intiest specialities in _bonbonnieres_. 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 Oedipus._"

From _A Diary of the Salisbury Parliament_, by Mr. H. LUCY, anyone can
quaff or sip, just as his thirst for Parliament