Part 1 — ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MEDICAL.

Bernice.—Beyond taking plenty of exercise, feeding as well as you can, and attending to the general laws of health, we cannot tell you of any other means of obtaining what you desire. A diet with plenty of farinaceous food, milk puddings, etc., would suit you best.

Mary Carmichael.—The public has been completely fogged over the subject of tinned meats for years past. Some persons have tried to prove that tinned articles are better than fresh ones; whilst others have decided that all preserved foods are poisonous, and that those who partake of them do so at the risk of their lives. As is usual in such arguments, the truth lies somewhere between these extreme points, and we will endeavour to explain what are the various good and bad qualities of tinned foods. In the first place, we must notice that tinned eatables are very much better now than they were some years ago. This is particularly the case with the tinned fruits from California (the preparation of which is, we believe, entirely carried on by girls). For some years back we have been able to get tinned pears, peaches, apricots, etc., from California, and, as far as we can find out, no case of poisoning has occurred from their consumption. It may be said that all the tinned articles which are allowed to come into London are perfectly wholesome while they are fresh; it is only after they have been kept some time that they become injurious. Again, it must be remembered that tinned goods will not keep when once the tin has been opened. A large number of deaths have occurred from eating tinned meats which have been opened several days previously. It is of great importance to recognise what the poison in tinned meats is, and where it comes from. There is a popular notion, which is a very great fallacy, that the poison is derived from the tins, and that therefore there is no danger in meats preserved in jars or barrels. This is a great mistake, for although tinned goods do sometimes become contaminated with the metal of the tins, this is only very seldom the case. When the poison is derived from the tins, as it was in some cases of poisoning from tinned cherries, death is not very common. Whence comes the poison, of which we all read cases, of whole families being killed from partaking from a tin of salmon or sardines? It is developed in the food itself. This is not a case of organic matter going bad from decay. Articles sealed up in airtight tins will never undergo putrefaction. This development of poisons in tinned meats is a totally different phenomenon from putrefaction. It appears that if organic substances are kept for a long time, whether in the air or in airtight cases, extraordinary and little-understood changes occur in their composition, whereby, amongst other things, are developed definite chemical compounds known as "animal alkaloids." These are the poisonous agents in tinned goods. These alkaloids are allied, chemically, to strychnine, morphine, etc., but some of them are immeasurably more poisonous than any known vegetable or mineral production. A quantity of one of these alkaloids (occasionally found in tinned sardines), which is so small as to be almost impossible to demonstrate, has killed a whole family in twenty-four hours. Bottled fruits occasionally become poisoned by the use of preservatives such as boracic or salicylic acid.

M. H. B.—Yours is a history which has been only too common after influenza. You would probably derive benefit from a change of air. We should advise a short stay at the north or east coast of Kent. Margate would perhaps be too severe for you, but we think that you could scarcely do better than go to Folkestone or its neighbourhood. The medicine that you are taking is about as good as any other for your trouble. Eat well.

A. E. Robinson.—It is of great importance to keep false teeth scrupulously clean, and it is the lack of this precaution which is the cause of most of the troubles due to false teeth. The artificial palate is perhaps more difficult to keep clean when made of vulcanite than when made of metal, but otherwise one substance is as good as the other. You should never sleep with your false teeth in your mouth. We have lately heard of a lady who was suffocated from her false teeth having slipped out of place during sleep. False teeth should be taken out every evening and placed in water, or, better still, solution of boracic acid, through the night. They should be carefully cleaned every night. Some people leave their false teeth in their mouths for weeks at a time. Particles of food get between the false palate and the roof of the mouth, decompose, and cause very many unpleasant, and sometimes serious results.

Beattie.—1. We cannot tell you the cause of your complaint. It is probably a slight error of development.—2. Certainly there is no reason why you should not marry a man who has got a stiff hip from rheumatism.

Daisy.—See the answer to "Maud" in the May Part of The Girl's Own Paper.

Ivy.—1. Yes: scurf on the head is seborrhœa. You should wash your head every week in borax and warm water, and apply the sulphur ointment afterwards to the roots of the hair only. This condition of seborrhœa is most difficult to eradicate. As a rule, the best that can be done by treatment is to keep it in check and prevent it from spreading to the face.—2. Cocaine will remove most of the pain of having a tooth extracted.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

Sunflower.—We have read your letter and verses with interest. The poem beginning, "There is no Death," suffers from a lack of attention to the laws of metre. It is begun in ten-syllable lines, which occasionally become twelve- and even fourteen-syllable lines. This is quite inadmissible. The other two poems are better. The metre and the rhymes are correct. There is some poetic feeling in "Twilight," and we like your description of the "Friend" you long to have:—

We shall be pleased to hear from you again.

