Punch (99.1890)

December 20, 1890.] PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. 293

OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.

Golden Sella, rung by Dean and Son,—quite appropriately eccle-
siastical this,—and edited by Mrs. Elizabeth Dax, will ring forth
peals of delight in the nursery, it being
the Christmas number of The Little One's
Own Paper.

' ArrowsmitV 8 Christmas Annual, by

"Walieb Besant, bears the cheerful and
seasonable title of " The Demoniac."

Mr. Hyne's Four Red Nightcaps is some-
what in the style of Three Men in a Boat,
only there are " Four men in a Yacht."

Most of the Magazines have their special
numbers of these. The English Illustrated
Harper's, The Century, are got up with the
^ <^2> most charming illustrations.

The Gentlewoman has her first Christmas Number, and,—so like
her!—a coloured satin picture ! The Pictorial World has two good
pictures for framing.

The Baron liketh much the latest contribution to the Rosslyn
Series, edited by Earl Hodgson, who is of the Peerage of Par-
nassus, as you won't find this Earl in Brett's Peerage. The Baron
congratulates the Earl, and has also sent an order for a pound
of laurels wherewith to decorate the brow of Walteb Hebeies
Pollock. Among the many gems of his songs let me select "A Con-
tinuation"—there would have been "a pair of continuations,"
could he have rivalled himself; then " Lalage," and " The
Chansonnette," which, with " Rizzio to Marie Stuart," ought to
be set to music by a gifted composer. There are also some
delightful verses to " Old Court Trinity," which will delight all
Trinitarians of Cambridge—"cum multis _ aliis"—to quote the
ancient Roman singer, so, as a short way with our Poet Pollock,
the classic Baron, remembering how the ancients swore "By Pollux 1"
adapts the ejaculation, and says, " Buy Pollock's—book."

All Mereditbians must possess George Meredith, Some Charac-
teristics, by Richard Le Gallienne. The book is a complete and
excellent guide to the novelist and the novels, a sort of Meredithian
Bradshaw, with pictures of the traffic superintendent, and of the
head office at Boxhill. Even Philistines may be won over by the
blandishments of Mr. Le Gallienne, from whom I learn, by the
way, that GrEOBaE Mebedith is "the Haevey of the Ego," and that
he is not Adbian Habley. I hear, also, that '' daily, from one quarter
or another, come critical cuff and kick, to impress upon a numb
public the latest example of its immemorial purblindness." And the
Baron adds this cufflet to the rest. Mr. John Lane has added
a Bibliography, which is a model of minute industry. So here's to
the book of Richabd and John.

Among the Arts for obvious reasons not known to Ancient Greece
is The Art of Cooking by Gas. In a little book under this title,
published by Cassell, Mrs. Sugg has undertaken to disclose its
mysteries, and set forth its attractions. No one could be better
qualified for the task, since Mrs. Sugg is the wife of William Sugg
of Charing Cross, who has thrown more light on Modern London
than Camden did on its ancient ways. Cooking by gas, Mrs. Scgg
shows, is cleaner, cheaper, more convenient, and more artistic than
the older style. So widely is the practice now established, that
gas-cooking apparatus are made to suit all conditions of life, from
the kitchen of the Grand Hotel to the "Little Connaught," which
you can (if you like) carry about in your waistcoat-pocket; yet
when properly extended it will roast fowls, and. small joints, grill
chops, steaks, and fish, boil eggs, and vegetables, and keep a large
family in hot water. " To gentlemen residing in Chambers, or
those reading for the Bar," Mrs. Sugg writes of another treasure,
"this little kitchener with the two grillers will prove a great
boon." If Sir Henry James had really been going to the Bench, he
could not have done better than study this book, and. set himself up
with a " Little Connaught" or a " Double Griller." Since that is
not the case, it may be asked, "Would they be worth the Lobd
Chancellor's attention P We unhesitatingly reply, "Why,
Sugg'nly!"

"Are you asleep, Buchanan?" inquired Aechee. This is the
first sentence of a shilling novel, by Butifee Skottowe, with a
very sensational picture on the cover. I " read no more that day,"
but closed the book, dreading lest, of the two figures on the thrilling
frontispiece, one should be the Buchanan, and the other the only
Arches in the world of Ibsenish proclivities.

The Babon de Boox-Wobms & Co.

Stbucttjbal Impbovements in a Theatbe.—Mr. Nobman Eoebes
opens the Globe. The seats are so constructed, that they can be
taken outside the theatre. Also, any person who has purchased a
numbered seat need not come to the theatre to occupy it. The seats
are so made as to be equally comfortable for big and little persons—
for the former, they can be let out.

