 “Life of Walter Bagehot,” written as @ precursor to a complete edition of Bagehot’s work which is to be published in the autumn of this year. Mrs. Barrington, who Is the sister-in-law of her subject, tries to present a picture of Bagehot the man, as traceable in his own and his friends’ letters and in the memortes of those still alive who were his closest inti- mates. The material used ranges from family correspondence in Bagehot’s carly boyhood to the tributes of his contemporaries on his death at the age of fifty-one (Longmans, Green & Co.). Mr. W. L. George’s ‘“‘ Woman and To- morrow,” will be published in America by the firm of Appleton. Archdeacon Hutton writes the latest addi- tion to Macmillan’s Highways and Byways Series, ‘‘ Shakespeare’s Country,” to which Mr. E. H. New furnishes the illustrations. Mr. Philip W. Sergeant’s next book will be published by Messrs. Stanley Paul & Co., the subject being the Princess Mathilde Bonaparte, the niece of the great Napoleon, and the link (it might almost be said) between him and the present day, since it is only ten ycars ago that she died. In “ The Utilisation of Solar Energy,” Mr. A.S.E. Ackermann, B.Sc., describes the expe1i- ments in this direction, costing about £30,000, with which he has been associated during the past four years, including those in the Shuman- Boys Sun Power Plant at Cairo. A method for estimating the value for power purposes of steam is a feature of the work; and there is also a full description of the Shuman high and low pressure engines. The publishers are the Society of Engineers, 17, Victoria Street, S.W., and the price of the book is 2s. 3d., post free. Mr. Max Rittenberg has a book called ‘‘ Gold and Thorns,” for the spring of 1915. It deals with the sensational adventures of a cosmo- politan “‘ gentleman of fortune.’ Ward Lock & Co. will publish in England. Mr. Selwyn Brinton has just visited Venice to report for the Studio and the Graphic at the Eleventh International Art Exhibition of Venice, which was opened on April 24th. The exhibition this year is of special interest to English art, as, besides the excellent show in the British Pavilion, a whole room in the Central Palace is dedicated to the work of Mr. Frank Brangwyn. A German translation of Mr. C. E. Goulds- bury’s latest book, ‘‘ Tiger Land,” is to be published and issued shortly by Mr. Robert a of Stuttgart, in his Memoirenbibliothek series. Mrs. Frederika Macdonald, D.Litt., is the THE AUTHOR. (JUNE, 1914. writer of the article upon Jean Jacques Rous- seau in the fifth volume of the “* Cyclopedia of Education,” published by Columbia University, New York. Mrs. Alec Tweedie’s ‘‘ Mexico as I Saw It ” is being translated for publication in Germany. ‘“‘ Pagan,” is the name of a book of verse by Mrs. Amy Skovgaard-Pedersen (A. C. Fifield, 1s. 6d. net). We have received from Messrs. William Collins & Sons copies of five books in their new Nation’s Library, published at 1s. net :—“t The Nation’s Wealth,” by Mr. L. Chiozza Money ; “The Relations of Capital and Labour,” by Mr. W. T. Layton ; ‘‘ The State and the Poor,” by Mr. Geoffrey Drage; ‘‘ The Future of Egypt,” by Mr. W. B. Worsfold; and “ The Star World,” by Mr. A. C. de la Crommelin. Mrs. Dawson Scott’s' novel, “‘ The Caddis Worm,” is being published immediately by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett. Miss Sheila Kaye-Smith’s novel, “ Three Against the World,” which Messrs. Chapman and Hall published in April, is to be produced in the United States by Messrs. Lippincott. A two-shilling edition is announced of Rita’s story of Bath, “A Grey Life,” of which the publishers are Messrs. Stanley Paul. The same firm is adding to its sixpenny Clear Type series Mr. Keble Howard’s ‘‘ The Cheerful Knave,” and Mr. Charles E. Pearce’s “ The Snake Girl.” ‘“ Megan of the Dark Isle,”’ is the title of Mrs. J. O. Arnold’s new novel (Alston Rivers). Mr. Georg? H. Jesscp’s historical novel ‘‘Desmond O’Connor ”’ has been issued by John Long, Ltd. Miss May Crommelin, who has lately returned from India, is engaged on a novel to be pub- lished in September by Messrs. Hurst and Blackett. The scene of this is mostly laid in Kashmir, and the book will describe the life in houseboats of English visitors to the country, with its comic incidents and opportunities for flirtation and courtship. Miss Crommelin’s previous book, “The Golden Bow,” is now being issued in a cheap edition by Messrs. Holden and Hardingham. Mr. James Baker’s ‘‘ By the Western Sea,” has been added to the popular edition of his novels (Chaprnan and Hall, 2s.). ‘“¢ World’s-End,” by Amelie Rives (Princess Troubetskoy), has been produced in the United States by the Frederick A. Stokes Co. Mr. F. R. M. Fursdon’s novel, ‘‘ The Story of Amanda,” deals with the rise of a girl from the slums to be wife to a leading English politician (Simpkin, Marshall & Co.).  JUNE, 1914.) H.M. the Queen has accepted a copy of ** Where Pharaoh Dreams,’ by Mrs. Irene Osgood, with a foreword by Mr. Stephen Phillips and illustrations by Mr. W. Gordon Mein. *“* How to Breathe, Speak, and Sing ”’ is the name of a book by Mr. Robert Stephenson, upholding the old Italian method of respiration and dealing with all aspects, including the therapeutic and hygienic, of voice-production (Jarrold, 2s. cloth; 1s. 6d. paper covers). DRAMATIC. At the Little Theatre on April 24th, Mr. R. Vansittart’s one-act fantasy, ‘ Dusk,’ was pro- duced for the first time. On May 3rd, ‘“‘ The Patience of the Sea,” a new play by Mr. Norreys Connell, was produced by the Pioneer Pleyers at the Ambassador’s Theatre. On May ‘th, Mr. H. V. Esmond returned to the London stage at the Vaudeville Theatre, appearing in his own play ‘“‘ The Dangerous Age” (originally ‘“‘ The Dear Fool”), with which he has been touring Canada and the United States. On May 5th Mr. Israel Zangwill’s play “ The Melting Pot ’ was played for the hundredth time at the Comedy Theatre. On May 28rd, after its 120th performance, it was replaced by Mr. Zangwill’s new play “ Plaster Saints.” In “ The Holy City,” played at some special matinees at the Comedy Theatre in the first half of May and subsequently at the Haymarket, Mr. Sydney Valentine filled the part of Judas. Mr. Roy Horniman is the adapter from the German of “ The Blue Mouse,” presented at the Criterion Theatre on May 12th. Mr. John Galsworthy’s ‘‘ Justice ’’ was seen at the Coronet Theatre during the week com- mencing May 18th. Mr. Jerome K. Jerome’s comedy “ The Great Gamble” was produced at the Hay- market Theatre on May 21st. The French rights of Mr. W. Somerset Maugham’s play “The Land of Promise ~ have been secured by Mme. Bady for produc- tion in Paris next autumn. ee At a special matinee of West End Produc- tions, Ltd., at the London Pavilion on May 6, one of the plays was Mrs. E. P. Medley’s ‘Sold! At Store Prices.” MUSICAL. Mrs. Agnes Mary Astle’s song “ Morning tide ” was sung by Miss Gertrude Macaulay at Basingstoke on Sunday, April 26. The same composer has recently published — Nell’s Doll”. “The Doctor”; and “Light of ? THE AUTHOR. 243 pies One ad Morning ”’—the words of all ree songs being by Mrs. A. M. All Stai and Bell, 1s. 6d. net). Pee Sg a gg PARIS NOTES. — + : E MONARQUE ” is the title of Pierre § 4 Miulle’s new book, and all friends of Barnavaux will be delighted to make the acquaintance of Juste Claude Bonnafoux a native of a little provincial town of Southern France. Born with the imagination and the optimism of a true Meridional, Bonnafoux ought certainly to have known Tartarin. His fellow-townsmen surnamed him ‘ The Mon- arch” for the simple reason that, possessing nothing of his own, he had no eares and no responsibilities such as men have who must earn their living. He was kept, more or less, by the community, as he was considered an ornament to society. He visited one family during the shooting season, another during the vintage ; he was invited to all the marriages and baptisms. He had always plenty of time, and was always in a cheerful frame of mind. There- fore, as he said himself, he lived like a king, accepting everything from the world at large and giving himself in return. The stories of his various exploits are entertaining and, like Barnavaux, the ‘‘ Monarch ” is a philosopher, so that we learn many homely truths from his sayings and doings. ‘“*Mes Origines, Memoires et Recits ” (Tra- duction du Proveneal), by Frédéric Mistral. This is a translation of the poet’s Moun Espelido. An edition is also published with the original text and the translation together. Among the new books are the following :— “ La Dormeuse éveillée ” is the title of Helene Vacaresco’s latest volume of poems. “A travers Shakespeare,” by Jean Riche- pin. This volume contains the lectures recently given at the University of Les Annales. _ ‘La Vie et la Mort de Paul Derouléde,” by Jérome et Jean Tharaud. “Le Commerce et l’Industrie de la Plume re,” by Edmond Lefevre, should be read by all interested in the subject of birds and feathers for millinery purposes. It con- tains 300 illustrations, and M. Lefevre is the President of the Committee of Ornithologie économique. He gives us a chapter on the different causes of destruction of the birds and another one on the situation of the feather trade in the various countries. _ ‘‘Napoléon et sa Famille,” by Frédéric Masson, is the eleventh volume of this work. pour paru  244 The twelfth and last volume of the series is announced for publication next season. “Les Cathédrales de France,’ by Auguste Rodin, is the title of a volume by the famous sculptor. Some time ago _ Maurice Barrés published his book entitled ‘* La Grande Pitié des Eolises de France,’’ and now Rodin writes, as an artist and a thinker, on the cathedrals. The volume contains about a hundred illus- trations. oe “Les Pays d’Albanie et leur Histoire,’ by Frédéric Gibert. The author is a specialist in Oriental subjects. He gives a detailed account of the actual condition of the Albanian countries. “* Histoire de la Musique européenne ” (1850 —1914), by Camille Mauclair, will be greatly appreciated by music lovers. About a quarter of the book is given up to the works of Wagner. The author then studies the music of the various European nations. “Les Universités Allemandes au XX° Siécle,”’ par Dr. René Cruchet, is an account of a visit to twenty German universities by a Professor of the Bordeaux University. Dr. Cruchet gives us various anecdotes and a résumé of his conversations with the German Professors. He also shows up the various differences between the French and German university. In the Revue hebdomadaire, M. Laudet is now publishing a series of articles by prominent persons on the subject of France as it was in their youth and at present. The first of these articles is by General Lebon, who was formerly Commander of the first corps darmée. The General goes back to his recollections of 1866. He is now in his seventieth year, and after twenty-six admirable pages devoted to his experiences and observations, his advice to the present generation is: ‘‘Soyez gais, mes Jeunes camarades, d’une saine et vigoureuse gaieté qui vous donne le ressort d’un Gallifet.”” Another of these fine articles is by Charles Richet of the Institute. He tells us of the “* Physiology of former days and of to-day.” He points out that physiological chemistry has made great progress during the last thirty-five years. He tells us of the experiments of Pasteur (1857—1880). M. Richet says, in conclusion, that the “ future of humanity is in science only, and that the miseries of humanity can only be attenuated by means of the discovery of scientific truths.”” He declares that disease is our enemy, and that, in order to fight it, it must be known and then treated by science, In an eloquent appeal, he asks that the scientists who are devoting their lives to this end shall not be allowed to die of starva- THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. tion themselves. He declares that the dearth of physiologists is largely due to the fact that the State does so little for scientists. ‘“‘ Ignor- ance with regard to science was the great error of former times; it is the great error too, of modern times,’”’ concludes M. Charles Richet. One of the most interesting articles of the series is certainly the one written by Madame Mary Duclaux. She tells us of the literary Paris of 1885. She left the ‘‘ poetic and pre-Raphaelite England of her early