scenes from the life of Christ, while on the back are represented
incidents in the life of St. Ambrose, the former in plates of gold and
the latter silver-gilt.
St. Ambrogio contains several frescoes. The finest are “Legend of St.
George,” by Bernardino; and “Ecce Homo,” by Luini. In it also are the
shrines of Saints Gervasius and Protasius—very popular saints in Italy.
On leaving St. Ambrogio we wished to get straight back to our hotel;
but we unfortunately lost our way, and were obliged to ask an Italian
gentleman to direct us. He not only put us on the right road, but
actually went out of his way to ensure our not losing ourselves again.
This is characteristic of the North Italians. They are really polite,
and, according to the elder bachelor, the most gentlemanly people he
has visited.
After _table d’hôte_ we strolled out of the hotel, and walked through
the magnificent Galleria Vittorio Emmanuel (containing some of the best
shops in Milan) into the Piazza del Duomo. It was a beautiful moonlight
night, and the cathedral looked simply glorious—its dazzling whiteness
almost frightening us as it suddenly burst on our view. After due
deliberation No. 2 irreverently said that the appearance was similar to
that of a colossal wedding-cake, with its sugary-looking ornamentations
under a strong light. The Duomo, though not a very pure example of
Gothic, possibly over-ornamented, and its detail not always in the
best taste, is certainly one of the most extraordinary examples of
man’s industry, perseverance, and wealth to be found in the whole realm
of art.
It was about 9 o’clock p.m. that the first scene was enacted of what
might have completely wrecked our holiday, viz., the longing of the
younger bachelor to smoke one of the long cigars, with straws in them
at either end, which foreigners, especially Italians, seem so to enjoy.
No. 2 (the older) bachelor being the better linguist, went into a
tobacco shop and ordered one of these cigars. It was in vain that the
shopman declared they were never bought by English; it was of no use
his repeating that they were so inferior—No, No. 1 had set his heart on
possessing one of them, and have one he would.
We bought two, one of which the younger bachelor immediately smoked,
having first carefully extracted the straws. The other was given to the
waiter, and it is safe to predict that neither of us will ever be seen
with one of those terrible cigars again. About 10 p.m. No. 1 began to
show signs of a violent bilious attack, which grew worse as the night
came on. This was the commencement of an ailment which afterwards
turned out to be “gastric fever.” There was little sleep that night for
either of the bachelors, as No. 2 sat up by his friend during a great
part of the night. The next morning, however, though still unwell, No. 1
insisted on going to church. On returning hotel-ward the younger felt
alarmingly ill, and could not walk further without help.
When we got to the hotel, No. 2 determined to send for a doctor,
and, looking into his Baedeker, chose one of those recommended. Our
girls must not think it was entirely the horrible cigar that made No. 1
so ill. They must remember he was described as having a shocking
digestion, which had been “upset” by the continual travelling and the
change of food; also, the sudden change from the bracing mountain air
to the comparatively enervating climate of Milan, no doubt accelerated
the illness. The doctor came about four hours after he was sent
for, and, after asking innumerable questions as to the occupation,
rule of life, etc., of the bachelor, seemingly unnecessary—not to
say impertinent—prescribed an alarming amount of medicine. We shall
remember that doctor, with his important manner and soft, deep voice.
He was a smart, healthy-looking man, with an imposing moustache and
short black hair. We shall also remember the answer he gave to the
older bachelor, who had inquired how long it would be before his friend
would be well enough to resume his travels—“Maybe in two or three
weeks,” being the encouraging reply.
The younger bachelor is here reminded of the interesting view of
chimney-pots and house-roof visible from his bedroom window, which it
was his fate to watch incessantly for two whole days, miserably ill,
with one longing in life, viz., to quench his burning thirst with “a
lemon squash.”
As it seemed the less expensive method, No. 2 shopped for the lemons,
bringing in a dozen at a time, and squeezing them with his fingers into
a water-bottle glass. The sugar was purloined from the _salle-à-manger_
(as we wish this narrative of ours to be a strictly truthful one,
we resolutely admit our guilt, but hope the Italian Government will
not be too hard on us), for we preferred the charge of one halfpenny
per “squash,” instead of one franc, the probable price of one bought
at the hotel. If any one of our readers has had a brother to supply
incessantly with “lemon squash” for two days and one night, without
the use of a proper lemon-squeezer, she will appreciate the sad
intelligence that No. 2’s finger joints are now less supple and
powerful than before this Italian tour.
