MR. CARTER'S prompt action in meeting piratical competition, referred to elsewhere in this issue, deserves more than passing mention. Had the publishing fraternity met the pirates in the same manner nineteen years ago the book trade might be in better shape than it is to-day. Had, for instance, some of the houses reduced the prices of their good editions of standard fiction to a "bottom price," instead of imitating their Lakeside rivals, it would have headed cheap and nasty" reprint these off and made ing unprofitable. INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT. TEXT OF THE PRESENT BILL. THE following is the text of the bill introduced in the Senate on Dec. 4 by Senator O. H. Platt. Its title is "A bill to amend Title 60, Chapter 3, of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to Copyrights": Librarian of Congress, at Washington, District of Columbia, or deposit in the mail within the Congress, at Washington, District of Columbia, United States, addressed to the Librarian of two copies of such copyright book, map, chart, dramatic or musical composition, engraving. chromo, cut, print, or photograph, or in case of a painting, drawing, statue, statuary, model or design for a work of the fine arts, a photograph of the same: Provided, That in the case of a book the two copies of the same required to be delivered or deposited as above shall be printed from type set within the limits of the United States, or from plates made therefrom. During the existence of such copyright, the importation into the United States of any book so copyrighted, or any edition or editions thereof, or any plates of the same not made from type set within the limits of the United States, shall be, and it is hereby, prohibited, except in the cases specified in Sec. 2505 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, and except in the case of persons purchasing for use and not for sale, who import not more than two copies of such book at any one time, in "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- each of which cases the written consent of the sentatives of the United States of America in Con- proprietor of the copyright, signed in the presgress assembled: That in Section 4952 of the Re- ence of two witnesses, shall be furnished with vised Statutes, the words any citizen of the each importation: And provided, That any pubUnited States or resident therein, who shall be 'lisher of any newspaper or magazine may without shall be stricken out. The words and authors may reserve the right to dramatize or to translate their own works,' in the same section, shall be stricken out, and in lieu thereof shall be inserted the words and authors or their assigns shall have the exclusive right to dramatize and translate any of their works for which copyright shall have been obtained under the laws of the United States.' That in Sec. 4954 the words and a citizen of the United States or resident therein shall be stricken out. That in Sec. 4963 the words 'chart, musical composition' shall read chart, dramatic or musical composition.' That in Secs. 4964 and 4965 the words 'first publish or import' shall read first publish, dramatize, translate, or import,' and the words so printed, published, or imported,' shall read so printed, published, dramatized, translated, or imported.' That in Sec. 4964 after the words 'every person who, after the recording of the title of any book,' shall be inserted the words and the depositing of two copies of such book as required by section two of this act.' That in Sec. 4967 the words if such author or proprietor is a citizen of the United States or resident therein' shall be stricken out. That Sec. 4971 be, and it is hereby, repealed. such consent import for his own use but not for sale not more than two copies of any newspaper or magazine published in a foreign country. Provided, nevertheless, That in the case of books in foreign languages, of which only translations in English are copyrighted, the prohibition of importation shall apply only to the translations of the same, and the importation of the books in the original language shall be permitted.' "SEC. 3. That at the end of Sec. 4958 the following clause be inserted: Provided, That the charge for recording the title or description of any article entered for copyright, the production of a person not a citizen or resident of the United States, shall be one dollar, to be paid as above into the Treasury of the United States, to defray the expenses of lists of copyrighted articles as hereinafter provided for.' And it is hereby made the duty of the Librarian of Congress to furnish to the Secretary of the Treasury copies of the entries of titles of all books and other articles, wherein the copyright has been completed by the deposit of two copies of such book printed from type set within the limits of the United States, in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 2 of this act, and by the deposit of two copies of such other article made or produced in the United States; for which service he shall be authorized "SEC. 2. That Sec. 4956 of the Revised to employ an additional clerk, at a salary of one Statutes of the