MISCELLANEOUS.
M. S. K.—You must make your own choice; we could not lay down any dogmatic rule as to the merits of one Christian community over another. God had an elect people in the Israelites, and to those who did not live up to the Divine privileges they enjoyed, our Lord said it would be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for them. God has, in His wisdom and goodness, elected you into some division of the Christian Church—His fold on earth—which is composed of many communities (united on the main though differing respectively on the minor doctrines of the Christian faith). You might have been born a Jew, heathen, Mahommedan, Red Indian, or of any other parentage outside the pale of His fold, but you were elected to enjoy special privileges, a knowledge of Divine truth, and all the precious means of grace. Under such circumstances, if you be not devout, your judgment will be the more severe; for, like Esau, you will have thrown away your birthright, and thus your blessing, for you are a responsible being.
Maggie Mary.—We sympathise much with you in the sentiments you express, and the experiences you have had, and we quite agree with you that prayer, offered in faith in the special divine promises to which you refer, will do more for the sick than any human means. Have recourse to the former, and have nothing to do with mesmerism. If you write again, give your address.
Mary L. Saunders is thanked for informing us of the institution of a school at Haldon View, Topsham, Devon, for children of weak intellect. We are gratified to hear that a suggestion of ours caused the carrying out of this charitable plan. The premises are excellent, and there is accommodation for eight pupils. The promoters of the scheme are sisters of the writer, and have a licence.
Gwendolin Marzipan.—The Odd Minutes Society might suit you; sec., Miss Powell, Luctons, Buckhurst-hill, Essex. The particulars will be sent you in print.
Shirley.—See [page 192], Part for January. A man’s money does not go to any brother or sister should he die intestate and leave a widow or children. In the latter case the widow has a third of his property, and the rest is divided equally between his children. Should he die leaving only one child, the widow still has her third and the one child (whether son or daughter) inherits all the rest—that is, two-thirds. His brothers and sisters cannot claim a farthing when he leaves a widow and child, excepting by will.
Ivy Leaf.—James Mason has given a series of articles on the subject of your letter—“Every Girl a Business Woman,” beginning in [vol. viii., p. 118]. No stamp was necessary on the I.O.U. given you as a receipt for your £30 loan to some man. How disgraceful on the part of one of his sex to borrow such a sum of a girl, and require to be sued for its recovery!
Careless One.—Refer to our indexes for our instructions entitled “How to Remove Inkstains from Ivory,” etc.
Black Tom.—1. The girl you name as being hopelessly attached to a man she has never met but only seen at concerts, should be sent away from the foreign town where you both are staying, either to a friend’s house and care or to a good school. The story is of a most humiliating character; she disgraces the sex, the members of which should be sought, not themselves the seekers. Certainly you should not make any such revelations and overtures to a stranger. If she have no self-respect herself, her friends should not betray such a deplorable state of things. It would be like dragging her through the gutter. 2. We could not hazard an opinion on what was your disease. Your writing slopes the wrong way.
Perplexed.—Go to receive the Holy Communion in charity with all, in humility and repentance, with a steadfast resolution, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to amend your life and cherish no wilful sin, nor any omission of duty. Confess your utter unworthiness and accept Christ as your only hope. Thus you will not present yourself unworthily.
Yum-yum wishes to obtain the publication of a story which she has written. We cannot altogether comply, but give an extract. A young man was given over in decline, induced by the refusal of his suit to a girl called Gwendolyne. But the latter being hungry one day, “Alexander took her to an eating house, and treated her to a sausage, and then, indeed, gratitude won the day, for Gwendolyne leaned her head on Alexander’s shoulder, and she was his.” We cannot undertake to insert Yum-yum’s nor Gwendolyne’s photographs in the G.O.P. in return for her story, as desired.
One Perplexed has jilted her intended husband after some years’ engagement, and this without giving him the full explanation he had a right to demand. She has left him, moreover, for a whole year without one word of such explanation. There is so great a diversity in opinion amongst religious, God-fearing people as to a sincere Christian’s liberty (in such matters as that which has led her to cast off her intended) that we consider her conduct the more reprehensible.
