New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-19
WALTER BESANT, THE NOTELIST, HERE
HE IS A DELEGATE TO THE LITERARY CON-
GRESs At CHICAGO AND WILL SPEND
A MONTH IN NEW ENGLAND.

Among the passengers who arrived here on the
Etruria late saturday night Walter Besant. the
English novelist. Mr. Besant is short. stoutly
built man. with round face and full beard and Is
nearly bald .headcd. lie Is intensely English both
speech and manner lie Is spending few days II
New York. at the Hrevoort House. before starting OF
a tour OF the New England states and for the Worlds
Fair at Chicago.
a have lust returned from q drive through Central
Park" said he to Tribune reporter last evening
+" was delighted with It. never saw such change
In my llfe Ii has improved so much that | hardly
knew the place. Ny former visit here occurred six
teen or seventeen years ago, In 1876, think II
was. ! spent week In Ncw-iork and then went
to Canada. All my life have wanted TO soc New
England, and TO visit Boston, Salem, Concord Lex
ngton and other historic towns, made famous by
Emerson, Longfcllow, Whittier Hawthorne and
host OF others, but have never had the chance
until now shall spend full month in them
DIR. :. 5. SprIggc, who Is with me- and |. the
delegates Of The English society of Authors TO the
literary congress at the Worlds Fair This convcnrS
July 10, and will last week. There will be
meetings Of all sorts OF literary people ard have
a number Of papers TO lay before them.
The principal topics engaging the attention Of
authors IN England just their relations TO
publishers. The question simply Is how great II
part OF the profits from the sale Of book shall e
10 the publisher and how much TO the author. Many
Of arranging this have been considered, bi'
none adopted as yet. II Is an important question
and hope the discuSsiors at Chicago will help ia
settle It. rhe paper | shall read will give general
history Of the society Of Authors. and review Of
Its relations TO publishers. DR.. Sprgcc's paper VIII
be domestic copyright in England. We have
there fourteen different acts Of Parliament on copy
right. ard they confusing and contradictory III
many of their provisions \ bill consolidating them
has been introduced into Parliament by Lord MONKS
WELL and It's provisions will be explained TO the
Chicago Congress. have also Il paper written by
>lr Henry B,rguo. OF Her MajcStys commissioners
at the conference OF Bcrnc. giving history OF its
proceedings. Another important paper In my care
drawn mp by sir Frederick Pollock professor
Of iricinatlona law at oxford. giving constitutional
opinion on the laws Of publishing. Such n paper
has never been published before. l have also five
six other papers"
After the Chicago congress Is over | shall start
for home in a lcisnrcly fashion am not doing any
news corrcSp ondcncc at present but | send talks
on anything that strikes nv fancy 10 The Queen,
and a number Of ether syndca" papers am work
Ing on a new novel. but cannot say anything about
II just now"
81 suppose you will write a book about America
when Won return hone. Mr. Bcsln''7
NO. shall not. That Is. | may write paper
II sec ANYTHING that seems Interesting ana new
enough 10 make II worth WHILE
"Wha; do Won think Of the fate of Homo Rnle'
WILL" said Mr.. Bc,ant, ." | am Liberal tnonisi.
q follower Of Mr.. Chamberlain. ann ! dcvouilv hols
It will fail. think + Will | believe 1t VIII break
rcctly Interested in politics. AM my opinion Is Of little
value.