Margot.—The honour of having been the first navigator who sailed round the world was earned by a Portuguese—i.e., Sebastien del Cano, who accomplished the voyage in the ship Vittoria. The unfortunate leader of the expedition was Ferdinand Magellan, who passed through the Straits November 28th, 1520, and was killed on one of the Philippine Islands the next year. The first attempt to discover the North-west passage was made by Corte Real in about 1500; also a Portuguese. But the first expedition correctly so-called was made by Sir Hugh Willoughby in 1553, who wished to discover a North-west passage to China. But he was blocked up by ice and frozen to death on the coast of Lapland.
A. Cross.—There are “Y.W.C.A.” Homes in London. Amongst them, Cloudesley Home, 34, Barnsbury Street, Islington, 17, Aubert Park, Highbury, Seymour House, Portland Place, Lower Clapton, Ealing House, Uxbridge Road, Ealing, Kent House, 89, Great Portland Street, Princess House, Brompton Road, besides restaurants. Probably a communication of your arrangements in regard to letting rooms to young women at a reduced rate during the summer months, board as well as lodging supplied, at from 14s. a week, would bring your visitors from town. We are not acquainted with Corrymore, near Warminster, Wiltshire; but from what we have seen of Wiltshire, we can imagine the country to be pretty and the downs attractive.
E. de M.—All girls who take our paper, and look to us for advice and instruction, we consider to be “our” girls. You are quite right in saying that you have more blessings than crosses. Sometimes the eyes of people are blind to this great truth. The great love of our heavenly Father towards us and His unerring wisdom in the trial of our faith and patience is but little realised. We hope your marriage will be for your happiness.
Ethelinda.—Your hand is formed, and well formed. The French phrase, “Au revoir,” is an abbreviated one. In full it should be, “Au plaisir de vous revoir”—“to the pleasure of seeing you again.” As we have so often told our readers, French pronunciation cannot be given by English letters—at least, not often. The first word “au” (“to”) is an exception, for the sound is that of the letter “o.”
FOOTNOTES:
[1] See [footnote, p. 162].
[Transcriber’s note: The following corrections have been made to this text.
Page 238: Yorkskire changed to Yorkshire—these Yorkshire cakes.