M. E. B. (Charnwood).—Apply to our publisher. The Editor has nothing to do with his department.
Maritzburg.—Write to Miss E. Faithfull, who conducts the Institution for female emigration in Manchester, 10, Albert-square (Scottish Insurance Buildings). State your case, and we think the matter might be arranged for you, if you said any opening was ready for you.
SPRING.
Abitur of the Hills.—The name cayenne is French, and should be pronounced kay-en.
Violet.—We do not enter into nor discuss subjects of the kind about which you inquire. If your parents really object to your receiving the Holy Communion oftener than once a month, why should you cross their wishes? You would show good feeling in consulting them on all occasions short of an infringement of a positive duty, and no divine command prescribes the frequency of your availing yourself of this spiritual privilege.
Ivy.—Were you of full age, it would still be your duty to please and requite your parents, and to stretch a great point so to do; but as a mere minor of eighteen, it is an act of rebellion on your part to keep company and flirt with any man. The next time he presumes to address you, say he can do so no more, as your parents object to it, and then walk resolutely away. As he is above you in position, your parents are wise in their view of the case.
Investor is reading, we hope, Mr. James Mason’s articles on business for women, in the present numbers of the G.O.P. We do not know anything of the company you mention, and should advise you to write and make inquiries from them; and we also recommend you to divide what money you have, to avoid having “all your eggs in the same basket.” Put £50 each into two things, for instance. Is there not some old and respectable building society where you live that you could inquire about?
Emma Hay.—1. The 23rd April, 1865, was a Saturday. 2. Your writing might be improved.
Ethild Mya B.—We do not know what to suggest, save to teach knitting to all your little class, and then get them some clothing for poor children to make. Boys are taught both plain sewing and knitting in Board schools now.
Kathleen.—The quotation, “They also serve who only stand and wait,” is from Milton’s poem on his blindness.
Wild Rose L.—1. The numbers are sixpence each. Six would be 3s., and the parcels post about 6d. 2. The 23rd of January, 1863, was a Friday. The word “truly” does not need an “e” in it.
Synge.—We are much obliged for your letter and its quotation, which we know well. We do not suppose that the writer intended more than half a truth in what he said, probably in allusion to the single watch-notes of the robin. In the limits of a short article it is not possible to go into many particulars. We know many people who never heard a robin sing, as his tones in the spring and summer are always drowned in the general chorus.
Lilian has our sincere sympathy on the three accounts named. May she find rest in the knowledge of that “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” We regret that she gave no address. Has Lilian a movable desk to accommodate to her convenience as she reclines? If so, she might sometimes prepare scrap-books for hospitals, with every sort of picture and card. Such books are made very entertaining both to the maker and the receiver by decapitating figures and making an exchange of heads, especially in the case of old photographs; also in introducing figures into landscapes and interiors. Such books are a real boon to sufferers in hospitals.
S. E. P.—You seem to need a tonic. As your general health must be weak, perhaps some cod-liver oil would answer. Keep your feet dry and warm, and wear flannels next the skin.
Gingerbottle.—1. Handel, the composer, was buried in Westminster Abbey. 2. The best thing to do about colds, we think, is not to catch them.
Hopeful Yum-Yum.—You should say, “None of us have,” and “Neither of us is.” We regret that your letter was not answered before.
E. O.—1. The 17th February, 1862, was a Monday. 2. The tale of “Only a Girl-Wife” was begun in the G.O.P. for October 3rd, 1885.
Isabel.—The Editor regrets to decline Isabel’s poem, but is much obliged for her good opinion of the G.O.P.
Eileen.—Is the poem meant for blank verse? If so, it is incorrect in its construction, and many of the expressions used are very unpoetical.
Miss Greenwood.—The lines you send us are fairly correct, and show cleverness and a certain facility in writing. With practice you ought to do much better.
