Part 1 — ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MEDICAL.

Marian.—So many different affections are included under the term "nervous disease of the heart," that it is quite impossible to say whether any one case is dangerous or not, without knowing for certain which of the various forms of "nervous heart" the patient suffers from. The commonest of these ailments is that arising from indigestion. It is also the least serious, for it is fairly easy to cure. It is impossible for us to tell what is the cause of your friend's illness without knowing more about her. You should have told us her age, which is a most important point in coming to a conclusion as to what is wrong with a patient. Some forms of "nervous heart" are very serious, but most kinds can be cured.

Majorie.—What you have got is, in all probability, merely a slight attack of chronic catarrh of the throat following upon an acute nasal catarrh. Get a spray and thoroughly spray out your throat three times daily with the following paint—solution of menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce. Take an astringent lozenge occasionally, and avoid highly spiced food. It is almost certain that your complaint will disappear within a few weeks.

Mignon.—Of course quinine and iron made your indigestion worse. Both drugs are exceedingly indigestible, and should not be taken unless the stomach is in good condition. Your neuralgia is probably due partly to anæmia or indigestion, or both. You should therefore persist in your treatment of dyspepsia, the cure of which would do you much more good than quinine and iron ever could. Locally you might apply to the nerve a very small blister, or a liniment of soap and camphor. Menthol applied locally gives temporary relief. We think that caffeine would be the best drug for you to take internally. You can get tabloids of caffeine citrate (5 grs.), one of which may be taken when the pain is especially severe.

Katherine Russel.—Yes; we advise you to obtain the advice of a specialist about your daughter's eyes. It is probably nothing very serious, but it ought to be seen to at once.

F. Rogers.—Unfortunately, the physician mentioned by "Ada Wright" is no longer alive, so that we are afraid that we cannot help you.

Sweet Briar.—We do not think that there is anything seriously wrong with you, and there is no reason to alarm yourself with groundless fears. If, as you say, your health is good, you need not worry yourself about your neck. Follow the advice that we gave to "A Mother."

Anxious One.—Use a hard, opaque toilet soap. Any of the really good soaps before the public (which are not patent soaps) will suit you. The opinion held by many that, in scented soaps, the scent is added to cover the smell of bad fats, is not correct. Wash your face about once a week in borax and hot water (one teaspoonful of borax to a pint of water). Soft water is preferable to hard for washing purposes.

Arthur.—We advise you to give up tea entirely for a time, and to carefully attend to your digestion. You will find all about indigestion in the medical articles and correspondence in last year's Girl's Own Paper. Read the answer to "Fair Isobel," which appeared some months ago, and contained a long account of acne. We would however suggest ichthiol rather than sulphur ointment in your case. Otherwise, follow all the advice given in the above-mentioned answer. You are at the age for acne, and although it is sure to disappear in time, you will have to persevere in your treatment.

Mary Noble.—Undoubtedly you do suffer from chronic nasal catarrh. It is the rule for persons afflicted with this malady to be subject to constantly recurring attacks of acute inflammation of the nose. You must get the following powder made up and use it three or more times a day:—Chlorate of potash, bicarbonate of soda and borax, of each, one part; powdered white sugar, two parts. Dissolve one teaspoonful of the powder in half a tumbler of tepid water, and use it as a nose wash and gargle. Wash out your nose thoroughly with this lotion, and then apply the following paint with an "atomiser" or nasal spray—menthol in paroleine, sixty grains to the ounce.

Fluff.—Wash your head in borax and water once a week, and then rub a little sulphur ointment into the roots of the hair. It is quite impossible for us to answer any correspondent in less than six weeks' time from receiving her letter. Often, at this time of the year, it is two or three months before a letter can be answered.

A Reader.—See answer to "Fluff" for scurf on the head. Scurf on the face is usually secondary to that on the head. Apply sulphur ointment, made with lanoline, for a week or so. Be careful of the soap you use.

