The times., 1897-07-25

book OF exc optional popula rity beca use
of Intrinsic value is the manual of sug-
gestions tn ''Authors AMI Publishers com
piled by G. II. and J. B. Putnam. This
work is now in its seventh edition, an d the
authors have added much new material
The topics touching the relations of au-
thors and publishers are treated with
rare intelligence by Mr.. G. II. Putnam.
and those explaining the technicalitics
OF book manufacturing are set out clearly
10y Mr.. J. r. Putnam.
Anyone who wishes to acquaint himself
with the business end of literature. either
from practical motive or from incen tives
Of mere Curiosity, will find this manual an
explicit and thorough treatise. In it are
given extended explanations of the ar
rangements between publishersand writers
the many forms OF contract by which book s
are put on rhe market. wheth r by pu rcha Sc
or royalty, on profit-shares, at writer's
risk or publishers; the ownership of man
uscript, of Plates, of copyright; the posi-
tion of tire lerary agent the value of au-
tiors' associations, and an intelligent ex-
position on copyright law, and the process
of securing copyright. Supplemental, is
long and interesting description Of book
making, giving instructions for the pre-
paration OF manuscript. the mea suring Of
type, the correcting of proof and all the
miscellaneous tecfnieaiities of That ca
reer OF an authors brain work after 1t ha 5
been finished and contracted for. but be-
fore ii has reached the reader.
Mr.. G. II. Putnam, sets out with in
sistcnce a practical idea for a literary
court of arbitration, which would act in
disputes between authors and authors,
authors and publishers, and publishers and
publishers. Often difficulties are built out
Of gross ignorance as wellas actual cause
and valuable business associations are
disturbed and unwarranted charges OF
contract breach ale made simply because
Of misunderstanding and no convenient
tri5una, or umpire to settle disputes of
character intimate only TO the authors
and publishers profession
Such court or commission might he in
stituted under the Joint action Of society
of authors and a publishers association.
BY MIR. Putnam's plan it would utilize
Tor legal requirements the services of coun-
sci who had interested themselves in the
law Of literature and who had faniliarized
themselves with the conditions and pre-
cedentE or publishing. The fees charged
TIE contestants should prove sufficient to
secure adequate compensation for the
best services on the part both of the law
yers and of the expert la yrnen, W hose time
was also of value. The economy of the
plan is in this, that mere fraction OF
the amounts that would he required 10 mt
through an English or an American court
an ordinary case Of infringement or breach
of contract, or OF difference of opinion as
TO the Interpretation of a contract, would
be amply sufficient to provide the neeflful
compensation for counsel and arbiters.
| OFTEN the services of counsel could be dis
pensed with. for the contesting parties
would be perfectly capable of stating the
merits of their cases.
Aspublisher especially Mr. Putin anlnwould
Ike TO see this desirable arrangement, for,
under present unorganized conditions he
sa rs the publisher is comparatively heIpless
In securing from the other party to his pub
fishing contracts the same measure of
obedience that is nearly always enforced
against himself. Then more valuable than
| all would afise from this arrangement a
body OF prece dents that would come to form
system OF literary and OF publishing rela-
tdons and would be accepted as the law gov
erning these relations The projectnr q,
this arrangement believes that another III.