CHAPTER VI.

THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE—THE WORKMEN—THE COLOURED LADY—AN ILLNESS IN THE BARN.

The plans for our house were finished. We had been very fortunate in the choice of our architect, and he had delighted us by working into them, with great taste, all the peculiarly English features, which we had set our hearts upon having, in this far-away Californian home.

There was to be a roomy ingle-nook, and large open fire-places, latticed windows with green shutters, and deep window seats, and great overhanging eaves to the roof. On the gables outside we were to have black beams in white plaster, to look like an old farm. To make the housework easier, and also because we liked it, all the rooms were to be on one floor, the whole second storey being one large attic.

Finally after many negotiations, the contract was signed, and we began to look daily for the coming of the men. We had learnt to dread the desert wind, which according to tradition, comes along in spells of three, or at most four days, but which we found had a nasty habit of staying longer, leaving one painfully parched, inside and out, body and spirit. At such times we watched anxiously for the great bank of white sea fog, rising up behind the mountains on the west, and always a sign that the fresh sea breeze was coming back to us.

It was on a Sunday evening, during a specially diabolical dose of desert wind, when there were bush fires on nearly all the mountains round us, and the air seemed filled with smoke and the pungent smell of burning sage, that our men arrived, bringing with them two waggon loads of materials for putting up the various sheds and tents needed for their comfort, during the eighty days, which was the contracted time for building the house.

They had had a breakdown on the way out from town, and what with this and the scorching heat of the day, had been much tried. However, they were very good tempered, and seemed to consider the whole business as a kind of picnic—a holiday in the country. The contractor, Mr. Scott, who was also the principal carpenter, was a huge man, very capable, as we soon found, and a splendid workman. He had brought his wife with him, to serve the two-fold purpose of a change of air for her, and a satisfactory cook for himself and his men! They had also their two little children with them and Mr. Scott’s dog. Four more carpenters arrived with them; the plumbers, plasterers, and painters, were to follow later, when their work would be wanted.

The whole first day was spent in putting up the temporary houses needed for the little settlement. They were going to make themselves quite comfortable, though it was all done with extraordinary quickness. There was a “cookhouse” as they called it, which was the most ambitious building of all the settlement, and we thought it showed Mr. Scott’s good sense, and promised well for the undertaking, that he provided so royally for the men’s comfort in this particular. The cookhouse had one good-sized dining-room, with a long table down the middle, and a bench on each side; out of this was the kitchen, with two beautiful gasoline cooking stoves, containing large ovens and all the newest American contrivances. A nice cool cupboard or larder opened out of the kitchen, and was made with walls of wire gauze to let the air in freely and keep out the flies. The tent put up for Mr. Scott and his family was quite a work of art; nicely floored and with walls of wood about four feet high, to keep out draughts, the rest of the walls and roof being of canvas. They had it comfortably furnished, and seemed at once quite at home there.

The tents for the men were simpler, but satisfactory. By evening all their preparations were made, and when the lights were lit all over the little settlement, we were strongly reminded of the “Buffalo Bill” shows we had been to at home.

By early morning the men were hard at work, laying the mud sills of the house; and now began an exciting time for us, for these wooden houses are built so quickly, and American carpenters are such clever workmen, that it is most interesting to watch them. They were all good humouredly amused at the plans of our house, and said they had never put down such an irregular and unexpected outline of a house. Now, too, we proved the very great advantage it was to us to be at hand during the building; in this way several mistakes, which would have caused loss of time and vexation, were corrected at once, and some very decided improvements on the original plan were carried out.

Meanwhile our life in the barn was very dusty and hot. The coloured lady had unfortunately taken a great dislike to me, and though she did her work, she was so brutal in her manner, and scowled at me so savagely, that, half in earnest and half in jest, I made an arrangement with my husband and the boys that I should never be left alone with her after dark. In appearance she might have been first cousin to the gorilla, with his large, protruding mouth and big teeth. On Sundays, she would go off hunting for wild bees’ nests, an occupation which seemed to be an absorbing passion with her. At such times, she would wear a very dilapidated print gown, her feet were thrust into men’s boots, her head was covered with a red cotton sun bonnet, and she carried in her hand a tall, heavy stick; and as she came striding along, over the rough hill-side, with a peculiar movement of the hips, like a wild animal, and waving her great club, she looked like some man-eating aboriginal! One day, when her manner had become quite unbearable, I arranged with my husband that I would speak to her before him, for I did not dare tackle her alone. I hoped at least to find out what provoked her specially aggressive manner to me; for she made some slight attempt at friendliness to my husband and the boys. We got no satisfaction however; all she would say, standing meanwhile outside the open barn door, and shouting in her deep bass voice, was, “What does the woman want? I didn’t insult the woman!” We felt it was hopeless, and as the quarters were so rough that few good servants would have put up with them, we decided to bear with our gorilla and her angry mutterings till the house was built. But I was quite determined that whatever happened, she should not set foot in the house, even if I failed to find anyone else.

