PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI. VOL. 101. December 19, 1891. OUR BOOKING-OFFICE. [Illustration: King Cracker the Millionth, of the Bonbon Dynasty.] The Baron's Assistants say that of the Christmas works published by Messrs. HUTCHINSON & CO. they can and do recommend _The Children of Wilton Chase_ by L.J. MEAD, to which they accord their mead of praise, which likewise they bestow on FLORENCE MARRYAT's _The Little Marine and the Japanese Lily_, a book of adventures in the land of the Rising Sun, which will delight many rising sons for whom chiefly was this book intended. There are always "more ways than one," and so _Where Two Ways Meet_ there is like to be a puzzle, solved in this instance by the authoress, SARAH DOUDNEY. Put down the books! Come to the festive board! Down--(the right way of course) with the mince-pie and plum-pudding! Strange is it that the source of so much enjoyment, the very types of Christmas good cheer, should themselves be so "down in the mouth" as invariably are Mathew Mince-pie and Peter Plum-pudding at this festive season. And they being gone and cleared off, enter a gentleman bearing the unusual and remarkable name of SMITH--familiarly welcomed as "TOM" of that ilk--and then pop go the crackers! "But we must keep the secret," whisper the Baron's Assistants, and they strongly advise everyone not to peep into this _boîte à surprise_ until Christmas Day itself. So, for SPARAGNAPANE's "charming confections, which," as the Baron's young lady clerks, BLYTHE and GAY, observe, "are in the very highest style of 'High Art'; and the same Mr. SPARE-NA-PAIN's _Darkest Evening, and How to Get Out of It_, will be tidings of comfort and joy to many a holiday-making household." BARON DE BOOK-WORMS & CO. * * * * * A TRULY ROORAL OPERA. [Illustration] Sorry, indeed, are all London lovers of music at the sudden departure from our midst and mist of _Cavalleria Rusticana_, the Rustic Cavalier. It is no comfort to us to be told that the Rustic Cavalier will go into the provinces and appeal to the country. His province at present should have been to remain in London, where, with nothing to speak of in the way of _mise-en-scène_, he--that is, his composer, PIETRO MASCAGNI--has made a decided hit. Wise was our Signor LAGO "_al factotum_" in producing this, and knowing, too, must he be in his use of Windsor soap to have so speedily "taken the cake." Nay more, did not HER GRACIOUS MAJESTY absolutely retain a Royal Box at the Shaftesbury up to the last night of the run of this one-Act Opera? "_Ah, bravo, Figaro, bravissimo! Fortunatissimo_!" What a treat, too, to hear again the "_Che faro_." which brought down the Curtain, and brought down the House, on this termination to GLUCK's _Orfeo_. Strong, indeed, must be the _Cavalleria_ to be successful after the _Che taro_: but it was.