12 MAY 1888, Page 3

The decision given on Thursday by Mr. Justice Stirling in

the case of "Little Lord Fauntleroy," should add greatly to the safety and the profits of novel-writing. It seems almost completely to debar a playwright from " adapting " a novel without its writer's consent. If he does, he is liable to have all copies of his play in which there are any passages copied, taken, or colourably imitated from the novel cancelled by order of Court, which, as a copy must be deposited with the licenser, is fatal to the selling value of his work.