DISPOSAL OF LITERARY M.S.S.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 6

DISPOSAL OF LITERARY M.S.S.

. Mr. Henry James's lately published novel, "The Outcry." is concerned with the. national clamour over the acquisition of our masterpieces by American millionaires, ami now, it- seems, these inscrutable powers are trying to obtain the manuscripts of our famous books. At any rate, the ''Daily News" lias discovered that Mr. I'iernont Morgan wanted the manuscript of "'less of the d'Urbervilles" so badly that he offered Mr. Hardy "any sum he. liked to name." Our great novelist was not content tu refuse this prince, ly otter, but. set about distributing his manuscripts to the museums, and it is good to hear that one of them—wc do not know which—is coming to Manchester. This seems an excellent disposition, and the "Daily News" comments on the contrast between it and George Meredith's dfetribiition of his manuscripts to "servants and household iutimates." But this is excellent, too; it is charming to think that Meredith was prodigal with these symbols of immortality mid gave them to his gardener or his .nurse. Perhaps if Mr. Tierpont Morgan had been about and had wanted one as a man and not as a millionaire he might have got one. too. After all, Americans have a good deal in common with us, and even masterpieces might give more joy among millionaires and their friends than in remote, obscure private collections here. Manuscripts are not. in the same sense, masterpieces, and the amount of joy that they can diffuse is small. Commonly; they ore' not very interesting, for either tho author makes .few. collections,. and . so shows us littlo of hesitancies .and evolutions, or he makes many and then writes on! a'faircopv. It is the state before the fair copy that would be interesting, but authors do 'not usually offer to posterity the tentative workings of their , minds. There is an instinct for the fair case, the fair copy, tho unblemished surface, the decent withdrawal of the shreds and patches that prevent even the illusion of perfection.—"Manchester Guardian." :