t one has yet been published, but doubtless many are
in preparation. We advise you to write to the Revue King, Mr. MAX
PEMBERTON, who is always delighted to answer letters and is the soul of
courtesy; or to Mr. ALFRED BUTT, who has plenty of time on his hands.

THE OAKS.

_Will you kindly give me some facts about the race called the Oaks? It
is to settle a bet. I have always understood that the Oaks is a race
run two days after the Derby as a kind of consolation for those horses
which were unplaced in the Derby; but a friend says that he believes
I am mistaken and that the Oaks is for three-year-old fillies.--M. S.
(Hartlepool)._

Your friend, I am told, is right. You must have been confusing oaks with
acorns.

A REMARKABLE OLD MASTER.

_I have a picture which my friends tell me is either by LEONARDO DA
VINCI or REMBRANDT. May I send it to you for your opinion, and if so,
what guarantee have I that I shall see it again?--W. F. G. (Woolwich)._

From your description of your picture we imagine it to be one of those
on which these two clever artists collaborated. It would, however, be
wiser to take it to one of the experts than to bring it to a noisy and
restless newspaper office. We recommend either Sir SIDNEY COLVIN, Sir
CHARLES HOLROYD or Sir CLAUDE PHILLIPS. As a precaution against the
negligible risk mentioned in the second part of your query we advise
you, when submitting the picture to these gentlemen, to have it chained
to your body.

A DELICATE TRIAL OF TACT.

_The other day I had lunch with an uncle with whom I wish to be on the
best of terms. I should say that he fancies himself as a judge of wine.
We went to a restaurant and he ordered champagne, which came, already
opened, in an ice-basket. When the wine was poured out he tasted it,
smacked his lips and said, "That's perfect! What a bouquet! What an
aroma!" I sipped and found it most vilely corked. I also noticed that
the waiter was grinning, and I then realized that he knew it too, and
that we had been given a bottle which someone else had rejected. What
was I to do? If I told my uncle that the wine was corked he would be
furious to have been detected in an error of judgment. If I did not
drink it he would be furious too. If I did drink it I should be sick,
and I should also be a fool in the eyes of the waiter. If nothing was
said the restaurant people would profi