Throat.—Catarrh of the throat is of course at the bottom of your trouble, and if we can cure this, we will probably at the same time improve your hearing. You should treat your throat in the same way that we advised "Mary Noble" to do. The great secret of success is to thoroughly and completely wash out the nose and throat while you are about it. We would advise you to syringe out your left ear to make certain that there is no wax there.

St. Cecilia.—The reason why you so frequently suffer from "colds" is most probably because you are the subject of chronic nasal catarrh. Read the answer to "Mary Noble" above, and do the same as we advised her to do.

Sylvia.—Inhalations of steam impregnated with medicinal substances are exceedingly useful, especially in bronchitis or catarrh of the throat. If you have an inhaler handy so much the better; if not, you can make an excellent inhaler out of a jug. Fill the jug or inhaler with hot water, add the drugs prescribed (most probably, compound tincture of benzoin or camphor), place your face over the jug, being careful not to scald yourself, and cover your head with a large dry towel, shrouding yourself with the jug beneath its folds. Inhale for about half an hour or less. Be very careful to keep out of draughts after inhaling. Very severe colds, if nothing worse, may occur from carelessness in this respect.

Fair Japan.—No; it will do you no harm to ride a bicycle. If you sit well on the machine, and do not ride too fast, bicycling is a good and healthy exercise. All girls of thirteen and fourteen "grow very fast." We do not quite understand your second question—"When a girl leaves school, what science ought she to know best?" The only science commonly learnt at school is mathematics. If you want to know which science is the best to study after leaving school, it depends entirely upon yourself. That science in which you have greatest interest is the best to learn. Whatever science you take up, you must study for many years before you can become proficient in it.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

C. A. E.—We have read your rhymed fairy tale with interest. It is not, however, sufficiently good for publication. We will criticise any story you like to send, but it should be short. On the first page of The Valour of Veramon a line ending with "deem" finds no rhyme, and on the last page:

is a halting line. The verse does not run smoothly enough, and this from no fault of the "recurring letter S." We applaud, however, your choice of a fairy tale; it is a far better subject than sentimental woes and afflictions. You will find the rules in a recent number. We do not return MSS. unless a stamped envelope is sent for the purpose.

F. H.—We only accept the work of experienced writers for The Girl's Own Paper. The sentiment of your elegy on Mr. Gladstone is excellent, but it is not very poetical. Your rhymes, however, are usually correct.

B. C. D. Quixada (S. Australia).—1. Your "lullaby" is irregular in metre. Such a poem should flow smoothly throughout. "The Orphan's Song" is also incorrect in metre. Every poem should have a certain metre in which it is written, the lines being of regulated lengths. You will observe that there are more syllables in

than in

yet they are both "first lines."—2. We believe the sound in a shell held close to the ear is due to the imprisoned air. The same sound can be observed when the hand is curved over the ear.

Adelina Grillo.—You will ere this have seen your request in print, and we hope you have found a correspondent.

A Reader of The Girl's Own Paper.—Many thanks for your note. We will consider the point you raise.

Miss Nell.—1. "Thematic" means, connected with the theme; e.g., a thematic catalogue of musical works is a catalogue in which the first few bars—the theme—of the whole work, or of each movement, is given. You can apply this explanation to the instances you give.—2. We do not wish to discourage you, but the "Associated Board" Examination you name, is not supposed to qualify for advanced teaching. If you pass in honours, it is of course more valuable. You could not expect a high salary with only this certificate, if, indeed, you could obtain a post as pianoforte teacher in a good school; but we cannot name any sum without more knowledge of your capabilities.

Kate Cregeen.—1. Your quotation:—

is from Tennyson's Ænone.—2. Your writing is very good for a girl of sixteen. To improve it, never let yourself scribble or write carelessly, and copy any model you admire.

Sweet Sultan.—Spenser's "Faerie Queen" is not to be had in nineteenth-century English, but it is easy to read and understand in its original form; and in the "Globe Edition" published by Macmillan & Co. at 3s. 6d., there is a glossary to explain the obscure words. You can also get some of the books with valuable notes in the Clarendon Press edition, published at 2s. 6d. the volume.

