MARY'S PART.

TWILIGHT MUSIC.

MARY'S PART.By WILLIAM T. SAWARD.Notonly in that village homeTo minister to many needs;Fulfil the tasks that hourly come,Or meditate along the meads;Bring sunshine to a darkened life;Make home the sweetest place on earth;Fresh smiles to smooth away the strife,Or gather for the time of dearth.She trained her ear to catch the strainsOf all the harps on Sion's Hill;Where Jordan's sacred valley drainsThe tiny streamlets as they fill.The Homeland, cumbered round with care—Trees, flowers and rivers—useless things—No voices on the evening air,No twilight and the peace it brings—A clump of trees, a scarp of rock,A long, low valley, colourless;Clouds in a heavy sky, that mockThoughts tinged with their own bitterness.But, passion-hushed, the quiet mind,Attuned to Wisdom's sweeter way,Hears, even in the sobbing wind,The promise of a better day.Thus higher wisdom teaches stillA lowliness of mind and heart;The sweet subservience of the Will,The gladness of that better part.

By WILLIAM T. SAWARD.

Notonly in that village homeTo minister to many needs;Fulfil the tasks that hourly come,Or meditate along the meads;Bring sunshine to a darkened life;Make home the sweetest place on earth;Fresh smiles to smooth away the strife,Or gather for the time of dearth.She trained her ear to catch the strainsOf all the harps on Sion's Hill;Where Jordan's sacred valley drainsThe tiny streamlets as they fill.The Homeland, cumbered round with care—Trees, flowers and rivers—useless things—No voices on the evening air,No twilight and the peace it brings—A clump of trees, a scarp of rock,A long, low valley, colourless;Clouds in a heavy sky, that mockThoughts tinged with their own bitterness.But, passion-hushed, the quiet mind,Attuned to Wisdom's sweeter way,Hears, even in the sobbing wind,The promise of a better day.Thus higher wisdom teaches stillA lowliness of mind and heart;The sweet subservience of the Will,The gladness of that better part.

Notonly in that village homeTo minister to many needs;Fulfil the tasks that hourly come,Or meditate along the meads;

Bring sunshine to a darkened life;Make home the sweetest place on earth;Fresh smiles to smooth away the strife,Or gather for the time of dearth.

She trained her ear to catch the strainsOf all the harps on Sion's Hill;Where Jordan's sacred valley drainsThe tiny streamlets as they fill.

The Homeland, cumbered round with care—Trees, flowers and rivers—useless things—No voices on the evening air,No twilight and the peace it brings—

A clump of trees, a scarp of rock,A long, low valley, colourless;Clouds in a heavy sky, that mockThoughts tinged with their own bitterness.

But, passion-hushed, the quiet mind,Attuned to Wisdom's sweeter way,Hears, even in the sobbing wind,The promise of a better day.

Thus higher wisdom teaches stillA lowliness of mind and heart;The sweet subservience of the Will,The gladness of that better part.

CHRONICLES OF AN ANGLO-CALIFORNIAN RANCH.ByMARGARET INNES.CHAPTER I.Ithas been suggested that the experiences of some English people in search of and on a ranch in California might be of interest to others, especially, perhaps, to those who are looking about more or less anxiously to find some promising opening for the future of their boys, and who, seeing the Old World so crowded, and realising the difficulty of finding a possible niche at home, may desire to try an altogether new life in the New World.Many fathers and mothers, also like ourselves, would fain discover, if possible, some way of keeping their boys beside them; some business which they can work together, and in which they may find a satisfactory livelihood for all. Of course, I am speaking of those who have no well-established family business or firm; for them many difficulties and anxious questions are solved.These were the reasons, together with the delicate health of our two boys, and my own long-standing lung trouble, which, after much thought and study, led us to pack up all our worldly goods, label them "Settlers' effects," and start off on the weary long journey of 6,000 miles, to the land of sunshine, on the Pacific coast. Having some acquaintances living at a little summer holiday place on the coast, and within some seventeen miles of the busy and enterprising town of Los Angeles, we decided to go there, and, if convenient, make it our headquarters while looking about and getting all possible information on the important subject of ranching.We arrived about the end of October, when the heat of summer was over; for even on the coast, the glare of full summer is trying to people coming from northern latitudes.But we found the climate most exquisite all the winter. The sunshine was perfectly glorious; the colours, the distances and the sunsets were like fairyland. Indeed, they were quite an excitement to us, and we would often come to a sudden standstill in our evening walks to watch the splendid transformation scene, saying how exaggerated everyone would think our descriptions, if we tried to put them all down exactly, on paper. It is true Holman Hunt had such colours in his pictures of Palestine, but it needs a genius to make such impossible colours accepted as realities.The little town is built near the edge of the bluffs, and it was delightful to sit under the eucalyptus trees and look out at the sea, so wonderfully blue, with its broad white fringe all round the bay, where the big rollers broke on the yellow sands, and rushed away up the level shore.The happiness too of all the living creatures seemed quite infectious. We saw flocks of dainty wee sea-ducks, tumbling and swimming about in the sea, just where the huge rollers broke, vying with each other in the show of bravery, going under with the huge crest of a wave and bobbing up again, so rapidly, and with a jaunty toss of the head. Enormous golden brown butterflies came floating down the soft air and hung over the white surf.Schools of porpoises made the most demonstrative show of enjoyment, jumping high out of the sea and careering round, in a rushing mass, that would churn up the water as they went into a perfect whirlpool. Here and there, in the quiet evening, the head of a friendly seal would appear silently, and then go under without a ripple.Stately, solemn-looking pelicans, too, flew past constantly, always in single file, as though they were going to some grave and important function. There were crowds of blue birds, looking like jewels in the bright sunshine; and the humming-birds made quite a noise with their wee wings round our honeysuckle-covered verandah.Every living thing seemed to have just discovered how gay and charming a thing life was.All this helped to give us a very favourable impression of the new land, and to heal a little the painful home-sickness and longing that beset us almost at once, when we realised more and more the strangeness of much around us.Finding, on arriving there, that this little town would suit us for some months, we "rented" a pretty little house of seven or eight rooms, with a good verandah, shaded with honeysuckle, and a small garden, for which we paid thirty dollars a month.Many of the ranchers from the inland valleys come there for three or four of thesummer months, as the heat is then almost unendurable anywhere out of reach of the sea breeze. We had been advised to bring a servant with us from England; for help of every kind is very expensive, all over the States, and especially in California. The usual wages are twenty-five dollars a month for women servants, and thirty to forty dollars for a Chinaman.Unfortunately we were not able to bring a well tried and trusted servant, but had to content ourselves with choosing the best we could from a large number who, tempted by the high wages, came to be interviewed, in answer to our advertisement; but only very few of the applicants were at all suitable.The usual plan as to the fare—which is of course expensive—is to make a clear and binding arrangement with the girl engaged; that it shall come out of her first six months' wage, also that she shall give a promise to stay at least two years, and that after this period she shall receive the full California wage, having, meanwhile, been paid somewhat less. These arrangements were all made, most clearly in our case, and were at once forgotten by our carefully chosen maid. She was an absolute failure, so far as we were concerned, and as few people out here ask any character when engaging a servant, it was quite easy for her to get another place at once at the usual high wages and simply march off and leave us; which she did.Our house agent, a kindly Englishman, who had been many years in California, told us that even if we desired to go to law about it, the case would most certainly be given against us. The jury would be composed of men, all more or less of the same class as our servant, and their sympathies would be with her, and we should not have the least chance of getting justice.It was rather comforting, at the time, to find how many others among our acquaintances had gone through the same experience!Before this catastrophe came about, however, we had been exceedingly busy visiting innumerable ranches and examining possible and impossible land that was waiting to be made into ranches. We saw most of the well-known "settled-up" parts, and many lovely valleys and foothills which were said to be the coming fruit districts of the near future.It takes some years for English eyes to get accustomed to the bareness of the hills of California, or to find out the true beauty of these dried-up looking slopes. Once the love for them begins, however, it grows at a great pace, and one discovers constantly fresh wonder and charm in them. Surely no other hills have the gift of holding the splendid sunset colours with such transfiguring power. Even the Alps cannot outrival them in this. But at first it is their uncompromising bareness, dryness and barrenness which hurts one's sensitiveness. We were also disagreeably impressed by the tracts of waste ground, lying promiscuously among the more finished streets, and all scattered over with empty tins and other rubbish, giving a decided effect of disorder and unkemptness, even though the neighbouring houses might be pretty and have dainty gardens. Some of the older established fruit districts were very prosperous looking, and had quite a busy social life. But our minds were quite made up, that of what the land had to offer, we would, without hesitation, choose a real country life, free and untrammelled, in one of the less settled neighbourhoods.However we conscientiously went to see all the most promising parts, and in this way we learnt a great deal. We found that in this part of Southern California the heat during the summer months was so very great, that all who had the means to do so, left these inland valleys and came every summer to the coast for three or four months, leaving a reliable man in charge, and also going back and forward several times to see that everything was being well cared for. To many people this would be no drawback, but only a pleasant change. We did not wish, however, to settle in any place where we should be absolutely compelled to leave home for so long every year.Another disadvantage of buying a ranch in one of these established parts is the very high price demanded for all such land. However, it is an open question whether it really costs more in the end to buy a ready-planted and bearing ranch at the very high figure generally quoted.If you buy in a less settled neighbourhood the rough untouched land at a tenth of the price—which would be about the cost of good land with water—there is the hard work of clearing and grading, laying out, planting and piping it. Then the long waiting before the trees can bring in any income, and when household and ranch expenses have to be met, must be counted as so much more money invested. It is just here that so many sad failures occur.There has been so much exaggeration about the wonders of California, that those who have caught from such one-sided accounts the fever of longing for the sunshine and free life, do not make allowance for this necessarily long pause before any income is possible from a ranch. Thus it comes to pass that so many ranches are mortgaged; and when a ranch is mortgaged, it is a hopeless business for the poor rancher who has worked so hard at his unaccustomed labour.It has been said that small fruit—berries of different kinds—may be grown meanwhile, and that the profits from these will help out the expenses until the ranch trees bear. If you are made of cast iron, you may possibly be able to give the necessary work to your ranch, and at the same time cultivate small fruit; but if you come from the ordinary comfortable middle-class at home, you cannot have the strength or resistance to stand this additional toil.I believe there is a vague but sanguine idea among those at home, bitten by the Californian fever, that you have only to plant trees or vegetables and then sit down comfortably in the sunshine and wait for them to grow, condescending eventually to put aside your book and your pipe for a little while, and gather in all the rich harvest which this wonderful climate has produced for you. This is not so. Ranching is really hard work, and moreover the greatest strain of the life to men coming from a different climate, is that all this unaccustomed labour has to be done in the hot glare of unbroken sunshine.(To be continued.)

ByMARGARET INNES.

Ithas been suggested that the experiences of some English people in search of and on a ranch in California might be of interest to others, especially, perhaps, to those who are looking about more or less anxiously to find some promising opening for the future of their boys, and who, seeing the Old World so crowded, and realising the difficulty of finding a possible niche at home, may desire to try an altogether new life in the New World.

Many fathers and mothers, also like ourselves, would fain discover, if possible, some way of keeping their boys beside them; some business which they can work together, and in which they may find a satisfactory livelihood for all. Of course, I am speaking of those who have no well-established family business or firm; for them many difficulties and anxious questions are solved.

These were the reasons, together with the delicate health of our two boys, and my own long-standing lung trouble, which, after much thought and study, led us to pack up all our worldly goods, label them "Settlers' effects," and start off on the weary long journey of 6,000 miles, to the land of sunshine, on the Pacific coast. Having some acquaintances living at a little summer holiday place on the coast, and within some seventeen miles of the busy and enterprising town of Los Angeles, we decided to go there, and, if convenient, make it our headquarters while looking about and getting all possible information on the important subject of ranching.

We arrived about the end of October, when the heat of summer was over; for even on the coast, the glare of full summer is trying to people coming from northern latitudes.

But we found the climate most exquisite all the winter. The sunshine was perfectly glorious; the colours, the distances and the sunsets were like fairyland. Indeed, they were quite an excitement to us, and we would often come to a sudden standstill in our evening walks to watch the splendid transformation scene, saying how exaggerated everyone would think our descriptions, if we tried to put them all down exactly, on paper. It is true Holman Hunt had such colours in his pictures of Palestine, but it needs a genius to make such impossible colours accepted as realities.

The little town is built near the edge of the bluffs, and it was delightful to sit under the eucalyptus trees and look out at the sea, so wonderfully blue, with its broad white fringe all round the bay, where the big rollers broke on the yellow sands, and rushed away up the level shore.

The happiness too of all the living creatures seemed quite infectious. We saw flocks of dainty wee sea-ducks, tumbling and swimming about in the sea, just where the huge rollers broke, vying with each other in the show of bravery, going under with the huge crest of a wave and bobbing up again, so rapidly, and with a jaunty toss of the head. Enormous golden brown butterflies came floating down the soft air and hung over the white surf.

Schools of porpoises made the most demonstrative show of enjoyment, jumping high out of the sea and careering round, in a rushing mass, that would churn up the water as they went into a perfect whirlpool. Here and there, in the quiet evening, the head of a friendly seal would appear silently, and then go under without a ripple.

Stately, solemn-looking pelicans, too, flew past constantly, always in single file, as though they were going to some grave and important function. There were crowds of blue birds, looking like jewels in the bright sunshine; and the humming-birds made quite a noise with their wee wings round our honeysuckle-covered verandah.

Every living thing seemed to have just discovered how gay and charming a thing life was.

All this helped to give us a very favourable impression of the new land, and to heal a little the painful home-sickness and longing that beset us almost at once, when we realised more and more the strangeness of much around us.

Finding, on arriving there, that this little town would suit us for some months, we "rented" a pretty little house of seven or eight rooms, with a good verandah, shaded with honeysuckle, and a small garden, for which we paid thirty dollars a month.