She much preferred to work with the ranch man, at any outdoor labour, however heavy, rather than do so-called woman’s work. Especially she loved managing the horses, and we could hear her big guffaw out on the ranch, where she would try with the rest to trick or compel Dan, who was giving more and more trouble, into doing his work. All the workmen had some never-failing plan to coerce him, but each in turn was beaten by Dan’s obstinacy, and his readiness to spend all day fighting out the question as to his way or theirs. Poor Dan! before long we discovered what was really amiss with him: he was going blind, and was in a constant state of irritation and excitement at not being able to see. No doubt the two young men who sold him to us, had known that this was coming on (though his eyes betrayed no sign of it), and were glad to be rid of him. Eventually we gave him away, and got a pair of young greys, giving the other horse Joe in part payment for them. Dan has been our only dead loss; all the other animals have turned out particularly well.

“Poll,” the little Indian pony for Tip, the younger boy, is quite a character. She finds a trail through the most hopeless-looking bush, without a moment’s hesitation, is as surefooted as a goat on the steep rocky hill-sides, and has no vice about her. So that Tip, who was far from strong when first we came here, has become a very good rider, without accidents or trouble of any kind. He gallops her, bare-backed, up and down the steep hills around us at full speed, sitting on the reins and playing an accordion, waving it about over his head, and making her fly with excitement. Then there is Jennie, a pretty mare belonging to Larry, the elder boy. She is very nervous and high strung, fond of polo, and racing, and good at both, but never quite satisfied to go along on any quiet, everyday business. Ben is a strong, heavy ranch horse, dutiful and hardworking; Rex and Dick, the greys, are general favourites. They were only four years old when we bought them, and they needed always close watching, for they were full of spirits; but now they are more sober, and do their part bravely. Dickie is “the gentleman,” and rarely does much ranch work, but trots the buggy for miles and miles about the country.

By this time, all was going forward wonderfully quickly with the building of the house. The carpenters and workmen enjoyed their trip in the country, and indeed Mrs. Scott prepared such comfortable meals for them in the cookhouse, that I fancy these alone would have reconciled them to a much worse lot. She was very proud of her cooking, and used often to show me her pies, and roasts, and biscuits, etc., as I passed to and fro.

She was rather a grand lady too, and felt very virtuous about working so hard at this job for her husband, but she told me privately that, though he made no show of praising her for doing so well, he always “came down handsome” after any such time, and that this one would probably mean a silk dress for her! So though she grumbled in an ostentatious way at times to me, when he was within hearing, she was really very cheerful and helpful.

Nowadays, when I see our Chinaman, in his clean white jacket, wandering about, carrying a basket in his hand, and returning presently with it full of beautiful tomatoes, we think gratefully of Mrs. Scott and the cookhouse; for the odd bits she threw from her door in those days, came up very shortly in fruitful vines, and by this time they have distributed themselves all over the ranch.

The barn was not a nice place to be ill in, nor was Liza, the darkey, a nurse any invalid would willingly choose, and during a sharp attack of influenza I had while we were there, I wondered sometimes if she worked evil charms over the poultices, before she brought them to me, with such an angry face. To be ill at all was, I think, in her opinion a piece of fine ladyism, to which I had no right whatever. Fortunately I did not depend upon her nursing, but had my three tenderhearted, helpful menfolk. I lay very ill indeed, the influenza bringing on a bad attack of congestion of the lungs, which nearly killed me, and of course in addition to the illness, there was the hopeless discomfort of the surroundings, the heat and dust, and when I was at my worst, a spell of desert wind, and oh! the horror of it all. The barn seemed no protection whatsoever. It was swept through and through by that parched, scorching air, like a draught from a red-hot furnace. The cracking and groaning of every wooden thing was like the wrenching and straining of a ship in a storm; the barn and everything inside the barn protested loudly. Fortunately our furniture was not to be housed for long in a building one plank thick, or there would have been but very little use in bringing it so far; soon it would have been lying about us, in disconnected bits, all sprang apart during desert wind spells.

Once we were in the house, by shutting all doors and windows we could keep the fiend out, sufficiently at least to prevent mischief; though no one can boast of much comfort till our blessed friend the sea breeze returns to us.

However, notwithstanding the desert wind, Liza’s illwill, and the influenza, I recovered a little strength and crept out again before long to see how the house was progressing.

I found the plasterers and brickbuilders hard at work, and their different encampments added to the rest. Each man brought at least one horse, often two, with his “rig,” and a dog and a gun. The horses were tethered all about the land, and we seemed more “Buffalo Bill” like than ever.

The building of the house went forward splendidly, and it promised to be both very pretty and very convenient.

(_To be continued._)

THINGS IN SEASON, IN MARKET AND KITCHEN.

MARCH.

BY LA MÉNAGÈRE.

With March we are in Lent. Now although we may not approve of any restriction being placed on our dietary with regard to Lent, all the same as spring is approaching we shall find that those restrictions have their foundation laid in sound common sense. We do not now need such substantial faring as we did a month or two earlier; we shall be all the better for occasionally substituting fish for meat, for more eggs, and for fewer cakes and puddings.

March does not bring us much that is new in the way of provisions, but imported fruits and vegetables are not quite so dear as they were, and in our gardens we should be beginning to have mustard and cress and radishes. The first shoots of young sorrel—and how good they are—will be coming above ground, and forced rhubarb is plentiful and cheap.