A. D. S.—We give the whole poem of which you quote two lines:—

To Day.

It is one of the few poems by Thomas Carlyle, and is to be found in his "Miscellaneous Essays."

A Lover of Nature.—Your verses are correct in metre and rhyme. We cannot say that they are particularly original, for the same thought has been frequently expressed already; and there is nothing very poetical in them. But to write poetry is a difficult art. Many thanks for your kind little letter. We may add that we are pleased to know the beauty of June gives rise to the thoughts you embody in your lines.

"One Who Knows" writes to correct a statement in a recent answer. "B. M." is the daughter of the late Dr. Miller of Rothesay, and her married name is Macandrew. Erin kindly adds that her Christian name is Barbara.

Adelina Grillo (Italy).—Many thanks for your kind card and words of praise. We are glad you have found a correspondent.

Ivy.—We are inserting your request. As to the delinquencies of your French correspondent in not writing oftener, we are unable to help you. It is not an unusual thing for correspondence to flag; but if you feel that "every three or four months" is not sufficiently often to receive a letter, the best way is to write a kind and pleasant note telling her so, and close the correspondence. We do not think it is worth while to be "annoyed" about the matter, as she may, owing to some change of circumstances, be quite unable to command her time.

OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.

"Génie" writes to inform Lilian that the author of "The Mill will never grind with the water that has passed" is Sarah Doudney. The fourth verse is—

"Génie" wishes to know if anyone can tell her the author of the hymn beginning, "The righteous dead—they dwell with God."

Guinfrid refers Mademoiselle Nemo to page 315, No. 164, February, 17th, 1883, of The Girl's Own Paper.

Catherine M. Robertson writes kindly sending "Adelaide" the poem she inquires for. It is by Mrs. Norton. We transcribe the first verse:—

The King of Denmark's Ride.

Doubtless the poem will be found in any collection of Mrs. Norton's works.

"A Faithful Friend of The Girl's Own Paper" writes in reply to C. Pegler that "The Faithful Negro Boy" was a favourite poem of her own as a child, and appeared in My Little Friend for August, 1876. If C. Pegler will forward her address to Miss L. S. Coleby, 6, Brunswick Terrace, Mount Sion, Tunbridge Wells, she will receive a copy.

"Yum-Yum" is very anxious to know who is the author of the following lines:—

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Miss Edyth K. Steer, Grove House, Evesham, Worcestershire, wishes to correspond with an educated French girl. She suggests that each should write in the other's language and that the letters should be returned, corrected, to the sender. Any French girl correspondent would find Miss Steer's writing exquisitely clear, and her letters well composed.

Cissie had better send her full address and further particulars, as her letter is somewhat vague.

Lilian Douglas, 32, Medina Road, Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury, London, would like to correspond with either P. or H. Pierson, the Dutch girls who asked for correspondents. She is, however, not yet twelve years old, and cannot write in French.

Miss François, à Auzier (Nord) France, being a French girl of eighteen, and a collector of stamps, would be most pleased to correspond in English with girls living in New Zealand, New South Wales, or other foreign countries, who also collect stamps. She, will send twenty-five or fifty French stamps in exchange for the same number of Australia, Asiatic or African stamps.

Miss Margaret E. Westlake, 40, Union Street, Plymouth, would much like to have letters from, and write to, a French girl.

E. B., The Limes, Berners Street, Ipswich, aged 20, would like to correspond with a French girl.

"Ivy" would like a young lady of the same age (21) interested in painting, to correspond with her. She thinks they might be of use to one another in lending studies and suggesting new ideas.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Daffy-down-dilly.—The pronunciation of surnames is often so arbitrary and contrary to ordinary rules that, excepting in well-known names, such as Cholmondeley (pronounced Chumley), Leveson-Gower (pronounced Luson-Gore), Marjoribanks (Marchbanks), and others, you should obtain your information from one of the family. In the case of the name "Haworth," we should be disposed to pronounce it as in Ha-therton, certainly not "Horth." We know little about the town of that name in the W. R. of Yorkshire. It has a population of about 3820. Charlotte Brontë's father was rector of the parish, and she married his curate, and died in March 1855.

