ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XI, 12 September 1896, Page 326

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Notice to contributors.—Any letters or MSS. recieved by the Editor of the New Zealand Graphic will be im mediately acknowledged in this column.

* Mistress Trilby.’—lam sorry that I am unable to help you, but I really do not know of any way in which the size of your feet can be lessened now. They can be apparently diminished by carefully arranged shoes, made to fit the feet, and finished with a small rosette and buckle. But if they are useful in carrying you well over the roads on your bicycle, I do not think you need grumble at their size. I have not heard a single remark made about No. 2 or No. 9 shoes on ladies’ cycles. ‘ Master Tom.’—l do not think you should find it so * awfully difficult ’ to give a young lady a present. You say you have no sisters to help you to choose something. I am quite sure the young lady would much prefer something you chose yourselt. You remark that you do not want to go as far as a ring, which, I conclude, means that you are not yet engaged to her. Send a pretty box of three or half-a-dozen pairs of gloves. You can easily find out her size by remarking that So-and-So said she took gloves, and you said it was 6% size she wore. She will probably laugh, and own you are right If you have already given gloves, buy her the latest—decent — novel, a book of poems, or a fan, or some pretty vase or little fancy ornament for her room. This is not so marked as giving her something personal. ‘ M.D.’—Thank you very much for your offer, but the kind of article you propose to send would not be suitable for The Graphic.

‘Little Fidget.’—Please do not try to write poetry. You wish for a frank critique on your ‘poem.’ Well here it is then : There is neither rhyme nor reason in your verse, neither sense nor amusing nonsense. Your letter was charmingly expressed, and most original. I should imagine, judging from that specimen of your powers, that you could write capital prose if you were to try.

• William S.’—Many thanks. Your articles will appear shortly. Any further contributions of a like nature will be gladly accepted. • Miss B.R.’—l hope you will see these initials. You sent no num de plume, and I do not like to use your full name. No, it is not at all correct to help a man on with his overcoat, unless, indeed, he is old, and really needs assistance. That young man who asked you to help him was either lazy or rude, or only did it to see if you would condescend, or if you knew no better. You could smile and say, indifferently, ‘ Oh ! I think you can manage it yourself,’ or, ‘ I am sure you are more equal to the task than I am.’ He will respect you all the more for not being willing to wait upon him. On the other hand, if a button were off his glove, there would be no impropriety in your kindly sewing it on for him. ‘Miss Prude.’—lf you wish to cycle in comfort and safety, you must, perforce, wear a proper costume. It need not be at all ‘ unladylike,’ nor need it be such as to attract attention. I cannot tell you just what to wear but almost all good dressmakers can now suit their customers in that respect, and some suggestions have already appeared in this paper.

' Busy Bee.’—Yes, we will do as you propose. Thanks for the suggestion.

‘ M.S.S.’—Your story is very badly written, and does not comply with the first press rule--* write on one side of the paper only.’ I have sent it back as you request and as you also remembered the address and stamps. ’

‘ Alice Kenny.’—As you say, it is not easy to write poetry, and I am sure you will not mind my saying that I like your prose better than your poems. And yet there breathes an air of true poetry about the specimens you sent me, which might develop into something really good. Still, if I were you, I would prose my poetry—in other words, I would put all the poetry of your soul into the most perfect prose, and polish that up. But, as most people wish to write in rhyme—for a season at least—l will not try to dissuade you, for you are young yet, and you will get over it, and take to your true literary voca-tion—novel-writing—with greater zest than ever. One of your poems is in the Graphic. The longer one is somewhat lengthy, I fear, for us. ‘ lima.*—l have read your story, and will comment on it, and I hope begin to publish it next week.