We are now the worst off for the wherewithal to make our tables pretty, just before the spring flowers come in. We can supply the deficit by having some of the pretty little green ferns in fancy pottery—pteris, ivy, hart’s tongues, and so forth, and few things look nicer. Try, too, for special occasions, the effect of crossed ribbons on the white tablecloth. A table that is well-set with regard to its minor points, namely, salt-cellars, mustard pots, bright knives and forks, clear sparkling glass, and a clean tablecloth, can hardly ever fail to look attractive, even if it has to go without other decoration; just as the most elaborate decoration will never make up for deficiencies in these respects.

At this time of the year we may make plentiful use of such things as rice, macaroni, polenta, and other farinaceous foods; remembering, too, that eggs are at their best as well and fairly reasonable in price.

MENU FOR MARCH.

Julienne Soup. Boiled Cod; Sauce Maître d’Hôtel, and Potatoes. Roast Guinea-fowl; Chicory Salad. Savoury Omelette. Stewed Pears and Rice.

_Julienne Soup._—The foundation of this must be strong clear stock, and preferably that which is made from a knuckle of veal, using a little Liebeg’s Essence to make it a deeper colour at the last. This should be strained and left to keep hot in a lined saucepan, while the vegetables are stewing in a separate pan. There is an art in shredding the vegetables for julienne soup, and they are best done with one of the little tools sold for the purpose, as the beauty of the soup depends on their being cut exactly alike. A fair quantity of vegetables will be required, enough to give the soup a pronounced character. When quite tender, these may be put into the tureen with the seasoning and flavouring, and the hot stock poured over.

_Maître d’Hôtel Butter_ is made by melting about a quarter of a pound of salt butter in a saucepan and adding to it two tablespoonfuls of minced parsley, chervil and tarragon, with a shallot to give flavour. Simmer these well together, and before using add a few drops of vinegar, and some pepper and more salt if required.

Steam the potatoes if possible and garnish the cod with them.

When we speak of boiled fish by the way, we mean simmered fish, for it should never be allowed to actually boil, or it will be tough and flavourless. Very great care is needed in cooking all boiled articles of food.

_Chicory Salad_, which is, of course, made from the chicory that comes to us from abroad, requires a cream dressing. This should be made by mixing the yolk of an egg with oil and cream, a spoonful of made mustard, and a few drops of tarragon vinegar. Beat these ingredients together until they resemble a thick cream, and pour over the chicory (which should be cut into convenient lengths) at the last moment.

A guinea-fowl takes about the same time to roast as an ordinary fowl, and requires to be well basted. Serve fried crumbs with it.

_Savoury Omelette._—When the art of making a plain omelette has been acquired, it is easy to ring the changes of variety. The additions that transform it into a savoury are, minced chives (or shallots), chervil, tarragon and parsley; in France this is called an _omelette aux fines herbes_. Four eggs would be needed to make one of a sufficient size for a dinner. Beat these on a plate with a knife and add the salt and pepper to them, also a very little milk. Pour into the omelette pan when the butter is beginning to turn colour, as the right point of heat has much to do with the ultimate success. Slip the knife under it a time or two, but as soon as the mixture shows signs of “setting,” it should be left alone for a minute longer, then the pan should be put into a very hot oven for another minute, to raise the surface, then folded over and slipped out of the pan on to a very hot dish. The savoury herbs should be added to the eggs at the beginning. Lose not a moment of time in bringing an omelette to table once it is cooked.

To boil rice successfully is not the easiest thing in the world. The water, of which there should be a large pan three parts full, must be boiling to begin with; then, while this is getting ready, the rice, after washing, should be soaking in cold water. Put plenty of salt in the pan. Boil the rice until it is tender enough to crush the grains between the thumb and finger, then pour off into a colander; pour more water through this until every grain is well separated, then return the rice to the saucepan, cover it tightly, and let it steam gently for half an hour. It ought then to be perfectly soft, yet every grain free from the other.

All rice, macaroni, and foods of this kind need to be extremely well cooked, otherwise they are anything but digestible.

HIGH-CLASS SWEETMEATS.

Whatever the season, sweetmeats, especially high-class confections, are always in favour, most girls finding them delectable when sitting over the fire as when resting in a hammock.

I purpose telling the readers of the “G. O. P.” therefore some delightful recipes which I guarantee will not only be reasonable in price, but will look professional enough to enable you to refill any empty bonbon boxes you may possess as acceptable presents for your girl friends. But you must be very careful to follow my instructions most minutely, for like most handiwork it is the attention to details that ensures success. As space forbids I can only give the two following dainties as examples of what may be accomplished at home. They are Marrons glaces and Marzipane varieties.

_Marrons Glaces._—For these take one quart of chestnuts, and after removing the outer skin cover with water, boil gently till soft thirty minutes to one hour, depending upon the kind of chestnuts. The Italian chestnut is the best for keeping its shape. Peel very carefully and put into a pan with any broken pieces there may be on the top.

Make a syrup of one pound of sugar and a quarter of a pint of water, boil briskly for five minutes or until it threads; by which I mean the syrup will form a tiny thread on dipping the finger and thumb in cold water and then into the syrup. Let this cool and then pour over the nuts and leave for thirty-six hours in a warm place, or longer if more convenient. Lift the nuts out and drain. Now another syrup must be made of one pound of sugar, a quarter of a pint of water, and one pinch of cream of tartar. Boil quickly for seven minutes; this time the thread must be thicker, and if registered by the thermometer it would be 250°. Take off the fire and place the nuts in carefully, and merely bring to the boil. Stir the syrup most gently and then lift out and drain them. When dry they are ready. Little paper cases make them look more dainty; they can be got at any large stationer’s.

