The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-11-17

ATTEMPTS AT HUM0R
Julia Ward Howe Protests Against an
Editor Advertising Her Childhood.
HOW BOOK PREFAcES SHOULD BE- USED
Booth Harrington and Richard Mansfield, Wish
ing to Secure Copyright For the Same Play,
Meet For the First Time in
Their Lives.

Their Lives.
A Copyrighting Race Which Resulted
in a Dead Heat-Book Prefaces and
How to Use Them-Jula Ward Howe
Protests Against an Editors Adver-
Using of Her Childhood Story-Some
Attempts at Humor-Books About
Authors and Their Homes.
A most exciting race between two
dramatic companies recently took place
in England. 1t seems that the London
branch OF the New York publishers of
Monsieur Beaucaire" were instructed to
take out copyright on the play, Beau
caire, based upon the book. The copy
Fighting process is somewhat involved
in England when a play is concerned, it
being not only necessary for copies of
the production to be deposited in the
, British Museum, but the official censor
must read the play and a regular bona
nda dramatic presentation must be
given. The aforesaid London agent had
scarcely undertaken his task of secur-
ing the copyright when he heard that
there was at least one other party in
| England bent on the same purpose.
Likewise the unknown "other party
heard of the copyrighting intentions of
the agent. Then began the race. Two
dramatic companies were secured and
two suburban theatres engaged for the
performances; two tickets for each pre-
sentation were sold Ga necessary condi-
tion), and two anxious managers rushed
| their people through the plots and
fIo no. o1na, Il
away, each rival party claimed the copy
right. There was a difference of a few
minutes and both sides claimed the adj
vantage. Finally the rival parties
| agreed to a joint conference and a few
! days ago met for the first time. Imagine
the surprise of both when they learned
| that each had the same object in view.
| Mr.. Booth Harrington. the author of the
| book had asked his publishers to secure
| copyright on the play in England, and
| Mr.. Richard Mansfield who has the
playing rights in the dramati2ed version,
| asked his brother who was then in Eng
land, to care for the copyright matter
there. Both the authors and the actor S
instruction were carried out to the let
ter, with the result of the race in doubt
until the rival claimants got together
and decided to call it a dead heat AT
any rate, Mr.. Harrington has secured
the English copyright for his play.
| After the title and the name of the
author, the next duty in connection with
book reading is the preface. With such
a course of procedure it may not be ne
! ceSsary to read further-indeed it is a
popular belief that those who deal out
| glittering generalities about books and
authors never get beyond the opening
! chapter. / made the fatal mistake re-
Gently, however, of startling in on Gill
| bert Parkers THE Right of Way" Con-
sequently / am able to write much
about the book, for | kept on until
came to the end. 1t CHANGED that, al
the time, / was in Canada-nOt the wild
country between Montreal and Quebec
into which the story takes the reader
but still in Canada. There was Ions
train ride to be gone through with anc
1.-The Right of Way" was the oaly de
Tense l had against loneliness. The neXt
moment it seemed my station was called
Il had been reading three hours.
] But about prefaces, the little after
thoughts that often tell the why o
things. 1t is in the preface to The
|
readers that he wrote this story befor'
previously published volume, 'Th'
Lane That Had No Turning" which, a
he announced at the time of its publica
! ton. is the last story he will ever write
of Canada. There are not few of Nh
Parker's admirers who will be sorry tina
ne has made such a decision
10 Iac Cd a
time in writing and the public has wait
| ed a longer time for the reading of hi
last book. The Cavalier was bound t
| be a worthy product of a full literary eX
| perience. It's author had already gained
worldwide fame because of the beaut,
of his work, and not the least claim t.
fame was his charm of presenting hi
writings on the lyceum platform. Thos
who have heard him read any of hi
stories will not soon forget their pleas
ure in him. Mr. Cable fought on the Con
federate side of the great struggle which
his book depicts, so he knows the sub
ject quite as thoroughly as he did in tht
case of his former successes. The Cav
alier' is one of the best books of the sea
son and it is achieving a considerable
circulation. 1t is gratifying to record 81
worthy a success in these days of adver
Using and puffery sales.
Julia Ward Howe, who has passed he
eighty second birthday, was persuaded
| not long ago to write one of a series o
articles on childhood of many years ago
The articles were to be in Il way au
Typographical. Unfortunately the edi
| tors announcement was more rhetorical
| than accurate and the DISTINGUISHED mi,
/ thor of Uncle Toms Cabin" showed
/ vigorous command of her faculties by
writing.
For PHYS sake, don't advertise m,
article as My Childhood Eighty Years
Ago ! am only eighty-two. | said sew.
cnty years ago" The incident reminds
/ me of a woman who posed as the mothci
/ of General Lew Wallace. She gave hei