are frequent and tempting.  BRAM has an eye to scenery, and can describe it.  He knows the Irish peasant, and reproduces his talk with a fidelity which almost suggests that he, too, is descended from one of the early kings, whereas, as everyone knows, he lives in London and adds grace and dignity to “the front” of the Lyceum on First Nights and others.  He is perfectly overwhelming in his erudition in respect of the science of drainage, which, if all stories be true, he might find opportunity of turning to account in the every-day (or, rather, every-night) world of the theatre.  In his novel he utilises it in the preliminaries of shifting a mighty bog, the last stages whereof are described in a chapter that, for sustained interest, recalls CHARLES READE’s account of the breaking of the Sheffield Reservoir.  The novel-reader will do well not to pass by The Snake’s Pass.  THE BARON DE BOOK-WORMS & CO.

* * * * *

RED VERSUS BLACK.

(TWO VIEWS OF THE SAME PLACE, BY GENTLEMEN “WHO WRITE TO THE PAPERS.")

Opinion No. 1.—­Monte Carlo!  One of the most disgraceful places in Europe—­a blot upon our civilisation.  The gambling is productive of the greatest possible misery.  It is an institution that should be held up to the execration of mankind.  All the riffraff of the globe are attracted to this hideous spot.  The place is like an upas-tree, under which everything noble and good languishes and dies!  The form of Government is absolutely immoral.  It is a scandal that rates, and taxes, and public improvements should be paid for out of the private purse of the Director.  He could not afford it had he not made a fortune out of his ill-gotten gains!  Anyone who has watched at the tables knows that the chances are absolutely unfair—­that the Direction must win.  Not that this matters much.  It is the general immorality of the place that is so alarming.  The place should be closed at once; and persons who have lost anything, say, during the last year, should have their money promptly returned to them.  And I say this without any bias, although I did back Red, and Black came up ten times running!

P.S.—­Just won a trifle.  Not so sure that my pessimist view may not be modified.

Opinion No. 2.—­Monte Carlo!  Without exception, the loveliest spot in Europe.  The so-called gambling is the cause of numberless blessings.  It is an institution that should be held up to the admiration of mankind.  All the aristocracy of the civilised world flock to it to indulge in a recreation to which only the greatly prejudiced can possibly take exception.  The Government is benevolent to the last degree.  In what other country are rates, taxes, and improvements paid for you?  If the Director were not the best of men, how could this be done?  The play itself is absolutely fair.  And, with a system, and a sufficiency of capital, anyone is able to realise a large fortune in less than no time.  Not that this absolute certainty should be taken into consideration.  It is the general morality of the place that is so encouraging.  The place should never close.  And it would be a graceful thing if those who have laid in a store for their old age were to return a trifle, to be expended on some charity.  And I say this without any bias, although I have backed Black ten times successfully.