ys
the luxuriantly fanciful novel-grinder. And he hasn't much, it must
be owned, for essenced it would go into half a volume, or less, and
all over and above is pot-fuls of rich colour, spilt about almost at
haphazard, permutations and combinations, giving the effect of genius.
Which--genius it is; but a little of it goes a great way, in fact, a
very great way, wandering and straying until at length the Baron calls
for his _Richard Feverel_, and says, "This is the best that GEORGE
MEREDITH has written, as sure as my name is

"THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS."

* * * * *

BARD V. BARD.

There was a poor Poet named CLOUGH,
Poet SWINBURNE declares he wrote stuff.
Ah, well, _he_ is dead!
'Tis the living are fed,
By log-rollers, on butter and puff.

* * * * *

A SUGGESTION.--In a new poetical play at the Opera Comique there is a
good deal of hide-and-seek. It might have had a second title, and been
appropriately called _The Queen's Room; or, Secret Passages in the
Life of Mary Stuart_.

* * * * *

[Illustration: STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

["If we really used the Thames Embankment sensibly and liberally,
it would abound with handsome shops and cheerful cafes a
and volksgartens, with newspaper kiosks and long lines of
bookstalls."--_Daily Telegraph_, Oct. 21.]]

* * * * *

BLENDIMUS!

"Water, water everywhere" in the _Times_ recently, except when Messrs.
GILBEY wrote their annual, and this time hopeful, account of the
Claret vintage, and when subsequently Messrs. "P. and G."--(who on
earth are "P. and G."?)--with a few modest lines at the foot of a
page, last Wednesday, enlivened our drooping spirits with a brief but
satisfactory account of Champagne Prospects. If the vintages of '86
and '87 are good, and those of '90 and '91 poor, why not make a blend?
and why not sell it as such? Let "P. and G."--[confound it! who on
earth can P. and G. be? "P. and J." would be "Punch and Judy"--and,
by the way, in the choice _Lingua Tuscana_, "P. and G." would stand
for "_Poncio e Giulia_." But, on the other hand, who, unauthorised,
would dare to use this signature? No matter--where were we?--ah!--to
resume.] Let "P. and G.," whoe'er they be--which is rhyme, though not
so intended--(but why this masquerade in initials?)--let them exploit
a "Blend of '90-cum-'86 and '91-cum-'87," sell it as such-