THE BATTLE OF CORUÑA.
Well might Moore cast anxious glances towards the harbour of Coruña,
where the vessels from Vigo should have been. They had been delayed by
contrary winds; and this failure on their part to arrive in time was
a most serious matter. The British Army, brought thus far in safety,
would now lie without the means of escape in a narrow trap, between
Scylla and Charybdis, hemmed in by the pitiless ocean on one side, by
the ever-increasing hordes of the enemy on the other.
With unfaltering courage he at once set himself to examine the
position, assigning the troops to their various quarters, some in the
town of Coruña, some in villages hard by. One range of rocky hills,
three or four miles off, would have been the right line of defence; but
Moore had not men enough to occupy it. He saw at once that, should he
attempt to do so, the French might be able to turn his position, and to
cut him off from embarkation.
That post of vantage had to be left to the foe. Moore was obliged to
content himself with a lower ridge, nearer to the walls, which was
quickly put into a state of defence.
A short rest was given to the soldiers, new muskets and ammunition were
supplied, and the officers strenuously exerted themselves to restore
discipline. But this was no longer difficult. When once the Army stood
at bay, facing the enemy, every trace of insubordination vanished. The
greater number of Moore’s soldiers were young; yet in their fighting
powers they could not have been outdone by veterans.
So desperate did the condition of things seem to be for the English,
with the transports not yet come, and with a greatly superior force
occupying a greatly superior position, that, though Moore’s heart never
failed him, the hearts of some did sink at this juncture, even of brave
men, high in rank.
Moore called no Council of War; he asked no man’s opinion. But certain
of his Generals ventured to offer unsought advice. They put before
him the extreme unlikelihood that they could long resist an enemy
descending upon them from the heights; and they represented the heavy
loss to life which would certainly result from an attempt to embark in
the transports during such attacks. Then they suggested that, since
affairs had reached so perilous a stage, it might be well to send a
flag of truce to Soult, asking permission, on honourable terms, to
depart unmolested.
Moore disdainfully flung the counsel from him, without an instant’s
parley. Capitulate! Never! If the French came on, let them come! He
would fight to the last. The Generals bowed to his fiery decision, and
said no more.
Indomitable as Moore was, however, the strain of the last few weeks had
been tremendous, and it had told upon him heavily. All through the 12th
of January he was hard at work, preparing for the battle which might
take place. Everything was thought of; every possible precaution was
taken. He reviewed the troops; and by his own splendid confidence and
dauntless air he breathed fresh energy into their jaded ranks.
The evening of that day saw him nearly worn out with his ceaseless
exertions; yet at daybreak he was once more in the saddle,
reconnoitring the enemy’s camp, and visiting every part of his own.
By eleven o’clock strength failed, and he came back to headquarters
utterly spent. Rest had become a necessity before he could do more. He
sent for Stuart, brother to Lord Castlereagh, who was suffering from
his eyes, and, therefore, was unfit for active service. Moore desired
him to start at once for England, in a vessel then about to leave,
and to place before Ministers the precise position of the Army. In an
ordinary way Sir John would have written details with his own hand, but
his present exhaustion made this impossible.
“I cannot write—I am too tired,” he said wearily. “But there is no
need. You understand everything, and you will explain all fully.”
For two hours prostration had the upper hand. Then came a rally. Moore
sat up, called for paper, and finding that the vessel was not yet under
weigh, he wrote to Lord Castlereagh a rapid semi-confidential statement
of affairs, in his terse easy modern English, always singularly
free from the little tricks of expression peculiar to his time. His
despatches might for the most part have been almost as well penned in
the ninth decade as in the first decade of the century. Had Moore not
devoted all his energies to soldiering, he might have become great in
literature.
This was the last despatch that he ever penned.
Next day, the 14th, some cannonading took place; but there was
no serious fighting. The French did not move. They were still
concentrating their forces, having suffered greatly, like the English,
in those terrible marches.
In the evening at last the transports made their appearance; and all
next day the embarkation of the sick and wounded, as well as of the
cavalry, was going on. Moore had found that, in the country around
Coruña, cavalry could be of little use.
By noon on the 16th everything was in train. Unless they should be
attacked by Soult, the whole English Army would be on board that
night. Moore placed all arrangements for the embarkation in the hands
of Colonel Anderson; and then again he went off to review his troops,
finding them in excellent order and in the highest spirits.