_La femme de chambre_ was, as most young women are to forlorn and
helpless bachelors, tender and kind. In fact, at the end of two days
she quietly suggested that a lemon squash was the worst drink for the
poor patient, and actually the dear thing made for him some oatmeal,
bringing into the room a sieve, a basin, some warm water, and a screw
of paper containing oatmeal. Then (_à la_ Useful Hints in the G. O. P.)
the recipe was as follows:—A little oatmeal in the strainer, hold over
the empty basin, and with the warm water (by this time very lukewarm),
percolate through the sieve, and behold a dish of Scotch oatmeal!
That preparation did not seem to improve the condition of the poor
patient.
“Oh, that we had some English lady with us,” cried No. 2.
“Never no more,” groaned No. 1, with his face to the wall, though
whether this depressing remark had a reference to the oatmeal, the
gentler sex, or the “holiday” (save the mark!), No. 2 has not yet been
able to determine.
(_To be continued._)
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
[Illustration]
MISCELLANEOUS.
GUINEVERE must take her money to the nearest post-office, and say she
wishes to have a book and become a depositor. There is no difficulty
about so doing.
EMMY.—“They also serve,” etc., is from Milton’s poem on his blindness.
The 7th April, 1868, was a Tuesday.
ENID.—Ithuriel, the angel sent by Gabriel to find Satan. He finds him
squatting like a toad beside Eve, as she lies asleep, and brings him to
Gabriel. Ithuriel is armed with a spear, which by its touch discovered
falsehood at once. You will find all this in Milton’s “Paradise Lost,”
which you ought to have read.
LILITH A.—“In Memoriam” was written in memory of Tennyson’s friend,
Arthur Henry Hallam, who died in 1833.
GRACE.—The beer made with the ginger-beer plant is quite wholesome, we
believe.
VIRAGO.—“A young lady, who is nine years old and two months over,” is
certainly not old enough to choose her books, nor must she think just
yet of being guided by her own judgment in any way, except in obeying
others older than herself, and should be punished if she do not.
LADY CLARA VERE DE VERE.—The address of the secretary of the Princess
Louise Home is 54, New Broad-street, E.C. Write to the secretary. Young
ladies should have their names on their mother’s card.
E. AUSTILL.—The first two chapters of “A Lady’s Journey to Texas” will
be found in vol. iv., pages 362 and 713.
PHISIEGIG.—The real name of “George Sand” was Aurore Lucille Amantine
Dudevant. Henry M. Stanley, the African explorer, was born at Denbigh,
Wales, in 1840.
C. H. S.—The answer to the riddle, “Man cannot live without my first,”
is _Ignis fatuus_, otherwise called “will o’ the wisp,” or “corpse
candle.”
VIOLET.—The lines do much credit to your tenderness of heart and love
for your parents, but as poetry they are not worth much, and are full
of faults.
CONSUMPTION.—We regret that we cannot give you any information, as we
do not know the medicine by name, and we could not advise anyone to use
it without the consent of a doctor. We should think a change of climate
would be advisable. Cold, dry climates are apparently more recommended
now than warm ones.
DIE LORELEI.—The lines you send have some power about them, but they
are not correct in rhythm nor in construction. Count the feet and
position of the beats in each line carefully while composing.
MARION MOSS.—Seals are found in the Arctic seas. Dundee and Hull are
the principal British ports whence the seal-fishers sail. They are also
found in Russian America, now called Alaska.
PERPLEXED ONE.—Why not try to obtain a good situation as nurse—head
nurse, with a junior under you?
MAGGIE might obtain the first volume by means of an advertisement in
the _Exchange and Mart_.
WATER LILY.—Mr. Herbert John Gladstone, M.P., is the youngest son of
the Prime Minister, and was born 1854.
SEVEN YEARS FOR RACHEL must get her sister to read aloud, alone, and
with someone slowly and carefully, being particularly careful to take
her breath regularly, easily, and deeply when reading or speaking. The
lungs must be well filled.
A CHRISTIAN.—We agree with your mother that you are both very young,
and had better wait till you be older. Then we should repeat to you the
saying of Christ, “Have salt in yourselves,” which means that you must
form your opinions and actions on eternal principles, which are the
salt which should savour our lives.
