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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18501-8.txt b/18501-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..32d24a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/18501-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2727 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357, +October 30, 1886, by Various + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357, October 30, 1886 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: June 4, 2006 [EBook #18501] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + + + + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER. + +VOL. VIII.--NO. 357. + +OCTOBER 30, 1886. + +PRICE ONE PENNY. + + + + +THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY + +A PASTORALE. + +BY DARLEY DALE, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc. + + +[Illustration: "THE POOR LITTLE BARONESS, WHO WAS ASLEEP, STARTED UP."] + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CHATEAU AFTER THE LOSS OF THE BABY. + +As the baron had conjectured, the housemaid whom he had called out of +the nursery to look for Léon's cane, on finding her master had gone +without it, did not hurry back, but stopped talking to some of the other +servants for perhaps a quarter of an hour, when she returned to the +nursery, and to her amazement found the baby was gone. She was not +alarmed at first, except she supposed she should get a scolding from the +nurse, who she imagined had come in and taken the child to another room; +however, having the excellent excuse that her master had called her away +she went in search of the nurse, but now not finding her anywhere, and +hearing from the footman that she was not expected back till very late, +Marie became seriously alarmed. + +"Perhaps madame has taken it into her room; she might have heard it +crying, and fetched it," suggested the footman, and Marie, very much +against her will, felt she was in duty bound to go and see. + +So, knocking at her mistress's door, she called out, "Madame, has she +taken the baby?" + +The poor little baroness, who was asleep, started up, and called to the +servant to come in. + +"Madame, has she the baby?" repeated the girl. + +"The baby? No, what do you mean? Where is it, and where is nurse?" cried +the baroness, jumping up and slipping on a dressing-gown and slippers. + +Marie began to cry, and to pour forth such a volley of words, excuses, +fears, alarms, and wonders that the baroness could make out nothing, and +rushed to the nursery to see for herself what had happened. The empty +cradle did not, however, throw much light upon it, and the servants who +answered the bell, which the baroness clashed wildly, looked as scared +as the sobbing Marie to find the baby had disappeared. A search from +attic to basement was at once instituted, the men-servants were sent +into the grounds with lanterns, the whole house was turned topsy-turvy, +in the midst of which the nurse returned, and finding her baby was gone, +went into violent hysterics, while the young baroness, with flying hair +and dilated eyes, rushed about, wringing her hands, and looking, as she +felt, distracted with grief. + +The search was, of course, in vain, and they were just coming to the +conclusion that the baby had been stolen, when the baron returned from +seeing Léon off. + +The moment the baroness heard his voice in the hall she flew down the +wide oak staircase, crying, "Arnaud! Arnaud! My precious baby is gone, +it is stolen; find her, find her, or I shall go mad." And a glance at +her wild eyes almost testified she spoke the truth. + +"She is not stolen, she is safe enough," said the baron, sulkily. + +"Safe? Where? Where? Take me to her, my precious one; where is she?" +cried the baroness, with a loud burst of hysteric laughter on hearing +her child was safe. + +"Silence, Mathilde, don't behave in this ridiculous style. Come with +me," said the baron, in a tone his wife had never heard him use to her +before, and which had the effect of reducing her to tears; and, sobbing +wildly, she hung on her husband's arm as he half led, half carried her +upstairs, and laid her on a sofa in her own room. + +"Now, Mathilde, if you will try and compose yourself, I will tell you +what I have done with the baby. For some time I have felt sure that you +were ruining the child's health by the absurd way in which you coddle it +up, and, moreover, making yourself a perfect slave to it, neglecting all +your other duties," began the baron, as he seated himself on the edge of +the sofa by the side of his sobbing wife, who was, however, much too +anxious about her baby to be able to listen patiently to the marital +lecture to which the baron was about to treat her. + +"But Arnaud! Arnaud! where is the baby? Oh, do tell me; it is cruel to +keep me in this suspense," sobbed the baroness. + +Now, to be cruel to his wife was the very