ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

EDUCATIONAL.

H. F. and Conamara.—Write to Griffith and Farran, St. Paul's-churchyard, E.C., for a small shilling manual called a "Directory of Girls' Clubs," which will give you a large choice of educational, literary, industrial, artistic, and religious societies instituted for the benefit of girls, the cost being little more than nominal.

M. Hedge.—The change of your address, from what has been given in the "Directory of Girls' Clubs," will probably cause you inconvenience, which it is now too late to avoid. You should have named the probability of a change. In any case, we can tell our readers that those who wish to avail themselves of your useful Society for Studying Languages, should address the secretary at Lyndhurst Lodge, Chelsea-road, Southsea, Hants.

A. G. O. E.—We scarcely think that any system for helping the memory for ordinary use would be of service to you in the matter of playing long pieces of music by heart; it is so much a mechanical operation, the hands often acting while the mind is preoccupied with other matters. Try to learn a simple air, not a long piece of six pages.

A Swiss Girl.—The Cambridge and Oxford examinations are open to students of all nationalities alike. For information respecting those of either university, write direct. If you wish to compete in the Cambridge junior local examination, held in December, you must be under seventeen. Write to the Rev. G. F. Browne, St. Catherine's College; fee, £1. For the Cambridge senior you must be under eighteen. The Cambridge higher (local) examinations are held in December and in June; fees, £1 and £2. An honour certificate in this examination admits to Tripos examinations the members of Girton and Newnham who have resided during a sufficient number of terms, provided the student has passed a language and mathematics. If your age should exclude you, you might go to the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, or St. Andrews, where no limitations are made in respect to age.

Guess.—We advise you to write to the British chaplain of the Embassy Chapel, in the Rue d'Aguesseau, for information and the best advice, as he has taken a special interest in the matter of English girls being sent to French schools, and has publicly addressed the question in all its many bearings. Address the British Chaplain.

Anxious Mother.—See our answer to "Guess." There is a French Protestant institution, directed by Madame Yeatman Monoury, 27, Bd. Eugène, Parc de Neuilly, Paris, which is, or was, patronised by the Rev. Canon Fleming, the late Bishop of Carlisle, Bishop of Down, Lord Napier of Magdala, and other persons of consideration. There is also a Protestant school at 27, Rue des Bois, près du Bois de Boulogne, for which the charge amounts to £60 per annum. Apply to the lady directress, Mademoiselle Jonte.

ART.

A Colonial Subject.—The illuminating body mentioned is used on parchment and hot-pressed drawing-paper. It is mixed with the water-colours to render them opaque.

R. C. M.—1. To press flowers, gather them when dry, not quite full-blown, and before the sun has faded them; press them between sheets of botanical-paper, change and dry the latter constantly. 2. You can draw an outline upon a mirror with red pencil and Indian ink. It is better, however, to mark the design through tracing-paper with a knitting-needle.

Asthore and Dolly.—The generality of the advertisements named by you are not to be relied on, and we advise your not spending your money as you propose.

Larry Wilfer.—Female art scholarships are conferred by the Slade School, by the Crystal Palace School of Art, and by the National Art Training School, South Kensington. Apply for farther information to the secretaries of each of these schools.

A Would-be Artist.—There is a school of wood-engraving at 122, Kennington Park-road. The yearly fee for instruction is £3, and free scholarships after the first year are obtainable by students. These latter must be upwards of sixteen years of age.

Princess Peace.—1. There is a preparation sold by Lechertier and Barbe for fixing chalk drawings. It is a liquid, which is blown upon the picture when finished with an apparatus resembling a scent-spray (price 2s.). 2. If you can obtain regular employment from a good firm, wood-carving is profitable, especially when you can originate your designs; but these appointments are not to be had every day. Show some of your work to an upholsterer, or a carver and gilder, and you may either obtain an engagement or at least an order.

HOUSEKEEPING.

A Young Wife is certainly entitled to display any large articles of silver she may possess on her sideboard in the dining-room.

Pastora should have the silver cleaned by a silversmith. 2. A recipe for "pot pourri" has lately been given.

A Farmer's Daughter.—The feathers required a very much longer time for drying, and must also be "stripped," as it is called, i.e., all the large thick stalks taken out. It is these which have not dried, and retain the animal particles, causing the smell.

Pincher and Freda.—A recipe for "pot pourri" was given at page 224, vol. v.

