Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-01-09
BOOKS; AND
AUTHORS

In an article published in the Janu-
airy number Of the North American
Review, Mark Twain makes a strong
plea for extending the protection of
copyright to books under certain con-
dittons. beyond the period Of forty-two
years to which the present law limits
It, At a liberal estimate. not more
than fen books a year are of such
quality as would enable them to sur
Wye, The forty-two year limit. and the
only object Of prescribing a limit to the
term OF protection was to insure the
ultimate production of cheap editions
for the public. The operation of the
law, therefore, is practically to penal
1ze the authors of books which are so
good as to survive the limit other
books being clearly not affected by it
at all. This seems a pitiful return for
the country to make to those who are
serving its interests in the highest way
for after the limit has been passed
neither the author Of successful book
nor his heirs derive any advantage
from 1t, all the profit going to the pub
fishers. Mark Twains proposal would
conserve the guarantee of cheap edi-
time insure a continuing income to the
author or his representatives. He sug-
gests that the protection Of copyright
shall be continued beyond the forty
two years to any book whose owner
publishes in the fOrty-secOnd year.
cheap edition, and that the protection
shall remain so long as the cheap edi-
tion Is kept on sale. The article Is in
the shape of an open letter to the
Register of Copyrights, and Mark
Twain states his views in the uncon-
ventional form of question and answer
Keeping a book list is both a profita-
BILE and an interesting practice. In
fact. most great readers keep two lists,
one of the books read during year, or
any certain period of time, and one of
the books to be read as soon as con-
venient. A pleasant expedient is to
mark in some way the books in this
second list which one hopes to pur-
chase sooner or later. The chief value
OF the first list. apart from a certain
pleasure in looking back and thinking
over what one has accomplished, is
that 1t helps remind one of the books
worth re-reading, and helps keep one
from those which are trashy and un-
profitable. AS the list of books read
steadily grows larger, one must feel
pride in the number or solid books
noted down. The book list is a grand
thing for boys and girls. who in these
days OF abundant reading matter are
too likely to read without noting even
the authors name, and sometimes not
remembering the subject for any
length Of time. The book list for chill
dren is the first step toward careful Sc
lection. A list of books needed or de-
sired is the best weapon of defence
against the book agent. for with that
in mind and the long-cOvcted volumes.
one cannot easily be induced to sub
scribe for any chance publication.
e. p. Powell, author of "The Coun-
try Home" before he took up literature
and the study of problems of rural life.
was a minister. He held number Of
pastorates in the West. at Adrian.
Mich, st. Louis, Chicago. etc. He is
closely associated with journalism. and
is now on the staff of the Independent
and the Arena, besides doing a great
deal OF literary criticism and other lit
erary work for the leading dalies and
literary journals.
Mark Twain once went into res
taurant, and sat down at a table near
q solitary man who had just arrived
and was giving his order to the waiter.
- Bring me some of the best broiled
lobster you have in the house" said the
man. "Er-just mention my name to
the cook-Mr. Snobble."
The waiter bowed Obsequiously. and
turned to take Mark Twain's order.
The incident had not been lost OH Mr..
Clemens.
Bring me half a dozen oysters" he
said. "Oh-just mention my name to
each one of them-Mark Twain
If ever a literary success was earned
by hard work. General Wallace earned
1t with "Ben-Hur." He first started
the book as n novelette, which he in
tended to offer to Harper's Magazine;
but the story expanded until it far out
grew the original design. and occupied
its author for seven years. Full as it
IS with the most graphic pictures of
Palestine. it Is difficult to realize that
General Wallace had never been in that
country when he wrote the novel The
complished snch wonderful results, and
replied as follows:
Il doubt If any novel has ever had
more careful studies for it's background
and life than those made for Ben Hur.
I knew that the novel would be criti-
cfSed by men who had devoted their
lives to Biblical lore. and studied Pal
estine through maps and books. read
everything In the way of travel. scien-
tific investigation. and geography. I
had scores of maps and worked with
them about me. My best guide was a
relief map of Palestine made in Ger
many. This was hung on my wall, and
by means Of It I took my characters
through the passes Of the mountains
and UP and down the hills. measuring
their daily travel by the scale of miles.
I also made studies of the bird and
animal life Of the time and place."
Hall Caine was once asked during
- a !. l.