Troubled One.—Yours is a complaint which often causes great uneasiness to girls of your age. It is usually of very little import, and its greatest harm results, not from the condition itself, but from the patient’s fixed idea that she is suffering from some serious ailment. Almost anything can cause it. Indigestion and anæmia are among the most common causes. You will probably find that carefully treating your indigestion will cure your trouble. A short course of iron, if your digestion will stand it, will do you good.

Kanowna.—Try washing your face with warm water and sulphur soap. A very little sulphur ointment applied to your face at night-time will help you.

S. D.—1. Yes; vaseline is not a bad preparation for the hair. It is rather messy, and does not suit some persons’ hair. As regards the question, “How often should you wash your hair?” it depends a good deal upon yourself and the condition of your hair. If the hair is quite healthy, it need not be washed more often than once a month.—2. Simply a curiosity. It means nothing.

Mavis.—Read our advice to “Troubled One.” Of course, in a case like that of your friend, the question of a local cause for her symptoms must be considered. A course of iron, or of iron with some astringent, such as aromatic sulphuric acid is often of extreme value when the annoyance is due to constitutional causes. When taking iron in any form, constipation must be carefully guarded against.

Anxious Topsy.—Drinking excessively does cause profuse perspiration. But profuse perspiration produces excessive thirst; so that it is difficult to say which is the cause and which the effect. People who perspire freely should avoid tea and coffee, as these stimulate the sweat glands. They should wash in warm (not hot) water, and sponge over those parts which perspire most profusely with toilet vinegar and water. When the hands and feet are the members chiefly at fault, a powder consisting of one part of salicylic acid to ninety-nine parts of powdered silica may be dusted inside the gloves and socks. When the face perspires more freely than the other parts of the body, sulphur soap should be used to wash with, or the face may be bathed occasionally in toilet vinegar and water.

Muriel.—We see alas! that constant repetition is forced upon us in this column. One would have thought that every one of our readers had by this time grasped the chief points in the treatment of chronic indigestion. But we see that we are mistaken! And that we must repeat time after time. Well, here is the treatment of indigestion in a nutshell! We can divide indigestion into three grades of severity. First, those forms which need merely a few hints about diet; secondly, those forms in which a considerable amount of care must be taken, but which do not completely incapacitate the sufferers; and thirdly, the most serious cases which require great skill on the part of the physician and the patient to keep the latter from starvation. It is to those suffering from the second of these grades that the following remarks are addressed. As regards diet and eating. Take three, four, or five meals a day; but let them be small meals, and the intervals between them of nearly equal time. Eat very slowly; masticate properly. Give twenty bites to each mouthful of solid food. Never eat in a hurry or bolt your food. Sit down and do nothing for at least half an hour after each meal. Avoid pastry, cheese, potatoes, the coarser vegetables, pork, veal, made dishes (except such as are very simple), liver, kidneys, goose, duck, and sweet puddings. Take white bread in preference to brown or patent breads, for it is more digestible and more nutritious. It is preferable to have it toasted. Bread, biscuits, and any foods containing sugar must be partaken of in moderation. As regards liquids. Drink little, never more than half-a-pint of fluid at each meal, and drink it when you have finished eating. Avoid alcohol in all forms, tea, coffee, and cocoa—all of these are indigestible. Never take soup, beef-tea, or meat essences. Let your chief drinks be warm milk and aerated waters. Never drink anything very hot or very cold. Ices are especially to be avoided. In addition look to your teeth; have any bad teeth which may be present removed. Where you have lost teeth have false ones put in. Beware of tight lacing. Corsets are a fertile cause of indigestion, and are one reason why dyspepsia is so much more common in women than in men. Take a good walk every day. Guard against constipation from all causes. A little stewed fruit and plenty of green vegetables will help to relieve this complication. When intractable, a teaspoonful of liquorice powder or a pill of aloes and nux vomica may be taken at night. A glassful of hot water taken the last thing at night is also of value. As regards drugs, the first necessity is to point out that these are very commonly the cause of indigestion, and the less that dyspeptics have to do with them the better they will be. Never have a “bottle of medicine” as a “cure” for dyspepsia. Indigestion cannot be cured by drugs. Above all, avoid pepsin, and acids and bitters. The former drug relieves indigestion for a time, but makes it worse afterwards. It is only when normal digestion is impossible that pepsin should be used. In nine cases out of ten acids make indigestion worse; in the tenth case they are unnecessary. But unfortunately we must occasionally resort to drugs to relieve indigestion. A tablespoonful of bicarbonate of soda, or a “tabloid” of sodamint, taken when fulness, or flatulency, or oppression, or nausea is severe will often give instant relief. The severer grades of dyspepsia require further treatment, but we are not considering them now.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

Miss Bailey.—We have already informed you that we send no answers through the post. See our Rules.

