QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.Girls' Employments.Emigration.—"In which part of South Africa should I have the best prospect of obtaining employment as a useful help? Owing to a delicacy of the chest, I have been advised to seek a dry climate."—Christine.Domestic servants,pacethe latest report from the Emigrants' Information Office, are in less demand in South Africa than in Canada and Australasia. At the same time active girls, who are willing to rough it and to work hard, can usually obtain respectable situations with good wages. South Africa, however, is a large tract of country, and it may be of value to "Christine" if we quote some passages from an interesting letter which we have recently received from Miss Plunkett, who has lived for some time at Johannesburg. Miss Plunkett writes:—"Personally I cannot advise young women to go to Johannesburg; salaries are much lower; situations are scarce, and there are many other reasons why they should avoid the Transvaal altogether. British possessions are certainly to be preferred. Young women intending to go out to South Africa ought to procure reliable facts from the Agent-General of Cape Colony or Natal, or the United British Women's Emigration Association, Imperial Institute, South Kensington, who can extend information and advice on Rhodesia also." Miss Plunkett (to whom we tender our thanks for this helpful letter) adds the information that the Women's Residential Home, to which we referred some months ago, is now at 91, Bree Street, Johannesburg, and has passed under the care of Mrs. Matthews.Nursing.—I am anxious to become a trained nurse, but I could not pay a premium. I have been engaged for four years as a children's nurse. I am twenty-three, and have no home.—S. E. C.Under the circumstances "S. E. C." mentions, we think she might find it difficult to be taken as a probationer into one of those hospitals to which a recognised training-school is attached, while if she entered certain others which might be eager to have her, the drawback would be that in middle life she would be thrown out of this kind of work because no hospital would appoint to a paid post a nurse who was not, in the technical sense, "fully trained."On the other hand, there is a great demand at the present time for what are known as "Cottage Nurses," and few women come forward to fill these posts. A cottage nurse is one who nurses the poor of a rural district in their own homes, sleeping and living under the cottager's roof during the period of illness, and helping to keep the house in order in those cases where the patient is the cottager's wife. The salary, usually £25 to £30, is paid to the nurse by an association or a local committee. If "S. E. C." cared to consider this suggestion further, she must write to the Hon. Secretary of the Holt-Ockley Association, Mrs. Hervey Lee Steere, the Cottage, Ockley, asking whether the association would be willing to have her trained for this work. There are other similar associations—one, for instance, is the Mid-Oxon Association, in which the Countess of Jersey is much interested, and another has lately been established under the best auspices in Norfolk.
Girls' Employments.
Emigration.—"In which part of South Africa should I have the best prospect of obtaining employment as a useful help? Owing to a delicacy of the chest, I have been advised to seek a dry climate."—Christine.
Domestic servants,pacethe latest report from the Emigrants' Information Office, are in less demand in South Africa than in Canada and Australasia. At the same time active girls, who are willing to rough it and to work hard, can usually obtain respectable situations with good wages. South Africa, however, is a large tract of country, and it may be of value to "Christine" if we quote some passages from an interesting letter which we have recently received from Miss Plunkett, who has lived for some time at Johannesburg. Miss Plunkett writes:—"Personally I cannot advise young women to go to Johannesburg; salaries are much lower; situations are scarce, and there are many other reasons why they should avoid the Transvaal altogether. British possessions are certainly to be preferred. Young women intending to go out to South Africa ought to procure reliable facts from the Agent-General of Cape Colony or Natal, or the United British Women's Emigration Association, Imperial Institute, South Kensington, who can extend information and advice on Rhodesia also." Miss Plunkett (to whom we tender our thanks for this helpful letter) adds the information that the Women's Residential Home, to which we referred some months ago, is now at 91, Bree Street, Johannesburg, and has passed under the care of Mrs. Matthews.
Nursing.—I am anxious to become a trained nurse, but I could not pay a premium. I have been engaged for four years as a children's nurse. I am twenty-three, and have no home.—S. E. C.
Under the circumstances "S. E. C." mentions, we think she might find it difficult to be taken as a probationer into one of those hospitals to which a recognised training-school is attached, while if she entered certain others which might be eager to have her, the drawback would be that in middle life she would be thrown out of this kind of work because no hospital would appoint to a paid post a nurse who was not, in the technical sense, "fully trained."
