ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue XVI, 16 April 1898, Page 467

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. ‘ Cain.’—Your sketch is clever, but would not lie suitable for our paper. ‘lnez.’—Before you accuse that girl of theft you had lietter make sure that you can substantiate your accusation. Without proof she may say that her word is as good as yours. ‘ Cycliste.’--Under your tweed skirt you can wear silk trousers of the same shade — darker if the exact hue is not obtainable. With a thin combination garment these would lie sufficient for your tour. Take a silk blouse to match the skirt, and a dainty compressible toque, and you can appear at any function. ‘ N.M.’—Kindly note our rule, ‘Write on one side of the paper only.’ You had also better pay some attention to orthography. • Impertance,’ ‘ howerr,’ ‘ wote,’ ‘yer,’ ‘constitushon ’ are not spelt in dictionary style.

‘ A Bride.’ —There is no need to write your wedding invitations as it is to be such a quiet affair, simply invite your friends by word of month. For a smart wedding you should use a printed card ; for a medium one write on ordinary note-paper. ‘ Fair Ladye.’—You will find oatmeal a good cosmetic for the winter. Use it this way. Get a bowl of hike warm water, moisten the oatmeal in it, holding the meal in your hand. Then rub it over your face for fully a minute. It makes the finest kind of cleanser for the skin, and scours it as effectively as sand scours a table. Rinse off the meal with clear cold water, ami rub your face with a few drops of glycerine and rose-water, or any other soothing application. ‘ 111 doubt. ’—To make a sachet for the baby’s bureau drawer cut a sheet of stiff paper to fit the drawer; split a sheet of white wadding and sprinkle it with violet or other sachet powder, which can lie procured at the druggist’s by the ounce. Lay the other half of the sheet of wadding over it and baste both on the paper ; cover with Dresden China silk, silkoline, or any material preferred. If plain silk is used a motto may be worked on it, as, ‘ Sweet as the breath of flowers is the breath of the babe new born’ ; or,

• The garnered scent of flowerets gay Sheds sweetness on thine onward way.’ ‘ Housekeeper.’—Pray do not apologise, you are very welcome to all the help you can get in this column, and I am glad you find it useful. If a grate be very rusty through damp, and having no fire in it for some time, b’acklead it thoroughly and leave the wet blacklead to dry on for two or three days ; then clean the grate in the usual way. It will polish beautifully, as the lead will have eaten off the rust. ‘Old Age.’—l do not think your case is one where the borax and vaseline is required, as there does not appear to be any dandruff. As for your hair turning grey, that is nothing unusual at your age—4o. There are plenty of innocent hair restorers, one of which yon might use with advantage, perhaps. ‘Country’.—There is no doubt that your small bedroom could be improved. After the new paper is on, and the floor stained an artistic green, the curtain question comes in. I do not like the pattern you sent, as your wall paper is so decided, that curtains of a plain material would be a welcome relief; so instead of the proposed tapestry * you should have linen plush of a nice rosy shade. By all means embroider your bedspread, using, of course, some washing material. ‘ Mrs S.F.’ —As you must earn money, and have a comfortable home which lielongs to you, you are wise to take boarders. As you intend making this a business rememlier that the more attractive and comfortable your house is, the better board will be paid you, and the more certain will you be to satisfy and keep the people who come to you. Nowadays pretty china is no more expensive than that which is ugly, so you may have your table looking dainty at a comparatively slight expense. Insist upon the maid or maids who wait upon the table being neat in their appearance, and remember that you have guaranteed a comfortable home to the people who are willing to pay for it, and that as an honest woman you must give value for value received. Have everything distinctly understood, just what is included in the Isianl and just that which is to be counted as extra. If there is an open fireplace, state before the room is engaged whether an

extra charge will be made for coal or not, ami have it distinctly understood that once a bargain is made you will do your |>art, and that you expect proper and prompt remuneration in return. ‘ Marjorie.’—You had lietter write again and enclose full name and address. ‘ Mr R.M.T. ’ —l hope you will see this. Kindly write what yon propose on one side of the paper only, ami send at your earliest convenience. ‘ Miss H ’ (Wellington).—You had better call on that gentleman and see if the report is correct. •From Napier’.—Many thanks. Will act as your brother proposes. For yourself there is no risk at all. ‘lndigestion.’ — You deserve to suffer from that dread foe if you bolt your food in the manner you describe. A few more minutes given to your breakfast will save you hours of pain and consequent inability to perform your work. ‘ Ruby.’—l. Spraying extract of witch hazel and cold water well up into the nostrils will usually arrest bleeding at the nose. 2. The original colour of hair which has been bleached a golden blonde by means of peroxide of hydrogen cannot be restored. As the hair grows out from the roots the natural colour appears. A hair dye can l>e used for darkening it, but we cannot advise the employment of such a mixture. 3. All cosmetics which contain bismuth are injurious to the skin. ‘ Mother.’ —I should have no hesitation, under the circumstances, in administering corporal punishment, but it must not be done hastily, or in anger. The next time there is direct disobedience or obstinacy, shut the child in her room for an hour; tell hei that at the end of that time she will be punished ; and keep your word. ‘Bessie.’—lf you receive a card with several dates on it for afternoon teas, you are only supposed to go to one. ‘ Elaine.’—No after-call is required when one has been present, or sent cards to a tea. When the words ‘ At Home ’ appear on a card it may mean an elaborate reception, or a simple five o’clock tea. The hours for receiving visitors in the large cities are from four to seven o’clock. It is customary to serve wafers, small cakes, and, if fancied, sandwiches, with tea or chocolate, but unless one especially desires it there need be nothing more elaborate. ‘ Dolly Dumps.’— I could not possibly interfere between husband and wife. If' you really love your husband, he will come back to his allegiance, but do not worry him with your overflowing affection. Do your duty to him simply and quietly. He cannot be forever calling you darling and kissing you. Men are not built that way. From your letter I imagine he is only teasing you because you have made such a lavish display of your love for him. Men do not prize what they get for nothing. Let him feel the love is not to be all on one side. ‘A Mere Man.’—You could pay your debt with a philopena bracelet. They are of double twisted gold wire with double al monds in enamel. So natural are they in form and colouring that at first one is almost forced to think that they are real.