ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XIV, 8 April 1899, Page 433

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.

Miserable Molly —(What a dispairing nom de plume)—wants a eure for freckles. I believe Cherry laurel lotion is often effective. .Here is the formula:- —Rosewater, six ounces; glycerine, one-half ounce; cherry laurel water, two and a-half drams; simple tincture benzoin, one and one-half drams. Apply twice a day. letting the lotion dry into the skin. Also use a good cold cream each night upon retiring. Let me say that of all facial blemishes freckles are the most obstinate. Ln fact, they may be termed incurable. They are caused by an excess of iron in the blood, minute particles of which find their way through the drainage tract of the skin and deposit themselves first under the scarfskin. These, acted upon by the sunlight, darken into the little discolourations called freckles. They may be removed again and again, but as long as there is iron in the. blood and the sun continues to shine, they are sure to return. The freckles that come with summer and fade away at the approach of winter, may. by the use of simple lotions. vanish. but the constitutional or ‘cold freckles' depart only when the scarfskin is removed. Even then, when the scarfskin grows again, the freckles also return.

‘L.S.P.’ asks: ‘How can you reconcile the fact that there are places in Egypt which are known to have been in existence five thousand years lie fore Christ, with the Biblical statement that the world was created only four thousand years before Christ? You are mistaken in your conclusion. The Bible does not say that the beginning of the world was only four thousand years before Christ, ff you will turn to the first verse of the first chapter of Genesis, you will notice that it says, ‘in the beginning.’ There is no limit to this time. Genesis is merely the brief outline of the creation of the world, and is not intended to give the student any idea of how, or when, it was done. We have no doubt that this beginning means about five millions of years.

‘Bottles.’—There is no easier method of cleaning glass bottles than putting into them fine coal-ashes, and well shaking, either with water or not, hot or cold, according to the substance that folds the bottle. Charcoal left in a bottle or jar for a little time will take away disagreeable smells. ‘Chip.’—Here is the table which shoidd give you the information you want: —If you are now ten years old. you will probably die when you shall be sixty. If you are twenty now, you will live to be sixty-two. If you are thirty, you will very likely reach sixty-five. If you are forty you may expect to hold out till a few months after your sixty-seventh birthday. If you are fifty, then you’ll pass seventy, but not reach seventy-one. If you are sixty, you will very nearly but not quite see seventy-four. If yon are seventy, you will tip the balance at seventy-five. If you are eighty, you will nearly touch eighty-five. If you are ninety, you will hardly clear ninety-two. If you have passed your hundredth birthday, just go on and don't trouble to make any further calculations.

‘A.L.H.,’ having promised his deceased wife that he would never marry again, now finds himself ‘head over ears in love' with another lady. Is he justified in breaking his promise? ‘A.L.H.’s’ position is very painful; but 1 should advise him to marry the lady for whom he feels so great an affection. Could his late wife advise him. she would probably absolve him from his vow. and advise him to take all the happiness within his reach.

‘Salamander.' —One of the hottest regions of the earth is along the Persian Gulf, when' little or no rain falls. At Balirin the arid shore has no fresh water, yet a comparatively numerous population contrives to live there, thanks to copious springs which burst forth from the bottom of the sea. The fresh water is got by diving. The diver, sitting in his boat, winds n great goat skin bag round his left arm. the hand grasping its mouth; then he

takes in his right hand a heavy stone, to which is attached a strong line, and thus equipped he plunges in and quickly reaches the bottom. Instantly opening the bag over the strong jet of fresh water, he springs up the ascending current, at the same time closing the bag, and is helped aboard. The stone is then hauled up. and the diver, after taking breath, plunges in again. The course of these copious submarine springs is thought to be in the green hills of Osman, some five or six hundred miles distant.