On the other hand, there is a great demand at the present time for what are known as "Cottage Nurses," and few women come forward to fill these posts. A cottage nurse is one who nurses the poor of a rural district in their own homes, sleeping and living under the cottager's roof during the period of illness, and helping to keep the house in order in those cases where the patient is the cottager's wife. The salary, usually £25 to £30, is paid to the nurse by an association or a local committee. If "S. E. C." cared to consider this suggestion further, she must write to the Hon. Secretary of the Holt-Ockley Association, Mrs. Hervey Lee Steere, the Cottage, Ockley, asking whether the association would be willing to have her trained for this work. There are other similar associations—one, for instance, is the Mid-Oxon Association, in which the Countess of Jersey is much interested, and another has lately been established under the best auspices in Norfolk.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.MEDICAL.Kathie, Janet, Tulip, G. P., Ella Burns and Four other Correspondents.—Here are nine correspondents asking the oft-asked question—how to cure blushing and nervousness. We gave a very long answer on this same subject a few weeks ago, but to fully discuss this most complicated subject is quite beyond the scope of the "Answers to Correspondents." We will soon publish an article dealing fully with the matter. We will therefore defer answering your questions until you have read that article. Before that paper appears read the advice that we gave before.Josephine.—Yes, your nose is the seat of your trouble. You have a chronic catarrh of the nose. The slightest aggravation of this brings on acute catarrh or "cold in the head." Wash out your nose with the following wash three times a day:—bicarbonate of soda, twenty grains; glycerine of carbolic acid, five drops, water to the ounce. Use the solution warm and wash out your nose very thoroughly. After you have washed out your nose, spray the nose well out with a solution of menthol in paraleine (1 in 8) with an atomiser.Dora Russell.—In most cases of the kind bicycling does good rather than harm. It is, however, quite impossible for us to give a definite opinion with nothing but the scanty information contained in your letter to go upon. We think, however, that bicycling would do your daughter good.R. M.—What do you mean by "X-shaped legs"? Do you mean "knock-knees"? Or do you mean that your legs cross each other? We cannot answer this question without further details. If your "X-legs" are "knock-knees," a half an hour's very gentle gymnastic exercise every day would improve your legs and strengthen your back. Any exercise in which you indulge must be gentle. Violent exercises only do harm.An Unlucky Girl.—You are indeed an unlucky girl and we deeply sympathise with you in your misfortune. If you can go to a good skin specialist we think that it would be worth your while to do so. The best thing for you to do is to tell your physician that you wish to see a specialist about any possible treatment different from what you have already tried. We suppose that it is hardly necessary to tell you to be sure to go to a respectable qualified specialist. There are some men in England who call themselves "skin specialists" who are unqualified. To fall into the hands of one of these might be your ruin. Of course you know as well as we do that lupus is a very serious disease, and that though in itself it is not very dangerous to life, it is very disfiguring and most refractory to treatment. Personally we are of the same opinion as your family doctor regarding the treatment of lupus by Kock's tuberculin. That you derived no benefit from the X-ray exposure is in no way surprising to us. Of course you are not getting too old to be one of our girls. "Our girls" are of all ages from four to fourscore.Freckles.—1. Your headaches are almost certainly due to the condition of your eyes. Probably you have got a small error of refraction. The error would not be noticed until the eyes were tired with work. Headache is very often due to untreated errors of the eyes. We advise you to have your eyes seen to at once.—2. We hope to publish an article on blushing shortly. We have already frequently discussed the various causes of blushing and nervousness in this column. It is, however, too complex a subject for us to deal with effectually in the form of an "Answer."L. and E.—The curious symptom which you two suffer from may be due to anæmia or indigestion. But in all probability it is nervous in origin. It is obviously the reverse of blushing, and blushing is usually due to "nerves." So we suppose that your symptom is likewise due to the same cause.Eronica.—When you had anæmia, did you suffer from indigestion? The symptoms which you describe are very likely to be due to indigestion. They may, however, be due simply to muscular weakness. You should read the articles on indigestion which we published in last year's volume ofThe Girl's Own Paper. Gently rubbing your side with camphor liniment will ease the pain.Zeribos Rapraud.—It is a ridiculous myth that "little moustaches and bad writing" are signs of intelligence. Where did you discover this remark? There are people who say that they can read the character of a person from her handwriting. We do not pretend to possess such a power, nor do we advise you to consult anyone who says that he does possess it.Lancashire Lass.—It is a very widespread superstition that the seventh son of a seventh son possesses healing powers from his birth. In Lancashire the belief in this superstition is very general. There was a case in the paper the other day about a "doctor" of this kind. We cannot do better than echo the words of the physician who was employed in the case, to examine the "doctor's" mind, that "the superstition is not held by members of our profession."STUDY AND STUDIO.Elspeth.—You will see your question answered in our September part. The quotation—"Ships that pass in the night, etc.,"is fromTales of a Wayside Inn, by Longfellow, Third Evening, Theologian's Second Tale,Elizabeth, Part IV. Many thanks for your pleasant letter.Money Spinner.—When you "meet a bishop in society, but do not know him very well," you should perhaps once in the course of the interview address him as "my lord."Jennie.—1. We do not know of any French paper that would find you a girl correspondent. You had better send us your name and address, as our other readers have done, and no doubt some French correspondent will observe it.—2. We can only suggest that you should ask all your friends and acquaintances to save you any crests they may come across in the way of correspondence.Amy.—Your verses, while they show devout feeling, cannot receive much commendation from a poetical point of view."As at the close of day the trials and care"is a halting line, "trials" being a dissyllable. We prefer your prose sketch, which is pathetic, yet we think "Granny" was a little selfish in preventing her son from being a sailor. With practice and study you might possibly write stories that would be "fit to publish." One defect in "Granny's Hero" is the mode of beginning the story—a sort of double introduction. "We were talking of heroes (not heros) to-night," and again, "We were sitting in the gloaming one dull winter's evening." The first two paragraphs should be omitted.Haha.—Your story is immature. You show a certain amount of intensity and passion, but it is ill-regulated; you "strike twelve all at once," as the saying is, by rushing immediately into violent emotions into which you cannot carry your readers with you, because you have not shown any cause, or prepared them for such a climax. You evidently have a keen eye for natural beauty, but you need to curb the exuberance of your descriptions. "Old Sol" is not a satisfactory expression. Read all the good prose and poetry you can, and try to "form" a style.M. S. W.