A CRITIC, LURED TO TOWN FROM THE COUNTRY.
[Illustration: THE DOCTRINE OF "HINTERLAND."
THESE THREE GENTLEMEN DO NOT PLAY THE GAME, BUT WISH TO TAKE A MORNING WALK BY THE SEA.]
The Baron has recently been reading a new work, disinterestedly recommended to him by M. ROQUES, the French publisher and French bookseller of Bond Street, entitled _L'Ame de Pierre_, by GEORGES OHNET. It is a strangely fascinating story; the picturesque descriptions transport us to the very places; and the studies of life, are, specially of certain phases of French life, most interesting to an English reader. The cosmopolitan Baron DE B.W. wishes that Frenchmen, however manly they may be, were not so easily and so constantly moved to tears. This however, is only a matter of taste. What the purpose of the novel may be--for GEORGES OHNET has written this with a purpose--is not quite evident. Whether it is intended to chime in with the popular theme of hypnotism, and illustrate it in a peculiar way, or whether it is merely illustrating _Hamlet's_ wise remark that, "There is more in heaven and earth than is dreamt of in your philosophy," the Baron is at a loss to determine. It is psychological, it is materialistic, it is idealistic, it is philosophical, it is ... French. The _Vacuus Viator_ may have a worse companion on a long journey than _L'Ame de Pierre_.
Talking of materialistic, "let us," quoth the Baron, "be grateful to Mrs. DE SALIS for a bookful of '_Tempting Dishes for Small Incomes_,' published by LONGMANS & Co." First of all get your small income, then purchase this book, for eighteenpence, or less with discount; or (a shorter and a cheaper way) borrow it from a friend. Let the Small Incomer cast his watery eye over Lobster cutlets, p. 19, and Lobster pancakes: let him reduce his small income to something still smaller in order to treat himself and family to a _Rumpsteak à la bonne bouche_, a Sausage pudding, and a Tomato curry. The sign over a Small-Income House is the picture of a Sheep's Head, usually despised as sheepish: but go to p. 28, and have a _tête-à-tête_ (_de mouton_) with Mrs. DE SALIS about _Sheep's head au Gratin_.
Rabbit batter pudding, eh? with _shalot à discrétion_. How's that for high? Let the Small Incomer get some dariole tins, mushrooms, chives, rabbits, tripe, onions, oil, ducks, eggs, and with _egg kromeskies_ he'll dine like a millionnaire, and be able to appreciate a real _epigram_ of Lamb (not CHARLES) and Peas. Don't let the Man with a Small Income be afraid of trying _Un Fritot de Cervelle de Veau_, simply because of the name, which might do honour to the _menu_ of a LUCULLUS. "Blanch the Brains" for this dish--delicious!--"and fry till a nice golden colour." Beautiful! Nice golden colour like dear BLANCHE's hair: only often that's a BLANCHE without brains. And now your attention, my Small Incomer, to _Eggs à la Bonne Femme_. This work ought to be arranged as a catechism: in fact all cookery books, all receipt books, should be in the form of Question and Answer.