Lover of the "G.O.P." (Northampton).—The story called "Robina Crusoe," which appeared in serial form, can only be had in our magazine. It has not been re-published apart from it. If you write to our publisher (56, Paternoster Row, E.C.) and request him to send you the numbers that contain it, naming the year in which it appeared, and enclose the money due for them, he will send them to you. Should you send the exact days, he would supply the weekly numbers, instead of the monthly ones, which would cost you much less.

Tibbie.—If accompanied by your sisters (or one at least) you need feel no scruple in accepting the rector's Sunday hospitality, as you are helping his services by playing the organ.

Pompey inquires whether the modern Romans wear the same picturesque flowing robes at the present day that were worn at the time of Christ? There is no difference between their dress and that of the rest of Europe. As to the history of Rome and its ancient buildings and churches, there is a new book called Mediæval and Ecclesiastical Rome, published by Black. The first volume might add something to the information you say you have obtained in The Story of the Nations series, The Last Days of Pompeii, and a few others—which you do not specify. The book we name is reputed to be an excellent, and very exhaustive guide-book, and the best yet written.

Joice M.—We recommend you to get a little book on Leather Work, by Rosa Baughan (Gill: 17, Strand, W.C.). This will give you all the direction you can require.

Janie.—The term "Black Letter," as used in reference to printing, only means what we call "Old English" type, which is often used on visiting cards. But old books, such as that interesting historical chronicle of current events, by Stowe, is all printed in that type, and in the spelling of that century. It is known elsewhere as the "Flemish, or German type." Ancient illuminated missals, such as those exhibited in the British Museum, are in "Black Letter," and most beautifully written by pen in this style of lettering.

Lily.—Nothing is known of Jannes and Jambres, named by St. Paul in 2 Timothy iii. 8, beyond the fact that they existed, and withstood Moses before Pharaoh—statements of divine authority. But, according to very ancient tradition, they were two sons of the rebel, Balaam—who died fighting against Israel—and, furthermore, that no real miracle was wrought by them, but that they practised mere jugglery. The name "Jerusalem," means "the City of Peace," though its history shows the name very inapplicable. It was the site of the stronghold Jebus, taken from the native tribe, and made that of the Israelitish capital. The ancient name was revived by David, for a cuneiform tablet found at Tel-el-Amarna (in 1890), written centuries before the Hebrew conquest, appears to refer to that place under the form of Urusalem. Our authority is that of Robert Anderson, whose interesting work on Extinct Civilisation is worth your study.

Amy.—You seem to have overlooked our many advertisements of the Asile des Billodes, C. de Neuchâtel. If you look through old numbers of the "G.O.P.," you will find them in the answers to correspondents. Some of our earliest writers for this magazine have been taking out stamps for the institution for many years past, every year, in large quantities.

Georgie.—The colour of the Red Sea is due to a thin brick-dust layer of infusoria, which is slightly tinged with an orange hue. The water placed in a white glass bottle is changed to a deep violet, but the surface of the sea shows a brilliant rose colour.

C. M. C.—It is the duty of the clergyman to call on all his parishioners, but this is almost impossible in extensive, closely populated parishes. Of course, if attending the services of a church not in his parish, he can know nothing about you. Should you desire work under him, you only have to call at the vestry and offer your services, telling him that you attend his church.

Mimosa.—You could not call on your intended husband, unless with your mother as a chaperon, as you say he has no lady relative living with him.

Narcissus.—The plural of the name you have adopted is "Narcissi."

Day-boots.—1. A cane is only an adjunct to the military uniform. A man when well dressed in civilian style always carries a stick or an umbrella, and the latter would be quite unsuited for military dress—and most men would look awkward had they no use for either hand.—2. In striking a light you produce combustion, which makes a noise.