of this mer-baby picture, in which two naked children, not Street Arabs, or Arabs of any sort, are depicted as examining the inanimate body of a nondescript creature, half flesh and half fish, which has been thrown up by the waves "to be left till called for" by the next high-tide, when, perhaps, its sorrowing parents, Mr. and Mrs. MERMAN, or its widowed mother, Mrs. MERWOMAN, arrayed in sea-"weeds," may come to claim it and give it un-christian burial. But that the Baron, out of deference to the wishes of "Caspeg, London," does not like to quote one single line, he could give Mrs. STANLEY'S own account of how this picture of the Mer-baby came to be included in the Street Arab Collection. For such explanation the Baron refers the reader to the book itself. "Caspeg," farewell! I have, the Baron says, commenced the first pages of _The Last Days of Palmyra_. Good, so far; but several new books have come in, and _Palmyra_ cannot receive my undivided attention, says THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS. P.S.--My faithful "Co." has been reading _Ferrers Court_, by JOHN STRANGE WINTER, author of _Bootle's Baby_ and a number of other novelettes of like kind. He says that he is getting just the least bit tired of _Mignon_, and the plain-spoken girls, and the rest of them. By the way, he observes that it seems to be the fashion, judging from the pages of _Ferrers Court_, in what he may call "Service Suckles," to talk continually of a largely advertising lady's tailor. If this custom spreads, he presumes that the popular topic of conversation, the weather, will have to give place to the prior claims for consideration of Somebody's Blacking, or Somebody-else's Soap. This is to be regretted, as, in spite of the sameness of subject of the _Bootle's Baby_ series, JOHN STRANGE WINTER is always more amusing than nine-tenths of his (or should it be her?) contemporaries. B. De B.-W. & Co. P.S. No. 2.--The Baron wishes to add that on taking up the _Bride of Lammermoor_ in order to refresh his memory before seeing the new drama, he was struck by a few lines in the description of _Lucy Ashton_, which, during rehearsals, must have been peculiarly appropriate to her representative at the Lyceum, Miss ELLEN TERRY. Here they are:--"To these details, however trivial, _Lucy_ lent patient and not indifferent attention. They moved and interested _Henry_, and that was enough to secure her ear." "Great Scott!" indeed! Perfectly prophetic, and prophetically perfect. B. DE B.-W. * * * * * [Illustration: AN EFFECTIVE MILITARY MANOEUVRE. "The day of cocked hats and plumes is past and gone. This head-dress is utterly unsuited for active service."--_Military Correspondent's Letter to Times_. SUGGESTION, IN CONSEQUENCE, FOR NEW COSTUME FOR GENERAL OFFICERS--SO THAT THEY MIGHT BE MISTAKEN BY THE ENEMY FOR HARMLESS GENTLEMEN-FARMERS ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS.] * * * * * STALKING THE SAGACIOUS STAG.