United States be, and the same thousand two hundred dollars per annum. And is hereby, amended so that it shall read as fol- the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby directed lows: 'Sec. 4956. No person shall be entitled to to prepare and print, at intervals of not more a copyright unless he shall, on or before the day than a week, catalogues of such title-entries for of publication in this or any foreign country, de- distribution to the collectors of customs of the liver at the office of the Librarian of Congress, United States and to the postmasters of all postor deposit in the mail within the United States, offices receiving foreign mails; and such weekly addressed to the Librarian of Congress at Wash-lists, as they are issued, shall be furnished to all ington, District of Columbia, a printed copy of parties desiring them, at a sum not exceeding five the title of the book, map, chart, dramatic or dollars per annum; and the Secretary and the musical composition, engraving, cut, print, pho- Postmaster-General are hereby empowered and tograph, or chromo, or a description of the paint-required to make and enforce such rules and reging, drawing, statue, statuary, or a model or design for a work of the fine arts, for which he desires a copyright, nor unless he shall also, not later than the day of publication thereof in this or any foreign country, deliver at the office of the ulations as shall prevent the importation into the United States, except upon the conditions above specified, of all articles copyrighted under this act during the term of the copyright.' "SEC. 4. That in Sec. 4959 the words' within ten days after its publication, two complete printed copies thereof, of the best edition issued, or description or photograph of such article as hereinbefore required, and' shall be stricken out. And after the words 'a copy of every subsequent edition wherein any substantial changes shall be made,' shall be inserted these words Provided, however, that the alterations, revisions, and additions made to books by foreign authors, heretofore published. of which new editions shall appear subsequently to the taking effect of this act, shall be held and deemed capable of being copyrighted as above provided for in section two of this act, unless they form a part of a series in course of publication at the time this act shall take effect.' "SEC. 5. That for the purposes of this act each volume of a book in two or more volumes, when such volumes are published separately, and the first one shall not have been issued before this act shall take effect, and each number of a periodical shall be considered an independent publication, subject to the form of copyrighting as above. SEC. 6. That this act shall go into effect on the first day of July, Anno Domini 1890. The same bill will be introduced into the House by Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge, on the first available Monday-Jan. 6, it is expected. Arrangements are being made for an adequate representation of authors, publishers, printers, compositors, etc., at the Senate hearing before the Patent Committee. Jan. 9, and it is hoped that a House hearing will be arranged for by the Judiciary Committee during the same week. MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT ASSOCIATION, BOSTON. THE annual meeting of the International Copyright Association was held in Boston on December 30, General Francis A. Walker presiding. The Secretary reported that after several conferences the Joint Conference Committee of Copyright Leagues and Associations had decided to urge upon Congress the passage of the ChaceBreckinridge bill with some verbal changes. The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: President, General Francis A. Walker; Vice-Presidents, John Lowell, Professor W. W. Goodwin, Henry Ŏ. Houghton; Treasurer, Charles C. Soule; Secretary, Dana Estes; Assistant Secretary, Francis H. Little; Directors, Alexander H. Prince, Professor N. S. Shaler, E. H. Clement, John D. Long, Benjamin H. Ticknor, Heman W. Chaplin, and Samuel E. Elder. MR. HENRY CAREY BAIRD'S SCHEME TO CIRCUMVENT THE BRITISH PUBLIC LIBRARIES. WE reprint from the London Publishers' Circular for December 16, 1889, the following characteristic letter from our friend Mr. Henry Carey Baird to Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, Limited: GENTLEMEN: Having been considerably in arrears in reading up the Publishers' Circular for some time past, I never until yesterday came across, in the April 1, 1889, number, your correspondence with Messrs. Eccles, Robertson Smith, & Nicholson, in regard to the claims of the Universities, etc., of copies of all books published in the United States with English imprints whether alone or associated with those of the American publishers. Now I propose in the future to circumvent these gentlemen, so far as our books are concerned-books which are not published in the United Kingdom, but in the United States. We shall shortly offer you the market for a new and greatly enlarged edition of Richards' "Aluminium," in 8vo, as well as other important books. On these books we shall not put your imprint, but instead of a bastard title we shall place on that page a notice as follows: "Messrs. Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, Limited, are our authorized agents for the sale of this volume in the United Kingdom, and to them all orders should be addressed.HENRY CAREY BAIRD & Co., Publishers, Philadelphia, U. S. A." This must block the little game of these gentlemen, for Mr. Nicholson says: "The law in effect seems to say to the seller of imported books, You may import and sell as freely as you like, but if you also put yourselves, as it were, in the place of publishers, you come under my provisions relating to publishers.' I think such a law is capable of being defended, but in any case there is the law, and if you are resolved on putting your own imprint, is it quite fair to suggest that we are unscrupulous?" Now, for myself, I think they are unscrupulous, for they claim the books as much because they cannot "do without them" and of their "traditions and the expectations" formed of them, that they should seek to make themselves as nearly as possible complete in books published in this country" and all others over which they can stretch the law. If they "did not claim these books" their "successors would some day or other have to pick them up second-hand at much trouble and cost." And they do not consider themselves "justified in putting them (their successors) to that trouble and cost." And so they are going to get them for nothing. They shall not have a single volume more of the publications of Henry Carey Baird & Co. issued after those now in the binder's hands. Were any such claim set up in this country by the Librarian of Congress under any similar law, as to imported English books with American imprints, we should simply laugh him to scorn and defy him, and allow him to proceed to law and test the legitimacy of his claim. But in this country justice is easily obtained, and at small expense, while with you it is far otherwise. You are quite at liberty to print this letter in whole or in part in the Publishers' Circular, to the end that the libraries may learn that if they want our books they may get them by buying them and not for nothing, or by claiming them to be English publications when they know full well that they I am, very truly yours, HENRY CAREY BAIRD. PHILADELPHIA, November 18, 1889. are not. SUBSCRIPTION-BOOK PUBLISHERS' METHODS CRITICISED. THE BROTHERHOOD OF COMMERCIAL DINNER. ON the evening of December 30, about sixty members and friends of the B. C. T. sat down in the charming and handsomely decorated diningroom of the Hotel Marlborough, at the corner of 36th St. and Broadway, to enjoy the fifth annual dinner given by that Association. The various committees had done all to make the entertainment a success, and it was an admirable one. We have seldom attended a more sociable and at the same time more dignified gathering than this. Throughout the evening good fellowship prevailed and every one present seemed intent upon promoting good feeling in his neighbor. The menu was in the shape of a russia leather From Sidney S. Rider's “ Book Notes." THE writer of Book Notes acknowledges receipt of a letter from Charles L. Webster & Co., publishers (3 East 14th St., New York City) of the "Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant," and of 'Mark Twain's Works." The purport of the letter is, that "A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court," published by the said company, is now for sale by subscription, and that if said writer, as a bookseller, should “attempt to buy and sell" said book, he will be liable under the decisions of certain U. S. Courts, in an action brought by said publishers, and that this right will be protected; and the said publishers include in their letter, extracts from the decisions cited, Now the said writer of Book Notes, while not versed in the intricacies of the law, begs to in-memorandum-book, the strap of which bore the form Messrs. Webster & Co. that he is quite familiar with the decisions aforesaid. There is no new ground taken in them. The basis of every trade is good faith; where good faith is lacking, there is fraud, and where there is fraud in either a buyer or a seller, there is no title. be bank-notes or bonds, no one can by purchase obtain a good title to stolen property. A "Connecticut Yankee" is possessed of no special qualities or attributes different from other forms of personal property, and no man can be punished for attempting to buy and sell it." But the writer of these Book Notes has a word further to say to Messrs. Charles L. Webster & Co. It is this: that no court in these United States would Unless it protect it (the said firm) in their allowing the public to be so treated, as it was treated, and is now being treated, by the sale of General Grant's Personal History," published by the said firm. And a word further: If this new book by Mr. Mark Twain is not soon offered to the general trade, at discounts varying from forty to fifty per cent. from the subscription price, it will be the first book by this author which has not been so offered and sold. This firm obtained large numbers of subscriptions for General