life,’ and went to Paris. Among the people she first met were Mlle. Louise Read, at whose house she met Barbey d’Aurévilly and Mme. Ackermann. Two or three years later she married James Darmes- teter, and at the house of his brother, Arséne Darmesteter, she met Sully Prudhomme, Gaston Paris, and Mme. Dieulafoy and the Renans. (Arséne Darmesteter, the celebrated. philologist, had also married an Englishwoman. Her Salon pictures have won for her a place in the recent book on ‘Celebrated Woman Painters.”) After James Darmesteter’s death his widow married M. Duclaux, who was then. at the head of the Pasteur Institute. Paris is. now the second home of Madame Duclaux, and, in her clever article, she tells us her impressions. of the Paris of former days and of to-day. Her advice to the present generation, in conclusion, is that they should not only follow General Lebon’s advice and be “ gay,” but that they should be “sincere and true.” Madame Duclaux finds that the great danger of modern times is the hurry to see the immediate result of everything. She wonders whether a group of young workers could be found now such as the group which devoted itself to the founding of the Pasteur Institute. She wonders, too, whether the words renoncement, désintéresse- ment and recueillement are as well understood: now as in the nineteenth century ? M. Gavault has been appointed Director of the Odeon Theatre. He is himself a well-- known dramatic author, whose plays have had. great success. At the Bouffes-Parisiens M. Arthur Meyer’s play, ‘“‘ Ce qu’il faut taire,”’ is- now on the bill. M. Meyer, as Director of the- Gaulois, is a well-known Parisian, and the first night of his play was a society event. Autys HA.uarp. “Le Monarque’’ (Calmann Levy). “Mes Origines, Memoires et Récits ” (Plon). “La Dormeuse éveillée ” (Plon). “ A travers Shakespeare ” (Fayard), ‘““ Napoléon et sa Famille ’? (Ollendorff). “Les Cathédrales de France” (Colin). “Les Pays d’Albanie et leur Histoire” (Rosier). ” ‘‘ Histoire de la Musique européenne ” (Fischbacher). “Les Universités Allemandes au X Xe Sitcle” (Colin)...  =e a ® JUNE, 1914.] AUSTRALIAN BOOK RIGHTS. —— + {Reprinted fromthe * Bulletin of the U.S.A. Authors’ League.’’) Wuo SHouLD Have THEM—THE AMERICAN OR THE BrITISH PUBLISHER ? MEMBER of the Authors’ League who has had several of his books published in London, some sold through his American publisher, who supplied “ sheets ” (unbound copies), and some through a separate contract with English publishers, in attempting to sell an English edition of a recent work, encountered considerable difficulty in disposing of his British rights unless the London firm was permitted to handle the Australian rights also. The author was informed by his agent, more- over, that there appeared to be a greater and greater disposition on the part of English pub- lishers to insist upon Australian rights, and it might be difficult, in the future, to dispose of the English rights alone. In view of this fact, the League has investi- : c 3 sie gated the Australian situation in the endeavour to obtain for authors information which might enable them to decide advantageously as to the disposition of any Australian editions. To this end, inquiries have been made of a number of New York publishers and literary agents, the results of which we quote in abridged form. The following description, supplied by a well- known New York publisher, of actual sales con- ditions in Australia, will enable one to under- stand the reason for many of the opinions after- wards cited. This firm says, in part :-— “Many American publishers have placed the sale of their books in the hands of an importing firm in Sydney, which has agencies in Melbourne, Hobart, Launceston, Adelaide, Brisbane, and in several places in New Zealand. To this firm we send, as early as possible, advance copies of the books likely to find a market in Australia, and. also review copies for a number of papers. We then receive by cable orders for such books as our agents find the Australian trade will take. These agents concern them- selves with nothing but the wholesale importation of books and the sale of them to booksellers. As they have no retail trade whatever, their interests and those of the book- sellers are identical, and there exist, we believe, very friendly relations between them and the booksellers. “« Opposed to such agents as ours and to the bulk of the book trade in Australia is a large importing house in Melbourne which also conducts a retail business. This house, we are informed, endeavours to secure the exclusive rights in Australia to books from English and American publishers. Maintaining, as the house in question does, a large retail establishment of its own (perhaps more than one), it has aroused the antagonism of the Australian book- sellers, the more so because the prices it charges booksellers are much in excess of those charged for similar books by firms engaged in importing in wholesale business only. Booksellers in Australia have a further grievance in that THE AUTHOR. 245 the house in question will not supply popular books i quantities desired by the teil, Wihsaiver hey an that they can sell their stock at retail themselves they either cut down the orders from the booksellers or do not fill them at all. “The attitude of booksellers toward this house was demonstrated to us in the case of a book for which we received an offer from the Melbourne house after we had shipped a large quantity to our agents. Two of the principal booksellers in Sydney, hearing that the Melbourne house might get a consignment of the book, notified our agents that if this were true their orders were to be cut from 250 copies each to 50 copies each. We have in the past urged our agents to try to arrange some basis by which the Melbourne house could sell at retail, but this has been foundimpossible. And whether the antagonism is justified or not, the attitude of booksellers in reducing orders from 500 to 100 copies shows that the condition is not one about which to theorize. “‘ Since we have had to choose between the jobber who also conducts retail business and the wholesale agent, we have decided in favour of the wholesale agent, partly influenced by the facts we had gathered, and partly by actual figures. In the case of a novel which sold in America less than 15,000 copies, our total orders for Australia were 2,000 copies, whereas the offer made by the jobbing and retailing firm was only 1,500.” So much for the details of market conditions. The American publishers who have answered the request of the League for their opinions on the matter are, as might have been expected, unanimous in declaring that the American authors are best served by disposing of their Australian rights to or through their American publisher, rather than to the English house publishing in London. One of the largest publishing firms answers as follows :— “In one case where we had sold an edition of only 500 copies to England, our Australian sales exceeded 3,000 ; and in another case where the English publisher took only 250 copies, our Australian sales were 2,000. Two facts should be borne in mind when deciding the disposition of Australian rights: First, the Australians prefer the books of American manufacture. We always send cloth bound books exactly like those that are sold in America, Of course, we have to make very low prices, and, therefore, cannot pay more than half royalty. But the returns to authors on this basis, are, we are certain, much greater than they would be if the Australian sales were controlled by the English publishers. Second: we are informed that in many cases the English publisher sends what he calls his ‘Colonial edition,’ which is a cheap edition much inferior to the edition prepared for England. If, as must be the case, the royalty is computed on the low selling price of the Colonial edition, it 1s doubtful if the returns per book are as great as they are on the American edition. There is no doubt in our minds that the authors’ interests are best served by having the Australian rights remain with the American publisher.” A New York publishing house which has also an English office writes :-— “For a number of years we sold Australian rights through our English house, or through English agents. In recent years we have reversed this policy and have sold the Australian market directly from this country. We find that in doing so we are able to place more editions of  246 to secure the continuing interest in each of the nee Se By the English method one edition is taken and there the matter usually ends. In the case of certain very popular authors this original edition would be larger than the edition taken from America; but this in only a very few cases indeed, and even in these instances when handled from America succeeding editions would more than make up the difference.” ; “The Australian public,” he adds, “seems to like the type of books which appeal to Americans rather than the type which appeal to the English.” Another prominent publisher, while desiring Australian rights for his own publications, thinks that individual cases may differ and leaves the general question in some doubt. He says :— “The American publisher, who has occasion to arrange with an English publisher for the British edition of a book, may often find it desirable to retain in his own hands the arrangements for Australasia. Firms like my own, whose imprint reads ‘ New York and London,’ and which carry on their publishing business on both sides of the Atlantic, make a practice of retaining in their own hands the control of the selling arrangements for Australasia. I should take the ground, therefore, that there was no such thing as ‘a proper ownership of Australian rights,’ but that the matter was one to be determined wholly by the origin of the book (that is to say whether England or America), and very largely by the status of the connections and the publishing machinery of the house controlling the book.” The following communication, however, from an equally important firm, is bolder and more definite in its reasons, corroborating a previous opinion :— ‘“We oftentimes secure from Australia alone an order just as large, if not larger, than we get from England, even when they have all foreign rights. As a general rule, we think the English publisher wishes the Australian market simply to use as a dumping ground. In case he is not able to dispose in England of books at the regular price, he sends them over there (Australia), and brings them out as a cheap edition. My feeling is that he does very little, if anything, to promote the sale in Australia.” Two New York literary agents, both of whom have had wide experience in placing foreign rights of American authors, take opposing positions in regard to the disposal of Australian rights. One of them says :— “Tt is my belief that a popular author gets more out of his Australian rights when they are sold by the American publisher than when they are sold by the English publisher. In the cases of several popular authors the American pub- lisher has got more out of the Australian rights than the English publisher was willing to offer for the English rights plus the Australian rights. Australia in its outlook on life and in the kind of books which attract it is much nearer to America than it is to England.” _The other literary agent makes the following distinction :— # “(a) Given an American novel of the type that is li to obtain manufacture and publication in Se oo. separate contract with an English publisher, I believe it is to the advantage of the author to put the Australian volume rights into the hands of the English publisher. (6) If the novel is of the type not likely to be sufficiently THE AUTHOR. (JUNE, 1914 acceptable in England to attain the publication under a separate contract, I advise giving all rights of volume pub- lication in the English language, including Australia, to the American publisher. Taking two average standard con. tracts, one with an English publisher, the other with an American publisher, it is my experience that the author receives from the English publisher a larger sum per copy than from the American publisher. I need scarcely say that where American publishers have a fully equipped English house (and not a mere agency), and conform to the Australian royalty scales customary with the best English publishers, my advice to