The only thing I've to say against the _Remarks of Bill Nye_, in one volume, says the Baron, is the size of the book, which is as big as a family Bible. Nowadays, when busy men can only snatch a few seconds _en route_, the handy volume is the only really practicable form of literature. I'd rather have three small pocketable volumes of BILL NYE'S essays and stories than this one cumbersome work, which, once on the shelf, runs a pretty good chance of being left there. The majority of BILL NYE'S sayings are very amusing, and one of his short papers shows that the humorist can be pathetic on occasion without falling into mock sentiment. It is published by NEELY, of New York, and, if reduced in bulk, the _Remarks of Bill Nye_ ought to do very well here, even among those who, for want of familiarity with American slang, do not keenly appreciate American humour. The Baron does appreciate it when it is genuine American humour, but when the peculiar style is only copied by a journalistic 'ARRY, with whom the stupidest and most vulgar Yankeeisms pass for the highest wit, simply because they are Yankeeisms, then for this sort of imitation the Baron has no criticism sufficiently severe. BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * THE PICK OF THE PICTURES.--ROYAL ACADEMY. [Illustration: No. 551. Two Tales of a Tiger. Advertisement for new Romance by Rider Laggard and Andrew Hang.] [Illustration: No. 216. "Walk up! Walk up! Just a goin' to begin'!" [Probably from a contemporary wood engraving of Whitehall, 1649, which settles the question as to whether there was a "block" or not.]] [Illustration: "HANSOM!" No. 1,962 hailing the Cab of the Desert (No. 1,958).] [Illustration: No. 24. "You naughty boy! You've been making a snowball, and then tumbled down and hurt yourself!"] [Illustration: No. 779. The Timid Hare and the Terrible Tortoise.] * * * * * OUT AND ABOUT. SIR,--I have been about, according to your instructions, and I have come back with a mixed notion that somewhere in the dawn of history the Queen of SHEBA, scantily dressed, and attended by her black Chamberlain, drove out on a four-horse parcel-post van to see an exhibition of paintings on china at Messrs. HOWELL AND JAMES'S. It is perfectly true that in the course of my wanderings I had some champagne, but _not a drop of chicken_. Consequently, I have brought my critical faculty home with me entirely unimpaired. But to business.