Katie Roberts.—No apology is necessary in sending your verses, but we fear you would scarcely be able to write anything for publication. The metre of your lines is incorrect; occasionally you begin a verse with a line far too short, e.g., “He is, we all know it.” “The Unseen Guest” is the better of the two poems, and we think it is natural to beguile hours when you are not on active duty by expressing these thoughts. It is not the substance but the form that we criticise. You should study the laws of versification.
Lisa.—We must commend to you the advice contained in the last clause of the preceding answer. If you wish to improve in writing verse, study the laws of metre, which you will find in any good handbook of the English tongue. In “Wait,” the second line is two syllables too long. “Guest” and “bless” do not rhyme.
Apple Blossom.—We have read your story, and are afraid we must literally comply with your request to “pull it to pieces.” The central incident is most improbable. Prosperous theatrical managers do not steal plays by copying manuscripts left with them for perusal. As “Claude” received his MS. again, you must see that detection was absolutely certain, and no motive is suggested for the extraordinary act of Sir Francis Lockhart, whom you should not call “Sir Lockhart.” Claude acted with foolishness and ingratitude in angrily refusing the offer of his uncle, which is so scornfully mentioned, of a “stool in his warehouse,” and genius does not burst forth in a moment in the construction of a successful play, nor the production of widely-read magazine articles, by a half-educated youth. These faults in your story proceed from ignorance of real life, but there are also very many defects in style; tautology is frequent, and you should not write of a “flunky,” nor of “Belgravia Square.” We hope you study the book we recommended to you. There is no “royal road” to literary success of any kind, even for aspirants with talent.
Arbutus.—We can mention in reply to your query, the Cambridge Training College for Women Teachers (fees £60 to £70 a year for residence, tuition, etc.), and recommend you, for particulars of teachers’ training, also to apply to the Secretary, Association for the Education of Women, Clarendon Building, Oxford. You do not say for what sort of teaching the training is required; but for elementary schoolmistresses there are a great number of colleges. The Bishop Otter Memorial College at Chichester is intended for the daughters of the clergy and professional men: fees, £20 per annum for Queen’s scholars, £50 for private students. In Ireland there are the Marlboro’ Street Training College, and the Church of Ireland Training College, Dublin. Stockwell College, Stockwell Road, London, is a fine college: fees £25 for two years’ board and tuition. For a full list of these training colleges for elementary schoolmistresses, and particulars of the entrance examination, apply Education Department, London.
Molly.—It would certainly not be “waste of time” to take lessons in drawing. You evidently have a love for it, and a good idea of copying. It would always be a pleasant resource for you.
Constance.—Apply to the Times Office, London, for the number containing Rudyard Kipling’s Jubilee poem. We believe it first appeared in Literature, but you will obtain information there.
Mrs. E. M. L. Knight.—1. We think you could not do better with your little boy than to adopt, as far as you can, the Kindergarten system. If you were to write to the Froebel Society, 12, Buckingham Street, Adelphi, London, W.C., you would probably be told of some book or books by which, as you seem a thoughtful and intelligent mother, you could guide yourself in the work of training the child’s faculties of observation and attention, and imparting knowledge of “natural surroundings.” It is pleasant to see the little children at the Kindergartens modelling in sand the promontory, island, hill, and showing the course of a river from its spring on the mountain to the sea. This is just one instance of the sort of occupation that teaches and amuses them. Considering what you tell us, we think if you could devote a part of each day to your boy, it would be far better than sending him to the village school. As he is only 2½ years old, there is plenty of time for school life.—2. A very useful though not new book on children’s ailments is Dr. Pye Chavasse’s Advice to a Mother. The National Health Society, 53, Berners Street, London, W., will send you a list of medical books or pamphlets for household use.
Elizabeth.—1. We should consider that Darwin, Huxley, Tyndall, Sir James Simpson, Sir Richard Owen, Lord Lister, Edison, Röntgen, Sir William Huggins, Professors Dewar and Ramsay were among “the greatest scientists of the present age.” We cannot possibly give you a full list here.—2. Your writing is clear, but inclined to be too childish in its thick down-strokes, and long loops to y’s and g’s. It needs more freedom.
J. J. A.—We refer you also to Mrs. Watson’s articles on “What are the County Councils doing for Girls?” and—if you cannot consult them—to the Secretary of the Board of Technical Education, St. Martin’s Lane, London. You might also write to the Secretaries of Queen’s College, Harley Street, W., and of Holloway College, Egham, for particulars of scholarships in connection with those institutions.
Edythe.—We think a very interesting way to teach young children spelling is to give them a good box of letters (“Spelling-Game”), and let them fill the frame with words, either from memory or from a book; or the letters of a word may be given loose to the child, and he be required to form the word himself. Games may easily be arranged with the letter-box for several children. Many thanks for your enclosure.