ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS
Daisy Green.—Your bridesmaids should wear white gloves, and so should you. The best man has nothing to do with the bride. He has to bring the bridegroom to the church, stand by him at the altar, and see that he does not run away; also, he has to attend to the accommodation of all the guests in their respective carriages, and to devote himself specially to the bridesmaids, for whom he has to return thanks, should their health be drunk. The bride drives to the church with her father, or whoever gives her away, and sits facing the horses. If you have but one carriage, send it back for your bridesmaids, as your parents must drive with you to the church. The men of your family can walk. If they can hire a cab, it would be the more economical plan in rainy weather.Dotty.—1. Send the macramé lace to a cleaner. Their appliances are better than private home ones, and the price of cleaning is low. 2. In the name Helen, of course the “h” is aspirated, otherwise the name would be Ellen. It would be acting like a Cockney to drop it and confound the two names. Pronounce Mozart “Mo-zart.”Louise.—We do not think there is any sale in England for cocoons; it costs so much to reel the silk off. If you have a large number you might perhaps do something with them in America, where the address of the Women’s Silk Culture Association is 1,328, Chesnut-street, Philadelphia. Women are largely interested there in sericulture.Mary E. M.—1. Your fawn-coloured gown will look well for winter wear if dyed a rich dark red. Before ordering the dyeing, go to the dyer and ascertain from him whether your material will take the colour you desire satisfactorily, because some pale colours will not do so, and should be seen by an experienced workman. 2. With reference to the training of your voice, the first thing to be done is to effect the cure of your deafness; then take a few lessons from a good teacher—an Italian, if possible. Bad tricks are formed by untaught singers, such as singing through closed teeth, taking notes in a wrong voice, or commencing with the letter “n.” A gentleman we once knew used to distract us by saying, “‘N,’ as it fell upon a day,” etc.An Eldest Daughter.—One of the best methods of making use of scraps of cloth is to cut them into pieces the size of a penny, taking a penny as a model, and sew them on, overlapping each other, on a piece of thick canvas for a foundation, for the hearthrug. If you mark out a pattern on this, such as a large diamond in the centre and a small diamond on either side, you can carry them out in colours, making the foundation black. Rub the ivory with whiting, slightly moistened.Nina Kaseltimay clean the zephyr woollen shawl with tinsel mixed in it in hot bran. She should rub very gently, just as if washing it in the bran. Flour would answer equally well.A Young Mother.—Shilling knitting books are to be obtained at nearly every fancy shop. You can also get the little combinations in Germany ready made without trouble. We have seen them.A Poor Country Lassie.—We should think you would be very wise to learn millinery, as it is a very nice, pleasant business, and you would not suffer from fatigue.
Daisy Green.—Your bridesmaids should wear white gloves, and so should you. The best man has nothing to do with the bride. He has to bring the bridegroom to the church, stand by him at the altar, and see that he does not run away; also, he has to attend to the accommodation of all the guests in their respective carriages, and to devote himself specially to the bridesmaids, for whom he has to return thanks, should their health be drunk. The bride drives to the church with her father, or whoever gives her away, and sits facing the horses. If you have but one carriage, send it back for your bridesmaids, as your parents must drive with you to the church. The men of your family can walk. If they can hire a cab, it would be the more economical plan in rainy weather.
Dotty.—1. Send the macramé lace to a cleaner. Their appliances are better than private home ones, and the price of cleaning is low. 2. In the name Helen, of course the “h” is aspirated, otherwise the name would be Ellen. It would be acting like a Cockney to drop it and confound the two names. Pronounce Mozart “Mo-zart.”
Louise.—We do not think there is any sale in England for cocoons; it costs so much to reel the silk off. If you have a large number you might perhaps do something with them in America, where the address of the Women’s Silk Culture Association is 1,328, Chesnut-street, Philadelphia. Women are largely interested there in sericulture.
Mary E. M.—1. Your fawn-coloured gown will look well for winter wear if dyed a rich dark red. Before ordering the dyeing, go to the dyer and ascertain from him whether your material will take the colour you desire satisfactorily, because some pale colours will not do so, and should be seen by an experienced workman. 2. With reference to the training of your voice, the first thing to be done is to effect the cure of your deafness; then take a few lessons from a good teacher—an Italian, if possible. Bad tricks are formed by untaught singers, such as singing through closed teeth, taking notes in a wrong voice, or commencing with the letter “n.” A gentleman we once knew used to distract us by saying, “‘N,’ as it fell upon a day,” etc.