American novelists is—as a rule— to let such American publishers have all volume rights in the English language, including Australia. But (as you know), American publishers thus equipped are few.” One of the agents quoted above states :— “Many English houses will not take a book on which they don’t have the Australian rights, so that if you have sold the Australian rights to an American publisher you may find it difficult to place the book in England at all.” This opinion confirms that of the English agent first cited. But there is still another reason for favouring the American publisher. Every American author who has had books published and printed in England has bewailed their inferior appearance, as compared with his American edition. In typography, paper and binding most English editions are far behind the usual American made books. Not only does this displease the author’s esthetic sensibilities, but it probably seriously affects the sale of his book. A case could be mentioned in illustration of one book whose English sale fell far behind the American, indubitably for that reason alone. Says one of the above quoted New York pub- lishers :— “‘ We are certain that the appearance and manufacture of the American book is of more advantage, especially in the Australian market, where it is much preferred to the English book.” The concensus of opinion of those interested (on this side of the water at least) is, therefore, that the American publisher can do better for the author, in Australia, than the English. But, meanwhile, the League is iz communics- tion with London firms and agents, and hopes, later, to present the British side of the question, as well as supply direct information from Australia itself. Se FRANCIS, DAY, AND HUNTER v. FELD- MAN & CO. 8 fe eee action was tried on May 21 and 22, and involved two issues: (1), whethet the plaintiffs’ song called ‘‘ You made me love you (I didn’t want to do it),” written i ' asain ities JUNE, 1914.] by Joe McCarthy and James V. Monaco, both American citizens, was “ first published ” in the British dominions within the meaning of the Copyright Act, 1911, so as to entitle it to copyright thereunder; and (2) whether the words of the defendants’ song, called ** You didn’t want to do it—But you did,” infringed the copyright in the words of the plaintiffs’ song. No complaint was made with regard to the music of the defendants’ song. : Section 1 (1) of the Copyright Act, 1911, provides that copyright shall subsist in every original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic work if, in the ease of a published work, the work was first published within His Majesty’s dominions to which the Act extends. Section 1 (3) provides that publication in relation to any work means the issue of copies of the work to the public ; and section 35 (3) provides that a work shall be deemed to be first published within the parts of His Majesty’s dominions to which the Act extends, notwithstanding that it has been published simultaneously in some other place, unless the publication in such parts of His Majesty’s dominions is colourable only and is not intended to satisfy the reason- able requirements of the public, and a work shall be deemed to be published simultaneously in two places if the time between the publica- tion in one such place and the publication in the other place does not exceed fourteen days. The plaintiffs’ song was published in New York and Toronto on May 5, 1918. On April 24, the Broadway Music Corporation, who pub- lished the song in New York, transmitted twelve copies to the plaintiffs and requested them to copyright the song in England on May 5. On that day the plaintiffs caused one copy of the song to be sent to the British Museum, four copies to be sent to the agent for the other libraries, and one copy to be filed as a record. The remaining six copies were placed in the plaintiffs’ retail premises in a box labelled ‘‘ New works issued this day.” They remained in the box from ten to fourteen days, other music being placed on the top each day as published. The six copies were then r moved to the stock room. It was proved that on the average from eighty to one hundred customers would come into the plaintiffs retail premises each day. It was also proved that American songs. were Oe ei oe until they had been performed 1n this co y- The sischite ae John Abbott, stated that it was their intention to have copies of the song in question available to meet any demand as and when it might arise. There was, how- ever, no demand for the song until August, and THE AUTHOR. 947 no sale could be traced before August 12. In July, the plaintiffs heard that the song was going to be performed in England, and on July 18, they ordered by cable ten further copies from America. On July 26, they ordered ten more. These twenty copies came to hand on August 12. On August 18, they cabled for 100 copies, which came to hand on August 25. The song was first sung in England on July 25 by Miss Florence Smithson at the Chiswick Empire. On August 4 it was sung by Miss Grace la Rue at the Palace. The demand began about August 12, and on August 20, they published an English reprint of 750 copies. They had always been in a position to supply any demand which was made, Beyond placing the six copies of the song in the box in their retail premises, the plaintiffs never advertised the song either in the Press or in their catalogue or otherwise until’ Sep- tember. On these facts the defendants contended that the song had not been issued to the pwhlie in England within fourteen days from May 5, and, alternatively, if it was so issued that the publica- tion was colourable and was not intended to satisfy the reasonable requirements of the public. Mr. Justice Neville, however, held that there was an issue of copies to the public and that, as there was a bona fide intention on the part of the plaintiffs to satisfy any demand for the song, as and when it might arise, the publica- tion was not merely colourable and the con- dition required by the Statute had been satis- fied. On the question of infringement, the defen- dants contended that their song was what was known as a reply song to the plaintiffs’ song, and as such was a legitimate publication. Evidence was given on behalf of the plaintiffs to the effect that there was great similarity between the words of the two songs in rhythm, idea and language, and that the sale of the defendants’ song was calculated to prejudice the sale of the plaintiffs’ song. Mr. Justice Neville said that the question was not free from difficulty. A song might well be what was called a reply song, and yet be an infringe- ment of the song to which it was a reply. The court must be guided by the general impression created on the mind by the one song and the other. In this case he thought the defendants’ song was but a colourable imitation of the plaintiffs’ song, and he granted an injunction and inquiry as to damages. el  HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY. — 4 VERY member has a right toask 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 without any cost to the member. Moreover, where counsel 8 opinion is favourable, and the sanction of the Committee is obtained, action will be taken on behalf of the aggrieved member, and all costs borne by the Society. 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. Before signing any agreement whatever, send ‘the document to the Society for examination. 4, Remember always that in belonging to the Society ~you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are reaping no direct 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. 5. The Committee have 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 stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon them. (2) To keep agreements. (3) To enforce payments due according to agreements, Fuller particu- ‘lars of the Society’s work can be obtained in the Prospectus. 6. 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. 7. Many agents neglect to stamp agreements. This must be done within fourteen days of first execution. The ‘Secretary will undertake it on behalf of members, 8. Some agents endeayour 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. 9. The subscription to the Society is £1 4s. per annum, or £10 10s. for life membership. ——>— + WARNINGS TO THE PRODUCERS OF BOOKS. oe 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, 7f a proper price can be THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. 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. “By 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 isnow possible for an author to ascertain approximately the truth. From time to time very important figures connected with royalties are published in The Author. I¥. 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 :— C1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement means. (2.) The inspection of those account books which belong to the author. We are advised that this is a right, in the nature of a common law right, which cannot be denied or withheld. (3.) Always avoid a transfer of copyright. a WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS. ee 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 any one except an established manager, 3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for plays in three or more acts :— (2.) 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, : 5 i  JUNE, 1914.] (.) 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 inadvance 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.c., 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 (0.) 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 anyevent. 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, ‘Lhey should never be included in English agreements without the author obtaining a su. bstantial 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. —> -— REGISTRATION OF SCENARIOS AND ORIGINAL PLAYS. —— CENARIOS, typewritten in duplicate on foolscap paper forwarded to the offices of the Society, together with a registration fee of two shillings and sixpence, will be carefully compared by the Secretary or a qualified assis- tant. One copy will be stamped and returned to the author and the other filed in the register of the Society. Copies of the scenario thus filed may be obtained at any time by the author only at a small charge to cover cost of typing. Original Plays may also be filed subject to the same rules, with the exception that a play will be charged for at the price of 22, 6d. per act. THE AUTHOR. 249) DRAMATIC AUTHORS AND AGENTS. Ee De authors should seek the advice of the Society before putting plays into the hands of agents. As the law stands at present, an agent who has once had a play in his hands may acquire a perpetual claim to a percentage on the author's fees. from it, As far as the placing of plays is concerned, it may be taken as a general rule that there are only very few agents who can do anything for an author that he cannot, under the guidance of the Society, do equally well or better for himself. The collection of fees is also a matter in which in many cases no intermediary is: required. For certain purposes, such as the collection of fees on amateur performances, and in general the trans- action of frequent petty authorisations with different individuals, and also for the collection of fees in foreign countries, almost all dramatic authors employ agents; and in these ways the services of agents are real and valuable. But the Society warns authors against agents who profess: to have influence with managers in the placing of plays, or who propose to act as principals by offering to purchase the author's rights. In any case, in the present state of the law, an agent should not be employed under any circumstances without an agreement approved of by the Society. ee ae WARNINGS TO MUSICAL COMPOSERS. Segoe : ITTLE can be added to the warnings given for the- ey 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 should be especially careful therefore when entering into an agreement, and should take into particular consideration the warnings stated above. a STAMPING MUSIC. Sage ee The 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, _—_____+—<»—e —__—_ THE READING BRANCH. —+— EMBERS will greatly assist the Society in this N 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, > + EMITTANCES. f the Society begs to give notice a ee Ses are Scuyowiodued by return of post. All remittances should be crossed Union of London and Smiths Bank, Chancery Lane, or be sent by registered. letter only,  COLLECTION BUREAU. ee ecg HE Society undertakes to collect accounts and money due to authors, composers and dramatists. : 1. Under contracts for the publication of their works. : : 2. Under contracts for the performance of thei and amateur fees. é . 