The Baron is getting along with GEORGE MEREDITH's _One of Our Conquerors_. Within the last three weeks he has already reached p. 94 of Vol. I, and here the weather, having suddenly become tropical, the Baron felt that his mighty brain "whirled, swam to a giddiness, and subsided." He has been stopped occasionally _en route_; he had come into view of "_the diminutive marble cavalier of the infantile cerebellum_." Then he retraced his steps, puzzled a bit, but after a "modest quencher" Swivellerian libation, he hit upon a luminous passage which warned him "_in plain speech_"--and whose is plainer than GEORGE MEREDITH's?--"_that the Bacchus of auspicious birth induces ever to the worship of the loftier Deities._" Excellent i' faith! And then the Baron smole, as one who is interiorly enlightened smileth as he read, "_Forbear to come hauling up examples of malarious men_"--("'malarious men' is good," quoth the Baron)--"_in whom these pourings of the golden rays of life breed fogs; and be moved, since you are scarcely under an obligation to hunt the meaning_"--(here the Baron wondered within himself. Was he under an obligation or not? In _foro conscientiæ_ the case was set down for that immortal date. "_To-morrow_")--"_in tolerance of some dithyrambic inebriety of narration_ (_quiverings of the reverent pen_) _when we find ourselves entering the circle of a most magnetic popularity._" Here the Baron paused. Somehow, in his search after truth, he had fallen down some seventy pages, and was on his back again at p. 33, Vol. I. Refreshment was necessary. Iced. Also a Nicotinian sacrifice, as of primitive days, when heifers, adorned, not altars, but weeds, vegetables, and early produce only. _Smokeamus! Veni, vidi, visky!_ 'Fore GEORGE! Your health and novel! THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * "AS EASY AS ABC." _Witness of the Labour Commission_ (_under examination_). Yes, I think that employers should be forced by law to give in to their men. _Question_. But should this lead to bankruptcy, what then? _Witness_. Bankruptcy should be legally abolished. _Question_. Should employers have no money to pay the employed? _Witness_. That duty should be discharged by the Government. _Question_. But bow should the loss be supplied--by the imposition of new taxes? _Witness_. Certainly not. Taxation should be entirely abolished. _Question_. Then how could your scheme be carried out? _Witness_ (_courteously_). That is a matter I leave entirely to the discretion of the Government. * * * * * [Illustration: HORATIO LARKINS VISITS THE NAVAL EXHIBITION.] * * * * * NOTICE.--Rejected Communications or Contributions, whether MS., Printed Matter, Drawings, or Pictures of any description, will in no case be returned, not even when accompanied by a Stamped and Addressed Envelope, Cover, or Wrapper. To this rule there will be no exception.