"Oh, the wasted hours of life
That have drifted by!
Oh, the good that might have been!
Lost without a sigh.
Loved ones that we might have saved,
Maybe, by a word;
Thoughts conceived, but never penned,
Perishing, unheard.
Take the proverb to thine heart,
Take, and hold it fast:—
'The mill cannot grind
With the water that is past.'"
The whole poem may be obtained for 1s. a hundred, from Andrew Stevenson, Stationer, Mound, Edinburgh; also as a "Stirling Leaflet, No. 52," from Peter Drummond, Stirling; also in the Practical Elocutionist, published by Blackie & Son. If Lilian will send her name and address to Mrs. Pawlby, 7, Maida Vale Terrace, Mutley, Plymouth, she will receive a copy.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Anxious.—With reference to pensions accruing to the widows of officers, that of a captain is £50 per annum, and £12 to each child yearly; but should death have resulted from exposure, privation or fatigue, incident to active duty in the field, fifty per cent. more is allowed. If from wounds received in action, and within twelve months after having been invalided, his widow would receive twice the ordinary pension. But there are certain conditions to be considered.
Isabel.—As much may be said in favour of one place you name as another. In the Isle of Wight, Ventnor is much esteemed. In the south of England, Bournemouth, Torquay, and Penzance. In the Channel Islands, the south aspects and shore of Guernsey and Jersey; and the Island of Sark for asthma. We know of no "papers nor magazines" that give the local information you require. But there are little guides, as well as local papers, respecting each place, in which you could find addresses and advertisements as to situations for persons needing employment.
Pin-basket.—1. The Mosaic-work made of broken china is called "crazy-china," of which two illustrations were given in vol. xvi., page 636. The weekly number (doubtless to be had at our office) was for July 6th, 1895.—2. The German-speaking men of Europe wear wedding-rings. We have not observed whether in other countries the practice obtains as a rule of national observance.
Petruchio's Kate.—We could not answer you in a few sentences, so must recommend you to procure a book on such games, viz., Brand's Observations on Popular Antiquities (Chatto & Windus), see pages 205-215.
Brown Bee.—If you failed to get that description of chocolate at the Junior Army & Navy Stores, and at so many shops, we recommend her to visit some of the large confectioners and grocers' stores in the City.
M. S. C.—We do not know to which you refer, but a "thunder-bolt" is a shaft of lightning, or stream of electricity passing from the thunder-cloud to the earth. In geology it means a belemnite or meteoric stone, or fire-ball, which sometimes falls to the earth; an aërolite, at times found of enormous size; aer signifies "air," and athos a stone. It is a combination of metal and stone. Fire-balls, (bolides) and meteors are explosive, the meteors appearing during the day, and the fire-balls at night. Iron is specially present, but the metals appear to be an alloy.
M. A. D.—We do not think you read our answers, or you would not ask a question already so often answered. There is no rule for the wearing of a ring on any special finger, excepting only the wedding-ring. But the third finger of the left hand is not kept exclusively for that.