STUDY AND STUDIO.
French Canadian.—A year’s board at Leipsic and tuition at the Leipsic Conservatorium will cost you, with due economy, from 1350 to 1800 marks (£67 10s. to £90). If you write “An das Directorium des Königl; Conservatoriums der Musik, Leipsic, Germany,” you will receive a small pamphlet in English, containing the most explicit details.
Gertrude A. Simpson.—November 21st, 1881, was a Monday. Many thanks for your kind letter of praise. We insert your request.
Lonely Nell.—You might try to improve your writing and spelling, by carefully, each day, copying out some extract from a book. We are asking for a correspondent for you.
Hero.—Only two out of your six verses rhyme properly. You would not be able to write for publication. A knowledge of the laws of verse-making is required before attempting metrical composition.
New Quay.—1. The author, “Bethmont,” is quite unknown to us. Perhaps the name is a fictitious one, as you say it occurs in a story.—2. You must remember that a popular author is usually a very busy person and has no leisure to answer miscellaneous questions, presumptuous or not, that readers may be disposed to ask about the creatures of his imagination. The failure to answer such a letter as you describe would not imply any annoyance. Well-drawn characters are usually based on some living original, with an admixture of fiction thrown in.
Maggie.—The only way to “get a fairy story accepted by a children’s magazine” is to send the MS. to the editor of any magazine for which it seems suitable, with a letter, and stamps for its return if rejected. You must choose your own magazine. Should it be accepted, the editor will pay you at the usual rate, but we must warn you against probable disappointment.
Violet.—Your quotation is not quite correctly given.
“And I smiled to think God’s goodness flowed around our incompleteness,
Round our restlessness, His rest,”
will be found in the “Rhyme of the Duchess May,” by Mrs. Browning.
Souvenir.—1. Write on foolscap on one side of the page only.—2. It is quite impossible for us to mention any publisher who would take your story, which we have never seen. Send it to any magazine for which you think it suitable, and observe our reply to “Maggie” above.
Emma Belusco (Austria).—We applaud your perseverance, but we are afraid you could not hope to write for an English paper. There are un-English expressions in your interesting sketch, e.g., “we resolved upon looking for it,” instead of “to look”; “explanation to,” instead of “explanation of,” and so forth. We have our own staff of experienced writers, and never insert anything on the conditions you name; but we thank you for sending us the translated story of the poor forsaken cats.
Miss Martin.—We keep no register of addresses, so can only publish your request for Ninette’s in “International Correspondence.” Note also that we undertake no communication by post (vide Rules).
Daisy.—Weakness of the third finger is very usual. You should place your fingers and thumb on five consecutive white keys, and, keeping the thumb, first, second, and fourth finger down, repeatedly strike the note that is under the third finger. If this monotonous exercise is persevered in, the third finger will gain strength. We can never answer a question very soon, as we go to press long before the magazine reaches your hands.
Sappho.—Certainly, with all the distinctions and acquirements you name, you ought to be able to find pupils for painting and music in some town of Devonshire or Cornwall; but it is a great risk to settle down at random, and we cannot specify any one place where you would succeed. You might write for advice to the Société des Professeurs de Français en Angleterre, 20, Bedford Street, Strand, London, W.C. Would you not like to apply for an English correspondent in one of the counties named? She might tell you something that would be of use.
Penicuik.—We do not think that the friend you mention is identical with the girl who wrote to us as her signature was “Violet M.” only, not V. M. Foster as you suppose; but if “Violet M.” was ever at school in Edinburgh, she may send us her address for you to see.