Christmas special numbers are not exactly up to date; they are turned out so early that by the time they ought to be seasonable, they are almost ancient history. The Ladies’ Pictorial is filled with short stories by popular authors, which are well illustrated.

The earlier part of My Life, by SIDNEY COOPER, R.A., is very interesting, as must almost always be the story of the early career of such an ancient mariner as is this well-known animal-painter.  There must be a halo of romance about recollections which no one living can or cares to contradict.  When these biographical reminiscences come within the memory of middle-aged men, then this said memory doth run somewhat to the contrary of that of the veteran painter who put the cart before the horse, so to speak, in his artistic career, seeing that he commenced with carriages and ended with cows.  As far as Mr. Punch is concerned, the Baron has already denied that DOUGLAS JERROLD was ever the Editor of Mr. P.’s paper; and Mr. COOPER’s account of the Punch dinners must be taken with the contents of a well-filled salt-cellar, as Mr. SIDNEY COOPER was never present at any one of them.  Inaccurately he attributes a repartee of THACKERAY’s to DOUGLAS JERROLD; and the well-known retort of JERROLD to ALBERT SMITH he gives so incorrectly, that in this instance the Attic salt has lost its savour.  There is too much soft-soapiness in his reminiscences of personal interviews with Royalty to please robust readers.  Judging from the latter portion of the second volume, wherein, as I should take it, there is considerable “padding,” it would seem that “the aged P.” has already secured an excellent position among “the immortals.”  Hitherto it was generally supposed that of the arts Music alone would survive in saecula saeculorum; but perhaps, after all, Painting has a chance, and especially animal painting, even though the animals may be allegorical.  With its pardonable defects of memory, and its occasional touch of Royal Windsor Livery complaint, the reminiscences of SIDNEY COOPER, R.A., are pleasant and, of the first volume especially be it said, interesting reading.

The Auld Scotch Songs, arranged by SINCLAIR DUNN.  Well, DUNN, sing clair!

BARON DE BOOK-WORMS & CO.

* * * * *

HOW IT’S DONE.

(A HANDBOOK TO HONESTY.)

NO.  VI.—­“AN ALARMING SACRIFICE”—­SOMEWHERE!

  SCENE I.—­A Suburban Drawing-room, old-fashionedly furnished;
    brightly-bound books scattered about a solid, sombre-covered
    table; oil portraits of elderly, stiffly attitudinising
    couple on the walls; a general atmosphere of simple, pietistic
    propriety.  Present, EDWIN and ANGELINA, a modest, but
    deeply-enamoured pair, shortly about to be married.

Edwin (after the regulation ceremonial).  My dearest ANGELINA, I have something here which I think will greatly simplify the business of house-furnishing, that has so deeply occupied us lately.