3. Under the Compulsory Licence Clauses of the Copy- right Act, i.e., Clause 3, governing compulsory licences for books, and Clause 19, referring to mechanical instrument records. The Bureau is divided into three departments :— 1. Literary. 2. Dramatic. 3. Musical. The Society does not desire to make a profit from the collection of fees, but will charge a commission to cover expenses. If, owing to the amount passing through the office, the expenses are more than covered, the Committee of Management will discuss the possibility of reducing the commission. : For full particulars of the terms of collection, application must be made to the Collection Bureau of the Society. r works AGENTS. Holland . ‘ ‘ A. REYDING. United Statesand Canada. WALTER C. JORDAN. Germany Mrs. Poason. The Bureau is in no sense a literary or dramatic agency for the placing of books or plays. ee = GENERAL NOTES. ae es PUBLISHERS’ AGREEMENTS AND THE AGENCY CLAUSE. Our attention has been drawn once again to the agency clause inserted by agents in publishers’ agreements. The clause runs as follows :— ** All accounts due and all moneys payable under this agreement shall be rendered and paid to of and it is hereby agreed that his receipt shall be a fulland sufficient discharge therefor and that shall have authority to treat for and on behalf of the said author in all matters under this agreement.” The publishers’ agreement, with a covering letter from the agent making several comments on the document as far as it concerned the publishers’ proposed terms, was submitted through the author to the Socicty for criticism, but the agent’s letter written to the author made no comment whatever upon the clause which referred to his own position and which he had inserted. We have on former occasions and at full length dealt with this matter. If an agent, when commenting on the publishers’ agree- ment, sets fairly before the author the diffi- culties that may arise under the clause which he inserts for his own benefit, states that it is irrevocable, that it may handicap the author THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. seriously, ete., ete., and if the author, having the full statement before him, says ‘* You are my agent, I am quite willing to trust you as regards this clause,” then no blame whatever can attach to the agent; though something might be said on the question of the author’s folly. But when an agent as in the present case says nothing the matter assumes quite another aspect. Supposing, for instance, a solicitor when drawing up a contract for a client inserted a clause which, of great benefit to him- self, might be seriously detrimental to his client, and omitted to point out the facts ; if the matter was then referred to the Incorporated Law Society, the result would most probably be that the solicitor would hive his name struck off the rolls. But agents who dealin a similar manner with their clients are full of anger when com- ments are made upon their methods of doing business. Solicitors are responsible to the council of their profession, but agents have no such responsibility. It has been said that all authors are not angels, and that unless the agent protect himself he runs a chance of being swindled; but the agent seems to forget that the author runs exactly thesame chance. It would be interesting to know the proportion of corrupt agents to the total number of agents, as com- pared with the proportion of corrupt authors to the total number of those who follow authorship as a profession. It is doubtful if this sum were worked out whether the agent’s care for himself could be wholly justified. AGENTS AND ACCOUNTS. WHILE we are discussing the question of agents, there is another matter to which the members’ attention should be called. Agents —literary, dramatic, and others—are very fond of receiving accounts and passing them on to authors without any comment. They take no trouble to compare them with the former accounts, to compare them carefully with the agreement and to see that the proper percentage is given throughout. They simply ask the author, who is helpless in the matter, whether he is satisfied with them. Many agents, however, have got a worse habit still. They make out an account of their own, presumably from the original accounts, deduct their agent’s fees, and send it on with a cheque to the author, who has no possibility of viewing - the original documents. We are glad to see, that this is not always the case, One or two of the best-known agents: make a point of always sending on the originals for consideration. Even then it is the agent’s |  JUNE, 1914.] duty to state clearly that he has compared the accounts with the former accounts and with the agreement. The matter would not be of such importance if, in the clause which we have quoted, the agent’s receipt was not a valid discharge. The insertion of these words into the clause cannot be supported by the same arguments that warrants the agent to collect the monies. They are merely an added burden to the author. Prorit SHARING ON THE SALES OF SHEETS IN ture U.S.A. WE re-publish in another part of The Author an article which deals with a clause inserted in Publishers’ Agreements giving the author half profits on sales to America. The matter is of growing and serious importance, be- cause such a clause, although the author is receiving a royalty on other sales, is being inserted more frequently in author's agree- ments, and its interpretation, when the accounts come in, is nearly alweys—there are honourable exceptions—to the detriment of the author. Every form of profit sharing in literary as well as dramatic agreements is unsatisfactory. If the accounts are rendered with the most honourable intentions, distrust and suspicion is bound to spring up, often because the author cannot understand the intricate details. Profit sharing on American sales is a subject which might very usefully be discussed between the committee and the Publishers’ Association, if the latter would care to discuss it. There are two reasons why, from the pub- lishers’ point of view, the power to sell on half profits to America benefits them. It enables them to cut down prices to an absurdly low figure. This is detrimental to the author, who practically gets no profits, but is not a serious matter for the publisher, because in any case, he takes care to get his cost of production eovered. The cost of production including, as is shown by the article, the cost of composition. The second point is that, however equitable the arrangement may appear, it is impossible, as shown in the article, that it should be an equitable arrangement if the book continues to sell briskly in England. Bot h these points are detrimental to the author's financial interests. We hope, therefore, that all authors who receive a royalty on the English sales, failing to obtain U.S.A. copyright, will oppose the clause of profit sharing on the American sales, THE AUTHOR. 251 and will insist upon receiving a royalty of so much per copy, which will force the publisher to keep up a reasonable price for the sale as he has to pay the author a reasonable price also, A Boox aspout AUTHORS. __WE are quoting the following from Mr. Hope Moncrieff’s ‘‘ Book about Authors ”’ :— *“The Authors’ Society has recently started a pension fund of its own which appears to be usually applied for the benefit of novelists, the only class of authors that does make any money to speak of. And in two cases it is paid to gentlemen also enjoying Civil List pensions. This looks as if the Authors’ Society contained few really necessitous members. But one has known only too many authors, and of note and of usefulness, who could not afford even the guinea subscription to this association.” We think Mr. Moncrieff is a little unfair to the Authors’ Society. The Authors’ Society is paying at the present time five pensions. Three of the pensioners are novelists ; two are not. The proportion of three to two is not an excessive proportion considering the member- ship of the Society. Mr. Moncrieff states, however, about novelists ‘‘ the only class of authors that does make any money to speak of.” With all Mr. Moncrieff’s large knowledge of authorship, he has failed to understand that many educational writers have a much larger circulation and a much surer and continued income than novelists, and that the suecesstul dramatist again is often far ahead of the successful novelist. The remark also is not quite fair because after all it is not the class that benefits by the pension but the individual. There is a further point to which attention might be drawn. It would appear that Mr. Moncrieff has written the paragraph without a correct knowledge of the Pension Fund scheme. It is absolutely essential that the author secking a pension should have been a member for a certain number of years. We regret to say we know more than one case in which an author has resigned from the Society, not always on account of poverty, and coming on bad days, has desired to rejoin the Society with a view to getting a pension. There is also a limit of age in the Society’s Pension Fund scheme. There is also the fact that the Pension Fund scheme was started with a view not to cut in any way into the work of the Royal Literary Fund. Like Mr. Moncrieff, we have known too many authors who have fallen on evil days. has only been tempore by the Royal Literary F In many cases their position ary, and being relieved und, they have regained  252 their work and stemmed the tide of misfortune. The Socicty, although it cannot assist directly in these cases from its Pension Fund, can assist indirectly and is constantly doing so, by giving advice and referring members to the Royal Literary Fund, and by calling the notice of the more fortunate members of the profession to an urgent case. Again, amongst those authors who are not only known to Mr. Moncrieff, but also to_us, many were not entitled by age to relief. Finally, the Pension Fund of the Society is an exceedingly small fund, and when the income is exhausted by the payment of present pen- sions, however pressing may be the needs of those who claim, it is impossible for the Society to assist until the income at the disposal of the trustees is sufficiently increased. We think the Society may well be proud of its Pension Fund, small as it is. The first pension granted was to Mrs. Riddell. The fund was started by the Society, ten prominent members heading the list with donations of £100 each—and for members of the Society only. It has never appealed to the public by way of advertisements, charity concerts and other methods, but has gone steadily from year to year, supported by members of the Society both rich and poor, until its funds are over £5,000 in value. The amount invested per annum usually runs to between £200 and £300. It has not been a one-man fund, born of the generosity of this or that millionaire, although no doubt the trustees would be willing to receive outside gifts. It is because the funds are really part of the life of the Society, and its membership that the Society has reason to be proud of it. Tue Art or LEAyING Orff. _ A very interesting little paragraph appeared in the May number of the Chicago Dial, which we take the liberty of copying :— “* The Art of Leaving Off, in writing, in story-telling, in specch-making, in preaching, in calling, and in much else, is an art that many never learn, perhaps chiefly because it is so simple—to stop when you get through. Scott more than atones for the long-winded preliminaries to his novels by the masterly abruptness with which he closes them, A compliment worth winning from one’s readers is the involuntary exclamation at the end of the book, Is that all! Those who have read much aloud will recall many a masterpiece of fiction that has elicited from breathless hearers that unmistakeable testimony to the attention- compelling quality of the narrative. In her useful treatise on “The Art of Story-Telling,’ Miss Julia Darrow Cowles pertinently remarks : ‘ Story-tellers sometimes remind one THE AUTHOR. (JUNE, 1914. of a man holding the handles of an electric battery. The current is so strong that he cannot let go. The story-teller must know when and how to “‘let go.”’ Letus suppose that, in telling Hans Christian Andersen’s story of ‘‘ The Nightin- gale,” the story-teller—after the delightful denouement of the supposedly dead Emperor’s greeting to his attendants, where he “‘ to their astonishment said ‘ Good morning !’ ”” —were to add an explanation of the effect of the nightin- gale’s song in restoring the Emperor to health! It would be like offering a glass of ** plain soda’ from which all the effervescence had departed.’ .. .” But is it true that authors generally know when to stop ? In the old days of long serials, many authors being bound by the serial market to make the beginning of the story interesting dragged on interminably towards the end. Is not the second volume of Thackeray’s “ Virginians” a fair example of not knowing when to stop? Copyricut Casrs, 1918. WE have received from the Publishers” Association the ‘‘ Copyright Cases for 1913,” edited by Mr. E. J. MacGillivray. This. collection is produced for private circulation at the expense of the Publishers’ Association, and the Society cannot be too grateful to that Association for allowing the Society every year to have a copy. It is an invaluable production. In the summary, Mr. MacGillivray touches on the question of titles, which he rightly says has jumped into supreme importance by reason of the fact that the producers of films are claiming the right to appropriate the title of any novel or drama. is one that may effect seriously all authors, and it is hoped that the efforts of the Society will be successful in organising a satisfactory defence. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF AUTHORS AND JOURNALISTS. WE have received some papers with regard to the Congress of Authors and Journalists to- be held at the Panama-Pacific International! Exposition which will take place at San Francisco in 1915. The papers give some idea of the arrange- ments that are going to be made for all those who, specially invited, are able to accept the invitation. Fuller particulars may be obtained from: Miss Ina Coolbrith, 1067, Broadway, New York, or from Mr. Hermann Scheffauer, Bank Point,. Jackson’s Lane, Highgate, N. The matter vip  JUNE, 1914.] ‘MODIFICATION OF THE BERNE-BERLIN COPYRIGHT CONVENTION OF 1908. —o— + (Reprinted from the U.S.A. “ Publishers’ Weekly.’’) TWFNHE following additional protocol to the Convention of 1908 adopted by the countries of the International Copy- right Union, March 20, 1914, is of especial importance in the United States because it _ doubtless originated in and reflects the dis- satisfaction with the manufacturing and other restrictions of our own copyright code felt by those countries which grant full copyright. Under it, Great Britain can impose counter- restriction on books of American authorship without violating its full relations of reciprocity with the other countries of the Union. ADDITIONAL ProrocoL TO THE REVISED BERNE CONVENTION OF NOVEMBER 13, 1908. The countries, members of the International Union for the protection of literary and artistic works, desiring to authorise an optional limita- tion of the extent of the Convention of Novem- ber 13, 1908, have, by mutual agreement, -adopted the following Protocol : 1. When a country not belonging to the Union does not protect in a sufficient manner the works of authors who belong to a country -of the Union, the provisions of the Convention -of November 13, 1908, cannot prejudice, in any way, the right which appertains to the con- tracting countries to restrict the protection of works of which the authors are, at the moment -of the first publication of these works, subjects -or citizens of the said country ‘not being a member of the Union, and are not actually domiciled in one of the countries of the Union. 2. The right accorded to the contracting States by the present Protocol, equally apper- tains to each of their trans-marine possessions. 3. No restrictions established in virtue of No. 1 above, may prejudice the rights which an author has acquired upon a work published in -one of the countries of the Union prior to the putting into force of these restrictions. 4. The States which, in virtue of the present protocol, limit the protection of the rights of authors, will notify the Government of the Swiss Confederation by a written declaration ‘indicating the countries against which the protection is restricted, and also the restrictions to which the rights of authors from these -eountries are submitted. The Government of the Swiss Confederation communicates at once the fact to all the other states of the Union. THE AUTHOR. 2538 5. The present Protocol to be ratified, and the ratifications to be deposited in Berne within a maximum delay of twelve months from its date. It enters into foree one month after the expiration of this delay, and has the same power and duration as the Convention to which it relates. In witness whereof the Plenipotentiaries of the countries, members of the Union, have signed the present Protocol, of which a certified copy is to be transmitted to each of the govern- ments of the Union. _ Made in Berne, the 20th day of March, 1914, in only one copy deposited in the archives of the Swiss Confederation. (The signatures of the representatives of the countries of the Union follow) :— Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Norway, The Nether- lands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, France, Tun’‘s, Great Britain, Germany, Haiti, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Japan. ——__—— @ > +~<4 6 ROYALTY AGREEMENTS AND HALF PROFITS ON SHEETS TO AMERICA. Pe Se EEE HERE is a clause often embodied in agree- ments issued by the best houses in London in which the author—failing to obtain the American copyright—is entitled to half of the profits on the sale of sheets to America. If this clause is inserted in the usual half-profit agreement, there is little to be said against it. The only points at issue, then, are: (1) Is a profit-sharing agreement desir- able? (2) In what proportion should profits be divided between author and publisher ? But if the clause is inserted in an agreement where the author is to obtain a royalty on the publication of the English edition, there are two very strong points of objection. The first point rests on the fact that a clause drafted on these lines is a distinct pitfall to the author. Itis 4 pitfall for the following reasons: (1) because to the ordinary person the difficul- ties with which the clause 1s pregnant are altogether invisible ; (2) because the amount the author receives is always calculated—see the books of the Society on the point—on the basis that the full cost of composition is charged against the English edition. If this were not the ease, the author ought to receive a higher royalty on British sales. 254 Let us explain what we mean more fully. Take the ordinary 6s. book :— £8 ¢, Cost of composition of 3,000 copies . : : 35 60, 0:0 Cost of printing of 3,000 copies . ; : - 16 0, 0 Cost of paper of 3,000 copies 58 0 0 Total - 104° 0 0 Of the 3,000 copies the publisher sends 2,000 to America and receives for the same (say) Ls. a copy—£100. The cost of composition was compulsory for the completion of the English edition, the author’s royalty, as stated, being based on this understanding; but the pub- lisher takes two-thirds of this cost towards the American edition as well as two-thirds of the cost for the print and the paper, leaving to be divided between himself and the author— £ sg By sale of 2,000 copies to America : ; . 100 QO 0 Two-thirds cost of produc- tion : 69 6 8 {30 138 4 As the cost of composition has no right to be charged against the American edition, but only the cost of print and paper, the difference would work out as follows :— £3. d. By sale of 2,000 copies to America : : - 100. 0: 0 Two-thirds cost of print and paper : 49 6 8 £50 18 4 Instead, therefore, of the author receiving £25 6s. 8d., by the publisher’s method of cal- culation of half profits, the author receives £15 6s. 8d. and the publisher £85 6s. 8d. It is almost as reasonable an arrangement as the ordinary half-profit agreement, whose clauses and workings have so often been exposed in The Author. To show how this method may be worked out in the interests of untrustworthy publishers unfairly to the author, say the publisher in the first instance only publishes 1,000 copies. The cost of composition would still be £80; print- ing, £10; paper, £20. He sells 500 copies to Amcerice,, end on the same principle the follow- ing sum is worked out :— fos ad. Half cost of production _ $0 0-0 By sale of 500 copies to America at ls. per copy . 25 0 0 £5 0 0 THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. This would leave a deficit against the author’s. account of £2 10s., as the sale to America has failed to cover the cost of production. As soon as the edition is sold and the amount is worked out against the author he prints 10,000 copies for the English edition, but never takes into account the proportion of the cost of production of the 500 sent to America to the 10,000 printed in England. Again, supposing you take the first instance and 20,000. were subsequently sold, the cost of the 2,000 sold to America is still taken in proportion to the cost of the 3,000 of the first edition printed, and not in proportion to the whole cost. It will be seen, therefore, that, quite apart from the contract being unfair, and a pitfall to the unwary (as on the face of the agreement the difficulty is invisible), even if it is worked out by a publisher with an honest idea of doing nothing dishonourable, the result of its working, its natural evolution, becomes a fraud on the author, as it is impossible to calculate this sale to America on the basis of future sales. It must always be calculated upon the sales that have already been made. The position is ridiculous. It is to be hoped that the Pub- lishers’ Association will dissociate themselves from this form of agreement. The second objection arises from the fact that this sale to an American house is mere agency work. If conducted through the medium of an author’s agent, the latter would be highly pleased with the payment of 10 per cent. on the net result. Not so the publisher, although he is constantly erying out against the agent and his charges. It is a well-known fact —instances have often been quoted—that the publisher, although he expresses strong dis- approval of the intervention of the agent who charges a modest 10 per cent., makes—when he endeavours to undertake any of the agent’s duties—a general charge of 50 per cent. Further arguments against allowing a pub- lisher to undertake an agent’s work need not be repeated here. ——_____o—>_+_____—_- THE FAMILY HERALD PRESS. THVHE attention of the committee has been LT called to a letter issued from the ‘Family Herald Press ” to one of the members of the Society of Authors. The letter runs as follows :— “Dear Srr,—On the understanding that you are the author and sole owner of the above-named story, the Editor is prepared to pay you for the entire rights of i  ‘JUNE, 1914.] ~publication and re-publication (Home, Colonial and International) the sum of ten shillings, the Editor to shave the right of making any alteration he nmy deem advisable in title, names of characters, and text. “Should the Editor’s offer be acceptable to you, we shall be obliged by an early intimation of the fact, so that a remittance may be sent at the end of the month. ‘“* WintraMs, STEVENS, Lrp.” The article for which the magnificent sum of 10s. was offered was an article of 2,000 -words in length; therefore, the price being ‘paid was at the rate of 5s. per 1,000 words. Now from the point of view of the worst author, 5s. per thousand words must be considered an ‘impossible price even when the purchaser desires only the first serial use for a special paper ; but to offer to pay 5s. per 1,000 words for rights intended (as the form of receipt subse- quently sent showed) to cover the copyright ‘which now includes dramatic rights, transla- tion rights, and cinematograph rights is, from the author’s point of view, wholly absurd. No doubt the argument on the other side would be that there are many papers that pay as low as 5s. per 1,000 words. There is no doubt that some papers do fall as low, but two ‘wrongs will never make a right. and it is rather a shock to find an old and well-estab- lished paper like the Family Herald pays such prices. It is not often that so low a figure is paid, even for the first serial use, and it is quite the exception that the copyright is purchased for so low a figure. It would be further urged no doubt that the letter was a printed form, that as amatter of fact the work proposed to be purchased was not such as could be used either in book form, or for dramatisation, and. that, therefore, the author, although the contract embraced rights of so extensive a character, lost nothing. There is really nothing in this second argument, the point being that it is for the author to decide whether or not he ares to yield these rights, even though they are not likely to bring him in anything. There is one good point in the letter quoted. The author receives it before the article is published and puts quite clearly before him what the urchaser desires for the pittance that has een offered. This is a thousand times better than the case of those magazines which give an indefinite acceptance or no acceptance at all, then publish the story or article, and, when it has been published, claim, by an endorsement on the back of the cheque, all the copyright and prevent the author from obtaining his money until the cheque 1s signed without alteration. ———_—_—__—_4+—-_+___—_—_ THE AUTHOR. 