ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XIX, Issue VII, 7 August 1897, Page 195

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Notice to contributors.—Any letters or MSS. received by the Editor of the NEW ZEALAND GRAPHIC will be ia»■setftately acknowledged tn this column.

‘Florrik, Marlborough.’—l hope you will see this answer. When you want a reply by post, please send stamped addressed envelope. Yon may forward your little story, and I will tell you what I think of it. If it is worth printing I will put it in The Graphic I should imagine you want it in the Children’s Page. For that purpose it must be very short. If you want the MSS. returned, that is, if it is not suitable for our pages, send a stamp and full address with it. When writing about a story to an editor, always mention its title. For instance, you should say, * I am forwarding you a short story, "My First,”’ or whatever the name is. I am pretty sure it is your first, though I do not suppose you have given it that title.

* Country Subscriber.*—lf you suffer so from cold why not make all your underwear of flannelette ? For winter, get the stronger make and by the time it is washed several times you will find it about ready for spring use ; then by the summer it will just be comfortably warm, except perhaps in the very hot weather. Write to Te Aro House, Wellington, for patterns at once ; they have a splendid assortment, and you will find that the nearest and most convenient place for your general drapery replenishing. If you have all your own ironing and washing to do, you should try flannelette for the little boys’ summer suits. It does not require starching, and is so easily ironed. For your best dress ask for patterns. You can select from them so much better than I can tell you. lam glad this column is a help.

‘Miss Molly.’—l think this is your nom de plume, though your writing is a little difficult to decipher. The custom of turning down the corners of the cards to signify different messages is not a very general one, as it is considered better form to have one’s pasteboard representative as fresh in appearance as possible. However, the fashion does obtain to a small extent, and its language is as follows: Turning the upper right-hand corner signifies that the single card is to inclnde all the ladies of the household, and turning the npper left-hand corner, that the call was made personally. This latter is the more senseless custom, as, except where the visiting duties are very onerous, it is very unusual in this country for ladies to call by proxy, or to send their cards to a door by their maid or footman.

‘MrsS.’—lt is better in returning calls after yon are married to keep a ‘callers’ book.’ On one page enter the names of your visitors and the date of their call. On the opposite page write the date on which you return the call. In this way you can see at a glance what calls have been returned. Where there are many visitors a book of this kind is a necessity. Yon will also want an * invitation book,’ wherein you write the names of people you ask to your parties, carefully crossing out those who leave the district, who are removed by death, or whom yon no longer wish to invite.

‘ Murphy.’—l do not think there are any circumstances under which an anonymons letter can be good. If one has something to tell that is of worth and agreeable, then surely one’s name can be signed to it. If it is something that is disagreeable it is cowardly to write it without one's signature.

‘Minnie.’—You will find nothing better to amuseyonr children with than letting them act plays. There is a very good little play—arranged for children—called ‘ The Frog Prince,’ but it requires a good many little actors —I think about ten, or twelve.

• Maggie.*—l do not think you can do better than go to the D.S C., Auckland, and get some of the blouse silk they are selling. That, as a lining to the velvet, would make a very handsome finish to the drapery on that pretty screen. It is not at all expensive, in fact, it is really cheap, and would serve your purpose admirably. Whilst you are there you had better get some good cretonne (all reduced now) and cover your chairs. I think you can easily manage it. Cut out a paper pattern, and fit on the seat of the chair as you would a dress. You must provide yourself with a tack hammer, and very thin furniture tacks, also gimp to hide the edges. I saw two armchairs which a lady had covered the other day, using a pretty gimp to finish her work. • A Soldier's Bride.’—l shonld have the church decorated with red and white flowers and flags, and the bridesmaids could wear white silk skirts with geranium red velvet bodices softened with chiffon, bats of red velvet with white satin bows, the new chiffon, and white plumes ; bouquets en suite. For the bride’s dress, how would you like this, which was really worn by a soldier’s bride in a smart London circle ?—A gown of rich ivory satin Duchesse, with bodice entirely of

chiffon, the drawn yoke trimmed with narrow pearl passementerie. There were bretelles of orange flowers and buds, a folded belt fastened at the side with diamond buttons, and rucked chiffon sleeves with bands of passementerie. The slightly trained skirt was trimmed round the front at equal distances with small cascades of chiffon, caught with clusters of orange blossoms. The bride wore a wreath of the same flowers and a tulle veil embroidered at the hem, pearl and diamond ornaments, and carried a bouquet of orchids, presented by the bridegroom Her going-away dress was of green cloth trimmed with white cloth, handsomely braided in black and gold ; a heliotrope hat and velvet cloak of the same colour.

‘Bride's Present.’ —The latest novelty in duchess toilet slips is in pale coloured satin set off in the centre with arabesques delineated with traceries of white chain stitch ; edging of narrow wh<te braid and white lining. They are pretty but scarcely practical, being difficult to keep clean.

‘ Madame.’ —Thank you very much for your kind note and contribution. lam always glad of snch things, written, like yours, clearly, and on one side of the paper only.

‘ Isabel.—l am very much pleased to hear from you again, and glad to learn you find this column useful. With your family £2 10s should be ample per week. As a rule, I see calculators of domestic arrangements allow 12s 6d per week each adult in the dining-room and 10s 6d in the kitchen. A man-servant is estimated from 12s 6d to 15s per week. This is only for food—wages, washing, etc., all extra The lady yon refer to, as managing well on much less must do a good deal of the cooking herself, saving greatly in odd pieces. Your friends ought to spend a great deal less, or they can never keep within their income. Ido not see how they can afford to keep more than one maid, giving her, say, 10s a week, which ought to procure a thoroughly competent general. They should keep poultry, and turn part of their land into a good kitchen garden. The fruit alone will soon pay for cost of planting. They ought to be able to keep themselves in vegetables, which is an immense saving, besides ensuring wholesome food if properly cooked. For a few turnips, carrots, parsely, an onion rubbed along the bottom of the pan, a little thyme, etc., etc., will, if nicely fried and then added to a stew, make a most delicious dish, and half the quantity of meat suffices. They cannot afford lamb when it first comes in, nor chickens, nor eggs when dear (unless, indeed, they have, as I suggest, their own). They cannot afford wine except as a medicine, and, in fact, on all sides they must practise the most rigid economy. Not that they need be less happy or healthy for this; indeed, I think they will (as you say they are such a devoted couple) enjoy seeing more of each other and working together. They must keep careful accounts, and never exceed the sum they decide to spend each week, unless there is a balance from the preceding one, and then they might enjoy an evening at the opera, etc. Whilst answering your own query I forgot to tell you that the usual allowances are : Butter and sugar >£lb a head, and tea %lb.