They to a man wished for nothing better than a fight. That question,
however, was left to Soult to decide. No matter how intensely Moore
might long for a victory over the enemy, he would not make the first
move. He knew well that, in the then condition of Spain, even a battle
won could do little practical good to the cause in hand. It might cover
_his_ name with glory. But from first to last a higher aim than mere
glory for self had been before Moore’s eyes.
Between fourteen and fifteen thousand infantry now remained on land to
oppose the twenty thousand already entrenched on the opposite heights;
and further French reinforcements were constantly arriving. Moore’s
cannon were far inferior to those of the French, alike in number and
in weight of metal. The French guns, indeed, dominated the English
position.
At two o’clock, as Moore was on his way to the outposts, a messenger
came from General Hope, to inform him that the enemy “was getting under
arms.” The radiant delight which glowed in his face, when he found that
a battle was to be forced upon him, was recorded later by one who saw
it. He expressed his gladness, regretting only that the lateness of the
hour, upon a short winter’s day, would hardly leave him time to make
the most of the victory which he expected to gain.
Then he spurred away, full gallop, to the field. Soon the roar of
cannon told that action was begun; and in a little while, along the
whole front, both Armies were hotly engaged.
Upon the main ridge of the English position Moore had placed two
Divisions—Baird’s on the right, Hope’s on the left. A third
Division—Fraser’s—occupied high ground, well in rear of the right, to
prevent any possibility of the French making their way to Coruña by a
road which ran in that direction, and so cutting off the British force
from the town.
Paget’s Division was held in reserve behind the ridge; and for a while
Roy chafed impatiently, fearing to have no share in the battle that
day. Even had it been so, the Reserve would have had small reason to
complain, since they had borne the lion’s share of fighting during the
retreat. But their turn would come.
The first and heaviest brunt of the onset was to fall upon Baird’s
Division,—more especially upon the 4th Regiment, the 50th, which
was commanded by Charles Napier and Charles Stanhope, and the 42nd
Highlanders.
With their usual vehement swiftness the French advanced, in separate
columns, against the right, the left, and the centre of the British
line; while another powerful column sought to pass, as Moore had
foreseen, down the valley which lay between Baird’s and Fraser’s
Divisions, towards Coruña; and yet a fifth column waited in reserve.
But the peril of that fourth column’s advance no sooner became apparent
than it was met. The right wing of the 4th British Regiment, on the
extreme right of the ridge, was promptly thrown back, so as to face the
flank of the adventurous French column, which was seeking thus boldly
to turn the English position; and into the column was poured a crushing
fire.
Moore, alert, cool, intent, watching every movement, called out, “That
was exactly what I wanted to be done.”
Nor was this all. For General Paget, with his Reserve, advanced upon
the column in front, doubled it completely up, and like a whirlwind
swept onward, clearing the valley of the foe.
Roy had his chance then, and he did not fail to use it. His was the
honour of bearing the King’s Colour belonging to his Regiment. The
Royal and the Regimental Colours are, as we know, always consecrated
with religious ceremony at the time of presentation, and they are
looked upon with the most intense veneration and pride by every British
soldier. Not least were they so regarded by Roy Baron!
Right proudly he carried his royal burden; and though its folds were
rent in more places than one by the hail of bullets, and though Roy
exposed himself with all that reckless gallantry which is natural
to the British officer, he had the good fortune to escape with
no wound worth mentioning. He had his fair share of hard knocks,
notwithstanding; for Paget’s Division, once engaged, fought on till the
close of the battle.
The French attack was directed with greatest force against the three
regiments, already named. Their piquets, which occupied the little
village of Elvina, beyond the ridge, were driven in by the energy of
the enemy’s onset, and Elvina for a time fell into the hands of the
French.
That of course could not be allowed, and orders were given that the
42nd and the 50th should advance to expel the foe from the village.
Moore, always to be found at the point of greatest danger, where his
presence would most be needed, was at hand. His voice could now be
heard to ring out in his characteristic challenge—
“_Highlanders—remember Egypt!_”
Like greyhounds from the leash, in response to those beloved tones,
they leaped to the charge, carrying everything before them. Moore, in
his passionate ardour, actually charged with them, and he told the men
that he was “well pleased” with their conduct. Baird, the second in
command, leading his Division, had his arm shattered with grape-shot,
and was carried from the field.
