OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.
Kyle, Victoria, Australia, writes to inform “Gold Dust” that “Tit for Tat” is published as a song, in two keys, E♭ and C. The words are by “Nemo,” and the music by Henry Pontet. The song can be procured at Enoch and Sons, 14 and 14A, Great Marlborough Street, London. “Kyle” would copy out and forward the song to “Gold Dust,” if she knew her address.
“Ninette” (Budapesth) again has answers—from “Dolly,” who says “Somebody’s Darling” is to be found in Walker’s Golden Reciter (William Walker and Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, price 1s. 6d.); from “Victoria,” who refers it and the “Song of the Shirt” to Recitations for Recreation, in verse, collected by Mary Trebeck (Wells, Gardner, Darton & Co., 44, Victoria Street, London, S.W., price about 1s.), and from “A. A. L. S.,” who mentions the Royal Reader, No. VI. Miss Marguerite Fitzroy Dixon, 1919, Florence Street, Ottawa, offers to copy out and send “Ninette” the poem, “Somebody’s Darling,” on receipt of her address.
Molly Darling wishes to know the author of a “poem,” which we can inform her is a well-known nursery rhyme, beginning—
“When good King Arthur ruled this land
He was a worthy King.”
“Ivy” is anxious for a copy of a poem containing the words—
“She will stand at the altar,
Modest, and white, and still.”
E. M. Crabb inquires for a recitation in which the expression “A little chap curly and brown” occurs several times. We cordially respond to E. M. Crabb’s kind wishes.
S. W. H. wishes to find a hymn containing the lines—
“Oh, make my spirit worthy
To join that ransomed throng.”
“Doubtful” is informed by Elaine Steddall, Clara M. Smith, and Ellen Ward that the words she quotes are the two first lines of a poem called “Somebody’s Mother.” It can be found in Blackie’s Comprehensive Fourth Reader (School Series), or in one of the parts (I. or II.) of Alfred Miles’ A 1 Reciter, price 6d. We thank Ellen Ward for kindly copying out the words, which “Doubtful” may receive on sending her address.
“Tregelles,” 5, Rothsay Road, Bedford, is anxious to obtain the two volumes of Denis O’Neil, by Mary Bradford Whiting, now out of print. If any reader of the “G. O. P.” has disused copies—old, but complete—“Tregelles” would gladly give 3s. for the pair.
E. H. K. asks for the names of four newspapers in which an account of the Fancy Dress Ball at Northampton House was issued, about two years ago. The papers she kept have been accidentally destroyed.
Bessie inquires for the words and music of a song, the refrain of which runs as follows—
“You’ll never miss the water till the well runs dry.”
H. M. C. kindly writes: “The refrain, ‘Belle Marquise,’ asked for by ‘La Petite Violette,’ occurs in a poem entitled, ‘Une Marquise’ in Old World Idylls, by Austin Dobson. The poem occurs also in his ‘Collected Poems,’ published about the end of 1897.”