and may probably be
found most useful. _Experientia docet: Baronius tentabit._

While on the subject of pocket-books, the Baron must thank Messrs.
CASSELL & Co. for the pocket volumes of the _National Library_ edited
by HENRY MORLEY, and ventures to recommend as a real travelling
companion, _Essays, Civil and Moral, by Francis Bacon_. In the
eighteenth Essay "Of Travel," the chief Diarists, "LETTS AND SON,"
might find a motto for _their_ publications. The Baron directs their
attention to this side of BACON from which this is a slice,--"_Let
Diaries, therefore, be brought in use_." A new reading for advertising
purposes would change "Let" into "Letts," or Letts could be
interpolated in brackets. "A cheeky way of treating BACON," says the
Baron's friend little FUNNIMAN (Author of _Funniman's Poor Jokes_);
but, if nothing worse than this can be said against the Baron's
suggestion, why, "Letts adopt it," says

THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS.

* * * * *

[Illustration: MOMENTS WHEN LIFE IS REALLY WORTH LIVING.

(_The Annual Visit to the Family Dentist._)

"WELL, MY DEAR YOUNG LADY, I'VE LOOKED VERY CAREFULLY, AND THERE'S
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING FOR ME TO DO TO YOU THIS YEAR!"]

* * * * *

PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL.

"In the words of the Postmaster-General, spoken yesterday
(March 18th) from his room in St. Martin's-le-Grand, and
distinctly heard by the head of a corresponding department
in Paris, the triumph of the International Telephone is an
accomplished fact."--_Daily News_.

_Hallo!--are you there_? That's the cue international,
Henceforth we'll hope, and we trust it may lead
To colloquies pleasant, relations more rational.
May "saucers" and tubes telephonic succeed
In setting the world "by the ears," in a fashion
Not meant by the men who invented that phrase.
May nail-biting nagging and rancorous passion
Die out, like a craze!

Why, bless us, and save us! We _ought_ to behave us
A little bit better for all our new light.
From incurable savagery nothing can save us
If Science can't cool down our fondness for fight.
With so many chances of "talking things over,"
Like comrades in council, across the broad sea,
Nations ought to be nice, as a girl and her lover
At five o'clock tea!

Eh? _Vox et praeterea nihil_? What matter
How close ears may seem if the heart