Before Moore appeared, the officers and men of the 50th
Regiment—ordered to advance with the 42nd—had been eagerly looking
out for him, realising that this would be the _crux_ of the English
position, and feeling one and all that “under him they _could not_
be beaten!” that, if only Moore were present, victory was absolutely
secure. “Where is he? Where is the General?” was heard in eager murmurs
along the line.
As they asked the question, he came, bearing down upon them at headlong
speed on his cream-coloured charger, a fiery animal, with flying
black mane and tail tossed in the breeze. The force with which Moore
reined in flung him forward almost upon the horse’s neck, while his
head was thrown back, and he examined the enemy with a gaze of such
extraordinary and searching intensity, that Charles Napier, in after
years, seeking to describe the scene, could find no language with which
he might fitly describe that look.
Without a word Moore then galloped off; but he soon returned; and
hereabouts it was that, as he was speaking to Major Napier, a round
shot from the heavy French guns on the height struck the ground between
them. Both horses swerved sharply, but Moore instantly urged his back
to the same spot, asking calmly if Napier were hurt, and receiving a
quiet, “No, sir.”
Then, as he watched the spirited charge of the 50th regiment, led by
Napier and Stanhope, he exclaimed—
“Well done, Fiftieth! Well done, my Majors!”
The French were rapidly driven out of Elvina, with heavy loss, both
regiments pursuing them beyond the village, into ground much broken
by stone walls. By this time the English were without supports, and
the French, having received strong reinforcements, rallied and turned
upon them with fresh fury. Napier got too far in advance of his men,
received five wounds, and was taken prisoner; and Stanhope was killed.
Moore, grappling anew with the danger, hurried up a battalion of the
Guards to reinforce the 50th, which was being slowly forced back, and
the 42nd, which had come to an end of its powder and shot. He galloped
to the latter regiment, and again his voice rang out with inspiring
energy—
“My brave 42nd, join your comrades! The ammunition is coming! _And you
have your bayonets still!_”
That was enough. The 42nd had believed itself about to be relieved
by the coming Guards; but armed or unarmed the men would have gone
anywhere for Moore. Once again, without ammunition, yet undaunted with
fierce impetuosity, they dashed against the foe.
Both here and elsewhere throughout the line fighting raged furiously.
Sir John rode back to the ridge, where he could overlook the whole
battle. In all directions the British were holding their own, and signs
of approaching victory were clear.
Those signs came true. A little later, and the French were finally
driven out of Elvina. On the left of the British line, they not only
were repulsed with very severe loss, but were attacked in their own
position by the conquering English, and were followed even into the
villages beyond their ridge. The column which had essayed to turn the
British right had been utterly wrecked, crushed out of existence, by
Paget’s Division, which would in turn have stormed the great French
battery of eleven guns, had daylight lasted long enough.
But before matters had advanced thus far, and while the 50th and the
42nd were still hard beset and strenuously resisting, something else
happened, of terrible import to England.
Hardinge[2] came up to report to Sir John that the Guards were
advancing. And as the words passed his lips, as he pointed out the
position of the Guards, a round shot from the battery opposite struck
Moore, hurling him to the ground.
(_To be continued._)
FOOTNOTES:
[2] Afterwards Lord Hardinge, Governor-General of India, and
Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
MEDICAL.
MINERVA.—How often we hear a girl say, “Oh! I have such a bad memory.”
You do not often meet with a person who complains, “Oh! I am so very
stupid,” or “My intelligence is strictly limited,” at least, not in
earnest. Yet of all the powers of the mind, the memory is the one which
is most easily trained. We are not going to say that if a person has
a bad memory it is her own fault; but in the majority of cases it is
due to neglect either by herself or by her tutors. You say you are
twenty years old, and ask us if you are not past the age at which it is
possible to educate the memory? No! most certainly you are not too old
to learn. One method of learning is as follows:—Take an interesting,
well-written and instructive book; carefully read through one chapter
on Monday morning. On Monday afternoon write a short epitome of what
you have read; and in the evening re-read the chapter, and read your
own account afterwards. Next day write another account, and compare
that with the original text and with your first manuscript. Then wait
till Saturday and write a third treatise, and compare this with the
original one and see how you have improved. The next week read two
chapters, and increase your amount gradually every week till you can
read a book in the first week of the month, and write a brief account
of its chief features a month or two hence. This is the kind of memory
to aim at; the mere parrot memory is worth very little. You should also
read and write as much as you can, learn a little poetry by heart, and
attempt to master the elements of some simple science.
