Chickweed.—1. For the London B.A. you must pass the Matriculation, Intermediate B.A., and Final B.A. in separate years. Apply for all information as to fees and subjects, Registrar, University of London, Burlington Gardens, W. There is no limit of age. We presume the London B.A. would serve your purpose better than that of the University of Ireland or University of Durham, but you can obtain particulars from all three.—2. Your handwriting is good and clear; if you always take pains and never scribble, it will be an excellent hand.

A Daughter of Terra Nova.—Many thanks for your bright letter. We are glad to find our magazine has warm friends so far away.—1. Your writing is not “very bad.” It is clear, and if the letters were more regularly formed, it would soon become good. Your ink seems to vary in thickness as you write, some letters being faint, others black. Always use the best ink you can get.—2. This question does not belong to our province, but as we cannot divide a letter for reply, we may assure you that neuralgia in the face in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred is due to decayed teeth, and a visit to the dentist is the best cure. Remedies for neuralgia proper are quinine and “Tonga.” If the pain is acute and persistent, you should consult a doctor. Your request for a correspondent is inserted in the proper place.

Gribbite.—The metre of your blank verse is quite correct. The writing of blank verse that shall be really musical is very difficult, for the author has no rhymes to depend upon, and the arrangement of ideas and words has to be of peculiar charm and melody. But we can honestly praise your effort. “Good-bye, old year” is not quite so satisfactory. Never make an elision obviously for metre’s sake, especially where you only do it in one instance, as

Here both “evers,” or neither, should be written in the abbreviated form.

Emma Portlock.—Unfortunately your hymn could not find acceptance for publication. The metre is very faulty, and the thought expressed is familiar. “Farewell, Canadian friends!” is better, but we cannot encourage you to do more than to write for your own gratification.

Country Lass.—We are sorry we omitted to criticise your writing in our answer some weeks ago. To begin with, you should use better ink that will not turn brown. Keep a regular space between your lines, and refrain from leaving a margin at the end of some of them. The writing itself would be improved by more decision and firmness, the letters being larger. You can easily make it into a good hand.

Mabel Brown.—1. We have inserted your address for “Florence” to see.—2. No doubt character to some extent can be described from handwriting; for instance, a neat precise person seldom writes a bold, sketchy, untidy hand; a very excitable, nervous person seldom writes a neat, close hand, and so on; but we do not believe that every moral and intellectual quality can be deciphered by this means. Of course we cannot tell how far the estimate you enclose is correct, but we thank you for your pleasant letter.

Dolly.—We do not think any permission is needed for reciting the poem you name. Many thanks for your answer to “Ninette.”

Kyle, Victoria, Australia, writes to inform “Gold Dust” that “Tit for Tat” is published as a song, in two keys, E? and C. The words are by “Nemo,” and the music by Henry Pontet. The song can be procured at Enoch and Sons, 14 and 14A, Great Marlborough Street, London. “Kyle” would copy out and forward the song to “Gold Dust,” if she knew her address.

“Ninette” (Budapesth) again has answers—from “Dolly,” who says “Somebody’s Darling” is to be found in Walker’s Golden Reciter (William Walker and Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, price 1s. 6d.); from “Victoria,” who refers it and the “Song of the Shirt” to Recitations for Recreation, in verse, collected by Mary Trebeck (Wells, Gardner, Darton & Co., 44, Victoria Street, London, S.W., price about 1s.), and from “A. A. L. S.,” who mentions the Royal Reader, No. VI. Miss Marguerite Fitzroy Dixon, 1919, Florence Street, Ottawa, offers to copy out and send “Ninette” the poem, “Somebody’s Darling,” on receipt of her address.

Molly Darling wishes to know the author of a “poem,” which we can inform her is a well-known nursery rhyme, beginning—

“Ivy” is anxious for a copy of a poem containing the words—

E. M. Crabb inquires for a recitation in which the expression “A little chap curly and brown” occurs several times. We cordially respond to E. M. Crabb’s kind wishes.

