New-York tribune., 1891-02-15


book 1t is concerned solely with the contents Plenty
OF men-hundreds and thousands Of men-are wilna
and anXious.tO step into any trade by which they can
make money. But to the marker In black-the black
marker-we would point out very seriously that thu
society itself can do great deal more .srm to pub
Usher than he do to any individual member Wa
are now, he should understand, by no means small
harmless or feeble body.
Illustrative stOries-sOme Of them written bv
Mr. Besant-appear from time to time in The
Author The following satirical and somewhat
grim little tale is the work either of Rudyard
Kipling or of very clever imitatOr of that young
man. 1t bears the queer title of The Unauthorized
Corpses"
TWO Congresses, fifteen Legislatures, House Of
Commons and several hundred newspapers had sat
upon the question of International Copyright for
years and nothing beyond pirated editions were ever
Matched of it, As the honorable member for Lowsr
Idaho pointed ont in Congress: If can hiks
down the fruit Of the centuries from the gnared
trunks of an efete civilization the sea, why in
Paradise should we pay dollar for book when We
can hook IL for a dimel Let the good work go on.a
In England every vestryman knew that there no
votes to be obtained from authors, and one could
quite understand what 1t the gang wanted why
they should actually what they had made out u
their heads, yknow,' and the situation crystalzed
itself into a round game Of grab. The American pub
fishers began by giving English author ten pounds
for advance sheets OF book which they brought out
for so cents. Then the Sad Sea Wave Library would
unfercut the first firm, and produce thirty cent
edition. and last Of oil the Bowery BlOodsucker
Serials woud set a muzzy German to abrldge and
adapt the book and would issue the mutated frag.
ments for a dime or ten cents. When had taken
some trouble his book and put perhaps one or
two ideas into it. and feeling happy, his Attends
would post him American vari0rum editions OF that
book to make him happier Later the American
publisher discovered that it was not worth while 10
pay the author for advance sheets all. The syndi-
Gates established agency for appropriation, and
their agents moved among the English printing houses
and turned the handle Of printing press four or fve
times more than was necessary, and went away with
the advance sheets. That called Enterprise, and
il made both the British and American reading public
laugh.
Then the authors borrowed some writing paper ana
wrote a petition to Parliament, asking that the fight
might be made. If not a fair at least a free one
They respectfully prayed that all the laws were on
side. but. they said, If the matter Of copyright
were left to be fought out by such Instruments
as your petitioners allow they would ever
pray etc. Parliament being then extremely busy
with scheme for local self government in Corn-
wall (Which country had discovered that it was
PhOencian, and not British said Let II be law
as It is desired" and it law.
Three days after ii came into effect the London
representative Of the great publishing" firm II
FibbS & Gew met author-man by appointment in
the formers
How is the legend Of the spotted Death getting
on :" said the representative, with grim
Gone to press said the author What are you
going to do about IT.
Nothing much. one of our men photoed thS
manuscript page by page in the Office. with button-
hole camera. I've mailed the enlarged films to America,
and guess we've got the drop your English firm
this time
But I'm going to knock the thing about in proof
a great DEAL said the a-thOr There's more bad
work in the last chapter than to think of'
Can't help that" said the representative. "W
must be first in the market If you wrote revised
edition OF the alphabet with twentysi misprnts.
However. we've dealt with you from way back
Here's tenner. Take it or leave it."
lie turned to his desk 10 get the money. When
he faced round he was looking directly down ths
barrel of 44O deringer. His hands stifened above
his head, the bank note in the right fist.
"who has the drop now ~ said the author. IT'S
fair fight at last-with such resources as we can
command Keep your hands up please
Don't be ass said the representative "This
isn't theatre
"QuIte right; it's court Of law. Understand, 1f
not in the least angry with you. You had a perfeG
right 90 steal my work. which is about all the prop
erty | have or shall have You were entitled
to insult me with the sort of tip his uncle gives 10
a boy going TO Eton, well TO make hay OF my
sentences to suit your convenience There was
law and so you reverted 10 the primitive man. Quito
right. Now, you're going to learn the law Just as
horse thief in Idaho learns it-through fear Of death
and physical pain" He took the bank note from
the uplfted hand. Lie down on the hearth-rus
with your hands behind you. I'm going to take all
the money can find in the office Drop.'
The representative obeyed, and the author made
investigations which repaid him for years sales
Of unauthorized editions.
q" Now It's not safe he concluded. to leave YOU
with lighting hand. l should be within my right IL
| killed you as your countrymen kill horse thieves.
And let us be mortal. Why do they kill horse
thevcsl"
Because said the representative. his face tho
hearth rug. the assumption is that when you steal
horse YOU dlsmount q man. and the man may die in
the Wilderness
Exactly. How do you know where wish to ride
on these my books, and why do try to dismount
before | dIsmount myself
There no law said the representative.
The law has come now. It's primitive for the
nineteenth century, but | think it will work. Hold
your right hand the fendcr-rim; don't want 10
spoil your carpet. There! Through the right wrist
That will cripp5 you for life. II you can shoot
with your left next time meet. well and good.
Then you can 20 stealing without fear. Let me tio
your hand up. We all learn the law with pain
and sorrow. GOod-by!' -
The author departed while the representative lay
fainting with his head in the fender lie Of q
nation emncntIy Just at heart lie brought neither
a civil nor criminal suit against the author but
went to the very best doctor and the best unmaker
in all London and made arrangements TO bring OUT
edition soon possible Of that authorin boards
limited ~ one copy