Books Of The Day.

critical observer of the period , or members of the younger generation , who are hereby provided with a ready means of becoming acquainted with what is going on in far-off parts of the world , in the great work of history making . The idea of these two volumes , as so ably carried out by Messrs . Newnes , is an excellent one , and is likelv to be followed by many more of a similar character , as jrreit events in the history of the world may provide the reason for their production .

Books for the young . A Life on the Ocean Wave . The Iron Horse . The Farmer ' s Friends . Nursery Rhymes Alphabet . Baby ' s Picture Book . Baby ' s Picture Gallery . Coloured Picture books . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . THESE works of Messrs . Nelson will be in great favour with our young folk during the next few weeks , and will provide a ready

means of communicating happiness to many around us at the festive seasons of Christmas and the New Year . The coloured picture books issued by this firm are well known as among the best on the market , and have won a reputation which will be fully maintained by the examples before us . They are bright in colour and worthy the renown of the house for good work .

WE were pleased when we received from Messrs . G . P . Putnam's Sons their " Announcements for the autumn of 1900 , " for it is exceptionally rich in good things . Particular attention is merited by the many excellent biographies issued by this firm . " Twelve Great Actresses , " " Twelve Great Actors , " " Heroes of the Reformation , " and " Literary Hearthstones , " are promising

titles , and readers may be assured that the contents of these volumes—so far as they go at present—do not belie their promise . But the series which , in our estimation , is of the greatest value , is that—already widely known and appreciated—entitled " Heroes of the Nations . " The volumes range from Pericles to Daniel O'Connell , and include , amongst many others . Cicero , Hannibal , Charlemagne ,

Cromwell , Napoleon , and Nelson . When we add that the writers are of such eminence as to include in their ranks Sir Herbert Maxwell , Washington Irving , Clark Russell , Stanley Lane-Poole , and Noah Brooks , we can hardly say more in commendation of this series . Each biography is complete in one volume , and is well illustrated . The price is 5 s each .

BOOKS RECEIVED . The Ace of Spades . A psychological episode . By R . Andre and G . Leitch Walker . Illustrated by Powell Chase ( 3 s 6 d ) . — Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . Love in our Village . By Orme Agnus . Illustrated by Bertha Newcombe ( 6 s ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . A Child ' s London . By Hamish Hendry . With fourteen

illustrations by Carton Moore-Park ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Sands and Co . Hibernia Hippica . By M . O'Connor Morris ( 5 s ) . —Harrison and Sons . "As a Watch in the Night . " A drama of waking and dream in five acts . By Mrs . Campbell Praed ( 6 s ) . —Chatto and Windus .

The Small-part Lady and other stories . By George R . Sims "Dagonet" ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Chatto and Windus . In Alfred ' s Days . A story of Saga the Dane . By Paul Creswick . Illustrations by T . H . Robinson ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ernest Nister .

Lichtenstein . A romance after the German of Wilhelm Hauff . Adapted for English readers by L . L . Weedon . Illustrated by T . H . Robinson ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ernest Nister . Digby Grand . An Autobiography . By G . J . Whyte-Melville . Illustrated by J . Ambrose Walton and Cuthbert Bradley ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited .

The World ' s Great Snare . By E . Phillips Oppenheim . Illustrated by J . Ambrose Walton ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . Mrs . Frederick Graham . A novel . By Alice A . Clowes ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Swan Sonnenschein and Co ., Limited . The April Baby's Book of Tunes , with the story of how they came to be written . By the author of " Elizabeth and her

German garden . " Illustrated by Kate Greenaway ( 6 s ) . — Macmillan and Co ., Limited . A Noah ' s Ark Geography . A true account of the travels and adventures of Kit , Jum-Jum , and the Cockyolly Bird : faithfully set forth and pictured by Mabel Dearmer ( 6 s ) . —Macmillan and Co ., Limited .

Father Tuck ' s Annual . Stories and Poems , & c by Nora Hopper , E . Nesbit , Clifton Bingham , M . A . Hozer , & c , & c . Illustrated by Louis Wain , M . Bowley , H . Covvham , Helena Maguire , & c , & c . Edited by Edric Vrcdenburg ( two styles , 3 s 6 d and 5 s ) . —Raphael Tuck and Sons , Limited . '

Christmas And New Year Cards.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR CARDS .

rp HE commencement of the new century , and the military J- enthusiasm of the times , have been taken full advantage of by Messrs . Raphael Tuck and Sons in the many handsome designs they have produced in this year's Christmas and New Year cards , and we predict as cordial a reception for their numerous choice productions during the coming season as at any period in the history of the firm . The general public has little opportunity of guaging- of the

Christmas And New Year Cards.

extent or the beauty of Messrs . Tuck ' s annual display , for the reason that it is impossible for them to see even a fair proportion of the firm ' s fresh designs year by year , but we imagine there are very few but have at one time or another admired one or more of the fine examples of work turned out by Messrs . Tuck , and if they have given a thought to the matter have longed for a more extensive acquaintance with their many novelties .

