New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-13

MAY but II contains a most effective part ,or
she actor manager. Mr. Trees best tala,, :,
,rrenious byplay. and his Count D'orsav' e. or
schea with II. There are countless littla to,,chos
md Inenne-isa1s which make up with ciiuulati-e
eject a remarkably vivid and brilliant i,,n.r-
sonstion. OFTEN this painstaking ACTOR carries
byplay TOO far. There are so many small e.
,scts that there is no masterful reserve ~ force
COR the great moneents. IN sIr. Fitch's plav .ba
bvplay is essential TO the character study, ana
q is not overdone. In Mr.. Kinsey Pefie.s ia
matte version Of Mr.. Kipling's The Man Who
was" Mr.. Tree finds one OF his best character
narts. II is not 50 effective play as Wafer
,oo" for the part Of Corporal Brewster b,s
burno- ana pathos. and the spectators are la,,gh-
eng one moment and weeping the next. t,,, ~
sernented convict from Siberia has ? grin ,,,or
she audience from the moment that ne tunb,as
mo the messroom in his rags ana tatters. Mr
Tree is most subtle in Indicating the return OF
memory and the lighting Up Of reason in this
wrecked outcast, and the audience is thrilled
,rben the regimental Gags are recognized .,e
Green's health IS drunk and the battle charge
&c acted out. While It is melodraira the li,t,a
NAV is fun az power and Imagination and the
srectators are profoundly moved by It. Mr.
rTee is also appearing as Falstaff i'm The Merry
wives CT Windsor" and this without doubt is
the lest OF his Shakespearian representations:
md in Miss Terry the vulgar mischievous
Mrs Page there is = revel OF the comic spirit
Miss Marion Terry has been the Lady Blessing
,on OF Gore House in The Last Of the Dandies."
and she has played the part with brilliant dis
iinction.
Mr. Cuthbert MADDEN. in his article on The
Plague Of Fiction" in The Fortnightly Review"
has told too much truth TO SUIT the minor pub
fishers. 1t does not seem improbable that as
many as five new novels should be printed I'm
England every day in the year: nor is this un-
oecsing production Of duh. mediocre and in
artistic fiction appalling fact for the bulk of
Il is not reviewed in the press and the sale
mftis insignificant. The world is neither bet
,sr nor worse for all this industry and the
waste OF printers ink. for the novels from in
oauable hands are advertised for few weeks
end exhibited in bockstalls. and then are for
rotten The real mystery is how they come 10
he published at all. when ,here are expert read
ers ana literary advisers for the trade: and it
&c easily expained when the truth is blurted
ont that in many instances the authors pay the
costs and the publishers do not take any risks
The books are not accepted IN the ordinary sense.
hut the publication Of a small edition is
ranged by cash Deposit. and there is a con-
tract by which handsome royalties TO be
maid 10 the authors If the circulation runs into
thousands The novels are printed precisely
concerts are ordered in London halls, with
rapered houses and with the agents expenses
and commissions charged 10 the new singer or
rlolinist The publishers enlarge their lists Of
action without expense 20 themselves, and make
a small profit out OF the transaction. and the
authors have The satisfaction OF seeing their
novels in print and 81 gaining little reputa-
ton among their acquaintances.
fi,.,e v,-t-, character
ouaintance with writers and good judgment and
taste were requisite IL the publishing business;
and the cid houses regulated the supply OF liter
eiure by declining 20 print poor books at a loss.
There has been a marked change in this respect
During the last decade. a publisher does not
need 70 have experience, training money In
order 70 go into business. He hire couple
OF rooms, engage a typewriter and once boy
and become q publisher az short notice In the
course OF a few months he can have a list Of
novels which is advertised 81 the newspapers
and trade journals, and the working expense OF
the business viii ne supplied by writers who
are able 70 pay for the privilege OF having small
editions put on the market. This is the real
explanation both Of the multiplication OF pub
fishers and OF the enormous increase in the out
put OF fiction Of an inferior grade. Publishers
who start in this way are known in the trade
and II they have energy ana capacity they
gradually improve their lists and cease 10 min
ister TO the vanity Of Incapable writer's and 70
increase the production % poor literature; but
while they are going forward their clerks be-
come ambitious 20 get into business for them /
selves and there are always relays Of new men
In the business ready 70 print small editions at
loss so long IS authors stand behind them 20 |
pay fer the paper, typesetting. binding and ad-
Fertising. The wori5 IN this way has more |
books than 81 needs, and nobody is the worse |
for the waste of energy. INT