A few hints on making syrup I think are necessary here before going to the next recipe. The first point to attend to is the saucepan, which should be perfectly clean and of strong enough material to prevent the syrup being likely to burn, and for this reason enamelled saucepans are not to be recommended. Then care must be taken not to let the syrup grain, which is the technical term for syrup crystallising again. A clean paint-brush or piece of rag dipped in water to wipe the sides of the pan. Skim carefully. Boil quickly, and do not stir, as stirring causes graining. For those who can afford a thermometer I should strongly advise its purchase; it simplifies the process of boiling syrup as it is much more accurate.

_Marzipane Varieties._—Marzipane is made in various ways, but the recipe I intend giving is one that may be depended upon and will give satisfaction. One and a half pounds of almonds, two pounds of sugar, four eggs (whites only), half a saltspoon of cream of tartar, half a pint of water.

Make a syrup of the sugar, water and cream of tartar, boil for seven minutes in the same way as for marrons glaces. Stir in at once the ground almonds; if these be prepared at home the flavour is improved; those already prepared cost 1s. 4d. per pound, and answer very well. In either case add a few drops of almond essence and one teaspoonful of orange-flower water. Now put in the eggs, without beating; these must be stirred in off the fire and then returned to cook them slightly. You will find the quantities given make a large amount of marzipane; it may be considerably reduced, say to one-fourth, if desired. After the mixture is made, turn out on to a very large meat dish or marble slab (which is better) and work it with a wooden spoon until it is cool enough to knead with the hands. When worked enough it should look and be of the consistency of a nice dough. The next thing is to divide the marzipane in three or four portions. Colour and flavour each differently—cochineal, coffee, vegetable sap green are all suitable, and one portion may be left its natural colour. Work the colours in most thoroughly, as a streaky appearance would spoil the whole effect. To make diamonds—take a piece of each of the colours and roll out about a quarter of an inch, damp each slightly with a little white of egg and place on top of each other. Rice paper can be bought quite reasonably at any good confectioner’s. A small sheet of this damped and placed both at the top and bottom of the square of marzipane makes a professional finish to the diamonds. Leave an hour or two till quite dry, then with a sharp knife cut into slices half an inch wide and cut crosswise into diamonds. I must only give suggestions for several other varieties. Farced fruits, for example, farced being the term used to express stuffed; we will take French plums as an instance. Cut the plum carefully down the middle and remove the stone; cut a piece of marzipane about as large as a nut, roll in the palms of the hands till smooth and oblong, place right inside to show a little of the marzipane only. Cherries, raisins, etc., are all done in this way.

Another way to use the marzipane. Detach a piece of it as large as a filbert and roll again between the palms till smooth, and stick half a walnut on each side, or the walnut may be completely covered with the marzipane. Almonds may be used in the same way. Do not forget that all these goodies look much nicer if placed in small paper cases. Also when arranging them in rows with a little fold of white paper between each row. These do not by any means exhaust the sweets that can be made at home with profit and without undue labour.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

MEDICAL.

A LOVER OF THE “G. O. P.”—The question you ask we have answered many times before. Still, as we have not yet discussed the subject in this year’s volume, we will go over the old ground again, adding a little new matter which has come to our knowledge during the past few months. The question of the causation and cure of constipation is mainly a question of diet. A few weeks ago we gave a long answer on the treatment of indigestion. Read this and follow the advice there laid down. But, besides, take plenty of green vegetables and fruit, especially before breakfast. Stewed prunes, figs, dates, tamarinds, etc., are very useful for this complaint. You should also drink a fair quantity of fluid with your meals. In indigestion we restrict fluids; but in constipation we do the reverse, unless severe indigestion is present besides. Not only is highly-digestible food not necessary in your condition, but food which is not so digestible, but which contains a quantity of non-digestible material is better. Exercise in moderation every day is essential. An active occupation is preferable to a sedentary one. Last, and least important, is the question of drugs. Never take drugs unless absolutely necessary. When you have to take them, take a pill of aloes and nux vomica, or a small dose of calomel and bicarbonate of soda. The latter, which is from physiological considerations the most reasonable drug to take, is also the most effective, the least unpleasant, and the least dangerous, but it must only be taken occasionally.

STUDENT.—The little blisters which come out on the eyelids and produce a pricking sensation for about an hour or two and then go away, are, we think, experienced by everybody, especially after using the eyes too long or after reading too small print. Indigestion has nothing to do with them.

EDNA.—You need not worry yourself about the trouble of getting the pills. These are frequently used, and most chemists keep them already made up. You cannot possibly make pills yourself without a machine. We have already published an article on blushing, where you will see that it is only in very few cases that internal medication is of any avail.

