Erica.—Your position is indeed a hard one, and it is difficult to advise you satisfactorily. But the future must be considered as well as the present, and it seems to us that this future is decidedly cloudy unless you can be trained for some employment now. If friends could come forward with an offer to train you for any of the occupations mentioned here from time to time, we think your mother would see the propriety of your availing yourself of the chance, sad though it would be to part, and much though there is to say in favour of the immediate economy of living together. We would suggest that you should learn either dressmaking or drawing—the latter with a view to newspaper and magazine illustration or fashion drawing. It is evident you have some talent for art, or your pictures would not have been exhibited; but as money is so much needed, we advise you not to go in for painting. You write a good hand, and a letter which leads us to think you have more than average ability. At the same time your health is possibly not robust. Cannot a little council of relations and friends be held so as to decide what plan should be taken to enable you to earn a living?
Lady Udina S. (Working for Charity).—The circumstance that your presentation at Court has been postponed leaves you with more time free than you would have had if you had entered into the regular round of engagements during the London season. These engagements, however, do not occupy all a girl's time. We are glad to observe that girls and young married women, occupying the very highest positions in London society, set apart some portion of their time for work of public usefulness. Like yourself, they are not content to lay aside only one-tenth of money that has cost them no effort to obtain (though the subtraction of such an amount for God is obligatory), but they wish also to do work for others. It is not always easy to decide what a young and inexperienced girl can do. To help in a Working Girl's Club is suitable and often most interesting; or you might join the local committee of the Children's Country Holidays Fund. The Charity Organisation Society, and the Metropolitan Association for Befriending Young Servants, are both societies that can sometimes delegate practical duties to young assistants. In the meantime you should still pursue your general education notwithstanding the fact that your governess is no longer needed. It is education that will make you of service in the world. Read the standard works of the best writers, study the course of history in the newspapers and with the aid of a map. Try almost every day to give some time both to study and to practical duties. We commend the motive that prompts you to wish to earn money in order to have more to give away. But the earning of money is a serious matter. It can only be performed successfully by girls who have had some special training or who possess special gifts. You give us no information in regard to these points. On the whole it would be better that any work you now do should be voluntary. At the same time, circumstances may occur to almost anyone to render it most desirable that one should be able to earn money. Try, therefore, within the next few years so to educate and train yourself that, if need arose, you could turn your hand profitably to something. A knowledge of housewifery, for instance, is a splendid possession for any girl and can never prove useless.
Yvonne (Hospital Nursing or Teaching).—Since you feel drawn towards hospital nursing, you might do wisely to enter one of the largest London hospitals as a probationer, when you are twenty-three or twenty-four. Having only passed the Oxford Senior Local Examination, your prospects as a teacher cannot be very brilliant, and in the long run you might find yourself more favourably placed in life as a nurse. But in the meantime you had better continue to teach. It hardly seems to be advisable that you should give up your present situation when you appear to be kindly and fairly treated. People who hold the same opinions as ourselves even on the highest subjects are not always pleasant in their dealings. You can at all events strive to show the beauty of your creed in your life and conduct; for a noble example is often more persuasive than doctrine. In hospital wards, moreover, you will find quite as great a diversity of beliefs as you could possibly encounter on the Continent.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mary L.—We quite agree with you. Our advice to you is not to miss reading Ruth Lamb's supplemental story—"Friend or Self"—for we feel sure, judging from your letter, that you will enjoy it quite as much as we have done.
Anxious.—The account of the very unnatural and unamiable state of mind of your "female friend" is a grievous one; but as she is only a little school-girl of fifteen, she may improve. We do not know of any book likely to effect a change. Such a girl would not care to read one giving advice. Talk to her of the love of our Divine Redeemer and of the obligation resting on us to "show piety at home," and to "requite our parents." It is His will that we should do so, and although we cannot purchase our salvation by our good works, we are bound to produce them in proof of our faith and our gratitude. "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." "Ye call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not the things that I say." "Every tree is known by its fruits," and our first duty is to our parents.
Melissa.—We recommend you to procure Home Handicrafts, published at this office. Chapter ix., p. 95, supplies the information you require on mirror painting. Instruction in fifteen different kinds of artistic and useful work are given in this book, and all equally suitable for both sexes.
Amy.—There is certainly a family similarity evidenced in the handwriting, which is very general. It sometimes skips a generation and crops up again, just as personal features and peculiarities, as well as intellectual gifts. This fact is noted by Darwin and Lord Brougham (whose peculiar hand resembled his grandfather's). George Seaton expressed the same opinion, and so do others. But we all have the power to improve upon the family style, or change it.
Lover of Art.—We believe that the oldest known English pictures are two portraits, one of Chaucer, and the other of Henry IV. The former is painted on a panel, the date about 1380; that of the king, 1405.
Carrie.—If a sufferer from anæmia, we think you could not do better than go for a month's treatment to Buxton, Derbyshire. Of course you should neither take the waters, nor use the baths, without medical advice, as your dietary should be prescribed as well as treatment by the waters. You will find much to interest you in the neighbourhood when able to walk, or drive, such as Haddon Hall, Chatsworth, and Old Hall; and a little diversion of the mind, and turning of the thoughts from personal ailments, will also tend to restoration. If you have a kodak, or have any taste for sketching, you will have plenty of subjects—objects for a walk. Should you prefer to go abroad, Royat near Clermont-Ferrand (France), which stands on an elevation of 1,400 feet above the sea, is a charming place; the waters of four springs—of mixed alkaline, gaseous, ferruginous, slightly arsenical and lithia waters—are to be had in the ancient Roman baths. Anæmia, lymphatic and other affections may find alleviation, if not a cure, in this beautiful mountainous locality. We have ourselves inspected these baths, and are likewise acquainted with Buxton and its neighbourhood.