Grant's book at $7.00 per copy; within a very short time after its publication, it was everywhere offered to booksellers, and bought and sold by them, at about $4.50. This could not have been done, at least so the letter informs me, excepting with the connivance of the said publishers, for they inform me that every copy of their publications is so marked in binding as to be capable of identification; and the sale of the book at this price, or something approximating to it, is still continued, and the same thing is true with all of the publications of Mr. Mark Twain. I beg to assure Messrs. Webster that, in spite of the decisions, I cannot be punished for attempting to buy anything, nor after I have bought and paid for it, can I be punished for selling it. If by the rascality of some of their agents I should be entrapped, the firm itself would be held. This very book was offered to me for sale by a person purporting to be their agent. Had I in good faith bought it, this firm has the impudence to inform me that I should have become liable to them, both in losing the book and in damages, and moreover should have purchased a piece of property which I could not have safely offered for sale. However, that may be the law in the circuit courts of other States; it is not law here in Rhode Island. member's or guest's name. On the front of "'Tis pleasant, sure, to see one's name in print: The third page contained the names of the B. Walker, F. W. Bailey, and Louis Rohde. "A good digestion to you all, and once more and concluded by a vignette representing a The association struck upon the good idea of making the gathering a purely family affair—a celebration, in fact, of its wooden wedding-and so had not provided stock professional orators to bore the members present with their platitudes. and perfunctory speeches. After coffee was served, the President, Mr. Hitchcock, delivered a happy speech, in which he gave some statistics pointing out the importance of the travelling man to the community, etc., and called upon the Souvenir Committee to fulfil its duties. Mr. Plummer, in behalf of the committee, presented to the retiring President, W. J. Kelly, an emblem consisting of a miniature ivory gavel suspended from an orange watered-silk ribbon. Mr. Kelly made a fitting reply and responded to a call for "that same old song "-"Vive la Compagnie." Messrs. C. E. Hopkins, C. S. Plummer, and Mr. Loughead, of Philadelphia, then responded to calls for a short story, and were followed by Col. Ammon, who dwelt at some length on the advantages to be derived from South American trade apropos of the Pan-American Commission visit to this country. Prof. Levison then favored the company with a couple of songs sung in a masterly manner. Mr. Van Culin, who had arrived from a tour around the world, on the very morning of the dinner-his notification to the Secretary that he would be present, if possible, at the dinner was dated Singapore-gave an account of his experiences in foreign lands and waved his little American flag. Wm. B. Walker then delivered a speech in which he deplored the defection of a number of the members of the Association, and concluded with the declaration that as long as one other member could be found he would sit down with him once a year and celebrate the occasion. Among others called upon to speak and who responded were Messrs. Jonas Langfield, F. Salt, Urquehardt, Sam'l Eckstein, J. Hovendon, Watkins, Lansing, Chas. A. Blanchard, the proprietor of the Hotel Marlborough, and A. Growoll. The Association voted to second the efforts of the American Ticket Brokers' Association to reduce passenger fares throughout the country. After a touching recital of an allegory on Friendship, by Mr. C. S. Plummer, the President declared the meeting adjourned. JOURNALISTIC NOTES. MR. M. W. HAZELTINE denies the statement that he has been engaged by Bonner Brothers to edit the New York Ledger. He says he expects to write for the Ledger, but has nothing to do with the management, Mr. Oliver Dyer remaining, as he has long been, the editor of the paper. Illustrated American is to be the title of a new illustrated weekly journal to rank with the Paris Illustré, Figaro, and similar foreign art journals. Mr. Walsh, formerly editor of Lippincott's, will have charge of the literary portion and the Baron de Grimm is to look out for the artistic management. The first number will be published in a month or so. Our Trade, a handsomely printed quarto, has just made its appearance in Chicago. It is to appear monthly, and will be devoted to the news of the paper, stationery, book, fancy goods, and kindred trades. It will be edited by W. A. Ballard, and published by Our Trade Publishing Co., of which C. E. Pratt is the business manager. It starts out with an enterprising number, and we wish it all success! THE Daily Register and the Law Journal have consolidated, and will hereafter be issued by the New York Law Publishing Company. The publication of the Register will be discontinued at the expiration of existing advertising and subscription contracts, but both papers will henceforth be issued from the Register office, 303 Broadway, New York. Gen. Anson