Many of the ranchers from the inland valleys come there for three or four of thesummer months, as the heat is then almost unendurable anywhere out of reach of the sea breeze. We had been advised to bring a servant with us from England; for help of every kind is very expensive, all over the States, and especially in California. The usual wages are twenty-five dollars a month for women servants, and thirty to forty dollars for a Chinaman.

Unfortunately we were not able to bring a well tried and trusted servant, but had to content ourselves with choosing the best we could from a large number who, tempted by the high wages, came to be interviewed, in answer to our advertisement; but only very few of the applicants were at all suitable.

The usual plan as to the fare—which is of course expensive—is to make a clear and binding arrangement with the girl engaged; that it shall come out of her first six months' wage, also that she shall give a promise to stay at least two years, and that after this period she shall receive the full California wage, having, meanwhile, been paid somewhat less. These arrangements were all made, most clearly in our case, and were at once forgotten by our carefully chosen maid. She was an absolute failure, so far as we were concerned, and as few people out here ask any character when engaging a servant, it was quite easy for her to get another place at once at the usual high wages and simply march off and leave us; which she did.

Our house agent, a kindly Englishman, who had been many years in California, told us that even if we desired to go to law about it, the case would most certainly be given against us. The jury would be composed of men, all more or less of the same class as our servant, and their sympathies would be with her, and we should not have the least chance of getting justice.

It was rather comforting, at the time, to find how many others among our acquaintances had gone through the same experience!

Before this catastrophe came about, however, we had been exceedingly busy visiting innumerable ranches and examining possible and impossible land that was waiting to be made into ranches. We saw most of the well-known "settled-up" parts, and many lovely valleys and foothills which were said to be the coming fruit districts of the near future.

It takes some years for English eyes to get accustomed to the bareness of the hills of California, or to find out the true beauty of these dried-up looking slopes. Once the love for them begins, however, it grows at a great pace, and one discovers constantly fresh wonder and charm in them. Surely no other hills have the gift of holding the splendid sunset colours with such transfiguring power. Even the Alps cannot outrival them in this. But at first it is their uncompromising bareness, dryness and barrenness which hurts one's sensitiveness. We were also disagreeably impressed by the tracts of waste ground, lying promiscuously among the more finished streets, and all scattered over with empty tins and other rubbish, giving a decided effect of disorder and unkemptness, even though the neighbouring houses might be pretty and have dainty gardens. Some of the older established fruit districts were very prosperous looking, and had quite a busy social life. But our minds were quite made up, that of what the land had to offer, we would, without hesitation, choose a real country life, free and untrammelled, in one of the less settled neighbourhoods.

However we conscientiously went to see all the most promising parts, and in this way we learnt a great deal. We found that in this part of Southern California the heat during the summer months was so very great, that all who had the means to do so, left these inland valleys and came every summer to the coast for three or four months, leaving a reliable man in charge, and also going back and forward several times to see that everything was being well cared for. To many people this would be no drawback, but only a pleasant change. We did not wish, however, to settle in any place where we should be absolutely compelled to leave home for so long every year.

Another disadvantage of buying a ranch in one of these established parts is the very high price demanded for all such land. However, it is an open question whether it really costs more in the end to buy a ready-planted and bearing ranch at the very high figure generally quoted.

If you buy in a less settled neighbourhood the rough untouched land at a tenth of the price—which would be about the cost of good land with water—there is the hard work of clearing and grading, laying out, planting and piping it. Then the long waiting before the trees can bring in any income, and when household and ranch expenses have to be met, must be counted as so much more money invested. It is just here that so many sad failures occur.

There has been so much exaggeration about the wonders of California, that those who have caught from such one-sided accounts the fever of longing for the sunshine and free life, do not make allowance for this necessarily long pause before any income is possible from a ranch. Thus it comes to pass that so many ranches are mortgaged; and when a ranch is mortgaged, it is a hopeless business for the poor rancher who has worked so hard at his unaccustomed labour.

It has been said that small fruit—berries of different kinds—may be grown meanwhile, and that the profits from these will help out the expenses until the ranch trees bear. If you are made of cast iron, you may possibly be able to give the necessary work to your ranch, and at the same time cultivate small fruit; but if you come from the ordinary comfortable middle-class at home, you cannot have the strength or resistance to stand this additional toil.

I believe there is a vague but sanguine idea among those at home, bitten by the Californian fever, that you have only to plant trees or vegetables and then sit down comfortably in the sunshine and wait for them to grow, condescending eventually to put aside your book and your pipe for a little while, and gather in all the rich harvest which this wonderful climate has produced for you. This is not so. Ranching is really hard work, and moreover the greatest strain of the life to men coming from a different climate, is that all this unaccustomed labour has to be done in the hot glare of unbroken sunshine.

(To be continued.)

VARIETIES.It Strikes one as Remarkable.A train starts daily, let us say, from San Francisco to New York, and one daily from New York to San Francisco, the journey lasting seven days. How many trains will a traveller meet in journeying from San Francisco to New York?It appears obvious at the first glance that the traveller must meet seven trains—and that is the answer which will be given by nine girls out of ten to whom the question is new.The fact is overlooked that every day during the journey a fresh train is starting from the other end, whilst there are seven on the way to begin with. The traveller will, therefore, meet not seven trains but fourteen.The Two Sacks."At our birth, the satirical elvesTwo sacks from our shoulders suspend:The one holds the faults of ourselves;The other, the faults of our friend.The first we wear under our clothesOut of sight, out of mind, at the back;The last is so under our nose,We know every scrap in the sack."Imitated from Phædrus.In Debt for Ever.A man who owes a shilling, proceeds to pay it at the rate of sixpence the first day, threepence the second day, three half-pence the next, three farthings the next, and so on—paying each day half the amount he paid the day before.Supposing him to be furnished with counters of small value, so as to be able readily to pay fractions of a penny, how long would it take him to pay the shilling?The answer is that he would never pay it. It is true that he would pay elevenpence-farthing in four days, but after that his progress would be slow and he could never get out of debt.Good Verses by a Bad Poet.Few things in Dryden or Pope, it has been remarked, are finer than the following lines by a man whom they both continually laughed at—Sir Richard Blackmore—"Exhausted travellers, that have undergoneThe scorching heats of Life's intemperate zone,Haste for refreshment to their beds beneathAnd stretch themselves in the cool shades of Death."Love of Country."The love we bear our country is a root,Which never fails to bring forth golden fruit;'Tis in the mind an everlasting spring,Of glorious actions which become a king—Not less become a subject. 'Tis a debtWhich bad men, though they pay not, can't forget;A duty which the good delight to pay,And every man can practise every day."Churchill.The Passing Cloud.Cloud and storm only intimate the passing commotion needful to purify the air and the water; and compared with the azure depths above and below, they are superficial and transitory. They retire, and the beautiful blue of heaven reappears, and the ocean again becomes a sapphire foundation on which the sun scatters his jewels of light with regal lavishness.And so no dark trial, no grievous judgment, can cross our sky without revealing some spot of heavenly blue in the midst of it, or if concealed for a moment, breaking forth again with greater brightness and beauty.Rev. Dr. Hugh Macmillan.

It Strikes one as Remarkable.

A train starts daily, let us say, from San Francisco to New York, and one daily from New York to San Francisco, the journey lasting seven days. How many trains will a traveller meet in journeying from San Francisco to New York?

It appears obvious at the first glance that the traveller must meet seven trains—and that is the answer which will be given by nine girls out of ten to whom the question is new.

The fact is overlooked that every day during the journey a fresh train is starting from the other end, whilst there are seven on the way to begin with. The traveller will, therefore, meet not seven trains but fourteen.

The Two Sacks.

"At our birth, the satirical elvesTwo sacks from our shoulders suspend:The one holds the faults of ourselves;The other, the faults of our friend.The first we wear under our clothesOut of sight, out of mind, at the back;The last is so under our nose,We know every scrap in the sack."

Imitated from Phædrus.

In Debt for Ever.

A man who owes a shilling, proceeds to pay it at the rate of sixpence the first day, threepence the second day, three half-pence the next, three farthings the next, and so on—paying each day half the amount he paid the day before.

Supposing him to be furnished with counters of small value, so as to be able readily to pay fractions of a penny, how long would it take him to pay the shilling?

The answer is that he would never pay it. It is true that he would pay elevenpence-farthing in four days, but after that his progress would be slow and he could never get out of debt.

Good Verses by a Bad Poet.

Few things in Dryden or Pope, it has been remarked, are finer than the following lines by a man whom they both continually laughed at—Sir Richard Blackmore—

"Exhausted travellers, that have undergoneThe scorching heats of Life's intemperate zone,Haste for refreshment to their beds beneathAnd stretch themselves in the cool shades of Death."

Love of Country.

"The love we bear our country is a root,Which never fails to bring forth golden fruit;'Tis in the mind an everlasting spring,Of glorious actions which become a king—Not less become a subject. 'Tis a debtWhich bad men, though they pay not, can't forget;A duty which the good delight to pay,And every man can practise every day."

Churchill.

The Passing Cloud.

Cloud and storm only intimate the passing commotion needful to purify the air and the water; and compared with the azure depths above and below, they are superficial and transitory. They retire, and the beautiful blue of heaven reappears, and the ocean again becomes a sapphire foundation on which the sun scatters his jewels of light with regal lavishness.

And so no dark trial, no grievous judgment, can cross our sky without revealing some spot of heavenly blue in the midst of it, or if concealed for a moment, breaking forth again with greater brightness and beauty.

Rev. Dr. Hugh Macmillan.

CHINA MARKS.ENGLISH PORCELAIN.PART I.Thename porcelain is derived from the Italianporcellana, signifying a cowrie shell, on account of the delicate translucent glaze on its surface. At how early a date the manufacture of pottery began in this country, before the Roman invasion, is not absolutely known. In the Anglo-Saxon times the pottery of the Celtic tribes was confined to the manufacture of cinerary urns and very common utensils of household use; as they preferred the employment of glass and horn for drinking purposes, and metal or wood for solid food. In the thirteenth century pottery was reinstated in public favour; and a great advance was made in the art, a glaze being employed from the fourteenth to the beginning of the sixteenth century, when a new description of pottery was invented, a salt-glazed stoneware, which came into the market with importations of Italian fayence and oriental porcelain.It was not until the good Père d'Entrecolles introduced into this country the learning of that ancient Empire of China, in the mysteries of the ceramic art, that our own ideas became enlarged and elevated above the improvements made in our potteries. The Père, being a resident in a district distinguished for its porcelain manufactories, sent samples to his own country (A.D.1727, 1729,) with information as to the substances employed at King-te-Chin, for which kilns affording greater heat and suitable for firing the differently-coloured enamels were employed.Hard paste was made at Plymouth, Bristol and Lowestoft, and the soft paste at Chelsea, Bow, Derby, Nantgarw, Liverpool, Pinxton, Swansea, Rockingham, Worcester, Shropshire and Staffordshire; felspar being superadded in the latter two manufactories. The soft paste is produced from an alkaline flux, combining chalk, bone-ash, sand or gypsum.Stratford-le-Bow.At Stratford-le-Bow (called "New Canton") soft-paste china was produced in the old pottery works, believed to have been established in 1730, though little is known of them till 1744, when Edward Heylin and Thomas Frye, a painter, took out the first patent, and a second in 1749. The marks attributed to these works are as here illustrated.The glaze on the Bow ware was very brilliant, but sometimes erred in point of thickness. The blue china was generally decorated with birds, flowers, figures and Chinese landscapes. A pattern of hawthorn was a favourite, consisting of two sprigs united. The bow and arrow mark is usually found on small objects, and the dagger and anchor, with a crescent at times, appears on figures. A small blue crescent, with the horns turned up, have also been used. The monogram of Thomas Frye, sometimes reversed, identified some figures from the Bow works at a date previous to 1760. Many variations of Frye's signature have been used by the workmen of this factory; too many for the space at disposal in these columns. It was carried on for many years by Messrs. Crowther and Weatherby, who employed some ninety painters, of whom one was Thomas Craft. The Bow paste is very hard and compact, and therefore heavy. But the most delicate ware was also produced; as in cups and saucers, which were like egg-shells in thinness, and of a milky whiteness.Under Thomas Frye the china was brought to great perfection. It was after him we find that the works passed into the hands of Weatherby and Crowther, and were closed by the bankruptcy of the latter in 1763, Weatherby having died the previous year.I may observe that sprigged tea-sets, Dresden sprigs and white bud sprigs—all very popular patterns—were largely produced at Bow, in addition to landscapes and dragon services; also statuettes and groups of figures, vases, etc.Chelsea Porcelain Works.The Chelsea manufacture of china is said to date fromCenvirons, 1745-49, but a species of porcelain was produced in a glass factory at Chelsea in 1676, established there by some Venetians, patronised by the then Duke of Buckingham. Clay from Dorsetshire, sand from the Isle of Wight and kaolin, and chinastone from Cornwall and Devonshire, were employed at this factory. An anchor sometimes barbed, and at other times with amulets, and one within a double circle; as also a triangle, with the name "Chelsea," and the date "1745" beneath it, were the marks chosen to distinguish this ware. On the finest specimens the anchor is gilt, on those of second quality in red, brown or purple upon the glaze.The porcelain of Chelsea bears some resemblance to that of Venice of about the same date—the Cozzi period, 1780—which is natural, the founders of the manufactory having been Venetians; and the porcelain produced there stands amongst the very first of our English ceramic works in every respect, ranking higher than that of Bristol. The workmen were originally procured from Bow, Burslem and other works; the china manufacture being carried on at first by William the Duke of Cumberland and Sir Everard Faulkenor, the latter dying in 1755 or 1758, and the former in 1765, when Sprimont became sole proprietor. Three blemishes, or spots, characterise the china of this factory, appearing at equal distances where the glaze has been removed, apparently by contact with what the article rested upon.The work executed at the Chelsea factory ranked in the highest place that was ever attained at others in this country. It was greatly admired by Wedgwood, and was scarcely inferior to the best at Sèvres. The whole contents of the manufactory were sold by auction by M. Sprimont on his retirement; Mr. Duesbury purchasing the house, etc., and the remainder of the stock was sold by Christie and Ansell in 1779.One of the earliest of the Chelsea marks is here given showing the date; and two anchors side by side and one inverted, in gold, is only found on the finest examples.The early productions of Chelsea were of soft paste, and the glaze was thick and creamy, much of the white ground being left without decoration. The pieces with thebleu de Vincennes, the peacock green and turquoise blue, copied from the Sèvres ceramists, were of later date. Those of claret-colour are very rare. All these self-coloured examples are highly gilt.(To be continued.)

