New-York tribune., 1886-04-25
NOTES ON BOOKS.
AND ON SOME OF THE WRITERS AND PUB
LISTERS OF THEM.


A new story for boys Of all ages by Mr. X l..
Stevenson is announced, and will apparently be
constructed on lines similar TO those OF Treasure
Islandn Whether this latter book has ever at
taned to popularity in America | do not know. but
the boys Of all ages in England who admire IL IN
clude some Of the most distinguished men now
living The Prime Minister is one of these boys,
and one of the youngest of them. Another IS col
league of his, eminent in literature and politics'
whom once heard profess himself ready TO un-
dergo u cross-examination on the mnutest incidents
of Mr.. Stevenson's book
Mr Stevenson sends to The academy. where 1t has
less publicity than it deserves letter on American
Rights and Wrongs, which may nc commented to
the attention of Mr.. Marston Sampson Low Il
Coz and of others. Authors, says Mr.. Stevenson.
should he careful TO understand the bargains into
which they enter with English publishers, anc
either strictly reserve American rights or see that
they receive an equivalent. This is the maxim
which nrged in the OF Mr. Clark Russell, who
fell to abusing American publishers for reprlntlng
his books without pay; Messrs. Sampson Low ~
Co., quite without Mr.. Russelrs knowledge having
the money for the same books in their pocket all
the ,ime Mr. Stevenson adds that he has known
English publishers dispose of advance sheets with
ont accounting when the book was burdened with
a royalty to the author. 81 am no lawyer" con-
tnues he but make bold to say this practice is
indefenoiblc; and if brought before Judge would
lead to white faces"
No doubt it would, and il the victimized English
author wonld but send bis publisher polite in
vitaton, blue paper. tC a CONFERENCE with ore OF
Her Maesty's judges the interview would help put
an end to of the existing practices which Dir.
Stevenson mildly calls indefensible Mr. Lowell,
info N urbaQIty.
stealing Mr. Stevenson has discovered that there
are publishers and publishers He refers particu-
lary to American publishers and declares IL Wouid
be hard TO express his Of the good faith ana
generosity of Mcssrs. Charles ScrbDers Sons. In
England he has, ! may add. changed ms pnoilshcis
from time time The result Of this change IS that
some OF Mr. Stevenson's earlier books have become
difficult to procure. Mcssrs. Chatto Wndus
have the power it appears of preventing either the
sale or a reprint of them; and they choose to ex-
ercse this power.
@LDyes Martyr" is n story by Miss Lawrence
Alma radema which deserves attention on its
merits but which mention here for ITS publishing
history The author is the daughter OF the eminent
artist of the same name and her publishers seem to
have thought the book would sell better If they
omitted from the tlte-page everything when
would seem to distinguish the name of the daughter
that Miss" should be prefxed, and this believe
is to be done in a second edition. The terms on
which the book was published are considered by
the trade ] am told, extraordinarily liberal Tor
first effort by young lady scarcely ont OF her teens
The publishers are Messrs. Longmans; tho edition
consists of 800 copies and of theso six are con-
ceded to Miss Ama-Tadema as her proper proper
ton Of the profits. In case n second edition shonN
be called for royalty IS to be paid. but tie entire
proceeds of the 800 copies or Of tie 49l. II we may
suppose that only 800 were printed: point there
aro no means of deteunining iDto the poe kes of
Messrs. Lon gimaus. And yet there are people no
doubt whether publishers care much about en-
couraginq literature. 1t happens in this case that
the whole first edition was taken by the libraries
and booksellers before publication. and so IA second
appears almost simultaneously with the first.
Mr. Talema has second daughter already well
known as an artist. One Of her pictures of last
year excited the astonishment and admiration of
The Academic ans: for It's intrinsic merits and
oualties not less than because it the work OF
a Girl OF eighteen. The deiicately-painted pictures
OF the present Mrs. Alma-Iadema have for some
years had reputation of their own; pictures full
of feeling and notable for technical excellence
The two young ladies' have named are Mr.. Tate
mas daughters by former vile, who was be-
lieve, Belgian.
Since writing about Messrj. Cassells thTeepenny
National Library some copies of their slXpeuny
edition in cloth have come in my way, and one of
the secrets of their ceapness is evident 1t is the
Advertisements to which Messrs. Cassell look for
part of their profit. There are advertisements on
| the inside covers and the outside covers On
| the inside they are printed on paper and pasted
down. On the outside they are printed on the cam
brio. in which the volume is bound They are thus
{ .l,o h,,Ir f,a OH mo
is preserved the advertisements must bc presery ed
with it. The buyer of Messrs. CasselFs Chlldo
Harold must take his Byron blended with the liter
ature Of shaving soap, patent spring mattresses
black lead and pepsne and the last does not make
| the Others more digestbe. Messrs CasSell enjoy
the services of Mr.. Arnold Forster, man of cult
ure as secretary to their company. 1lr. Arnold
Forster would do we'll to explain to his employers
that at present while they profess to popularlze
! literature. they are in fact vulgarlzing it.
In addition 10 the National Library and the
World Library, there Is also Mcssrs Ward q
| Locks New Popular Library of Literary Treasures
a catchpenny title The editor of this is Mr.. T.
G.; Bethany; new name. Like its rival ventures
| this is heralded to the public by Preface; much
| too pretentious in diction, and much too full OF
| puls on previous publications of the same firm.
Mr.. Bethany begins with Emcrsons Representative
! Men and English Traits; and Longfellow follows.
| In both cases, non-copyrght books seem to be
chosen
pretty quarrel has sprung I'D in connection
with these enterprises between Messrs. Cassell and
Messrs Routledge. Mr.. Arnold Forster writes to
| The Times that Messrs. Routedge have instructed
their editor to his critical Judgment in such a
way that his selection of works to be published
shall coincide with that of their own editor. and
that the actual publication OF each volume shall
precede that of their competitors by exactly one
week. Messrs. Routledge retort that If they are
borrowing Messrs. Cassells books Messrs. Cassell
began by borrowing their editor, Professor Henry
Morley, who had been engaged on shilling serles
OF theirs, known as the Universal Library Per-
haps there mas been little sharp practice on ooth
sides, but one is rather disposed to agree with
Messrs Rnutledge when they say il IS q novel prop