255 TRANSLATIONS. See Tue RecENT ACTION OF THE ‘‘ SocrkTE Drs Gens DE LETTRES.”’ VERY author whose works are capable of translation should take notice, and immediate notice, of the recent action of the ‘‘ Société des Gens de Lettres” respecting translations. If any one will remark that to say this is hardly necessary, seeing that all the proceedings of the great French society, the Queen of authors’ societies, are always of con- summate importance, it shall be immediately admitted that this is essentially true; but, at the seme time, it is to be feared that there are among authors, or at any rate among English authors, very many who have not realised that the “ Société des Gens de Lettres ” is not only the oldest, and by far the most powerful of all authors’ societies, but also on every occasion the first to seize the meaning of new situations and developments, and the quickest to per- ceive how they can be turned to the advantage of its members; in effect, in all cases the leading society of all societies of the same kind. Before proceeding farther, it may be well to mention, in case any reader should not be acquainted with the methods of the “‘ Société des Gens de Lettres,” that the society is not only a society for protecting the rights of its — members, but represents also a single and. most powerful agency. Its members confide their works to its care, publish through its inter- mediation, and find all their business interests most attentively watched by its officials ; whilst it at the same time enjoys a prestige so indisputable that any publisher or editor who gets his name into the black books of the society, if this expression may be used, finds his affairs in a very awkward predicament. — Some little time since the society turned its particular attention to the subject of trans- lations, and appointed a special commission to inquire into the whole question of trans- lations and royalties on and payments for translations. The ‘‘ Rapport sur la Tra- duction ” rendered to the general meeting of the society on Sunday, March 29 last, 1s published in the official organ of the society (Chronique de la Société des Gens de Lettres, Mai, 1914, Paris, Cité Rougemont, No. 10), and is well deserving of attentive perusal. A sum- mary only of it follows here ; ever, of importance 1s omitted ; nothing, how- and it will be 256 seen at once that an entirely new light has been thrown upon the whole problem of translations and of authors’ benefits to be derived from translations. Authors’ rights in translations are fixed and protected by the Berne Convention, revised and regulated by the Congress of Berlin. The exercise of these rights, on the other hand, is often qualified by arrangements and engagements with some third party, publishers becoming frequently, under various stipula- tions, co-proprietors of the rights, and having interests indissoluble from those of the authors. (Here, in France, the position of the ** Société des Gens de Lettres,’ as agent for its members, naturally comes into consideration.) Translations can be regardedin three different aspects. 1. The translation of a work in book form again in book form. 2. The translation in serial form (feuilleton) in a periodical, either of a work that has originally appeared in book form; or of one that has appeared as a serial (feuwilleton) not published in book form; or of tales, novels, articles, or poems, which have appeared in a periodical, but have not appeared in a book. 3. The reproduction of a translation, of class either 1 or 2, in a serial form. (In this case there are three different stages of publication ; the original work, its translation as first pub- lished, a reproduction of this translation in some other manner.) In reality there is another possibility, not mentioned in the society’s report. A work appears by some well-known author ; for it is only in the case of works by popular authors that the complication here considered takes place. The work is very soon published, in book form, in a translation ; first of all almost always either in French or German, and then, from this translation another translation is made. That, evidently, ought never to hap- pen. The best of translations is never any better than it should be—and often a great deal worse than it should be; but a trans- lation of a translation is an abomination for which no excuse can be pleaded. Still the things exist. At the present moment there is lying before us a Roumanian translation of Sienkiewicz’ well-known Polish novel ‘ Quo Vadis,” with the statement shamelessly printed on its title page “* Translated from the French.” Such frank admissions are indeed rare, but that in many cases what are offered as trans- lations are merely translations of translations is certain. The aberrations from the original THE AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. are, in many instances, such as to leave no- possibility of a doubt of a German inter} mediary. Neither can there be any possibility of a doubt that these lucubrations represent the happy hunting ground of the literary pirates of many tongues. There is probably no kind of literary production in which the producer of contraband wares is more. active. To return, however, to the French report. Up to the present authors and publishers have paid attention to translations of the first class only, either completely ignoring the second and the third, or, at the best, taking the second only into consideration quite by accident. ‘In fact, generally, and excepting only in the case of some agreements with England or with the United States, we are accustomed hitherto to sell our works purely and simply for a single payment made once for all either by translator or publisher, who afterwards makes of these works what use he pleases. ** Meanwhile the formidable development of the international Press tends to render more and more profitable to the foreign purchaser the exploitation of the complete right which he has obtained. Having become absolute proprietor (of the translating right) the foreigner is able to sell and to re-sell his translation, to publish it and to re-publish it in various forms, in volumes of various prices, in illustrated editions, in parts, to offer it for serial publica- tion, to publish it in twenty different periodi- cals, and everywhere to gather profits with both hands, whilst neither the author nor his co-proprietor has any suspicion of the con- tinuously increasing profits resulting from his having agreed to accept a single payment for his rights.” It appears, however, that some authors have been a bit more prudent, and whilst ceding rights of French translation, have reserved the rights of French serial production. Respecting which the report observes, ‘‘ We see no reasom why we should not treat our fellow-authors as: they treat us.” For the future the ‘“ Société des Gens de Lettres ” intends to support, with a firm expectation of making this mode of action triumphant, the following equitable general theory: the French author who treats with a foreign translator (publisher, editor of a journal, or individual translator) will sell for a fived sum the right to translate a work in one form strictly defined, and will explicitly reserve all the other rights, and in particular those which in any way represent reproductions of the translation. P|  ——_—_—_ >< ‘sroyyne YSTSuy 100 SNoMas oy} SAVY OF qysno b jo coquunu ® dn suodo Ayo1008 “oloR oY} ssefoyoAON : ‘ssay APOuTISsIP st sqysit uorpepsuesy si Jo onjea efoya. eq} spoutde [faa os sUBOT OU hq outry owes oy} 7” Burg “toyyne ysToug, oy? pue ‘qvodde ue opis os oymb oyvut you op SZOod ysysugy MOTOUWLOS -gSensury Joyjo Aue Jo uoryelsuesy jo ssBut gjoyar ot} sps00x9 A[qviopisuoa ‘sopensurvy snows UL ‘qouotg poyepsuety JO ssBvUL OfOUA\ ay} ye} jeodde Ayqeqoad prnoar Ff sorysTyeys ureyqo 0} aiqissod orem 1 JT *Se}@IS peru) ayy pue purpsug ul Ayuepndod apqetopisuoo eB QUIT] OWS OTT} JB Sey I YSpMpM “uoUTUO,) Of} JoAo [Te poydoooe Ap1aHvo St JeYy 19}VVUL Are19}T] jo ssvur snouttous ue sonpoad Apqeyndstpul soop aourig ‘OsTy ‘[VULsMo oy} Jo soloBolfop 943 AAUOD 0} SB OS oFEISULI] OF aqissodurt j1our osenSury ou st otoy} yonoyy $ AQM g jo Wos v ur ‘poye[suetz Apisvo oL0U oq UBS asenSuel oN ‘Youoty se poye[suBsy WoO OS ST opeNsuUe] OU Ayquoredde yey}—sty} 9q AqUrey -190 [JIM doyoey JURWodtuT Joyjzouy ‘sto NV jo Ayoroog YsTppug, oy} ULYy avpnotqaed sty} Ur sIoyyNeE Jo ssauysyos o{} JO ure,dutod 0} UOsBo.l zaysnf{ sey yey Aqetoos ou sdeyaiod st o10y} pur —sar}o00s dy} 0} SuLoype Aq osnvo WoUTUTOD ayy ur wolf 0} sxoyyne Auvur Jo souRyON[or ayy Aq pousyvoa ATPBS o1B SoTJOLDOS TeTTWIS ToyJO [[V ‘SWUOTPRsTURsSA0 AY} UL SodUtoyyrp wor wedy ,,'Sed}Jo'T._ ep Suey) Sop 93910 ,, ay} Jo asoyy WLM poreduos oq 07 o1B sioaod asoya stoyyne jo Ayoroos Aue ppoM ot} UI orayMou st otoyy, ‘opqeqotd you ‘Aqiddequn ‘St S]MSOL IVPTWIS OY] suryyAue yoodxo plnoo Aoyy yyy, *saveafwoa your doy} Jo opdurexe dq} MOTO 0} T[oss Op Os[e Pom soy Ne ysysugq yey} Wloss pynom yt pue + yuoprAs oq TIM UoTR[sUeT] SUISLIVpNSo1 Aq sToq woul S} Jo SouIcoUT oY} 0} Surppe Jo ABA B pataaoasIp SBy ,, SMI] op Susy) Sap 939100 ,, 9Y} FUL, : : "yous VfOS UMO STY 1OF sosvoid oy Ava, Auv ur poonpoadoas uonRsuety ayy eaet] 07 JS oynjosqe oy} Sururezod pur jeumol ayj Jo sstdood U9} Os[e SUTATIDII LOYINR YOuat oy} “OUO[B FYSIL [Bios oy} OF sowery oo, Avd 0} ‘yUAHe TOY, YSnory} AzoIO0S oy} YIM JUotudaITe uv 0} aUIOD sBY, ‘SoUBAT QOS LOT sTyst [(@ suumboe ‘toyyne oyy woody Apooatp WSU voHRsuRTy oy} aseyoind 0} posn yor jeumol ys, Y “sppumol unisiwog ‘aut JO UOTPVAIPISt yorpa suorsen youory oy} Jo Lge MOHLAWY AHL fig pind atv sp sullap aus ay} ‘ones ayy UqTAL syuoursoi8e Troy} JO ONT ul ‘auo]D sumnjor Mayy Ud unaddn 04 sytom yuo JO SUOTIRISUBIY aoy Avd oangny OY} LOF [IM Aoosopy pue sang -siaqyod “4S Jo speuanol Surpeo] oy} Jo ANOJ VISsnyy up ‘Aroyoesstyes Apysry woe Ayureyiood oAey s}fnsot oY} JO OSTB IULOS ‘uolssnosip topum [[4s st Auewioy pue Apeyy Areuued [izergy ut auop oq [ITs FEU AL “erUeUINOY, PUB Avesunyy -VLIjsny ‘puepsuyy Ut Suryeo1y st Ajowos oy} pue ‘vissmy pue arqndayy ourquasy ayy ‘fesnyog ‘S°q"IS poy ey} “puellory “epeury ‘uMIsp_, 1OJ poqurodde useq SAeY syuosy “suoTyR[suedy Suipsesat sue sod Mou s}t SuIST[vot SpleMa.oy sdoqys queytoduit usyey Apeorpe sey Ayowwos oy} FU SALOYS qatodo.t ou, _uorssnastp opun souloo yoy YLoa Yoo Apoyeredas Iopisuoo oF quose sg AyoIoos oY} 1OF Axessooou JL oyeur [IM wor -BysuBi} otf} JO SOS JU.LOIHP yo suorjonpoidor jo pur uole[sue.ty Areurtad oy} Jo suoysonb xojduioo ayy, “Sopa 027] ureyiao B YORAM UT IDI 94} OF POP}SeL JUUTOALO’ Ue ayeul 0} SNOOHeUBAPR ILOU ST Ff FEY} OS £ 802.9] WYSE -fidoo quasaffip oxey YOM $924zUnod quasaffip ut uoyods oq Avut Yor ‘aspnsuv)] dup @ JoJ JUsUIDIISe UB UL POATOAUT 8} Josuep VW ‘ayeqg opUTop B 07 Poytysot quouleo1se ostooid v skeaye oq 0} SN ‘yuoutdopoAop [BULIOU