ENGLISH PORCELAIN.

Thename porcelain is derived from the Italianporcellana, signifying a cowrie shell, on account of the delicate translucent glaze on its surface. At how early a date the manufacture of pottery began in this country, before the Roman invasion, is not absolutely known. In the Anglo-Saxon times the pottery of the Celtic tribes was confined to the manufacture of cinerary urns and very common utensils of household use; as they preferred the employment of glass and horn for drinking purposes, and metal or wood for solid food. In the thirteenth century pottery was reinstated in public favour; and a great advance was made in the art, a glaze being employed from the fourteenth to the beginning of the sixteenth century, when a new description of pottery was invented, a salt-glazed stoneware, which came into the market with importations of Italian fayence and oriental porcelain.

It was not until the good Père d'Entrecolles introduced into this country the learning of that ancient Empire of China, in the mysteries of the ceramic art, that our own ideas became enlarged and elevated above the improvements made in our potteries. The Père, being a resident in a district distinguished for its porcelain manufactories, sent samples to his own country (A.D.1727, 1729,) with information as to the substances employed at King-te-Chin, for which kilns affording greater heat and suitable for firing the differently-coloured enamels were employed.

Hard paste was made at Plymouth, Bristol and Lowestoft, and the soft paste at Chelsea, Bow, Derby, Nantgarw, Liverpool, Pinxton, Swansea, Rockingham, Worcester, Shropshire and Staffordshire; felspar being superadded in the latter two manufactories. The soft paste is produced from an alkaline flux, combining chalk, bone-ash, sand or gypsum.

At Stratford-le-Bow (called "New Canton") soft-paste china was produced in the old pottery works, believed to have been established in 1730, though little is known of them till 1744, when Edward Heylin and Thomas Frye, a painter, took out the first patent, and a second in 1749. The marks attributed to these works are as here illustrated.

The glaze on the Bow ware was very brilliant, but sometimes erred in point of thickness. The blue china was generally decorated with birds, flowers, figures and Chinese landscapes. A pattern of hawthorn was a favourite, consisting of two sprigs united. The bow and arrow mark is usually found on small objects, and the dagger and anchor, with a crescent at times, appears on figures. A small blue crescent, with the horns turned up, have also been used. The monogram of Thomas Frye, sometimes reversed, identified some figures from the Bow works at a date previous to 1760. Many variations of Frye's signature have been used by the workmen of this factory; too many for the space at disposal in these columns. It was carried on for many years by Messrs. Crowther and Weatherby, who employed some ninety painters, of whom one was Thomas Craft. The Bow paste is very hard and compact, and therefore heavy. But the most delicate ware was also produced; as in cups and saucers, which were like egg-shells in thinness, and of a milky whiteness.

Under Thomas Frye the china was brought to great perfection. It was after him we find that the works passed into the hands of Weatherby and Crowther, and were closed by the bankruptcy of the latter in 1763, Weatherby having died the previous year.

I may observe that sprigged tea-sets, Dresden sprigs and white bud sprigs—all very popular patterns—were largely produced at Bow, in addition to landscapes and dragon services; also statuettes and groups of figures, vases, etc.

The Chelsea manufacture of china is said to date fromCenvirons, 1745-49, but a species of porcelain was produced in a glass factory at Chelsea in 1676, established there by some Venetians, patronised by the then Duke of Buckingham. Clay from Dorsetshire, sand from the Isle of Wight and kaolin, and chinastone from Cornwall and Devonshire, were employed at this factory. An anchor sometimes barbed, and at other times with amulets, and one within a double circle; as also a triangle, with the name "Chelsea," and the date "1745" beneath it, were the marks chosen to distinguish this ware. On the finest specimens the anchor is gilt, on those of second quality in red, brown or purple upon the glaze.

The porcelain of Chelsea bears some resemblance to that of Venice of about the same date—the Cozzi period, 1780—which is natural, the founders of the manufactory having been Venetians; and the porcelain produced there stands amongst the very first of our English ceramic works in every respect, ranking higher than that of Bristol. The workmen were originally procured from Bow, Burslem and other works; the china manufacture being carried on at first by William the Duke of Cumberland and Sir Everard Faulkenor, the latter dying in 1755 or 1758, and the former in 1765, when Sprimont became sole proprietor. Three blemishes, or spots, characterise the china of this factory, appearing at equal distances where the glaze has been removed, apparently by contact with what the article rested upon.

The work executed at the Chelsea factory ranked in the highest place that was ever attained at others in this country. It was greatly admired by Wedgwood, and was scarcely inferior to the best at Sèvres. The whole contents of the manufactory were sold by auction by M. Sprimont on his retirement; Mr. Duesbury purchasing the house, etc., and the remainder of the stock was sold by Christie and Ansell in 1779.

One of the earliest of the Chelsea marks is here given showing the date; and two anchors side by side and one inverted, in gold, is only found on the finest examples.

The early productions of Chelsea were of soft paste, and the glaze was thick and creamy, much of the white ground being left without decoration. The pieces with thebleu de Vincennes, the peacock green and turquoise blue, copied from the Sèvres ceramists, were of later date. Those of claret-colour are very rare. All these self-coloured examples are highly gilt.

(To be continued.)

RINGS LOST AND FOUND.By DORA DE BLAQUIÈRE.Nothingis more curious and interesting in the changes and chances of the world than the stories of things "lost and found." One constantly hears of such on the best authority, being told by people in whom one has the most perfect confidence, and who have no reason to deceive us. Nearly everyone has tales of this kind to tell you when once they understand your interest in the subject, and generally they are about some article of jewelry, and nearly always of finger-rings. I have a large number of notes taken down from people's own lips, some of which would be too strange to be believed if you did not know the character of the narrator. Tales of what we call coincidences, of dreams, of apparitions, all connected with the recovery of certain articles, appear in the collection, but in the following papers I shall try to avoid taxing your powers of belief too severely, for though I may believe what has been related to me, you, not having had my experiences and knowledge of my sources of information, would probably refuse to credit them.One of the most remarkable tales of rings lost and found is that told of the discovery, in June, 1820, of the signet-ring of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the ruins of the Castle of Fotheringay. The finder was a workman named Robert Wyatt, formerly a private in the Prince of Wales's 3rd Foot. In latter years he gained his living as a guide to the ruins of the castle, and often related to visitors how he assisted in the digging-up of the drawbridge and the filling-up of the moat; and that a Scottish gentleman had measured out the banqueting-hall, where the Queen was executed, and found it correct, and finally, how the ring was found by himself. It is supposed to have been swept away with the blood-stained sawdust, and to have fallen from her finger during the last agonies of her violent death. Wyatt died in September, 1862, at the good age of 83. It has an inscription,i.e., "Henri L. Darnley, 1565," the monogram of H and M bound up in a true lovers' knot, and within the hoop the lion of Scotland on a crowned shield.This ring was exhibited at the Stuart Exhibition in 1889 (No. 337 in the catalogue), but the description is not quite accurate. It was in the collection of Mr. Waterlow, of Walton Hall, Yorkshire, and a full account is given in theArchæological Journal, vol. xv., p. 253, and also inArchæologia, vol. xxxiii., p. 355. No doubt seems to be entertained that it was Mary's nuptial ring, as well as the betrothal one, the date "1565" being that of their engagement, and they were married the following year.Mary's rings, indeed, seem to have been addicted to being lost, for I saw at the Peterborough Exhibition, in 1887, a ring lent by Lord Wantage, found in the garden of Sywell Hall, which is believed to have been given by her to one of her attendants there. It has the motto "Tre loyalement ma souvreyn" engraved inside, and is of fine gold. A thumb signet-ring was found at Borthwick Castle, with her cipher on it, "M.R.," and is believed to have been lost during her stay at the castle, to which she fled with Bothwell, 1567. This was at the same exhibition.Though called a signet-ring, it is well to say here that a signet-ring used by her is now in the British Museum, which was formerly the property of Queen Charlotte, and subsequently belonged to the Duke of York. The betrothal ring, however, is not a signet, though it might have been used for sealing.Another interesting case of a ring lost and found is that of Dean Bargrave's signet, who was Dean of Canterbury in the days of Cromwell. This ring was probably either lost or hidden in the deanery garden when the dean was seized by Cromwell's Roundheads, and dragged to the Fleet Prison. It was found a few years ago, and was recognised by its appearance in the portrait of the dean, who has it on his finger. The portrait now hangs in the dean's study at Canterbury.In nearly all the cases I am about to relate, I have the names and addresses of the narrators, and all of them are apparently true, and quite to be relied upon. The first one was told me by the daughter of an old lady, who was the daughter of a clergyman in Essex, and nearly related to one of the Archbishops of Canterbury. She was walking in the garden of the rectory one day, not long before her marriage, when in some way a ring she was wearing slipped from her finger, and no searching availed to recover it. Apparently it was lost for ever. The path was an ordinary gravelled garden walk, and there seemed no place where even so small an object could have found a sheltering to conceal it. The next year, after her marriage, she was paying a visit to her father at the rectory, and was walking down the same path in the garden, when she saw the lost ring lying on the ground in front of her. From the same authority I heard two other stories, the first of a ring lost in a hay-field while the hay-making was going on. After an interval had elapsed of a year and a half, one morning the coachman came in with the lost ring in his hand. He said he had been cutting out hay from the stack, and had felt something hard against the edge of his cleaver, and on putting in his hand, he had immediately discovered the ring. The second story was not of a ring, however, but of a very valuable scarf-pin, lost by a great fox-hunter while riding through a gap in a hedge. The next year the same ground was gone over, and the same gap revisited, which reminded the owner of his lost pin. He dismounted from his horse, and after a short search, found his pin, which was sticking upright in the ground near the hedge.Many of these modern stories of lost and found sound like repetitions of old ones—"chestnuts," in fact. But they are not; and in this matter, as well as in others of a different kind, history appears to repeat itself. The Canadian story which follows is one of these, but it is quite a new one. It was told me by a friend, and confirmed by her husband, and by the original letter containing the account of the dream, which came from far-off Assiniboinia.The tale begins with a family who dwelt on a farm by the lake of J—— in Ontario; but finding that the rocky land on its shores was not conducive to successful farming, they moved up to the Great North-West and took up fresh land in Assiniboinia. The family consisted of the father and mother, their son and his wife, and several children, and my tale relates to the son's wife only, who had lost, some years before her departure, in the garden of the old home, her wedding-ring. To a woman it will not be at all wonderful to hear that this loss was a subject of great concern, and also somewhat superstitious fear; for by many people such a loss is thought to be an omen of ill-luck. Some of the family still remained on the lake of J——, a married daughter, the sister-in-law of the loser of the ring. One morning, about two years after the departure of her family, she had a letter from her brother's wife, to beg her to go across the lake to the old homestead, for she had had a very vivid dream about the lost ring; and in this dream she had seen it, lying at the root of a white flower, a phlox, she thought, which grew on the right side of the front door, close to the wall of the house and the door-step.A few days after the receipt of this letter, Mrs. B—— and her husband rowed across the lake and visited the old farm. It had never been let, and a buyer in those regions is hard to find; so the garden paths were overgrown, and the house neglected and forlorn; but growing by the front door-step there was a white phlox in full bloom, and taking the spade they had brought with them, they dug it up, and at its roots they found the lost wedding-ring.I also gleaned another story in Canada of the same kind. A worthy alderman of a small town in Ontario was digging potatoes in his garden one summer morning, in the year 1894. His wife had several times summoned him to breakfast, but on her last summons he declared he could not come until he had dug up one more hill. When he finally came in to breakfast he brought with him a ring which she had lost in the garden seven years before, and which he had unearthed in that last potato hill.A story which I thought very remarkable was told me the other day, and happened, I believe, at Hastings. A maidservant in the family of a resident found a brooch in the street, and as it was both pretty and rather valuable, an advertisement was put into a local paper by the finder, who wished to discover the owner, but without success. Two years elapsed, and the girl and her mistress both agreed that there was no hope of an owner turning up, and so she wore it. The very first day she put it on she went out, and walking down one of the main roads into Hastings, she met a lady who, looking at her closely, said, coming up to her, "I think you are wearing my brooch." The wonderful part of this story is that the lady was only a visitor, and had not been in Hastings since the day she had lost her brooch, two years before.A writer in theGlobe, a short time ago, gave a very remarkable account of a coincidence which is said to have been quite authenticated. A lady finding that the setting of a valuable ring had become insecure, entrusted it to a lad in her service to take it to the jewellers to be repaired. She lived on her estate at a short distance from the neighbouring town, and on his way the messenger had to cross a wooden bridge over a stream in the park. This, of course, presented the usual attraction. The boy lingered, and bethinking him of his charge, took the ring from the case for a closer inspection. But ill-luck followed him, for the ring suddenly slipped from his hold, and falling on a muddy bank, disappeared from view. The lad searched in vain; and being apprehensive that he might be charged with its theft, absconded from his situation and went to sea. Being a quick and handy boy, he grew into an energetic and enterprising man; settled in a colony, and in the course of time realised a large fortune. Returning to England, he found the estate on which he had formerlyserved was in the market, whereupon he bought it and took up his residence in the Manor House.Walking through his grounds one day with a friend, they came to the scene of the lost ring, and he related the story which had indirectly led to his present position. "And that is the very spot where it dropped," said he, thrusting his stick into the bank. The lost ring was found upon the stick when it was withdrawn. It had actually impaled the lost jewel, which was its own startling verification of the story. The strange part of this tale is that the loser should have been the finder, for there is nothing marvellous in the misadventure until we come to the finding of the ring.One of the interesting things shown at the Stuart Exhibition was the keys of Lochleaven Castle. I am sure my readers will all remember the romantic story of Queen Mary's escape from thence in 1568, with the help of young Douglas, who locked the gates to prevent pursuit, and then threw the keys into the lake, where they lay until discovered in 1805.Many people have looked at the dredging and cleansing of the Tiber, which has been going on for the last few years, with much interest, in the hope that, during the course of these labours, many precious objects would be discovered, and amongst others, the spoils of the Temple at Jerusalem, which were brought by Titus to grace his triumph, and which may be seen depicted on the inside of the arch erected to commemorate his victories. Amongst these were the seven-branched candlesticks and the table of the shewbread. These, with other treasures, are said to have been thrown into the Tiber.