FRALDA.—We are afraid that you cannot do very much for your finger. The hardness and induration left after a severe chilblain is often very difficult to remove. If the chilblain has destroyed the deeper structures, as it does sometimes when untreated, especially in persons with feeble circulations, it will leave a hard knotty scar which nothing on this earth will remove. The best thing for you to do is to massage the finger every day. This will probably reduce the swelling, even though there may be a considerable amount of scar tissue present, which latter is, of course, absolutely incurable. Always wash in warm water and clad yourself warmly in cold weather.

MIGNONETTE.—Cascara sagrada is a comparatively new drug. It is a liquid extract made from the bark of _Rhamnus Purshiana_ by maceration in water and alcohol. Syrup of buckthorn is a country preparation of the bark of _Rhamnus Frangula_. It is far less efficacious than cascara. The dose of cascara sagrada is from one-half to two teaspoonfuls. It is a useful aperient in many cases.

AFFLICTED.—We published an article on blushing and nervousness a short time back. Of course your heart may be diseased; but remember that very many diseases of the heart are not very serious, and if care be taken, do not in any way interfere with or limit life. There is only one form of valvular disease of the heart which ever kills suddenly. This is aortic regurgitation—a form of disease very uncommonly due to rheumatism.

INQUIRER.—The public must be getting rather tired of nostrums guaranteed to “cure all diseases of the stomach, bowels, liver and kidneys.” The fact that there are some hundreds of patent preparations sold to cure everything is sufficient to prove that the “elixir of life” still remains undiscovered. That any drug will ever be discovered that will cure every disease, even of one organ, is hardly conceivable. We cannot understand how any agent could cure two diametrically opposite conditions. Do you think that millions would die of diseases of the stomach, liver and kidneys, if a cure for them could be obtained for 1s. 1½d. per bottle—cure guaranteed after taking two bottles—that is, for 2s. 3d.?

OLIVE MARY.—1. A few weeks ago we gave a _résumé_ of the treatment of indigestion such as you suffer from. If you read this column carefully, you cannot help finding many dozens or hundreds of answers concerning diet and digestion.—2. You will find the following very useful:—five drops of essence of ginger, and ten drops of compound tincture of cardamons in a wineglassful of water. This may be taken occasionally as required. Do not take it regularly, and leave it off as soon as you can. You will soon get the upper hand of your indigestion if you carry out our instructions carefully.

MATER.—Knock-knees are very common. They are almost invariably caused by rickets in childhood. The treatment for the condition varies with its severity. If very severe an operation may be required to straighten the legs. If slight, the deformity may often be cured by splints.

FROM A MALE READER.—There is nothing known which will remove hair or prevent it from growing. When we say nothing, we mean nothing which is in any way possible in your case. You can lighten the colour of your hair and so make it less noticeable with peroxide of hydrogen.

SEFTON PARK.—“Musical stammering” is the same affection as “writer’s cramp,” the only difference between them being due to the different purposes to which the hand is put. There is a very large number of affections of the nervous system called “habit spasms” or “occupation neuroses.” An example will illustrate the cause and treatment of all. So let us take your complaint, “musical stammering.” A pianist discovers one day that she cannot play properly, that her finger persists in striking the same note constantly. Her arm undergoes spasms which prevent her from moving her fingers over the keys. She has an attack of “musical stammering.” What is the cause of this? Well, this question cannot be directly answered. Let us see what possible factors have led up to the present outbreak. Obviously the first is her occupation. Then she has been practising very long. The five-finger exercise is monotonous. The brain, which at first gave its attention to the notes, is now fagging. The mind no longer controls the hands. The exercise ceases to be a voluntary act. It has become a series of involuntary reflexes which require little effort to continue, but a considerable amount of volition to stop. The hand becomes tired and its muscles and nerves exhausted. Now, no longer will they respond rhythmically to the stimulus of striking the finger, they undergo spasms and twitchings. It is very difficult to say which causes the spasms—the brain or the nerves of the arm. But be this as it may, it is an affection which is most difficult to eradicate. It occurs chiefly in members of neurotic families, and, occasionally, is only present when the health is impaired, but it may develop in anybody who is in perfect health. Now for a few words about the prevention and cure of “musical stammering.” Of course we cannot give you any absolute cure for the condition, and you have not been unreasonable enough to demand one. Drugs may be put out of the question as being totally useless. The same may be said of dieting. Locally, mild electrical stimulation and massage of the arms are sometimes useful. The former agent is often quite useless, and sometimes makes the condition worse; massage never does any harm. The usual treatment adopted is to give up the occupation connected with the malady and do something else. This is not always possible, and, besides, it is rather fighting shy of the evil and not treating it. The best form of treatment, we feel certain, is mild and careful exercise. For instance, in your case, practise for five minutes; if this brings on “stammering,” leave off at once; if it does not, practise for the five minutes and then leave off. You might practise twice a day. Every week you should add one minute more to the time you practise, till you have got to practise for two separate half-hours daily. The chief points to remember are these:—on the slightest return of symptoms cut down the time by two or three minutes; if the symptoms do not return, increase the time very gradually; never practise unless you can give the whole of your mind to the work—as soon as the brain begins to fag you are in danger, and even if you were not, the practising done is of no value whatever. If this form of treatment fails there is little left, except giving up music altogether, at all events for some years.

STUDY AND STUDIO.

