The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-30
SOCIETY OF AUTHORS.
scenes at the Optimistic Annual Dinner
American Pirates.

AutIi'dh \ iihi'-'
The annual dinner Of the Society Of All
thors is naturally an occasion when the gift
Of looking before and after is a good deal
exercised. Professor Jebb, who presided
referred, in his comprehensive address, Ia
the nourishing condition of the society, the
good work already accomplished, and the
prospect OF further usefulness. As use
lul knowledge" society. of the old BrOugham
type, circulating pamphlets Of information
among the young and guileless, there l. a
wide field open 10 the society Of Authors.
As il il. much has been done 10 protect
lamb.like innocence from the predatory
wolf and to make the ways of transgrcs-
sors ca Kind Of publisher exceedingly hard.
The promotion Of improved relations be-
tween author and publisher is an admirable
object.
Excellent, also, though much more ardu-
GUS, is the conversion OF all who profess
and call themselves authors into men and
women Of business. That Were, indeed. a
biting stroke at the wicked publisher. Pro-
fess0r Jebb expressed the general disap-
pointment no the failure OF the American
copyright AnglO-American copy
right il as much an open question now a.
when the late Mr.. Wilkie Collins penncd
the vigorous protest that appeared i'm the
last humble. Of the Author. Like "proput-
ty." copyright sticks" in the United
States. though opyright-Englsh copy
right -" draws nothing at all to the de-
frauded author. The settlement Of the
question i only postponed. Mr.. Lowell
does not despair Of seeing that righteous
day. nor. apparently, do those who spoke on
the subject at the Authors dinner.
Optimism was. indeed, the note OF the
evening. Mr.. Alfred Austin, however, eX-
pressed the opinion that men of letters
thought better OF themselves than the public
did view Of the present age that was
equally true OF the past, aud should discOn-
cert no man Of letters, and poets least Of all.
There is some truth. perhaps, IN Mr.. Aus
tins comparison Of the relative positions Of
literature. science. and art in public esti-
nation. Science lords il over all for the
present. Literature, Mr.. Austin fears.
stands in poorer caee. such fllial fears be-
come patriot and a poet. fruitless is the
dissection Of epigrams, and Mr.. Austin :
neat summary of the situation, that most
people now think the writing of great
works not worth doing. and the writing Of
little things possible 10 amy one, is nothing
but an cpigram.
Whatever the position Of literature may
DE. the autnol. whether "called' or pro
les ~ed. is now more fayOrably placed with
REGARD 10 the public than in the days of
OtWay or ChatlcrtGn. The young desery-
ing writer of tine present age can hardly
achieve. like Chattert0n transient success
i'm the periodical press. and then find
nothing lcft but poverty and praise" The
Overwhelming circle of readers. their inter
national character, and the modern devices
for the swift and abundant circulation Of
books. cannot but benefit the good author,
though the bad be infinitely multiplied.
Even the American pirate, seeing that ne
must one day bee abolished, may be SOW
ing the seed Of good literary taste in the
Wild West in unconscious anticipation OF
the Golden day Onc0mlng.
Rosy is the East rosy is the West" was
the burden OF the cheerful speakers 40 the
s0cicty's dinner. All the antinents are
now represented in the society, and doubt
less. a. sir Frederick Pollock observed, if
there are other continents, unmagnod ana
undiscovered. they also Will be gathered a.
the told. SIR. G.. II. Putnam appeared 10
share the general optimism. His speech
was marked by deep prophetic tone that
must have rejOiced the heart Of Mr.. Walter
Besant. IL was with the poets robe,
about him. rather than rs liberal and
sylTatnctic publisher. that Mr.. PUTNAM
unveiled the millennial future. He drew
Il ralishing picture OF the happy
author. of his noble castle. girdled D.!
many fair acres Of park and pleasaunce:
the author eni wing his own, while the pub
Usher occupied the castle lodge and guarded
the gates. Rich was the vision, richer still
i'm suggestion. distance and altitude col
ceal the rect" At present 10 is the author.
generally speaking, who Is tenant OF the
lodge. IL happy be has escaped the fate %
the stranger within the gates. And such
relations must continue 10 prevail, unless
authors are prepared for further cOmbina-
ton. and dispense altogether with publish
crs. just Is certain patentees OF useful port
able articles supply the public directly aud
pocket their royalties without the interycn-
ton Of middlemen.
In the best OF all possible worlds for au-
thors. a writer gbt well hold his own stock.
distribute il, and in the making Of books EN-
plOy only printer and binder. But as all
authors in this wicked world, from the be-
ginning, were as children in all that con
Germs their own inhrests, the publisher be-
came necessary, that they should learn
Of hlLn, painfully yet surely. And Ger
tainiy IL were an excellent thing that
authors should know their own business.
Many OF them, Of course, are good men OF
business; yet many more inherit the
primeyal innocence that made the cNo
tuition " the publisher easy and natural
"Your health. our DEATH" COleridge said
Of the publishers when he read in the news
paper Of great trade dinner, where the
publishers health was drunk with accla-
nation, and the banquet was described rs
one of prOdigal luxury. That was in the
bad old days when the Society OF Authors
was not Now it is obvious, the business
education Of authors is progressing apace;
and with it the solidarity and power that
produces. The day is at hand,
we hope. when authors rs class can no
longer in fairness be ranked among the
great unprotected. saturday Review.