OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
A perusal of Captain Lugard's Rise of our East African Empire fills one with a thrill of pride at being also an Englishman. Captain Lugard is a Soldier of Fortune, of the type of Quentin Durward, only, instead of lending his sword to a foreign king, he helps to carve out empire for England in the very heart of Africa. This is, however, merely an accident. He reached Massowah bent upon joining the Italian forces then fighting against the Abyssinians. This journey was undertaken for what, to my Baronite's peace-loving disposition, is the oddest reason in the world. Finding himself with his regiment at Gibraltar in December 1888, his health shattered in the Burmah campaign, Captain Lugard came to the conclusion that nothing would do him good except a little fighting. So, with £50 in his belt, and no outfit except his rifle, he got on board the first passing ship, and sailed whithersoever it chanced to be going. This turned out to be Naples, a fortunate stroke, since Italy was the only nation that chanced at the moment to be at war. Captain Lugard's efforts to obtain permission to join the expeditionary force, made first at Rome, and afterwards at Dogali, were unsuccessful. He drifted into East Africa, and finally reached Uganda, with which territory, particularly interesting just now, much of the book is concerned. It is impossible even to hint at the marvellous adventures through which he made his way. They were accomplished with marvellous endurance and superb courage, the picturesque narrative being written with charming modesty. No more stirring story has been told in recent years than Messrs. Blackwood publish in these two handsome volumes, profusely illustrated and enriched with maps.
A few hints to those about to marry in Courtship and Marriage, by Annie Swan. Miss Annie Swan is a Duck!
The latest "Outs" published by "Innes" are The Dainty Books, a charming series, containing some very pretty stories; that of a little girl, always aiming at dramatic effects, in A Hit and a Miss, by the Hon. Eva Knatchbull-Hugessen, is most amusingly told, and The Lily and the Water Lily is a delicate flowery romance by Mrs. A. Comyns Carr, in which flowers and fairies talk and act for the benefit of some little children.
Those who have bad memories should get the Dictionary of Quotations, compiled by Rev. James Wood. It is not a Stock Exchange memorandum, but a compilation of more than the usual stock quoted from various writers.
Distinguished for his art gems, Raphael Tuck and Son are as Artful as ever with their variety show of cards and booklets.
In consequence of the high price of coals this winter, Faulkner & Co. have turned our eyes to summer flowers and pictures. Winter being summarily dismissed, is not on the cards.
A splendid collection of Good Words for 1893, published by Isbister, and edited by Donald Macleod, D.D.; in it will be found a serial story by Edna Lyall. "To Right the Wrong," which proves how wrong it is to write,—but read this, and right through, says the
Baron de Book-Worms.