Part 11 — ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

A Lover of the “G.O.P.”—1. Albert Loeschorn, a distinguished musical professor of Berlin, was born there in 1819. He was a pupil of Ludwig Berger, taught in Berlin, and has held chamber concerts there. His principal works consist of studies for the pianoforte. The title of “Royal Professor” was conferred upon him in 1868.—2. When a canary moults in July or August, be careful to keep him quiet and free from draughts. Give him once a week a very small quantity of raw beef scraped and moistened with water, with now and then a little of the yolk of hard-boiled eggs, a piece of sponge-cake, and ripe chickweed.

Mona.—1. Robert Browning’s poem “How they brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix” is founded on no historical incident, but describes a purely imaginary “ride.”—2. Our summer takes place when the earth is at aphelion (furthest from the sun) because the sun’s rays fall more vertically upon our part of the world at that time. Two questions are our limit.

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

B. F., Scotland, would like to correspond with an Italian girl. She is 15 years of age, very musical, and understands Latin, but not Italian. Would the Italian girl “write a letter in English with the corresponding Italian written below?”

Miss Margarethe Scholtz, 115, Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, a teacher, would like to correspond with another lady teacher, aged between 28 and 36. She “has no objection to writing to any foreign country.” Miss Scholtz says, “You would be surprised to see how many girls here read The Girl’s Own Paper.”

Flannel-Flower, New South Wales, “in the bush,” wishes to arrange a correspondence with a French girl. She is 25, fond of reading and music, the French language and literature. She would write in English, the correspondent in French.

Miss Margaret Speir, Newton Farm, Newton, Glasgow, wishes to correspond with a French and a German girl. She is 18, but her correspondents might be a few years older or younger.

“Louisa,” Aberdeen, who is studying French, would like to correspond with a French girl about her own age (16). The correspondent might write either in English or French, but “Louisa” would write in French.

Miss Anice Cress has received no less than twelve letters from Roumania, Belgium, France, and England, and says, “I feel that life is indeed pleasant when I receive such kind, interesting, and instructive letters from my dear fellow readers and correspondents.”

Miss Ruth E. A. Perritt, 59, Elmbank Street, Glasgow, is anxious to correspond regularly with a young French lady of her own age (17). We hope some French girls will reply to our Scottish correspondents.

Miss Emily Jacob, Belfield, Raheny, Co. Dublin (a typewriter, etc.), and Miss F. Bartram, Pleasant View, Clay Lane, Clay Cross, Derbyshire, offer to correspond with “Nellie.”

Mrs. Barnard, Coomooboolaroo, Duaringa, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia, sends us six pictorial postcards for “O Mimosa San,” and asks for “a few bridges in exchange.” We cannot, as we have often said, undertake any postal communication in connection with this column, and have not “O Mimosa San’s” address.

Aileen Jacques (aged 13½), Queen Street, Tramore, Co. Waterford, Ireland, wishes to correspond with a French girl of her own age, each to write the other’s language.

Miss Ethel Kneeshaw, Pembina, North Dakota, U.S.A., would like to exchange duplicate stamps with Mademoiselle François. Why does she not write to her direct? Her address has been given more than once.

Carmen would like to correspond with a Spanish girl of good family, about her own age (18). Address: Maria Ricciardi, Madonna dell’ Aiuto, 28, Naples, Italy.

Miss Marie Durazzo, Piazza Meridiana 2, Genoa, Italy, will send an illustrated post-card to any reader of The Girl’s Own Paper who will send her one.

L. K. B. (not proficient in French) desires to correspond with a young French lady, and would correct her English letters.

Excelsior is very anxious to study mathematics, Latin, and French by correspondence. She would help in all English subjects in return, and adds also, “perhaps some lonely girl in a land across the sea might be pleased to have letters telling of our great England, sent regularly.” We quote a sentence or two from her letter to the Editor: “The Girl’s Own has been my very own paper since 1890; and however lonely or tired I may feel, it needs but the new number of The Girl’s Own to put new life into me. If we could but gather round you, what a babel there would be! Girls can talk, and what a great deal we should wish to say!”

Sunshine wishes to correspond in English with an Irish, Scotch, or French girl of 15 or 16. Address: Miss L. Handson, 84, Cartergate, Great Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

Miss M. Theyne, Wiedendamm 2, Riga, Russia, a Russian girl aged 22, wishes to correspond with “Laura” (March). We thank her for her pleasant letter.

