ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue V, 29 January 1898, Page 115

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Notice to Contributors.—Any letters or MsS. received by the Editor of the “ New Zealand Graphic" will be immediately acknowledged in this column.

‘.Mizpah.’--! am able to answer your second query this week. Some ladies have elastic bands fastened on to the side hem of their skirts, and buttoning or tying on to the shoe at the top. This "plan is far better than a strap that goes right round the foot. You must not use a very thin skirt, and it requires to be very well cut to hang gracefully. If I can answer any other question I will do it with pleasure. The elastic band should be sewn to the top of a deep hem, so that when unfastened it does not show below the dress. If this is not quite clear send stamped addressed envelope and I will sketch what I mean. •West.’—By all means, but be sure you address it to the right person. ‘N.Z.’ —I do not see why you wrote at all. ‘Bee.’—Much obliged. There was no need to apologise. Please write again. ‘Donelly.’—lt is better to remove your hat. ‘Frida.’—Y’ou could write and ask : there would be no harm in tha-t. I would not risk a personal call. ‘English.’—lt is very little observed out here. Young men do not seem to have time to eall. ‘B.E.N.’—There is no rule. Consult your own good taste. ‘Japan.’—No ; I do not think you would like that billet at all. Try something demanding less manual labour.

‘Liz.’—Presents are much in demand just now. I am sure your mother would like a tea cosy, which is made with a removable linen cover. This can be taken off, washed, and replaced fresh and clean. The cosy is in half circular shape, covered with flannel, and framed at the top with puffings of silk. An embroidery of flowers in washing silk is carried out on the linen cover, which is hemmed all round, loop holes being worked around the top edge for passing ribbons through, and fastening the cover on to the cosy.

‘David.’—The dinner hour varies in different cities. In most of the large ones six o’clock, or half-past six, is the preferred hour for dining. Some people dine as late as seven o’clock, and a very few choose eight o’clock. The fashionable hour in London at present is nine o’clock. ‘ln Doubt.’ — Under any circumstances a lady should return all presents and letters when she breaks her engagement. ; she should not wait for the gentleman to ask for his letters, but. should send everything as soon as possible, with a polite request that her letters be returned to her. It would not be right for a lady to offer to destroy the letters and gifts, and request the gentleman to do the same. Everything should be returned. ‘Estelle.’—No, under no circumstances. ‘Julie.’ —For any brass or copper articles that have been neglected, take three-quarters of a pound of rotten-stone, one ‘and a-half ounces of oxalic acid, and three-quarters of an ounce of gum arabic ; have them finely powdered, and mix into a paste with one and a-half ounces of sweet oil, and a little hot water if necessary. Apply the paste with a piece of soft flannel, and polish with a dry, soft wash-leather.

‘E.F.G.’ —It would hardly be suitable. Try again. ‘Mrs M.’—To clean patent leather boots and slippers, put into a bottle equal parts of sweet oil and paraffin, and thoroughly mix together. Sponge off all dirt with warm water, and when dry apply a small quantity of above with a" piece of flannel or sponge ; polish with a soft rag or chamois leather.

•Dolly Varden.’ —Your sketches arrived too late to be used. Anything of that kind wants to be quite fresh, as it so soon loses its interest. Try to send in earlier another time. •Romeo.’—The finest actors now living, male and female, neither sing nor dance, on the stage. Singing and dancing do not appear at all in 'highclass plays, or they are introduced briefly in the comic roles that sometimes relieve a fine play. Singing and

dancing belong to light opera and to variety plays, and these, of course, are not first-class entertainments. Grand opera is different, and is considered artistic in a high degree. Y’ou can not secure, u part in any reputable entertainment unless you ‘ possess talent, and have had some experience and training. You might apply to the manager of a theatrical company, and ask him to test your ability. Be content to take a small part at first. •A City Girl.’ —Probably you do not observe the rules of health by taking exercise in the open air, getting refreshing sleep. eating nourishing food, drinking but little tea or eoffee. and using neither beer nor snuff. Try this course, together with rubbing your body well with a mixture of sweet oil and salt, and a few drops of alcohol or cologne. Your prematurely grey hair and your sister’s sunken cheeks are due to a lack of perfect health. Your blood is impoverished. Take a spoonful of albuminate of iron after eaeh meal. Hair turns grey early through lack of sufficient iron in the blood. It is the iron that imparts the colouring matter. Wash your hair in a strong decoction of common tea to which a little copperas has been added. ‘Bobbie.’—Many thanks for your offer, but we do not keep a tame menagerie up here.

‘Elsie.’—Write as often as you like. I remember you quite well. There is no rule about having none but pure white flowers on the table, and. indeed, I rt-hink in this case you will have to take what you can get. There is a quantity of pink ivy geranium about just now. Why not have that colour and all the white flowers you can obtain ?

‘A.M.B.’—Many young singers complain of the same thing. The troublesome self-consciousness will probably disappear after awhile. All highlystrung natures are subject to it when they are young. Try to get out of yourself, to forget yourself, and to think only of what you are singing. Y’ou should eat plenty of lettuce, onions, and eelery, as they are soothing to the nerves. A dose of bromide in a little water, taken before appearing on the stage, will help to quiet your nerves. Nothing is so effectual and harmless in soothing the nerves as the old-fashioned remedy, asafetida ; but some people object to its disagreeable smell. ‘L.R.T.’ —Declined. It is surprising that any young girl should put her name to such a production.