Lace-Making.—We know of no school for lace-making in London, but very likely by inquiring of the Secretary of the Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, you might find somebody to teach you. London ladies have interested themselves especially in the revival of Buckinghamshire laces. The different varieties of Honiton can best be studied in Devonshire. In your place we should be disposed to give particular study to the various kinds of guipure, as these are likely to remain fashionable for some time to come.
An Anxious One (Gardening, Dairy-work, &c.).—For you we should say, Not gardening. It is too precarious a calling for a young woman without private means or any conspicuous fondness for the occupation. Dairy-work, which you could learn at the Dairy Institute, Reading, would be considerably better. If you would like a colonial life with its freedom from social conventions, and if you can do every sort of housework (including, prominently, cooking), then by all means try to emigrate to Canada or Australia through the British Women’s Emigration Association. Except if you think of emigrating, we do not recommend you to call yourself a useful help. In this country the woman who specialises is the one who succeeds, not the “Jill-of-all-Trades.” Make up your mind, we would say, to become thoroughly efficient either as cook, dressmaker, laundress or dairy-worker, then you will be sure to prosper. Of course these occupations are not for everybody; but one of them would be best for you, seeing that your ability seems to lie in the direction of practical rather than intellectual work.
A Mother (Clay Modelling).—The organs of the pottery trade are The Pottery Gazette (Scott, Greenwood & Co., 19, Ludgate Hill, E.C.) and The British Potter (W. Brickel, Longton, Staffordshire). Both of these publications appear monthly, and the second may be obtained gratis. But what we should advise is that the modeller call with specimens of work upon Messrs. Doulton of Lambeth. It is probable, also, that Messrs. Goode of South Audley Street, who deal in some of the finest china, both English and foreign, would be kind enough to advise in such a matter. But cannot the South Kensington authorities themselves put their pupils and examinees in the way of seeking employment in the proper quarters? They ought to understand these artistic trades better than anyone. Teachers of clay-modelling are in some demand for evening continuation schools and the like. It might be desirable on this point to consult the Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall.
Seventeen Summers (Typing and Shorthand Writing).—A typist and shorthand writer may earn from 15s. up to £2 a week. Typewriting can be learnt in about two months, shorthand takes a year of steady practice at the least. You complain that your handwriting is far from good, and that you also have great difficulty in expressing yourself. Now both these circumstances are serious obstacles in the career of a clerk; your prospects in this walk of life are not improved by the other disability you mention. We strongly urge you to turn to some other occupation. A person who finds it a “hard job” to “compose” a letter is evidently not meant to make letter-writing a conspicuous part of her business, as she must do if she is to remain a satisfactory clerk or secretary. Is there not some other kind of work that is less of a “hard job”? You might learn dress-cutting and pattern-cutting, generally, or you could enter one of the better kinds of manufactories. Pray think over your qualifications, and discover which sort of work you do best (for there must be some), and then try to find the means of doing it.
MISCELLANEOUS.
M. A. R.—We think that your selection of Malvern seems a wise one, especially as others should be considered as well as the invalid. The waters are of an alkaline earthy nature, specially suitable to scrofulous sores and skin diseases, besides internal complaints. There are hydropathic establishments, and apart from the mineral waters, the spring water is exceptionally pure. Great Malvern occupies a fine position in the centre of the Chase of Malvern, on the slopes of the hills, and those who can walk find the latter very attractive, as the air is bracing and the view very fine. The distance from London is 123 miles by railroad. For anæmic patients the ferruginous waters of Harrogate are specially suited. It has also sulphureous and saline springs.
Curiosity.—Do you not confuse the heir presumptive and the heir apparent to the throne? The Grand Duke Michael is the heir presumptive only, and the “Czarevitch,” a term meaning only king’s son, or prince. The title “Cesarevitch,” i.e., “son of the Czar,” is only given to the eldest son, who is Crown Prince, Nashlyedrik, and heir apparent, and his consort is “Cesarevna.” The first Czar of Russia of the House of Romanoff was elected, and the succession has never proceeded in regular order. Peter the Great left the crown by will to his daughter Elizabeth; but Anne was elected instead, to Elizabeth’s prejudice, who had to wait till after the death of the Emperor John before she came to the throne. The four Empresses of Russia who have reigned alone have been Catherine, widow of Peter the Great; Anne, daughter of Ivan, his elder brother; Elizabeth his daughter; and Catherine II., widow of Peter III., a grandson of Peter the Great. The Czar is the supreme ruler, and the Government is an autocracy. The Salic law does not obtain in Russia.
Pansy.—The following is the way that rust may be taken from steel, but great care is needed to do it. Immerse the article to be cleaned for a few minutes, till all dirt and rust be taken off, in a strong solution of cyanide of potassium—about ½oz. in a wineglassful of water. Take out and clean it with a toothbrush, using some paste made of cyanide of potassium, Castile soap, whiting and water, mixed into a paste of about the consistency of thick cream.
Martha.—When washing linen you will find it advisable not to place either soap or soda directly into washing-tubs, coppers, or boilers of any kind. Both should be thoroughly dissolved in warm or cold water, and then only used in the coppers or boilers. A great deal depends on the soaking of linen before it is put into the boiler. It should be placed in a large tub of tepid water in which borax has been dissolved, or a little good soap has been lathered. One tablespoonful of prepared Californian borax to every gallon of hot water will be a very effective soaking fluid. Do not use soda at this stage of the process. You have probably been using too much. The soaking-water, or bath into which you put the linen must be tepid, not hot nor cold. Many people rub a little soap on the soiled place after the soaking and before boiling. The rinsing is also very important, and must be attended to or else the linen will be streaky or of a bad colour. In fact, neglect of rinsing is the general cause of a yellow hue in linen. The water used should never be cold but warm. Cold water sets, or fixes the grease and soap in the fabric. Boiling-bags are very useful, and protect the linen from the copper, but we think you will find too much soda is the cause of trouble.
Waiting.—It would be impossible for us to give such a list, and, indeed, we could not without knowing the kind of work it was and its subject, as some firms publish one thing and others another. Some deal with purely educational works, others take fiction; and many limit themselves to high-class works only, such as those of reference and research. The safest way to proceed is, we think, to write to the Incorporated Society of Authors, 4, Portugal Street, Lincoln’s Inn Fields; Chairman, Sir Walter Besant; Secretary, S. Squire Sprigge, Esq. From them you will receive all requisite information and advice on the subject.