HACHETTE AND CIE, getting ahead of Christmas, and neck and neck with the New Year, issue a _Nouveau Calendrier Perpéteul_, "_Les Amis Fidèles_," representing three poodles, the first of which carries in his mouth the day of the week, the second the day of the month, and the third the name of the month. This design is quaint, and if not absolutely original, is new in the combination and application. Unfortunately it only suggests one period of the year, the dog-days, but in 1892 this can be improved upon, and amplified. No nursery would be complete without a _Chatterbox_, and, as a reward to keep him quiet, _The Prize_ would come in useful. WELLS, DARTON, & GARDNER, can supply both of them. F. WARNE has another Birthday-book, _Fortune's Mirror, Set in Gems_, by M. HALFORD, with Illustrations by KATE CRAUFORD. A novel idea of setting the mirror in the binding; but, to find your fortune, you must look inside, and then you will see what gem ought to be worn in the month of your birth. WILLERT BEALE's _Light of Other Days_ is most interesting to those who, like the Baron, remember the latter days of GRISI and MARIO, who can call to mind MARIO in _Les Huguenots_, in _Trovatore_, in _Rigoletto_; and GRISI in _Norma_, _Valentina_, _Fides_, _Lucrezia_, and some others. It seems to me that the centre of attraction in these two volumes is the history of MARIO and GRISI on and off the stage; and the gem of all is the simple narrative of Mrs. GODFREY PEARSE, their daughter, which M. WILLERT BEALE has had the good taste to give _verbatim_, with few notes or comments. To think that only twenty years ago we lost GRISI, and that only nine years ago MARIO died in Rome! Peace to them both! In Art they were a glorious couple, and in their death our thoughts cannot divide them. GRISI and MARIO, Queen and King of song, inseparable. I have never looked upon their like again, and probably never shall. My tribute to their memory is, to advise all those to whom their memory is dear, and those to whom their memory is but a tradition, to read these Reminiscences, of them and of others, by WILLERT BEALE, in order to learn all they can about this romantic couple, who, caring little for money, and everything for their art, were united in life, in love, in work, and, let us, _peccatores_, humbly hope, in death. WILLERT BEALE has, in his Reminiscences, given us a greater romance of real life than will be found in twenty volumes of novels, by the most eminent authors. Yet all so naturally and so simply told. At least so, with moist eyes, says your tender-hearted critic, THE SYMPATHETIC BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. * * * * * WIGS AND RADICALS. ["As a protest against the acceptance by the Corporation of Sunderland of robes, wigs, and cocked hats, for the Mayor and Town Clerk, Mr. STOREY, M.P., has sent in his resignation of the office of Alderman of that body."--_Daily Paper_.]