The G. O. M.'s off to the southward--to meet Not sunshine, but train-stopping snow-drift and sleet. Yet he "pops up" at Cannes as alert as can be, After five hours long snow-block, our W. G. Then fill up the cup to our CRICHTON at Cannes. NESTOR wasn't a patch on our own Grand Old Man; May he come back as bonnie as bonnie can be, For we've not seen the last of our W. G.! * * * * * OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. It is noteworthy how in recent years, in the matter of fiction, the star of Empire shineth in the North. After WALTER SCOTT established the sovereignty of Scotland in the world of British fiction, there was a long pause. In our generation WILLIAM BLACK came to the front. Later, we have had STEVENSON, BARRIE, and CROCKETT. Now here is IAN MACLAREN with his cluster of gem-like stories gathered _Beside the Bonnie Briar Bush_ (HODDER AND STOUGHTON). My Baronite tells me that of the collection Mr. GLADSTONE likes best "A Doctor of the Old School." Where all is good it is difficult to establish supremacy. But for simple pathos and for the skill of drawing with a few touches living figures of flesh and blood, this sketch is certainly hard to beat. Yet "A Lad of Pairts" runs it close. A very beautiful book, full of human nature in its simplest form and most pathetic circumstances. [Illustration] Says the Baron, "What I who have read Mr. BRAM STOKER'S latest romance could tell you about _The Watter's Mou'_ would make your mou' watter with longing desire to devour it. It is excellent: first because it is short; secondly, because the excitement is kept up from first page to last; and thirdly, because it is admirably written throughout; the scenic descriptive portion being as entrancing as the dramatic. It is brought out in the Acme Series in charge of A CONSTABLE, and its full price is only one shilling." A good short story is to be found in _A Clear Case of the Supernatural_, by REGINALD LUCAS, only as it is by no means "a clear case," it might have been appropriately entitled, _Fluke or Spook_. THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * MOST APPROPRIATE.--"Gunner J. C. ROCKETT promoted to rank of Chief Gunner in the Queen's Navy." Of course, quite right to send up a Rockett. Only got to present him with a house at Gunnersbury and the thing is complete. * * * * * [Illustration: A COMPLIMENT. _Proud Mother_ (_to irritable Old Gentleman, whose beard her little Boy is pulling out by the roots_). "LITTLE _DARLING!_ IT'S NOT OFTEN HE TAKES SO KINDLY TO STRANGERS!"] * * * * * "A DIVIDED DUTY."