Edith.—Write to the Registrar, University of London, Burlington Gardens, W. After matriculation, you can take the intermediate and B.A. degree examinations. The B.A. degree would help you in the profession of teaching. You do not tell us of your attainments; so we can hardly judge what is within your reach.

Marguerite.—Write to Messrs. S. A. Partridge & Co., 8 and 9, Paternoster Row, London, enclosing a stamp, and asking them if they publish the hymn you quote. It is constantly to be seen on cards or sheets, printed in large type for hanging in bedrooms.

Ivy.—The lines on the loss of your cat are more neatly written than the others. “Elfin” is not a noun but an adjective, and “prancing” is not a suitable expression for fairies. You should not use the form “sigheth” only for the sake of making the line long enough, as you use the form “flickers” immediately afterwards.

Emily C. Cox (Tasmania).—1. We are inserting your request.—2. Your writing is a little stiff and childish. It needs more freedom; but it is quite plain and legible.

Maria Grillo (Italy).—1. Your request we insert below.—2. You would have to write formally to the Editor of The Girl’s Own Paper about any particular story you wished to translate.

Catriona.—The verses you enclose are not at all bad for a child of eleven. At the same time, it is not unusual for intelligent children thus to string their fancies into rhyme, and it is no proof at all of latent poetic genius. Your little friend may become a poetess—or she may not.

Veronica.—Your story shows lack of experience. In order to make us really interested in the love affairs of “Agatha,” there should have been opportunity for the reader to study her character and circumstances. There is no special point in the mere fact of her receiving an offer of marriage from someone who is little more than a name. A short story should as far as possible have its action in the present, and not expect the reader to draw overmuch on his imagination.

An Interested Reader.—1. You are certainly not too old to be coached for the London Matriculation Examination. We hold in our hand a prospectus of the “Queen Margaret Correspondence Classes,” which prepare for that amongst other examinations. If you write to Miss Birrell, 31, Lansdowne Crescent, Glasgow, she will send you full particulars of subjects and fees. Tell her that you are a governess, and wish to prepare for the London Matriculation.—2. “The Legend of Bregenz” is by Adelaide Anne Proctor, and may be found in any collection of her poems.

A New Reader.—The metre of your lines is defective, and they would not be accepted for publication. You give a vigorous description of the well-known picture; but every poem should have some metre or “form” in which it is written, and your “third lines” are wrong in every respect. Study the laws of versification.

An Ardent Admirer of The “G. O. P.”—We like the spirit of your verses, and the substance of them, but are obliged to tell you that the form is very imperfect. The metre halts continually. Your ear can perhaps discern that these first lines are not of the same cadence.

“O knowledge, replied the thinker.”

“All these and more the secrets are.”

The number of syllables may be the same, but the accent varies. You should read good poetry, and if you wish to write verse, study the laws of versification.

Black and White.—Your sketches are full of promise, but are not up to the standard for publication. As you are so young, and have had no Art-education, it seems to us that your father should strive to send you to Art schools, as it undoubtedly would pay in the long run. You have decided though unformed talent for black and white figure work.

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

Miss L. Myles, 13, Upper Mallow St., Limerick, Ireland, would like a German correspondent to whom she could write in English, the lady replying in German.

C. Rahier’s note has arrived too late for its purpose. “Highland Lassie,” c/o Post Office, St. Cyrus, Scotland, would be pleased to correspond with some nice French girl of good family. She would like her correspondent to be about sixteen or seventeen years of age, and “Highland Lassie” begs to say that she speaks French, and that she is very fond of literature, music, and drawing.

Mademoiselle Louise François, of Anzin, Nord, France, will be pleased to correspond and exchange stamps with girls living in South and North America, New Zealand, or any part of Australia.

Emily and Agnes Cox, Buckland, Tasmania, Oceania, aged 18 and 16, wish to correspond with a French and also with a German girl with a view to improving their knowledge of the languages. They will write in English, French, or German.

Margaret Speedie, Surrey Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria, would like to correspond with P. and H. Pierson (Dutch correspondents) and Adelina Grillo (Italian) if they have not found anyone else. Perhaps they will write to her once in any case.

Maria Grillo, an Italian girl aged 22, would be glad to correspond with a German girl of about her own age, in order to improve her knowledge of German. She would be ready to give any help in her power towards the study of Italian. Address, Miss M. Grillo, Admiral Grillo, Via del Carmine 6, Spezia, Italy.

Edith Coates (who does not say whether we may give her address) wishes to correspond with a French and a German girl aged from 18 to 25.

C. A. D. (formerly engaged in teaching) wishes for a French correspondent.

A Cardiff Girl would like to correspond with a fairly educated American girl about 16 years of age.

Margaret E. Baker, Villa Hoffnung, Godesberg, bei Bonn, Germany, would like to correspond with Miss Jeffrey, whose request appeared in September. Miss Baker is leading a life full of interest as a student in Germany, and hopes soon to go to France or French Switzerland.

