Elsie.—Your question whether it is ever right to make other people the subject of conversation is easily answered. It is right to speak of our friends and acquaintances, if we do so kindly, and talk of their good qualities. Nothing is so mean as to speak unkindly of the absent, who can not defend themselves. Conversation, if restricted to historical facts, as you propose, would be very dull.
Constant Reader.—It would be better to meet on some evening in the week than to confine yourselves to Sunday evening. But if you are engaged every other evening, why not meet from four to six on Sunday afternoon, and leave the evening free to go to church? You might take up some good book of Eastern travel, or the life of some noble man like Garfield or Lincoln, and read it together. Call yourselves the Inquirers, if your aim is, as I imagine it to be, to find out what is worthy, and follow it. I do not think boys of your age should stay away from church on Sunday evening either to read or hold debates. You will learn much more, both mentally and spiritually, by attending regularly on the ministry of some clergyman whom you enjoy hearing.
Flavel S. M., New Brighton, New York, found a dandelion in an exposed place, as bright as ever, and in full bloom, on December 5.
Gracie M.—The Postmistress knows of nothing which will remove superfluous hair from the face or arms.
This week we would call the attention of the C. Y. P. R. U. to the comprehensive little article on John Bright under the head of "People We Hear About"; to the "Chat on Philately," which carries us away to the northern coast of South America; and to the charming article on foreign travel, entitled "Tom Fairweather's Holiday in Madeira." Then we want them all to read the story called "Sam Jenkins's Dream." Not that any of them are like the Sam of the Old Year, but because every one of us, no matter how good we are already, wants to take a new and a fresh and a better start in the New Year to come.