—Your verses are superior to the average of those we receive for criticism, yet we can hardly say they are sufficiently good for you to expect payment for them. You could offer "Donald's Away" to another magazine, if you have not sold the copyright; but you would be obliged to tell the editor it had already appeared elsewhere, and this would prove a drawback. "Long ago," and the two verses you enclose, are very creditable work, and it is possible, of course, that you might receive remuneration for them; but it is very difficult thus to dispose of "magazine verse," the supply being large and the competition keen.Purple Heather.—We are afraid we must reiterate to you the unpalatable advice of our last answer. The verses are not bad, but it is very unlikely that you would ever receive any payment for them. Poetry of real merit is slow in finding acceptance in the present day. We must advise you to turn your attention to some more practical way of making money. There are many occupations besides teaching by which you could earn something.Isobel.—1. Your poem, "I Long to be There," is not sufficiently original to be worthy of publication. The chief criticism we should offer upon it is that we have frequently read hymns expressing the same sentiment in very similar words. This is not wonderful when the same idea possesses many Christian hearts, but it would diminish the value of your composition from any editor's point of view.—2. Do you wish your poems "published" or "printed"? If you only wanted one copy, the cost would not exceed a few shillings; but much depends on the quality of paper, type and binding. Consult the nearest printer of good business reputation.Emma Portlock.—Your verses, considering your circumstances, do you credit. You should entitle a poem "In Memoriam," or else "Memoria," not "Memoriam" alone, as it is not grammatically correct. Do not use "thee" and "you" alternately in addressing the same person.A. B.—We can never reply "in the next number" ofThe Girl's Own Paper, as we go to press long before you receive your magazine. We are sorry to seem generally discouraging, but "Evening" contains nothing original, nor would it be likely to find a publisher. Poetic genius is the dower of a very few; but there must be something "fresh" about work that commands success.Nannee.—Your poem "Speculations" is very interesting, though here and there is a halting line, such as"Or not till my soul's new birth,"where the emphasis would have to fall on "till" to make the line scan. We can tell you, however, that the thought expressed is not commonplace.MISCELLANEOUS.Lassie.—We suppose you mean the "Rose of Jericho," which is a very curious cruciferous plant which grows in the sandy deserts of Syria, Arabia, and North Africa, and is remarkable for the hygrometric properties of its old withered annual stems. When in flower the branches spread rigidly, but as the seed ripens the leaves begin to wither and drop off, the branches curl inward, and the plant becomes coiled up so as to resemble a small ball. In this state it is loosened from the soil and is drifted about with the sand over the arid plains. Should rain fall, or should it be blown into the water, the branches expand, the pods open, the seeds fall out, and it is a remarkable and newly-discovered fact that in the short space of twenty hours the seeds germinate and root. The plant will retain its susceptibility for years.Violet Heather.—We have read your very interesting letter with pleasure. We have already given a description ofcrétonnearticles illustrated, which will be useful to you, and we think you would find Weldon's needlework series, published monthly at twopence each, most suggestive and helpful.A. W.—To preserve your summer eggs for a scarcer time, the following is a good recipe:—Pour 3 gallons of boiling water on 3 lbs. of quicklime; when cold, add 1½ oz. of cream of tartar, and 1 lb. and 2 oz. of salt. When quite cold put in the eggs, and be particular not to move the jar when the eggs have been placed in it.Sussex Trug.—What you have heard of Lewes having once been a seaport is true. There was a marshy island called Hamsey in the estuary of the river Ouse, which entered the sea at Seaford. The great storm of 1570 changed its course permanently, and Newhaven became a port at the new mouth of the river. At that time, Pevensey and Selsey were islands till the silting up of beach and sand annexed them to the mainland. Selsey, by which one island was called, meant seal island; which animals were once natives of that coast.Dodo.—Your steel buttons could be freed from rust by immersing them in a strong solution of cyanide of potassium, half an ounce in a wineglassful of water. Then clean them with a paste composed of the same stuff mixed with castile soap, whitening and water, till of the consistency of thick cream. Then rub well with a chamois leather. If this prove unsuccessful, you will have to send them to a jeweller.Young Mother.—We can give a few general hints so as to distinguish between the cries of a sick infant and indicate the locality of the pain. A child often cries because a pin has been left in the clothes. Always employ "safety-pins," and examine the newly-made clothing for fear of concealed needles. If suffering from pain in the stomach, the cries will be continuous and loud, with showers of tears, and it will draw up the legs. If the pain be in the head, it utters frequent sharp shrieks, moaning between whiles. If it suffers from inflammation of the chest, a short, hacking cough will help to indicate the locality of the pain; it will shed no tears, but will give a short sharp cry occasionally. If lacking in experience as to the care of infants, you should have a medical opinion, if the child should appear to be feverish as well as suffering. Teething pains must also be expected, and the state of the gums examined. Boys cut the teeth with more difficulty and danger than girls, as a general rule.Nora.—Of course it is pleasanter to the feelings of any refined person to see as little resemblance in the animal food placed on our tables to the living creatures we see around us. And this feeling is carried out in the nomenclature we have adopted for meat. The generic term "meat" is an improvement on "flesh." We owe this refinement to our Norman ancestors, who employed the terms beef, veal, pork, mutton, and venison, which are never employed to denote the living animals.J. Thompson.—Your question is one which often arises, and the charge made by the Railway Company is an illegal one, although it frequently meets with success, especially where ladies are concerned. I will repeat your query—"A train runs from A to C; a passenger gets in at B; can the Company charge the traveller the full fare from A to C?" If the train is a parliamentary one stopping at B in the ordinary way, the Company are not entitled to charge the passenger the full fare from A, because the contract between the passenger and the Company began at B and ended at C. The Company could, if they pleased, have prevented the passenger from entering the train at B without a ticket, but having tacitly waived their right by allowing him on the platform, they cannot subsequently impose a fine on him by making him pay for the whole journey. If, however, the train was a special express, or an excursion train running on special terms with the passengers, they would be in their rights by making the passenger pay for the full journey, because the Company only contracted to take the passenger subject to certain conditions.
