OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
The Baron, on behalf of small Baronites, thanks Messrs. Cassell & Co. for Fairy Tales in Other Lands, by Julia Goddard, as they are dear old friends with new faces.
One of the Assistants in the Baronial Office says, that The Coming of Father Christmas is most exquisitely heralded by E. F. Manning, in the daintiest of books. 'Tis published by Frederick Warne & Co. So if you warne't to make a nice present, you know where to go and get it.
If Dean and Son are "limited," their stock is unlimited; and, all things considered as far as possible, the Baron's Chief Retainer opines that the picture-books from the Deanery of Dean and Son are still the best, and, in kind, the most varied for children. "Which nobody can Dean-y!" The Little One's Own Wonderland is a delightful realm, wherein the very little ones can wander with interest through coloured pictures and easy fairy tales. Among the coloured picture series, the Old Mother Hubbard of 1793, with its contrast, Old Mother Hubbard of To-day, is very amusing.
J. S. Fry and Sons send out through Sell's Advertising Agency samples of their daintiest specialities in bonbonnières. Being issued by a Sell, one fears a take in; but as 'tis all good, the agency of Sell secures a Sale. The chocolates are sure to go down with everyone.
We all know what the sincerest form of flattery is, and certainly our dear old pet, Alice in Wonderland, whose infinite variety time cannot stale, will gracefully acknowledge the intenseness of the compliments conveyed in Olga's Dream, as written by Norley Chester, illustrated by Messrs. Furniss and Montagu (the illustrations will carry the book), and published by Messrs. Skeffington. It would be a preternaturally wise child who could quite grasp some of the jokes and up-to-date allusions. However, the real original Alice (in Wonderland, and Through the Looking-glass) with the great Master's, John Tenniel's, illustrations, is still, as Mr. Sam Weller said of the Governor, "paramount."
Light and airy are the Soap Bubble Stories blown by Fanny Barry through her pen-pipe. Wonder is that, in this advertising age, she didn't dedicate them to Pears.
The Baron's Assistant has a word to say about the Diaries for this next year. If you want a useful Diary, the B. A. would recommend the "Registered Back-loop Pocket Diary," got up, like a sportsman, in the best of leathers by John Walker & Co., or, "as Friend Johnnie observes," Henry Irving would say—"to put it briefly, 'Walker—London.'"
The Baron has recently received two books, not strictly speaking "Christmas Books," though they are, et cela va sans dire, books published at Christmas-tide, the one practical and parliamentary, the other philosophical and phenomenal; the former dedicated to the Right Honourable Arthur Balfour by Lucy, and the latter dedicated to Lord Halifax by Lilly. Two prettier names for authors, or rather, to judge of the writers' sex by the sound of the names, for authoresses, could not well be chosen. But authors masculine they are, the pair of them. Mr. W. S. Lilly is to be congratulated on his very taking title, The Great Enigma, and all classes of readers will be glad to be informed that it has nothing whatever to do with the Irish Question. If any reader expects to find the Great Enigma solved by the Lilly who toils and spins, then he must not be surprised if the author says to him in effect, "Davus sum, non Œdipus."
From A Diary of the Salisbury Parliament, by Mr. H. Lucy, anyone can quaff or sip, just as his thirst for Parliamentary knowledge may be feverish or moderate, but healthy. It is thoroughly interesting, most amusing, and really valuable for reference withal. 'Tis written, too, in so impartial a spirit, that it would be difficult to gather from these pages to which political Party the Diarist belongs, but for his exuberant eulogy of the wonderful Grand Old Man. Mr. Lucy is the Parliamentary Pepys. The sketches are by an Old Parliamentary Hand, yclept Harry Furniss, and assist the reader unfamiliar with the House of Commons to form a pretty accurate idea of the men who are, and of the men who were, and what they wear, and how they wear.
