5 NOVEMBER 1892, Page 10

Olga's Dream. By Norley Chester. Illustrated by Harry Furniss and

Irving Montagu. (Skeffington.)—This "nineteenth century fairy-tale," as the author describes it, is decidedly good fun. A child may read it without looking for anything but the first intention ; older readers will certainly find the second inten- tion amusing : The Asses' Bridge, with the baffled asses on one side and the " Riders " on the other; History, with her " Page," who can find nothing better for her guests than salad with dry "leaves," and dates, and cannot recognise her whitewashed or half-white- washed figures (the operator on Henry VIII. was frightened off by the alarming array of his wives) ; "Giant Science," with his children, the twins Phonograph and Microphone, among them, the boys and girls who dine off Lambs' Tales, are among the curious personages whom Mr. Chester describes with real humour, and whom Mr. Furniss and his fellow-artist picture with a delightful quaintness. Now and then we have some good verse, as, e.g. when we are told that among the happy results of modern education :—

"There is Thompson whose father plonks fields, Di ignorance. g oomy and dark,

By the fruits which much studying yields. Ho is starving to-day as a chirk."