TILDA.—We quite agree with you that the manners of lady district
visitors should be very courteous, and that they should certainly knock
at people’s doors, and not go in until they be asked, nor should they
go at the dinner hour. Alas! good breeding and sound common-sense seem
both rare qualities everywhere. Either of them would have made your
visitors behave differently.
GIPSY.—You should say, “Lady So-and-so,” and write it with a capital
“L.”
ETHEL.—Show your teeth to a dentist. We regret that we could not give
you a recommendation of the kind. Your medical man would do so. The
loss of an eye-tooth does not affect the sight. It is believed that
eating very fine white bread has tended to injure the teeth. Wholemeal
bread is the best for producing good bone.
SARAH BROWN.—You cannot re-silver a good looking-glass yourself.
You must send it to a manufactory for the purpose. Any furnishing
upholsterer or looking-glass seller would undertake to do that for you;
but you must make a bargain before you send it, and you might obtain a
good secondhand glass at less cost.
DICK.—Dentists usually have a medical man to see and attend to the
patient when gas is employed. It is not dangerous to take it.
“IN GREAT TROUBLE.”—Yours seems a case for a doctor’s advice. You
had better consult one. The word “silly” is not spelt “scilly,” like
the islands of that name, and “disappointed” should not be written
“dissapointed.”
DOROTHY DRAKE.—You will find the answer to your question several times
repeated in our correspondence columns.
EVELYN.—We do not place ourselves between our young readers and
their parents, by expressing an opinion respecting the punishments
they inflict. If severe, we imagine that their statement of the case
you describe would be of a different character from yours. Probably
there were attendant circumstances which aggravated the misdoing on
your part. What business had you to go out without leave, and not
fully dressed for so doing? Besides, you may have been disobedient or
impertinent.
DITTO.—You will find instructions in riding in the monthly part for
October 1st, 1881, page 3, vol. iii., and, as we told you before,
at page 131 in the same volume. You cannot read figures, one would
suppose. There is a picture of a girl on horseback on the same page.
Look again.
JO.—Perhaps you could receive some little pupils daily for two or
three hours at your own home, and teach them the rudiments of an
English education—reading, writing, arithmetic, grammar, geography, and
needlework.
MOTHER OF SIX.—The Paddington Green Children’s Hospital might suit
you, boys under twelve years of age and girls under fourteen being
eligible, and no letters of recommendation being required. Write to
the treasurer, George Hanbury, Esq. 21, Portman-square, W. There are
also the Belgrave Hospital for Children, 77 and 79, Gloucester-street,
S.W.—lady superintendent, Miss Munro; The Eveline Hospital for Sick
Children, Southwark Bridge-road, S.E.;—secretary, T. H. Chapman, Esq.
All three are free.
SOPHIA FALCONER.—Cod-liver oil is specially beneficial to consumptive
persons or those suffering from a severe cough, not from the stomach.
In cases of atrophy we should think it would be of service. Many
persons, strong or delicate, find a plunge or two in the sea of much
benefit; but few comparatively could go into still, cold, fresh water.
A cold sponge bath is quite a different thing, and cold salt-water
sponging of the spine, throat, and chest is much to be recommended, or
a good quick rubbing with a wet towel half wrung out, and drying with a
rough one.
CURLY and FLUFFY.—Avoid meeting the men who try to force unwelcome
attentions upon you. Speak to your mother about it, and let her direct
you. She can put a stop to the persecution with authority. If she were
to go out with you a few times she could dismiss them at once. Avoid
seeing them, and go into a shop or turn a different way if they try to
join you. It is an important part of her duty to protect and chaperone
you.
AN OLD GIRL OF POLAND.—In adopting a new country it is always wise to
be provided with a passport, a copy of your certificate of baptism,
and letters from your clergyman, and any leading men, magistrates or
others; also your banker, if you have one. Such papers might prove very
valuable as introductions into society, or to facilitate your obtaining
employment. Besides this, they would be very essential in case of
mistaken identity. No passport is needed in coming to England, yet it
is wise to have one.
J. B.—To know the colour called primrose, you have only to look at
the flower and at the enamelled or painted representations of it. Why
ask anyone else when your own eyes could act better for you than any
description by another person?
CLANSMAN.—We should like to encourage you to write, as the lines speak
well of the mind and the heart; but we think you would succeed better
in prose than poetry.