S. W. H. wishes to find a hymn containing the lines—

“Doubtful” is informed by Elaine Steddall, Clara M. Smith, and Ellen Ward that the words she quotes are the two first lines of a poem called “Somebody’s Mother.” It can be found in Blackie’s Comprehensive Fourth Reader (School Series), or in one of the parts (I. or II.) of Alfred Miles’ A 1 Reciter, price 6d. We thank Ellen Ward for kindly copying out the words, which “Doubtful” may receive on sending her address.

“Tregelles,” 5, Rothsay Road, Bedford, is anxious to obtain the two volumes of Denis O’Neil, by Mary Bradford Whiting, now out of print. If any reader of the “G. O. P.” has disused copies—old, but complete—“Tregelles” would gladly give 3s. for the pair.

E. H. K. asks for the names of four newspapers in which an account of the Fancy Dress Ball at Northampton House was issued, about two years ago. The papers she kept have been accidentally destroyed.

Bessie inquires for the words and music of a song, the refrain of which runs as follows—

H. M. C. kindly writes: “The refrain, ‘Belle Marquise,’ asked for by ‘La Petite Violette,’ occurs in a poem entitled, ‘Une Marquise’ in Old World Idylls, by Austin Dobson. The poem occurs also in his ‘Collected Poems,’ published about the end of 1897.”

A Newfoundland Girl, who writes a bright letter, asks us to insert the following—“Miss M. P. (18), 37, Monkstoun Road, St. John’s, Newfoundland, would like to correspond with an English or Irish girl of the same age, with some fun in her.” Girls with a sense of humour, please make a note of this request!

Valentina, Bozzotti, St. Giuseppe 11, Milan, Italy, would like to correspond with an English girl, from 13 to 16 years of age, and wishes her to know that she loves English people!

A young Irish lady, “Primrose,” would like to hear from a young lady in Tasmania, as to the country, houses, climate, mode of life, etc., and, if possible, particulars as to the voyage from England to Tasmania.

Giglio, Florence, Via della Dogana 2, Italy, would like to exchange Italian post-cards, “artistic, and with views,” with English ones; also to exchange post-cards with “O Mimosa San.” (See “G. O. P.” November number).

Rose Beckett, 30, Victoria Grove, Folkestone, Kent, wishes for a French and German correspondent, about 20 years of age; also a correspondent, “living in India, who is interested in the mission work out there,” and would write to her about it.

Margaret H. Settle, The Elms, South Shore, Blackpool, would very much like to correspond with a French young lady, 20 to 22 years of age.

Maude and Frances F. Carrall, care of Commissioner of Customs, Chefoo, China, would like to correspond with “Miss Inquisitive,” or with any French or German girl who would like to exchange stamps. They have a variety of Chinese stamps for disposal.

Olivia Garde, Biana, Eccleshall, Staffordshire, would like to correspond with a young lady about her own age (17), who collects foreign stamps.

May, Broadstairs, would like to correspond in English with a young lady, aged about 27, of good family, in India or “somewhere abroad,” married or single. She writes a pathetic letter, saying that she is an invalid, and letters afford her so much pleasure that she hopes some of our girl readers in distant lands will not think it too much trouble to write to her. We wish she had put her full address, as it would save time.

“Florence” has two would-be correspondents—Mabel Brown, 24, Brigden Street, Brighton, and Amy Day, 70, Broomfield Street, Crisp Street, Poplar. Will “Florence” kindly write at once?

Miss Madge Hatten, Middleton Cheney, Banbury, Oxon, wishes to correspond with a French girl of the same age (12), who is requested to write to this address.

Ivy.—“Yours sincerely” is the ordinary phrase, and would be quite suitable. You should begin your note, of course, with “Dear Dr. So-and-so,” and tell him then, in a few words, what you wished.