A Young Domestic.—We should recommend the eiderdown quilt being sent to a cleaner's, as it will only lead to disappointment if you wash it at home. Put a little glycerine on the tea-stain before it goes to the wash.

Primrose should try a little tripoli and water upon the surface of the table. It will remove the spots.

Primevere.—There have been no other papers but those you mention on "Economical Housekeeping," but we shall probably give more on both subjects.

Willoughby.—We do not think that either green gooseberry jam or jelly can be kept green; they always boil a light red.

Novice in Housekeeping.—If you paid more attention to ascertaining what meat, game, fish, poultry, fruit, and vegetables were in season (fully in), and then procured them at places where you had not to pay for extra high rents, as you do when shops are situated in expensive localities, you would bring down your bills greatly.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Inky Pen.—We sympathise much with your anxiety, but we can only say to you as we say to all who wish to succeed in literary work, you must try and try again for a long time before you will succeed, and success is not even then assured.

E. Mc. T.—Your sedentary life as a dressmaker does not agree with you. You should try to take more exercise and warming food. Dress in woollen under-clothing, and rub the body well in the morning with a cloth dipped in salt and water.

Violet Vernon.—We have heard that the homœopathists have a special cure for such little excrescences.

Tom-Tit writes very well. The 2nd of January, 1865, was a Monday.

Nymphia Alla.—Disease or weakness of the nervous system is often, unhappily, an inheritance from our parents. Not that they may be nervous themselves, but that their course of life—late hours, over-taxed brain, poor living, fast living, drink, or bad constitution, etc., result, one or more, in bequeathing a wretched inheritance of weak nerves, not positive disease, to their children. Live generously, go to bed early, be much in the open air, and take a tonic if required, and by a doctor's advice.

Alone.—We sympathise with you, and approve of the sentiments you express in verse; but the latter is not even correct in composition, quite apart from its lack of any ideality, which is inseparable from true poetry. No sentence should be divided (excepting as a joke in a burlesque piece) between two lines thus—

B. W. complains of "taking fits of laughter into her head." Evidently, she has apartments to let in that repository. In any case, it is well that she should find so much to entertain her and feel so bright and happy. This state of things will only change too soon.

Fiddlesticks.—Your verses have been written without due knowledge of metrical composition.

Maty Gerty.—We are glad to hear that you have rosy cheeks. Surely you would not like to look like a washed-out, pasty-faced, sickly little girl? Young folks often get spots in the face from eating too fast, swallowing half-masticated food, and indulging in too much jam and sugar and "lollypops." By this means they spoil their teeth as well as their skin.

Gladys.—Your neck should be examined by a good surgeon. You may have broken some small tendons, and need to be bandaged. It might be desirable to go to one of our first-class hospitals, and so get the opinion of more than one experienced surgeon. You write a pretty hand. On no account change it to the coarse "park-paling" style of writing which so many girls affect to look "strong-minded." They do not take us in by it!

Very Grateful Woman.—Homœopathic doctors give vegetable medicines—not minerals. The principle of the system is "like cures like." Allopaths give drugs of a directly opposite character to the disease, instead of that which, taken in health and in different proportions, would produce the disease to be cured.

L. M. O.—The famous Library of Alexandria was burnt by the Saracens in 642 a.d. It was a union of two collections. One was made by the Ptolemies, and the other was that of Pergamus, formed by Eumenes, and given by Mark Antony to Cleopatra. Eumenes was a chief officer in the army of Alexander, and well worthy to succeed him, as he did.

RULES I. No charge is made for answering questions. II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym. III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any of the questions. IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the post. V. No more than two questions may be asked in one letter, which must be addressed to the Editor of The Girl's Own Paper, 56, Paternoster-row, London, E.C. VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter of the nature of an advertisement will be inserted.

Joey.—We will consider your wishes in future, if possible.

Unhappy S. (we cannot read the name).—We feel for you much in being separated from a home so dear to you; but you must look away from all second and human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand of One who is as good and as merciful as He is wise and mighty. If you wish for peace and real happiness, seek His favour and guidance and personal care in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, and ask Him to give you a contented spirit, and grace to be thankful and reverently loving towards "Him who first loved us."

Rosebud.—Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and let them be very easy and wide in the toe.

America.—You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's (Susan Warner's) works in any encyclopædia. We have not room in our over-crowded correspondence column for long lists of books, so only give the chief works of interest.