last thing the baron intended; +it was only out of the extremity of his jealous love for her that he had +sent the baby away. Thoughtless and selfish he might have been, but +surely no one could say he had been guilty of cruelty to this wife, whom +he loved so madly that even her love for her child had raised the demon +of jealousy within his breast. The word "cruel" stung him to the quick; +it was a new phase of his conduct, one that had never struck him before, +and as he glanced at the poor little baroness, who had half risen on the +sofa, and was looking at him with an agonised look on her pretty face, +he was seized with remorse, and felt it impossible to go on with the +_rôle_ he had attempted to play of the wise father and husband, who had +only acted for the good of his wife and child. Already he was beginning +to repent of his rash act, and if it had been possible to go after the +yacht the chances are the baron would have started at once, and brought +back the baby for the pleasure of seeing its mother smile again. As it +was impossible, the next best thing was to make the best of it, and if +Mathilde could not be comforted in any other way, why he must promise to +let her have it back again. He decided all this as he petted the +baroness, and tried to comfort her by whispering fond nothings into her +ear; but he soon found all his caresses were useless, unless he yielded +to her entreaties and told her where the baby was, and as all he knew +about it was that it was on board Léon's yacht, on which it was being +taken, he believed, to England, though he was by no means sure, this +did not tend to allay the poor mother's anxious fears. + +Her baby confided to the wild Léon's charge, tossed about in a yacht +with not a woman on board to take care of it, her fragile little +daughter, on whom the wind had never been allowed to blow, now at the +mercy of wind and waves for days, and then, supposing the child was +alive, which in her present mood the baroness declared to be impossible, +even if it were, not to know where it was till Léon came back, perhaps +for a week or more, for the baron dare not tell her it would probably be +a month before he returned--oh, it was unbearable! She was sure she +could neither eat nor sleep until she had her baby back. Life until then +would be a burden to her. What could she do without it? Already she was +sure it knew her; and oh, how happy she had been watching by its cradle! +If Arnaud only knew how she delighted in nursing and playing with it, +even to gaze on it while it slept was a joy to her! Oh, if he only +understood, he would never have been so cruel as to send it away. + +All the baron's arguments as to the advantages to the baby which were to +be derived from his scheme, and the wonderful health and strength it was +to derive from leading a less luxurious life, failed to reassure the +baroness, and she passed a sleepless night, and looked so ill and +miserable the next morning that the baron was angry with her for looking +ill, and with himself for being the cause. No one in the house but the +baroness had been told the night before what had become of the baby, the +general opinion being that it had been taken or sent to some woman in +the neighbourhood to look after; but when it became known that it was +sent away in Léon's charge no one knew where, the sympathy with the +baroness was universal, and the baron found himself looked upon as a +jealous tyrant, with no real love for either his wife or child. + +"A nice father you are," cried his brother Jacques. + +"The idea of trusting Léon with a baby. Why, he will pitch it overboard +if it cries," said little Louis, a remark which so annoyed the baron +that he promptly seized Louis by the collar and turned him out of the +room. + +"You really must have been mad, Arnaud, to dream of such a thing as +entrusting Léon, of all people in the world, with an infant," said the +old baroness, for once taking the part of her daughter-in-law against +her son. + +Père Yvon said nothing just then; it would not have been wise to have +done so while the baron's temper was ruffled by the criticisms of his +family or in their presence, but when he was alone with Arnaud, Père +Yvon spoke his mind pretty freely, and read the baron a severer lecture +than he had ever done all the years he was under his tuition. + +It was nothing but jealousy which had prompted such a mad, cruel act, +and jealousy of the most unreasonable--he might almost say +unpardonable--kind: a father to be jealous of his wife's love for his +own child! There was a German saying, excellent in the original, but +which lost the double play upon the words in the translation which Père +Yvon quoted to the baron-- + + "Die Eifersucht ist eine Leidenschaft, + Der mit Eifer sucht muss Leiden schaffen," + +which means, freely translated, that jealousy is a passion which brings +misery to him who indulges in it; and Père