I. G. L. (South Africa), Elephanta and Rhinocerina.—We gave a series of articles in vol. x., “G. O. P.,” beginning October, 1888, to which you might refer, if you have the volume. Cochins, Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks, and Langshaus all do well in confinement. They are placed in order of hardiness. L. U. Gill, 170, Strand, publishes several excellent manuals—Popular Poultry Keeping, Poultry for Prizes and Profit, and How to Keep Laying Hens; also there are constant discussions going on in the pages of The Exchange and Mart, published at the same address, three times weekly. There is a small manual on Incubators and their Management, by J. H. Sutcliffe, illustrated, and published at 170, Strand, which you would find useful. Of course you could make an incubator at a cheap rate.

“One who wants to know.”—Messrs. Cassell have published a good Dictionary of Cookery. The term “receipt” means an acquitment in writing, duly signed, and in some cases stamped, for money or other valuables received; an acknowledgment of having taken into possession or charge. The word is pronounced as if written “re-ceet.” The term “recipe” should be pronounced as a three-syllable word, i.e., as “res-cip-pee,” meaning a medical, cookery, or other prescription, or statement of ingredients, and the method of making up the same to produce desired results of any description. It is generally, though incorrectly, pronounced as “re-ceet.”

Tomel.—We have made inquiries, and can hear of nowhere in London where the Norwegian ornaments can be obtained. We can only suggest that you should write to the Norwegian Club, 11, Charing Cross—the Rev. T. B. Willson, Hon. Sec.—and ask for the address of a reliable jeweller in Norway, to whom you could write. Mr. Willson knows Norway well, and is the author of a guide-book which is well known and approved.

Subscriber.—Suites are not in fashion just now, as everyone seems to prefer to select their own shapes for chairs, and every chair, large or small, is different one from another. Small tables and a Chesterfield sofa seem to complete the furniture of a modern drawing-room, to which you must add pictures, growing palms and other plants, and pretty ornaments.

A Lonely Lover.—You might try to learn a concertina or an accordion. The latter would be the easiest to play. The name Mildred is from the Anglo-Saxon, mild and red, or mild in counsel.

Inquirer.—We should think you had better get one of the new EncyclopÆdias, which will answer all the questions on the very varied subjects in which you are interested. There are several published at moderate prices.

E. Wahall.—Swinton is in the West Riding of Yorkshire, 10½ miles from Sheffield. Here the Rockingham porcelain manufactory was established, so called after the Marquis of Rockingham, on whose estate it was established—not in the village of that name, which is in Northamptonshire, on the river Welland.

Ignoramus.—The Mormons owe their origin to one Joseph Smith, who, in 1830, established himself at Utah. He pretended that in his boyhood he had visions, in which he was told that all existing religions were false; and later on, that at a place indicated he would find gold tablets, and inscribed with the inspired instructions of the ancient prophets, buried in the ground. Also a pair of spectacles, a sword, and a breastplate. The inscriptions were in the reformed Egyptian language. Eleven persons were said to have seen these things besides Smith, which were all, he said, returned to the Angel, and were seen no more. Afterwards, he and his coadjutor, Cowdery (a schoolmaster), had a vision of St. John the Baptist, who consecrated them priests of the Order of Aaron, and commanded them to baptise each other, after which the “Holy Ghost fell on them, together with the spirit of prophecy.” Smith was succeeded by Brigham Young, Smith having been murdered by Indians who broke into the prison where he was confined.

Lucy Waygood.—We do not quite see on what point you need advice. From your own account you seem to have behaved badly enough, as you (being engaged to one man) appear to have encouraged another lover to pay you attention, and to visit you. No wonder the first became angry and jealous. Now you seem not to know your own mind, and “don’t want to pass your life with either of them.” You are very young, which is your best excuse, and our only advice is that you should wait for a year or two before accepting any lover, as you evidently do not know your own mind.