COURAGE.—Your complaint is too serious for us to deal with. There are
so many possible causes for your trouble, and most of them are so
important, that it would be extremely wrong to treat you without a
personal examination. The best advice we can give you is to go to your
doctor _at once_.
ESTHER.—1. We published an article on blushing some short time ago.
Read the answer to “Minerva” for the treatment of a feeble memory.—2.
The food you mention should not be given to children.
CHARLOTTE M.—1. We thank you very much for your letter. Let your sister
bathe her legs in warm water every day. Gentle massage may do her good.
See that her boots fit properly and do not bend at the waist. Flat foot
is a very common cause of cramps in the legs.—2. April 2nd, 1884, was a
Wednesday.
BUTTERCUP.—The condition of your head is known as “alopecia areata.”
We do not think that it was caused by your wearing a comb; but as
the disease is exceedingly obscure, we have no alternative cause
to suggest. The best thing to do for it is to paint the place with
tincture of iodine every day till it becomes slightly sore. Another way
of treating it is to use white precipitate ointment. How much good is
done by treatment we cannot say; we have never yet seen a case in which
the hair did not grow again, whether the condition had been treated
or not. Sometimes the patches remain bald for a considerable time; at
other times hair begins to grow again in a week or so.
LIZZIE.—The best way to treat warts is the following. Wash your hand
well with soap and water, and then let the hand soak in hot water for
two or three minutes so as to soften the wart; wipe your hand quite
dry, and apply a little vaseline round the wart. You must not let the
vaseline get on the wart. It is painted on the skin to prevent the
caustics applied to the wart from injuring the adjacent skin. Now drop
one drop of glacial acetic acid on to the wart; leave it one minute,
and then rub the wart thoroughly with a stick of lunar caustic. This
treatment may need to be repeated, but it rarely fails if properly
done. Solvine is also of value in removing warts. Warts are frequently
due to irritation of the skin, and are undoubtedly locally infective.
MORELLA.—It is easy enough to account for boils recurring. It is by
no means uncommon to hear this sort of account, “Six months ago I had
a boil; it went away after a time, but another one developed shortly
afterwards. This in its turn went away, and another came, and in this
manner I have had twenty boils in succession.” In days when nobody knew
anything about the diseases of the skin, this was explained thus—“The
blood is in a bad state, and the matter in the boil is the impurity of
the blood finding its way out.” This, we now know, is incorrect. The
proper explanation is this—the first boil resulted from the inoculation
of microbes into a hair follicle or sweat gland. These germs increased,
poisoned the part, and produced the pus by their irritation. The boil
was untreated, it burst and set free these organisms, which at once
started to find a new home in a fresh follicle or gland. Had the
boil been properly treated at first by destroying the microbes, the
trouble would then and there have ceased. Boils are not dependent upon
bad blood, nor are they influenced by internal treatment or dieting.
They can be completely cured by applying hot fomentation wrung out in
solution of carbolic acid (1 in 40). Poultices should never be applied
to boils.
TEARFUL.—You have a serious disease of your eye. In all probability the
tube which conveys the tears from the eye into the nose is blocked. Go
to a surgeon _at once_ and have the eye seen to. At present a trivial
operation will cure you, but if you wait many months you will probably
lose the use of your eye.
MERCIA.—Anæmia or indigestion or both are causing your symptom. Of
course it may be due to chest disease, but it is exceedingly unlikely.
We cannot here repeat the treatment for these conditions. We have
done so times without number during the last two years. The answers
to correspondents in back numbers of this paper will tell you all you
require.
RULES.
I. No charge is made for answering questions.
II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym.
III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any of the
questions.
IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the post.
V. No more than two questions may be asked in one letter, which must be
addressed to the Editor of “The Girl’s Own Paper,” 56, Paternoster Row,
London, E C.
VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter of the nature
of an advertisement will be inserted.
STUDY AND STUDIO.
