MISCELLANEOUS.
M. A. R.—We think that your selection of Malvern seems a wise one, especially as others should be considered as well as the invalid. The waters are of an alkaline earthy nature, specially suitable to scrofulous sores and skin diseases, besides internal complaints. There are hydropathic establishments, and apart from the mineral waters, the spring water is exceptionally pure. Great Malvern occupies a fine position in the centre of the Chase of Malvern, on the slopes of the hills, and those who can walk find the latter very attractive, as the air is bracing and the view very fine. The distance from London is 123 miles by railroad. For anæmic patients the ferruginous waters of Harrogate are specially suited. It has also sulphureous and saline springs.
Curiosity.—Do you not confuse the heir presumptive and the heir apparent to the throne? The Grand Duke Michael is the heir presumptive only, and the “Czarevitch,” a term meaning only king’s son, or prince. The title “Cesarevitch,” i.e., “son of the Czar,” is only given to the eldest son, who is Crown Prince, Nashlyedrik, and heir apparent, and his consort is “Cesarevna.” The first Czar of Russia of the House of Romanoff was elected, and the succession has never proceeded in regular order. Peter the Great left the crown by will to his daughter Elizabeth; but Anne was elected instead, to Elizabeth’s prejudice, who had to wait till after the death of the Emperor John before she came to the throne. The four Empresses of Russia who have reigned alone have been Catherine, widow of Peter the Great; Anne, daughter of Ivan, his elder brother; Elizabeth his daughter; and Catherine II., widow of Peter III., a grandson of Peter the Great. The Czar is the supreme ruler, and the Government is an autocracy. The Salic law does not obtain in Russia.
Pansy.—The following is the way that rust may be taken from steel, but great care is needed to do it. Immerse the article to be cleaned for a few minutes, till all dirt and rust be taken off, in a strong solution of cyanide of potassium—about ½oz. in a wineglassful of water. Take out and clean it with a toothbrush, using some paste made of cyanide of potassium, Castile soap, whiting and water, mixed into a paste of about the consistency of thick cream.
Martha.—When washing linen you will find it advisable not to place either soap or soda directly into washing-tubs, coppers, or boilers of any kind. Both should be thoroughly dissolved in warm or cold water, and then only used in the coppers or boilers. A great deal depends on the soaking of linen before it is put into the boiler. It should be placed in a large tub of tepid water in which borax has been dissolved, or a little good soap has been lathered. One tablespoonful of prepared Californian borax to every gallon of hot water will be a very effective soaking fluid. Do not use soda at this stage of the process. You have probably been using too much. The soaking-water, or bath into which you put the linen must be tepid, not hot nor cold. Many people rub a little soap on the soiled place after the soaking and before boiling. The rinsing is also very important, and must be attended to or else the linen will be streaky or of a bad colour. In fact, neglect of rinsing is the general cause of a yellow hue in linen. The water used should never be cold but warm. Cold water sets, or fixes the grease and soap in the fabric. Boiling-bags are very useful, and protect the linen from the copper, but we think you will find too much soda is the cause of trouble.
Waiting.—It would be impossible for us to give such a list, and, indeed, we could not without knowing the kind of work it was and its subject, as some firms publish one thing and others another. Some deal with purely educational works, others take fiction; and many limit themselves to high-class works only, such as those of reference and research. The safest way to proceed is, we think, to write to the Incorporated Society of Authors, 4, Portugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields; Chairman, Sir Walter Besant; Secretary, S. Squire Sprigge, Esq. From them you will receive all requisite information and advice on the subject.
Mab.—There is no reason why any building or institution should not be inspected if it were thought needful. Health and sanitary inspectors have power to go everywhere, we believe.
Tiny.—Any strong wide-mouthed phial about 2½ inches high and 1½ inches in diameter, containing spirits of wine, and having a cork stopper, will answer for beetles; the cork should be secured round the neck of the bottle by a piece of string. A smaller bottle can be used with a quill through the cork for smaller insects. But a proper bottle of solid mixture is expressly sold for destroying specimens. There is a very nice little book called The Home Naturalist, published at 56, Paternoster Row, which would be useful to you, as it contains full directions for all the processes of catching and preserving insects, plants, woods and stones. Its price is 5s. Insects may be destroyed for collections of specimens without causing suffering.
“THE GIRL I LEFT BEHIND ME.”
[From the painting by M. Ellen Edwards (Mrs. Staples), exhibited in the Royal Academy.]
FOOTNOTES
[1] Actual fact: A young fellow at Verdun, prisoner on parole, was closely imprisoned for knocking down a bust of the Emperor in his lodgings.
[2] Letters of Princess Elizabeth of England, daughter of George III., and Landgravine of Hesse-Homburg. Written for the most part to Miss Louisa Swinburne. Edited by Philip Ch. Yorke, M.A., with portraits. London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1898.
[Transcriber's Note—The following changes have been made to this text:
Page 303: cyclinder to cylinder—“get a glass cylinder”.]