Yvon impressed upon Arnaud +that if any misfortune happened to the baby, he would have no one to +blame but himself, for though all sins bring their own punishment, +jealousy is undoubtedly one that can never be indulged in with impunity. +This, and much more to the same effect, Père Yvon said, and the baron, +lying in an easy chair, listened patiently enough, partly because he was +very fond of the chaplain, and partly because he was so angry with +himself now for his folly that it was a relief to him to be blamed +roundly for it. + +All that day the baroness wandered about the house in a vague, restless +way, unable to settle to anything, and trying to amuse herself by +consulting with the nurse as to how they should go and fetch the baby +back when they discovered where it was. She ate little or nothing, and +after another sleepless night looked so worn and ill that the baron sent +for a doctor, who came and urged strongly that the baby should be sent +for at once, or he would not be answerable for the consequences; the +suspense and anxiety were telling so on the baroness that if the strain +lasted much longer he feared she would have an attack of brain fever. + +On hearing this the baron was dreadfully alarmed, and telegraphed to +Léon's agent at Havre to let him know immediately he heard from M. Léon +de Thorens, who had sailed two nights before in the Hirondelle for a +cruise in the Channel. The agent telegraphed back that he knew no more +than M. le Baron at present, but so soon as he received any further +information he would let the baron know. This did not reassure the +baroness, who had taken it into her head that something had happened to +the yacht, and not all Arnaud's promises that the moment he knew where +the child was he would go himself and bring her back could comfort the +poor, anxious little mother, who, with pale cheeks and black marks round +her great brown eyes, which were always large but looked bigger than +ever now that they had not been closed since the baby left, wandered +about the château, looking like a picture of despair. + +This lasted for nearly a week, and then came a telegram from the agent +to say the Hirondelle was lost in a fog off the east coast of England +with all hands drowned. The baron was alone when the telegram was handed +to him, and the news was such a shock to him that he read the message +over again and again before the words, though they were burnt indelibly +into his brain, conveyed their full meaning to his mind. Slowly he +grasped the terrible truth; poor Léon, the life of the house, wild, +handsome Léon was drowned, and his own poor innocent baby as well, +drowned, and by his fault. He was little better than a murderer, he +thought, in the first outburst of his grief, and he must tell Mathilde, +and perhaps kill her too. How should he ever have the courage to do +this? Strange to say, though perhaps, after all, it was not strange, the +baron was far more cut up at the sad fate of his little girl, whom, a +few days ago, he had been so anxious to get rid of, for a while, at +least, than he was at the news of poor Léon's death. So much hung on the +baby; Mathilde's life might almost be said to depend upon its recovery, +and now he must go and strike the blow which would perhaps kill her. +Père Yvon was indeed right; his jealousy was truly bringing a terrible +punishment in its train, and the baron buried his face in his hands, and +sobs of bitterest grief shook his whole frame. At last, rousing himself, +he went to the door of the study where the chaplain was engaged teaching +the younger boys, and beckoned him out. Père Yvon saw at a glance by the +baron's pale, scared face, as well as by the telegram he held in his +hand, that something terrible had happened, and drawing Arnaud into the +nearest room, he asked eagerly what was the matter. The baron answered +by placing the telegram in his hands, and paced the room in a frenzy +while Père Yvon read it. The chaplain's first thought was for the poor +widowed mother, whose darling son was thus cut off in the beauty of his +youth. He had known her so many years, and had comforted her in so many +sorrows, it was natural he should think of her first, before the other +mother, who had her husband to comfort her, and whose child was only an +infant of a few months old. + +"La pauvre baronne! My poor madame! It will break her heart: her darling +son," murmured the chaplain. + +"Ah, poor Léon. I can't realise it yet that we shall never see him +again, and my poor, innocent baby too; it will kill Mathilde. Oh, mon +père, how are we to tell them?" groaned the baron. + +"I will tell your mother; it is not the first time I have been the +bearer of ill news to her, and you must break it as gently as you can to +your wife. It is a sad day indeed for this household, but the Lord's +will be done. He knows best, and He will not send any of us more than we +are able to