“EUCHARIS LILY.”—We have no recollection of the MS. of which you speak,
and regret you have waited so long for an opinion. The lines you
enclose show good feeling, but lack originality. We thank you for your
kind letter.
F. A. B.—We feel sincere sympathy for you, and scarcely know how to
advise you. At your early age you are only eligible for the Children’s
Hospital, Great Ormond Street, W.C. You might write for particulars to
the lady superintendent. You would have to supply certificates both as
to character and health.
GERTRUDE MCKENZIE.—No licence is required to enable you to keep a
registry office for servants.
SNOWDROPS.—Certainly, wear your gloves in church. Why not? A
correspondent some time ago advised that maidenhair ferns should be
watered with tea, and tea-leaves from the tea-pot should be put round
them.
INEZ and PHILIP.—We are of opinion that the amount allowed by your
brother for his dinner is much in excess of what is needed, and may
prove a temptation to him if continued. We were interested in your
letter, and we hope your mutual happiness will long be continued.
ONE YOU HAVE BENEFITED.—Many thanks for your kind letter. We quite see
all your difficulties, but we think you must not make too much of them.
The real use of all training at home is to help young people to stand
alone some day, and act in the fear of God, for themselves; they cannot
be always children, nor in leading strings, so you must excite in
them conscientiousness and a constant desire to do right. The conduct
they propose, _i.e._, of going out and in, of accepting invitations as
they please, without consulting you, is, in the first place, ill-bred
and unladylike. No one treats the lady of the house, be she mother
or step-mother, in that manner, and even in society they would not
be guests a second time in any house where they ignored the lady who
invited them.
ALEA EUROPEA.—In the “Chapel in the Tower,” by Mr. Bell, we find the
following notice of Arthur Pole, who, with his brother Edmund, was
imprisoned for life, and died in the Tower—They were the sons of Sir
Geoffrey Pole, and grandsons of Margaret of Clarence, Countess of
Salisbury. Cardinal Pole was, therefore, their uncle. In 1562 they were
implicated in a conspiracy to depose Queen Elizabeth, and place Mary
Queen of Scots on the throne. It was also alleged that one of them
designed to marry her. They were tried for high treason at Westminster
Hall, 26th February, 1562, and sentenced to be executed as traitors at
Tyburn. The sentence was commuted by Queen Elizabeth to imprisonment
for life in the Tower, and on the walls of the Beauchamp Tower, which
was their prison, their names will be found carved several times.
The last written was as follows:—“A passage perillous makethe a port
pleasante, I. H. S., 1568, Arthur Pole, aged 37.” The date of his death
and that of his brother seems not to be known, but both were dead in
1578, and buried in the chapel in the Tower.
DAISY.—Take no notice of the matter, unless you are directly charged,
when you can deny truthfully the authorship of such an unmaidenly
epistle.
ALICIA.—If the jewellery be good and old, it is better to employ a
jeweller to clean it.
SNOWSTORM.—We think you should go to New Zealand to your affianced
husband, and keep your promise, especially as you leave a sister at
home to take care of your mother. It would indeed be foolish to bring
him to England if he be doing well out there, and is able to marry and
give you a comfortable home.
SYBIL.—We think you may need a tonic of some kind. A little alum and
water is sometimes good for moist hands, but it is never safe to check
perspirations, unless under a doctor’s orders.
BUTTERCUP.—We know of no situation easier than a nurse’s, where there
are only one or two children, unless, perhaps, you could manage to get
one as parlour-maid only.
A. S. F. T. F. (New South Wales).—There would be no value if the dates
of the half-crowns were erased, because coins of the House of Brunswick
are only valuable when in perfect order.
MIZPAH.—The word “Mizpah” means a watch-tower. On a ring it would
mean, “The Lord watch between thee and me, when we are absent from
each other,” a solemn pledge of faithfulness and truth in a betrothal.
It was used as a solemn warning to one suspected, not trusted, in the
original case.
I. H. B.—“Ban” is an Irish prefix, and means “white.” We cannot find
any other clue to the word, and we think you should have written
“Wenham,” which is the name of a lake near Boston, U.S.A., from which
the ice derives its name.
OMEGA.—The only way to be comfortable is to prevent the chilblains
from coming at first, by rubbing the place you feel affected with a
little dry mustard and flour very gently, which will generally put
the chilblains back. When a chilblain has broken, a decoction of
poppy-heads with hot water may be soothing, and bread poultices are
used by many people, but we are doubtful of their expediency. When the
inflammation has subsided, a little creosote ointment may be used, but
when so bad it would be well to consult a doctor.
