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PARS ABOUT PICTURES.—­On to DOWDESWELL’s—­Pictures by the Newlyn School.  Interesting show this—­especially good in landscapes.  Disappointed there is no picture of the town of Par, whence the O.P.’s ancestors came.  However, let that pass.  Ladies, first,—­there is excellent work by Mrs. STANHOPE FORBES, Mrs. GOTCH, Miss HAYES, Miss FORD, and Miss BIRD; and, be it said with all politeness, equally excellent work by Messrs. STANHOPE FORBES, TITCOMBE, A.C.  TAYLER, and others.  A good many of the tin mines of Cornwall are said to be worked out, but I think not a few of our young artists have found a mine of tin in this picturesque country, which they are working both to their own advantage, and that of the Art-loving public.  In the same gallery may be found a small collection of pastels by Mr. JAMES GUTHRIE.  This artist seems to thoroughly understand the scope of pastel—­and has walked his chalks about Scotland to considerable purpose.  OLD PAR.

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“AWAY WITH MELANCHOLY.”—­Nothing in Nature and Art combined is so sad as the effect of a Street Minstrel playing something with flourishes on a clarinet under the windows of your study during a yellow London fog.  “This way madness lies.”

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“BOXING-DAY” will, of course, be kept with great festivity at the Pelican Club.  The contests will be of the friendliest character, and will be genially announced as “Kiss-in-the-Ring.”

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[Illustration:  HIS FIRST BIRD.

“WELL, I DIDN’T MISS THAT ONE, AT ALL EVENTS!”

“NO, SIR.  THEY WILL FLY INTO IT, SOMETIMES!”]

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THE BABES IN THE WOOD;

OR, THE ST. STEPHEN’S TRAGEDY.

AN OLD (INGOLDSBYISH) SONG, TO A NEW (IRISH) TUNE.

When M.P.’s were all honest and good,
(A long time ago, I’m afraid, Ma’am),
We heard of the Babes in the Wood,
Who were jockeyed, misled, and betrayed, Ma’am. 
Well, history, so we are told,
Repeats itself—­varying slightly—­
Once again two poor Babes have been—­sold,
Let us say, just to put it politely. 
Rum tiddy-um, tiddy-um-tay!

Two innocent cherubs they were,
Master GLADDY, and young Miss MOORLEENA;
Such sweet little souls to ensnare,—­
Why, no conduct could well have been meaner. 
But all things went well for a time;
The parties they trusted made much of them;
Little they fancied that crime
Would ever attempt to get clutch of them. 
Rum tiddy, &c.

All the same, Ma’am, before very long,
The Babes found themselves in the Wood.  It
Was that which is known in Erse song
As the Wood of Shillelagh.  Now could it
Be thought that two brave Oirish bhoys
Might be found so confoundedly cruel
As to rob two wee bairns of their toys,
And then give the poor darlings their “gruel”? 
Rum tiddy, &c.