An Eldest Daughter.—One of the best methods of making use of scraps of cloth is to cut them into pieces the size of a penny, taking a penny as a model, and sew them on, overlapping each other, on a piece of thick canvas for a foundation, for the hearthrug. If you mark out a pattern on this, such as a large diamond in the centre and a small diamond on either side, you can carry them out in colours, making the foundation black. Rub the ivory with whiting, slightly moistened.
Nina Kaseltimay clean the zephyr woollen shawl with tinsel mixed in it in hot bran. She should rub very gently, just as if washing it in the bran. Flour would answer equally well.
A Young Mother.—Shilling knitting books are to be obtained at nearly every fancy shop. You can also get the little combinations in Germany ready made without trouble. We have seen them.
A Poor Country Lassie.—We should think you would be very wise to learn millinery, as it is a very nice, pleasant business, and you would not suffer from fatigue.
Unhappy Cis.—The subject of drunkenness seems a very hopeless one. Of course, people can cure themselves with God’s help and their own determination. We should advise your mother to seek legal advice and get protection for herself and her children. Such a step might bring him to reason. In America we hear that drunkards who wish to cure themselves are put on a vegetable diet. You have our warmest sympathy.Kittenshould use a drying wash for her hair. The best is composed of a quart of hot water, in which a piece of carbonate of soda is dissolved and a piece of lump ammonia, each the size of a large walnut. Use the water warm, and dry the hair well.Iolanthe.—The possession of a Queen Anne farthing is, alas! not equivalent to that of Miss Miggs’s annual gold mine, nor will Iolanthe be “found in tea and sugar” by securing a purchaser for it! Perhaps some friend might be induced to give a halfpenny for it in exchange.Annie Laurie.—1. If the books be much stained they should be taken to pieces and placed in a decoction of alum and hot water. This may remove the discolourment; but the book should be passed again through a thin solution of size after such a bath to give body and firmness to the paper. Although telling you what should be done, we by no means advise you to attempt so delicate a process yourself, and recommend you to place the volume in the hands of an experienced binder. 2. The origin of women adopting their husbands’ names is to be found amongst the ancient Romans. They were distinguished as “Julia of Pompey,” and so forth. We omit the “of.”Gertrude Temperly.—Your little suggestion for awakening a greater feeling of sympathy between our rough, uneducated, and even depraved fellow-creatures and the respectable classes, who would endeavour to raise their moral condition, is certainly well meaning; but, in reference to a young girl of those respectable classes, mothers would be very wrong to allow their young daughters to visit the fallen and depraved, and to elevate them by shaking hands with them, by the (magnetic?) influence of “the touch of their hands.”Mary B.—We could not take the responsibility of recommending a winter residence if there is any complication of disease; but we advise you to procure theLeisure Hourfor October, 1886, and read the advice given at page 714, in the article entitled “Winter Migration.”Pickwick Club.—You should tell us from what cause your headaches arise, and then we might suggest a palliative, if not a means of cure. Our correspondents forget that we are perfectly unacquainted with their respective constitutions, occupations, manner of living, description of residence, remedies already tried, and complications of complaints. Could we possibly do more than speak in very general terms in reply?Autumn.—The style of address employed to old or young ladies depends on the position in life of the person who addresses them. A shop attendant should say “madam,” a domestic servant or poor person should say “ma’am.” Equals in position amongst the gentry of the upper classes never employ either word to each other. The Emperor Napoleon III. and his son, the young Prince Imperial, were buried at Chislehurst.A Bootle Girl.—We recommend you to apply to the Colonial Emigration Society, the Manchester branch of which is under the direction of Miss Emily Faithfull. The office is at 9, Albert-square Manchester. The office is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays excepted; also on Monday evenings from 7 till 8. Both free and assisted passages are given under certain circumstances, and the best advice given also.SnowdropandIvyleafshould first consult a doctor and next a dentist. 2. Old stamps are of no value whatever to anyone. 3. We think Handel or Haydn was the writer.Polly Perkins.—1. Cold green tea is the best thing to use for the eyelids in case of styes; but you would do well to consult a doctor. 2. You must advertise for such a situation.Seaweed.—The duties of a stewardess are to wait on the lady passengers, help to dress them, and bring them the basin or their food if too ill to rise from their berths. The salary seems to vary with different lines of steamers.
