New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-10
LONDON GOSSIP.
PLAYS AND PERSONAL JOURNALISM.

TIE HUMOROUS AND sATIRICAL ELEMENT IN THE
ILLUSTRATED YEEKLY PRESS.
,~,ou TIVE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE TRIBUNE.l
LoSpoN Jan. 2O.-A pleasant aragraph-ploasant
for Americans 10 read-appears IN the dramatic col
umn of a leading French paper. French playwriters,
II appears, are divided among themselves on the
oueson whether they should or shoud not print the
pieces which are produced on the French stage The
pr,nepal reason for not printing them is that when
printed they are stolen by Americans and adapted
for the American stage with entire disregard OF
the authors wishes rights and pecuniary interests
This custom passes, presume for repubheanlsm,
il heng the French habit to trace most things To
political cause.
English copyright grievances are constantly heard
Of British author was complaining the other day
that nc applied to an american publisher to bring
out a revised edition of his book book so success
full that il had already gone through 80 editions' All
the profits of which the American publisher had pun
in hls own pocket; having thought the author Oh IL
sufficiently renunerated 10y the eut OF TWO copies Va
his book The authors modest request that they
sbonld not 60 on stealing the old book, when they
might have the new and revised one on equally
aasv terms was rejected: the American publisher
being naturally of opinion that an author who had
no legal rights could have no moral nights. Ihcrc
was nothing TO prevent the American publisher from
appropratng the British authors brains; why
sbould his feelings be entitled 70 more considefa-
toni Old stereotype plates, l doubt not, were m
existence from which editions might be printed
OF the preparation Of new plaJes would involve
expense which do not hear that the Britisher o.
fer 90 delray.
There is not think. any keen expectation among
English aathoTs of an immediate International
cop,richt mo arguments" writes one cynical OBJ
server. are likely to overcome the opposition Of
Ncs-rg -- MeSsrs. - and other United
Stttes publishing firms, TO an International copy
rght; and 50 long "a these firms their peculiar
means OF Persuasion at Washington members OF
Congress viii refuse 70 lcgsiate in the manner de-
sired by sensible and patriotic men," L have not
myself the least idea what the peculiar means OF
perS,as,0n referred 70 are but IN the fear that the
phrase may he intended TO cover something duen-
sive PIT blanks for the names of thc publishers
which this cutSpoken Englishman prints at full
length. Nor did ! ever hear that any peculiar
means OF persuasion had been found needful az
Washing toll. l mean on this particular question
] had always understood that there was steady
majority OF Legislators, especially of Western Repre-
se,tatives. whose aIdor for the education of their
constituents and general diffusion OF literature IN
d;spcsd them 10 look closely into the means OF OBJ
tanning il. That or something hike II, Is the only
argument worth listening to | ever head advanced
against an international copyright Ana there Ii
but one objection 10 il. IL does not go far enough
II general interests are to override private interests
do not sec why the American publisher shond be
exempt from the cOBiscatOn to which Inc subjects
the English author Lf tile public must have cheap
books WHY not take the contents Of Messrs. Har
prrs' and Appletons' warehouses and distribute
them among the destitute towns of Wisconsin and
Arkausasi 1t might bc done BY an amendment 10
the Constitution.
Il las been a complaint against the English peO-
ule--a complaint often advanced by foreigners who
CON. To this country IN search Of amusemc0t ard d.
not find IL that they are not INV enough. J.
they axe not, obey are in fair way Of becoming So
1t has, think been remarked that the Press eXer-
cises a powerful influence upon opinion, and the
Press liz est fora is frivolous rs the most
frivolous Frenchni.n FrancO-Amellcan could de-
Erc. Here axe seven or eight columns OF paper
published TINS morning many more LII another
two day. old filed with gossip and Chat and anec-
dote.of ast tie kind which delights Thereafter of the
Boulevard Journals every morning don't mean
that the Englishran Is yet che equal Of the French
man AT this business. Far from II. He has not the
natural attitude nor the long practice which We are
told makes perfect. He is not nearly so entertain
ing though lie tries harder TO be. lie has
not set acquired the art OF cOneealng his art the
effort Is too paipable; there Is almost a. mach
difference between these mental efforts as between
the coutortons of the English gymnasts vino took
t. the trapeze years ago and thc smooth tac-
ity Of the incompatible LeOtard whose flights across
the vast diameter of the Cirque de P1mptratTiec
seemed as easy aud surely sustained a. those OF
bird The ar; of the French paraHi3hist consists
in choosing perfectly unlmportant topic and inter
estug you il it by airy grace Of treatment; with, IN
good proportion of cases, seasoning Of irIpade1ce
and iudeeency. What his English rival las thus far
Most successfully initiated Is the choice If the topic
The Frcnchman viii give yOu without blusbng an
Old Joe Ter in q new dress. The EngilSIman
gives YOU the old Joe Miller without in the least
Troubling himself about q new dress. The English
MAJ has heretofore ielt affected much respect
for women as sueh-a thing nearly unknown IN
France that he has refTained from dragging
them into political quarTels. Now you may
read on the authority of a private let
Ter nom PcTa that - Lord Salisbury has unified
his business most awful,y, and Lady salisbury has
done BIN uo end Of HARM The same lady IS made
in another paper the heroine Of dialogue with
EdAem Pl,Ia the subject of p0ly gany, and OF IN"
following conversation with one of tAe Secretaries
OF ;he Conference, CarathcodoFi: "How many
wives hayeyouP said Lady Salisbury. Twelve
madame" Dear, dear; and how did YOU manage
when you went 70 Rome; did you take them all
viii you" non, madame Only took Ia farOTite.'
And when you canc back, did you not find the
other eleven cstrayedE Les prenirS JoVs Il
erof rH ID, f0;leU zlais daHs INC semciae !c mta
ege fJi ,oa trcia gilaiiG G. gdiHteRdAt rros
Gdss ID pts patQto hcla01lc.' Ii Is explained tAlt
thr yoke lies il GaIatiioOdOiI beng CHRISTIAN and
the husband oI Oae Wile only. Both the Papers
hOm which aH qnOting favor Us With tie same
|ltcisins thc Rex. Arthur Tooth, The rIialis'ic
pres,; To- Wit, THAI Nj. Tooth before he collected
about hm his IJck al lIa.chan, mIle money