Alfred Marks Realty Company, Respondent, v. Hotel Hermitage Company, Appellant

Alfred Marks Realty Company, Respondent, v. Hotel Hermitage Company, Appellant. Second Department, December 10, 1915. Contract—advertisement in program of race—abandonment of race — abrogation of contract. Where a defendant agreed to pay for an advertisement of its business in a “ souvenir and program” of a certain international yacht race when the program should be published, the holding of the race was of the essence of the contract, and where the race was given up owing to the European war the defendant is not liable for the contract price although the plaintiff actually printed a program containing the advertisement. Appeal by the defendant, Hotel Hermitage Company, from an order and determination of the Appellate Term of the Supreme Court, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Kings on the 27th day of May, 1915, affirming a judgment of the Municipal Court of the City of New York, Borough of Brooklyn, First District, in plaintiff’s favor. An appeal is also taken from said judgment so affirmed. Ashton Parker [Walter G. Gooldy with him on the brief], for the appellant. John C. Judge, for the respondent. [MAJORITY — Putnam, J.:] Putnam, J.: This appeal is from an affirmance of a judgment for plaintiff. In January, 1914, defendant contracted with plaintiff’s assignor, the International Yacht Publishing Company, for insertion of its advertisement in a “ Souvenir and Program of International Yacht Races,” for which defendant agreed to pay “ upon publication and- delivery of one copy of the same.” These books, priced at twenty-five cents, were to serve as an advertising medium. In the early part of August some of the books were printed and bound with defendant’s hotel advertisement opposite the picture of a yacht. About 2,500 copies at twenty-five cents each were sold and distributed, and about 400 or 500 copies placed on newsstands for sale. About August fifteenth or seventeenth the yacht club committee having charge of the races (in which this publication company had no voice or control) declared the same off, because of the war. The challenger, Shamrock IV, did not arrive till August twentieth, and at this time three American yachts were having trials to ascertain which should be chosen to defend the cup in the September races. On August twenty-fifth plaintiff’s assignor wrote defendant that a sample copy of souvenir and program of the international yacht races, with defendant’s advertisement inserted therein, had been mailed. “As you are no doubt aware the cup races have been postponed until 1915 on account of European disturbances. Even without the races the book as a souvenir is a good seller and a good advertisement. We expect an unprecedented sale before and after the races. Many of which (sic) have already subscribed for cash in advance. We claim it is the best book ever for the price. The work will be placed on public sale later. Kindly remit us your check.” Obviously defendant and the publishing company had in view the September cup racing. Defendant’s advertisement was in connection with this contest. A program is for events to which it relates, and a souvenir “ cannot recall what has not taken place.” (Marks Realty Co. v. “ Churchills," 90 Misc. Rep. 370.) The issue of the exhibit here, though styled program and souvenir, was anticipatory. Such an issue and sale for the convenience of plaintiff’s assignor, is not a “publication ” in the sense of this contract. A condition is implied of two contestants being named for the time and place of a race; and where this feature is obvious, a failure, by giving up the expected contests, abrogates the contract. (Lorillard v. Clyde, 142 N. Y. 456, 463.) This is not where a promisor has failed to guard himself against a vis major. It is not a performance on one side, the other having no appropriate clause to excuse default. But it is where the situation, as it turns out, has frustrated the entire design on which is grounded the promise. An advance issue of the programs cannot fairly be held to be what defendant was to pay for. The object in mutual contemplation having failed, plaintiff cannot exact the stipulated payment. The order of the Appellate Term should be reversed, and the judgment of the Municipal Court for plaintiff reversed, with costs of the appeals, and the complaint dismissed, with costs. Jenks, P. J., Carr, Mills and Rich, JJ., concurred. Order of the Appellate Term reversed, and judgment of the Municipal Court for plaintiff reversed, with costs of the appeal, and complaint dismissed, with costs.