By DORA DE BLAQUIÈRE.

Nothingis more curious and interesting in the changes and chances of the world than the stories of things "lost and found." One constantly hears of such on the best authority, being told by people in whom one has the most perfect confidence, and who have no reason to deceive us. Nearly everyone has tales of this kind to tell you when once they understand your interest in the subject, and generally they are about some article of jewelry, and nearly always of finger-rings. I have a large number of notes taken down from people's own lips, some of which would be too strange to be believed if you did not know the character of the narrator. Tales of what we call coincidences, of dreams, of apparitions, all connected with the recovery of certain articles, appear in the collection, but in the following papers I shall try to avoid taxing your powers of belief too severely, for though I may believe what has been related to me, you, not having had my experiences and knowledge of my sources of information, would probably refuse to credit them.

One of the most remarkable tales of rings lost and found is that told of the discovery, in June, 1820, of the signet-ring of Mary, Queen of Scots, in the ruins of the Castle of Fotheringay. The finder was a workman named Robert Wyatt, formerly a private in the Prince of Wales's 3rd Foot. In latter years he gained his living as a guide to the ruins of the castle, and often related to visitors how he assisted in the digging-up of the drawbridge and the filling-up of the moat; and that a Scottish gentleman had measured out the banqueting-hall, where the Queen was executed, and found it correct, and finally, how the ring was found by himself. It is supposed to have been swept away with the blood-stained sawdust, and to have fallen from her finger during the last agonies of her violent death. Wyatt died in September, 1862, at the good age of 83. It has an inscription,i.e., "Henri L. Darnley, 1565," the monogram of H and M bound up in a true lovers' knot, and within the hoop the lion of Scotland on a crowned shield.

This ring was exhibited at the Stuart Exhibition in 1889 (No. 337 in the catalogue), but the description is not quite accurate. It was in the collection of Mr. Waterlow, of Walton Hall, Yorkshire, and a full account is given in theArchæological Journal, vol. xv., p. 253, and also inArchæologia, vol. xxxiii., p. 355. No doubt seems to be entertained that it was Mary's nuptial ring, as well as the betrothal one, the date "1565" being that of their engagement, and they were married the following year.

Mary's rings, indeed, seem to have been addicted to being lost, for I saw at the Peterborough Exhibition, in 1887, a ring lent by Lord Wantage, found in the garden of Sywell Hall, which is believed to have been given by her to one of her attendants there. It has the motto "Tre loyalement ma souvreyn" engraved inside, and is of fine gold. A thumb signet-ring was found at Borthwick Castle, with her cipher on it, "M.R.," and is believed to have been lost during her stay at the castle, to which she fled with Bothwell, 1567. This was at the same exhibition.

Though called a signet-ring, it is well to say here that a signet-ring used by her is now in the British Museum, which was formerly the property of Queen Charlotte, and subsequently belonged to the Duke of York. The betrothal ring, however, is not a signet, though it might have been used for sealing.

Another interesting case of a ring lost and found is that of Dean Bargrave's signet, who was Dean of Canterbury in the days of Cromwell. This ring was probably either lost or hidden in the deanery garden when the dean was seized by Cromwell's Roundheads, and dragged to the Fleet Prison. It was found a few years ago, and was recognised by its appearance in the portrait of the dean, who has it on his finger. The portrait now hangs in the dean's study at Canterbury.

In nearly all the cases I am about to relate, I have the names and addresses of the narrators, and all of them are apparently true, and quite to be relied upon. The first one was told me by the daughter of an old lady, who was the daughter of a clergyman in Essex, and nearly related to one of the Archbishops of Canterbury. She was walking in the garden of the rectory one day, not long before her marriage, when in some way a ring she was wearing slipped from her finger, and no searching availed to recover it. Apparently it was lost for ever. The path was an ordinary gravelled garden walk, and there seemed no place where even so small an object could have found a sheltering to conceal it. The next year, after her marriage, she was paying a visit to her father at the rectory, and was walking down the same path in the garden, when she saw the lost ring lying on the ground in front of her. From the same authority I heard two other stories, the first of a ring lost in a hay-field while the hay-making was going on. After an interval had elapsed of a year and a half, one morning the coachman came in with the lost ring in his hand. He said he had been cutting out hay from the stack, and had felt something hard against the edge of his cleaver, and on putting in his hand, he had immediately discovered the ring. The second story was not of a ring, however, but of a very valuable scarf-pin, lost by a great fox-hunter while riding through a gap in a hedge. The next year the same ground was gone over, and the same gap revisited, which reminded the owner of his lost pin. He dismounted from his horse, and after a short search, found his pin, which was sticking upright in the ground near the hedge.

Many of these modern stories of lost and found sound like repetitions of old ones—"chestnuts," in fact. But they are not; and in this matter, as well as in others of a different kind, history appears to repeat itself. The Canadian story which follows is one of these, but it is quite a new one. It was told me by a friend, and confirmed by her husband, and by the original letter containing the account of the dream, which came from far-off Assiniboinia.

The tale begins with a family who dwelt on a farm by the lake of J—— in Ontario; but finding that the rocky land on its shores was not conducive to successful farming, they moved up to the Great North-West and took up fresh land in Assiniboinia. The family consisted of the father and mother, their son and his wife, and several children, and my tale relates to the son's wife only, who had lost, some years before her departure, in the garden of the old home, her wedding-ring. To a woman it will not be at all wonderful to hear that this loss was a subject of great concern, and also somewhat superstitious fear; for by many people such a loss is thought to be an omen of ill-luck. Some of the family still remained on the lake of J——, a married daughter, the sister-in-law of the loser of the ring. One morning, about two years after the departure of her family, she had a letter from her brother's wife, to beg her to go across the lake to the old homestead, for she had had a very vivid dream about the lost ring; and in this dream she had seen it, lying at the root of a white flower, a phlox, she thought, which grew on the right side of the front door, close to the wall of the house and the door-step.

A few days after the receipt of this letter, Mrs. B—— and her husband rowed across the lake and visited the old farm. It had never been let, and a buyer in those regions is hard to find; so the garden paths were overgrown, and the house neglected and forlorn; but growing by the front door-step there was a white phlox in full bloom, and taking the spade they had brought with them, they dug it up, and at its roots they found the lost wedding-ring.

I also gleaned another story in Canada of the same kind. A worthy alderman of a small town in Ontario was digging potatoes in his garden one summer morning, in the year 1894. His wife had several times summoned him to breakfast, but on her last summons he declared he could not come until he had dug up one more hill. When he finally came in to breakfast he brought with him a ring which she had lost in the garden seven years before, and which he had unearthed in that last potato hill.

A story which I thought very remarkable was told me the other day, and happened, I believe, at Hastings. A maidservant in the family of a resident found a brooch in the street, and as it was both pretty and rather valuable, an advertisement was put into a local paper by the finder, who wished to discover the owner, but without success. Two years elapsed, and the girl and her mistress both agreed that there was no hope of an owner turning up, and so she wore it. The very first day she put it on she went out, and walking down one of the main roads into Hastings, she met a lady who, looking at her closely, said, coming up to her, "I think you are wearing my brooch." The wonderful part of this story is that the lady was only a visitor, and had not been in Hastings since the day she had lost her brooch, two years before.

A writer in theGlobe, a short time ago, gave a very remarkable account of a coincidence which is said to have been quite authenticated. A lady finding that the setting of a valuable ring had become insecure, entrusted it to a lad in her service to take it to the jewellers to be repaired. She lived on her estate at a short distance from the neighbouring town, and on his way the messenger had to cross a wooden bridge over a stream in the park. This, of course, presented the usual attraction. The boy lingered, and bethinking him of his charge, took the ring from the case for a closer inspection. But ill-luck followed him, for the ring suddenly slipped from his hold, and falling on a muddy bank, disappeared from view. The lad searched in vain; and being apprehensive that he might be charged with its theft, absconded from his situation and went to sea. Being a quick and handy boy, he grew into an energetic and enterprising man; settled in a colony, and in the course of time realised a large fortune. Returning to England, he found the estate on which he had formerlyserved was in the market, whereupon he bought it and took up his residence in the Manor House.

Walking through his grounds one day with a friend, they came to the scene of the lost ring, and he related the story which had indirectly led to his present position. "And that is the very spot where it dropped," said he, thrusting his stick into the bank. The lost ring was found upon the stick when it was withdrawn. It had actually impaled the lost jewel, which was its own startling verification of the story. The strange part of this tale is that the loser should have been the finder, for there is nothing marvellous in the misadventure until we come to the finding of the ring.

One of the interesting things shown at the Stuart Exhibition was the keys of Lochleaven Castle. I am sure my readers will all remember the romantic story of Queen Mary's escape from thence in 1568, with the help of young Douglas, who locked the gates to prevent pursuit, and then threw the keys into the lake, where they lay until discovered in 1805.

Many people have looked at the dredging and cleansing of the Tiber, which has been going on for the last few years, with much interest, in the hope that, during the course of these labours, many precious objects would be discovered, and amongst others, the spoils of the Temple at Jerusalem, which were brought by Titus to grace his triumph, and which may be seen depicted on the inside of the arch erected to commemorate his victories. Amongst these were the seven-branched candlesticks and the table of the shewbread. These, with other treasures, are said to have been thrown into the Tiber.

JAP DOLL SCENT SACHETS.Oneof these little ladies travelled safely all the way from Ohio, United States, wrapped up in a newspaper; her sister came only from the other side of London, and arrived with a smashed head. Two kind friends, knowing I am always on the look-out for some novelty for "Our Girls," were seized simultaneously with the desire, which they carried into effect, to send me an "idea" by way of a birthday present, and here is the result.FIG. 1The wee "Jap" dolls may be bought for a penny each at many fancy shops. For Fig. 1, three-quarters of a yard of satin or any good ribbon three inches wide, and one yard of a contrasting colour an inch wide, is required. Double the piece of wide ribbon and fringe both ends for an inch and a half, oversew one side, insert a thick layer of wadding to within two inches of the top, plentifully besprinkled with sweet sachet-powder—obtainable at any chemist's—oversew the otherside and along the bottom above the fringe, cut a hole at the top sufficiently large to insert the doll's body—poor thing, she requires no legs—fix it firmly at shoulders and waist, take the narrow ribbon and drape it gracefully round according to the drawing, leaving a loop for hanging purposes. Fig. 2 requires but half a yard of wide ribbon, two yards of quarter-inch ditto, and half a yard of one inch wide. Two little sleeves are made of the wide ribbon folded lengthwise and fringed at one end; the remainder is folded, filled, and sewn up. In this case only the doll's head is retained; there are no arms within those sleeves as in Fig. 1. A "toby" frill is made with the half yard of inch-wide ribbon, and the narrow is arranged artistically according to Fig. 2.FIG. 2It is quite possible, of course, to make these sachets with any odds and ends of silk without buying special pieces of any particular width. The little dolls and some sachet-powder are the only absolute necessaries, and, if good colourings are chosen, an array of them look most tempting and fascinating on a bazaar stall. They should not be sold for less than sixpence, and in some places might fetch a shilling."Cousin Lil."

Oneof these little ladies travelled safely all the way from Ohio, United States, wrapped up in a newspaper; her sister came only from the other side of London, and arrived with a smashed head. Two kind friends, knowing I am always on the look-out for some novelty for "Our Girls," were seized simultaneously with the desire, which they carried into effect, to send me an "idea" by way of a birthday present, and here is the result.

FIG. 1

The wee "Jap" dolls may be bought for a penny each at many fancy shops. For Fig. 1, three-quarters of a yard of satin or any good ribbon three inches wide, and one yard of a contrasting colour an inch wide, is required. Double the piece of wide ribbon and fringe both ends for an inch and a half, oversew one side, insert a thick layer of wadding to within two inches of the top, plentifully besprinkled with sweet sachet-powder—obtainable at any chemist's—oversew the otherside and along the bottom above the fringe, cut a hole at the top sufficiently large to insert the doll's body—poor thing, she requires no legs—fix it firmly at shoulders and waist, take the narrow ribbon and drape it gracefully round according to the drawing, leaving a loop for hanging purposes. Fig. 2 requires but half a yard of wide ribbon, two yards of quarter-inch ditto, and half a yard of one inch wide. Two little sleeves are made of the wide ribbon folded lengthwise and fringed at one end; the remainder is folded, filled, and sewn up. In this case only the doll's head is retained; there are no arms within those sleeves as in Fig. 1. A "toby" frill is made with the half yard of inch-wide ribbon, and the narrow is arranged artistically according to Fig. 2.

FIG. 2

It is quite possible, of course, to make these sachets with any odds and ends of silk without buying special pieces of any particular width. The little dolls and some sachet-powder are the only absolute necessaries, and, if good colourings are chosen, an array of them look most tempting and fascinating on a bazaar stall. They should not be sold for less than sixpence, and in some places might fetch a shilling.

"Cousin Lil."

