New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-21
NOTES FROM LONDON
MIR. HENRY JAMES AND HIS ENGLISH cRrn
1CS-"TIIE BOOKSELI.ERS" REPLY
TIE MAILS

| The announcement Of a new play by Mr. II.,,
James ELECTED a genial hope from some Of N.
! English critics that it might be more successfuI
than The American" Well, THE American
though 10 true measure of Mr.. Henry James.
dramatic powers, was not Unsuccessful Il ran
| through long season in the provinces, where bs
chose TO bring it out first and then for some Aftr
or sixty nights in London, acted though Il w,.
in a theatre about which hangs the prestige .,
failure, and by a company including no acts,
known to the London public. Ii may nevertLA.
less I've admitted that the play obtained less suo.
cess than it deserved Whose fault was ite
a failure may be the fault Of the author. or a.
the actors, Of the public or Of no one OF ties.
three 1t may be produced at the wrong time.
and that. think, explains something in the pres.
cnt case. London was then going through ons
! of its ant-Amerlcan reactions. There was A
social reactions headed by the British Mltron.
who had rallied all her cohorts against the Amen.
| can invader There literary reaction, ana
perhaps had better say kind Of literary protest
against pretty much everything American IA
took the form of saying that England and Enc.
| ish critics had been too good natured to the we'll
meant efforts of their cousins across the water.
| but that the time had come TO tell the truth
II was not Mr. Henry James who felt the fora.
icrccly about Lowell -Lowel's genius had feeu
overrated said some Of the English writers whom
o. similar fate had never bcfaen, nor is likely
TO befall Mr.. IIowclls, who had long supplied
sport to the fecber and less anable set Of critics
in this country, was rvilcd anew. EVERYBODY
whom no had praised was rcviled, including the
writer's OF some Of the most delightful Of modern
storics-revpd because Mr. IIowells praised them.
and because they were women The catalogue OF
American offenders would he a long one to com.
plctc and need not compile q mere list Of names
which served as targets 20 thee English prscti-
TONERS with the long bow. Anybodys memory
will suppy them-you have only to choose what
is best 20 lie sure that at that particular time. il
was here confidently set down as the worst or a
among the worst.
Mr.. James who keeps his attention fixed On
such matters, was doubtless aware Of the state
Of things and alive 10 the risk he rar. He chose
70 encounter it, and think he chose wisely lie
learned at once the worst that could be said.
Ill, critics set 10 limits 10 their candOr. They
did him justice in some respects and no doubt
meant to do him justice in ALI But there were
two faults which could not he got over. Hls
nationality was American, and his method was
French. Ii is impossible 10 deny either, and i'm.
possible to rcfute critic who bases his ludg-
ment of things dramatic on these international
considerations Mr. James was condemned;
mildly. but condemned. When his new piece 3
presented these two facts will stiu be facts, but
may be less damning. II may even occur TO some
dramatic Aristarchus that nation which boz
rows most Of its successful pieces, directly or IN.
directly, from the French need not feel bound
10 reject French methods because they are prac
tised by an American. There are signs, more.
over. that the ouiburst Of spleen against Amert
can writer's has in a measure, spent its fury. An
American play acted by an American company
NAV even find more favor with an English audi
cnce than if the company were English. MP.
James will have taken a new measure OF pup
lie still new to him, and, altogether, see no res-
son why his coming venture should not hnd an
impartial tribunal; the only one he would cav
for.
There are, il now appears. two DeceuoH
" Iooksellers.n The one which is dated ast NA
Christmas number, comes ont first, and that wnlcn
il dated on the 10th arrives on the goth. Ihs
first was US | said, silent on the great ethicaI
question at issue between this trade-organ and
the organ % the Secretly OF Authors. The second
has remarks on that subject: curious remarks II
somewhat Disappointing. For the publisher VINO
edits this magazine does not stand 70 his guns
II. is now ready to admit, with one qualihcation-
that if a publisher pays $500 for printing oooA'
and sends in an account TO the author saying 10
has paid $500. and pockets the difference 'hs'
would he fraud pune and simple. But 'ae
qualification is what is 80 curious IL would
not be fraud un'ess the publisher hao as.eea
% charge cost price, This clever casulst might
~ well saw il would not be fraud unless the puo'
lisber had agreed not 10 commit fraud. Tear
Ill of mis- work with this gentle
man has rtill 10 be done.
There are. however, two other matters, which
seem 20 him more difficult, advertising charges
and establishment charges. The imposition OF the
latter appears 10 he the publishers way OF AZ
tempting TO make the author pay for carrying
on his business The advertising charges, 10
admitted. are often charges for which no voucn'
ers can he shown, land il an author Is ih'
chned to be- captious, he might dispute theR
lie might indeed They are fire.
oueItly charged in lump sum-: being rag
mentary portions Of countless pages and col
umns in different papers and magazines lhis
is confession, not defence. II might wen
BE- suppemrnted The publisher who makes IL
NJ sht be asked whether the practice OF chare'
ing authors full rates for advertisements ior
Which the publisher never paid q cent. Is sun
continued by any Of the trade. The DOCK Pu"
Usher has. for example, magazine. lie in
.crts an advertisement in his Owe magazine, anu
debts the author with the price OF II. ITO
exchanges advertisements with another pun
Usher, who also has magazine. Neither pays
the other, but each charges the author the IAN
nominal rate In Other words. the puplisner
ellis the author: Il have paid A, ana 4 70
nany hundreds Of dollars for advertising your
book: and gets the money from the author ."
he strength of tins falsehood. Is II, or Is "
lot. fraud, When the trade casuist has an
wered this question it Will he time TO ask
mother.
| should like 10 ask the excellent Postmaster
IF New-Yorll whether he has the means OF
lnowing at what time American letters ny