Brown Eyes.—You should have written direct to the Comtesse Blanche de Forestier, whose address we gave. She informs us that she has already found a correspondent. You ask us to tell you of any faults we find in your interesting letter. Your writing is rather large and untidy, and inclined to sprawl down-hill, and the expression "a lot" is too colloquial. Also the sentence beginning, "Deeply interested" needs "I am" to make it grammatically correct. It is rather thankless work thus to pull your letter to pieces, as we have read it with much pleasure, and are glad your grandfather has lately given you a beautiful bicycle. O si sic omnes!

Violet Rene Gordon.—We have always understood that the authoress in question was unmarried, but as we do not know her personally we cannot vouch for the fact. If anyone who does know her intimately tells you so, you may of course believe it; but information that has filtered through various channels is apt to be inaccurate.

Erin and A Lady Reader kindly send the words of "Pestal" by W. H. Bellamy; and "Erin" informs "Pansy" that it is published as a solo by Hutchings and Romer, arranged by C. E. Horn. "Erin" does not know if it is to be had as a duet.

I. M. H.—Many years ago, Lytton Bulwer (afterwards Sir Bulwer Lytton) wrote contemptuously of Tennyson, calling him "Miss Alfred." Tennyson retorted by a most stinging satire on Bulwer, which, we believe, is to be found in some early volume of Punch, but is not republished in Tennyson's works. The extract you quote, containing the line:—

comes from this satire. As it is suppressed, you may have difficulty in finding it.

Fidelia.—The verse you quote is from a poem of Christina Rossetti's entitled "He and She." As the whole poem is very short we transcribe it for you:—

You will find it on page 328 of Messrs. Macmillan's 1892 edition of "Poems: Christina G. Rossetti."

The Lilac Sunbonnet.—You should try to obtain a situation "au pair" in a Continental School, where you could teach English in return for learning French. No premium or certificate is required. The only way we know of obtaining such a position is to advertise in the provincial journal of any town where you would like to go. See our former answers to similar queries, when we have mentioned such papers as the Gazette de Lausanne, Journal de Génève, Feuille d'avis de Vevey, etc.

Mother's Girl.—Your story is very well composed and neatly written. The incident you describe is naturally told, with a good deal of right feeling. We can honestly praise your work. It is very wise of young writers only to undertake simple subjects with which they are familiar, and a good schoolgirl story is worth any amount of sentimental nonsense.

A Seeker.—1. Your friend's verses fail in metre: e.g., "Death makes clearer the soul's view," is a halting line. The thought expressed throughout is a solemn one, but the mode of expression is open to criticism.—2. The difficulty you place before us is one in which we have very great sympathy. If you have been sent to an Art School it is certainly your duty to work hard there. But a change of occupation is by no means always prejudicial to success; in fact, it is often helpful even to the occupation which is laid aside for a time. For example, a girl is likely to become no better a musician because she practises every hour of the day, and neglects all besides. There comes a point beyond which work is useless, and four or five hours well spent are better than twelve. So with your drawing or painting; you will do it no harm by laying it aside for awhile and lending a hand to household tasks. There is often a tendency in eager students to overwork, and see things out of their due proportion. You must try to keep the balance true and not sacrifice character to ambition. You will do the ambition itself no good by it. We may suggest that artistic talent is very useful in millinery, and that, if need be, you should not despise turning your gifts to account in designing some article of dress. There is a wide field open to really artistic dressmakers; but, of course, on this, we cannot advise you without further knowledge.

An Ardent Reader, Rosy Nell.—We are glad to hear all you tell us, and hope you may succeed in the needlework competition. We do not know the comic ballad you mention on "A Snarling Wife," beginning, "O do be still!" Are you sure it is worth hunting for? Would it not do you more good to learn some poem of real beauty or interest?

GIRLS' EMPLOYMENTS.

