Had the delightfully original _Alice in Wonderland_, and _Through the Looking-Glass_, never been written, I doubt much if we should ever have seen _Maggie in Mythica_, by F.B. DOVETON, who announces it apologetically, as "his first"--perhaps it maybe his "unique" fairy story,--and he adds, that he has "kept out of the beaten track as far as possible." "_As far as possible_" is good, for never was there such an example of the "sincerest flattery" than in this undeniable imitation of _Alice in Wonderland_. Some of the illustrations, by J. HARRINGTON WILSON, are not quite as weak as the text, while the best of them only serve to heighten our appreciation of "Our" Mr. TENNIEL's pictures in _Alice_, and its companion volume. But the very title, _Maggie in Mythica_, recalls at once _Alice in Wonderland_, but the lovers of _Alice_, who being attracted by this title may purchase this book under the impression that "it is the same concern," will soon find out their mistake, though it may perhaps amuse a very much younger generation who know not _Alice_, if such a generation exist, which muchly we beg to doubt. BARON DE BOOK-WORMS & Co. * * * * * [Illustration: A MORNING CALL. _The Vicar_. "AND WHAT'S _YOUR_ NAME, MY DEAR?" _Child of the Period_. "WELL--_YOU_ OUGHT TO KNOW! YOU _KWISTENED_ ME!"] * * * * * THE REAL GRIEVANCE OFFICE. (_BEFORE MR. COMMISSIONER PUNCH._) _AN OFFICER OF VOLUNTEERS INTRODUCED._ _The Commissioner_. Well, what can I do for you, Captain? _Officer of Volunteers_. Hush, Sir! If you were heard to give me my military rank, you would be the cause of covering me with ridicule! _The Com._ Ridicule! Are you _not_ a Captain? _Off._ Certainly, Sir. I hold Her Majesty's Commission, and am supposed to be one of the defenders of the country. _The Com._ Then why should you not be credited with the rank to which you are entitled? _Off._ Because, Sir, I am only a Captain of Volunteers. _The Com._ But surely the British Army is composed entirely of Volunteers? _Off._ That is the national boast, Sir. But then, you see, I receive no pay. _The Com._ Which does not prevent you from working? _Off._ On the contrary, Sir, nearly all my leisure is devoted to the study of what I may, perhaps, be permitted to call my supplementary profession. _The Com._ What are your duties? _Off._ Almost too numerous to enumerate. Before I received my Commission, I had to undertake to make myself proficient in everything appertaining to the rank to which I was appointed. This entailed a month's hard work (five or six hours a day in the barrack-square), at one of the Schools of Instruction. _The Com._ Well, let us suppose that you _have_ become duly qualified to command a company--what next?