A CRY PROM THE CINDER-PATH.
Deae Me. Punch,

I must appeal to you, the unimpeachable Caesar, in athletics
as in all other matters, to secure me some small meed of public sym-
pathy and consideration. During the, happily, almost past year, I
have been the victim of gross ill-treatment at the hands, nay, worse,
the feet, of athletes of various kinds. I have been cut in public by
some of the best performers; I have been mercilessly beaten, and
persistently lowered, till it is a wonder to myself that I have any
self-respect left. I am too good a sportsman at least. Sir, to complain
of rough, usage in a fair way, but while I must suffer for the ambi-
tion of every ped. and every wheel-man, my colleague and close
relation, who is generally! known as " The Standard," is put higher
and higher, without really doing anything at all to deserve his eleva-
tion. I have had the people all shouting about me ; I have been the
subject of columns of statistical gush in the Sporting Press, and now
I am constrained to appeal to a non-professional for bare justice in
my crippled old age. Wishing you a happier New Year than the
old one has been to me, I am yours, in disgust,

A Smashed Recobd.

LONDON METEOBJLLOGICAL ARRANGEMENTS.
(For the Winter.)

Clerk of Weather Office.

MnnJau 5 Fr0st- N-E- wind- Light fal1 of slww. N. wind.

monaay . •{ Change at night to S. Thaw. Slosh.

Tuesday . . Fog. E. wind.

Wednesday . Thicker fog. N.E. wind. Eroat.

Thursday . . Thicker fog. E. wind.

Thursday Night. Fog. Frost. N. wind.

FrNig\^ F"idayt | Snow. N. wind. Sudden change to S.W. wind.

Saturday . . Sun for two hours. Horrid slosh.

Sunday . , Drizzle. Rain for one day.

Monday. . . Hard frost. N.E. wind. Traffic almost impossible.

TUhwmgadnaysf°1', \ ^Da caP°> with afew va™tions-)

A MUSICAL NOTE.

Veey fine performance by Royal Choral Society, at my little
place in Kensington, on Wednesday evening, Dec. 10 th, of
Mackenzie's "Rose of Sharon." Everything couleur de Rose,
except the atmosphere, which was couleur de pea-soup. Weather
responsible for a certain number of empty stalls in my hall. Madame
Albani in excellent voice—sang throughout gloriously. E. L., the
Squire of Hall Barn, says that, when the eminent soprano sings at
his place, he shall announce her as Madame Hallbaeni. Hilda
Wiison first-rate in "Lo! the King!" Lloyd as good as ever;
can't say more. The duets between him and Albani, perfection.
Watkin Mills, an impressive Solomon, sang the difficult music of
that character artistically. The Chorus superb in one of finest
choruses, written by an English composer, " Make a joyful Noise "—
a very joyful noise they made, and a considerable one. I consider
the "Rose of Sharon" a masterpiece, and the greatest work of
any Englishman—and, now I come to think of it, Mackenzie's a
Scotchman. Yours truly, Albeet Hall.

Paes about Pictuees.—On to Dowdeswell's—Pictures by the
Newlyn School. Interesting show this—especially good in land-
scapes. Disappointed there is no picture of the town of Par, whenoe
the 0. P.'s ancestors came. However, let that pass. Ladies, first,—
there is excellent work by Mrs. Stanhope Fobbes, Mrs. Goich,
Miss Hayes, Miss Fobd, and Miss Bibd ; and, be it said with all
politeness, equally excellent work by Messrs. Stanhope Fobbes,
Titcombe, A. C. Taylee, and others. A good many of the tin
mines of Cornwall are said to be worked out, but I think not a
few of our young artists have found a mine of tin in this piotu-
resque country, which they are working both to their own advantage,
and that of the Art-loving public. In the same gallery may be found
a small collection of pastels by Mr. James Gutheie. This artist
seems to thoroughly understand the scope of pastel—and has walked
his chalks about Scotland to considerable purpose. Old Pae.

"Away with Melancholy."—Nothing in Nature and Art com-
bined is so sad as the effect of a Street Minstrel playing something
with flourishes on a olarinet under the windows of your study
during a yellow London fog. " This way madness lies*"

"Boxing-Day" will, of course, be kept with great festivity at
the Pelican Club. The contests will be of the friendliest character,
and will be genially announced as " Kiss-in-the-Ring."