Grace Carmichael, Fontilla Greaves (Barbados), Harriet Kettle (France), M. R. Laurie (Barbados), M. E. Lewis (Hungary), Alice J. Moffitt (Switzerland), Gladys D. G. Peacock (France), Anne G. Taylor (Australia), Herbert Traill (India).
[ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.]
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mabel.—The term molto agitato means with much emotional feeling. Allegro means quick and lively, but not as fast as presto. Allegro con brio means in brilliant style, and caratteristico, characteristic of the nature of the subject.
H. L. W.—Sidmouth lies in a valley between the Salcombe and Peak hills, which are each about 500 feet in height, and is built on the shore of a bay extending from Portland to Start Point. The bathing is good in summer, and provisions cheap. The climate is mild and well suited to invalids, and there is generally a fine breeze from the sea, and less rain than in most places on the Devonshire coast. Altogether we should regard it as a very suitable holiday resort at Easter. A great many pleasant excursions may be made in the near neighbourhood.
Ulrica (The Hague).—The grey parrot, or “jaco,” of Guinea, and other hot parts of Africa, takes a foremost place amongst the various species of its family for intelligence, docility, and healthfulness. Perfect cleanliness is essential for them. The perches should be thick and smooth, and so should be also the ring suspended from the top of the cage where they swing and roost. Their food consists of any kind of seed, grain, and nuts, bread and milk, and Indian corn well boiled and given cold. They also have a little ripe fruit, a bit of sugar, plenty of clean water, and the food trays should be of crockery or porcelain, or of thick glass—not tin nor zinc. Clean gravel is necessary. Give no meat nor pastry.
Elsie.—In the upper ranks of society the rule is for the lady to retain her seat when a gentleman bows or offers his hand. Of course, there may be exceptions in the case of a little girl in her “teens” and an aged man.
Retha.—It is very grievous that you should have engaged yourself to marry a man whom you did not love with more than a feeling of ordinary friendship. But it would be the less of two evils to confess your state of feeling, rather than to allow him to marry a woman who felt so cool towards him. Do not deceive him, however humiliating your own position. Better that he should suffer the disappointment before the irrevocable step is taken, which must result in a life-long regret.
A. H. P.—Your writing is so illegible we can scarcely decipher the names about which you inquire. Pronounce as Mar-ca-sis, Hal-lay, Jo-a-kim, Mas-con-ye, Tcha-e-kofs-key. In Russ and Polish the “w” is pronounced as our “f.”