Unhappy Cis.—The subject of drunkenness seems a very hopeless one. Of course, people can cure themselves with God’s help and their own determination. We should advise your mother to seek legal advice and get protection for herself and her children. Such a step might bring him to reason. In America we hear that drunkards who wish to cure themselves are put on a vegetable diet. You have our warmest sympathy.
Kittenshould use a drying wash for her hair. The best is composed of a quart of hot water, in which a piece of carbonate of soda is dissolved and a piece of lump ammonia, each the size of a large walnut. Use the water warm, and dry the hair well.
Iolanthe.—The possession of a Queen Anne farthing is, alas! not equivalent to that of Miss Miggs’s annual gold mine, nor will Iolanthe be “found in tea and sugar” by securing a purchaser for it! Perhaps some friend might be induced to give a halfpenny for it in exchange.
Annie Laurie.—1. If the books be much stained they should be taken to pieces and placed in a decoction of alum and hot water. This may remove the discolourment; but the book should be passed again through a thin solution of size after such a bath to give body and firmness to the paper. Although telling you what should be done, we by no means advise you to attempt so delicate a process yourself, and recommend you to place the volume in the hands of an experienced binder. 2. The origin of women adopting their husbands’ names is to be found amongst the ancient Romans. They were distinguished as “Julia of Pompey,” and so forth. We omit the “of.”
Gertrude Temperly.—Your little suggestion for awakening a greater feeling of sympathy between our rough, uneducated, and even depraved fellow-creatures and the respectable classes, who would endeavour to raise their moral condition, is certainly well meaning; but, in reference to a young girl of those respectable classes, mothers would be very wrong to allow their young daughters to visit the fallen and depraved, and to elevate them by shaking hands with them, by the (magnetic?) influence of “the touch of their hands.”
Mary B.—We could not take the responsibility of recommending a winter residence if there is any complication of disease; but we advise you to procure theLeisure Hourfor October, 1886, and read the advice given at page 714, in the article entitled “Winter Migration.”
Pickwick Club.—You should tell us from what cause your headaches arise, and then we might suggest a palliative, if not a means of cure. Our correspondents forget that we are perfectly unacquainted with their respective constitutions, occupations, manner of living, description of residence, remedies already tried, and complications of complaints. Could we possibly do more than speak in very general terms in reply?
Autumn.—The style of address employed to old or young ladies depends on the position in life of the person who addresses them. A shop attendant should say “madam,” a domestic servant or poor person should say “ma’am.” Equals in position amongst the gentry of the upper classes never employ either word to each other. The Emperor Napoleon III. and his son, the young Prince Imperial, were buried at Chislehurst.
A Bootle Girl.—We recommend you to apply to the Colonial Emigration Society, the Manchester branch of which is under the direction of Miss Emily Faithfull. The office is at 9, Albert-square Manchester. The office is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays excepted; also on Monday evenings from 7 till 8. Both free and assisted passages are given under certain circumstances, and the best advice given also.
SnowdropandIvyleafshould first consult a doctor and next a dentist. 2. Old stamps are of no value whatever to anyone. 3. We think Handel or Haydn was the writer.
Polly Perkins.—1. Cold green tea is the best thing to use for the eyelids in case of styes; but you would do well to consult a doctor. 2. You must advertise for such a situation.
Seaweed.—The duties of a stewardess are to wait on the lady passengers, help to dress them, and bring them the basin or their food if too ill to rise from their berths. The salary seems to vary with different lines of steamers.
FOOTNOTES:[1]Eveline would be botanically more correct if she called the beautiful English plant “sundew.” It is of the same order as the foreign “Venus’s fly-trap,” and also attracts and kills small flies.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]Eveline would be botanically more correct if she called the beautiful English plant “sundew.” It is of the same order as the foreign “Venus’s fly-trap,” and also attracts and kills small flies.
[1]Eveline would be botanically more correct if she called the beautiful English plant “sundew.” It is of the same order as the foreign “Venus’s fly-trap,” and also attracts and kills small flies.
[Transcriber’s Note—the following changes have been made to this text.
Page 247: out to our—“turned our faces”.
Page 250: flytrap to fly-trap—“specimen of the fly-trap”.]