LETTERS FROM A LAWYER.PART I.The Temple.My dear Dorothy.—You do not often favour me with your correspondence, so that I was particularly pleased and flattered by the receipt of your letter asking for my opinion, as a rising barrister, on the following important legal points, which I will now proceed to deal with. As you have approached me without the intervention of a solicitor, it may possibly gratify you to know that I am not entitled to make any charge (even were I disposed to do so) for my professional opinions. This statement will, I am sure, remove a great weight from your mind; but a truce to jesting, now to business.In your first question you ask me to decide whether you or Mr. Anstruther were right on the question of paying excess fares on your return from the Crystal Palace the other evening.So far as the arguments adduced on either side are concerned, I can tell you frankly that you were both wrong; but let me have the facts of the case clearly stated before me. It appears that Aunt Anne, Robert and yourself went down last Wednesday to the Crystal Palace, where you met Miss Anstruther and her brother; and I have no doubt enjoyed yourselves immensely, wandering through those lovely grounds, gazing at the antediluvian monsters on the lakes or listening to the bands in the rosary or on the terrace.In my opinion the Crystal Palace is just the place to spend a happy day. This, however, is a digression.Instead of dining at the Palace, Aunt Anne invited the Anstruthers to return to town with you and to take their chance of getting—what I from personal experience can vouch for as certain to have been—an excellent impromptu meal.On the return journey—we are getting to the point at last—the tickets were collected at Battersea Bridge, your tickets were returns to Victoria, but the Anstruthers had returns to Clapham Junction only, and accordingly Mr. Anstruther was invited to pay excess fare on them.As a matter of fact the price for a return ticket from Victoria to the Palace is exactly the same as a return from Clapham Junction to the Palace, and such being the case, you considered that the collector had no right to demand an excess fare on Mr. Anstruther's tickets. You were wrong. Mr. Anstruther, you say, paid the excess on the ground that it was merely a concession on the part of the Company to those booking at Victoria to charge them the same fare as those booking at Clapham Junction; this may or may not be the case, it is beside the question.The matter is entirely one of contract between yourself and the Railway Company. They contract to carry you for a certain sum to a certain place; in your case it was from Victoria to the Palace and back, and in the case of Mr. Anstruther and his sister from Clapham Junction to the Palace and back. On their return, therefore, to Clapham Junction, the contract between themselves and the Railway Company was completed, and on their remaining in the train and travelling up to Victoria a new contract was commenced between themselves and the Company. Mr. Anstruther was right, therefore, in paying the excess demanded, although his reason for doing so was not the right one.To turn to quite another matter, I see that you want my advice on a point in connection with bicycles. So you also have not escaped the cycling craze of the day. Oh, Dorothy, after this I shall not be surprised to hear that you have taken to golf!I am very sorry that you should have been annoyed by the insolence of the cabman; I am afraid our London jehus are not called "growlers" without reason, and some of them are only too ready to take advantage of ladies, when travelling without male escort, to insult them with impunity.In offering the man twopence extra for carrying your bicycle on his cab, Aunt Anne was paying him not only more than he deserved, but more than he was legally entitled to demand.It may appear to be very ridiculous to the unlegal mind, such as yours, my dear Dorothy, but it has been decided by the London magistrates that a bicycle is not luggage.The result of this decision is that a cabman is not entitled to charge anything extra for carrying a bicycle on his cab, unless he has previously made an arrangement with his fare.This piece of legal information you might bear in mind and make use of on a future occasion; if, therefore, a cabman ever behaves rudely towards you again when you are paying him extra for carrying your bicycle, just give him his correct fare, and if he is troublesome, take his number and send it to your legal adviser, or, in other words, toYour affectionate cousin,Bob Briefless.

The Temple.

My dear Dorothy.—You do not often favour me with your correspondence, so that I was particularly pleased and flattered by the receipt of your letter asking for my opinion, as a rising barrister, on the following important legal points, which I will now proceed to deal with. As you have approached me without the intervention of a solicitor, it may possibly gratify you to know that I am not entitled to make any charge (even were I disposed to do so) for my professional opinions. This statement will, I am sure, remove a great weight from your mind; but a truce to jesting, now to business.

In your first question you ask me to decide whether you or Mr. Anstruther were right on the question of paying excess fares on your return from the Crystal Palace the other evening.

So far as the arguments adduced on either side are concerned, I can tell you frankly that you were both wrong; but let me have the facts of the case clearly stated before me. It appears that Aunt Anne, Robert and yourself went down last Wednesday to the Crystal Palace, where you met Miss Anstruther and her brother; and I have no doubt enjoyed yourselves immensely, wandering through those lovely grounds, gazing at the antediluvian monsters on the lakes or listening to the bands in the rosary or on the terrace.

In my opinion the Crystal Palace is just the place to spend a happy day. This, however, is a digression.

Instead of dining at the Palace, Aunt Anne invited the Anstruthers to return to town with you and to take their chance of getting—what I from personal experience can vouch for as certain to have been—an excellent impromptu meal.

On the return journey—we are getting to the point at last—the tickets were collected at Battersea Bridge, your tickets were returns to Victoria, but the Anstruthers had returns to Clapham Junction only, and accordingly Mr. Anstruther was invited to pay excess fare on them.

As a matter of fact the price for a return ticket from Victoria to the Palace is exactly the same as a return from Clapham Junction to the Palace, and such being the case, you considered that the collector had no right to demand an excess fare on Mr. Anstruther's tickets. You were wrong. Mr. Anstruther, you say, paid the excess on the ground that it was merely a concession on the part of the Company to those booking at Victoria to charge them the same fare as those booking at Clapham Junction; this may or may not be the case, it is beside the question.

The matter is entirely one of contract between yourself and the Railway Company. They contract to carry you for a certain sum to a certain place; in your case it was from Victoria to the Palace and back, and in the case of Mr. Anstruther and his sister from Clapham Junction to the Palace and back. On their return, therefore, to Clapham Junction, the contract between themselves and the Railway Company was completed, and on their remaining in the train and travelling up to Victoria a new contract was commenced between themselves and the Company. Mr. Anstruther was right, therefore, in paying the excess demanded, although his reason for doing so was not the right one.

To turn to quite another matter, I see that you want my advice on a point in connection with bicycles. So you also have not escaped the cycling craze of the day. Oh, Dorothy, after this I shall not be surprised to hear that you have taken to golf!

I am very sorry that you should have been annoyed by the insolence of the cabman; I am afraid our London jehus are not called "growlers" without reason, and some of them are only too ready to take advantage of ladies, when travelling without male escort, to insult them with impunity.

In offering the man twopence extra for carrying your bicycle on his cab, Aunt Anne was paying him not only more than he deserved, but more than he was legally entitled to demand.

It may appear to be very ridiculous to the unlegal mind, such as yours, my dear Dorothy, but it has been decided by the London magistrates that a bicycle is not luggage.

The result of this decision is that a cabman is not entitled to charge anything extra for carrying a bicycle on his cab, unless he has previously made an arrangement with his fare.

This piece of legal information you might bear in mind and make use of on a future occasion; if, therefore, a cabman ever behaves rudely towards you again when you are paying him extra for carrying your bicycle, just give him his correct fare, and if he is troublesome, take his number and send it to your legal adviser, or, in other words, to

