In hanging pictures it is well to have the middle of the picture in line
with the eye. Let all small pictures be as flat as possible against the
wall, and for larger ones let the angle of inclination depend upon size,
making it invariably as small as you can. Only for a very large picture
would an angle of eighteen inches be admissible. I would advise you to
take away the stiff rolls of paper, and trust to your own sense of the
beautiful and becoming rather than, in this instance, to your friend's
judgment.
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ELSIE.--Your question whether it is ever right to make other people the
subject of conversation is easily answered. It is right to speak of our
friends and acquaintances, if we do so kindly, and talk of their good
qualities. Nothing is so mean as to speak unkindly of the absent, who
can not defend themselves. Conversation, if restricted to historical
facts, as you propose, would be very dull.
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CONSTANT READER.--It would be better to meet on some evening in the week
than to confine yourselves to Sunday evening. But if you are engaged
every other evening, why not meet from four to six on Sunday afternoon,
and leave the evening free to go to church? You might take up some good
book of Eastern travel, or the life of some noble man like Garfield or
Lincoln, and read it together. Call yourselves the Inquirers, if your
aim is, as I imagine it to be, to find out what is worthy, and follow
it. I do not think boys of your age should stay away from church on
Sunday evening either to read or hold debates. You will learn much more,
both mentally and spiritually, by attending regularly on the ministry of
some clergyman whom you enjoy hearing.
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FLAVEL S. M., New Brighton, New York, found a dandelion in an exposed
place, as bright as ever, and in full bloom, on December 5.
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GRACIE M.--The Postmistress knows of nothing which will remove
superfluous hair from the face or arms.
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This week we would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. to the
comprehensive little article on John Bright under the head of "People We
Hear About"; to the "Chat on Philately," which carries us away to the
northern coast of South America; and to the charming article on foreign
travel, entitled "Tom Fairweather's Holiday in Madeira." Then we want
them all to read the story called "Sam Jenkins's Dream." Not that any of
them are like the Sam of the Old Year, but because every one of us, no
matter how good we are already, wants to take a new and a fresh and a
better start in the New Year to come.
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