A feature of the present season s productions is the Gem Pendant" series , which is issued by Messrs . Tuck in upwards of ninety different designs , the novel shape , that of a trifold card , having been invented and patented by the firm as especially adapted

to the present taste for small sized folding cards which stand on the shelf , writing table , or elsewhere , by themselves . They are certainly a novelty , and we can well understand it was early found necessary to reprint second and third editions of some of the chief designs .

Messrs . Tuck have long enjoyed a premier place in this branch of art , but it appears that " mere regal sway" contents them no longer ; they aspire to the still loftier pinnacle of an Imperial diadem , and confess to be making a bold bid for an K Empire . "

Their truly " Imperial collection of novelties for the season well suports their claim , including as it does some 1 , 200 entirely new sets of cards , embodying some three thousand individual designs , among which it may truly be said are to be found examples to suit the tastes of all .

It is quite impossible to refer individually to the many different sets produced by Messrs . Tuck , but a special word of praise may be accorded their Platino panels , which are this year , as of yore , well to the front . They are veritable works of art , and well worthy of framing so as to be permanently preserved rather than cast aside when the festivities of the coming season are at an end , and the annual " spring cleaning " is ujx > n us .

True Masonry has an ear open to the cry of distress . True Masonry has a hand always stretched forth to bear relief to the needy . It visits the sick , gives water to the thirsty , bread to the hungry , is eyes to the blind , feet to the lame , ears to the deaf , ministers to those who are in prison , and visits the fatherless and the widows , and with a loving hand supplies their every want . —A . H . Barkley , Mississippi .

The Theatres, &C.

The Theatres , & c .

Avenue . —8 , A Previous Engagement . 8-45 , A Message from Mars . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Comedy . —German Plays . Criterion . —8-20 , A Charitable Bequest . 8-50 , The Noble Lord . Matinee , Saturday , 3 . Daly ' s . —8-15 , San Toy . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Drury Lane . —7-45 , The Price of Peace . Matinee , Wednesday and

Saturday , 1-45 . Duke ot York ' s . —8-30 , The Swashbuckler . M itinee . Saturday , 2-30 . Gaiety . —815 , The Messenger Boy . Matinee , Saturdav , 2 . Garrick . —8 , A pair of Knickerbockers . 8-40 , The Wedding Guest . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Globe . —8-15 , The Gay Pretenders . ' Matinee , Saturday , 230 . Gt . Queen Street . —8 . 15 , A Boer Meisj ' e . 9 , llu Private Secretary .

Matinee , Saturday , 3 . Haymarket . —On Tuesday , 27 th November , 8 . 30 , Second in Command . Matinee , Saturday . Her Majesty's . —8-30 , Herod . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Lyceum . —8 , The Three Musketeers . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 2 . Lyric—8 , Florodora . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 . Prince of Wales . —8-30 , English Nell . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday ,

2-30 . Royalty . —8-30 , Mr . and Mrs . Daventry . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . St . James ' s . —8-30 , The plot of his Story . 8-50 , The Wisdom of the Wise . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Savoy . —8-10 , The Outpost . 8-30 , Patience . Matinee , Saturday , 2-30 .

Shaftesbury . —8-16 , The Casino Girl . Matinee , Wednesday , 2 ' 30 Strand . —8 , Punctured . 9 , In the Soup . Matinee , Wednesday , 3 . Vaudeville . —8-15 , The Yellow Peril . 9 , Self and Lady . Matinee , Wednesday and Saturday , 3 . Wyndham ' s . —8-20 , Mrs . Dane's Defence . Matinee , Wednesday , Thursday and Saturday , 2-30 .

Alexandra . —Next week , 8 , The Degenerates . Opera House , Crouch End . —Next week , White Heather . Surrey . —Next week , 7-45 , Lost in London . Standard . —7-45 , The great World of London . Alhambra . —8 , Variety Entertainment , Soldiers of the Queen , & o . Aquarium . —Varied performances , World's Great Show , & o ., daily . Empire . —8 , Variety Entertainment . Sea-side , War Pictures & o .

, London Pavilion . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2-15 also . Oxford . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . Saturday , 2-15 also . Palace . —7-45 , Variety Entertainment . New American Biograph , & c . Saturday , 2 also . ' Royal . —7 * 30 , Variety Company . Saturday , 2-30 also . Tivoli . —7-30 , Variety Entertainment . A Galaxy of Stars . Saturday . 2-15 also . "

Egyptian Hall . —3 and 8 , Mr . J . N . Maskelvne's entertainment . London Hippodrome . —2 and 8 , Varied attractions . Siberia , & o . St . James ' s Hall . —8 , Mohawk and Moore and Burgess Minstrels . Matinee , Monday , Wednesday , Thursday and Saturday , 3 . Agricultural Hall . - —Stanley Cycle Show . Crystal Palace . —Varied attractions daily . Cafe Chantant . National Cycle Show , & c . Madame Tussaud ' s ( Baker Street Station ) . —Open daily . Portrait models of modern celebrities . & o .