Your affectionate cousin,Bob Briefless.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.MEDICAL.Marian.—So many different affections are included under the term "nervous disease of the heart," that it is quite impossible to say whether any one case is dangerous or not, without knowing for certain which of the various forms of "nervous heart" the patient suffers from. The commonest of these ailments is that arising from indigestion. It is also the least serious, for it is fairly easy to cure. It is impossible for us to tell what is the cause of your friend's illness without knowing more about her. You should have told us her age, which is a most important point in coming to a conclusion as to what is wrong with a patient. Some forms of "nervous heart" are very serious, but most kinds can be cured.Majorie.—What you have got is, in all probability, merely a slight attack of chronic catarrh of the throat following upon an acute nasal catarrh. Get a spray and thoroughly spray out your throat three times daily with the following paint—solution of menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce. Take an astringent lozenge occasionally, and avoid highly spiced food. It is almost certain that your complaint will disappear within a few weeks.Mignon.—Of course quinine and iron made your indigestion worse. Both drugs are exceedingly indigestible, and should not be taken unless the stomach is in good condition. Your neuralgia is probably due partly to anæmia or indigestion, or both. You should therefore persist in your treatment of dyspepsia, the cure of which would do you much more good than quinine and iron ever could. Locally you might apply to the nerve a very small blister, or a liniment of soap and camphor. Menthol applied locally gives temporary relief. We think that caffeine would be the best drug for you to take internally. You can get tabloids of caffeine citrate (5 grs.), one of which may be taken when the pain is especially severe.Katherine Russel.—Yes; we advise you to obtain the advice of a specialist about your daughter's eyes. It is probably nothing very serious, but it ought to be seen to at once.F. Rogers.—Unfortunately, the physician mentioned by "Ada Wright" is no longer alive, so that we are afraid that we cannot help you.Sweet Briar.—We do not think that there is anything seriously wrong with you, and there is no reason to alarm yourself with groundless fears. If, as you say, your health is good, you need not worry yourself about your neck. Follow the advice that we gave to "A Mother."Anxious One.—Use a hard, opaque toilet soap. Any of the really good soaps before the public (which arenotpatent soaps) will suit you. The opinion held by many that, in scented soaps, the scent is added to cover the smell of bad fats, is not correct. Wash your face about once a week in borax and hot water (one teaspoonful of borax to a pint of water). Soft water is preferable to hard for washing purposes.Arthur.—We advise you to give up tea entirely for a time, and to carefully attend to your digestion. You will find all about indigestion in the medical articles and correspondence in last year'sGirl's Own Paper. Read the answer to "Fair Isobel," which appeared some months ago, and contained a long account of acne. We would however suggest ichthiol rather than sulphur ointment in your case. Otherwise, follow all the advice given in the above-mentioned answer. You are at the age for acne, and although it is sure to disappear in time, you will have to persevere in your treatment.Mary Noble.—Undoubtedly you do suffer from chronic nasal catarrh. It is the rule for persons afflicted with this malady to be subject to constantly recurring attacks of acute inflammation of the nose. You must get the following powder made up and use it three or more times a day:—Chlorate of potash, bicarbonate of soda and borax, of each, one part; powdered white sugar, two parts. Dissolve one teaspoonful of the powder in half a tumbler of tepid water, and use it as a nose wash and gargle. Wash out your nose thoroughly with this lotion, and then apply the following paint with an "atomiser" or nasal spray—menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce.Fluff.—Wash your head in borax and water once a week, and then rub a little sulphur ointment into the roots of the hair. It is quite impossible for us to answer any correspondent in less than six weeks' time from receiving her letter. Often, at this time of the year, it is two or three months before a letter can be answered.A Reader.—See answer to "Fluff" for scurf on the head. Scurf on the face is usually secondary to that on the head. Apply sulphur ointment, made with lanoline, for a week or so. Be careful of the soap you use.Throat.—Catarrh of the throat is of course at the bottom of your trouble, and if we can cure this, we will probably at the same time improve your hearing. You should treat your throat in the same way that we advised "Mary Noble" to do. The great secret of success is to thoroughly and completely wash out the nose and throat while you are about it. We would advise you to syringe out your left ear to make certain that there is no wax there.St. Cecilia.—The reason why you so frequently suffer from "colds" is most probably because you are the subject of chronic nasal catarrh. Read the answer to "Mary Noble" above, and do the same as we advised her to do.Sylvia.—Inhalations of steam impregnated with medicinal substances are exceedingly useful, especially in bronchitis or catarrh of the throat. If you have an inhaler handy so much the better; if not, you can make an excellent inhaler out of a jug. Fill the jug or inhaler with hot water, add the drugs prescribed (most probably, compound tincture of benzoin or camphor), place your face over the jug, being careful not to scald yourself, and cover your head with a large dry towel, shrouding yourself with the jug beneath its folds. Inhale for about half an hour or less. Be very careful to keep out of draughts after inhaling. Very severe colds, if nothing worse, may occur from carelessness in this respect.Fair Japan.—No; it will do you no harm to ride a bicycle. If you sit well on the machine, and do not ride too fast, bicycling is a good and healthy exercise. All girls of thirteen and fourteen "grow very fast." We do not quite understand your second question—"When a girl leaves school, what science ought she to know best?" The only science commonly learnt at school is mathematics. If you want to know which science is the best to study after leaving school, it depends entirely upon yourself. That science in which you have greatest interest is the best to learn. Whatever science you take up, you must study for many years before you can become proficient in it.STUDY AND STUDIO.C. A. E.—We have read your rhymed fairy tale with interest. It is not, however, sufficiently good for publication. We will criticise any story you like to send, but it should be short. On the first page ofThe Valour of Veramona line ending with "deem" finds no rhyme, and on the last page:"Their rescuer married one; the rest found husbands at his court,"is a halting line. The verse does not run smoothly enough, and this from no fault of the "recurring letter S." We applaud, however, your choice of a fairy tale; it is a far better subject than sentimental woes and afflictions. You will find the rules in a recent number. We do not return MSS. unless a stamped envelope is sent for the purpose.F. H.—We only accept the work of experienced writers forThe Girl's Own Paper. The sentiment of your elegy on Mr. Gladstone is excellent, but it is not very poetical. Your rhymes, however, are usually correct.B. C. D. Quixada(S. Australia).—1. Your "lullaby" is irregular in metre. Such a poem should flow smoothly throughout. "The Orphan's Song" is also incorrect in metre. Every poem should have a certain metre in which it is written, the lines being of regulated lengths. You will observe that there are more syllables in"Mother, mother you have left me"than in"Angels they will sing around,"yet they are both "first lines."—2. We believe the sound in a shell held close to the ear is due to the imprisoned air. The same sound can be observed when the hand is curved over the ear.Adelina Grillo.—You will ere this have seen your request in print, and we hope you have found a correspondent.A Reader of The Girl's Own Paper.—Many thanks for your note. We will consider the point you raise.Miss Nell.—1. "Thematic" means, connected with the theme;e.g., athematiccatalogue of musical works is a catalogue in which the first few bars—thetheme—of the whole work, or of each movement, is given. You can apply this explanation to the instances you give.—2. We do not wish to discourage you, but the "Associated Board" Examination you name, is not supposed to qualify for advanced teaching. If you pass in honours, it is of course more valuable. You could not expect a high salary with only this certificate, if, indeed, you could obtain a post as pianoforte teacher in a good school; but we cannot name any sum without more knowledge of your capabilities.Kate Cregeen.—1. Your quotation:—"Because right is right, to follow right,Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence,"is from Tennyson'sÆnone.—2. Your writing is very good for a girl of sixteen. To improve it, never let yourself scribble or write carelessly, and copy any model you admire.Sweet Sultan.—Spenser's "Faerie Queen" is not to be had in nineteenth-century English, but it is easy to read and understand in its original form; and in the "Globe Edition" published by Macmillan & Co. at 3s. 6d., there is a glossary to explain the obscure words. You can also get some of the books with valuable notes in the Clarendon Press edition, published at 2s. 6d. the volume.A. D. S.—We give the whole poem of which you quote two lines:—To Day.So here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?Out of EternityThis new day is born,Into EternityAt night will return.Behold it aforetimeNo eye ever did:So soon it foreverFrom all eyes is hid.Here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?It is one of the few poems by Thomas Carlyle, and is to be found in his "Miscellaneous Essays."A Lover of Nature.—Your verses are correct in metre and rhyme. We cannot say that they are particularly original, for the same thought has been frequently expressed already; and there is nothing very poetical in them. But to write poetry is a difficult art. Many thanks for your kind little letter. We may add that we are pleased to know the beauty of June gives rise to the thoughts you embody in your lines."One Who Knows" writes to correct a statement in a recent answer. "B. M." is the daughter of the late Dr. Miller of Rothesay, and her married name is Macandrew.Erinkindly adds that her Christian name is Barbara.Adelina Grillo(Italy).—Many thanks for your kind card and words of praise. We are glad you have found a correspondent.Ivy.—We are inserting your request. As to the delinquencies of your French correspondent in not writing oftener, we are unable to help you. It is not an unusual thing for correspondence to flag; but if you feel that "every three or four months" is not sufficiently often to receive a letter, the best way is to write a kind and pleasant note telling her so, and close the correspondence. We do not think it is worth while to be "annoyed" about the matter, as she may, owing to some change of circumstances, be quite unable to command her time.OUR OPEN LETTER BOX."Génie" writes to inform Lilian that the author of "The Mill will never grind with the water that has passed" is Sarah Doudney. The fourth verse is—"Work while yet the daylight shines,Man of strength and will!Never does the streamlet glideUseless by the mill.Wait not till to-morrow's sunBeams upon thy way,All that thou canst call thine ownLies in thy 'to-day';Power, and intellect, and healthMay not always last,'The mill cannot grindWith the water that is past.'""Génie" wishes to know if anyone can tell her the author of the hymn beginning, "The righteous dead—they dwell with God."Guinfridrefers Mademoiselle Nemo to page 315, No. 164, February, 17th, 1883, ofThe Girl's Own Paper.Catherine M. Robertsonwrites kindly sending "Adelaide" the poem she inquires for. It is by Mrs. Norton. We transcribe the first verse:—The King of Denmark's Ride.Word was brought to the Danish King (Hurry!)That the love of his heart lay suffering,And pined for the comfort his voice would bring;(Oh! ride as though you were flying!)Better he loves each golden curlOn the brow of that Scandinavian girl,Than his rich crown jewels of ruby and pearl;And his Rose of the Isles is dying!Doubtless the poem will be found in any collection of Mrs. Norton's works."A Faithful Friend of The Girl's Own Paper" writes in reply to C. Pegler that "The Faithful Negro Boy" was a favourite poem of her own as a child, and appeared inMy Little Friendfor August, 1876. If C. Pegler will forward her address to Miss L. S. Coleby, 6, Brunswick Terrace, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, she will receive a copy."Yum-Yum" is very anxious to know who is the author of the following lines:—"If you are tempted to revealA tale someone to you has toldAbout another, make it pass,Before you speak, three gates of gold.Three narrow gates, first, "Is it true?"Then, "Is it needful" in your mind,Give truthful answer, and the nextIs last and narrowest, "Is it kind"?And if to reach your lips at lastIt passes through these gateways three,Then you may tell the tale, nor fearWhat the result of speech may be."INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.Miss Edyth K. Steer, Grove House, Evesham, Worcestershire, wishes to correspond with an educated French girl. She suggests that each should write in the other's language and that the letters should be returned, corrected, to the sender. Any French girl correspondent would find Miss Steer's writing exquisitely clear, and her letters well composed.Cissiehad better send her full address and further particulars, as her letter is somewhat vague.Lilian Douglas, 32, Medina Road, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury, London, would like to correspond with either P. or H. Pierson, the Dutch girls who asked for correspondents. She is, however, not yet twelve years old, and cannot write in French.Miss François, à Auzier (Nord) France, being a French girl of eighteen, and a collector of stamps, would be most pleased to correspond in English with girls living in New Zealand, New South Wales, or other foreign countries, who also collect stamps. She, will send twenty-five or fifty French stamps in exchange for the same number of Australia, Asiatic or African stamps.Miss Margaret E. Westlake, 40, Union Street, Plymouth, would much like to have letters from, and write to, a French girl.E. B., The Limes, Berners Street, Ipswich, aged 20, would like to correspond with a French girl."Ivy" would like a young lady of the same age (21) interested in painting, to correspond with her. She thinks they might be of use to one another in lending studies and suggesting new ideas.MISCELLANEOUS.Daffy-down-dilly.—The pronunciation of surnames is often so arbitrary and contrary to ordinary rules that, excepting in well-known names, such as Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley), Leveson-Gower (pronounced Luson-Gore), Marjoribanks (Marchbanks), and others, you should obtain your information from one of the family. In the case of the name "Haworth," we should be disposed to pronounce it as in Ha-therton, certainly not "Horth." We know little about the town of that name in the W. R. of Yorkshire. It has a population of about 3820. Charlotte Brontë's father was rector of the parish, and she married his curate, and died in March 1855.Lover of the "G.O.P."(Northampton).—The story called "Robina Crusoe," which appeared in serial form, can only be had in our magazine. It has not been re-published apart from it. If you write to our publisher (56, Paternoster Row, E.C.) and request him to send you the numbers that contain it, naming the year in which it appeared, and enclose the money due for them, he will send them to you. Should you send the exact days, he would supply the weekly numbers, instead of the monthly ones, which would cost you much less.Tibbie.—If accompanied by your sisters (or one at least) you need feel no scruple in accepting the rector's Sunday hospitality, as you are helping his services by playing the organ.Pompeyinquires whether the modern Romans wear the same picturesque flowing robes at the present day that were worn at the time of Christ? There is no difference between their dress and that of the rest of Europe. As to the history of Rome and its ancient buildings and churches, there is a new book calledMediæval and Ecclesiastical Rome, published by Black. The first volume might add something to the information you say you have obtained inThe Story of the Nationsseries,The Last Days of Pompeii, and a few others—which you do not specify. The book we name is reputed to be an excellent, and very exhaustive guide-book, and the best yet written.Joice M.—We recommend you to get a little book onLeather Work, by Rosa Baughan (Gill: 17, Strand, W.C.). This will give you all the direction you can require.Janie.—The term "Black Letter," as used in reference to printing, only means what we call "Old English" type, which is often used on visiting cards. But old books, such as that interesting historical chronicle of current events, by Stowe, is all printed in that type, and in the spelling of that century. It is known elsewhere as the "Flemish, or German type." Ancient illuminated missals, such as those exhibited in the British Museum, are in "Black Letter," and most beautifully written by pen in this style of lettering.Lily.—Nothing is known of Jannes and Jambres, named by St. Paul in 2 Timothy iii. 8, beyond the fact that they existed, and withstood Moses before Pharaoh—statements of divine authority. But, according to very ancient tradition, they were two sons of the rebel, Balaam—who died fighting against Israel—and, furthermore, that no real miracle was wrought by them, but that they practised mere jugglery. The name "Jerusalem," means "the City of Peace," though its history shows the name very inapplicable. It was the site of the stronghold Jebus, taken from the native tribe, and made that of the Israelitish capital. The ancient name was revived by David, for a cuneiform tablet found at Tel-el-Amarna (in 1890), written centuries before the Hebrew conquest, appears to refer to that place under the form of Urusalem. Our authority is that of Robert Anderson, whose interesting work onExtinct Civilisationis worth your study.Amy.—You seem to have overlooked our many advertisements of theAsile des Billodes, C. de Neuchâtel. If you look through old numbers of the "G.O.P.," you will find them in the answers to correspondents. Some of our earliest writers for this magazine have been taking out stamps for the institution for many years past, every year, in large quantities.Georgie.—The colour of the Red Sea is due to a thin brick-dust layer of infusoria, which is slightly tinged with an orange hue. The water placed in a white glass bottle is changed to a deep violet, but the surface of the sea shows a brilliant rose colour.C. M. C.—It is the duty of the clergyman to call on all his parishioners, but this is almost impossible in extensive, closely populated parishes. Of course, if attending the services of a church not in his parish, he can know nothing about you. Should you desire work under him, you only have to call at the vestry and offer your services, telling him that you attend his church.Mimosa.—You could not call on your intended husband, unless with your mother as a chaperon, as you say he has no lady relative living with him.Narcissus.—The plural of the name you have adopted is "Narcissi."Day-boots.—1. A cane is only an adjunct to the military uniform. A man when well dressed in civilian style always carries a stick or an umbrella, and the latter would be quite unsuited for military dress—and most men would look awkward had they no use for either hand.—2. In striking a light you produce combustion, which makes a noise.

Marian.—So many different affections are included under the term "nervous disease of the heart," that it is quite impossible to say whether any one case is dangerous or not, without knowing for certain which of the various forms of "nervous heart" the patient suffers from. The commonest of these ailments is that arising from indigestion. It is also the least serious, for it is fairly easy to cure. It is impossible for us to tell what is the cause of your friend's illness without knowing more about her. You should have told us her age, which is a most important point in coming to a conclusion as to what is wrong with a patient. Some forms of "nervous heart" are very serious, but most kinds can be cured.Majorie.—What you have got is, in all probability, merely a slight attack of chronic catarrh of the throat following upon an acute nasal catarrh. Get a spray and thoroughly spray out your throat three times daily with the following paint—solution of menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce. Take an astringent lozenge occasionally, and avoid highly spiced food. It is almost certain that your complaint will disappear within a few weeks.Mignon.—Of course quinine and iron made your indigestion worse. Both drugs are exceedingly indigestible, and should not be taken unless the stomach is in good condition. Your neuralgia is probably due partly to anæmia or indigestion, or both. You should therefore persist in your treatment of dyspepsia, the cure of which would do you much more good than quinine and iron ever could. Locally you might apply to the nerve a very small blister, or a liniment of soap and camphor. Menthol applied locally gives temporary relief. We think that caffeine would be the best drug for you to take internally. You can get tabloids of caffeine citrate (5 grs.), one of which may be taken when the pain is especially severe.Katherine Russel.—Yes; we advise you to obtain the advice of a specialist about your daughter's eyes. It is probably nothing very serious, but it ought to be seen to at once.F. Rogers.—Unfortunately, the physician mentioned by "Ada Wright" is no longer alive, so that we are afraid that we cannot help you.Sweet Briar.—We do not think that there is anything seriously wrong with you, and there is no reason to alarm yourself with groundless fears. If, as you say, your health is good, you need not worry yourself about your neck. Follow the advice that we gave to "A Mother."Anxious One.—Use a hard, opaque toilet soap. Any of the really good soaps before the public (which arenotpatent soaps) will suit you. The opinion held by many that, in scented soaps, the scent is added to cover the smell of bad fats, is not correct. Wash your face about once a week in borax and hot water (one teaspoonful of borax to a pint of water). Soft water is preferable to hard for washing purposes.Arthur.—We advise you to give up tea entirely for a time, and to carefully attend to your digestion. You will find all about indigestion in the medical articles and correspondence in last year'sGirl's Own Paper. Read the answer to "Fair Isobel," which appeared some months ago, and contained a long account of acne. We would however suggest ichthiol rather than sulphur ointment in your case. Otherwise, follow all the advice given in the above-mentioned answer. You are at the age for acne, and although it is sure to disappear in time, you will have to persevere in your treatment.Mary Noble.—Undoubtedly you do suffer from chronic nasal catarrh. It is the rule for persons afflicted with this malady to be subject to constantly recurring attacks of acute inflammation of the nose. You must get the following powder made up and use it three or more times a day:—Chlorate of potash, bicarbonate of soda and borax, of each, one part; powdered white sugar, two parts. Dissolve one teaspoonful of the powder in half a tumbler of tepid water, and use it as a nose wash and gargle. Wash out your nose thoroughly with this lotion, and then apply the following paint with an "atomiser" or nasal spray—menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce.Fluff.—Wash your head in borax and water once a week, and then rub a little sulphur ointment into the roots of the hair. It is quite impossible for us to answer any correspondent in less than six weeks' time from receiving her letter. Often, at this time of the year, it is two or three months before a letter can be answered.A Reader.—See answer to "Fluff" for scurf on the head. Scurf on the face is usually secondary to that on the head. Apply sulphur ointment, made with lanoline, for a week or so. Be careful of the soap you use.Throat.—Catarrh of the throat is of course at the bottom of your trouble, and if we can cure this, we will probably at the same time improve your hearing. You should treat your throat in the same way that we advised "Mary Noble" to do. The great secret of success is to thoroughly and completely wash out the nose and throat while you are about it. We would advise you to syringe out your left ear to make certain that there is no wax there.St. Cecilia.—The reason why you so frequently suffer from "colds" is most probably because you are the subject of chronic nasal catarrh. Read the answer to "Mary Noble" above, and do the same as we advised her to do.Sylvia.—Inhalations of steam impregnated with medicinal substances are exceedingly useful, especially in bronchitis or catarrh of the throat. If you have an inhaler handy so much the better; if not, you can make an excellent inhaler out of a jug. Fill the jug or inhaler with hot water, add the drugs prescribed (most probably, compound tincture of benzoin or camphor), place your face over the jug, being careful not to scald yourself, and cover your head with a large dry towel, shrouding yourself with the jug beneath its folds. Inhale for about half an hour or less. Be very careful to keep out of draughts after inhaling. Very severe colds, if nothing worse, may occur from carelessness in this respect.Fair Japan.—No; it will do you no harm to ride a bicycle. If you sit well on the machine, and do not ride too fast, bicycling is a good and healthy exercise. All girls of thirteen and fourteen "grow very fast." We do not quite understand your second question—"When a girl leaves school, what science ought she to know best?" The only science commonly learnt at school is mathematics. If you want to know which science is the best to study after leaving school, it depends entirely upon yourself. That science in which you have greatest interest is the best to learn. Whatever science you take up, you must study for many years before you can become proficient in it.