CHICKWEED.—1. For the London B.A. you must pass the Matriculation,
Intermediate B.A., and Final B.A. in separate years. Apply for all
information as to fees and subjects, Registrar, University of London,
Burlington Gardens, W. There is no limit of age. We presume the London
B.A. would serve your purpose better than that of the University of
Ireland or University of Durham, but you can obtain particulars from
all three.—2. Your handwriting is good and clear; if you always take
pains and never scribble, it will be an excellent hand.
A DAUGHTER OF TERRA NOVA.—Many thanks for your bright letter. We
are glad to find our magazine has warm friends so far away.—1. Your
writing is not “very bad.” It is clear, and if the letters were more
regularly formed, it would soon become good. Your ink seems to vary in
thickness as you write, some letters being faint, others black. Always
use the best ink you can get.—2. This question does not belong to our
province, but as we cannot divide a letter for reply, we may assure
you that neuralgia in the face in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred
is due to decayed teeth, and a visit to the dentist is the best cure.
Remedies for neuralgia proper are quinine and “Tonga.” If the pain is
acute and persistent, you should consult a doctor. Your request for a
correspondent is inserted in the proper place.
GRIBBITE.—The metre of your blank verse is quite correct. The writing
of blank verse that shall be really musical is very difficult, for
the author has no rhymes to depend upon, and the arrangement of ideas
and words has to be of peculiar charm and melody. But we can honestly
praise your effort. “Good-bye, old year” is not quite so satisfactory.
Never make an elision obviously for metre’s sake, especially where you
only do it in one instance, as
“Whenever, where’er ’tis said.”
Here both “evers,” or neither, should be written in the abbreviated
form.
EMMA PORTLOCK.—Unfortunately your hymn could not find acceptance for
publication. The metre is very faulty, and the thought expressed is
familiar. “Farewell, Canadian friends!” is better, but we cannot
encourage you to do more than to write for your own gratification.
COUNTRY LASS.—We are sorry we omitted to criticise your writing in
our answer some weeks ago. To begin with, you should use better ink
that will not turn brown. Keep a regular space between your lines, and
refrain from leaving a margin at the end of some of them. The writing
itself would be improved by more decision and firmness, the letters
being larger. You can easily make it into a good hand.
MABEL BROWN.—1. We have inserted your address for “FLORENCE” to see.—2.
No doubt character to some extent can be described from handwriting;
for instance, a neat precise person seldom writes a bold, sketchy,
untidy hand; a very excitable, nervous person seldom writes a neat,
close hand, and so on; but we do not believe that every moral and
intellectual quality can be deciphered by this means. Of course we
cannot tell how far the estimate you enclose is correct, but we thank
you for your pleasant letter.
DOLLY.—We do not think any permission is needed for reciting the poem
you name. Many thanks for your answer to “NINETTE.”
OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.
KYLE, Victoria, Australia, writes to inform “GOLD DUST” that “Tit for
Tat” is published as a song, in two keys, E♭ and C. The words are by
“Nemo,” and the music by Henry Pontet. The song can be procured at
Enoch and Sons, 14 and 14A, Great Marlborough Street, London. “KYLE”
would copy out and forward the song to “GOLD DUST,” if she knew her
address.
“NINETTE” (Budapesth) again has answers—from “DOLLY,” who says
“Somebody’s Darling” is to be found in Walker’s _Golden Reciter_
(William Walker and Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, price 1s. 6d.); from
“VICTORIA,” who refers it and the “Song of the Shirt” to _Recitations
for Recreation_, in verse, collected by Mary Trebeck (Wells, Gardner,
Darton & Co., 44, Victoria Street, London, S.W., price about 1s.),
and from “A. A. L. S.,” who mentions the _Royal Reader_, No. VI. MISS
MARGUERITE FITZROY DIXON, 1919, Florence Street, Ottawa, offers to copy
out and send “Ninette” the poem, “Somebody’s Darling,” on receipt of
her address.
MOLLY DARLING wishes to know the author of a “poem,” which we can
inform her is a well-known nursery rhyme, beginning—
“When good King Arthur ruled this land
He was a worthy King.”
“IVY” is anxious for a copy of a poem containing the words—
“She will stand at the altar,
Modest, and white, and still.”
E. M. CRABB inquires for a recitation in which the expression “A little
chap curly and brown” occurs several times. We cordially respond to E.