Kathie, Janet, Tulip, G. P., Ella Burns and Four other Correspondents.—Here are nine correspondents asking the oft-asked question—how to cure blushing and nervousness. We gave a very long answer on this same subject a few weeks ago, but to fully discuss this most complicated subject is quite beyond the scope of the "Answers to Correspondents." We will soon publish an article dealing fully with the matter. We will therefore defer answering your questions until you have read that article. Before that paper appears read the advice that we gave before.Josephine.—Yes, your nose is the seat of your trouble. You have a chronic catarrh of the nose. The slightest aggravation of this brings on acute catarrh or "cold in the head." Wash out your nose with the following wash three times a day:—bicarbonate of soda, twenty grains; glycerine of carbolic acid, five drops, water to the ounce. Use the solution warm and wash out your nose very thoroughly. After you have washed out your nose, spray the nose well out with a solution of menthol in paraleine (1 in 8) with an atomiser.Dora Russell.—In most cases of the kind bicycling does good rather than harm. It is, however, quite impossible for us to give a definite opinion with nothing but the scanty information contained in your letter to go upon. We think, however, that bicycling would do your daughter good.R. M.—What do you mean by "X-shaped legs"? Do you mean "knock-knees"? Or do you mean that your legs cross each other? We cannot answer this question without further details. If your "X-legs" are "knock-knees," a half an hour's very gentle gymnastic exercise every day would improve your legs and strengthen your back. Any exercise in which you indulge must be gentle. Violent exercises only do harm.An Unlucky Girl.—You are indeed an unlucky girl and we deeply sympathise with you in your misfortune. If you can go to a good skin specialist we think that it would be worth your while to do so. The best thing for you to do is to tell your physician that you wish to see a specialist about any possible treatment different from what you have already tried. We suppose that it is hardly necessary to tell you to be sure to go to a respectable qualified specialist. There are some men in England who call themselves "skin specialists" who are unqualified. To fall into the hands of one of these might be your ruin. Of course you know as well as we do that lupus is a very serious disease, and that though in itself it is not very dangerous to life, it is very disfiguring and most refractory to treatment. Personally we are of the same opinion as your family doctor regarding the treatment of lupus by Kock's tuberculin. That you derived no benefit from the X-ray exposure is in no way surprising to us. Of course you are not getting too old to be one of our girls. "Our girls" are of all ages from four to fourscore.Freckles.—1. Your headaches are almost certainly due to the condition of your eyes. Probably you have got a small error of refraction. The error would not be noticed until the eyes were tired with work. Headache is very often due to untreated errors of the eyes. We advise you to have your eyes seen to at once.—2. We hope to publish an article on blushing shortly. We have already frequently discussed the various causes of blushing and nervousness in this column. It is, however, too complex a subject for us to deal with effectually in the form of an "Answer."L. and E.—The curious symptom which you two suffer from may be due to anæmia or indigestion. But in all probability it is nervous in origin. It is obviously the reverse of blushing, and blushing is usually due to "nerves." So we suppose that your symptom is likewise due to the same cause.Eronica.—When you had anæmia, did you suffer from indigestion? The symptoms which you describe are very likely to be due to indigestion. They may, however, be due simply to muscular weakness. You should read the articles on indigestion which we published in last year's volume ofThe Girl's Own Paper. Gently rubbing your side with camphor liniment will ease the pain.Zeribos Rapraud.—It is a ridiculous myth that "little moustaches and bad writing" are signs of intelligence. Where did you discover this remark? There are people who say that they can read the character of a person from her handwriting. We do not pretend to possess such a power, nor do we advise you to consult anyone who says that he does possess it.Lancashire Lass.—It is a very widespread superstition that the seventh son of a seventh son possesses healing powers from his birth. In Lancashire the belief in this superstition is very general. There was a case in the paper the other day about a "doctor" of this kind. We cannot do better than echo the words of the physician who was employed in the case, to examine the "doctor's" mind, that "the superstition is not held by members of our profession."