MEDICAL.

E. Messent.—We have over and over again said that we know of no really efficient and safe way of permanently removing superfluous hairs from the face. All chemical epilators are either injurious to the skin, or are else useless; indeed, most of them are both. It is obvious that no chemical depilatory can be safe to use, for to prevent the growth of hair it must destroy the hair root, and as the hair root is placed deeply in the skin, the chemical has got to deeply destroy the skin before it can commence its work. We know of many epilators which will destroy the skin of the face, but not one of them can be trusted even to injure the hair roots! Then as regards electrolysis, we know it is frequently used for destroying hairs, but it is not one case in a hundred that this treatment can benefit. It can permanently remove half-a-dozen hairs or so, but as to destroying a beard or moustache, why you would have to have generation after generation of electrolysers at work before all the hair was destroyed. And even where electrolysis is practised, a permanent cure is exceedingly uncommon, and the expense of this treatment is very considerable. But if you cannot permanently remove unwelcome hairs, you can with ease destroy them temporarily either by pulling them out or by cutting them down. The latter is by far the best way of removing superfluous hairs, and is the only way which is absolutely safe.

J. H. R.—1. Powdered boracic acid is very useful for those who suffer from excessive perspiration. Another powder consisting of one part of salicylic acid to ninety-nine parts of powdered silica, is also frequently used for the same purpose.—2. Liquid ammonia is a very good preparation with which to soften hard water. Ordinary household ammonia is quite equal to the various patent preparations. About a tablespoonful of strong ammonia will soften about twenty gallons of London water. Failing ammonia, common washing soda is as good as anything, and is certainly cheap enough for everybody. You can easily tell if you have added enough of the ammonia or soda to the water by feeling it with the hand, when the hard feel of ordinary tap water gives place to the unctuous feel of soft water.

Janet.—It is quite impossible to say what is causing noises in the ear without a personal interview. Many conditions, some slight, some grave, produce this symptom, and the necessity for a careful diagnosis is obvious. We would, therefore, be doing you an injustice to attempt to “cure” you. You must go to an aurist and get his opinion on the matter. A course of quinine might do you good, but very likely it would only make you worse.

Ariel.—Sarsaparilla is one of those drugs whose action upon the human organism is practically nil! Indeed, it is not too much to say that, if taken by a man in any quantities, it will produce no effect whatever. It is no new remedy; it has been tried and tried, and found wanting. The decoction of sarsa has a decided action, but it is due to the water in it, and not to the sarsaparilla!

Henrietta.—The symptom you mention is one of the manifestations of the milder degrees of hysteria. A little rigid mental training would soon cure you.

Inexperienced.—The best temperature for a working room is between 55° F. and 60° F. For a bedroom, between 50° F. and 55° F. For the sick-room for ordinary cases, between 55° F. and 65° F. For some respiratory diseases, the temperature must be kept between 62° F. and 70° F. In these diseases the temperature must be kept constant, great care being taken that the room does not get cold in the early hours of the morning.

Country Mouse.—Earache is by no means always due to trouble with the ear. Indeed, pain of any kind is an uncommon symptom of ear disease, and it is only in acute inflammation of the drum that pain is at all common. Earache is most often a “referred pain,” that is, it is a pain in one nerve due to irritation of another nerve connected with it. This phenomenon of referred pain is exceedingly common. The nerve which chiefly supplies the skin about the ear is a branch of the inferior dental nerve, which supplies the sensation to the lower teeth. Consequently the presence of carious teeth in the lower jaw is an exceedingly common cause of earache, and is for certain the cause of the pain which you suffer. You can tell whether pain about the ear is due to ear trouble or to this referred pain, because in the former case the pain is deeply seated, whereas in referred pain the pain is situated in the skin about the ear. Moreover, in this latter case the skin about the ear may be acutely tender.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Mrs. C——s.—You give no pseudonym. In the Annotated Bible there is a note on this subject which points out that Nahash may have been another name of Jesse, the father of David. The ancient Jews are said to have thought that Abigail and Zeruiah were daughters of David’s mother by Nahash, King of Ammon, before her marriage with Jesse, as it is not said they were daughters of Jesse anywhere, although they are called sisters of David. All this is, however, conjectural. Nahash means a serpent.