S}T MOT[OJ OF puv yyoad Jo oatjonpord oq 0% St 72 jt,, WoIe[suRt] B Suroodsot JUouoaIse OY,T, —: uolnes yuezoduer ue suTejyuod os] ydeasered SULMOTIOF OUD _cSdOYyNe JO SPYSIL oy} Jo osuas @ 03 Sutsoypid snoymyeis Aq pyoud oyar Qsoy} powoAuoo you savy AoYZ ING ¢ Ay1odoad Sxe1d9}1[ JO DOUIISTXO IY} Pooto9P SILTFUNOD AueBul ut ‘pooput ‘savy syuoueped Jo spy “SUE -JUBM JOU aIB SaTYMOIFICE “SeATOSAMOA VATIWIpP: you op,, ‘ydodat oy} senutzuoD (JI, *SUIZI}IO» -00 Ito} YA yeotz 02 9[GR IoWoq ‘soutdo: Ayowos ay} ‘Suteq owdoy oy} F UowMTouIT you ‘uorjsonb UL SaLiyUNCD oY} JO SUSZIPO sosvo [IB UT oq [[LM SyUOse osoy,T, “SeLTPUNOD JUOTOFIP UE UMO Ss} Jo syuese yurodde 03 sosodoad Ajo100S ayy ‘owturssoid syt Jno Adtvo 0} Jopio ul "SOQ UID S}I JO JWOD poytpodoow o{} Se Surjoe aq [[IA. Ajotoos oy} vtoy ‘asamod Jo ‘ures _ UoIstAdodns FUIURUE -iod pue yous B dopun [[@—uoT}E[sUBs} oF jo suorjonpoidas poydrynut ‘sowmnyjoa ‘s.toquna ul UoT}RoTTqnd ‘szYSII [VLIos “ToYZOUR WOT} UO Susuttds ‘suoyovsupi, fo saisas @ oyUT “poyuas -oidaa A]Petouad sey S}YSM UWoryepsues} Jo [vs df} OMY IY YT “YAOAL Moy} Jo JUauuopungy oy} tWtojsuety OF ottsop OAL 9soyy Ie jo uortsodsrp oy} ye Fpos}t Soovd Azowoos oY, ,, [FI6l ‘ANOS  258 “THE LAW OF COPYRIGHT.” * +4 TYNHIS volume is a reprint of a series of articles which appeared in The Bio- scope. In the nature of things, it was not to be expected that the author, in the space at his disposal, could give more than the merest outline of the law. Nevertheless, Mr. Croasdell has succeeded in presenting a fairly concise summary of the main features of the Copyright Act of 1911, and has added a certain amount of information respecting international copyright. We gather that the articles which go to make up the work were written, in the main, for the guidance of those interested in the cinematograph industry, and, no doubt, some- thing may be said in favour of a short treatise, such as the one before us, which presents the main features of the Copyright Law as amended by Parliament. There is, however, as we have pointed out on previous occasions, great danger in con- sulting works which seek to explain so complex a subject as copyright in the limited space which Mr. Croasdell allows himself. We are glad, therefore, to observe that it is to be followed by a larger work on the same subject. Mr. Croasdell, referring to the question of titles remarks :— Copyright exists in the title of a book if such title is a new and original literary composition, for the title is part of the book, and is as much the subject of copyright as the book itself. Although a book may have been out of print several years, still the copyright may exist, and another person is not justified in adopting the title so long as the copyright continues. This statement of the law is very misleading. Practically speaking, there is no copyright in a title, though there may be a certain property acquired by user. A general statement such as the one we have quoted is sure to mislead rather than to enlighten the layman. No doubt in the larger work which has been promised Mr. Croasdell will amplify what he has said on this subject, but it is precisely because such amplification is necessary, that we feel the dangers incidental to any attempt to explain the law in the small compass chosen by the author. bite In the chapter on Copyright Abroad, Mr. Croasdell speaks of Holland and the United States of America, among other countries, as being outside the Berlin Convention, In regard to the former, the statement is in- _* “The Law of Copyright,” by W. Carlyle Croasdell, Barrister-at-Law. London: Ganes, Ltd. 85, Shaftesbury Avenue, W. , THE AUTHOR. ‘JUNE, 1914. accurate—Holland joined the Convention in November, 1912. In regard to the United States of America, the statement is inadequate, for while it is true that America is not a party to the Convention, copyright protection may be obtained in that country, and this should have been explained. ——— ¢ —~<— THE TRADE OF AN AUTHOR.* oe \7 OT the least interesting of Mr. Hope ae Moncrieff’s ‘* Reflections and_ Recol- lections,”” is the Introduction, where we get the personal note, rather lacking in the rest of the volume. This is the more welcome, as this ‘‘ author of sorts,’? as Mr. Moncrieff modestly styles himself, has always been a determined opponent of publicity. Indeed, we would prefer more recollections and less reflections. The earlier chapters, which deal with a general history of authorship, the making of the author, his genesis and development, show traces of wide reading and a remarkable insight into the varied conditions of the literary ‘ife. The author’s genial personality is constantly reflected in the autobiographical portion of the book and in his tolerant and good-humoured reference to the eccentricities and shortcomings of certain well-known authors—a_ pleasing contrast to the mordant and cynical comments on contemporary writers in several popular books of reminiscences recently published. The book is not over-laden with anecdotes and good stories, but the few that are given are new and full of point. There is one of a cele- brated author who had had an unsatisfactory interview with two of the partners in a well- known New York firm of publishers. He had left them in high dudgeon, but before he had reached the corner of the block, he was accosted by a stranger who told him that he had seen the wrong man—that he had interviewed the literary partner and the financial member of the firm. ‘* You should have come to me first ; Tam the drinking partner!” Ultimately they both came to an harmonious understanding. Under the well-known pseudonym, Ascott R. Hope, the author has a high reputation as a writer of sound and wholesome stories of school life and adventure for boys, and with the late George Henty he stood at the top of the tree in this kind of fiction. * “ A Book about Authors: Reflections and Recollec- tions of a Bookwright.” By A. R. Hope Monerieff. 10s. net. A. & C. Black. 1914.  JUNE, 1914.] His stories of school -life, which” show a remarkable insight into boy nature, though well known and popular, have not, however, attained such success as they deserve. But the writer is, no doubt, handicapped through con- fining himself almost exclusively to studies of life at grammar schools and what are known as private schools, and ignoring the more popular field offered by the public schools and those public schools in miniature—the preparatory schools. Then too, Ascott R. Hope’s school-boy rather lacks modernity, especially as regards school-boy slang—his boys, indeed, talk too correctly. Perhaps this accounts for the fact that, though many of his books have reached several editions, he cannot claim one great out-standing success like his rivals, Desmond Coke or Ian Hay. In an instructive chapter on publishers, the unbusinesslike methods of some firms is humorously indicated by the following epi- sode. A publisher, “ who long somehow escaped bankruptcy,” happened to be travel- ling by the same train as our author. ‘* Guess- ing that the likes of him would travel first, I took a third-class ticket, and walked slowly along the train. Sure enough, he sat in state, where he graciously invited me to join him. ‘No,’ said I, * You can travel first-class ; I pay my debts.’ ” In the course of some good-humoured strictures on editors and their ways, in con- nection with one who wanted to commission him to write a school history of Europe, which should make no mention of the Reformation, he tells an anecdote of Leo XIII.. which is new to us. He had given a celebrated historian access to the archives in the Vatican Library, but impressed upon him that he need not feel restricted in the use he made of them, and added slily, ‘‘ There are some good people who would like to edit the Scriptures, cutting out the story of Peter and the cock, for instance, lest it should bring discredit on the Holy See)” The author holds rather pessimistic views of present-day literary criticism. The Early Victorian sledge-hammer methods of censure have had their day, and are apt to be replaced either by indiscriminate eulogy or tame and colourless criticism. With books, as with the stage, the public is more and more inclined to be its own critic, and our author asks with reason, Is the plebiscite of the readers a better guide than its professed counsellors ? Who shall say ? : On the question of press criticism, Mr. Mon- crieff is uncompromisingly severe. To prove the contradictory character of reviews he THER AUTHOR. 259 devotes a page to a selection of favourable and unfavourable criticisms of the same book. But this method of the “‘ deadly parallel,” to show the futility of press criticism, is, however, mis- leading. It assumes that the exaggeratcd encomiums of the Mudford Mercury are of «qual value to the author and publisher as the few lines of guarded approval in the Times or Atheneum. Among Mr. Moncrieff’s excursions in. the various ficlds of literary enterprise, perhaps his most notable success has been in topography. A marked feature of his guide-books and topo- graphical works is their literary distinction—a feature which frees them from the reproach of not being literature—from which this class of book usually suffers. In ‘“ London” for instance, the following illumining speculation on London in posse is worth quoting as a vivid piece of word- painting :— “Are there children now elive whose bleared eyes may see London shrunk to its old bounds, perhaps huddled on some choice site like the heights of Highgate and Hampstead— which, according to Mother Shipton’s prophecy shoald become its centre—when for leagues, as about the walls of Delhi or Pekin, the open country will be dotted with ruined temples and towers, round the broken dome on Ludgate Hill, standing up in solitary state like the Kutub Minar? Can it ever come to lie squalidly deserted for a new city, rebuilt by some conqueror, as at Bokhara and Samarcand? Are there generations yet unborn to whom this capital will be a show, like ~ hundred-gated Thebes,’ a quarry of antiquities like Nineveh, or Knossos, a mystery like the Cambodian Angkhor, or the Bolivian Tiahuanaco, an over- grown wilderness like the buried ruins of Yucatan ? ” Probably the most enduring of Mr. Mon- crieff’s works is that by which he is least known to English readers. This is a monumental geographical work of reference in six volumes, called ‘‘ The World of To-day,’’ which gives a popular survey of the present-day geographical, historical, political, social and economic con- ditions of all the countries of the world. In- deed, the author of this colossal compendium of geography might almost be described as a twentieth century Reclus. The book ends with a note of encouragement to his fellow-craftsmen, and an impressive and dignified Vale to the reader. ‘‘ On coming to add up my account, I find a balance on the right side. I have lived my life; I a spoken my mind; I have done what I could,  ‘260 in a world where at the best we are all but un- profitable servants.” “By diligently plying the pen rather than the sword or the plough, one may have more surely helped to turn the wilderness of life into a garden. If one have taken pains not to let one’s tool go rusty; if one have never prosti- tuted it to base uses; if one have cared to be an honest hireling in this day’s work; if one be aware of having given pleasure to some, of having sought to work harm to none, these are the things that should not make death terrible to an author who, like the silent many, must look to be forgotten ; yet what good or ill he could do for his generation will not die in the lives of men.” KH. A. R. B. BOOK-PRICES CURRENT.