bear," replied Père Yvon, as he went on his sad mission to +the old baroness. + +As he had said, he had broken many sorrows to her, but he had never had +to deal a heavier blow than when he told her her favourite son was +drowned, the son of whom she was so proud, whom she loved better than +all her other children; but the baroness was a saintly woman, and one of +her first sayings after she heard the news was, "Mon père, it is hard, +but it is just--he was my idol." + +She did not grieve in any extravagant way; she did not absent herself +from any meals; she attended mass, for she was a devout Catholic, in the +private chapel every morning, and, indeed, spent a great deal of time +there in prayer; she never gave up one of her accustomed duties, visited +the poor as regularly as ever, but from the day she heard the sad news +to her death, which happened a few years later, she was scarcely seen +to smile again, and she was never heard to mention Léon's name except to +Père Yvon. Hers was a life-long sorrow, too deep for words, too deep for +even tears to assuage its poignancy; her heart was broken; she had no +further interest in this life; all her hopes were centred on that life +where she hoped to meet her darling son again, never to be separated +from him. + +The young baroness bore her trial very differently. She gave way to a +passionate outburst of grief on learning that her baby was drowned--a +grief in which the baron shared, and was, indeed, in more need of +consolation than his wife, for to his sorrow was added remorse and +bitterest stings of conscience for having brought such sorrow to his +wife, about whom he was very anxious, until the doctor assured him the +sad certainty was even better for her than the terrible suspense she had +been enduring for the last week. To a young, passionate nature hitherto +undisciplined by the sorrows of life, like the young baroness's, +anything was easier to bear than suspense, and the doctor assured Arnaud +that the passionate grief in which his wife indulged would do her no +harm--on the contrary, she was more likely to get over it quickly. +Violent grief is rarely lasting; there invariably follows a reaction. + +A few days later the baron received another telegram from the Havre +agents, telling him they had found out that the Hirondelle had left +Yarmouth, on the Norfolk coast, where she had been lying for two or +three days, the day before she was lost, and was then intending to +cruise round the coast of Great Britain. The baron was immediately +raised from the depths of despair to the highest pinnacle of hope on +hearing this, for he felt sure Léon had gone ashore at Yarmouth to place +the baby with some Englishwoman, and had remained there some days on +purpose. Confiding his new hope to Père Yvon, he at once decided to +start that night for England by Dover and Calais, for already steamers +ran once or twice a week between these ports. He would then go on to +Yarmouth by stage-coach, and make all inquiries for his baby. His +difficulty was, he did not know the language, but living near the +Château de Thorens was a Monsieur de Courcy, who had married an English +wife, and spoke English very well. He was intimate with the De Thorens, +and the baron hoped he might be able to help him in his trouble. + +Accordingly he called on the De Courcys at once, and, to his great +relief, Monsieur de Courcy offered to go to Yarmouth with him, while +Madame de Courcy suggested that the baroness should come and stay with +her during their husbands' absence, for the château was a very gloomy +place for the poor young mother while the shadow of death rested upon +it. Arnaud jumped at this, for he had never been separated from his wife +since their marriage, and he would far rather leave her with this pretty +young English lady than at the château, while his mother's grief for +Léon saddened the whole household. It was easy to account for his +journey to England, by saying that he was going to get particulars of +the accident from the place off which it happened. This would seem only +natural to Mathilde, who must on no account be told that he had any hope +of finding the child. She had accepted the news of its death without +questioning it, and it was far better to let her continue under this +impression than to raise fresh hopes, which, after all, might never be +realised, and if he could only persuade her to come to Parc du Baffy +while he was away he would feel quite happy about her. + +Madame de Courcy and the baroness were on intimate terms with each +other, although Madame de Courcy was a staunch Protestant, and both the +baron and baroness bigoted Romanists; but the great attraction to +Mathilde, as Madame de Courcy guessed, would be her child, a beautiful +boy of three years old, in whom the baroness had delighted until her own +baby was born and absorbed all her time and affection. Knowing this, +Madame de Courcy offered to