The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-08
COOPERATIVE AUTHORSHIP.

Cooperative enterprises have not IN
this country been successful. Their
stockholders have not been able to hold
them to close, economical and pushing
management. Conflicts of interests
and insufficienry of rewards have
spoiled the Theoretical beauties of the
schemes and driven high-clas talent
away. la one branch of industry.
however, coz operation should reach a
high plane of satisfaction. Toe pIofes-
sion of authorship has been grumbllng
from the earliest days Of literature over
the troubles of publication. Most toIlei 5
IN the business of rejected manuscript
nave pet plant which they tendelly
cherish in their souls--the suspicion
that there is combine OF "ins
against them. 1t frequently does hap
pen that literary work of high
merit is rejected by publishers
and editors. Sometimes after repeat
ed reflections it finds its way
TO brilliant success. If instances OF
such fortune were not frequent, litera-
ture and publishing would be superhu-
man trades. Most great new produc-
commerce. aud industry have been re-
iected at first by the experts. Experts
must be guided by well established
rules. They must, in the course OF
their avocation. reject thousands of
crude and worthless innovations. and
must hold back their patronage from
ideas which have already been better
carried out by men with standard repu-
tatious. A. much genius is required to
anaalyza. weigh, and make place for
A new work of any kind as to construct
il. Genius Is as rare among expert
Judges as among virtuosi. Besides
there is heavy risk in exploiting a
new inventor or author. 1t is an undei-
taking which involves not only money,
but the reputation of the man who as
sumes The responsibility. Money and rep
utation are precious To publishers as to
all other respectable men. Mr.. Walter
Besant. the English novelist and editor,
has organized the Incorporated Society
of Authors. For the purpose OF full
filling the desires and ambitions OF the
members the society will publish a ma
gazine. Mr.. Besant expects that the
cooperative magazine Will outwit the
inimical publisher and present TO the
nublic the works of authors at small
cost. Ia the commercial parlance OF
the day the society Of literary.producers
will deal directly with their customers
and eliminate the middleman. The
vast and increasing numbers of a meri-
can writers-too vast and too rapidly
increasing for the capacities of the
orssent publishing and reading machln-
cry of the nation-might take up DIR.
Besant S cooperative scheme and get at
the public by short cut. In this,
as i'm all cooperative experiments, hu.
man selfishness and vanity would
initiate against success. The aole
writers would expect more recognition
aud perhaps more pay than an equal
division of honors and profits would
admit. The inferior ones would grum-
BILE at anything but an equal DIVISION
Civilization has not levelled the natu.
raj artificial and inequalities OF men and
women and a cooperative society OF
authors would grind against that deep
founded truth. Still, the authors
might take some chances upon that
Weakness of the cooperative theory
They would not be risking a great deal,
land in sight of all would be the pros
pect of getting before the public whose
admiration and money are the deal
ptizes of endeavor. Kansas City lines