THE CRY OF THE ADULT AUTHOR.

[The "Diarist" of The Westminster Gazette, in the issue of October 25th, utters a poignant cri de cœur over what he regards as one of the great tragedies of the time—the crowding-out of the "genuine craftsmen" of journalism and letters by Cabinet Ministers, notoriety-mongers and, above all, by sloppy infant prodigies.]

Oh, bitter are the insults

And bitter is the shame

Heaped on deserving authors

Of high and strenuous aim,

When all the best booksellers

Their shelves and windows cram

With novels from the nursery