10 DECEMBER 1864, Page 19

The Sorrowful Ending of Noodledoo, with the Fortunes and Fate

of her

Neighbours and. Friends. By Charles Bennet. (Sampson Low, Son, and Marston..)—A series of nonsensical pictures with a still more non- sensical text. We do not believe this is the least what children like.

Older persons who choose to throw themselves into Mr. Bonnet's mood will readily do justice to his skill as a draughtsman, and to the real humour and sense of fun which peeps through the extravagance of his

plates. The really human expression which he contrives to throw into the faces of his animals without depriving them of their character as animals deserves very high praise. We cannot help thinking, never- theless, that it is ability thrown away. It is quite a mistake to think that children like mere unmeaning extravagance any better than their elders. There is some sort of purpose even in a pantomime.