MISCELLANEOUS.
Vida.—It is only in convents that women take vows of celebacy. Remember also that there is a Divine rule for guidance in reference to sacred vows, which must include every description outside the simple and imperative obligation to serve God humbly and faithfully in your ordinary daily life and conversation, and in the inner sanctuary of your own heart, for which Divine rule see Numbers xxx. 3, 4, 5.
Srixo.—In no case should a hostess go in first to her own dining-room; every guest should precede her, excepting the guest that escorts herself, or vice versa. If a cake be presented to a girl on her birthday (which is by no means de rigueur, and like the ever-provided wedding cake) it may be placed either at the top, bottom, or side of the table, as the mistress of the house may please.
Constant Reader.—We are very glad that you see your past errors, and are endeavouring to act as shall be pleasing to your Heavenly Master in your daily life, and as ever in His sight. Ask for the help of the Holy Spirit so to do. The Odd Minutes Society might meet your wishes in trying to do some little extra work for Him in His poor. Write to Miss J. Powel, Luctons, Buckhurst-hill, Essex, for her prospectus. You might get some fingering wool, and crochet or knit for them in odd minutes.
Lichen.—You should pay a visit to a florist’s, and ask for the species you name and examine for yourself. If anything be worth knowing it is worth taking a little trouble to obtain information. Our girls are too lazy and continually ask us to hunt through the indexes supplied for their own use. When you have made a full inspection of the flowers for yourself, you can get direct special information from the florist.
Duchess.—The verse you quote is not taken from any of the canonical books. It is apocryphal.
Inquirer does not appear to be at all acquainted with the Holy Gospel according to St. John, or she would know where to find the text quoted. She ought to feel ashamed of such ignorance, and we recommend her to read that Gospel through, and commit some of our Lord’s discourses to memory. We also advise her and all our girls to obtain a concordance of the Holy Bible at our office, as soon as they can afford to buy one.
Nil Desperandum should obtain medical advice. We can only make general statements, which may or may not be correctly applied to individual cases.
Batty.—If the glaze be produced by the wearing-away of the nap of the cloth, there is no cure for it. Perhaps you could turn it with advantage.
Ape and Donkey (New South Wales).—Lads of nineteen are certainly too young to choose partners for life, and no girl would be wise in binding herself to marry a young fellow who could not know his own mind. A man should be at least twenty-five before he asks any girl to risk her happiness in giving him a promise of marriage. If an escort from church on a Sunday evening be desirable, you should make due arrangement for it before venturing to go. Impromptu accidental offers of escort are very inexpedient. In such cases you should have another girl with you likewise.
Sphinx.—Accept our thanks for your kind letter. We cannot decipher it all, but see no question to be answered.
Business Woman.—We have given a long series of articles on the subject of Good Breeding, and also of Etiquette, of an exhaustive character. Some are entitled “Duties,” etc. Look for them in the indexes, and you will learn all you require to know under any circumstance in which you may be placed.
Browny.—To become talkative would be most objectionable. Read our two articles on “The Art of Conversing Agreeably.” We thank you for your prescription against sea sickness, viz.—2 grains of bromide of sodium taken three times a day, two days before going on board, and night and morning while on board. But we have not tried it, and so must advise anyone wishing to experiment on the dose, to consult her own doctor before so doing.
A Dublin Lassie.—The 18th December, 1871, was a Monday. In reply to your second question, see our answer to “Browny.”
Susie M.—Our blessed Lord was tempted in all points, like as we all are. Read the other passages in connection with this distinct and positive statement.
A Parlour-maid writes, “What will remove black spots from silver?” and she goes on in the next sentence to say, “when the plate is cleaned they go away.” What more does she wish to know? Clean, the plate, and do so frequently and regularly.
Popsey.—September 5th, 1856, fell on a Friday. Conversion to God may be sudden, but is more generally a gradual and growing conviction of sin and apprehension of the way of salvation, a gentle process of drawing to Christ by feelings of gratitude for mercies received, and through hearing and reading of His love. This appears to be a more reliable and satisfactory process than sudden convictions with an assurance of faith. Still, such conversions as the latter do occur. There are many godly people, also, who have never known any change since their early childhood, but who always feared God and trusted in His atonement.
A. Payne.—You are doing a very rash thing in trying to thin yourself by taking carbonate of soda in daily doses. You will thus thin your blood, and thinness of blood often results in dropsy, spots, and boils, etc. Your being stout is a great advantage, if not excessive. You have some substance to waste safely in case of illness. Do you wish to look like the poor scarecrows with pipe-stopper waists? Your hand is scarcely formed, and you should use a softer pen.
Heliotrope (New Zealand).—1. We read your letter with interest, although the answer to it be so late. You are very right in the views you express about marriage. Young girls are too apt to take its responsibilities upon themselves without counting the cost, or their own suitability. 2. Changing the key of a song seldom improves it. But, at all events, if the key were unsuitable for your voice, your singing would be more agreeable than it would have been in the original key. Accept our thanks and best wishes.
M. Wright (New South Wales).—We thank you for so kind a letter, and assure you, as we did “Heliotrope,” that such as you have both written, have encouraged us in our work. We may also add that, if you have not had the benefit of a good education, you have profited by what you had far better than many girls who had that advantage. We wish you God-speed.
The Vicar’s Daughter (Victoria).—We cannot answer your question exactly in the form you wish, but may, at least, say that you might procure what you want through the Messrs Trübner, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C. Accept our best thanks and good wishes.
Minnehaha.—Dr. Samuel Johnson died on the 13th of December, 1784. The name Helena ought to be pronounced with the accent on the first syllable, i.e., Hel-e-na, although the island of that name is pronounced otherwise, the accent being placed on the second syllable, and divided thus, St. He-le-na.
Perplexity.—We recommend any unbeliever to read the Rev. Joseph Cook’s “Monday Lectures,” first and second series, “God and the Conscience,” and “Life and the Soul,” sold by Messrs. Ward and Lock, Dorset Buildings, Salisbury-square, London, E.C.
Well-wisher Elsie.—Your hand is rather a poor one, but it is legible, and is at any rate preferable to the coarse Stonehenge type affected by so many girls. We suppose the phrenologist meant to say that you could if you tried so to do, pass a good examination in the science and art of music.
Evelyn B.—The papers written by Miss Caulfeild on etiquette, good manners, and duties have extended through most of our volumes, beginning with vol. i. and ii., and one and all are valuable authority on all such points.
Ever Hopeful.—The best way to get the information would be to write to the vicar, enclosing a stamped envelope, and ask whether he can supply it from the registers of his church, and if so, what the fees will be. Then, on his answer, you can remit the fees asked.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Discant—Counter-melody.