send her boy to the château with the baron, +hoping to inveigle the baroness to return with him to Parc du Baffy, a +manoeuvre which succeeded admirably, for Mathilde, not having seen the +little Rex for some weeks, was so enraptured with him that she could not +part with him, and as Madame de Courcy could not be asked to spare her +child as well as her husband, the baroness consented to go and stay at +the Parc while the baron was away. The little Rex was too old to remind +her of her own baby, and his pretty mixture of French and English amused +her immensely, and for the moment charmed away her sorrow. Had she known +the real object of her husband's visit to England, the suspense and +anxiety would have made her seriously ill; not knowing it, the change +and Rex's society did her good, so that Madame de Courcy was able, after +a day or two, to write to the baron and tell him his wife was certainly +better and more cheerful since she had been at the Parc du Baffy. + +Meanwhile the baron and M. de Courcy reached Yarmouth safely, and +learned the day and hour on which the Hirondelle arrived and also left +Yarmouth, and that the cause of her remaining so long there was the +absconding of an English sailor, named, or, at all events, calling +himself, John Smith. The baron was more elated than ever at hearing +this, for he knew the Englishman was to place the baby out to nurse, and +if he were safe, the chances were that the child was too; but when, +after having run two or three John Smiths to earth and discovered that +they bore no resemblance to the original, it became evident that the +real John Smith had made himself scarce, and was probably not John Smith +at all, the baron's hopes of recovering the child again fell, though he +could not abandon the idea that if he could only find the runaway +sailor he should hear some news of the child. The wish was, perhaps, +father to the thought, but he could not help thinking the child was not +on board the Hirondelle when she went down, now that he found the +English carpenter had left the yacht at Yarmouth. But the baron felt his +inability to speak English a great drawback to prosecuting his inquiries +as fully as he would have liked, although M. de Courcy was very kind and +did all any friend could have been expected to do; still, it was not the +same as speaking the language himself, as the baron felt, and he +bitterly regretted he had never tried to master its difficulties. Many +of the Yarmouth fishermen and boatmen remembered the Hirondelle and the +handsome French gentleman to whom she belonged, but not one had ever +seen the sign of a baby on board her, though this did not throw much +light on the matter, as the baby might easily have been kept below or +removed at night. + +At last, after spending a week or ten days in fruitless inquiries, the +baron and his friend returned to France, the baron convinced in his own +mind that some hope of his child being safe still existed, a hope which +he dared not communicate to the baroness, but which, nevertheless, +lingered in his breast for many a long day. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND; + +OR, + +THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. + +BY EMMA BREWER. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +A gentleman asked me the other day upon what subject I intended next to +write, and on telling him that the Editor had kindly permitted me to +deal with the Bank of England and the National Debt, he said, "Nonsense! +what do girls want to know about the Bank of England and the National +Debt? Let them be content to leave all such knowledge to men, and rest +satisfied if they get their dividends all right and know how to spend +them properly and keep out of debt." + +He seemed to forget that to do even the little he permitted us would +require knowledge and education of a liberal character, and that without +these our desires might outrun our income, and getting into debt might +prove our normal condition. + +A thorough knowledge of our circumstances is better than partial +blindness, and to see things all round and weigh them justly is better +than sitting with hands folded while men see and judge for us. + +The subjects of the Bank of England and the National Debt are well worth +a study, and will not fail to afford us both varied and interesting +information. + +Among other things they will tell us how the Bank of England came into +existence; what the nation did previous to its existence; how our +country came to have a debt which it has never been able to pay off, and +how it would prove a calamity if it were possible to pay it off +suddenly. + +Again, we shall learn the meaning of "selling out" and "buying in" +money, and what is understood by "consols," "reduced threes," "stocks +going up and down," "a run upon the Bank," "panic," and many other such +terms. + +There is no reason why girls should not be able to give