Agnes (Training for Children's Nurse).—Your daughter is certainly wise in deciding to become a children's nurse rather than a nursery governess. Her gentle birth and education will be to her advantage in seeking such a position; at the same time it is a pity that a regular training cannot be afforded. Under the circumstances we would suggest that your daughter should seek a situation under a lady nurse, who would train her in the necessary duties. Such a situation is not often to be heard of; nevertheless we think you might find one after careful inquiry. For such purposes it would be better to apply to an employment agency than to advertise. Through such public organisations as the Central Bureau for the Employment of Women, 60, Chancery Lane, W.C., and the Society for Promoting the Employment of Women, 22, Berners Street, W., you might hear of a suitable vacancy. If you wish to have the addresses of thoroughly trustworthy private, as well as public registries, you cannot do better than order one of the lists of registries from the Hon. Secretary of the Associated Guild of Registries, 39, Victoria Street, S.W., enclosing three half-pence for cost and postage. These lists have recently been issued for the first time, and will gradually be extended. They promise to be of great utility to parents and guardians as well as to young women who are seeking employment. For registries vary much in character, and there are some which experienced advisers would not at all recommend. We do not answer privately, our answers being intended for the benefit of readers of The "G. O. P." generally.

Amicus (Home Employment).—We know of no society that exists for the purpose of providing ladies with work to do at home, nor do we know of any firm of cigarette manufacturers who give out work. Quite possibly cigarette-making is undertaken by home-workers living in the immediate neighbourhood of a manufactory; but manufacturers would hardly care to send tobacco and paper a hundred miles away from their establishment. We would suggest that you should learn typewriting and shorthand, and then seek a situation as clerk in one of the manufactories in your own city.

Ivy and Lora (Training for a Hospital Nurse).—It is true that we have repeatedly answered questions similar to yours. Nevertheless as you have failed to observe these replies, we gladly respond to your query. There is hardly any hospital to which you could be admitted before the age of twenty-one—twenty-three or twenty-four is preferred by most institutions. In general a probationer can enter either by payment of a fee or by giving services free, or in return for only a small salary the first year. You could apply to the matron of any general hospital for rules of admission for nurses, if you enclosed stamps for postage. Among the best training schools for nurses in London are the London Hospital, St. Thomas's, St. Bartholomew's, King's College, St. Mary's, and University College Hospitals.

Alpedian, although a boy, takes great pleasure in reading The Girl's Own Paper. We are very glad to hear it, Alpedian. Nevertheless we cannot undertake to advise boys as well as girls in these columns. However, in reply to your special questions, we may say that a boy must be articled to a firm of solicitors for some years, and the fee is usually a high one. Afterwards your prospects of success would depend partly on yourself and partly on any connection you might possess among barristers. A solicitor with no legal connection is apt to have an uphill fight for work.

Ann (Missionary Work).—Missionary societies do not always insist on candidates passing any examination, but they would only accept the services of a young woman who had received a good general education. Candidates for work in missions generally spend a period of probation in some of the training schools. Further particulars could be obtained from the Secretary of the Society for Promoting Female Education in the East, 267, Vauxhall Bridge Road, S.W. To judge from your handwriting, you are at present rather young to enter on such work as this. There is always, however, plenty of useful work that girls may do among the poor at home. Girls' Clubs, for instance, often require helpers.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Lily.—Your brother certainly shows great promise. He should, however, try to perfect himself in mathematics, as architectural construction depends greatly upon this science, and especially upon mechanics. He should also sketch buildings from nature, and make measured drawings of some building, a church or house or such like, and carefully read works upon architecture, such, for instance as The Glossary of Architecture, Fergusson's Architectural Handbook, Rosengarten's Handbook of Architectural Styles (translated by W. Collett-Sanders). He would also gain some information from "Architecture, or the Art of Buildings," published in The Girl's Own Paper, October 24, 1885, to May 22, 1886, and contained in The Girl's Own Annual, commencing October 3, 1885. Although against our rules we return the drawings to you as you requested for which you sent stamps, but you give a very meagre address.

Jessie.—The Egyptian-looking obelisk of which you speak, near Forres, in Elginshire, called "Sueno's Stone," has puzzled many an antiquary, and the opinions they have severally formed do not seem at all unanimous as to its origin. It is a very remarkable one—the broken remains standing 25 feet in height, and cut out of a block of the hardest granite to be found in Scotland. The opinion of the Rev. C. Cordiner (a distinguished antiquary of the last century) was, that it was raised to commemorate the victory of the Scots over the Scandinavian invaders, who had established themselves on the neighbouring promontory of Burghead, in the 9th century. The monument is covered with figures of armed men, some equestrian, with bows, swords and spears, as well as a cross on the obverse side and sundry other objects.

