Constant Reader appears to have overlooked many answers to her question. Brides do not supply house-linen, nor furniture, nor any household requisites. If her parents like to make a present of such a nature, it is perfectly gratuitous. The bridegroom is naturally to have a home suitable for the reception of his bride when he takes her from her father’s house.
Tom Tit.—Certainly there are books on conchology. You have only to inquire at a good librarian’s.
MacNally.—Inquire in the Will Department, Somerset House, and see those of that date. You should give the names and probable date; 1s. is charged for a search through each year, we believe. We have looked in the London Directory and the Royal Red Book, and did not see your cousin’s address.
A. Neighbour.—To obtain any particulars respecting the writer Mary E. Wilkins, you had better write to her publisher.
Antiquary.—Of all the ancient nations of which we possess historical records, Egypt stands first. According to Canon Rawlinson (quoted by Dawson), history and archæological discoveries give the earliest date as 2760 B.C.; of Babylon, as 2300 B.C.; of Phœnicia, as 1700 B.C.; of Assyria, as 1500 B.C.; of India, as 1200 B.C., and of China, as 1154 B.C. Whether any new light has been thrown on the subject by more recent investigations and discoveries than what we receive from Canon Rawlinson, we are not at this moment prepared to say.
Country Lass.—Rosemary-tea is excellent for promoting the growth of the hair. Chemists prepare it in a cleaner form than you can at home. You cannot make your hair “wavy and glossy” unless the hair have flattened sides to each tube (we mean if the hair be round it will not curl), and if naturally rough, any gloss artificially produced would only be through greasiness. Joan and Jane are feminines of the Hebrew name John—“the gracious gift of God.”
Amateur Stamp Collector.—With reference to the uses made by the authorities at the Asile des Billodes, at Le Locle, we can only repeat what we were told by a Swiss lady, who has long maintained a girl herself in this special institution, that “she believed the stamps were sent to, and made into papier maché at, Nüremberg”; so for whatever other uses they are employed, or to whatever other destinations they may be sent (perhaps exclusive of those at Le Locle, according to their printed advertisement), it seems that a large proportion goes to that place. We have the paper, a copy of which you are so good as to send, and are quite ready to believe our friend was mistaken as regards the Asile she helps to support.
[Transcriber’s Note: the following changes have been made to this text.
Page 579: Effiie to Effie—“and now Effie”.