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R. GEORGE AUGUSTUS SALA may be pronounced the most famous and popular journalist the Victorian era has produced. In 1846, when he was but 17 years of age, he was scene painter to the late William Beverley at the Princess's Theatre. Two years later we find him a draughtsman on wood and editor of a paper called Chat. In 1850 he painted the comic panorama for Soyer's Symposium, and at the age of 23 he joined Household Words with the friend of his childhood, Charles Dickens. He remained with Dickens till 1856, having meanwhile engraved the panorama of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, which somewhat impaired his eyesight. He then visited Russia to learn the language, and a year later joined The Daily Telegraph. Mr. G. A. Sala is now in his 62nd year, and his pen is as vigorous, powerful, and picturesque as in the days of his youth.