The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-14
THE AUTHORS SAFE DEPOSIT.
A Library Where All Writers Find Recog-
milton n-Copyrights Increasing.

The AUTHORS SAFE DEPOSIT.
A Library Where All writers Find Keceg-
nition-Copyrights Increasing.
The copyright records in the con-
gressional library show that this has
been the most prolific year in the his
tory Of the country in the production
Of copyrightable matter. Each year
shows slight increase in the number
of books and other publications over
the year before. This year the in
crease, since the 1st of January last.
has been over three thousand. Each
year there are issued by Librarian
Spoford between fifty and sixty thou,
sand copyrights. This department OF
the government service is one of the
most interesting of those in Washing
ton, as indicating the trend of public
thought, and, when you come to think
about it. in the addition of from fifty
thousand to sixty thousand publica-
tions Of various classes to the litera-
ture, art and music of this country,
there is disclosed record of marvel
Gus amount of work. The records Of
copyrights there are most interesting
in indicating the development Of liter.
ature and the change of tastes and
modes of thought from year to year.
The popular idea that the holiday
seasons produce Christmas and Thanks
giving stories and that springtime
starts the fountain of poetry, is not
verified in these records. The great
deluge of holiday stories which appear
at this season were probably copy
righted in the spring or during the
sultry month Of August, when the con-
temptation of the cold winds of winter
and the snow-clad hills presented
vision of particular attractiveness tc
the perspiring and exhausted author.
And as to the poets, it is found that all
seasons are theirs. The capacity for
poetry of the American men and wo-
men is something astonishing, and
there is no season, month nor week in
the year that the application for copy
rights don't cone tumbling in.
Librarian Spofford says that the in
ternational copyrightlaw has operated
very well, and that large number OF
the very best class of foreign works
have been published and copyrighted
in this country under its provisions. 1t
has not, however, been nearly as widely
1vailed of as was anticipated.
Authors of wide reputation producing
works of merit were quick to avail
themselves of the American copyright,
but the great average writer's who pro
duce most of the foreign literature Of
the day have apparently found it prof
liable to have their books reset and
in this country for sake Of
the copyright. In this country the
privilege Of the copyright is more and
more widely availed of each year, and
produced that is not patent
able for which copyright is not
sought. The average American, when
he thinks he has discovered 4 new idea,
hastens at once to secure the exclusive
right to it, and hundreds of applica-
tions are received constantly which
have to be rejected on account of their
being ridiculous or lacking in original
ity. Copyright applications are re.
eeived for copyrights on methods OF
doing things, forms of advertising, on
stamps, impressions and pastors, and
thousand and one little trifes. The
practice of copyrighting newspaper
articles has become almost universal,
and few newspapers in the country
have their daily editions copyrighted
Since the camera craze
has been having run there is An Inn.
mense amount of copyrights secured
On photographs, and the increase OF
musical compositions il
very large.
In literature fiction far surpasses all
other work in the number of copy.
rights. and the number of short stories |
produced is constantly on the increase. |
The tendency of the short stories pro |
duced is largely toward psychological
and character study. mere adventure |
appearing less prominently in the pro
ductions. During the past year or two |
there has been a marked increase in |
the number of historical and scientific !
publications The increase in histori. |
cal publications is especially marked |
They range from short historical
sketches and pamphlets to the longer
national histories A great number OF |
are issued for histories OF /
states, counties and towns. In the /
northern and eastern states every |
county or town or. in fact, everything |
that has history seems TO have in |
vited the talents of authors Ia the |
south the attention to these historical
writings has been less. but the literary /
fad seems to be spreading now In that /
direction.
The pathos, or really tear-startine /
part. of the copyright records relate.
TO poetry. There are more books OF
poems in the library than the most /
careful and diligent student Of Ameri- /
can literature can imagine, and the sad |
thing about ii IS that By all odds the /
greatest number OF these books are
published by the authors themselves /
In every other class of literature the /
publications are mostly by |
large publishing houses, and the VII /
ters appear TO have more or less the /
support Of the reading public: but the
poor poet, who appears 70 be the most |
persistent of all producers. appears &c
have TO feed upon his own fancies and 4
paw bis own bills Re the publishers /
IS discriminating as they msy, tbs /
copyright law has no tavoritcs, and /
permits all who produce 10 claim the l
right Of exclusive publication: and IN /
the congressional library the volumes
Of the poetzs;e-s stand proudly By the
side Of the works Of genius Thonsands
Of volumes o. Poems Published By the
author" stand upon sse shelves. and II /
IS reEelation how many men AID