Of all the things for which he was grateful to God, he knew but one that stood above the gift of a noble literature, and that was God's own revelation; and when we put that high above everything, still he knew nothing he could rank higher than the literature which ennobled our country. Subscriptions amounting to nearly £1000 were announced at the dinner.

Mr. H. G. Keene has republished in book form the interesting series of articles he contributed to the Calcutta Review on the French and English free-lances who found their opportunity in the chaos which preceded the establishment of British power in India. Sir Richard Temple contributes a felicitous preface. The brochure is published by Messrs. Thacker, Spink, and Co., of Calcutta. and of 2, Creed-lane, London.

Prince Kropotkin, the Russian scientist and exile, promises to bring out immediately a popular edition of his interesting work, " Fields, Factories, and Workshops," hitherto available only to those who could afford half-a-guinea or so. The book is a study of economic tendencies in the realms of modern industry and agriculture. Messrs. Swan Sonnenschein and Co. will be the publishers. The format will be especially good, both in the shilling (paper) and two-shilling (cloth) edition.

Speed. Among the many claims to prophecy made by authors-some of which are a trifle shadowy-we may instance Mr. Cromie's wireless telegraphy forecast in "A Plunge into Space," the first edition of which was published in 1890. Tesla and Marconi had not then commenced to work their wonders, but Mr. Cromie's paragraph -which will appear in the new edition without the alteration of a single word-has been admitted by an electrical science journal to be a fairly good definition of wireless telegraphy up to the moment of going to press.

Two matinées for the benefit of the Waifs and Strays Society will be given at the Criterion Theatre on June 3 and 4, when, among other attractions, two one-act pieces will be performed -one by Lady Bancroft, the other by Mr. F. Anstey.

will be

At the Lyceum, Madame "Sans-Gêne revived on June 10, "The Lyons Mail on June 19, and "Charles I." on June 24.

Mr. J. T. Grein is proposing to start a "Théâtre Français" in London.

"Ben Hur," the religious drama which has been so successful in the United States, is to be produced at Drury Lane next Easter.

Mr. T. E. Pemberton is writing a Life of Miss Ellen Terry.

The Stage announces that the F. R. Benson Company (Limited) has been registered, with a capital of £1000 in £1 shares. The first directors are O. S. Andreae, F. R. Benson, and C. F. Leyel.

Mr. Stephen Phillips has nearly completed "Ulysses," the play he is writing for Mr. Tree. An interesting "real conversation" between Mr. Phillips and Mr. William Archer, in which the question of dramatic criticism by the newspapers is discussed, appears in the current number of the Pall Mall Magazine.

Mr. Martin Harvey will produce shortly a new romantic play by Mr. Freeman Wills.

VOL. XII.-No. 2.]

For 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 collective opinions of the Committee unless they are officially signed by G. Herbert Thring, Sec.

This is in some respects the most satisfactory, if a proper price can be obtained. But the transaction should be managed by a competent agent, or with the advice of the Secretary of the Society.

II. A Profit-Sharing Agreement (a bad form of agreement).

In this case the following rules should be attended to: (1.) Not to sign any agreement in which the cost of production 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 advertisements. Therefore keep control of the advertisements.

(3.) Not to allow a special charge for "office expenses," unless the same allowance is made to the author.

(4.) Not to give up American, Colonial, or Continental rights.

(5.) Not to give up serial or translation rights.

(6.) Not to bind yourself for future work to any publisher. As well bind yourself for the future to any one solicitor or doctor!

VOL. XII.

III. The Royalty System.

[PRICE SIXPENCE.

It is above all things necessary to know what the proposed royalty means to both sides. It is now possible for an author to ascertain approximately and very nearly the truth. From time to time the very important figures connected with royalties are published in The Author. Readers can also work out the figures themselves from the "Cost of Production."

IV. A Commission Agreement.

The main points are:

(1.) Be careful to obtain a fair cost of production. (2) Keep control of the advertisements.

(3.) Keep control of the sale price of the book. General.

All other forms of agreement are combinations of the four above mentioned.

Such combinations are generally disastrous to the author. Never sign any agreement without competent advice from the Secretary of the Society.

Stamp all agreements with the Inland Revenue stamp. Avoid agreements by letter if possible.

The main points which the Society has always demanded from the outset are:

(1.) That both sides shall know what an agreement

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.

WARNINGS TO DRAMATIC AUTHORS.

́EVER sign an agreement without submitting it to the

petent legal authority.

2. It is well to be extremely careful in negotiating for the production of a play with anyone except an established manager.

3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for PLAYS

IN THREE OR MORE ACTS:

(a.) SALE OUTRIGHT OF THE PERFORMING RIGHT. This is unsatisfactory. An author who enters into such a contract should stipulate in the contract for production of the piece by a certain date and for proper publication of his name on the play-bills.

(b.) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE

TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF PERCENTAGES

on gross receipts. Percentages vary between 5 and 15 per cent. An anthor should obtain a percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipte in preference to the American system. Should obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed date on or before which the play should be performed.

D 2

(c.) SALE OF PERFORMING RIGHT OR OF A LICENCE TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF ROYALTIES (i.e., fixed nightly fees). This method should be always avoided except in cases where the fees are likely to be small or difficult to collect. The other safeguards set out under heading (b.) apply also in this case.

4. PLAYS IN ONE ACT are often sold outright, but it is better to obtain a small nightly fee if possible, and a sum paid in advance of such fees in any event. It is extremely important that the amateur rights of one-act plays should be reserved.

5. Authors should remember that performing rights can be limited, and are usually limited, by town, country, and time. This is most important.

6. Authors should not assign performing rights, but should grant a licence to perform. The legal distinction is of great importance.