answers to all +of these, and every reason why they should, seeing that an intimate +knowledge of these subjects is as much a part of our nation's history as +is the history of our kings and queens, our wars, and our institutions. + +And even beyond this, it is a matter of importance that girls having +property, little or much, should understand the character of those to +whom they entrust it. + +There are many and valuable books published upon these subjects, but +they are expensive to buy and take a long time to wade through; in +addition to this, they are so learned that we women-folk fail often to +get the simple information we require, even when we have read them. + +The Bank of England, either by name or by sight, is known, I suppose, to +all of us; but its origin, its working, its influence, is not so +familiar to us, and it does not seem to me that we should be going at +all out of our province if we were to ask the "Old Lady of +Threadneedle-street" to tell us something of her history, her household, +and her daily life, seeing that most of us contribute to her +housekeeping, some more, some less. + +We trust her so completely that "safe as the Bank of England" has passed +into a proverb; yet, for all that, we should like the old lady's own +account of how she came into existence, and how she became such a power +in the land, and what she does with all the money we lend her, and out +of what purse she pays us for the loan. + +She certainly ought to be able to tell an interesting tale--for her +palace, her servants, her house-keeping, her treasures, her cellars, her +expenditure, her receipts and clearing, the frights she has every now +and again both given and received, must each and all be more amusing and +full of interest than any fairy tale told by Grimm or Andersen. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STORY OF THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. + +And so you want me to tell you the story of my life! Telling tales is +not quite in my line, but I will do the best I can; and should I become +garrulous and tedious, as old ladies are wont sometimes to be, you must +recall me by a gentle reminder that you live in the present century, +whose characteristics are short, decisive, and by all means amusing. + +My career has been a strange and eventful one, as you yourselves will +see if I can interest you sufficiently to listen to the end. + +Of course, I was not always known as the Old Lady of +Threadneedle-street; indeed, I can well remember the feeling of +annoyance with which I saw _Mr. Punch's_ illustration of me in 1847, as +a fat old woman without a trace of beauty, except in my garments, which +were made of bank notes. I have kept a copy of it, and will just pencil +you the outline. + +The annoyance was intensified when I found myself handed down to +posterity by him as the _Old_ Lady of Threadneedle-street. He could have +no authority for this picture, seeing that, like the Delphian mystery of +old, I am invisible, and deliver my oracles through my directors. + +You are girls, and will quite understand the distress of being thrust +suddenly into old age. Up to 1847 I was young, good-looking, and +attractive, and to be bereft of my youth and romance at one blow; to +know that from henceforth all would be prosaic and business-like, that I +should never again have lovers seeking my favour, was a condition of +extreme pain. I had always prided myself on my figure, but even this +_Mr. Punch_ did not leave me, but told the world that it was due to +tight-lacing. It was very cruel, and I have sometimes thought it was +envy of my position; but let that go. I took counsel with myself, and +determined to face the future with the resolve to be the very nicest old +lady in the world, and to make myself so useful to my fellow-creatures +that they should love me and stand by me even though my first youth had +passed. And I am sure you will agree with me in thinking that I have +accomplished this, and that not only have I kept clear of weakness and +decrepitude, but have achieved for myself a reputation and position +second to no lady in the land. + +It has been necessary for me to make this little explanation, otherwise +you might have thought I had never been young. And now to proceed. + +It was in the reign of William and Mary that I first saw the light, +being born in Mercers' Hall on the 27th of July, 1694. + +From this place, after a few months, I was removed to Grocers' Hall, +Poultry; not the stately structure with which you are acquainted, but +one much more simple, which was razed to make room for the present +building. + +I may say, without vanity, that my birth created a sensation throughout +the length and breadth of the land. + +The House of Commons even was not exempt from this excitement, but set +aside its serious work to discuss whether or not I should be strangled +and put out of the way, or nurtured into strength