class of imaginative ballad-poetry to which it. belongs? One need use no stronger argument for Buchanan's claim to the title of poet than the quotation of as much of this beautiful ballad as an editor vigilant over his space will allow :

As I lay asleep, as I lay asleep,

Under the grass as I lay so deep,
As I lay asleep in my cotton sirk
Under the shade of Our Lady's Kirk,
I wakened up in the dead of night,

I wakened up in my death-sirk white,

And I heard a cry from far away,

And I knew the voice of my daughter May.

Mother, mother, come hither to me!

Mother, mother, come hither and see!
Mother, mother, mother dear,

Another mother is sitting here:

My body is bruised, and in pain I cry,
On straw in the dark afraid I lie;

I thirst and hunger for drink and meat,
And mother, mother, to sleep were sweet!"
I heard the cry, though my grave was deep,
And awoke from sleep, and awoke from sleep.

The Hon. Mrs. Alethea Weil is writing the volume on Verona for Dent's Medieval Towns Series.

Professor James Gordon Macgregor, LL.D., Munro Professor of Physics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, has been appointed Professor of Natural Philosophy in Edinburgh University.

The national memorial to Miss Mary Kingsley has taken shape in the establishment of an African Society to propagate the study of native laws and customs.

Mr. William Allison is the author of "The British Thoroughbred Horse: His History and Breeding," which is about to be published by Mr. Grant Richards. It gives tabulated statistics from the racing results of all countries.

Mr. W. J. Ford is writing a history of Cambridge University cricket.

Mr. W. J. Locke's new novel, "The Usurper," will be published in September by Mr. John Lane.

Mr. Clement Shorter is to edit a new Wednesday illustrated paper, dealing mainly with Society and the Stage, which will shortly be published from the same office as the Sphere. It will be called the Tatler, and the price is to be 6d. weekly.

A new volume by John Oliver Hobbes, which will be published by Mr. Unwin, is made up of a play dealing with a Carlist rising and entitled "A Repentance," and three stories entitled" "Tis an Ill Flight without Wings," "Prince Toto," and "The Worm that God Prepared." Messrs. Methuen are about to publish John Oliver Hobbes's new novel, "A Serious Wooing."

Lucas Malet's new book is announced as the longest novel the publishers (Methuen) have ever sent to press. It is entitled "The History of Sir Richard Calmady," and it will appear shortly.

Under the title "Granuaile, a Queen of the West," Messrs. Jarrold and Sons are publishing an historico-romantic poem in six cantos, by the Rev. Dr. Panter, author of "Orpheus and Eurydice, and other Poems." The poem opens with the celebrated interview at Hampton Court between Queen Elizabeth and Granuaile, the Irish princess.

Mrs. Düring's new novel, " Malicious Fortune," now running serially in the Argosy, was published in book form at 6s. by Mr. George Allen on June 18.

The Bookman understands that Mr. Anthony Hope's new novel is to be published serially in the Cornhill Magazine, and afterwards in book form by Messrs. Smith, Elder, and Co.

Mr. Albert Strong has completed a book on musical and dramatic copyright.

Mr. Henry Arthur Jones is writing a new play, in which the leading part is to be played by

Miss Lena Ashwell.

A new theatre is to be erected by Mr. Mulholland in the Hammersmith-road, at the corner of Rowan-road.

The Savoy Theatre has passed into the hands of Mr. William Greet and Mr. E. C. Engelbach.

Mr. Herbert Waring has taken Mrs. Langtry's theatre for the autumn season. He will produce there, in the middle of August, a new play by Mr. Boyle Lawrence.

Mr. William Gillette's version of Sherlock Holmes is to be introduced to London at the Lyceum on Sept. 9, after having been produced a few days earlier at the Shakespeare, Liverpool.

Mr. Barrie's new play will be produced first in New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Kendal will be seen at the St. James's Theatre in the autumn.

At Her Majesty's Mr. Tree will produce Mr. Stephen Phillips's "Ulysses" as the principal item in his programme in the autumn.

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!

[PRICE SIXPENCE.

(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.

3. There are three forms of dramatic contract for PLAYS IN THREE OR MORE ACTS:

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

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

TO PERFORM ON THE BASIS OF PERCENTAGES on gross receipts. Percentages vary between 5 and 15 per cent. An author should obtain a percentage on the sliding scale of gross receipts in preference to the American system. Should obtain a sum in advance of percentages. A fixed date on or before which the play should be performed.

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

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

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

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

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

8. Never forget that AMERICAN RIGHTS may be exceedingly valuable. They should never be included in English

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FROM THE COMMITTEE.

Roe, Mrs. Harcourt..