Kathie, Janet, Tulip, G. P., Ella Burns and Four other Correspondents.—Here are nine correspondents asking the oft-asked question—how to cure blushing and nervousness. We gave a very long answer on this same subject a few weeks ago, but to fully discuss this most complicated subject is quite beyond the scope of the "Answers to Correspondents." We will soon publish an article dealing fully with the matter. We will therefore defer answering your questions until you have read that article. Before that paper appears read the advice that we gave before.
Josephine.—Yes, your nose is the seat of your trouble. You have a chronic catarrh of the nose. The slightest aggravation of this brings on acute catarrh or "cold in the head." Wash out your nose with the following wash three times a day:—bicarbonate of soda, twenty grains; glycerine of carbolic acid, five drops, water to the ounce. Use the solution warm and wash out your nose very thoroughly. After you have washed out your nose, spray the nose well out with a solution of menthol in paraleine (1 in 8) with an atomiser.
Dora Russell.—In most cases of the kind bicycling does good rather than harm. It is, however, quite impossible for us to give a definite opinion with nothing but the scanty information contained in your letter to go upon. We think, however, that bicycling would do your daughter good.
R. M.—What do you mean by "X-shaped legs"? Do you mean "knock-knees"? Or do you mean that your legs cross each other? We cannot answer this question without further details. If your "X-legs" are "knock-knees," a half an hour's very gentle gymnastic exercise every day would improve your legs and strengthen your back. Any exercise in which you indulge must be gentle. Violent exercises only do harm.
An Unlucky Girl.—You are indeed an unlucky girl and we deeply sympathise with you in your misfortune. If you can go to a good skin specialist we think that it would be worth your while to do so. The best thing for you to do is to tell your physician that you wish to see a specialist about any possible treatment different from what you have already tried. We suppose that it is hardly necessary to tell you to be sure to go to a respectable qualified specialist. There are some men in England who call themselves "skin specialists" who are unqualified. To fall into the hands of one of these might be your ruin. Of course you know as well as we do that lupus is a very serious disease, and that though in itself it is not very dangerous to life, it is very disfiguring and most refractory to treatment. Personally we are of the same opinion as your family doctor regarding the treatment of lupus by Kock's tuberculin. That you derived no benefit from the X-ray exposure is in no way surprising to us. Of course you are not getting too old to be one of our girls. "Our girls" are of all ages from four to fourscore.
Freckles.—1. Your headaches are almost certainly due to the condition of your eyes. Probably you have got a small error of refraction. The error would not be noticed until the eyes were tired with work. Headache is very often due to untreated errors of the eyes. We advise you to have your eyes seen to at once.—2. We hope to publish an article on blushing shortly. We have already frequently discussed the various causes of blushing and nervousness in this column. It is, however, too complex a subject for us to deal with effectually in the form of an "Answer."
L. and E.—The curious symptom which you two suffer from may be due to anæmia or indigestion. But in all probability it is nervous in origin. It is obviously the reverse of blushing, and blushing is usually due to "nerves." So we suppose that your symptom is likewise due to the same cause.
Eronica.—When you had anæmia, did you suffer from indigestion? The symptoms which you describe are very likely to be due to indigestion. They may, however, be due simply to muscular weakness. You should read the articles on indigestion which we published in last year's volume ofThe Girl's Own Paper. Gently rubbing your side with camphor liniment will ease the pain.
Zeribos Rapraud.—It is a ridiculous myth that "little moustaches and bad writing" are signs of intelligence. Where did you discover this remark? There are people who say that they can read the character of a person from her handwriting. We do not pretend to possess such a power, nor do we advise you to consult anyone who says that he does possess it.
Lancashire Lass.—It is a very widespread superstition that the seventh son of a seventh son possesses healing powers from his birth. In Lancashire the belief in this superstition is very general. There was a case in the paper the other day about a "doctor" of this kind. We cannot do better than echo the words of the physician who was employed in the case, to examine the "doctor's" mind, that "the superstition is not held by members of our profession."
