MISCELLANEOUS.
Popsey.—Perhaps Blackwood’s “holdfast” would prove satisfactory in securing the scraps on your screen. We imagine that you are not very careful in brushing the gum or paste quite over the corners that you complain curl up. Very little of the above-named “holdfast” will be required to make the scraps adhere firmly.
Tennyson.—The precise origin of the office of “Poet Laureate” does not appear to be known. There was a Versificator Regis in the reign of Henry III. Chaucer was Poet Laureate by his own appointment, and he subsequently received an annuity from Richard II. Some twenty-one poets succeeded him in the office. The immediate predecessor of Tennyson was William Wordsworth, and he was succeeded by Dr. Robert Southey. Tennyson, who was born in 1809, received the appointment in 1850.
Alice Grey.—See page 519, vol. vi., for description and illustration for a supper table. Add some chickens and a ham, and you could make it do for your plain wedding breakfast. The bride and bridegroom sit together and lead the way to the dining-room, and place themselves in the centre of the long table opposite the wedding cake. The father of the bride takes the bridegroom’s mother, and seats himself next his daughter, and the bridegroom’s father takes the bride’s mother, who sits next the bridegroom. The bridesmaids generally sit opposite the bride and bridegroom.
Marcelle’s question was answered on page 704, vol. vii. The poem, “Pleasures of Memory,” is by Samuel Rogers.
A Delicate Country Lassie.—1. We have read your nice little letter with much interest and sympathy. It is pleasant to hear that our advice has been helpful to you, and we only wish your health would improve. But we think you might lay the matter before God in faith, and ask Him to cure you and raise you up, according to the promise, “the prayer of faith shall save the sick.” See St. James v. 15, and Matt. viii. 17. 2. The 26th June, 1874, was a Friday. Write to the secretary, Lifeboat Institution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, W.C.
Earnest Inquirer.—It is impossible for us to tell you when the Government will legislate in behalf of shorter hours work for shop assistants. To work from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on ordinary days, and from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays, is slave-driving indeed. We can only wonder that ostensibly respectable tradesmen could be guilty of treating their assistants in so cruel a manner, and that in a Christian country. They ought not to need legal coercion in a matter of mere humanity.
E. A. A. B.—Almeida is the name of one of the strongest fortresses of Portugal, in the Province of Beira, and on the north-east frontier of Spain. It was taken by the Spaniards in 1762, and afterwards surrendered. Massena captured it from the British in 1810, and Wellington re-took it the following year, and restored it to Portugal. As the Spaniards had once captured the fortress, they naturally commemorated their victory and great acquisition by naming an avenue after it in Madrid. You spelt the name incorrectly.
D. M.—The origin of the designation of those days beginning on July 3rd and ending on August 11th, as dog days, has nothing to do with dogs becoming mad from the heat and lack of water. In the time of the ancient astronomers, the heliacal rising of Sirius, the dog-star, occurred in July, and superstition attached to his rising the rabies in dogs. But this was quite untrue, for this disease is not produced even under tropical suns in mid-summer, where the animals are not inoculated with the virus of one already itself bitten. If no biting were permitted there would be no more mad dogs. Besides, it is not during the excessive heat of July that dogs do go mad, the colder months of winter and early spring being far more usual seasons for it.
Christina S.—Perhaps you set yourself too much to do. In the Christian life it is often so, and then you are discouraged because you fail. The first rule seems to be, To love your brother as yourself; for if you cannot act unselfishly, kindly, and affectionately towards those you see, you cannot love the God you have not seen. Begin with thinking of everybody around you first, and in that love and service, combined with faith, you will, in time, see God, for God is love.
An Anxious One, Primrose.—There is a valuable book published by the R. T. S., 56, Paternoster-row, E.C., “A New Introduction to the Study of the Bible,” by Barrows, which you would find it an advantage to study. But do not make it the habit of your mind to fret about dogma; turn to the practical side of religion, and serve the Lord Christ by your daily life and conversation.
Primrose League.—Having given your sister the best advice, you are not bound to do more, but try to win her by love with patience. It would be better for her to have a governess at home than to go to school.
M. A. B. Z. E.—Look at any of our completed volumes and you will find the index is a list of the subjects written upon in the G.O.P., with the page on which they are to be found added. The first of April, 1872, was a Monday.
An Englishwoman in Russia.—You will need to write many stories and to gain much experience in writing before you produce one fit for publication. We could not give advice about publication; but you will find the addresses of all London publishers in a London directory; and you must follow the example of Charlotte Brontë, and all our best writers almost, i.e., to try and try again until you gain a hearing. There is no royal road to success. You would probably find Vincent’s “Dictionary of Biography” in Haydn’s series a useful book.
