themselves to the publication of works relating to narrower schools of theology. But whatever be the special subject of the writer, he should endeavour to secure the services of the best known publisher in that particular department. For the name at the foot of a title-page is of the greatest importance to the success of the book, until authors gain for themselves distinguished postitions. Then, like Mr. Ruskin, they may command for their works an enormous circulation, however obscure and inconveniently located the publisher may be; or like Lord Tennyson they may enter on new relations with new firms with almost every new year. Having secured a publisher, the author leaves his work entirely in his hands, receiving from him periodical reports of its sale, and full details as to advertising, copies sent for review, and everything relating to its progress; and on a full settlement of the publishing account, which usually is made up annually, the author receives any balance which may be left over the ten per cent. deduction, which is the usual commission agreed on between authors and publishers in transactions of this nature. It is also usual for publishers to account for the copies, not one by one or dozen for dozen, but for 13 as 12, or for 25 as 24: that is to say, a dozen is 13, or two dozen is 25. Novelists who bring out their works in magazines, do not necessarily give up their copyright; they can always arrange with the proprietors of the magazines they write for, so that they may republish their own works, or let them appear in several country or transatlantic journals simultaneously. This is very important in the case of authors whose writings are popular, as they can publish their novels on their own account, by retaining this right, after their appearance in any number of periodicals. One thing the amateur will do well to lay to heart in his first dealing with his publisher. He should think twice and three times before deciding not to avail himself of any advice offered by his publisher, as the result of a long and special experience. Even such wellknown authors as George Eliot, have consented to change the very title of their works, in deference to the suggestions of those whose knowledge of the public taste gave them a claim to advise with authority. The publisher, by the essential nature of his business, stands between the author and the public, and smooths the way to favourable relations between them. From numberless cases of contact with the vast variety of elements that make up what we call by the collective name of the public, he is in a better position than any one else to forecast what is most likely to be agreeable to the author's patrons. For the author to act upon his own impression is to avail himself deliberately of a narrower basis of judgment in coming to an important decision. To any third party it will probably seem absurd to insist so strenuously on a point so very obvious. The maxim cuilibet in arte sua credendum est is very specially applicable in the case that we are now considering, and the amateur will neglect it at his peril. We have endeavoured to shew that the time spent in preparing for the great work of authorship is not lost, and that even a little ruthless destruction of immature work is not to be greatly deplored. Crabbe lived to produce much good poetry after burning the works of many years at once, when he lit with them the great bonfire in front of his house, whose flames delighted his children so much; and the charming novel of Evelina sprang like a phoenix from the ashes of the cherished manuscripts which Miss Burney threw into the fire at her step-mother's bidding. It has been said that a nation does not develop the art of good prose writing till late in its history, and the same rule appears to apply to individual writers. Whilst our great poets have begun to write when very young, few of our novelists have distinguished themselves before their first youth was passed. criticism of life be, as Mr. John Morley asserts, the aim of good fiction, we can scarcely expect it from If are young and inexperienced writers. Miss Burney at twenty, and "Monk" Lewis at nineteen, did indeed succeed in astonishing the public by works which are not yet forgotten, but their cases are very exceptional; and when the young author remembers that Scott and George Eliot had each attained the age of forty before producing the works that won them fame, and had been preparing their minds for years before they wrote them, he may easily realize that the world can well wait for his work till the early faults of inexperience are overcome, and till some grace of style has been acquired. Plants that flower late, flower well. Boswell tells us, and Thackeray also says, that literary men. generally known in their profession for years as skilful workmen before making the lucky hit which trebles their usual gains, and marks them as popular authors, Thackeray had no sympathy with the grumblers who blame the public for their own literary failures. "It treats you as you merit in the main," he says; "it gives you fair place, and fair pay, for the public is a good and generous master"; and this lesson he repeats again and again in his writings. He was continually stimulating authors to greatness of soul, and nobility of aim, by reminding them how much England honours those whose works are worthy to live. Looking back on the long list of names that illuminate the history of English letters, he exclaims finely: "Illustrious names, dear and honoured memories, kind friends, teachers, benefactors! who shall say that our country, which continues to bring you such an unceasing tribute of applause, admiration, love, and sympathy, does not do honour to the literary calling in the honour which it bestows on you?” We now proceed to set forth some hints of directions of a more specially practical character. HOW TO CORRECT PROOFS. It must always be borne in mind that the printer follows the "copy.' If the printer set the copy right where it is obviously wrong, the author will have to pay for what is called "bad copy." If the author, on receiving the proof, make corrections, either necessary or desirable (except such as are due to the printer's departure from the copy), he will have to pay for what are called "author's corrections." The more carefully he prepares his MSS., therefore, the greater the saving in his printer's bill. It is very necessary, further, to warn the inexperienced writer that an apparently small correction may sometimes involve a considerable rearrangement of type. It may be necessary to "over-run "-to place part of one line in the next, part of the next in the third, and so on. This comes to be very expensive. We give, in a specimen passage on the next page, all the most necessary marks and signs for correcting proofs. By studying it for half-an-hour, and by recurring to it when he has his own proof-sheets before him, the young author may very soon learn all that is necessary to be learned in these mechanical matters, while the knowledge and the habit cannot fail of being very serviceable to him. We have also given on the opposite page, the proof as it would be when properly revised, or when all the corrections had been attended to. A quick eye and great attention are necessary in correcting proofs; and after the united vigilance of both printer's reader and author, some provoking and obvious mistakes will not unfrequently escape detection, and go forth in print to the world. When you have finished correcting your proof, mark on the top on the left side "Press," with your initials and the date. If you wish to see another proof, instead of "Press," write "Revise." If your proof be in slips preparatory to making up in pages, mark the corrected slip "Page." The corrected page is then marked “ Revise," or Press," as before. 66 FIRST PROOf Corrected For Press. writing, is unquestionably a dear process; pro- 2 3 are printed, so as to render the proportion of 14 [It 7 ་ 10 It is when hundreds. and especially thousands, the Saints of Legend,' called 'Legenda aurea Caps. 12 22 in Latin; and William, Earl of Arundel, sent me a right worshipful gentleman, promising that my 24 said lord should, during my life, give and grant yearly fee, that is to note, a buck in 25 to me a and a doe in winter. summer, Explanation of the Marks used in Correcting. 1. Is the mark for changing the wrong letter in the word process. ات 26 2. To substitute one word for another. 5 To turn a letter which has been placed upside down. 6, 14, 26. To insert points and marks of quotation. 7, 12. 21. Different marks for the transposition of letters, words, or sentences. 8. To have a blank space put between the 9. To have no fresh paragraph. 13. To commence a new paragraph. ་ 1 |