Spotted Crash.—We think you are mistaken as to the origin of the name Billingsgate. The name “Billing” belongs to an old Teutonic tribe or clan, whose traditions are old enough to be mythical. It is probable that some of its members may have been amongst those Low German adventurers who conquered Britain and made it England. This conjecture explains many names beginning with Billing in this country, besides Billingsgate.
Heather Bell.—We regret that we cannot help you in your quest in any way.
Cinderella.—It would depend upon what examination you went in for, of course. Girton College is at Cambridge. It is for women over eighteen years of age. The entrance examinations are in March and June. The address of the secretary is 22, Gloucester-place, Hyde Park, London, W.
Mizpah.—We should advise you, as you are so young, to go in for teaching as a profession, and to study at a training college, or at the College of the Home and Colonial School Society, Gray’s Inn-road, W.C., or else at the Teachers’ Training Society, Training College, Fitzroy-street, W. Governesses’ situations are yearly more and more difficult to obtain, and it is better to be trained so as to command school situations of a high class.
K. B.—1. The ancient name of Constantinople was Byzantium. The present city occupies its site, but was named after Constantine the Great, who built it. 2. Cardinal Wolsey erected Christ Church College, Oxford, Ipswich, and also Hampton Court. A Life of King Robert “the Bruce” was written by the Scottish poet, Barbour, in a poem called the “Brus.”
ART.
A Tomato.—See article in Silver Sails (Summer Number for 1881) on crystoleum painting. The 12th of April, 1873, was a Saturday.
Jane.—If you really wish to learn drawing and painting, buy a shilling manual on perspective and study from natural objects. Begin with some simple object, such as a village pump or wayside stile, but do not attempt such composite subjects as that sent for our opinion until you can accomplish the former subjects fairly well.
Cloe.—As a rule, if a girl shows any taste for using her pencil, in however trivial a way, she imagines that she could make money by it; but she forgets, like the swarms of verse-writers, that ideality to a very considerable degree is requisite for both the poet and painter. If you have a gift for designing, as well as the practical skill, you might find an opening amongst the lace manufacturers of Nottingham and other places, amongst the cotton printers at Manchester, or the silk manufactories at Macclesfield. It could be available for wall-paper printers, for carpet weaving, and for pottery. Turn your attention to one of these openings.
Miss Fiennes, of Castle-hill, Reading, Berkshire, conducts a girls’ club, called the Daub Society, to which members (amateur beginners) send an original painting or drawing every month. The annual subscription is one shilling, and the members adopt fancy names.