New-York tribune., 1885-08-16
SOME MEN ABOUT TOWN.

SOME MEN ABOUT TOWN.
General Le Wis Wallace late Minister to Turkey, aud
author OF several popular novels telling recently
of experiences In London which beautifully Nus
trate the relations of publishers and authors OF this
country aud England What he relates Is strong
argument in favor of international copyright Il found
reaching London about ten months ago. said General
Wallace, that my novel of Bon Hur was advertised
by Messrs. r. Warne Co. from their presses They
also advertise themselves agents OF The Century Com
pany OF this city, aud nnd by looking a. the magazine
that thcy recognized by tho publishers here. OF
course know had no legal rights In England. but
was naturally curious to know something OF the style In
which the book reproduced in England. the char
OF the house printing It and something out the
success which t had met with abroad. so called ut
their place ana asked clerk II ho had novel called
. Ben Hur' He handed copy, price two shillings'
and paid him for It. asked several questions which
led naturally TO the inquiry as to what sale the English
edition hal met with The clerk told mo that they had
said 1000 copies in tho past fortnight thousand
week. That 1attering. ant told him was glad to
hear 10 "a was tho author. 'Indeei? he exclaimed;
and at tho moment he reached ont and took back
the volume he had sold He then asked me III
would not remain whore was for q moment He
disappeared and returned In moment without my book
but with request that wsnld the principals OF the
house. I WAS very glad 70 do and going into the
private olco met two gentlemen who we're Introduced
10 me as members OF the firm Nv bought copy OF my
stolon book lay on the table. and took IL up In the
course of tho coaversaton which followed aud glanced
at II occasionally talked At first the conversa
ton pleasant enough. but glancng at the ttepage
found that tho b-tte had been changed from A
Tale Of the Christ to rho Days OF Christ That was
annoying and asked who had authorized the change
The reply that the publishers had done Is TO AVOID
hurting the sensbies OF religious readers in England
In other wor thcy had appropriated my property and
,..A. tf a. atr own
language and tons should bs. Have you made any
oihor OF those un authorized changes asked WELL
o omitted OF the tales toll by ono OF the char
acters.' answered the speaker OF tho trnL You can
| imagine getting warmed up by this time and
spoke rather strongly But tho next discovery enraged
mo beyond meaurs fhey had actually writton up anh
inserted preface to tho novel, No, no, Publishers
profaoa 1t was without sIgnature OF any sort, and 10
ordinary reader must have read A. II by the author
had written no preface whatever. demanded to
them what they proposed 70 do In ths way OF TO
munerating for taking an for altering my book They
promised 10 give the matter duo considefation That
was ten months ago. and have neyer heard from them
suppose they taking plenty OF time for what they
call duo consideration. The house Is not avery I'm
portant ono oa,,ds OF the fact that they arc London
asonts of reputable American company"
have mover heard OF quito 80 fagrant piece OF
literary piracy as this by any American house. involving
not only spp ropraon but muaon OF the stolen goods
IL was always the custom OF tho Harpors I'm tho old
days land doubt firm still keeps up the systeml
to republlsh English books without alteration or con-
densatlon. I remember that l. got hauled over the
Goals on occasion for changing single word IN q
novel was editing for them aud though the word was
one generally regarded vulgar In this oounry-thongh
IL has no slch acceptance in Engandit was restored by
order Of Brooklyn jos" Harper the present heaa Of
the house Of Harper, Brothers and Cousins"
Tns next operotta at the Casino IL TO be czIhuka
. Pans.ten in FloreaE" To be English. you know"
| snonld have said "a Fcte Day In Florence" one
scene OF tho opera done abroad represents glass
covered conservatory OF many ccors aud the enect Is
both unique and beautiful. It Is a decidedly German
style OF opera, with somo taking music.
Understand thatho stetson- Carte combination favor
the production OF "The Mkado" at tho Casino on tho
ground that this woud relieve them OF serious oppos-
ton in production about the same time OF the new
niece at tho Casino. II Ia rather shallow reasoning
Oupostlon OF that character does not. innro good
riece It rather heIps it. 1t Is the weak play tina
| suffers by such opposition.
Away hack in the old days used 10 admire the penny
wise" policy OF England late publisher Of The n
And he was pound foolish" man either rs the result
of his life Insurance Investments has just shown. His
widow was paid last week by the Mutual Life Insurance
Company OF NewYork, the handsome sum OF $2l9 90
on three policies taken out at various periods OF his life
was curious to know the circumstances of his invest
nent IN this way. for thought him ayerse TO the
TEN Of life asked legal gentleman closely
connected with Mr. England aS TO tho facts and was
told that he began to insure at very early period or MS
fe Tho original investment was In 1886, whom he
tventy-six years OF age engaged reporter THE
Temusg and for tho benefit OF his family. 1t was
for only oO0o but he paid the premiums regularly and
his heirs paid this policy alone $3.50 80. In
1871 when he managing editor OF The SUM- he took
ont another policy for $4,000 In favor Of his we and
year later when no became publisher OF The Sn. he
added another policy OF $4,000. Hs lot HIS dividends
nav hs premiums thsso last policies or nearly so.
Aud the last investments do not show great an In
crca,e I'm amount the rst but they increased oil
tho same as tho total shows II he had paid his pre-
mums IA cash allowed the dividends to accumulate
the total claim would have amounted to $26,s6o 40
PERRETS AS RAT -OATOHERS
During the past few years an enterprising
busuess has been successfully carried on In NowYork
fsty OF which tho general public know little. The