LIZZIE VAN HARDENBROEK (Algiers).—We thank you heartily for your very pleasant letter. The English and handwriting are admirable, considering that you are a foreigner.—1. Your quotation is from Milton’s poem “On His Blindness.” You may perhaps know that our great poet, who had from childhood injured his eyesight by excessive study and strain, became totally blind in about the forty-seventh year of his age. As you may have difficulty in procuring it, we transcribe the whole sonnet, which is one of the most beautiful in the English language:—

“When I consider how my light is spent Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide, And that one talent, which is death to hide, Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent To serve therewith my Maker, and present My true account, lest he returning chide; ‘Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?’ I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent That murmur, soon replies, ‘God doth not need Either man’s work or his own gifts. Who best Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state Is kingly; thousands at his bidding speed, And post o’er land and ocean without rest; They also serve who only stand and wait.’”

FIDDLER.—We can only confirm your own modest opinion, that your composition is very incorrect. There appears to be no melody, and it is without meaning or coherence. We can, however, give you one word of praise, for the music is most beautifully copied. You should study the laws of musical composition. Davenport’s _Elements of Music_, and _Harmony_, are the best books for you to procure.

OLIVE.—The literal Latin words for “Love conquers” are “Amor vincit,” but as a motto it reads better “Omnia vincit amor”—“Love conquers all things.”

VICTORIA.—1. Your writing has a small and cramped appearance, and you do not form your letters well. The tails of your g’s, y’s, &c., are too long. You write very clearly, and might easily improve with care.—2. We do not give the private address of the authoress in question, but letters sent to the office of THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER would be forwarded to her. Ethel Rimmer’s question has been already answered, though we thank you for your kindness.

SNOWDROP.—1. Yes; we are afraid we must confirm the opinion of your relations, that your writing _is_ very bad; but do not despair! Purchase some good copybooks and practise every day.—2. “The Anchor’s Weighed” is a very well known nautical song, and you could purchase it in a cheap form by inquiring at any music shop, so that it is hardly necessary for us to print all the words here.

JOYCE.—The play to which you refer, “The Witches’ Curse,” is by Miss Alcott, the author of _Little Women_, and you can procure it separately; “The Witches’ Curse and Other Plays, by Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy.” Inquire at your bookseller’s. We have seen it prettily acted by children.

HILDA QUELCH.—1. Write to the Registrar, University of London, Burlington Gardens, W., for a syllabus of the Matriculation exam.—2. Your writing does not strike us as “babyish,” but it is a little small and cramped. We do not admire the backward slope; but if you wish to retain that, you may still acquire greater freedom by practice and care. Two questions are our limit. We thank you for your kind little letter and assure you of our good wishes.

OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.

STANMORE’S query concerning some verses is answered by DOROTHY A. CROSS and “NELL.” The authoress is said by the former to be Miss M. E. Manners, though the lines are printed anonymously. NELL encloses a similar poem, which we print _verbatim_.

THE FORGET-ME-NOT.

It’s said that ages, long ago, when God had formed the earth and heaven, He called the flowers one by one, until to all sweet names He’d given: To one, pure Lily, other Rose, another Violet, or Daisy fair, As each bright flower before Him passed, to wear anew its Father’s care. But oh! one day, a tiny flower, with pale blue eye and little tear, Came back to Him and said, “Dear Lord, I’ve forgotten quite my name, I fear.” Then looking down upon the flower, which trembling stood, with bended head, Without reproof or look unkind, “Forget-Me-Not,” He gently said.

_Copyright._ E. RIDLEY.

NINETTE (Budapesth) has four answers. N. E. COOTE tells her she will find “The Song of the Shirt” and “Somebody’s Darling” in _No. VI. Royal Reader_. F. W. STONE refers her to _Bell’s Standard Elocutionist_, published by Hodder and Stoughton. “ROSEBUD” says the poems are both in _The Art of Speaking_, by Harold Ford. EDITH WALPOLE, 58, Talgarth Road, West Kensington, London, refers her to vol. v. of _The Royal Reader_, but offers to copy out and send both poems to Ninette.

JANET wishes to know the title and author of the song in which these lines occur—

“Blue seas, and blue skies, New friends, and new ties.”

E. M. W. seeks the authors of the two following quotations, and the poems from which they are taken:—

(1) “What a single word can do! Making life seem all untrue; Driving joy and hope away, Leaving not one cheering ray; Blighting every flower that grew— What a single word can do!”

(2) “Not all who seem to fail, have failed indeed; Not all who fail have therefore worked in vain, For all our acts to many issues lead; And out of earnest purpose, pure and plain, The Lord will fashion ends in His good time.”

INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.

⁂ We have to request our correspondents kindly to refrain from sending us letters stamped with 2½d. stamps for us to forward to foreign subscribers. This waste of trouble and of postage distresses us, and we must repeat that we cannot undertake any postal business whatever in connection with this column. We keep no register of addresses, so are unable to forward letters, nor can we engage to return them to the writers. If addresses are not sent for publication on the one side, they must be so sent on the other. We refer our readers to THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER for April, 1898, where we endeavoured to explain our method of procedure.

MISS SISSIE REDMOND, Shortlands, Folkestone, aged fifteen, would like to correspond with Miss Anice Cress, also to exchange stamps with girl collectors living abroad. She is an enthusiastic collector and has about 4000 stamps.