Elspeth.—You will see your question answered in our September part. The quotation—"Ships that pass in the night, etc.,"is fromTales of a Wayside Inn, by Longfellow, Third Evening, Theologian's Second Tale,Elizabeth, Part IV. Many thanks for your pleasant letter.Money Spinner.—When you "meet a bishop in society, but do not know him very well," you should perhaps once in the course of the interview address him as "my lord."Jennie.—1. We do not know of any French paper that would find you a girl correspondent. You had better send us your name and address, as our other readers have done, and no doubt some French correspondent will observe it.—2. We can only suggest that you should ask all your friends and acquaintances to save you any crests they may come across in the way of correspondence.Amy.—Your verses, while they show devout feeling, cannot receive much commendation from a poetical point of view."As at the close of day the trials and care"is a halting line, "trials" being a dissyllable. We prefer your prose sketch, which is pathetic, yet we think "Granny" was a little selfish in preventing her son from being a sailor. With practice and study you might possibly write stories that would be "fit to publish." One defect in "Granny's Hero" is the mode of beginning the story—a sort of double introduction. "We were talking of heroes (not heros) to-night," and again, "We were sitting in the gloaming one dull winter's evening." The first two paragraphs should be omitted.Haha.—Your story is immature. You show a certain amount of intensity and passion, but it is ill-regulated; you "strike twelve all at once," as the saying is, by rushing immediately into violent emotions into which you cannot carry your readers with you, because you have not shown any cause, or prepared them for such a climax. You evidently have a keen eye for natural beauty, but you need to curb the exuberance of your descriptions. "Old Sol" is not a satisfactory expression. Read all the good prose and poetry you can, and try to "form" a style.M. S. W.—Your verses are superior to the average of those we receive for criticism, yet we can hardly say they are sufficiently good for you to expect payment for them. You could offer "Donald's Away" to another magazine, if you have not sold the copyright; but you would be obliged to tell the editor it had already appeared elsewhere, and this would prove a drawback. "Long ago," and the two verses you enclose, are very creditable work, and it is possible, of course, that you might receive remuneration for them; but it is very difficult thus to dispose of "magazine verse," the supply being large and the competition keen.Purple Heather.—We are afraid we must reiterate to you the unpalatable advice of our last answer. The verses are not bad, but it is very unlikely that you would ever receive any payment for them. Poetry of real merit is slow in finding acceptance in the present day. We must advise you to turn your attention to some more practical way of making money. There are many occupations besides teaching by which you could earn something.Isobel.—1. Your poem, "I Long to be There," is not sufficiently original to be worthy of publication. The chief criticism we should offer upon it is that we have frequently read hymns expressing the same sentiment in very similar words. This is not wonderful when the same idea possesses many Christian hearts, but it would diminish the value of your composition from any editor's point of view.—2. Do you wish your poems "published" or "printed"? If you only wanted one copy, the cost would not exceed a few shillings; but much depends on the quality of paper, type and binding. Consult the nearest printer of good business reputation.Emma Portlock.—Your verses, considering your circumstances, do you credit. You should entitle a poem "In Memoriam," or else "Memoria," not "Memoriam" alone, as it is not grammatically correct. Do not use "thee" and "you" alternately in addressing the same person.A. B.—We can never reply "in the next number" ofThe Girl's Own Paper, as we go to press long before you receive your magazine. We are sorry to seem generally discouraging, but "Evening" contains nothing original, nor would it be likely to find a publisher. Poetic genius is the dower of a very few; but there must be something "fresh" about work that commands success.Nannee.—Your poem "Speculations" is very interesting, though here and there is a halting line, such as"Or not till my soul's new birth,"where the emphasis would have to fall on "till" to make the line scan. We can tell you, however, that the thought expressed is not commonplace.
Elspeth.—You will see your question answered in our September part. The quotation—
"Ships that pass in the night, etc.,"
"Ships that pass in the night, etc.,"
is fromTales of a Wayside Inn, by Longfellow, Third Evening, Theologian's Second Tale,Elizabeth, Part IV. Many thanks for your pleasant letter.
Money Spinner.—When you "meet a bishop in society, but do not know him very well," you should perhaps once in the course of the interview address him as "my lord."
Jennie.—1. We do not know of any French paper that would find you a girl correspondent. You had better send us your name and address, as our other readers have done, and no doubt some French correspondent will observe it.—2. We can only suggest that you should ask all your friends and acquaintances to save you any crests they may come across in the way of correspondence.
Amy.—Your verses, while they show devout feeling, cannot receive much commendation from a poetical point of view.
"As at the close of day the trials and care"
"As at the close of day the trials and care"
is a halting line, "trials" being a dissyllable. We prefer your prose sketch, which is pathetic, yet we think "Granny" was a little selfish in preventing her son from being a sailor. With practice and study you might possibly write stories that would be "fit to publish." One defect in "Granny's Hero" is the mode of beginning the story—a sort of double introduction. "We were talking of heroes (not heros) to-night," and again, "We were sitting in the gloaming one dull winter's evening." The first two paragraphs should be omitted.
Haha.—Your story is immature. You show a certain amount of intensity and passion, but it is ill-regulated; you "strike twelve all at once," as the saying is, by rushing immediately into violent emotions into which you cannot carry your readers with you, because you have not shown any cause, or prepared them for such a climax. You evidently have a keen eye for natural beauty, but you need to curb the exuberance of your descriptions. "Old Sol" is not a satisfactory expression. Read all the good prose and poetry you can, and try to "form" a style.
M. S. W.—Your verses are superior to the average of those we receive for criticism, yet we can hardly say they are sufficiently good for you to expect payment for them. You could offer "Donald's Away" to another magazine, if you have not sold the copyright; but you would be obliged to tell the editor it had already appeared elsewhere, and this would prove a drawback. "Long ago," and the two verses you enclose, are very creditable work, and it is possible, of course, that you might receive remuneration for them; but it is very difficult thus to dispose of "magazine verse," the supply being large and the competition keen.
Purple Heather.—We are afraid we must reiterate to you the unpalatable advice of our last answer. The verses are not bad, but it is very unlikely that you would ever receive any payment for them. Poetry of real merit is slow in finding acceptance in the present day. We must advise you to turn your attention to some more practical way of making money. There are many occupations besides teaching by which you could earn something.
