The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-06-21
The Author His Publi.her.

Mr.. Gladstone IN an article lately printed
IN the New \ ok Herald gives clear and inter-
estng expression to the broad and fuuda-
mental relations between author, publisher
aud public:
books are. after all. a product of manu-
featuring industry. but. among manufactures.
theirs is surely the most Interesting and iAe
most peculiar, because DO J, based upon tine
reduction of a mental product 10 2 material
form, and what was originally intangible and
ethereal. III this way, without losing ITS earlier
character, comes to be embraced within the
same category as yard of calico or q busAel
OF wheat.
but while these have novalue except what
is exhibited by their outward form. SO that
the independent producers of other bushels
Of wheat or yards of calico meet them IN tine
market upon equal terms, the producer Of
the book exhibits 20 tire world % double
entity. one material, the other mental. and
the author pleads that, as the material thing
which we call book is protected by the law
against abstraction. SD the thoughts contain
ed IN it and wrought by him into "a structure
more or less elaborate should. lu like man.
uer. be protected from reproduction. tOr
reproduction, from ms point Of view, is theft.
j ls OIcrng % the world, for such price as
the world be willing 10 ave, not only the
paper and print which the producer mas 20
buy and pay for. but the composition cone
tanned in them. which represents the time
"IN lNU"lt ANU tNttNANlr, tHN 4h'N "-lN
rumeu, and lodging and all the Lawful eN-
penalture Of the author
"On this basis has been erected thnt curious
formation which we call the Jaw o. c0pYught.
The conditions of its birth and history have
been checkercda and abnormal but thc reason
auleucss OF the proposition that mental toni,
on taking literary form, Should not 0o de
pI1eI of the remuneration enjoyed by bodily
labor has brought Do out into the lgut oi
dar and so secured its acceptance
"But the author when be has obtained an
aoMoV.ed gment of hls right TO protection.
las not Yet -urm0unted has df1cWnc-. Tho
gfoWcrOt wheataud the manuiaetufet 70 calico
produce articles complete ln thems"Nes. ami
only require certain manipu.atuns before
reaching the ultimate consumer. These
processes are performed by Mut.-
TIDE of persons. and tho function
NJ tho intermediate distributors, BONG
simple. IS performed by largo nrmucrs
d.. persons. But the author has given birth
O. commodity which Is periectF uia,alla-
Die tor the purpose of yielding hun support
u.tl he has contracted. al IL Were. marriage
Will "a capitalist who Will agree o. become
lfi partner Of the book, giving it body
Where the author has supplied the soul and
UNI. al length constituting II marketable
AID productive commodity. The author can
ior himself. as a rule. be the publisher and
publishers are extremely few. so few that.
Until "a very recent date they might be counted
Oh the fingers Practically. and as general
RUE. the author in relation TO his customer is
nobody until his initial performance has
been capped by the accession of the pub
Usher Better would be tho position OF
man who should offer for sale the stock and
lock # a rifle without the barrel ~ COM
plete"