560 The Rights of Dramatists. [MAY, 



The author's right and property continues in his works during his life, and 

 in posthumous works during the lives of those whohavebecoma donors of 

 them : after them it reverts to the heirs. The children of authors have an 

 exclusive right of printing the works of their deceased parents for twenty 

 years j but the other heirs for only ten years. These rights belong to 

 the surviving husband or wife during life, provided the marriage settle- 

 ment permits it. The unpublished works of authors and composers are 

 not liable to be seized by creditors j this law has been illustrated by 

 several verdicts. So anxious has the French legislature shewn itself for the 

 prosperity of the drama, that any manager accepting a piece, and failing 

 to produce it within a given time, is liable, as has been proved by several 

 suits instituted by authors, to pay the writer the sum previously agreed 

 upon. Dramas are represented in their turn of acceptation. If, however, a 

 piece possess local interest, or there be any other inducement to anticipate 

 the legitimate period of its production, by a tour defaveur ; as however, 

 the number of these tours is limited, an author has his remedy if his piece 

 be postponed after the usual tours have made way for its representation. 

 These points sufficiently prove the solicitude of the French government 

 for the prosperity of a species of writing which combines in itself the highest 

 attributes of literature. In England, on the contrary, the drama is a 

 neglected weed; a thing of the highways, to be trodden under foot, or 

 plucked up by the roots. 



The French law carefully provides against the chicanery of managers, 

 who would defraud the dramatist by changing the name of his work, or 

 altering the dramatis persona. Certain agencies are established (by the 

 authors themselves) in the departments, who represent the dramatists, 

 and who, under the appellation of dramatic correspondents, exercise ail 

 the rights the authors themselves possess, recovering all claims that may 

 be due. The scale of remuneration (which depends on the number of 

 acts), varies at different theatres.* In addition, however, to payment for 

 the drama, there is the privilege of tickets and personal free admission: 

 the admission to remain for life on the production of two pieces in five, 

 four, or three acts ; three of two acts, and so on. If an author or com- 

 poser be entitled to a second free admission, he may be allowed to dispose 

 of it annually : after his death, his widow, or next heir, enjoys the second 



any remuneration ; and, in one of the numbers of the London Magazine, the author of 

 several dramatic works laments his unfortunate position, not wishing to have his last piece 

 performed by the theatre which had shewn itself unjust towards him in a former instance, 

 and not daring to print it, because it would be another means of placing it at the disposal of 

 the theatre." 



* The following is the scale of remuneration at the Theatre Royal de I' Opera Comique : 

 For a work in five, four, or three acts : 8 per cent, on the gross receipts, each night 



of performance. * 



" For a work in two acts 6^ per cent, on the gross receipts. 



" For a work in one act 6 per cent, on the gross receipts. 



The author of such works as will form the entire representation of the evening, shall bo 

 entitled to a further remuneration, fixed at 6 per cent on the gross receipts. 



The gross receipts are understood to be formed of the following : 



" 1. Of the receipts at the doors. 



" 2. For boxes taken by the month or year, or those taken per night. 



" 3. For subscriptions of every denomination. 



The profits allotted to authors in the proportions above will belong equally to the author 

 and the composer, that is to say, one-half to each. 



* At the Theatre de Vaudeville and Gymnastic Theatre des Nouveautes, and the Theatre 

 du Palait Royal, the scale is twelve per cent, in the gross receipts. 



