The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-15

days the unhappy man had been broodine oves
what he considered failure. It was Rayelli,
the celebrated tenor.
New York play-goers will remember Harry
Beckett, who was for a long time the comedian
OF Wallack's Theater and who died in London
ABOUT hve years ago. Before his death Mr.. Beck
EFT frequently remarked to his friends that it was
d comfort to him to know that if anything hap
pened to him, his wife and children would be
Wen provided for. He died suddenly, leaving no
information as to where his savings had been
invested, and since then his widow has sup
ported herself and her children by writing noyes
ana one or two plays. The other day they re-
t turned 10 TINS country from France, where they
nv axe nsen residing since Mr. Beckett's death.
Inc eldest daughter, Hetty, will become mem
per Oh MT. Days company and follow the call
ing IN IN winch her father won so much popularity
She VIII negin at the bottom of the ladder and
play small parts at first
Mr. DAILY has great fonSnass for az IN zinc
the chlidren o. famous professionals and one or
two OF those who have been taken under his
managerial wing on the strength of their his
trlonic olood nave proved worthy of their ances-
try ana teacher. Mr.. John Drew is a note
worthy case in point He and his sister, George
Drew Mrs. Maurice Barrymore) were engaged
simply because they were the children of Mrs
John Drew Mrs. Barrymore is now
playing in London. but John Drew, who
used to be as awkward as a colt and
about as handsome, is now a finished and ac-
compllshed actor and one of the most popular
leading juveniles on the American stage
George Vandenhoff, jr.. who died year or SO
ago. was another disciple of Mr.. Days and q
promising one, too He was engaged because Of
his fathers renown. Matilda Herons daughter,
once widely known as 'Bijou' Heron, a clever
child actress. and now called Miss Stoeple
the stage, and Mrs. Miller in private life, was
chosen by Mr. DAILY because he admired the
erratic genius of her Inflated mother 1t should
be said that the choice has generally been justi-
fed by the results.
soil. The conversation turned at one point to
the American Copyright League and its first an
nual meeting last Saturday. Twenty five mem
bers of the 700 who compose the league met In
this city on Saturday, adopted constitution.
and decided to re-introduce in the new Con-
gress Senator Hawley's international copyright
bill. which makes no provision for printing in
this country foreign copyrighted books. l had
the pleasure-I ought to say, rather, the pain
OF founding and organizing the American
Copyright League | now find that its executive
committee, which | brought together,
is an impracticable body. 1t holds out
against any provision of law which should COM
pei the printing in the United States of forein
books to be copyrighted here. This is useless
contention because no author, either native or
foreign, could be hurt by having his book print
ed the country which gives him copyright Col.
lngersoll expressed himself as wholly in favor of
international copyright, but he made very
useful remark, which ought to be considered:
''If an author" said he, could bring into the
market commodity the value of which was
definitely settled. he might dictate terms and
laws. But the fact is that when he has fin
lshed his manuscript he does not know
whether it will make him star in
the literary sky consign him to oblivion.
Neither does the publisher know. The author
must secure the best conditions he can get; bat
he should remember his wares are of uncertain
value" Colonel Ingersol went on to say that he
considered our domestic copyright law worthless.
There is nothing in it," he said 'to protect any
writer from the theft of his own work. l spent
weeks here in New York trying to find out who
poor, miserable printer who had been publishing
garbled reports of them in pamphlet form, and
had sold $50, 900 copies of them without paying
me cent. The violation of copyright, in the
case both of the native and the foreign author
ought to be made punishable as larceny"
GEORGE PARSONS LATHRoP.