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HE offices of the Society have been removed from

T4, Portugal Street, to 39, Old Queen Street, Storey's

Gate, Westminster. The Committee were forced to take this step owing to the compulsory purchase of the land in Portugal Street. They consider, however, that on the whole the new situation will prove more convenient to the members of the Society.

The Committee have to regret the death of another member of the Council, Miss E. A. Ormerod. She was one of the first lady members elected to the Council, and was chosen on account of her distinguished position as a writer on scientific subjects.

Miss Eleanor Ormerod.

Y the death of Miss Eleanor A. Ormerod, on

By July 19th last, Economic Entomology has

lost one of its most competent exponents. Miss Ormerod was, moreover, one of the first lady members of the Council of the Authors' Society, while her eminence as an entomologist was recognised by the conferment of the degree of LL.D. by the University of Edinburgh, of which University the deceased lady was an examiner in Agricultural Entomology. Miss Ormerod's first appearance before the public as one

conversant

with

Miss

entomology was in connection with the Royal Horticultural Society in 1868; a collection of insects, whose life histories bore upon economic problems, was formed partly under the guidance and largely at the suggestion of Miss Ormerod. The Society recognised the value of her services by awarding to her the Silver Floral medal. Ormerod's first scientific work of importance was her "Manual of Injurious Insects," published in 1881, and since that year a large number of "Guides" and "Annual Reports" have enriched the literature of the subject. We do not in this country suffer from the ravages of locusts, though two serious locust plagues would seem to have occurred in the years 1693 and 1748. But Miss Ormerod detected in 1893 a possible source of future plagues of these undesirable Orthoptera. In fodder imported from abroad she was able to find-and report upon the unwelcome discoveryoccasionally living, though fortunately more often dead, locusts. Miss Ormerod's wide knowledge of her subject was utilised by the Royal Agricultural Society, who appointed her Consulting Entomologist, a post which she held for some years. FRANK E. BEDDARD.

S

The Work of the Society.

INCE the last number of The Author was published the Secretary has had in hand thirteen cases in which he has been forced to interfere between publisher or editor, and author. Of these, four have been satisfactorily terminated, and three have been placed in the hands of the Society's solicitors; the remainder are in the course of negotiation. During the same period the Society has put in hand to carry through the Courts if necessary six cases, five of these being small county court actions. The sixth, however, is an important question for all authors. It refers to the methods of dealing with a book and the title of a book after the author has conveyed his copyright to others.

It is to be hoped that the matter will finally come into Court, when the decision will be set out fully in The Author.

At the end of the last sittings of the Courts a very interesting case from the author's point of view came up for trial, Aflalo & Cook v. Lawrence & Bullen. The case is especially interesting to the members as the plaintiffs, members of the Society, had the support of the

Society throughout. The question involved was not so important on account of the money at stake as on account of the principle involved. The question was how far a publisher of an Encyclopædia under certain circumstances had the right to use contributions of the author's in a different publication, and whether such use under all the circumstances was not an infringement of the plaintiffs' copyright.

The plaintiffs were successful. The Committee, however, are unable to put before the Society at the present time a detailed account of the case owing to the fact that the defendants have appealed. When the matter has been finally decided it will be fully reported.

The Author will in future be issued from the offices of the Society, 39, Old Queen Street. Ten numbers will be issued every year, the numbers for August and September being omitted. The subscription to The Author in future will be 58. 6d. instead of 6s. 6d. It is hoped that the members of the Society will give The Author their strong support, not only financially but by forwarding to the offices of the Society articles on literary subjects that may be of interest to members.

A

THE WORK OF THE SOCIETY.

A RETROSPECT.

T the present moment, when all members of the Society of Authors are mourning the loss of its founder, and the Society proceeds to continue its work, no longer assisted by his unselfish courage and noble singleness of purpose, it is a tribute due to his memory once more to place plainly before the whole world of letters the object with which the Society was founded, the work which it has hitherto accomplished, and the means which it is employing to carry into effect the aim of its existence. The purposes which Sir Walter Besant had in view when he inaugurated the first English association for the protection and advancement of the rights of authors do not concern members of the Society alone. They are of equal importance to all connected with literature. The professional position of the, unhappily, still large number of authors who (for selfish or other reasons) continue to remain outside the Society, whilst benefiting by its existence, is as much ameliorated by these exertions as that of the writers who are giving the Society their loyal support. For that reason the attention of all is claimed for the following statement of facts.

In September, 1883, Sir Walter Besant and a few other men of literary eminence met to consider what steps could be taken to form a combination of men of letters for the protection of their property. The time seemed ripe for action. A feeling of discontent, arising partly from ignorance of the author's real position, and partly from unbusiness-like dealings, was general.