Sweet Nineteen (?).—The young ladies of a family are called Miss Edith, Miss Margaret, etc., by gentlemen who do not know them well.

Iona would not require to know the name of the head of the department. She should ask for the secretary or the head clerk.

Primrose.—Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, and of very ancient and distinguished family; but he became a Christian by conviction. Having had no personal acquaintance with him, we could not possibly answer such a question as yours, even were it right to do so.

Daisy A.—Your contribution is declined, with thanks. It is not devoid of merit, but needs more experience in writing.

Georgiana W.—We are much obliged, but do not think the essay fit for our amateur page, nor is the subject new nor interesting enough.

Eton Gardens had better wear gloves to protect the hands. We know no other way.

A Fiji Girl.—The work of a bookkeeper is the same almost everywhere. She keeps books, and in a hotel she would make out the accounts of the visitors, of course.

Damaris.—The lady bows first, of course, if she has been formally introduced. Invite the brother, certainly. If you know the family you do not need a separate introduction to him.

Laura.—We have always prophets of evil amongst our friends, and a celebrated American advises that "no one should prophesy unless he knows." There are no reasons for believing that there are any real inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean.

Struggling Bird.—We sympathise with you; but in committing your way to God in prayer, you do the best that we could recommend. It is best to avoid any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so wild and wilful; but should she do anything very wrong, you will have to lay the case before your father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. You are right in regarding example as better than precept.

Camomile is thanked for her grateful letter. If she used a better pen her friends would like her writing better.

Fernie.—1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus exposed to the trying winds from that quarter, to which you specially object. Ventnor, in the Isle of Wight, various places on the south coast of England and in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and the Isle of Sark, would suit your mother. The latter island is specially ordered as a cure for asthma. 2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper, varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic.

Sirena.—If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of course take off one glove at afternoon tea.

A Young Wife.—We are not quite sure that we should advise any business man to give up in England and go to Australia unless he saw his way very clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your friend who has already emigrated, and take his advice on the subject? Write also for full particulars of expenses and advice to the secretary of the Colonial Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, Portman-square, W. The rates of passage, third-class, are, £18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class, from £20 to £28; third-class, £17 to £21.

A Loyal Irish Girl.—We are very glad that you have been improved by the late competition. We are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is very creditably written and composed.

Sweet William.—Directions for bookbinding were given in vol. ii., pages 342, 426, and 810.

R. L. I.—Our paper can be got in all the colonies. Many thanks for the information that the free grants of land were stopped in Tasmania in January last.

A Nursery Governess, we think, is unhappy and discontented because she dwells on herself and her own feelings too much, and thinks too little of other people and their happiness. She must try to live most in others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As yet she fails to comprehend the Christ-like character which is so lovely an acquisition, and the higher service to which we are destined by following Him in all things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, in so doing is the happiest and truest life to be found.

Young Lochinvar should bear in mind the enormous ages attained by the antediluvian patriarchs, and that the world around them was so quickly populated that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people who possibly, as he thought, would regard him as a monster to be driven from amongst them. A long course of years succeeded that on which he slew his brother through envy and a hatred as to what was holy and God-fearing. In the first days of man upon earth they married their sisters, there being no physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God.

M. R. (Norwood).—We pity you! To what a miserable, unwholesome state of deformity you have reduced yourself! We do not open our columns to persons who boast of having so far degraded themselves.

F. M. C.—On no account take a cold bath if it do not agree with you. Have it tepid, or as warm as you feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet were warmed you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th June, 1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, and requires a good ear; but we should recommend it in preference to the banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited for general music.

Lizzie Mattie Clover.—Coals are called "black diamonds" because coals and diamonds are both carbon.

Single Dahlia.—You do not name your age. Try St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, W. Write to the matron. We could not say whether it would be against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday.

Hopeful.—Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical man, and take plenty of exercise and a tepid bath every morning.

Lucy.—From what you say of your being "saucy" to your stepmother, and that you are slapped "whenever you tell lies," and that you think you "ought to do as you choose," we see that you have been a spoilt child, and deserve some sort of correction. You are evidently well and suitably fed. We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were good, obedient, and respectful, you might then venture to say when the maid laced you in. It is to be regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all.

A Bunch of Violets might undertake bookkeeping, or, if she know any thing of millinery, she might get a little extra work from that. Her pay in the shop is very small. Everyone should be paid enough to live upon, and 8s. a week is not enough to live and dress upon.