The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-11
Literary Notes.

In a recent article Mr.. Edward ". Box
discusses the novel of the future-not It's
character nor it's purpose, but It's l1hgtn.
lie argues that the day OF the long novel.
the novel Of 5000 words Is past. WO-
men. who are the greatest novel-readers,
ne says. prefer stories of -, 10 words IA
length and he cites "Slips that Pass In
tha Night" Mr.. Warmers Golden
House. and Mr. Dayis's Princess Al
inc" neither running over 5000 words.
rs Of the ideal length. lie adds That
"Trilby" is. OF course, cited by men az
representing a good length for a novel;
Mr.. du Maurier's book Is about $500
words In length" As "Frllhy" Is nearer
1900 words in length, this must be a
slip of the pen.
Kf ocking his own argument on the
head. Mr. Box admits that the great
esq successes of recent fiction have been
long novels. Mrs. Humphrey Wards
averaging 1900 words each. ben Hur,'
"The Prince Of India" and Tess or
the d. Urberyilles," are Of about the same
length. not 20 mention "'rhe Heavenly
Twins" which r. 10000 words. n N is not
longer. / quite agree with Mr.. Box that
the magazine editors shrink from pub
fishing serials Of more than 5000 or 3d.
90 words. and yet the editor OF Harpers
has not hcsitated 10 accept Mr. du Maui
rier's new novel, which - said 10 DO
longer than "Trilby' probably 30,WD
words. and the editor Of The Century IS
said 20 have accepted serial by Mrs.
humphrey W ard winch VIII ne as long as
her longest book. 10000 words. The stu
alton In "A nutshell IS this:-People read
what they ike. be n novel or SEQ or OF
1900 words II IS the degree or inter-
est not the number or words thar makes
then read a book. | must say, however.
that 10 takes a very big name 70 pun
serial successfully through twelve num-
bers OF n magazine. Novelties would DC
the EDITORS choice Do the matter or
length but editors cannot always nave
general
impression that they DO. They are the
slaves Of their readers. and n the read
ers prefer the long story with the IA
nous name. rather than the short story
by the less famous author. there h. notn-
ing for the editor 10 do but 10 give it
% them III he can afford 20. Famous au-
thors come high IN that matter they
have left the prima-dOnna away behind
\ dispatch from Paris tells us that Paul
Norlalne has been elected 10 the Freuch
Society Of Dramatic Authors, and adds
that the members OF the society ala not
know who he Was Until they were told,
and then they hesitated about admitting
him. ~ Is said that, thanks TO George
Moore In England. and the The Critic and
stone q Kimball In America. Nerlaiue
is better known abroad than a home.
Mr. Arthur Waugh, / believe. introduced
Nerlalne TO the American public through
the columns OF this paper
The Rev. Dr. Edward Beecher, an older
brother OF Henry Ward Beecher, died In
Brooklyn Oh July 18th. lie was born IN
Easthampton, l.. l.. 9th August 1893. lie
was the author OF The Conflict OF the
Ages; or, The Individual and Organic
Harmony OF God and Man" and a HIS
tory OF Opinions on the Scriptural Dos
trine OF Retribution."
The English Society OF Authors has
commissioned Mr.. Hal Game 10 visit OF
tsWa. while In America, and negotiate
the settlement OF the copyright contro-
versy with Canada. SIR Casne will as
certain whether he can have the support
OF the British Colonial Office before ac-
cepting the commission. The question
In ~ present form involves the whole
principle OF the authors ownership ~
their literary property. The Canadian
Parliament, In the interest OF the print
efs. has passed an act compelling au-
thors 10 apply for a copyright at Otta-
wa on the same conditions as In the
United states. with the exception that
instead OF simultaneous publications. a
margin OF thirty days Is allowed. IN the
copyright Is not applied for. Canadian
printers may be licensed by Parliament
10 print the work. with the understand
ing that ten per cent. shall be paid 10 the
author. The practical result would pron-
ably be that cheap editions would be
printed In Canada. and sent over the
United states border. The Canadian act
mas not been sanctioned By the Britlsa