Items of Interest

Persons who possess letters written by famous people may not be fully aware that they have no right to make or sell copies of such letters unless they obtain the permission of the writers or of their legal representatives. Under the common law, the literary property in one's letters remains in the writer's possession or in the possession of his legal representatives unless or until disposed of.

Thus a dealer offering for sale letters written by Mrs. Eddy is not privileged to quote extensively from them in his catalogue, nor can he make copies for distribution or for inspection except with the permission of the Trustees under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy, who own the literary rights to all letters written by her. Unpublished manuscripts by Mrs. Eddy are in the same category; copies of them may not be made lawfully without the permission of the Trustees under the Will.

Just so, the literary property in manuscripts of another author remains in the author's and his legal representatives' possession until disposed of, although the physical property of the manuscript or letter may be owned by the one to whom it has been presented or by one who has purchased it. These rights of a writer of a letter or manuscript to protect his writings from publication without authorization by others have been tested and upheld in the courts, including the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Appellate Court of New York, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Regardless of a statement to the contrary, published in a locality remote from Boston, the copyright on "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy has not expired, and has some twenty-seven years to run.

Reading Rooms report depleted stocks of the book "Mary Baker Eddy: A Life Size Portrait," by Lyman P. Powell. Temporarily, The Christian Science Publishing Society is not able to renew the supply of copies. But it is expected that a new printing of the book will shortly be announced, after which the desired copies can be ordered from the Publishing Society and will be available in all Reading Rooms.

To what was called the Jubilee Display of The Christian Science Monitor, arranged in London by a joint committee representing the London Christian Science churches and maintained during the Jubilee of Their Majesties for eleven days, there were seventeen hundred and fifty visitors, among them some from nearly every part of the British Empire, from the United States of America, and many of the European countries. At this exhibit a number of these callers had their first introduction to the Monitor as a daily newspaper with an international circulation.

The Jubilee issue of the Monitor, April 17, 1935, formed an invaluable part of the exhibit, and seemed to link the purpose of the display with the occasion of the throngs of visitors in London. The real value of this paper's several features, and of its purpose and aim, was made known to many inquirers.

The close co-operation of the twelve London churches in maintaining this street floor display in a busy location in London was a happy experience for them. The results made them regard the effort in bringing it about as well worthy of their activity. Some visitors introduced to Christian Science literature at this display afterwards visited the Christian Science Reading Rooms and attended the church services. Some were attracted to the healing activity of Christian Science.

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