G. McCook, of the Register, is the head of the new company. THE Magazine of American History opens the new year and its twenty-third volume with a bright and readable January number. This periodical seems to be on the flood-tide of the newly awakened popular interest in everything that relates to the heroic past. An admirable portrait of William Cullen Bryant forms the frontispiece, and an animated and welcome paper by the clever editor treats of his place in American history. OBITUARY. ROBERT CARTER. ROBERT CARTER, the senior partner and the founder of the publishing firm of Robert Carter & Brothers, of 530 Broadway, New York, died at his residence, 47 W. Fifty-third Street, December 28, 1889, aged eighty-two years. He had been ailing more or less for nine months—indeed, he had never left his house for the past seven months. About ten days before his death he was confined to his bed. He was buried on the 31st from the Scotch Presbyterian Church in W. Fourteenth Street, of which he had been an elder for fifty years. Robert Carter was born in Earleston (or Ercildoune), in the vicinity of Abbotsford, Scotland, November 21, 1807. As a boy he evinced a remarkable fondness for study and a great desire to obtain an education. Many a night after the family had retired to sleep he pursued his studies by the light of the coal fire in the family sittingroom. One day when he was very small he was standing in a crowd listening to an auctioneer who was disposing of the household goods of a neighbor. The auctioneer put up a copy of Josephus' complete works in one thick folio, but minus one of the boards of the cover. How much am I offered for this?" said the auctioneer. There was a pause, no one bidding, the boy looked with wistful eyes at the book, then contemplated doubtfully the fourpence, which was all the money he possessed. At last he mustered up courage to bid "fourpence" in a feeble voice. The auctioneer immediately handed it to him, saying: "You shall have it, for you are the smallest customer I have had to-day." The book was about as much as the boy could carry, but the enjoyment he derived from it was very great, and doubtless it influenced in a large degree his future career. When only fifteen years of age he opened a night-school for young men in one of the rooms of his father's cottage. Most of the scholars were older and larger than he was. At the same time he was carefully studying Latin and Greek, assisted by a cousin who had been at college. When he was twenty he heard that Mr. Sloane, of Peebles, wanted an assistant in his grammar school, and he determined to apply for the situation. The distance was twenty-five miles. Rising early he started on foot, reading as he walked. He arrived at Peebles at noon and immediately made his application. Mr. Sloane received him politely, but said at once that he was too young. My boys," he said, "are sprigs of nobility and hard to manage; the last assistant left because he could not keep order." But the lad was not to be put off this way. He begged hard for a trial, and asked to be examined as to his literary qualifications. On the latter point Mr. Sloane was soon satisfied, but still shook his head over the candidate's youthful appearance. The lad, however, persisted, and conquered. He was told he could come the next week and make a trial. With a glad heart he turned his face toward home. Thus he secured a situation, though to get it he walked in going and coming fifty miles in one day! The young teacher was wonderfully successful, and Mr. Sloane frankly acknowledged that his school had never been so orderly before. He next entered the University of Edinburgh, where he made rapid progress, becoming a special favorite of the Latin Professor, the gifted Prof. Pillaus. In 1831 he came to New York, landing on May 16 of that year. He started life here as a teacher in the High School, Crosby St., New York, and then opened a school of his own at the corner of Broadway and Canal Street. The school was patronized by many of the sons of the prominent business men of the city, and from a financial standpoint was a very successful venture. Schuyler Colfax was among the pupils who afterwards became famous. 44 In 1834 Mr. Carter exchanged the ferule for the book business. He purchased the stock of a bookseller who had become insolvent, rented a store at the corner of Canal and Laurens Streets (now South Fifth Avenue), and hung out his sign, Robert Carter, Bookseller." His business grew, and he shortly moved to a larger store, at Canal and Mercer Streets. Here he began publishing theological and religious books. His first publication was "Symington on the Atonement and Intercession of Jesus Christ." In 1842 he brought out D'Aubigné's "History of the Reformation," which at once became popular and brought the publisher into prominence. A pirate in Philadelphia pounced on the book and published a cheap edition. But Mr. Carter was equal to the occasion. He did what his confrères forty years later overlooked and failed to do-he did not compete with his rival by making an inferior edition, but put the price of his edition down to one dollar for the set. The book was a