New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-17
AUTHORS HELPING AUTHORS.
READING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE AslEar
CAN COPYRIGHT LEAGUE-A LETTER
FROM MARX TWAIN.

FROM MARX TWAIN.
The big Brooklyn Academy was filled last evening
to listen TO the authors reading, given under the
auspices Of the American Capynght League Tor the
benefit of its copyright fund. Seth Low presided. and
the readers were Edward Eqgleston. Richard Watson
Glider Edward Lasseter Bynner, Robert Grant, W..
Hamilton Gibson, F. Hopkinson smith and Theodore
roosevelt. Letters were also read from Mark Twain
called 90 Protest Against Authors Readngs.' and
from Amelia b. Edwards, on How Write Nv Nov
ole After brief Introductory address by President
Low Mr. Clemens's letter was read, as follows:
have worked for copyright In all the different way,
that a., friends have suggested ever since sseyenea
or eighteen years-snd am cordially "nng 70 continue
70 work for It all the rest Of my life In all those bu,
go I'm, 7 want to draw the line therc-the platform
we can pont 10 an aggregate OF twelve authors read
,,os now since the first attempt but we can't point 70
ole one of them and say II was rsonsly conducted
Conducting a show Is trade. To do It well II must 10
49, nv . master not novices and apprentices. There il
ma master with grit enough for the place You can't
nnd him he hasn't been born yet. Consider what h.
oured OF him. must say 70 the small Try You are
allowed ten minutes platform time II you oVefpass
two minutes shall bring down the gayel and shut you
off, To the very greatest poet he must say For your
osn .ake YOU are allowed but fifteen minutes; you must
test your piece home and time it by friends watch
and allow for the difference between pstormume ana
,ar;or..Ine which Is three minutes. III u oNefpasss
twelve minutes at you must cut is down 10 twelve
7, m try N ring I'm an extra piece you hear the gsye
lie must say TO the audience " The performance viii
cose at 10 O'Clock whether the gramme hnisned or
notn and then keep his word. He must find obseurtes
who are willing 70 take the tapeces on condition that
thew NAV possbly never be called up or nOoretes who
viii nromise thu, they will TO their names after
10 O'Clock and will honorably keep their promise
There is no such alive, unless 1t might be General
sherman author OF the brisk and delightful personal
,emolrs And even then you would have 70 appoint me-
IN nollce him and whisper from time % time, Eene1
your times up; for possibly you have noueeu ~ IN no
Instance I'm history has chairman Of an authors read
inc failed TO add an hour to already intolesoy long
bill.
No; an authors reading conducted in the customary
vav turns what ought the pleasantest Of all enter
toinments into an experience to be forever renenn9a
with bitterness by the audience. Remember Wasnhssh
There are now living four persons who pad 70 get A
that house, IL is also fact hOwsoever privately IL ns
been kent that twenty-five died on the premises anu
eightyone on their way home. / am a miserable ms"
when think OF that wanton, that unprovoked massacre
Tell mo any other way that can help the cause anu
will do level best.
Edward Eggleston, who followed this reading. sald
This is Marks off year. lie worked nobiy IN ths
DOWNRIGHT harness last year and he probably VIII
George William Curtis announced 10 take part
Init was prevented from coming by the IeaIl OF
brother inlaw The selections winch iouno mos'
favor with the audience were MI. Egslesuohs sr
count of /. Bud Means's ,Woong,' when was acIen
rather than read Robert Grants extracts from ne
confessions of a Frivolous Girl and h l.. Byhhers
a Question OF Today