Isobel.—1. Your poem, "I Long to be There," is not sufficiently original to be worthy of publication. The chief criticism we should offer upon it is that we have frequently read hymns expressing the same sentiment in very similar words. This is not wonderful when the same idea possesses many Christian hearts, but it would diminish the value of your composition from any editor's point of view.—2. Do you wish your poems "published" or "printed"? If you only wanted one copy, the cost would not exceed a few shillings; but much depends on the quality of paper, type and binding. Consult the nearest printer of good business reputation.
Emma Portlock.—Your verses, considering your circumstances, do you credit. You should entitle a poem "In Memoriam," or else "Memoria," not "Memoriam" alone, as it is not grammatically correct. Do not use "thee" and "you" alternately in addressing the same person.
A. B.—We can never reply "in the next number" ofThe Girl's Own Paper, as we go to press long before you receive your magazine. We are sorry to seem generally discouraging, but "Evening" contains nothing original, nor would it be likely to find a publisher. Poetic genius is the dower of a very few; but there must be something "fresh" about work that commands success.
Nannee.—Your poem "Speculations" is very interesting, though here and there is a halting line, such as
"Or not till my soul's new birth,"
"Or not till my soul's new birth,"
where the emphasis would have to fall on "till" to make the line scan. We can tell you, however, that the thought expressed is not commonplace.
Lassie.—We suppose you mean the "Rose of Jericho," which is a very curious cruciferous plant which grows in the sandy deserts of Syria, Arabia, and North Africa, and is remarkable for the hygrometric properties of its old withered annual stems. When in flower the branches spread rigidly, but as the seed ripens the leaves begin to wither and drop off, the branches curl inward, and the plant becomes coiled up so as to resemble a small ball. In this state it is loosened from the soil and is drifted about with the sand over the arid plains. Should rain fall, or should it be blown into the water, the branches expand, the pods open, the seeds fall out, and it is a remarkable and newly-discovered fact that in the short space of twenty hours the seeds germinate and root. The plant will retain its susceptibility for years.Violet Heather.—We have read your very interesting letter with pleasure. We have already given a description ofcrétonnearticles illustrated, which will be useful to you, and we think you would find Weldon's needlework series, published monthly at twopence each, most suggestive and helpful.A. W.—To preserve your summer eggs for a scarcer time, the following is a good recipe:—Pour 3 gallons of boiling water on 3 lbs. of quicklime; when cold, add 1½ oz. of cream of tartar, and 1 lb. and 2 oz. of salt. When quite cold put in the eggs, and be particular not to move the jar when the eggs have been placed in it.Sussex Trug.—What you have heard of Lewes having once been a seaport is true. There was a marshy island called Hamsey in the estuary of the river Ouse, which entered the sea at Seaford. The great storm of 1570 changed its course permanently, and Newhaven became a port at the new mouth of the river. At that time, Pevensey and Selsey were islands till the silting up of beach and sand annexed them to the mainland. Selsey, by which one island was called, meant seal island; which animals were once natives of that coast.Dodo.—Your steel buttons could be freed from rust by immersing them in a strong solution of cyanide of potassium, half an ounce in a wineglassful of water. Then clean them with a paste composed of the same stuff mixed with castile soap, whitening and water, till of the consistency of thick cream. Then rub well with a chamois leather. If this prove unsuccessful, you will have to send them to a jeweller.Young Mother.—We can give a few general hints so as to distinguish between the cries of a sick infant and indicate the locality of the pain. A child often cries because a pin has been left in the clothes. Always employ "safety-pins," and examine the newly-made clothing for fear of concealed needles. If suffering from pain in the stomach, the cries will be continuous and loud, with showers of tears, and it will draw up the legs. If the pain be in the head, it utters frequent sharp shrieks, moaning between whiles. If it suffers from inflammation of the chest, a short, hacking cough will help to indicate the locality of the pain; it will shed no tears, but will give a short sharp cry occasionally. If lacking in experience as to the care of infants, you should have a medical opinion, if the child should appear to be feverish as well as suffering. Teething pains must also be expected, and the state of the gums examined. Boys cut the teeth with more difficulty and danger than girls, as a general rule.Nora.—Of course it is pleasanter to the feelings of any refined person to see as little resemblance in the animal food placed on our tables to the living creatures we see around us. And this feeling is carried out in the nomenclature we have adopted for meat. The generic term "meat" is an improvement on "flesh." We owe this refinement to our Norman ancestors, who employed the terms beef, veal, pork, mutton, and venison, which are never employed to denote the living animals.J. Thompson.—Your question is one which often arises, and the charge made by the Railway Company is an illegal one, although it frequently meets with success, especially where ladies are concerned. I will repeat your query—"A train runs from A to C; a passenger gets in at B; can the Company charge the traveller the full fare from A to C?" If the train is a parliamentary one stopping at B in the ordinary way, the Company are not entitled to charge the passenger the full fare from A, because the contract between the passenger and the Company began at B and ended at C. The Company could, if they pleased, have prevented the passenger from entering the train at B without a ticket, but having tacitly waived their right by allowing him on the platform, they cannot subsequently impose a fine on him by making him pay for the whole journey. If, however, the train was a special express, or an excursion train running on special terms with the passengers, they would be in their rights by making the passenger pay for the full journey, because the Company only contracted to take the passenger subject to certain conditions.
