s"--and "notions" quaint and humorous
Still crowd on him, and claim his constant critical attention,
Some may escape his notice, but a few more he must mention
MARCUS WARD'S are good as usual, and his "Christmas Cheque Book"'s funny;
Though rather a sardonic "sell" to parties short of money.
CASTELL BROTHERS' Cards are charming, but the words "Printed in Germany,"
The patriotic Baron irk, or may he turn a Merman! He
Can't see why pictured prettiness should be beyond _home_-printing.
He doesn't want to dogmatise, but really can't help _hinting!_
_Scout's Head_, by LANGBRIDGE, boys will like. JEROME K. JEROME'S
_Stage-Land_,
Which BERNARD PARTRIDGE illustrates, might tickle e'en the sage land
Of Puritan Philistia at Clapham-Rise or Barnsbury.
And now let us the memory of Christmas Cards and yarns bury
In a right bowl of stingo, in the which the Baron cheerily
Drinks to his readers heartily, sincerely, and Happy-New-Year-ily!

Once upon a time Mr. LEWIS CARROLL wrote a marvellously grotesque,
fantastic, and humorous book called _Alice in Wonderland_, and on
another occasion he wrote _Through the Looking-Glass_, in which _Alice_
reappeared, and then the spring of Mr. LEWIS CARROLL'S fanciful humour
apparently dried up, for he has done nothing since worth mentioning in
the same breath with his two first works; and if his writings have been
by comparison watery, unlike water, they have never risen by inherent
quality to their original level. Of his latest book, called _Sylvie and
Bruno_, I can make neither head nor tale. It seems a muddle of all
sorts, including a little bit of Bible thrown in. It will be bought,
because LEWIS CARROLL'S name is to it, and it will be enjoyed for the
sake of Mr. FURNISS'S excellent illustrations, but for no other reason,
that I can see. I feel inclined to carol to CARROLL, "O don't you
remember sweet ALICE?" and, if so, please be good enough to wake her up
again, if you can.

M. FREDERIC MAYER'S International Almanack takes my breath away. It is
overwhelmingly international. Most useful to the International
Theatre-goer, as there are plans of all the principal theatres in
Europe, with the seats numbered, so that you have only to wire (answer
paid) to the Theatre Francais for _fauteuil d'orchestre_ Number 20, to
Drury Lane in the same way, to the Operahaus, Berlin ("Open Haus" sounds
so internationally hospitable) for _Parquet_ Number 200 (so as to get a
go