CRRISTALls CAR96.—NOW that so much artistic work is lavished on
Christmas Cards, and that their production has attained its present proportion, it is impossible to overlook or ignore them, however much we may personally rebel against them as an unnecessary or unwel- come tax. This is, however, only the point of view of a selfish minority, who like to grumble at present times, and object to the majority. Such persons, no doubt, plume themselves on their artistic tastes, and vote the whole fashion of Christmas cards ridiculous and a bore. It is not for such as these that we are going to point out the mdrits of some of the cards which have been sent us. Marcus Ward still holds his own in excellence of coloured printing and in variety of subject and design. His children are charming, and so are, in general, his figure-subjects, viz., " Cinderella," "The Three R's," (Ste.; but among the noblest and most effective are a series of night or moonlight effects, especially those in which two children in white night-dresses, just touched by the moonlight, are watching for the New Year. These are fall of grace ond fancy.— The Artistic Stationery Company, also, already known by etchings on note-paper and envelopes, deserve special notice for their Christmas cards. The most illiterate objector to Christmas offerings could not fail to make an exception in the favour of the "Etched Art Christmas Cards." Some are on satin, others on paper, which are, perhaps, as pretty, and each is contained in an artistic-looking brown envelope. These are really charming.
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