Lassie.—We suppose you mean the "Rose of Jericho," which is a very curious cruciferous plant which grows in the sandy deserts of Syria, Arabia, and North Africa, and is remarkable for the hygrometric properties of its old withered annual stems. When in flower the branches spread rigidly, but as the seed ripens the leaves begin to wither and drop off, the branches curl inward, and the plant becomes coiled up so as to resemble a small ball. In this state it is loosened from the soil and is drifted about with the sand over the arid plains. Should rain fall, or should it be blown into the water, the branches expand, the pods open, the seeds fall out, and it is a remarkable and newly-discovered fact that in the short space of twenty hours the seeds germinate and root. The plant will retain its susceptibility for years.
Violet Heather.—We have read your very interesting letter with pleasure. We have already given a description ofcrétonnearticles illustrated, which will be useful to you, and we think you would find Weldon's needlework series, published monthly at twopence each, most suggestive and helpful.
A. W.—To preserve your summer eggs for a scarcer time, the following is a good recipe:—Pour 3 gallons of boiling water on 3 lbs. of quicklime; when cold, add 1½ oz. of cream of tartar, and 1 lb. and 2 oz. of salt. When quite cold put in the eggs, and be particular not to move the jar when the eggs have been placed in it.
Sussex Trug.—What you have heard of Lewes having once been a seaport is true. There was a marshy island called Hamsey in the estuary of the river Ouse, which entered the sea at Seaford. The great storm of 1570 changed its course permanently, and Newhaven became a port at the new mouth of the river. At that time, Pevensey and Selsey were islands till the silting up of beach and sand annexed them to the mainland. Selsey, by which one island was called, meant seal island; which animals were once natives of that coast.
Dodo.—Your steel buttons could be freed from rust by immersing them in a strong solution of cyanide of potassium, half an ounce in a wineglassful of water. Then clean them with a paste composed of the same stuff mixed with castile soap, whitening and water, till of the consistency of thick cream. Then rub well with a chamois leather. If this prove unsuccessful, you will have to send them to a jeweller.
Young Mother.—We can give a few general hints so as to distinguish between the cries of a sick infant and indicate the locality of the pain. A child often cries because a pin has been left in the clothes. Always employ "safety-pins," and examine the newly-made clothing for fear of concealed needles. If suffering from pain in the stomach, the cries will be continuous and loud, with showers of tears, and it will draw up the legs. If the pain be in the head, it utters frequent sharp shrieks, moaning between whiles. If it suffers from inflammation of the chest, a short, hacking cough will help to indicate the locality of the pain; it will shed no tears, but will give a short sharp cry occasionally. If lacking in experience as to the care of infants, you should have a medical opinion, if the child should appear to be feverish as well as suffering. Teething pains must also be expected, and the state of the gums examined. Boys cut the teeth with more difficulty and danger than girls, as a general rule.
Nora.—Of course it is pleasanter to the feelings of any refined person to see as little resemblance in the animal food placed on our tables to the living creatures we see around us. And this feeling is carried out in the nomenclature we have adopted for meat. The generic term "meat" is an improvement on "flesh." We owe this refinement to our Norman ancestors, who employed the terms beef, veal, pork, mutton, and venison, which are never employed to denote the living animals.
J. Thompson.—Your question is one which often arises, and the charge made by the Railway Company is an illegal one, although it frequently meets with success, especially where ladies are concerned. I will repeat your query—"A train runs from A to C; a passenger gets in at B; can the Company charge the traveller the full fare from A to C?" If the train is a parliamentary one stopping at B in the ordinary way, the Company are not entitled to charge the passenger the full fare from A, because the contract between the passenger and the Company began at B and ended at C. The Company could, if they pleased, have prevented the passenger from entering the train at B without a ticket, but having tacitly waived their right by allowing him on the platform, they cannot subsequently impose a fine on him by making him pay for the whole journey. If, however, the train was a special express, or an excursion train running on special terms with the passengers, they would be in their rights by making the passenger pay for the full journey, because the Company only contracted to take the passenger subject to certain conditions.
FOOTNOTES:[1]That is, in the natural condition when left in the ground. If the bulbs are taken out of the ground in August they will remain dormant for a month or two.[2]Lilium Chalcedonicumusually flowered about a fortnight or more later thanL. Candidum, but occasionally both species flower at the same time.
FOOTNOTES:
[1]That is, in the natural condition when left in the ground. If the bulbs are taken out of the ground in August they will remain dormant for a month or two.
[1]That is, in the natural condition when left in the ground. If the bulbs are taken out of the ground in August they will remain dormant for a month or two.
[2]Lilium Chalcedonicumusually flowered about a fortnight or more later thanL. Candidum, but occasionally both species flower at the same time.
[2]Lilium Chalcedonicumusually flowered about a fortnight or more later thanL. Candidum, but occasionally both species flower at the same time.
Transcriber's note—the following changes have been made to this text: