AUTHORS' LEAGUE OF AMERICA, The, Inc., was organized as a protective asso ciation for all persons producing copyrightable material, or in the words of the League con stitution call persons actually engaged in lit erary, dramatic, musical or artistic composition.* It is the object of the League to supply its members with full information as to the busi ness side of their work and to assist them in safeguarding and maintaining their rights. In somewhat over three years the membership had grown to 1,300 and is at present steadily in creasing. The income of the League is derived entirely from membership dues. The member ship is divided into three classes: Life mem bership, regular membership, associate member ship. The latter class is restricted to publishers, editors, agents and others who are not directly engaged in writing or other artistic production.
ou'to di fA (Portuguese, act of faith), the solemn public act that from 1481 to 1810 was performed in Spain and Portugal at the execution of those condemned to death by the Inquisition. It took the form of a procession through the chief streets of the city or town to the church where a sermon was preached on the true faith, after which, the condemned were turned over to the secular
power. The procession was usually witnessed by multitudes, many believing that it was an act of merit to assist at such a function, others in fear of the terrible Inquisition lent their presence as a matter of expediency. The pro cession was led by the Dominicans, who were long among the chief inquisitors; they were followed by those who were condemned only to perform public penance. A great cross separated these from those condemned to death. The latter were clad in a garment called the san benito, a kind of shirt inscribed with the crimes of the victim and painted with infernal symbols. They wore also a pointed cap on the head. Next came effigies of the fugitives and the bones of dead culprits. The rear was brought up by numerous priests and monks. The most elaborate Auto-da-f6 was that of Madrid in 1680 under Charles II. The system persisted down to the end of the first decade of the 19th century,• and five years longer in America, the last recorded event of this kind taking place in Mexico as late as 1815. For the crimes, mode of execution, num ber of victims, etc., see general article IN QUISITION.