O MIMOSA SAN has offers of correspondence, with a view to exchanging picture postcards, from Miss Bessie Golding, 9, Handford Street, Derby; Miss Lizzie van Hardenbroek, Hôtel Continental, Mustapha Supérieur, Algiers, Africa; Miss Ethel Miller, Effra Dene, Church Road, Brixton Hill; and Miss Eva Miller, Luthergasse 4, Graz, Styria, Austria. (We imagine this identity of name is only a coincidence.) Will “O Mimosa San” write to these addresses? Miss van Hardenbroek, whose house is near Utrecht, would like to send “O Mimosa San” three Dutch and three Algerian postcards for six Russian ones.

EDITH WALPOLE should write direct to Miss Valentine Massaria, whose address we published.

MISS INQUISITIVE has an answer from Miss Islay Campbell, “Newhouse,” 25, Sinza Road, Shanghai, China, who would be pleased to correspond with her.

NELLIE would very much like to correspond with a girl of her own age (nineteen) who works with her hands, and if possible lives in the country, as “Nellie” lives in London.

JAPONICA would be glad if some educated French girl of good family, aged about twenty, would send her address to this column. “Japonica” suggests writing alternate French and English letters, her correspondent doing the same; each to return the other’s letters corrected, when necessary.

MISS DOROTHY A. CROSS, Minterne, Cerne, Dorset, aged fourteen, fond of history, French, general reading, and bicycling, wishes for a French correspondent of about the same age and tastes.

MISS VAN HARDENBROEK, whose address we give in the answer to “O Mimosa San,” wishes to exchange old Dutch and French stamps with the three-cornered stamps of the Cape of Good Hope, if any reader of THE GIRL’S OWN PAPER has the latter.

MISS HILDA QUELCH, Stanley Lodge, Bedford Road, South Woodford, Essex, would like to correspond with a French girl.

GIRLS’ EMPLOYMENTS.

WOOD VIOLET (_Home Occupation_).—As you wish to do something in your spare time at home and do not need to earn your living, perhaps it would be best to learn some handicraft. We would suggest lace-making, flax spinning, cane basket weaving, or _repoussé_ metal work. By applying to the Secretary, Home Arts and Industries Association, Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, W., you would probably hear of some classes that you might join.

A RELUCTANT HOME-BIRD.—It is natural and proper that you should wish to be fully employed now that you are young and vigorous. And it is manifestly not easy to find work enough for several daughters to do at home. At the same time you must remember that you have had one or two chances of outside occupation already. You have not cared for hospital nursing; but as you say you “love children,” how would it be to be trained either as a children’s nurse (at the Norland Institute), or as a kindergarten teacher? If you were interested in work among poor children, and did not require much salary, we would suggest that some of the London Boards of Guardians are inclined to appoint young ladies of about your own age as matrons of small cottage homes for pauper children. Much useful work might be done by ladies acting in this capacity. But we do not think this is quite the career for you. Travelling companionships are so scarce that we do not advise you to seek one. And it is difficult to know otherwise how you are to see the world as you desire. If money enough could be spared for you to live at some home for working ladies in London (_e.g._, the Beechwood Club, 6, Oakley Street, S.W.), it might be worth while for you to come up and to study shorthand and typewriting with a view to seeking work as a newspaper reporter. A secretaryship, we fear, would be put almost out of reach by the circumstance of your handwriting not being first rate. But you appear to have some natural aptitude for literary expression, and it is just possible—though we should not like to hold out any definite hope—that you could obtain a little journalistic work.

RUBES (_Table Decoration_).—This is a precarious employment, and naturally much affected by the London Season. We do not strongly advise any girl to adopt it who is in need of a regular income. Pupils are taken by the Women’s London Gardening Association, 62, Lower Sloane Street, S.W.

THE STEWARDESS.—The principal steamship companies are those to which you should apply for a post as stewardess; but successful applicants are usually the widows or daughters of the companies’ officers.

NETTA (_Book-keeping_).—At twenty-eight you are by no means too old to learn book-keeping. You might attend classes at the Birkbeck Institute, or at almost any polytechnic, and then present yourself for one of the Society of Arts’ examinations. Your handwriting is decidedly good, and would serve as a recommendation for secretarial work.

AN IRISH GIRL (_Gardening_).—Lady gardeners are decidedly in request, and you would not do at all unwisely to study at the Horticultural College, Swanley, Kent. It is probably Kew Gardens in which your friends have told you that ladies were employed. To be trained at Swanley would cost about £70 a year for board, lodging, and tuition.

MISCELLANEOUS.

BRITANNIA.—The stains you describe are probably of the nature of a dye, in which case you can do nothing for them. You might show them to a cleaner, or have the garment dyed a darker colour.

A. D.—The training classes held by the Home Arts and Industries Association for voluntary teachers and others, at the Albert Hall, have now opened for the Autumn Session. Bookbinding, carpentry and wood-carving, inlaying and marquetry, metal _repoussé_ and basket-making are taught. Particulars can be obtained from the Secretary at the Royal Albert Hall, S.W.

LILY OF THE VALLEY.—To turn your light straw hat black there are several things; but the best is, we think, Berlin black, to be obtained from any oil shop.

