The record-union., 1897-09-05

eH essysS1
gestion, in the new edition of Authors
and Publishers" that a Board of Court
Arbitration would be a fine means of
settling disputes between writers and
their publishers, has not found favor,
apparently, with the Authors Society
in london. Its Secretary, Herbert
Thring. was asked his opinion of the
proposal. and expressed himself as
doubtful about its expediency. In like
manner Mr.. Edward Marston, speaking
from publishers point of view, show
ed no great enthusiasm over the pro-
ject; he had always been able to set
tie any point in dispute without such
aid" Thus it looks as if literary arbi-
tratiOn would be no more acceptable
than international arbitration The
truth is that the Authors Society is or
ganiZed for war not peace or even ar
bitration. To its lighting members all
''simpering talk of peace" must be as
disgusting as it is to our valiant Sena-
tor Morgan.
Furthermore, the Authors Society
has made an essay at literary arbi-
tration which proved futile Some
time ago it was asked by the London
Chamber of Commerce to name arbi-
traitors in the event of any case in
volving literature coming before the
Chamber. A list of suitable judges
was sent in, but not a single case has
been laid before them: The sign, Ar
bitrating Done Here" does not seem
to bring patronage in the literary
world. The truth is, we suppose, that
many disputes are impossible of arbi-
tration. Controversies over accounts
and contracts are easily settled by re-
sort to books and documents, but sup
pose an aggrieved author wants to
know why his book did not sell bet
ter, why the critics did not give him
handsome notices, why it had not been
advertised as the" book of the year
how on earth can such matters be sub
mittel TO arbitration? Arbitrary deal
ing, not arbitration is demanded when
the dispute is foolish.
At d sale of armor, held in London,
some fine species were disposed of. The
most Interesting lots were an Italian
matchbox arquebus, the barrel and
lock richly chased, the stock inlaid
with d graceful design in engraved
ivory, 10 los; q steel lock musketoon,
the barrel and lock very deliberately
chased and gilt with renaissance ara
besqueS, the stock inlaid with engraved
/ ivory, F2S; a fine German wheel-lock
rife, the barrel, lock, and trigger guard
richly encrusted with chased silver, the
stock Of carved wood, f23; an Eliza
bethan rapier, the pommI chased and
gilt With pilgrims shells, etc, ID gum
cas-; Spanish cup-hilted rapier, with
long, straight quillons, the long blade
inscribed, "IOhanis Klote me fecit So
lingen," t25; a fine and rare sword of
the middle of the fourteenth century,
found in the Lake of Geneva, the long,
stiff, four-sided blade tapering to the
point, SO guineas; a rare italian bar
| buta, or sallet, of the classic form, 20
guiaeas (the last four are from the De
Corson collection) a pair of wheel-lock
pistols, the pommels of ivory carved as
Roman warriors heads, stocks inlaid
in silver, 40 guineas.
When a highly educated Cambridge
professor was asked to vote for Thack-
cray. the novelist, then running for
Parliament, the professor in reply to
the request said: "Thackeray? Thack-
cray? And, pray, who may be Thack-
cray? Another of these tradesmen
with radical ideas, I suppose
In Professor knights "reminiscences
of Tennyson there are the following
! good yarns of the acquaintance the
/ Scotch had with the poet laureate:
| Tennyson was stopping at an inn in
| the Island of Skye. the landlord was
/ asked: Did he know who had been
| staying in the house? 1t was the Poet
/ TennysOn. He replied: 'Lor'-to think
O. that and. sure, l THOUGHT he was
shentleman" At Stirling some one
asked the landlord of the house where
the poet was stopping:
DO you ken who you had wi you
/ t'other night?"
"Naa, but he was pleasant shentle-
man.
1T was Tennyson. the poet"
An wha' may he be?"
! "Oh, he is a writer o. verses, SIGH as
! ye see i the papers. -
| Moo, to think o. that! jeest a pooh
lie writer, and I gied him ma best bed
roomi"
! But the charms of Mrs. Tennyson, her
! gracious manners, did not pass unno-
ticed, for that landlord said: "Ohi she
was an angel"