OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
My faithful "Co." has been reading Marooned, by Mr. Clark Russell, an author who delights in stories of nautical adventure. My worthy follower declares that the novel, although rather spun out, is full of interest. He was especially pleased with Mr. Clark Russell's anxiety to make his meaning clear when talking of things maritime. He particularly instances a passage in Vol. II., page 17. Here it is: "It is proper I should state here, for the information for those to whom sea-terms are unintelligible, that a studding-sail-boom is a long smooth spar that reeves through irons, fixed upon the yard to which it belongs." How land-lubbers would be able to understand the marine technicalities Mr. Russell introduces into his stories without explanations such as this, it would be difficult to say, but with such assistance, a studding-sail-boom becomes as easy of identification as a marling-spike lashed to a forecastle spinaker-boom, close hauled aport under trysails, blowing out like flags from the grips of clew-lines and leech-lines towards the close of a second dog-watch! Shiver Lindley Murray's timbers! but what can be finer than a bulkhead battened down with the scandalised main-sail of a top-gallant clipper-rigged halliard! Ah, what indeed!
"Co." has also been improving his mind by reading a new edition of Mr. Joseph Foster's Noble and Gentle Families of Royal Descent, in which he has found, amongst other interesting matter, the recently much discussed pedigree of the Duke of Fife. Like all Mr. Foster's books of reference, the two handsome volumes are invaluable to the genealogist, and no library can be accurately said to be quite complete without them.
Baron De Book-Worms & Co.
Daubigny in Bond Street.—Through the organisation of Messrs. Boussod, Valadon & Co., and the kindness of Mr. James Staats Forbes, Mr. W. Cuthbert Quilter, Mr. Alexander Young, and other courteous collectors, we are enabled to enjoy, at the Goupil Gallery, as many as forty-three works by this distinguished paysagiste of the Barbizon School. Nothing of the "daub" to be seen here excepting in the first half of the name. Charming collection. Nice boys they were of the Barbizon School, all in the best form. Mr. Punch recommends everybody not to neglect to pay an immediate visit to this superb exhibition.