Majorie.—What you have got is, in all probability, merely a slight attack of chronic catarrh of the throat following upon an acute nasal catarrh. Get a spray and thoroughly spray out your throat three times daily with the following paint—solution of menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce. Take an astringent lozenge occasionally, and avoid highly spiced food. It is almost certain that your complaint will disappear within a few weeks.

Mignon.—Of course quinine and iron made your indigestion worse. Both drugs are exceedingly indigestible, and should not be taken unless the stomach is in good condition. Your neuralgia is probably due partly to anæmia or indigestion, or both. You should therefore persist in your treatment of dyspepsia, the cure of which would do you much more good than quinine and iron ever could. Locally you might apply to the nerve a very small blister, or a liniment of soap and camphor. Menthol applied locally gives temporary relief. We think that caffeine would be the best drug for you to take internally. You can get tabloids of caffeine citrate (5 grs.), one of which may be taken when the pain is especially severe.

Katherine Russel.—Yes; we advise you to obtain the advice of a specialist about your daughter's eyes. It is probably nothing very serious, but it ought to be seen to at once.

F. Rogers.—Unfortunately, the physician mentioned by "Ada Wright" is no longer alive, so that we are afraid that we cannot help you.

Sweet Briar.—We do not think that there is anything seriously wrong with you, and there is no reason to alarm yourself with groundless fears. If, as you say, your health is good, you need not worry yourself about your neck. Follow the advice that we gave to "A Mother."

Anxious One.—Use a hard, opaque toilet soap. Any of the really good soaps before the public (which arenotpatent soaps) will suit you. The opinion held by many that, in scented soaps, the scent is added to cover the smell of bad fats, is not correct. Wash your face about once a week in borax and hot water (one teaspoonful of borax to a pint of water). Soft water is preferable to hard for washing purposes.

Arthur.—We advise you to give up tea entirely for a time, and to carefully attend to your digestion. You will find all about indigestion in the medical articles and correspondence in last year'sGirl's Own Paper. Read the answer to "Fair Isobel," which appeared some months ago, and contained a long account of acne. We would however suggest ichthiol rather than sulphur ointment in your case. Otherwise, follow all the advice given in the above-mentioned answer. You are at the age for acne, and although it is sure to disappear in time, you will have to persevere in your treatment.

Mary Noble.—Undoubtedly you do suffer from chronic nasal catarrh. It is the rule for persons afflicted with this malady to be subject to constantly recurring attacks of acute inflammation of the nose. You must get the following powder made up and use it three or more times a day:—Chlorate of potash, bicarbonate of soda and borax, of each, one part; powdered white sugar, two parts. Dissolve one teaspoonful of the powder in half a tumbler of tepid water, and use it as a nose wash and gargle. Wash out your nose thoroughly with this lotion, and then apply the following paint with an "atomiser" or nasal spray—menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce.

Fluff.—Wash your head in borax and water once a week, and then rub a little sulphur ointment into the roots of the hair. It is quite impossible for us to answer any correspondent in less than six weeks' time from receiving her letter. Often, at this time of the year, it is two or three months before a letter can be answered.

A Reader.—See answer to "Fluff" for scurf on the head. Scurf on the face is usually secondary to that on the head. Apply sulphur ointment, made with lanoline, for a week or so. Be careful of the soap you use.

Throat.—Catarrh of the throat is of course at the bottom of your trouble, and if we can cure this, we will probably at the same time improve your hearing. You should treat your throat in the same way that we advised "Mary Noble" to do. The great secret of success is to thoroughly and completely wash out the nose and throat while you are about it. We would advise you to syringe out your left ear to make certain that there is no wax there.

St. Cecilia.—The reason why you so frequently suffer from "colds" is most probably because you are the subject of chronic nasal catarrh. Read the answer to "Mary Noble" above, and do the same as we advised her to do.

Sylvia.—Inhalations of steam impregnated with medicinal substances are exceedingly useful, especially in bronchitis or catarrh of the throat. If you have an inhaler handy so much the better; if not, you can make an excellent inhaler out of a jug. Fill the jug or inhaler with hot water, add the drugs prescribed (most probably, compound tincture of benzoin or camphor), place your face over the jug, being careful not to scald yourself, and cover your head with a large dry towel, shrouding yourself with the jug beneath its folds. Inhale for about half an hour or less. Be very careful to keep out of draughts after inhaling. Very severe colds, if nothing worse, may occur from carelessness in this respect.

Fair Japan.—No; it will do you no harm to ride a bicycle. If you sit well on the machine, and do not ride too fast, bicycling is a good and healthy exercise. All girls of thirteen and fourteen "grow very fast." We do not quite understand your second question—"When a girl leaves school, what science ought she to know best?" The only science commonly learnt at school is mathematics. If you want to know which science is the best to study after leaving school, it depends entirely upon yourself. That science in which you have greatest interest is the best to learn. Whatever science you take up, you must study for many years before you can become proficient in it.

C. A. E.—We have read your rhymed fairy tale with interest. It is not, however, sufficiently good for publication. We will criticise any story you like to send, but it should be short. On the first page ofThe Valour of Veramona line ending with "deem" finds no rhyme, and on the last page:"Their rescuer married one; the rest found husbands at his court,"is a halting line. The verse does not run smoothly enough, and this from no fault of the "recurring letter S." We applaud, however, your choice of a fairy tale; it is a far better subject than sentimental woes and afflictions. You will find the rules in a recent number. We do not return MSS. unless a stamped envelope is sent for the purpose.F. H.—We only accept the work of experienced writers forThe Girl's Own Paper. The sentiment of your elegy on Mr. Gladstone is excellent, but it is not very poetical. Your rhymes, however, are usually correct.B. C. D. Quixada(S. Australia).—1. Your "lullaby" is irregular in metre. Such a poem should flow smoothly throughout. "The Orphan's Song" is also incorrect in metre. Every poem should have a certain metre in which it is written, the lines being of regulated lengths. You will observe that there are more syllables in"Mother, mother you have left me"than in"Angels they will sing around,"yet they are both "first lines."—2. We believe the sound in a shell held close to the ear is due to the imprisoned air. The same sound can be observed when the hand is curved over the ear.Adelina Grillo.—You will ere this have seen your request in print, and we hope you have found a correspondent.A Reader of The Girl's Own Paper.—Many thanks for your note. We will consider the point you raise.Miss Nell.—1. "Thematic" means, connected with the theme;e.g., athematiccatalogue of musical works is a catalogue in which the first few bars—thetheme—of the whole work, or of each movement, is given. You can apply this explanation to the instances you give.—2. We do not wish to discourage you, but the "Associated Board" Examination you name, is not supposed to qualify for advanced teaching. If you pass in honours, it is of course more valuable. You could not expect a high salary with only this certificate, if, indeed, you could obtain a post as pianoforte teacher in a good school; but we cannot name any sum without more knowledge of your capabilities.Kate Cregeen.—1. Your quotation:—"Because right is right, to follow right,Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence,"is from Tennyson'sÆnone.—2. Your writing is very good for a girl of sixteen. To improve it, never let yourself scribble or write carelessly, and copy any model you admire.Sweet Sultan.—Spenser's "Faerie Queen" is not to be had in nineteenth-century English, but it is easy to read and understand in its original form; and in the "Globe Edition" published by Macmillan & Co. at 3s. 6d., there is a glossary to explain the obscure words. You can also get some of the books with valuable notes in the Clarendon Press edition, published at 2s. 6d. the volume.A. D. S.—We give the whole poem of which you quote two lines:—To Day.So here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?Out of EternityThis new day is born,Into EternityAt night will return.Behold it aforetimeNo eye ever did:So soon it foreverFrom all eyes is hid.Here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?It is one of the few poems by Thomas Carlyle, and is to be found in his "Miscellaneous Essays."A Lover of Nature.—Your verses are correct in metre and rhyme. We cannot say that they are particularly original, for the same thought has been frequently expressed already; and there is nothing very poetical in them. But to write poetry is a difficult art. Many thanks for your kind little letter. We may add that we are pleased to know the beauty of June gives rise to the thoughts you embody in your lines."One Who Knows" writes to correct a statement in a recent answer. "B. M." is the daughter of the late Dr. Miller of Rothesay, and her married name is Macandrew.Erinkindly adds that her Christian name is Barbara.Adelina Grillo(Italy).—Many thanks for your kind card and words of praise. We are glad you have found a correspondent.Ivy.—We are inserting your request. As to the delinquencies of your French correspondent in not writing oftener, we are unable to help you. It is not an unusual thing for correspondence to flag; but if you feel that "every three or four months" is not sufficiently often to receive a letter, the best way is to write a kind and pleasant note telling her so, and close the correspondence. We do not think it is worth while to be "annoyed" about the matter, as she may, owing to some change of circumstances, be quite unable to command her time.

"Their rescuer married one; the rest found husbands at his court,"

is a halting line. The verse does not run smoothly enough, and this from no fault of the "recurring letter S." We applaud, however, your choice of a fairy tale; it is a far better subject than sentimental woes and afflictions. You will find the rules in a recent number. We do not return MSS. unless a stamped envelope is sent for the purpose.

F. H.—We only accept the work of experienced writers forThe Girl's Own Paper. The sentiment of your elegy on Mr. Gladstone is excellent, but it is not very poetical. Your rhymes, however, are usually correct.

B. C. D. Quixada(S. Australia).—1. Your "lullaby" is irregular in metre. Such a poem should flow smoothly throughout. "The Orphan's Song" is also incorrect in metre. Every poem should have a certain metre in which it is written, the lines being of regulated lengths. You will observe that there are more syllables in

"Mother, mother you have left me"

than in

"Angels they will sing around,"

yet they are both "first lines."—2. We believe the sound in a shell held close to the ear is due to the imprisoned air. The same sound can be observed when the hand is curved over the ear.

Adelina Grillo.—You will ere this have seen your request in print, and we hope you have found a correspondent.

A Reader of The Girl's Own Paper.—Many thanks for your note. We will consider the point you raise.

Miss Nell.—1. "Thematic" means, connected with the theme;e.g., athematiccatalogue of musical works is a catalogue in which the first few bars—thetheme—of the whole work, or of each movement, is given. You can apply this explanation to the instances you give.—2. We do not wish to discourage you, but the "Associated Board" Examination you name, is not supposed to qualify for advanced teaching. If you pass in honours, it is of course more valuable. You could not expect a high salary with only this certificate, if, indeed, you could obtain a post as pianoforte teacher in a good school; but we cannot name any sum without more knowledge of your capabilities.

Kate Cregeen.—1. Your quotation:—

"Because right is right, to follow right,Were wisdom in the scorn of consequence,"

is from Tennyson'sÆnone.—2. Your writing is very good for a girl of sixteen. To improve it, never let yourself scribble or write carelessly, and copy any model you admire.

Sweet Sultan.—Spenser's "Faerie Queen" is not to be had in nineteenth-century English, but it is easy to read and understand in its original form; and in the "Globe Edition" published by Macmillan & Co. at 3s. 6d., there is a glossary to explain the obscure words. You can also get some of the books with valuable notes in the Clarendon Press edition, published at 2s. 6d. the volume.

A. D. S.—We give the whole poem of which you quote two lines:—

To Day.

So here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?Out of EternityThis new day is born,Into EternityAt night will return.Behold it aforetimeNo eye ever did:So soon it foreverFrom all eyes is hid.Here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?

So here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?

Out of EternityThis new day is born,Into EternityAt night will return.

Behold it aforetimeNo eye ever did:So soon it foreverFrom all eyes is hid.

Here hath been dawningAnother blue day:Think wilt thou let itSlip useless away?

It is one of the few poems by Thomas Carlyle, and is to be found in his "Miscellaneous Essays."

A Lover of Nature.—Your verses are correct in metre and rhyme. We cannot say that they are particularly original, for the same thought has been frequently expressed already; and there is nothing very poetical in them. But to write poetry is a difficult art. Many thanks for your kind little letter. We may add that we are pleased to know the beauty of June gives rise to the thoughts you embody in your lines.

"One Who Knows" writes to correct a statement in a recent answer. "B. M." is the daughter of the late Dr. Miller of Rothesay, and her married name is Macandrew.Erinkindly adds that her Christian name is Barbara.

Adelina Grillo(Italy).—Many thanks for your kind card and words of praise. We are glad you have found a correspondent.

Ivy.—We are inserting your request. As to the delinquencies of your French correspondent in not writing oftener, we are unable to help you. It is not an unusual thing for correspondence to flag; but if you feel that "every three or four months" is not sufficiently often to receive a letter, the best way is to write a kind and pleasant note telling her so, and close the correspondence. We do not think it is worth while to be "annoyed" about the matter, as she may, owing to some change of circumstances, be quite unable to command her time.

