27 OCTOBER 1888, Page 23

Essays of Elia. 2 vols. (G. P. Putnam's Sons.)—An extremely

handy little edition, beautifully printed, and fit to be carried in the pocket, as "Ella" deserves. But why, oh ! why will not pub- lishers who take so much trouble and risk so much expense, give us another third of an inch of margin on the inner side ? The reader has almost to break the back of the book to open it wide enough for perfect comfort.