* to ry NUE first three numbers of the new volume of Book-Prices Current are lying before us, numbers as full as ever of interesting matter, presenting once more the insoluble problem of how any notice is to do justice to a publication of this kind. The modern reader of the notice of a book expects from the reviewer something more than an honest state- ment of how the work which the volume con- tains has been done; the reader wishes to know something about the book, something which will enable him to talk about it—without having read it; and how is any reviewer to enable a man to do that when the very essence and merit of the work lying before him is that it consists of hundreds of minutely accurate notes of various volumes, the excellence of the work and its interest being wholly in the minuteness of its details? Indeed, we will freely admit that our custom of selecting a few items for note, which we shall again do pre- sently, is really indefensible. In almost every vase not the books which anyone may happen to select, but very many others, are just those whose mention would be interesting to a reader of the periodical. All the books in the world cannot have a meaning for any one individual, any more than all the words in the world can have a meaning for him. Each real lover of books will be interested in his own specialities, and not at all interested in anything else ; for which reason the book-lover ought to read Book-Prices Current for himself; and will in * “Book-Prices Current.’ Volume XXVIII, Nos. 1 2,3. London: Elliot Stock, 1914, : THER AUTHOR. [JUNE, 1914. all cases find his pains well rewarded by information that he will not be able to gather anywhere else. We have said this more than once; and still fear that the periodical does not find its place even in the libraries of all public institutions, nor even in the libraries of all literary institutions ; though it is certain that no public library ought to be without it. Since the beginning of the new volume a new arrangement of the contents has been adopted. The books are no longer catalogued under the headings of the different sales; but each number displays all the books mentioned in it in one alphabetical arrangement. A good deal is to be said for this. Any single book is more easily found, and different copies of the same book come into juxtaposition. The last par- ticular is a distinct advantage. The whole is also more easily used as a book of reference— or at least the whole of each single number. What form the index which ends the number concluding the year is to take we cannot tell until that number reaches our hands. Still, on the whole, we think that it must be granted that the new arrangement is more convenient for ordinary purposes ; though we must confess to a regret at the loss of the distinctly picturesque presentment of the several libraries grouped one by one. Some- thing there was of interest, not altogether purely sentimental, and in some ways very real, in the perspective, if the term may be used, of the different collections of books ; perhaps because the tastes of the collector peeped out from among them ; perhaps because the books themselves, that had sometimes been so long together, had the appearance of a grave symposium which the auctioneer’s hammer was, alas, to scatter, so that they could never come together again. The breaking up of a library is the undoing of a thing that had organic life for the brain that created it. So whilst we admit again, we admit it with the Oriental proverb, ‘“‘ There is no advantage without a disadvantage.” Our own task of selecting a few volumes for mention—which we have already admitted cannot be defended—has also become more difficult. It is no longer possible to say, ‘“* Look at the sale of this library or that for books of such and such kinds.’”? The books have succumbed to the tyranny of the alpha- bet. And so there is all the more reason why the book-lover should read Book-Prices Current for himself. He, indeed, will find his favourite authors more easily than before; so be it hoped that he may be the more disposed to read,  laa ib. if JUNE, 1914.) : Among the greatest rarities are the follow- ing :— Byron, ‘ English Reviewers,” fifth edition, original boards, uneut. The only copy known. The edition was suppressed by Lord Byron, and every copy ordered to be burnt before publication. The title page, preface, and postscript found in this copy are not found in the two or three copies of the fifth edition with a fourth edition title page. It seems surprising that the work should not have fetched more than £12. A first folio of Shakespeare—last two pages of ‘‘ Cymbeline ” in facsimile—probably unique in having the “ Tragedy of Troilus and Cres- sida’ regularly and correctly paged through- out. This was sold in one lot with three other folio Shakespeares—1632, 1664, and 1685 respectively—for £1,200. Richardson. A collection of the first edition of his works. ‘‘ Pamela,” 1741—42; “‘ Cla- rissa,” 1748; ‘‘ Grandison,”’ 1754, and ‘“‘ The Correspondence of S. Richardson,” by A. L. Barbould, 1804. The twenty-four volumes fetched £96. Records of sales of various works of Thackeray’s are numerous. Amongst them will attract particular interest— Thackeray, Autograph MS. of Lecture on Jonathan Swift, twenty-one pages written by Thackeray, and thirty-two by his daughter, Anne Thackeray Ritchie, with numerous cor- rections by Thackeray. $1,700. Still more interesting is the only known copy of “The Whitey-Brown Paper Magazine ” by Thackeray, lithographed. The mention of this strange periodical is accompanied by an explanatory note. $23,000. Books certainly have their fashions as well as their fates; and it is curious to place the following two sales side by side. : E. Fitzgerald, “‘ Omar Khayyam,” second edition in original wrapper. 1868. £12 10s. Sophocles, “* Edito Princeps,’’ Venice, Aldus, 1502. £11. From which it would be easy to deduce— well, too many different things to be set down here. ‘ Mark T'wain’s autograph MS. of “A Yankee at the Court of King Arthur,” 1889, sold for £100. : Meredith, ‘‘ Diana of the Crossways,” first edition, 3 vols., cloth, 1885, sold for £2 6s., and those who have in their libraries copies of the old three-volume novels, which Mudie no longer circulates, may easily possess works that are worth money. : her work of Meredith’s Bards and _ Scotch THE AUTHOR. 26r may be quoted, as evidence that when authors present their works to friends they should write their names in them. It makes a good deal of difference in the money value of the present. Meredith, “The Shaving of Shag- pat,” first edition, 1886, with author's inserip= tion, £19; although the original cloth binding- was cracked and the half-title torn. a ee i —2-+ + © ia ———__ CORRESPONDENCE. —+—<—+ MacazZInE Payments. Dear Sir,—I was very much pleased to see in last month’s Author, under the above title, an exposition of the effrontery manifested by some unprincipled ‘‘ MSS. snatchers.” The writer leads us to suppose that these literary ghouls occupied chairs of distinction; this, of course, is an all-important consideration. Presuming this to be the case, I feel sure that a strongly-worded letter to the owners of the publication would have received attention and ultimately brought forth a statement to the effect, “* We regret that your contribu- tion entitled -—— published in our issue was erroneously underpaid, through a clerical error, and we have much pleasure in enclosing cheque value £—— to cover the deficiency. Regretting the error, ete.” Another case that I recall with great readiness was that of a very respectable 6d. monthly (not an English publication) that underpaid me by several shillings; the editor, upon having his attention drawn to the deficiency (not by the proprietors, however), promised to add the amount on to the next cheque. Six “next cheques’ have come and gone since: then, but no increase has been apparent. The editorial memory is exceedingly defective: upon such issues, and I have not the slightest doubt that the incident has long ago passed into the sub-conscious portion of it. If the cditor should see this letter, doubtless he will gladly add the amount to the neat cheque. Jpon still another oceasion a very experl- enced friend of mine (an old editor) told me that he found the best plan was to return the cheque with a covering note politely intimating that the amount 1s insufficient. This pe apparently causes the editor to be stung . i : he hastens to write out a fresh cheque. f ‘ ass of editor I forbear to oubtful whether I could with the aid of any Of the other cl speak, indeed, it 1s d really do them justice,  262 printable words. These creatures trade upon the credulity of the inexperienced author, and are usually so bad that in many cases they reap their own reward, or at least the two very worst cases that came within my ken did. One rapscallion to whom I had sold some “ stuff’? arranged to pay for it on the instalment plan, which he did until he reached the third or fourth instalment (I forget which). He then heard rumours of absence in a far country, and promptly ceased to continue the pay- ments; no doubt he thought I had left the country for good, and, that, even if he did send it on, I should not be able to spend it. However, a little later the secretary of the Society relieved him of any doubts he may have entertained, by requesting him to send the rest of the monies to the secretarial depart- ment. This so scared him that he sent the remainder toute « coup. Haroup Ucrus. — <4 REAL EDITIONS. ‘ Srr,—On the question of “editions” as against a statement of the number of copies of a book issued, your correspondent may be interested in the letter of Jared Sparks printed in ‘George Palmer Putnam, a Memoir,” published by G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1912, pp. 55 and 56. The writer says ‘ Prescott and Bancroft publish what are called ‘ editions,’ 500 each. They think there is some advantage in it, although where there are stereotype plates, one can hardly see the propriety of calling each impression a new edition.” Earlier in the letter he had given figures with regard to Washington’s writings. Yours faithfully, E. A. ARMSTRONG. — ++ A QUESTION AS TO PAPER. DrEar Sir,—A work of mine—published about a year ago—is printed on very thick, soft paper, which seems to me likely to be the sort that does not last. The paged proofs were printed on thin paper, which, apparently, is of much better quality. Bound up they make a book little more than half the bulk of those issued to the public; but I care nothing for bulk if the work is not to be lasting. Would some reader kindly tell me how I may know good, that is durable, paper from bad, THE AUTHOR. {JUNE, 1914. and what would, approximately, be the differ- ence in cost between the one and the other. The book in question is demy 8vo and consists of 360 pages. Cuaries F. Moxon. Sea peelings U.S.A. Puay Piracy. Dear Sir,—My attention has just been drawn to a paragraph in the May number of The Author referring to the piracy in New York of ‘“‘ La Petite Fille,’ under the title of “A Pair of White Gloves.” I shall be obliged by your publishing an immediate contradiction of the statement con- tained in this paragraph, to the effect that I prevented the authors, or the Société des Auteurs Dramatiques from benefiting from the unauthorised production at the Princess’s Theatre. The production was stopped at the instance of the Société des Auteurs Drama- tiques, acting for the authors, and the option I hold was only concerned so far as to make my consent to their action necessary. I am not, and have never been, a ‘‘ dramatic agent,” and am surprised that the editor of The Author should pass a paragraph oppro- briously mentioning a member of the Society of Authors without first submitting the con- tents to him. I have repeatedly tried to learn the particulars of the production of the play and the result of the French society’s action from the secretary of the Society of Authors, but so far without the slightest result. Your obedient servant, Joun PoLiock. [We gladly publish this letter, though we cannot admit that any opprobrious mention was made of the writer in the paragraph referred to, which was quoted from the United States Publisher's Weekly.]| a NovELISTS AND THE HosprraLs. Dear Sir,—Has it ever been suggested before that it would be a good plan if novelists and publishers sent proofs of novels to the fever hospitals for the amusement of patients and nurses? There are stages in illness when fiction is a good tonic and the last stage for these infectious sheets would, of course, be the fire. I see no harm that could come from this suggestion, if novelists will take it, and the corrections on the proofs would only add to the amusement and interest. Yours faithfully, A NOVELIST. 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. 24 Issue 09 (June 1914) Subject The topic of the resource <em>The Author</em>, Vol. 24 Issue 09 (June 1914) Type The nature or genre of the resource Publication Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context 1914-06-02-The-Author-24-9 publications The Author