by its support and +countenance. + +Those members who were in favour of the last resolution declared that I +should rescue the nation out of the hands of extortioners, lower +interests, raise the value of land, revive public credit, improve +commerce, and connect the people more closely with the Government, while +those of the contrary opinion assured the House that I should engross +the whole money of the kingdom, that I should weaken commerce by +tempting people to withdraw their money from trade, that I should +encourage fraud and gaming, and corrupt the morals of the nation. + +Little recked I of all the stir and commotion my birth was causing, as, +nursed and cared for by my father, William Paterson, a Scotch merchant, +and his friend, Mr. Michael Godfrey, I gradually grew into strength. It +was not till long afterwards that I heard and understood the +circumstances of my birth, and how around me were centred the interests +of the kingdom. + +When I was only twelve months old, those who were bound together to take +care of my interests separated my father from me, giving as an excuse +that he was of too speculative and adventurous a spirit to be entrusted +with my welfare. + +Poor father! It has always seemed to me very sad that he who had worked +so long and so persistently for my success should have been condemned to +spend the last years of his life in solitude and neglect in Scotland, +while I, his child, was gradually becoming everything that his highest +ambition could have pictured; but so it was. + +[Illustration: THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. From "Punch."] + +I have often wished that he had employed those last weary years of his +in writing a history of his life. I am sure it would have interested all +classes of readers, but I suppose he was too sad and out of heart. He +was forty-one years of age at the time of my birth, having been born in +Dumfries in 1658. He was one of those who may be said to live before +their time. He possessed great ability, knowledge, and experience, and +was a great traveller, yet, with all this, his life was a series of +disappointments and failures. + +His great friend, Michael Godfrey, who had worked so faithfully by his +side, would, I am sure, never have forsaken him, but he was struck down +by a ball in the trenches of Namur, in 1695, while seeking the king in +my interests. + +He was a great loss to me, although I was too young at the time to +estimate it fully. He has left behind him a quaint and graphic account +of my infancy, with which I shall hope to make you acquainted later on. + +Should you feel any interest in him, look in St. Swithin's Church some +day when passing, and there you will find a monument to his memory, +which records that he "died a batchelour, much lamented by his friends, +relations, and acquaintances for his integrity, his knowledge, and the +sweetness of his manners." + +My name "Bank," which signifies "bench" or "high seat," I derived from +Italian forefathers, who, in early days, carried on their business in +the public places or exchanges on _benches_. + +This business of theirs consisted chiefly in being the depositories of +the wealth of rich people, and making payments for them according to +written orders, and further in receiving money from some people on +interest, and lending it to others at a higher rate. I have been told +that in their day making a profit by lending money was not considered at +all an aristocratic proceeding, and procured for those who indulged in +it the name of usurers, a word I do not like; it savours of sordidness. + +From my very birth I was educated to be reliable, steady, secure, and +faithful, and to be true and just in all my dealings. + +It was made clear to me that it was the lack of these qualities in the +money affairs of the kingdom which had led to the necessity of my +existence, and I was made distinctly to understand that it was only upon +my developing largely these peculiar traits of character that I should +continue the existence thus begun. + + * * * * * + +My education was quite different from that of other girls. I had to +learn arithmetic almost before I could speak, and the state and +condition of kings and governments were instilled into my mind as +regularly as food into my body. + +There were no novels, no light literature for me, except what I could +extract for myself out of the dry material placed before me. Still, my +mind was not warped with this peculiar bringing up, and now that I am an +old woman, I think I can see that I owe this to the character of those +who governed and directed me. + +Of course, this peculiar education and training kept me far ahead of +other girls, and while they were scarcely out of the nursery, and still +enjoying battledore and shuttlecock, I was seeking information, either +by reading or conversation, concerning my forefathers, position, duties, +and property. + +Young