New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-24
NOTES ON BOOKS.
AND ON SOME OF TIE MAKERS AND SELLERS
OF THEN.


Is il because the critics are in d bad humor that
neither Mr. Stevens0ns new book nor Mr. Rud-
yard Kipng's new book has been well received
Or is it because literary coalitions, like political
coalitions, are unpopular? From Nh Stevenson
we know what 10 expect We are less sure OF
Mr. LLOYD Osborne. We are still less sure Of Mr..
Stevenson plus Mr.. Lloyd Osborne How much
is Stevenson and how much is Osborne? Which
part Of the book belongs to the one aud which to
the other? Mr. Stevenson is master of style
which is curiously individual. One might think
that if snyb0dys work could be Recognized, his
could Yet il is not Neither critics nor pubic
seem quite in what proportions Mr.. Stevenson
and Mr. Osborne have distributed their work be-
tween them. 1t is a puzzle and the pnDhc do mol
like to be puzzled by book any more than 10
be mystifed by the plot OF play on the stage
This is equally true OF Mr.. kipling and the
late Mr.. Wolcott Balcstier; and something more
is true 1t is another attempt by Mr.. kiplng
toward the long story. OF short stories he Is
master; of long ones he is not; and in this latest,
even with the collaboration OF friend, there
is no more sign of mastery than in that eccentric
production known as THE Light That Failed
Is Mr. Kipling never 10 pass beyond fixed limit
q limit which seems fixed even at this early prfl0d
in his career? The difficulty is perhaps. mat the
methods and the very distinct gifts whch 20 10
the making OF short tales OF little avail III the
longer II is not every cosstins schooner whch
can navigate the great seas.
The public. nevertheless, the English pubic,
buy the Stevenson Osborne book i'll qnanU'les.
II was issued in FIST edition oi some tl'usauos
of COPIES few DAYS after il appeared. went
into n large discount shop i'll the west End,
and asked for The Wrecler" We have only the
first edition" said the clerk. | replied that |
had no objection to first editions Ihereupoh he
retreated to an inner room. and reappeared with
the volume There was in his demeanor mys-
ferrous element: as if he were dealing with contra
band wares When he brought the change, The
mystery was cleared up He had omitted TO DE-
duct the % per cent discount.
To my inquiry he made answer that the hrst
edition was already ont of print and had gone up
in price | made SO bold % 10 ask him how many
copies he had warehous,d in that inner room
from which he produced the book. His manner
became confused: it only too plain that TINS
was one of those many examples OF process
known collectively as rigging the market An ar
tifcal scarcity is created by holding back sup
plies then the price is advanced. In the case OF
book like the present, the attempt is absurd;
in any case il is Of doubtful morality. declined
the book at the enhanced price Then il occurred
to me that the experiment might be made iol the
benefit Of the Americans. especially. | sent com
missionaire half an hour later 10 the same shop
for the same book He brought il back having
paid the publication price less the full discount
which. in his case. the shopman had deducted "a
a matter of course.
How strained are the relations between the So
cietv of Authors and the Publishers of England
may be seen by the following paragraph from one
of the organs Of the Trade The Bookseller
THE Society Of Author.-'The society is ac-
quanted with the methods. and-in the case Of
houses the tricks OF every publishing
firm in the country This we learn from the or
gan Of the aforesaid society, conducted by Mr.
Walter Besant Does Mr. Besant know anything
of the tricks of fraudulent authors? Authors, Of
a certain stamp, are ready enough 10 conhde their
woes TO any friendly ear, or to print them az
the opportunity offers. publisher. on the other
hand. when be has been taken in by an author.
mostly keeps his own counsel. lie has no wish to
be regarded as a simpletOu. Therein lies the diff
ference"
This is so extremely discreet as 10 lie tauta[
izing Nothing would interest the reading pnbli3
more than to know all about that amazing author
who has taken IL" publisher. II il he not
thought prudent TO reveal his name the fact
might at least he stated II might even prove
easier to state the facts if the usual means OF Yer
flying them We're omitted ] do not 10
express the least incredulity in the matter Moth
ing is more proba BILE, nothing more certain, than
exceptions to the rule. Mr. Besant is not exactly
the man 10 Shrink from challenge. il
this be meant as a challenge Nor will he
/ imagine be slow to point ont the fate likely TO
attend an attempt to persuade the public that
the publisher is, in matters Of business the fire.
quent victim of the author who knows nothing
about business.
The existence Of two American Societies Of
Authors attracts attention. Two Rival Socie-
ties" says Mr. Besant. hope they are not
rivals, except in a friendly SENSE Whether they
are or not. their aims appear TO be identical,
and it might be "a question whether they could
not with advantage TO Themselves and 10 authors
generally, coaesce Tie fact, if il be a fact,
that some of the less honorable publishers in Amer
lea are rejoicing what they call the quarrel
among American Authors. might suggest to them
the desirability Of coming to terms don't think
too much stress need he laid on the fact that
the earlier society consists, for the most part OF
members whose not widely known.
II the younger writer's had the courage and good
sense to organize themselves first 30 much the
more credit to them They are more in need
of help than the older; some of whom IN q
position to protect themselves, yet have wisely
seen-a little later-thst a society is the best
safeguard for their own rights, well a. for
the rights Of their less famous comrades.
With the public. the greater names will, Of
course, have most weight; not ill the greater
men had joined, formed society. would the
public be likely TO understand the imperative ne
cessity for such an organization The President
of the English Society OF Authors il none other
than Lord TennysOn; beyond dispute tie foremost
name among living English authors. II is said
that DR.. Oliver Wendell Holmes il ii wellwisher to
the second American Society. He would do a
real service to younger writers if be would give
them something more than his good wishes-give
them his name. The authors ought to close up:
they have immense interests; and such name,
as those of Mr. Howells and Colonel IIigginsop