Tooting Graveney.—To water plants, such as rose trees, with tobacco water is said to destroy blight.

Lottie.—We could not recommend anything for removing stains of paraffin oil from a light-coloured dress. First, you do not name the material; but, in any case, we always recommend the employment of some trimming to cover the stain, or else the substitution of a new breadth. Possibly a rearrangement of folds or pleats might conceal it.

Au désespoir.—It is, as we have frequently told our readers, quite impossible to teach French pronunciation otherwise than orally, as their alphabet and ours are dissimilar in sound. In Latin it is otherwise. Of the terms you name, however, we may give the sound with our own letters. "Monsieur" is pronounced "Mus-yeu," not "Mus-you"; and "Mademoiselle" as "Mad-moy-zelle." The syllable "ieur" is pronounced as the word for "eyes" in French, viz., "yeux." Perhaps you know how to pronounce that word. We are not acquainted with any other book on the subject of phonetic pronunciation.

Fatima (Smyrna).—1. There is no periodical with which we are acquainted that is specially devoted to the question of hair-dressing. Those on fashions in dress very usually add some remarks on any changes with reference to the coiffeur. In The Girl's Own Paper.—2. As to the dangerous attempt to give additional brightness to the eyes by artificial means, we greatly object to them. Some foolish, vain women, employ belladonna—a drug that extends the pupil and injures the eye. It should only be medically applied under a doctor's advice and direction for certain complaints, not for the purpose of temporarily enlarging the pupil. The eye is so delicate an organ, and sight so exceedingly precious, that no experiments by amateurs should be practised on it, especially for mere vanity' sake. We are always glad to hear from our foreign friends, even if not subscribers. Your English is excellent.

Joice M. (second letter).—The several precious stones that are said by the Poles to influence the twelve months of the year, respectively, are as follows:—Jan., a garnet, representing constancy; Feb., an amethyst, sincerity; March, jasper (or bloodstone), courage; April, a diamond, innocence; May, an emerald, success in love; June, agate, health and longevity; July, cornelian, content; August, sardony, conjugal felicity; Sept., chrysolite, antidote to insanity; Oct., opal, hope; Nov., topaz, fidelity; Dec., turquoise, prosperity. For this Polish rendering of the question we have the authority of Dr. Brewer.

Judic.—The jewellery distinguished as "rococo," is usually made up of several varieties of gems. Moorish decorations, and Watteau's paintings, are in this style; also in furniture, that of Louis XIV., which is highly gilded; and ormolu, are called "rococo." The term is of uncertain etymology. It prevailed more especially in France at the close of the 18th and beginning of the 19th centuries, and was extended to architecture and landscape-gardening. In the former it is a debased style, which succeeded the revival of the Italian, and was very much in vogue in Germany.

S. E. H.—1. Yes, Charles Dickens did write a History of England designed for children.—2. Your handwriting is fairly good and very legible, though scarcely yet a "running hand."

Lulu.—There are classes held at least in three places in town for instruction in book-keeping, amongst other things, namely, at the College for Men and Women, 29, Queen Square, Bloomsbury, W.C.; apply to the secretary at the College for Working Women, 7, Fitzroy Street, W.; and at Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution, Bream's Buildings, Chancery Lane and Fetter Lane, E.C. Address the secretary. You might inquire respecting any book written on the subject at any of these places.

Miss M. Bannerman.—There is a Ladies' Art Work Depôt at 251, Brompton Road, S.W., address Lady Eden. There is another Work Society at 31, Sloane Street, President, H.R.H. the Princess Louise; and a third, Ladies' Work Society, of which the depôt is at 185, High Street, Kensington, Hon. Sec. Miss K. Ford, Rock Moor, Yelverton, R.S.O., Devon.

M. Orme and M. E. Morris.—There are certain questions that do not come within our province to answer. We regret we are unable to give you the answers you desire.

Miserable.—Pray for divine help to break off your acquaintance with such bad companions, and go to your clergyman (to the vestry of the church), or to your minister, tell him your trouble and ask him to give you his advice and follow it.