"Génie" writes to inform Lilian that the author of "The Mill will never grind with the water that has passed" is Sarah Doudney. The fourth verse is—"Work while yet the daylight shines,Man of strength and will!Never does the streamlet glideUseless by the mill.Wait not till to-morrow's sunBeams upon thy way,All that thou canst call thine ownLies in thy 'to-day';Power, and intellect, and healthMay not always last,'The mill cannot grindWith the water that is past.'""Génie" wishes to know if anyone can tell her the author of the hymn beginning, "The righteous dead—they dwell with God."Guinfridrefers Mademoiselle Nemo to page 315, No. 164, February, 17th, 1883, ofThe Girl's Own Paper.Catherine M. Robertsonwrites kindly sending "Adelaide" the poem she inquires for. It is by Mrs. Norton. We transcribe the first verse:—The King of Denmark's Ride.Word was brought to the Danish King (Hurry!)That the love of his heart lay suffering,And pined for the comfort his voice would bring;(Oh! ride as though you were flying!)Better he loves each golden curlOn the brow of that Scandinavian girl,Than his rich crown jewels of ruby and pearl;And his Rose of the Isles is dying!Doubtless the poem will be found in any collection of Mrs. Norton's works."A Faithful Friend of The Girl's Own Paper" writes in reply to C. Pegler that "The Faithful Negro Boy" was a favourite poem of her own as a child, and appeared inMy Little Friendfor August, 1876. If C. Pegler will forward her address to Miss L. S. Coleby, 6, Brunswick Terrace, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, she will receive a copy."Yum-Yum" is very anxious to know who is the author of the following lines:—"If you are tempted to revealA tale someone to you has toldAbout another, make it pass,Before you speak, three gates of gold.Three narrow gates, first, "Is it true?"Then, "Is it needful" in your mind,Give truthful answer, and the nextIs last and narrowest, "Is it kind"?And if to reach your lips at lastIt passes through these gateways three,Then you may tell the tale, nor fearWhat the result of speech may be."

"Génie" writes to inform Lilian that the author of "The Mill will never grind with the water that has passed" is Sarah Doudney. The fourth verse is—

"Work while yet the daylight shines,Man of strength and will!Never does the streamlet glideUseless by the mill.Wait not till to-morrow's sunBeams upon thy way,All that thou canst call thine ownLies in thy 'to-day';Power, and intellect, and healthMay not always last,'The mill cannot grindWith the water that is past.'"

"Génie" wishes to know if anyone can tell her the author of the hymn beginning, "The righteous dead—they dwell with God."

Guinfridrefers Mademoiselle Nemo to page 315, No. 164, February, 17th, 1883, ofThe Girl's Own Paper.

Catherine M. Robertsonwrites kindly sending "Adelaide" the poem she inquires for. It is by Mrs. Norton. We transcribe the first verse:—

The King of Denmark's Ride.

Word was brought to the Danish King (Hurry!)That the love of his heart lay suffering,And pined for the comfort his voice would bring;(Oh! ride as though you were flying!)Better he loves each golden curlOn the brow of that Scandinavian girl,Than his rich crown jewels of ruby and pearl;And his Rose of the Isles is dying!

Doubtless the poem will be found in any collection of Mrs. Norton's works.

"A Faithful Friend of The Girl's Own Paper" writes in reply to C. Pegler that "The Faithful Negro Boy" was a favourite poem of her own as a child, and appeared inMy Little Friendfor August, 1876. If C. Pegler will forward her address to Miss L. S. Coleby, 6, Brunswick Terrace, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, she will receive a copy.

"Yum-Yum" is very anxious to know who is the author of the following lines:—

"If you are tempted to revealA tale someone to you has toldAbout another, make it pass,Before you speak, three gates of gold.Three narrow gates, first, "Is it true?"Then, "Is it needful" in your mind,Give truthful answer, and the nextIs last and narrowest, "Is it kind"?And if to reach your lips at lastIt passes through these gateways three,Then you may tell the tale, nor fearWhat the result of speech may be."

Miss Edyth K. Steer, Grove House, Evesham, Worcestershire, wishes to correspond with an educated French girl. She suggests that each should write in the other's language and that the letters should be returned, corrected, to the sender. Any French girl correspondent would find Miss Steer's writing exquisitely clear, and her letters well composed.Cissiehad better send her full address and further particulars, as her letter is somewhat vague.Lilian Douglas, 32, Medina Road, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury, London, would like to correspond with either P. or H. Pierson, the Dutch girls who asked for correspondents. She is, however, not yet twelve years old, and cannot write in French.Miss François, à Auzier (Nord) France, being a French girl of eighteen, and a collector of stamps, would be most pleased to correspond in English with girls living in New Zealand, New South Wales, or other foreign countries, who also collect stamps. She, will send twenty-five or fifty French stamps in exchange for the same number of Australia, Asiatic or African stamps.Miss Margaret E. Westlake, 40, Union Street, Plymouth, would much like to have letters from, and write to, a French girl.E. B., The Limes, Berners Street, Ipswich, aged 20, would like to correspond with a French girl."Ivy" would like a young lady of the same age (21) interested in painting, to correspond with her. She thinks they might be of use to one another in lending studies and suggesting new ideas.

Cissiehad better send her full address and further particulars, as her letter is somewhat vague.

Lilian Douglas, 32, Medina Road, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury, London, would like to correspond with either P. or H. Pierson, the Dutch girls who asked for correspondents. She is, however, not yet twelve years old, and cannot write in French.

Miss François, à Auzier (Nord) France, being a French girl of eighteen, and a collector of stamps, would be most pleased to correspond in English with girls living in New Zealand, New South Wales, or other foreign countries, who also collect stamps. She, will send twenty-five or fifty French stamps in exchange for the same number of Australia, Asiatic or African stamps.

Miss Margaret E. Westlake, 40, Union Street, Plymouth, would much like to have letters from, and write to, a French girl.

E. B., The Limes, Berners Street, Ipswich, aged 20, would like to correspond with a French girl.

"Ivy" would like a young lady of the same age (21) interested in painting, to correspond with her. She thinks they might be of use to one another in lending studies and suggesting new ideas.

Daffy-down-dilly.—The pronunciation of surnames is often so arbitrary and contrary to ordinary rules that, excepting in well-known names, such as Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley), Leveson-Gower (pronounced Luson-Gore), Marjoribanks (Marchbanks), and others, you should obtain your information from one of the family. In the case of the name "Haworth," we should be disposed to pronounce it as in Ha-therton, certainly not "Horth." We know little about the town of that name in the W. R. of Yorkshire. It has a population of about 3820. Charlotte Brontë's father was rector of the parish, and she married his curate, and died in March 1855.Lover of the "G.O.P."(Northampton).—The story called "Robina Crusoe," which appeared in serial form, can only be had in our magazine. It has not been re-published apart from it. If you write to our publisher (56, Paternoster Row, E.C.) and request him to send you the numbers that contain it, naming the year in which it appeared, and enclose the money due for them, he will send them to you. Should you send the exact days, he would supply the weekly numbers, instead of the monthly ones, which would cost you much less.Tibbie.—If accompanied by your sisters (or one at least) you need feel no scruple in accepting the rector's Sunday hospitality, as you are helping his services by playing the organ.Pompeyinquires whether the modern Romans wear the same picturesque flowing robes at the present day that were worn at the time of Christ? There is no difference between their dress and that of the rest of Europe. As to the history of Rome and its ancient buildings and churches, there is a new book calledMediæval and Ecclesiastical Rome, published by Black. The first volume might add something to the information you say you have obtained inThe Story of the Nationsseries,The Last Days of Pompeii, and a few others—which you do not specify. The book we name is reputed to be an excellent, and very exhaustive guide-book, and the best yet written.Joice M.—We recommend you to get a little book onLeather Work, by Rosa Baughan (Gill: 17, Strand, W.C.). This will give you all the direction you can require.Janie.—The term "Black Letter," as used in reference to printing, only means what we call "Old English" type, which is often used on visiting cards. But old books, such as that interesting historical chronicle of current events, by Stowe, is all printed in that type, and in the spelling of that century. It is known elsewhere as the "Flemish, or German type." Ancient illuminated missals, such as those exhibited in the British Museum, are in "Black Letter," and most beautifully written by pen in this style of lettering.Lily.—Nothing is known of Jannes and Jambres, named by St. Paul in 2 Timothy iii. 8, beyond the fact that they existed, and withstood Moses before Pharaoh—statements of divine authority. But, according to very ancient tradition, they were two sons of the rebel, Balaam—who died fighting against Israel—and, furthermore, that no real miracle was wrought by them, but that they practised mere jugglery. The name "Jerusalem," means "the City of Peace," though its history shows the name very inapplicable. It was the site of the stronghold Jebus, taken from the native tribe, and made that of the Israelitish capital. The ancient name was revived by David, for a cuneiform tablet found at Tel-el-Amarna (in 1890), written centuries before the Hebrew conquest, appears to refer to that place under the form of Urusalem. Our authority is that of Robert Anderson, whose interesting work onExtinct Civilisationis worth your study.Amy.—You seem to have overlooked our many advertisements of theAsile des Billodes, C. de Neuchâtel. If you look through old numbers of the "G.O.P.," you will find them in the answers to correspondents. Some of our earliest writers for this magazine have been taking out stamps for the institution for many years past, every year, in large quantities.Georgie.—The colour of the Red Sea is due to a thin brick-dust layer of infusoria, which is slightly tinged with an orange hue. The water placed in a white glass bottle is changed to a deep violet, but the surface of the sea shows a brilliant rose colour.C. M. C.—It is the duty of the clergyman to call on all his parishioners, but this is almost impossible in extensive, closely populated parishes. Of course, if attending the services of a church not in his parish, he can know nothing about you. Should you desire work under him, you only have to call at the vestry and offer your services, telling him that you attend his church.Mimosa.—You could not call on your intended husband, unless with your mother as a chaperon, as you say he has no lady relative living with him.Narcissus.—The plural of the name you have adopted is "Narcissi."Day-boots.—1. A cane is only an adjunct to the military uniform. A man when well dressed in civilian style always carries a stick or an umbrella, and the latter would be quite unsuited for military dress—and most men would look awkward had they no use for either hand.—2. In striking a light you produce combustion, which makes a noise.

Lover of the "G.O.P."(Northampton).—The story called "Robina Crusoe," which appeared in serial form, can only be had in our magazine. It has not been re-published apart from it. If you write to our publisher (56, Paternoster Row, E.C.) and request him to send you the numbers that contain it, naming the year in which it appeared, and enclose the money due for them, he will send them to you. Should you send the exact days, he would supply the weekly numbers, instead of the monthly ones, which would cost you much less.

Tibbie.—If accompanied by your sisters (or one at least) you need feel no scruple in accepting the rector's Sunday hospitality, as you are helping his services by playing the organ.

Pompeyinquires whether the modern Romans wear the same picturesque flowing robes at the present day that were worn at the time of Christ? There is no difference between their dress and that of the rest of Europe. As to the history of Rome and its ancient buildings and churches, there is a new book calledMediæval and Ecclesiastical Rome, published by Black. The first volume might add something to the information you say you have obtained inThe Story of the Nationsseries,The Last Days of Pompeii, and a few others—which you do not specify. The book we name is reputed to be an excellent, and very exhaustive guide-book, and the best yet written.

Joice M.—We recommend you to get a little book onLeather Work, by Rosa Baughan (Gill: 17, Strand, W.C.). This will give you all the direction you can require.

Janie.—The term "Black Letter," as used in reference to printing, only means what we call "Old English" type, which is often used on visiting cards. But old books, such as that interesting historical chronicle of current events, by Stowe, is all printed in that type, and in the spelling of that century. It is known elsewhere as the "Flemish, or German type." Ancient illuminated missals, such as those exhibited in the British Museum, are in "Black Letter," and most beautifully written by pen in this style of lettering.

Lily.—Nothing is known of Jannes and Jambres, named by St. Paul in 2 Timothy iii. 8, beyond the fact that they existed, and withstood Moses before Pharaoh—statements of divine authority. But, according to very ancient tradition, they were two sons of the rebel, Balaam—who died fighting against Israel—and, furthermore, that no real miracle was wrought by them, but that they practised mere jugglery. The name "Jerusalem," means "the City of Peace," though its history shows the name very inapplicable. It was the site of the stronghold Jebus, taken from the native tribe, and made that of the Israelitish capital. The ancient name was revived by David, for a cuneiform tablet found at Tel-el-Amarna (in 1890), written centuries before the Hebrew conquest, appears to refer to that place under the form of Urusalem. Our authority is that of Robert Anderson, whose interesting work onExtinct Civilisationis worth your study.

Amy.—You seem to have overlooked our many advertisements of theAsile des Billodes, C. de Neuchâtel. If you look through old numbers of the "G.O.P.," you will find them in the answers to correspondents. Some of our earliest writers for this magazine have been taking out stamps for the institution for many years past, every year, in large quantities.

Georgie.—The colour of the Red Sea is due to a thin brick-dust layer of infusoria, which is slightly tinged with an orange hue. The water placed in a white glass bottle is changed to a deep violet, but the surface of the sea shows a brilliant rose colour.

C. M. C.—It is the duty of the clergyman to call on all his parishioners, but this is almost impossible in extensive, closely populated parishes. Of course, if attending the services of a church not in his parish, he can know nothing about you. Should you desire work under him, you only have to call at the vestry and offer your services, telling him that you attend his church.

Mimosa.—You could not call on your intended husband, unless with your mother as a chaperon, as you say he has no lady relative living with him.

Narcissus.—The plural of the name you have adopted is "Narcissi."

Day-boots.—1. A cane is only an adjunct to the military uniform. A man when well dressed in civilian style always carries a stick or an umbrella, and the latter would be quite unsuited for military dress—and most men would look awkward had they no use for either hand.—2. In striking a light you produce combustion, which makes a noise.

Back to Index Next