The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1885-12-23
An English pirate"
General Lewis Wallace, late Mini

General Lewis Wallace, late Minister
to Turkey. and author of several popu-
lar novels, was telling me recently of
some experiences in London which
beautifully illustrate the relations of
publishers and authors of this country
and England. What he relates is a
strong argument in favor of iuterna-
tional copyright. - found on reach
ing London about ten months age" !"
said General Wallace, ",hat nv novel
of Ben Hur' was advertised by MeSsrs.
F. Wurne & Co. rs from the presses.
They also advertise themselves as
agents of the Century Company of this
city, and l find by looking at the mag
azine that they are so recognized by
the publishers here. OF course I knew
I had no legal rights in England, but
I was naturally curious to know some
thing Of the style in which the book
was reproduced in England, the char
acter of the house printing it, and
something about the success which it
had met with abroad. So called at
their place and asked clerk if he had
novel called ben Hur." He handed
me copy, price two shillings, and l
paid him for it.
| asked several questions which led
naturally to the inquiry as to what sale
the English edition had met with.
The clerk told me that they had sold
1000 copies in the past fortnight
thousand week. That was hastcr-
ing. and l told hin, WAS glad to hear
it, as | was the author. '.Iniecd!'' he
exclaimed; ard 1T the samo moment
he reached out and TOOK back the
volume he n:,I sold Mc. He rhen
asked mo if would not remain where
l was for a moment. He disappeared,
aud returned in 4 moment without my
book. but with request that | would
see the principals of the house. I was
very g;ad TO do so. and going into the
private Office l met two gentlemen
WAC were introduced to me as mem-
bers of the firm. My bought copy Of
my stolen book iay on the table, and l
took it up in the course of the coaver-
sa,ion which followed aud glanced at
it rs we talked.
At first l!.e conversation was pleas
ant enough, but giancing at the title
page found that the subtitle had
BEEN changed from "a Tale Of the
Christ TO ''Inc Days OF Christ. !"
That was annoying, and l asked who
had authorized the change. The re-
ply was tina, the publishers had done
II to avoid hurting the senSibiities of
religious readers in England. In other
words, they had appropriated my prop
erty and had changed it to suit their
own views of what its language and
tone should be. Have you made any
other of these unauthorized changes?"
! asked. '.Well, We have omitted two
of the tales told by one OF the char
acters," answered the speaker of the
firm. You can imagine | was getting
warmed up by this time. and | spoke
rather strongly. But the next dis
coyery cnraged me beyond measure.
They had actually written up and in
serted . preface to the novel. No, not
publisher preface. It was without
signature of any sort. and 10 the ordin-
ary reader must have read it as if by
the author. I have written no preface
whatever. I demanded to know of
them what they proposed to do in the
way of remuncrating me for taking
and for alteriug my book. They
promised to give the matter due con-
sideration. That was ten months ago,
and l have never heard from them. -
n. Y. Tribune.