M. CRABB’S kind wishes.
S. W. H. wishes to find a hymn containing the lines—
“Oh, make my spirit worthy
To join that ransomed throng.”
“DOUBTFUL” is informed by ELAINE STEDDALL, CLARA M. SMITH, and ELLEN
WARD that the words she quotes are the two first lines of a poem called
“Somebody’s Mother.” It can be found in Blackie’s _Comprehensive Fourth
Reader_ (School Series), or in one of the parts (I. or II.) of Alfred
Miles’ _A 1 Reciter_, price 6d. We thank ELLEN WARD for kindly copying
out the words, which “DOUBTFUL” may receive on sending her address.
“TREGELLES,” 5, Rothsay Road, Bedford, is anxious to obtain the two
volumes of _Denis O’Neil_, by Mary Bradford Whiting, now out of
print. If any reader of the “G. O. P.” has disused copies—old, but
_complete_—“Tregelles” would gladly give 3s. for the pair.
E. H. K. asks for the names of four newspapers in which an account of
the Fancy Dress Ball at Northampton House was issued, about two years
ago. The papers she kept have been accidentally destroyed.
BESSIE inquires for the words and music of a song, the refrain of which
runs as follows—
“You’ll never miss the water till the well runs dry.”
H. M. C. kindly writes: “The refrain, ‘Belle Marquise,’ asked for by
‘LA PETITE VIOLETTE,’ occurs in a poem entitled, ‘Une Marquise’ in _Old
World Idylls_, by Austin Dobson. The poem occurs also in his ‘Collected
Poems,’ published about the end of 1897.”
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
A NEWFOUNDLAND GIRL, who writes a bright letter, asks us to insert
the following—“Miss M. P. (18), 37, Monkstoun Road, St. John’s,
Newfoundland, would like to correspond with an English or Irish girl
of the same age, with some fun in her.” Girls with a sense of humour,
please make a note of this request!
VALENTINA, Bozzotti, St. Giuseppe 11, Milan, Italy, would like to
correspond with an English girl, from 13 to 16 years of age, and wishes
her to know that she loves English people!
A young Irish lady, “PRIMROSE,” would like to hear from a young lady in
Tasmania, as to the country, houses, climate, mode of life, etc., and,
if possible, particulars as to the voyage from England to Tasmania.
GIGLIO, Florence, Via della Dogana 2, Italy, would like to exchange
Italian post-cards, “artistic, and with views,” with English ones; also
to exchange post-cards with “O MIMOSA SAN.” (See “G. O. P.” November
number).
ROSE BECKETT, 30, Victoria Grove, Folkestone, Kent, wishes for a French
and German correspondent, about 20 years of age; also a correspondent,
“living in India, who is interested in the mission work out there,” and
would write to her about it.
MARGARET H. SETTLE, The Elms, South Shore, Blackpool, would very much
like to correspond with a French young lady, 20 to 22 years of age.
MAUDE and FRANCES F. CARRALL, care of Commissioner of Customs, Chefoo,
China, would like to correspond with “MISS INQUISITIVE,” or with any
French or German girl who would like to exchange stamps. They have a
variety of Chinese stamps for disposal.
OLIVIA GARDE, Biana, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, would like to
correspond with a young lady about her own age (17), who collects
foreign stamps.
MAY, Broadstairs, would like to correspond in English with a young
lady, aged about 27, of good family, in India or “somewhere abroad,”
married or single. She writes a pathetic letter, saying that she is an
invalid, and letters afford her so much pleasure that she hopes some of
our girl readers in distant lands will not think it too much trouble to
write to her. We wish she had put her full address, as it would save
time.
“FLORENCE” has two would-be correspondents—MABEL BROWN, 24, Brigden
Street, Brighton, and AMY DAY, 70, Broomfield Street, Crisp Street,
Poplar. Will “FLORENCE” kindly write at once?
MISS MADGE HATTEN, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon, wishes to
correspond with a French girl of the same age (12), who is requested to
write to this address.
MISCELLANEOUS.
IVY.—“Yours sincerely” is the ordinary phrase, and would be quite
suitable. You should begin your note, of course, with “Dear Dr.
So-and-so,” and tell him then, in a few words, what you wished.