Miss E. C. Hepper, Clareville, Headingley, Leeds, would be glad to correspond with a well-educated French lady not under 30 years of age. Each should write in the other’s language, and the letters would be corrected and returned.

A Russian Girl whose name and address we find some difficulty in deciphering from her pleasant letter, wishes to correspond with “Miss Inquisitive.” Here is our rendering of the address—Miss Ovana Thyne, Riga, VI., Weidendam Hause 1.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Joan.—When friends or strangers say that it has given them pleasure to meet you, you must respond graciously, and say that you are likewise glad that you have had the opportunity of meeting, or of making their acquaintance, if a first introduction. Try to look pleasant when you say so. It is not a time for looking stiff and solemn.

Nightingale.—If you have read all the books which we have recommended on the subject of nursing, we can help you no further in that line. But some useful manual might be obtained with reference to ambulance work, and “First Aid.” Apply to the St. John Ambulance Association, St. John’s Gate, Clerkenwell, E.C., inaugurated by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.

Clarice.—If you hear “a ticking in the wall like that of a watch,” it may be occasioned by a particular kind of little beetle which is known to make just such a sound. If you have no ear for music, spare those within hearing the nuisance of listening to inharmonious sounds and incorrect time. Your hand is legible and of moderate size, and is not very much to be condemned. On the contrary. But people differ in taste.

White Rose.—There is a “Factory Helpers Union” which is worked under the auspices of the “Y.W.C.A.” The Hon. Secretary is Miss Skirrow, and the office at 26, George Street, Hanover Square, W. There are branches of this society at most of our large provincial cities. Amongst these we may name Birmingham, Bristol, Eastbourne, Manchester, Ipswich, Derby, and Leicester.

Margaret H.—Put an advertisement in some of the leading papers, and put up notices in the windows of the shops. Many of the owners would so far oblige you, especially the grocer’s, butcher’s, and baker’s where you deal, or propose to do so.

Mary and Katherine.—We are very sorry for you; but your first duty is to obey your parents. Take each some permanent address and in course of time a correspondence may meet with no opposition. You are both minors only.

Nell.—We give a notice of your “Invalid Home” at 10, Terrace Road, Buxton, Derbyshire. The terms for board and lodging, with nursing, etc., from two to five guineas a week. When visitors need only rest and change of air, the terms are two and a half guineas, or three and a half when two persons share the same room.

Lilly H. Y. Y.—Your letter impressed us very painfully. For a young woman, or anyone, to “despise everybody” is a bad sign. There must be grievous mental or moral disease (we do not mean in the sense of insanity). Some of these light-hearted and apparently frivolous young people may have fine, generous, unselfish natures, tender, loving hearts; people who, whatever their tastes may be, or capabilities, or deficiencies for intellectual culture, might willingly sacrifice any selfish gratification to serve, or afford a little kindly attention to another. Our divine Father made us all, with diversities both of gifts and of opportunities. He does not “gather where He does not straw,” nor does He permit anyone to judge his brother, nor to despise him. To his own Master he will stand or fall. When your mother has a visitor, is it not your duty as a daughter of the house to remain with and help her? “Little children, love one another,” so said “the beloved disciple.” Are you trying to profit by his teaching? We ask it in all kindliness of feeling.

Claudia.—Spilling salt was held to be an unlucky omen by the Romans, and it is from them the idea has descended to us. You have perhaps seen Leonardo da Vinci’s great picture of the “Last Supper,” and in that Judas Iscariot is known by the salt cellar knocked over accidentally by his arm. Salt was used by the Jews in sacrifice, and spilling it after it was placed on the head of the victim was held to be a bad omen; and this is according to Brewer, the origin of the superstition. Salt was an emblem of purity, and the sanctifying influence of a holy life upon others, hence our Lord tells His disciples that they are “the salt of the earth.” There are also two references to “a covenant of salt” in the Old Testament, see Numbers xviii. 19 and 2 Chron. xiii. 5. By this we understand that salt was a symbol of incorruption, and thus of perpetuity, as the “covenant of salt” meant one which could not be broken. There is of course no mention of the spilling of the salt by Judas in the Bible. It was put in by the Italian painter as a suggestion of what might have happened, a kind of significant accessory to the great scene, and a suggestion of the great trouble to come—according to the national superstition.

St. Marie.—We do not think that the hole in the top of a meat pie had originally any reason, save that gravy is usually put in after the pie is cooked, so as to ensure plenty of it, and also to allow the escape of the steam, which, if allowed to remain in, would make the pastry heavy and soft. There is nothing in the vapour of beef that could injure the meat, and the same may be said of mutton and veal; nor should there be any need for special ventilation, save in the case of “high” game or venison. You will find this subject fully dealt with in the sixth chapter of Mathieu Williams’s Chemistry of Cookery.