ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXII, Issue XVIII, 6 May 1899, Page 595

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. ‘Traveller.’ —It is rather hard to recommend books for other people, unless youi know something of their tastes. If you are going Home by either Orient or P. and 0., from Sydney, you will find capital libraries on board, and the subscription is very moderate. You will also find a good library on any of the intercolonial boats on your way over. Have you read ‘Peace With Honour’ (Blackwood's Colonial Library)? It is not quite in the newest lot, but is capital. ‘The Day’s Work,’ ‘An Uncrowned King,' and ‘A Crowned Queen’(sequels) are excellent. ‘The Marchioness Against the County’ is likewise a good novel. If you’ve not already read it, you shouild take Lord Roberts’ ‘Fortyone Years in India.’ It’s not very new, but everyone should read it. Also ‘The Story of the Malakand Field Force.’ ‘Mary K.’ (Auckland). —On no account begin taking any ‘pick-me-up’ of spirits ‘to tone your appetite,’ as you say. You say you feel must take some stimulant, though your husbands objects. If you feel that way, all I can say is, the sooner you set your face against alcohol in any shape or form the better. Happily, there is no ‘spirit which leaves no odour’ your husband could not detect. Go and see some good medical man, tel] him what you have told me of your craving. He will give you a tonic. But for mercy’s sake be careful not to start yourself on ‘pick-me-ups.’ I am no teetotaler, but it is plain as print that if you don’t make a stand at once you are lost. ‘Constant Reader.’—Thanks for good opinion. We are trying to improve in every issue, and think we are succeeding. Are these the lines you want: Monday for health, Tuesday for Wealth, Wednesday best of all. Thursday for crosses. Friday for losses. Saturday no luck at all. The lines refer to the days of the week as birthdays. They are, in idea, the same as the more famous lines: Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace; Wednesday's child is merry and glad, Thursday's child is sorry and sad; Friday's child is loving and giving: Saturday’s child must work for its living; While the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is blithe and bonny and good and gay. ‘Mother.’—ls there really no doctor whatever in your neighbourhood whom you could consult about your daughter? If not, I should advise you to run down to Christchurch —that will, I presume, be nearest —and see one. Persistent fainting fits must be injurious. All I can tell you now is that fainting is due to failure of the heart’s action. It may be brought about by any sudden excitement, or any unexpected pleasure or pain. The patient should be kept in a reciiimbent position, the dress and clothes about the neck should be loosened, and water should be sprinkled over the face. A little ammonia, or sal volatile, applied to the nose will act as a stimulant, or a bottle of smelling salts will serve the same purpose. To prevent the recurrence of attacks, attention must be paid to the general health; the condition of the blood should be improved; the ■bowels should be regulated, and plenty of food and stimulant should be given. One of the most appropriate remedies for this condition is dialysed iron (weyth). given in doses of 10 drops three times n day. Another admirable remedy is the beef and iron wine, of which a tablespoonful should be given twice a day. preferably at 11 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. The elixoid of calisaya Iwirk, in tablespoonfnl doses, three times a day before meals, would do much to improve the appetite. Fer bravais is also useful. ‘Anxious.’—Something more is needed to qualify you for reporting work than spare time and a knowledge of shorthand. If you are fairly well educated there should be a pretty good field for you. News-

papers are always glad to get items of information, especially such as may have been missed by their own reporters. You would doubtless be paid for what you supplied. As to the time for sending in reports, that would, of course, depend on when the paper goes to press. ‘G.L.’—lf you wish to publish your stories in book form in England, you should send them to a publisher and ask if he is willing to publish them for you. You ask, ‘Do the publishers pay the writer if they publish the story? Is there a standard payment, or is it left to the publishers?’ No doubt Sir Walter Besant and the Authors’ Society would like to have a ‘standard payment’ fixed. Much depends on n circulation which a book is likely to attain. Writers, and especially inexperienced ones, should be careful to deal only with publishers of good standing. But why not ask the N.Z. Literary Society for an opinion on your book before sending it Home The secretary, Mr Cottle. Ranfurly Buildings, Auckland, will give you all information. ‘Mary’ (Oamaru).—The next time you make a fruit pie or tart, brush the bottom or ‘lining’ crust over with a beaten egg; this will prevent the juice of the fruit soaking into the crust and much improve the dish. No trouble at all. Send on your other questions, and T will do my best to reply to them. ‘Maritana.’—Tn soaking dried fish, ham. or any other article of food which is too salt, buttermilk is much more efficacious than water. Try the experiment with tinned red-herring—-cut it open, and soak it all night, skin side uppermost. Broil it in the usufil way, basting with butter, and seasoning with cayenne and lemon juice, and you will be surprised to find what a tasty breakfast dish despised ‘soldier’ makes. ‘B.P.T.’—T fear this will he a disannointing reply to your letter: but without seeing the muffs T could not tell the cause of the hair falling out. or suggest a remedy. T think your better nlan would be to consult a practical furrier, who will at once tell you, what is wrong.

Tn reply to my correspondent ‘R,’ of Napier. T have obtained the following recipes for cleaning brass, which are not expensive, and, T hope, may be of use, and what yon require. Both brass and copper can be cleaned with powdered Ixith-hrick. rotten-stone, or red-brick dust, rubbed on with flannel and polished with leather. A strong solution of oxalic acid in water gives brass a fine polish, but requires care. The following pastes are also good. T believe, for cleaning brass:—l. Soft soon. 2oz: rotten-stone, 4oz: beat to a nnste and annly with a little w’.ater. and afterwards rub with soft leather. 2. Rotten-stone. 4oz: oxalic acid. 1oz: sweet oil. 1loz; add enough turpentine to make a paste: use as above. Yon see T have given von several to choose from, nnd all the recipes are inexpensive.