_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._]
JOEY.--We will consider your wishes in future, if possible.
UNHAPPY S. (we cannot read the name).--We feel for you much in being
separated from a home so dear to you; but you must look away from all
second and human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand of One who
is as good and as merciful as He is wise and mighty. If you wish for
peace and real happiness, seek His favour and guidance and personal care
in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, and ask Him to give you
a contented spirit, and grace to be thankful and reverently loving
towards "Him who first loved us."
ROSEBUD.--Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and let them be very
easy and wide in the toe.
AMERICA.--You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's (Susan Warner's)
works in any encyclopædia. We have not room in our over-crowded
correspondence column for long lists of books, so only give the chief
works of interest.
SWEET NINETEEN (?).--The young ladies of a family are called Miss Edith,
Miss Margaret, etc., by gentlemen who do not know them well.
IONA would not require to know the name of the head of the department.
She should ask for the secretary or the head clerk.
PRIMROSE.--Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, and of very ancient and
distinguished family; but he became a Christian by conviction. Having
had no personal acquaintance with him, we could not possibly answer such
a question as yours, even were it right to do so.
DAISY A.--Your contribution is declined, with thanks. It is not devoid
of merit, but needs more experience in writing.
GEORGIANA W.--We are much obliged, but do not think the essay fit for
our amateur page, nor is the subject new nor interesting enough.
ETON GARDENS had better wear gloves to protect the hands. We know no
other way.
A FIJI GIRL.--The work of a bookkeeper is the same almost everywhere.
She keeps books, and in a hotel she would make out the accounts of the
visitors, of course.
DAMARIS.--The lady bows first, of course, if she has been formally
introduced. Invite the brother, certainly. If you know the family you
do not need a separate introduction to him.
LAURA.--We have always prophets of evil amongst our friends, and a
celebrated American advises that "no one should prophesy unless he
knows." There are no reasons for believing that there are any real
inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean.
STRUGGLING BIRD.--We sympathise with you; but in committing your way to
God in prayer, you do the best that we could recommend. It is best to
avoid any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so wild and
wilful; but should she do anything very wrong, you will have to lay the
case before your father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. You
are right in regarding example as better than precept.
CAMOMILE is thanked for her grateful letter. If she used a better pen
her friends would like her writing better.
FERNIE.--1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus exposed to the
trying winds from that quarter, to which you specially object. Ventnor,
in the Isle of Wight, various places on the south coast of England and
in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and the Isle of Sark, would
suit your mother. The latter island is specially ordered as a cure for
asthma. 2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper,
varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic.
SIRENA.--If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of course take off one
glove at afternoon tea.
A YOUNG WIFE.--We are not quite sure that we should advise any business
man to give up in England and go to Australia unless he saw his way very
clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your friend who has already
emigrated, and take his advice on the subject? Write also for full
particulars of expenses and advice to the secretary of the Colonial
Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, Portman-square, W. The rates of
passage, third-class, are, £18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class,
from £20 to £28; third-class, £17 to £21.
A LOYAL IRISH GIRL.--We are very glad that you have been improved by the
late competition. We are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is
very creditably written and composed.
SWEET WILLIAM.--Directions for bookbinding were given in vol. ii., pages
342, 426, and 810.
R. L. I.--Our paper can be got in all the colonies. Many thanks for the
information that the free grants of land were stopped in Tasmania in
January last.
A NURSERY GOVERNESS, we think, is unhappy and discontented because she
dwells on herself and her own feelings too much, and thinks too little
of other people and their happiness. She must try to live most in
others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As yet she fails to
comprehend the Christ-like character which is so lovely an acquisition,
and the higher service to which we are destined by following Him in all
things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, in so doing is the
happiest and truest life to be found.
YOUNG LOCHINVAR should bear in mind the enormous ages attained by the
antediluvian patriarchs, and that the world around them was so quickly
populated that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people who
possibly, as he thought, would regard him as a monster to be driven from
amongst them. A long course of years succeeded that on which he slew his
brother through envy and a hatred as to what was holy and God-fearing.
In the first days of man upon earth they married their sisters, there
being no physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God.
M. R. (Norwood).--We pity you! To what a miserable, unwholesome state of
deformity you have reduced yourself! We do not open our columns to
persons who boast of having so far degraded themselves.
F. M. C.--On no account take a cold bath if it do not agree with you.
Have it tepid, or as warm as you feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet
were warmed you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th June,
1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, and
requires a good ear; but we should recommend it in preference to the
banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited for general music.
LIZZIE MATTIE CLOVER.--Coals are called "black diamonds" because coals
and diamonds are both carbon.
SINGLE DAHLIA.--You do not name your age. Try St. Mary's Hospital,
Paddington, W. Write to the matron. We could not say whether it would be
against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday.
HOPEFUL.--Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical man, and take plenty
of exercise and a tepid bath every morning.
LUCY.--From what you say of your being "saucy" to your stepmother, and
that you are slapped "whenever you tell lies," and that you think you
"ought to do as you choose," we see that you have been a spoilt child,
and deserve some sort of correction. You are evidently well and suitably
fed. We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were good, obedient,
and respectful, you might then venture to say when the maid laced you
in. It is to be regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all.
A BUNCH OF VIOLETS might undertake bookkeeping, or, if she know any
thing of millinery, she might get a little extra work from that. Her pay
in the shop is very small. Everyone should be paid enough to live upon,
and 8s. a week is not enough to live and dress upon.