arn.
Strong old salts--very refreshing.

_The Bull Calf_, brought out for JOHN BULL JUNIOR'S amusement at
Christmas, and seasonably illustrated by FROST, is a queer sort of
animal of the Two Macs Donkey breed. Right for NIMMO to have some fun at
Christmas, according to old example, "_Nimmo mortalium omnibus horis
sapit._"

What's in a name? not the first time this question has been asked and
answered--but 'tis impossible for the Baron to avoid quoting it now,
when in consequence of its title, he was within an ace of putting aside
_The Germ Growers_, under the impression that it was a scientific work
on Bacillus and Phylloxera. On taking it up, however, the Baron soon
became deeply interested, but was subsequently annoyed to find how the
artful author had beguiled him by leading up to a kind of imitation of
the _In hoc Signo vinces_ legend, and had somewhat adroitly adapted to
his purpose the imagery of one of the most poetic and sublime of ancient
Scripture narratives; _i.e._, where the prophet sees the chariots of
Israel in the air. One remarkable thing about the romance is the absence
of "love-motive," and, indeed, the absence of all female interest. Here
and there the Canon writes carelessly, as instance the following
paragraph:--

"Then he got a little glass-tube into which he put
something out of a very small bottle, which he took from
a number of others which lay side by side in a little
case which he took out of a pocket in the side of the
car."

Apart from other faults, there are too many "whiches" here, and unlike
his malignant hero, _Davoli_, the Canon doesn't seem to be well up in
his "which-craft." Clever Canon POTTER must turn out from his Potteries
some ware superior to this for the public and

THE BARON.

* * * * *

REFLECTION IN THE MIST.--You could have "cut the fog, it
was so thick," is a common expression. But the fog,
unwelcome as it always is, is not like an unwelcome
acquaintance, who can be "cut" or avoided by turning
down a street, or by pretending unconsciousness of his
proximity.

* * * * *

QUESTION FOR A LEGAL EXAM.--If a farmer purchased a good
milch cow reared at Dorking, what would be its (old
style) legal produce? _Answer or Rejoinder._--Why, of
course, some sort of Surrey-butter.

*