* * * * * Punch, or the London Charivari Volume 105, December 9, 1893. _edited by Sir Francis Burnand_ * * * * * [Illustration: JUVENILE PESSIMISM. _First Youthful Reprobate._ "'SAY, BILLY, 'AVE YER GOT SECHA THING AS A BIT O' 'BACCA ABOUT YER?" _Second Y. R._ "AIN'T 'AD SO MUCH AS A W'IFF SINCE LARST TOOSDAY FORTNITE!" _First Y. R._ "AH! WOT A WORLD! EH?"] * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. A perusal of Captain LUGARD'S _Rise of our East African Empire_ fills one with a thrill of pride at being also an Englishman. Captain LUGARD is a Soldier of Fortune, of the type of _Quentin Durward_, only, instead of lending his sword to a foreign king, he helps to carve out empire for England in the very heart of Africa. This is, however, merely an accident. He reached Massowah bent upon joining the Italian forces then fighting against the Abyssinians. This journey was undertaken for what, to my Baronite's peace-loving disposition, is the oddest reason in the world. Finding himself with his regiment at Gibraltar in December 1888, his health shattered in the Burmah campaign, Captain LUGARD came to the conclusion that nothing would do him good except a little fighting. So, with £50 in his belt, and no outfit except his rifle, he got on board the first passing ship, and sailed whithersoever it chanced to be going. This turned out to be Naples, a fortunate stroke, since Italy was the only nation that chanced at the moment to be at war. Captain LUGARD'S efforts to obtain permission to join the expeditionary force, made first at Rome, and afterwards at Dogali, were unsuccessful. He drifted into East Africa, and finally reached Uganda, with which territory, particularly interesting just now, much of the book is concerned. It is impossible even to hint at the marvellous adventures through which he made his way. They were accomplished with marvellous endurance and superb courage, the picturesque narrative being written with charming modesty. No more stirring story has been told in recent years than Messrs. BLACKWOOD publish in these two handsome volumes, profusely illustrated and enriched with maps. A few hints to those about to marry in _Courtship and Marriage_, by ANNIE SWAN. Miss ANNIE SWAN is a Duck! The latest "Outs" published by "INNES" are _The Dainty Books_, a charming series, containing some very pretty stories; that of a little girl, always aiming at dramatic effects, in _A Hit and a Miss_, by the Hon. EVA KNATCHBULL-HUGESSEN, is most amusingly told, and The _Lily and the Water Lily_ is a delicate flowery romance by Mrs. A. COMYNS CARR, in which flowers and fairies talk and act for the benefit of some little children. Those who have bad memories should get the _Dictionary of Quotations_, compiled by Rev. JAMES WOOD. It is not a Stock Exchange memorandum, but a compilation of more than the usual stock quoted from various writers.