Anna Maria.—1. You would require a proper butter-mould for it.—2. It is never proper to shorten words, such as “cd.,” “wld.,” “wk.” for work, or “tly.” for truly, at least in writing letters. If your time be so limited, it is better to put off writing your letter till you have more time. Such abbreviations are only intended for business men, and are wholly unnecessary in polite letter-writing.

Dowdney.—We have not heard of any lady veterinary surgeons, nor do we find that there is any opening for their education as yet. Why spell Britain as “Brittian”? The rest of your letter is quite correct. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons is at 10, Red Lion Square, W.C. Write and inquire of the Secretary.

Open Sesame.—We think the best plan is to go to a good and trustworthy hairdresser, if you have determined to have your hair dyed, but we will give you an old-fashioned hair “restorer” or “darkener,” as follows:—rust of iron, 1 drachm, old ale, strong and unsweetened, 1 pint, oil of rosemary, 12 drops. Put this mixture into a bottle, cork very loosely, agitate it daily for ten or twelve days, then after an hour’s waiting, decant the clear portion for use. Rain water may be substituted for the ale if you wish it. This mixture will ironmould linen clothes.

Petite.—1. It is very difficult to deal with a scratched surface of leather. A kid-restorer will sometimes answer the purpose, or one of the creams sold for Russia leather. White of egg will also act as a restorer, and you might stain the scratches with a green paint.—2. As to your second question, we are of opinion that you would do best by joining the University Correspondence College, 32, Red Lion Square, W.C., particularly as you live so far from London. You could write for terms.

Effie.—The loosened back of your book could only be tightened by a binder, and perhaps not even by him, unless he took the back off, when it could be done.

Lonely One.—Judging from your letter and its story only, we should say you were very well rid of such a half-hearted lover. And now, we think that at twenty-six, with a delightful profession to occupy you, you ought to be a thankful and happy girl. Throw yourself into your work with your whole heart. Discourage all repining and sorrowful thoughts; be resolute and determined, until your mind shall gain strength and its normal power again. Take plenty of fresh air and exercise, and look only on the sunny side of life. God helps those who help themselves; and He will help you to a happy life.

E. B. H.—We should think that your weight was about normal, if tall for your age. Has anyone been teasing you about it? Don’t mind, you can practise how to preserve a good temper under difficulties. The name Emma is of very ancient date. It comes from the Latin amata, signifying loved; and was used as a name of honour in the days of ancient Rome, when it was bestowed on the newly-consecrated vestal by the high priest. It is neither ugly nor common, so far as we can see. You have been taking “chaff” too seriously.

Muriel.—We suppose that the stains on the teacups are caused by tea; if so, rubbing them well with salt will take them off; and they will sometimes come off when merely scraped with a knife.

Annie.—A housemaid in a gentleman’s house would need three cotton dresses, half-a-dozen linen, and half-a-dozen lawn or muslin aprons, and a good black gown for afternoon wear. If you are one of two or three maids, you are under the upper housemaid, and she will instruct you in your duties. These would differ in every house respectively.

Ayesha.—Your writing is very fairly good. The blue velveteen must be cleaned with benzine, or some French chalk, which take out the grease—the latter rubbed in on the wrong side.

Florence.—Lawyer is a general term which comprehends attorneys, solicitors, barristers, and advocates. A barrister is a councillor, qualified and admitted to plead at the Bar, and to take upon him the defence of clients. He is also a conveyancer. An attorney-at-law is an officer of a court of law, legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court, on the retainer of clients. He answers to the solicitor in Chancery, and the proctor in Ecclesiastical and Admiralty courts, and all are comprehended under the general term lawyer.

C. H. M. B.—1. If calling on a lady living with her brother, you would leave two of your husband’s cards.—2. The lady herself, in calling on you, would, of course, leave cards for her brother.

Floss.—1. We are much obliged by your kind expression of opinion concerning our paper.—2. The only way to improve your writing is to go back to copies and improve each letter as it comes.

[Transcriber’s Note—the following changes have been made to this text.

Page 710: tho to those—“those made of”.

Page 713: soverigns to sovereigns—“Nine hard sovereigns”.

Page 714: Anne to Ann—“to cook and Ann”.

Page 720: you to your—“your husband’s cards”.]