Annie Maggs.—Water for drinking should always be filtered; but the impurities in it would vary in different localities. In some they would arise from decayed vegetation. Boiled water is the safest to drink.
Maud Morley.—A vamper means one who vamps, or pieces an old thing with something new. It is not always applied to shoes and boots, for in some parts of England “to vamp” means to bully or bluster, and in others it means to travel, while in Swift’s writings we find the sentence, “I never had much hopes of your vamped-up play.”
R. M. A. and Others.—1. None of the handwritings are pretty, but all distinct and easy to read. 2. Sir John Lubbock’s “Best Hundred Books” would serve as a guide; also two very good articles in the Leisure Hour of last year, on the same subject, would contain all the information needful.
Lady Irene Dale had better send for our paper-pattern of “a bodice to take the place of stays,” which she will see advertised in the monthly list given at the end of every article on “Dress: in Season and in Reason,” by the “Lady Dressmaker.”
N. Wales.—We recommend you to have nothing to do with the description of experiments to which you refer. As our magazine is not a medium for any kind of controversy, we do not name the subject to which you refer; but we may tell you that we highly disapprove of them. We are glad that your father and brothers like our magazine.
Goody Two-Shoes.—1. We think you must have made a mistake, and that your bad dreams were the results of your suppers, not of your abstinence from them. As a rule, they are by no means wholesome. The digestive powers are weary after their due work of the day, just as your legs and your brain. They should not be taxed when they need repose. If set to work when tired, the work is only half done, and headaches and blotches in the face, as well as unpleasant dreams, may be expected. A biscuit and a cup of milk might be excepted from this charge, and, possibly, be even desirable. 2. The 16th of August, 1865, was a Wednesday.
Mary Wright (New South Wales).—Your kind letter was very gratifying to us, and we heartily wish you the same blessings that you desire for us.
An Iris.—1. We thank you for the recipe for preserving flowers in a vase—i.e., to put a good pinch of salt in the water, and more if the vase be large. It counteracts the bad effect produced by a hot room. If your mother-in-law be kindly disposed towards you, as evidenced by subscribing herself “affectionately,” and even “very affectionately yours,” you may sign yourself “your affectionate daughter.” 2. The operation, as performed in the sad case you describe, is indeed most horrible. Happily, all cases and all modes of treatment are not alike.
Beryl.—You need complete change of air. If living inland, go to the seaside; if on a plain, exchange to an elevated situation. If this change be accompanied by a complete rest from intellectual work, and from use of the eyes in reading, writing, or fine needlework; and, added to this, you go out twice a day, abstaining from walks that will fatigue you, and you take cod-liver oil or plenty of cream, we think you will recover in a few months.
Vizer.—Friction is good for the liver, not “blows.” The use of a skipping-rope is desirable, and brown wholemeal bread should be taken for breakfast and tea—not mere ordinary bread with an admixture of bran.
Flake.—Hot potatoes and hot carrots are very wholesome; not so when cold. Your digestion appears out of order. Consult a doctor.
Tring.—Perhaps tannin lozenges and alum and water gargle might be serviceable to you; but we cannot prescribe for perfect strangers.
A Little Lamb.—We sympathise much with you in the religious sentiments you express, and we wish you God-speed.
Puzzled One.—The word “glebe” has more than one meaning. Webster gives four. It is derived from the Latin—Gleba, clod, land, soil. In mining it means a piece of earth containing mineral ore; in ecclesiastical law it means the land belonging to as parish church or benefice. It was used to mean a meadow or field in your quotation.
Two Fern Leaves have no business to correspond with any young men without their parents’ express sanction, and unless engaged to them.
Juno.—Certainly, women can sign as witnesses to a will or any legal document, provided they be of age.
Mary Brooks.—We could not possibly tell you what salary you might obtain at a fancy-work shop, as so much depends on the style of place, situation, facility in obtaining hands, state of trade, and amount of competition in that line of business, added to which must be your own efficiency and experience. Inquire at several shops, and so discover the average salary given.