Ape and Donkey (New South Wales).—Lads of nineteen are certainly too young to choose partners for life, and no girl would be wise in binding herself to marry a young fellow who could not know his own mind. A man should be at least twenty-five before he asks any girl to risk her happiness in giving him a promise of marriage. If an escort from church on a Sunday evening be desirable, you should make due arrangement for it before venturing to go. Impromptu accidental offers of escort are very inexpedient. In such cases you should have another girl with you likewise.
Sphinx.—Accept our thanks for your kind letter. We cannot decipher it all, but see no question to be answered.
Business Woman.—We have given a long series of articles on the subject of Good Breeding, and also of Etiquette, of an exhaustive character. Some are entitled “Duties,” etc. Look for them in the indexes, and you will learn all you require to know under any circumstance in which you may be placed.
Browny.—To become talkative would be most objectionable. Read our two articles on “The Art of Conversing Agreeably.” We thank you for your prescription against sea sickness, viz.—2 grains of bromide of sodium taken three times a day, two days before going on board, and night and morning while on board. But we have not tried it, and so must advise anyone wishing to experiment on the dose, to consult her own doctor before so doing.
A Dublin Lassie.—The 18th December, 1871, was a Monday. In reply to your second question, see our answer to “Browny.”
Susie M.—Our blessed Lord was tempted in all points, like as we all are. Read the other passages in connection with this distinct and positive statement.
A Parlour-maid writes, “What will remove black spots from silver?” and she goes on in the next sentence to say, “when the plate is cleaned they go away.” What more does she wish to know? Clean, the plate, and do so frequently and regularly.
Popsey.—September 5th, 1856, fell on a Friday. Conversion to God may be sudden, but is more generally a gradual and growing conviction of sin and apprehension of the way of salvation, a gentle process of drawing to Christ by feelings of gratitude for mercies received, and through hearing and reading of His love. This appears to be a more reliable and satisfactory process than sudden convictions with an assurance of faith. Still, such conversions as the latter do occur. There are many godly people, also, who have never known any change since their early childhood, but who always feared God and trusted in His atonement.
A. Payne.—You are doing a very rash thing in trying to thin yourself by taking carbonate of soda in daily doses. You will thus thin your blood, and thinness of blood often results in dropsy, spots, and boils, etc. Your being stout is a great advantage, if not excessive. You have some substance to waste safely in case of illness. Do you wish to look like the poor scarecrows with pipe-stopper waists? Your hand is scarcely formed, and you should use a softer pen.
Heliotrope (New Zealand).—1. We read your letter with interest, although the answer to it be so late. You are very right in the views you express about marriage. Young girls are too apt to take its responsibilities upon themselves without counting the cost, or their own suitability. 2. Changing the key of a song seldom improves it. But, at all events, if the key were unsuitable for your voice, your singing would be more agreeable than it would have been in the original key. Accept our thanks and best wishes.