R. A. A.—The editor declines, with thanks.
DUM SPIRO SPERO.—The words are French, and are used when picking
the leaves from a daisy. They mean, “He loves me a little, much,
passionately, not at all.” This is one of the many ancient charms, or
really auguries, which we have obtained from unknown ancestry.
F. A. H. B.—We regret that we can make no use of your essay.
DADDY LONGLEGS should send her locket to a jeweller’s to be cleaned and
repolished.
LADY GODIVA.—Probably digestion. Ask your doctor about it.
ESTHER BLACK.—The notice of the marriage in the different newspapers is
a sufficient announcement to friends at a distance. Neither cards nor
wedding-cake are sent now.
FLORENCE MOORE.—Does your sister wish to look like a balloon, tied in
at the middle with a string? or, still worse, does she wish to cut her
liver in two? Her other plan, “to drink vinegar,” would so thin her
blood that she would exchange her wholesome fat for dropsy, and become
blown out like a skin-bag used for water in the deserts. For your own
infirmity you should wear a backboard and faceboard daily while at your
studies. We have often described and prescribed them already.
CURIOUS.—The origin of the name given by Handel to his composition
called “The Harmonious Blacksmith” was a very natural one. He was on
a visit to the Duke of Chandos, at Edgware, and, overtaken by heavy
rain, he took shelter in a smith’s forge. The ringing strokes of the
hammer, combined with the song of the smith, told a story to the lively
imagination of the composer, and gave birth to the piece in question.
LAURA.—It is not very evident as to when the Manx House of Keys was
first established, but it existed in the time of the Dane King, Orry,
at the beginning of the tenth century. This sovereign established an
independent throne in Mona. The term “Keys” is derived from _Kiare
es feed_, “twenty-four,” and applied to that number of men of the
island who form the Lower House, while the Upper House, or Council, is
appointed by the crown, and consists of the bishop, archdeacon, clerk
of the rolls, and some civil officials.
STRAWBERRY CREAM.—Have you learnt any branch of domestic service? If
so, make use of it. Better trained servants are much required. You
might, at least, look for a situation as schoolroom maid, under nurse,
or mother’s help. These would serve to give you practical training.
LOLLY.—It is for ladies to recognise gentlemen, if acquaintances, not
the reverse. This being the case, we do not see what your bowing to
your clergyman can have to do with “fastness.” Of course, the character
of the recognition must depend on your position in life. Good Friday is
a fast, not a feast day. That is the reason, as you will perceive.
ADMIRER OF THE G.O.P.—Why should you ask your clergyman to give you a
severe talking to? If you know you deserve it, why not administer it to
yourself? Tell your mother that you lament your want of self-control
and respect in giving way to unseemly ill-temper, and ask her to help
you by a timely check and reproof, and by her prayers to rule your
spirit. “He that ruleth his spirit is greater than he that taketh a
city.” Leaving off your spectacles will not only make your eyes ache,
but injure them, by overstraining the nerves.
ENID.—If the ends of your hair split, you should have them carefully
singed by a hairdresser accustomed to do so. You might set all on fire
if you attempted to do so yourself. Improve your handwriting by writing
copies daily, and perfect your acquaintance with the first three or
more rules in arithmetic, and then you will be eligible for a situation
as shop assistant.
GRETTA’S SISTER.—A surgeon should examine your sister’s tongue to see
whether it be paralysed. If she can hear, then no other alphabet is
needed for her than ours.
YOUNG STEPMOTHER.—The advice of your governess is good. As you have
so high an opinion of her discretion, as well as amiability and
experience, you had better give her the due authority to act for you.
In a month’s time, or during the first quarter, you will see with
what success it is attended. One thing is certain, obedience must be
enforced.
HOPE has some poetic feeling, but whether she will rise to the level
of “poetry” in future we could not say, nor could we recommend
any magazine or publisher likely to take literary and poetical
compositions. That is a question for the industry and perseverance of
the writer to solve.
DOROTHY FORSTER.—The lines you send us are very halting, both as to
rhyme and reason.
CHERRY RIPE.—The word “fiat” means an order or decree. We thank you for
your good wishes and praise of our paper.