very charming one and the price lower, perhaps, than anything of the kind ever attempted before, so that the sale of tens of thousands in a few months ensued; and although the profit on each set was microscopical, yet it served to extend his business, and probably increased the circulation of his other publications. From Canal St. Mr. Carter removed his business to 285 Broadway, then the centre of the publishing trade. In 1856 he made what was considered a suicidal move by going up to the corner of Broadway and Spring Street, which at that time was almost out of town. Here his business remains to this day. In 1848 he took his brothers Walter and Peter into partnership, and in 1874 Robert Carter, Jr., a son, was also admitted. Their publications have been wholly theological or religious, every evangelical denomination being represented in their catalogue. Their list contains one of the largest series of juvenile books adapted to Sunday-school libraries issued in this country. wood, and George P. Putnam. Beloved and honored by all who know him, he is not only without enemies, but with troops of friends the whole land over." Three sons and a daughter survive Mr. Carter. His two elder sons are Presbyterian ministers, one, Thomas Carter, at Boonton, N. J., and the other, Samuel T. Carter, at Huntington, L. I. Peter, with the dead man's son Robert, manages the business. His daughter married the late Rev. I. W. Cochran, of Mendan, N. J. His wife died two years ago. Mr. Carter was the oldest living Manager of the American Bible Society and was a Trustee on the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church. The ceremonies at his funeral were simple and impressive. The pulpit was occupied by the pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. S. M. Hamilton, exPresident James McCosh, the Rev. Dr. George Alexander, and the Rev. Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler, all of whom took part in the general ceremonies. The interment was at Greenwood Cemetery. The book trade was represented by his old friends, Mr. A. D. F. Randolph and Mr. A. C. Armstrong. 44 HON. GEORGE H. BOKER, poet, playwright, and diplomat, died suddenly from heart failure on the 2d inst., at Philadelphia. Mr. Boker was sixty-six years of age, having been born in Philadelphia, October 6, 1823. He attended Princeton College and graduated in 1842. After graduation he studied law, but never practised it, living a life of ease, wherein literary activity was his chief work and pleasure. Shortly after leaving college he went abroad for two or three years. Upon his return he married Miss Riggs, who with one son survives him. In 1847 he published his first volume of poems under the title of "The Lesson of Life, and other poems." This was followed by "Calaynos," a tragedy in blank verse; " Anne Boleyn," a tragedy; "The Betrothal," "Leoner de Guzman," and his best-known and most successful tragedy," Francesca de Rimini." Other volumes of poetry by him are Songs of the Earth," War Songs," Ivory Career," "Book of Plays and Poems," Konigsmark," "Book of the Dead," and " The Podesta's Daughter." It was during this exciting period that the war poems came out, the most noted of which were "The Black Regiment," Sheridan, Sheridan, Cavalry Sheridan," and " Lay him Low." All of Mr. Boker's poetry is highly imaginative, original in conception, and simple in portrayal. Leigh Hunt in his " Book of the Sonnet," pronounced Mr. Boker cn of the foremost of poetic writers Mr Boker was always Fifty years of a life devoted, as his has been, an earnest patriot. His services as such were to the making of books, not one of which would recognized by President Grant, who appointed make men worse, but ought to make them better, Mr. Boker to the Turkish mission. He remained may well be recognized. For a half century he at Constantinople four years. His first triumph has been doing a wholesome, honest, beneficent there was the achievement of securing the right work. He has passed through many seasons of to sell the Bible in the Turkish domains. He general business depression, and yet maintained secured it in the face of a refusal of the Sultan to his own credit unimpaired. He conducted his grant an audience to an English deputation seekbusiness with dignity, integrity, and success. ing an interview to ask religious toleration. He Who can estimate the value and extent of his in- also secured a treaty recognizing the rights of fluence as a publisher? What a factor he has naturalization, and another for the extradition of been in the religious education of this country. criminals. He was a great favorite at ConstantiHe has survived all his early contemporaries innople, and was made an honorary member of the trade the elder Harpers, Daniel Appleton, the Greek Syllagos, a degree of honor bestowed John P. Haven, Jonathan Leavitt, Roe Lock- on foreigners of only the highest literary merit. The esteem in which Mr. Carter was held by his fellow-publishers is well expressed by one of them in a letter to the Observer in April, 1884. on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of Mr. Carter's entry into the trade. That letter said in part: 46 |