ANNETTE.—We regret that it is not in our power to help you to dispose of clothes, either old or new ones.

MISS A. A. L.—Nearly all large drapers sell waterproof garments, and the fashions in cloaks and mantles change every season.

CHAPEAU.—The velvet must be taken off the hat and steamed over boiling water in order to take out the spots. Hold the wrong side of the velvet over the steam, and afterwards go over the velvet with either a velvet brush or a piece of black crape to raise the pile again. The velvet must not be wetted in the operation, only steamed enough to raise the pile.

FANNY G.—It is not unusual for a girl to pay a visit to the family of the man to whom she is betrothed; nor is there anything wrong in it, as she should know something of them before marriage.

M. E. W.—Unless in use, you had better try to dispose of the water-bed. It will answer no purpose to put it away, and it is useless save in sickness. They will allow you for it, where you procured it, as second-hand.

VEILCHEN.—1. As a general rule it is better to take all such kindly attentions as meaning nothing beyond what appears on the surface. A man very often walks home with a girl out of kindness only; and there is no harm in his doing so, as in the country, where the roads are lonely, he may feel obliged to do it. If your family object to it, and if you feel it unpleasant, have one of the servants sent to meet you. It is well to discourage self-consciousness, and to accept such attentions as they are, probably, meant; that is, as the natural acts of kindness which a man feels it right to offer to a woman in need of them.—2. There are plenty of good hair washes which you can make yourself. Dr. Erasmus Wilson’s is excellent—

℞ Eau de Cologne 8 oz. Tincture of cantharides 1 “ Oil of English Lavender ½ drachm. Oil of rosemary ½ ”

Mix in a bottle, and shake well.

AN EMBROIDERED PIANOFORTE BACK.

There are few places where a nice piece of embroidery can be more effectively displayed than in a pianoforte back, and the design here given may be of use to some who want to take up a piece of work, but are undecided what it shall be, by suggesting a task and giving some little assistance in the matter of design; for there is no necessity or merit in keeping close to the ones I give in these pages. It would be much better if all workers made their own designs, but some are not so gifted as others, and a little help in this particular is not therefore unwelcome. To those who feel shaky about their drawing, and who want some mechanical means of enlarging a design, I recommend “squaring.” You divide the small design into, say, one quarter of an inch squares, and then draw on your paper squares sufficiently large to fill out the surface; thus if the design is to be increased ten times the squares on your paper must be two and a half inches. It is comparatively easy to fill in each square with its corresponding portion; but in such a design as the one here given a good deal of freehand work could be employed, and those who are used to sketching should draw out the design upon the material to be worked in charcoal (use a stick of soft French charcoal for the purpose). It would be just as well to divide your material into four by drawing faintly charcoal lines, or better still rub a fine piece of string with charcoal and then get someone to hold it at one end while you hold the other and then snap it on the material. This will give you a straight line which will easily dust off.

Outline embroidery on ironing flannel is very effective, as this flannel is a pleasant-looking material with good substance, but in this matter the taste of the individual worker must decide such an issue. Personally I am very fond of embroidery worked on a brocaded material, but then the material itself is expensive.

The embroidery might be light on a dark material, say an indigo blue or deep green, or it might be in tones of yellow or some rich red material, but I must refer the reader to some recent articles on the embroidery of curtains where I have gone into the matter in some detail.

I would caution the worker against introducing a number of colours into the design. It is much more pleasing to see the whole design carried out in one tone of colour (though there may be a number of different shades) than an attempt to be naturalesque, as though you were painting a picture. The present design, though based on nature, is ornamentally rather than naturally treated. The tree might be worked in olive green or warm yellow browns. The birds should be kept very simple indeed. Think of them as shapes and not as “feathered friends.” These might be worked say in turquoise blue, as they are small objects. This will bring them off the surrounding work. The turquoise blue could be used again in the flowers at the bottom, and if we adopt the olive green harmony, the musical instruments could be worked in light golden browns and yellows.

If you work the tree in warm browns, then the birds could be worked in dark brown, the musical instruments in yellows, and the flowers at bottom in yellow with browns for stems and leaves. Here we have a harmony in yellows and browns with no contrasting or opposing colour, such as the turquoise blue in the former arrangement, and harmonies are on the whole safer and more pleasing than contrasts. Eastern nations understand this, and a reference to some of their needlework at such a place as South Kensington Museum would be a good lesson to a worker. I have in former articles advocated outline embroidery as being very effective and quickly produced. In a large work such as the piano back coarse crewels can be used with advantage, the split stitch or the ordinary one being employed, or both.

Those who enlarge the design on paper need not do more than one-half, as the other side can be reversed and repeated. The trunk of the tree could easily be sketched on so that you could enlarge the foliage of the tree and the flowers at the base. It would be better to use tracing paper and prick the design over with a coarse darning needle. Some charcoal roughly crushed up in muslin and rubbed over the pricked design will leave an impression upon the material which can be marked over with some Indian Ink, using a brush. You will find it more difficult to get the powder to pass through the side of the design you prick than the other one, so you must take care to rub the powdered charcoal well on to the design to insure it passing through the pricked holes.

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[Transcriber’s Note: The following changes have been made to this text.

Page 383: aleady to already—occupation already.]