ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVI, Issue XIX, 9 May 1896, Page 528

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Notice to contributors.—Any letter* or MSS. rede red by the Editor of the New Zealand Graphic will be immediately acknowledged in this column. ‘ Perplexed One.’ —Employment for women is one of the problems always before us, and I scarcely know how to help you. There are, as you say, many avenues open to young women and educated girls, but for a woman of forty who has passed no standard, and is ‘ not particularly good at anything,’ to find work, I quite recognise as difficult. At the same time, from your cheerful letter I should imagine you would be a pleasant companion. Why not go out as mother’s help? Again, judging you by your letter which lies before me, let me entreat y’ou not to entertain for a moment that casual idea of yours about writing novels. Ido not think your talent lies in that direction. 1 Opera-goer.’—lt is not so easy as you seem to imagine to write a really good opera. You must possess a technical knowledge of music—unless, indeed, you intend to merely write the words, and find someone else to set them to music. But you must study telling situations, and not leave the performers to sort themselves in the way you seem to think possible. Nothing but confusion and general disorder could possibly arise from the method you suggest as * doing very well for the usual style of opera.’ I should advise you the next time a good company visits Wellington to take a season ticket and study the plan, arrangements, exits and entrances, words, music, and the whole opera in the most critical and observant spirit. Then write and tell me if you think it would be easy to write and prepare for the stage a good opera. ‘M.B.S.’—Your story is too obviously copied from a recent much-read novel of Hall Caine’s for us to have anything to do with it.

■ Mr Blank ’ (Gisborne). —I can hardly call the speci. men of your work which you sent me to-day an essay. It partakes more of the nature of an intolerant sermon. What right have you to condemn totheblacknessof eternal night and the terrors of an avenging conscience (I quote your words) all those who in the slightest degree differ from you ? ‘Miss New Chum.’—Many thanks, indeed, tor your proffered article on ‘ Colonial Manners, or the Want of Them,’ but I really do not think our behaviour differs so very much from that in vogue in England. We are certainly not as outwardly and ceremoniously polite as the French, but I do uot think we get on with each other any the worse for that. And perhaps when we do pay a compliment or perform a civil action, we mean it, and it acquires value from its not over-frequency. lam afraid you have been in over-crowded trams and such-like vehicles, and have uot exercised your powers of fascination sufficiently to secure a seat. But you must excuse me if I decline your offered articles. ‘ Ma Belle.’—Declined with thanks. ‘ Lady.’—Yes, will do admirably. Send copy at once, please. ‘ Peter.’ —No, not for this paper. Too spicy, you see. ‘A.P. ’ —Your photograph is, I regret to say, not of sufficient general interest to publish. Do something to call attention to yourself. If you can think of nothing else to do, get married. At all events that will get your name in the agony —I mean ‘ Orange Blossoms ’ column, though even there you will not be of as much importance as the bride. * Maggie T.’— Your poetry is not a sonnet in the proper acceptation of the term. You ask me to give you a specimen of a true sonnet if I do not think yours quite correct. I will quote one of Mr Watson’s latest. It is written in connection with the late Armenian troubles. Read it and read the copy you say you have retained of your own poem and mark the difference. A TRIAL OK ORTHODOXY. The clinging children at their mother's knee Slain ; and the sire and kindred one by one Flayed or hewn piecemeal; things nameless done. Not to be told; while imperturbably The nations gaze, where Rhine into the sea, Where Seine and Danube, Thames and Tiber run, And where great armies glitter in the sun. And great Kings rule, and man is boasted free ! What wonder if yon torn and naked throngs Should doubt a Heaven that seems to wink and nod. And having moaned at noontide, ‘Lord, how long ? Should cry, ‘ Where hidest Thou ?’ at even fall; At midnight, * Is He deaf and blind, our God ?’ And ere day dawn, •Is He indeed at all I’

‘Z.N.’—After achieving such successes you hardly need a word of encouragement or criticism from me. I regret that I am unable to use the small sketch you kindly offer. It is, of course, very fragmentary, and hardly a question of remuneration, but it displays skill and a considerable idea of story-telling. I should much dislike, were I to read more of your tales, your habit of abbreviation. Cid for could, and wld for would, are puzzling and disageeable. I think this sentence curious: ‘An unhappy solitude had augumented the natural religiousness of a temperament brought up “in the faith.” ’ I should not have thought his temperament would have been brought up in the faith. Again, ‘ Life will be on such magnitude there,’ is hardly correct. This may seem hypercriticisni, but there is nothing else to find fault with. ‘ Aliel.’—Your story and rhyme to hand. Will be considered later on.