Shining Light (?).—“R. S. V. P.” are the initials of the French sentence “Répondez s’il vous plait,” i.e., reply if you please. They are put in the corners of invitations to various entertainments.
Happy Minnie.—The inner skin of the broad bean pod is said to be a cure for warts, if rubbed on gently several times a day.
Irene Aynsley.—1. In England drive to the left, but on the Continent and in America one keeps to the right. We do not know the custom in New Zealand, but doubtless it is the English. 2. Can you not get a small book on fancy knitting?
Rex.—Certainly call on and visit your pupils’ mothers, if invited. You do not need any other introduction. Unless introduced to the friends met in the street, it is well to walk on a short distance and wait.
Ein Unartiges Madchen.—1. Punch and Judy dates its origin to one of the old mystery plays, Pontius Pilate and the Jews. The story as we represent it is attributed to Silvio Fiorillo, an Italian comedian of the seventeenth century. The moral is decidedly bad, as the evil is made to triumph over the good, and defies and defeats all law and justice. 2. Slope your writing more from right to left.
One who is Waiting.—The story you tell us of a cat taking care of two chickens when her kittens were taken from her is very wonderful; but we believe it has its parallel in one told by Sir John Lubbock, of a cat that brought up two ducklings, and was distracted at seeing them take to the water. We much approve of the wishes and feelings you express, and you have our sympathy. We wish you God-speed.
Winifred H.—1. Grey is a very delicate colour, and probably the rain has extracted the dye, and nothing could restore the loss but having the material redyed in a darker shade. 2. It is not necessary that the name of a writer should appear; but the difficulty is that we cannot accept the articles and stories of unknown writers. We rarely take those of authors who have not made their names as such.
“Truly Sweet Eighteen” (?).—We should say that, as a descriptive name, “Truly Vain” would be truer. If you find that you earn too little by dressmaking, perhaps you could turn your four years’ experience of that trade to good account by adding to your acquirements that of hair-dressing, and then you could take a situation as lady’s-maid.
Humble Minor.—We never heard of an infant who would not go to his mother voluntarily, unless to go to a wet-nurse, whom he might naturally suppose, if he could not think, was his real mother. If he have a fearful temper, and be not a screamer from teething, or any other pain, he should be gently corrected for his violence. Some children scream themselves into fits. Children should have the best and richest unwatered milk.
One in Trouble.—It is well that you only broke one looking-glass, and that your father only tries to comfort you. Be more careful in the future, and do not listen to silly “prophets of evil.” Those who trust in God’s care and commit themselves to Him in well-doing, need not “take thought for the morrow” in an anxious way. It would be a want of faith.
Oak Tree.—Do as your mother wishes. You are not yet nineteen, and are under her authority. But perhaps she might spare you to go out for a few hours daily, to take children out for a walk, and teach them to write, read, sew, and some few other lessons. If not, she might let you assist in some shop where the hours were not long. Perhaps you might hold a little class of children at home.
Charity.—1. We do not know to what your mother refers by that name, but you will find allusions to the “Book of Life” in the Epistle to the Philippians iv. 3, and in the Book of Revelations iii. 5, and in five more places. 2. If you wish some day to be a doctor, begin by studying a shilling manual called “Sick Nursing at Home” (Gill, 170, Strand, W.C.), and then join an ambulance class.
Ella Mary.—What are known as “Mystery plays” are referred for their origin to the pilgrims who journeyed to the East in the eleventh century. The earliest known in England took place at Dunstable early in the following century. The oldest extant dates to the reign of Edward III. The “Chester Mysteries” date back to 1327. Those of the French only commenced in the fourteenth century.
The Owner of “Muff.”—1. We do not undertake to teach quadrupeds, though we endeavour to teach bipeds, but these latter only provided they be not “muffs,” as that would be beyond our patience, and perhaps our ability, for there are more “muffs” than those that walk on four legs! 2. The 1st of September, 1873, was a Monday.
Phlox.—Fidgets in the legs usually arise from acidity, and perhaps indigestion. You should take some anti-acid, such as magnesia, before going to bed, if suffering much. A doctor should prescribe for you, as you seem out of health. Avoid sweet things, and any food that produces acidity in the system.
Pale Face.—We do not know what could now be done to give you a pair of straight legs, unless you could have them exchanged, and screw on a pair of wooden ones. Wear a full skirt, and the defect may be concealed to a great extent, especially if you take pains in walking well.
[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text:
Page 116: opus 3 Schumann to “The opus 39. By Schumann.”
systematicaly to systematically—“systematically fingered”.
Page 118: one to own—“one’s own transactions”.]