7. Authors should remember that performing rights in a play are distinct from literary copyright. A manager holding the performing right or licence to perform cannot print the book of the words.

8. Never forget that AMERICAN RIGHTS may be exceedingly valuable. They should never be included in English agreements without the author obtaining a substantial 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.

II. 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 contracts, THOSE AUTHORS DESIROUS OF FURTHER INFORMATION ARE REFERRED TO THE SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY.

"E

HOW TO USE THE SOCIETY.

VERY member has a right to ask for and to receive advice upon his agreements, his choice of a pub. lisher, or any dispute arising in the conduct of his business or the administration of his property. If the advice, sought is such as can be given best by a solicitor, the member has a right to an opinion from the Society's solicitors. If the case is such that Counsel's opinion is desirable, the Committee will obtain for him Counsel's opinion. All this without any cost to the member. 2. Remember that questions connected with copyright and publishers' agreements do not generally fall within the experience of ordinary solicitors. Therefore, do not scruple to use the Society.

3. Send to the Office copies of past agreements and past accounts, with a copy of the book represented. The Secretary will always be glad to have any agreements, new or old, for inspection and note. The information thus obtained may prove invaluable.

4. BEFORE SIGNING ANY AGREEMENT WHATEVER, send the document to the Society for examination.

5. Remember always that in belonging to the Society you are fighting the battles of other writers, even if you are reaping no benefit to yourself, and that you are advancing

the best interests of literature in promoting the independence of the writer.

6. The Committee have now arranged for the reception of members' agreements and their preservation in a fireproof safe. The agreements will, of course, be regarded as confidential documents to be read only by the Secretary, who will keep the key of the safe. The Society now offers :-(1) To read and advise upon agreements and to give advice concerning publishers. (2) To stamp agreements in readiness for a possible action upon them. (3) To keep agreements. (4) To enforce payments due according to agreements.

TH

NOTICES.

HE Editor of The Author begs to remind members of the Society that, although the paper is sent to them free of charge, the cost of producing it would be a very heavy charge on the resources of the Society if a great many members did not forward to the Secretary the modest 68. 6d. subscription for the year.

Communications for The Author should be addressed to the Offices of the Society, 4, Portugal-street, Lincoln's-inn Fields, W.C., and should reach the Editor NOT LATER THAN THE 21st OF EACH MONTH.

All persons engaged in literary work of any kind, whether members of the Society or not, are invited to communicate to the Editor any points connected with their work which it would be advisable in the general interest to publish.

THE AUTHORS' CLUB is situated at 3, Whitehall-court, London, S.W. Address the Secretary for information concerning rules of admission, &c.

SIR WALTER BESANT.

THE FOUNDER OF THE SOCIETY OF AUTHORS.

From the President.

UR Society has to sustain a heavy blow in the death of Sir Walter Besant; and, although vitality breathes from a bright example, such a loss may well seem to us at the moment irreparable. It is hard to speak of him within measure when we consider his devotion to the cause of authors, and the constant good service rendered by him to their material interests. In this he was a valorous, alert, persistent advocate, and it will not be denied by his opponents that he was always urbane, his object being simply to establish a system of fair dealing between the sagacious publishers of books and the inexperienced, often heedless, producers. How unselfishly, with how pure a generosity he gave his valuable time to the previously neglected office of adviser to the more youthful of his profession, may be estimated by a review of his memorable labours in other fields. They were vast and toilsome, yet he never missed an occasion for acting as the young author's voluntary friend in the least sentimental and most sensible manner. He had no thought of trouble or personal loss where the welfare of his fellowworkers was concerned. We have lost in him the very beating heart of our Society, and it is by holding his name in grateful remembrance that we may best hope to have something of his energies remaining with us.

GEORGE Meredith.

From the Committee.

WHEN, in the year 1892, Sir Walter Besant retired from the chairmanship of the Committee of the Society, he himself gave an account of his stewardship in the form of a "brief history of the Society from its foundation." This paper, read at the Annual Meeting, constitutes still the best account of the origin, establishment, and progress of the Society. In it our founder lays down the lines of our activity and the principles which we exist to

maintain and enforce. It is not necessary on the present occasion to recapitulate these; readers of this journal are familiar with them. The years that have elapsed since that paper was read have witnessed no departure from those principles and have been filled with work upon those lines. Though no longer chairman, Sir Walter did not abate in the smallest degree his labours on behalf of the profession of letters. As an energetic and diligent member of the Committee, and as the conductor of The Author, he continued to inspire the Society which he had founded, and to give to it his time, his thoughts, and his affection with that unmeasured generosity which seemed to belong to him alone, and with the ardent enthusiasm which had enabled him to overcome all opposition and all difficulties in the early days of our existence. Nothing but illness kept him from the meetings of the Committee; he edited The Author till within a month of his death; he never ceased to seek how the work of the Society might be advanced and extended, and how its position might be yet further fortified and consolidated.

Faith, zeal, courage, self-devotion-these were the great qualities which he brought to his chosen work-the work of developing in men of letters a sense of their brotherhood, of the dignity of their profession, of the duty of maintaining steadfastly its independence and its rights. What he warred against was, in his own words, "the feeling, ridiculous, senseless, and baseless, that it is beneath the dignity of an author to manage his business affairs as a man of business should, with the same regard for equity in his agreement, the same resolution to know what is meant by both sides of an agreement, and the same jealousy as to assigning the administration of his property." Against the old bad way-the hand-to-mouth existence, indolence and ignorance parading as the superiority of genius, a slipshod negligence that ended in recriminations and wranglings, he set his own face and armed his comrades. For it was to his comrades in the first instance that his message spoke. Their fate was in their own hands; it was in their power to make justice, knowledge, and common sense prevail in their business arrangements.