I. G. L. (South Africa), ELEPHANTA and RHINOCERINA.—We gave a series of
articles in vol. x., “G. O. P.,” beginning October, 1888, to which you
might refer, if you have the volume. Cochins, Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks,
and Langshaus all do well in confinement. They are placed in order
of hardiness. L. U. Gill, 170, Strand, publishes several excellent
manuals—_Popular Poultry Keeping_, _Poultry for Prizes and Profit_,
and _How to Keep Laying Hens_; also there are constant discussions
going on in the pages of _The Exchange and Mart_, published at the same
address, three times weekly. There is a small manual on _Incubators and
their Management_, by J. H. Sutcliffe, illustrated, and published at
170, Strand, which you would find useful. Of course you could make an
incubator at a cheap rate.
“ONE WHO WANTS TO KNOW.”—Messrs. Cassell have published a good
_Dictionary of Cookery_. The term “receipt” means an acquitment in
writing, duly signed, and in some cases stamped, for money or other
valuables received; an acknowledgment of having taken into possession
or charge. The word is pronounced as if written “re-ceet.” The term
“recipe” should be pronounced as a three-syllable word, _i.e._, as
“res-cip-pee,” meaning a medical, cookery, or other prescription, or
statement of ingredients, and the method of making up the same to
produce desired results of any description. It is generally, though
incorrectly, pronounced as “re-ceet.”
TOMEL.—We have made inquiries, and can hear of nowhere in London where
the Norwegian ornaments can be obtained. We can only suggest that you
should write to the Norwegian Club, 11, Charing Cross—the Rev. T. B.
Willson, Hon. Sec.—and ask for the address of a reliable jeweller in
Norway, to whom you could write. Mr. Willson knows Norway well, and is
the author of a guide-book which is well known and approved.
SUBSCRIBER.—Suites are not in fashion just now, as everyone seems to
prefer to select their own shapes for chairs, and every chair, large or
small, is different one from another. Small tables and a Chesterfield
sofa seem to complete the furniture of a modern drawing-room, to which
you must add pictures, growing palms and other plants, and pretty
ornaments.
A LONELY LOVER.—You might try to learn a concertina or an accordion.
The latter would be the easiest to play. The name Mildred is from the
Anglo-Saxon, _mild_ and _red_, or mild in counsel.
INQUIRER.—We should think you had better get one of the new
Encyclopædias, which will answer all the questions on the very varied
subjects in which you are interested. There are several published at
moderate prices.
E. WAHALL.—Swinton is in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 10½ miles
from Sheffield. Here the Rockingham porcelain manufactory was
established, so called after the Marquis of Rockingham, on whose
estate it was established—not in the village of that name, which is in
Northamptonshire, on the river Welland.
IGNORAMUS.—The Mormons owe their origin to one Joseph Smith, who, in
1830, established himself at Utah. He pretended that in his boyhood
he had visions, in which he was told that all existing religions were
false; and later on, that at a place indicated he would find gold
tablets, and inscribed with the inspired instructions of the ancient
prophets, buried in the ground. Also a pair of spectacles, a sword,
and a breastplate. The inscriptions were in the reformed Egyptian
language. Eleven persons were said to have seen these things besides
Smith, which were all, he said, returned to the Angel, and were seen no
more. Afterwards, he and his coadjutor, Cowdery (a schoolmaster), had
a vision of St. John the Baptist, who consecrated them priests of the
Order of Aaron, and commanded them to baptise each other, after which
the “Holy Ghost fell on them, together with the spirit of prophecy.”
Smith was succeeded by Brigham Young, Smith having been murdered by
Indians who broke into the prison where he was confined.
LUCY WAYGOOD.—We do not quite see on what point you need advice. From
your own account you seem to have behaved badly enough, as you (being
engaged to one man) appear to have encouraged another lover to pay
you attention, and to visit you. No wonder the first became angry and
jealous. Now you seem not to know your own mind, and “don’t want to
pass your life with either of them.” You are very young, which is your
best excuse, and our only advice is that you should wait for a year or
two before accepting any lover, as you evidently do not know your own
mind.
* * * * *
[Transcriber’s Note.—The following changes have been made to this text:
Page 499: missing word “was” added—“she was bid”.
Page 506: favourities to favourites—“old favourites which”.
Page 507: cotten to cotton—“cotton stockings”.
Page 512: Doubteul to Doubtful—‘“DOUBTFUL” may receive’.]