For the Music-lover's Metropolitan Army!
OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
Joints in our Social Armour, by a Mr. James Runciman, has an amusing "Dedication to W. S. and G. N. S." "Gentlemen," writes this seemingly new member of the brotherhood of letters, "this little book contains many things which have already pleased you, and all that may be good in them has really come from you." After this frank confession, one naturally desires to have the "good things" of "W. S. and G. N. S." first-hand, instead of what presumably must be a rechauffé. As the "good things," however, have to be picked out of a volume of 342 pages of wearisome reading about "The Ethics of the Drink Question," "The Social Influence of the 'Bar'" (Public-house, bien entendu), "Genius and Respectability," &c., &c., it is not an easy task to find them. For the rest, to the intelligent reader, the joints of Messrs. W. S., G. N. S., and James Runciman are likely to prove veritable pieces de résistance. A cut from the joint in this instance is accordingly strongly recommended.
The Colonial Year-Book for 1890 supplies a want that has long been felt by Britons in every quarter of the globe. Mr. Trendell, C.M.G., the author of this interesting work, deserves well of the Empire.
Baron de Book-worms & Co.
A FABLE FOR FANATICS.
There was a stream, now fast, now slow,
But given at times to overflow;