as I was, I began to feel creeping over me a sense of +responsibility, and a longing to know how best to fulfil all that was +required of me. I knew that I was rich, but how did I become so? I knew +that my riches were expected to make others rich, but how? I was always +asking questions, and sometimes succeeded in getting an answer, which +served as a clue, and sent me to search old parchments or to make +comparisons. + +It was some time before I could piece the scraps of information +together, but gradually I did so, and then assuredly I saw the awfulness +of my influence and position, and determined, with God's blessing, to be +a comfort and support to the widows and orphans who trusted in me, as +well as a source of strength, security, and honour to the nation and its +rulers, and I resolved that henceforth my name, _the Bank of England_, +should carry with it a meaning wherever it was heard, far beyond its +original signification; it should be another term for wealth, honour, +and thrift--a something to be trusted, and in which nothing foul, mean, +or sordid must be found. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MUSICAL FORMS. + +SKETCH I.--THE ORATORIO AND PASSION MUSIC (SACRED DRAMA). + +BY MYLES B. FOSTER, Organist of the Foundling Hospital. + + +In a former number, in prefacing reviews of new music, we said +sufficient upon the subject of listening to music to call the attention +of our many readers to the performances going on so frequently in all +parts of the world, and now we persuade ourselves that there may be some +to whom a short account of the various and varied forms, to which our +attention as audience is most frequently invited, would be of interest, +even though they have some knowledge of the subject already; and that +there may be others to whom these very incomplete sketches may appear as +information, and as an incentive to further investigation. + +For our first sketch we have chosen the oratorio, for it is undoubtedly +the highest form of musical dramatic art, and is founded upon and +contains the greatest and deepest truths of the Christian life. As +regards the actual music forms employed, we find, indeed, similar ones +in the operas, such as the various forms of recitative, the aria, the +duet, and the chorus, and even the scena; but in the sacred works, who +are the heroes and heroines? Are they not the instruments of the Divine +power, the messengers of the good tidings? And what are the subjects? +Are they not the struggles, the trials, the victories of noble souls? +With such sacred characters, with such lofty thoughts, the composers of +the oratorio, dealing, not with the semblance of truth that the opera +contains, but with the truth itself, are bound to express their feelings +and emotions in the grandest and most perfect thoughts. + +Purely sentimental ideas, and the whole list of passions and struggles +in human existence, rather form the basis of opera than the proper +subjects for oratorio, and the modern attempts to transform the sacred +ideal into the region of operatic and dramatic realism seem to fall +singularly short of expectation. To our minds, the strongest period in +the history of oratorio was the time of Handel and Bach, and writers of +to-day have yet to graft on to their work the more careful study, and +the strengthening influence of these noble masterpieces in stronger +cuttings, to make the struggling young plant a healthy and beautiful +tree. Let us progress, by all means, but true progression is but the +joining of all that is good in the preceding age with all the fresh +beauty God bestows upon us in this our day. + +We seem to be comparing or contrasting the secular form opera and the +sacred oratorio, and it is interesting to know that the origin of both +may be traced back to the same source--viz., early miracle plays and +moralities. For some time after the introduction of Christianity into +Eastern Europe, the new converts seem to have retained their fondness +for the heathen practice used in religious, as in secular, celebrations +of theatrical representations, which were chiefly upon mythological +subjects, and all of which angered and distressed the priests of the new +religion. However, the latter soon found out that it was necessary to +reach the minds of these people through their more acutely trained +senses and the medium of their old traditions, and thus in these early +ages the dramatic element worked its way into the church worship. +Spiritual plays were arranged by the priests in all parts of +Christianised Europe, who chose scenes and stories from both Old and New +Testaments, and from the lives of the saints and holy men. The plays +were acted upon a stage, usually erected under the choir of the church. +As women were not permitted to appear, priests took all the characters, +male and female. We learn, from many reliable sources, that these sacred +representations had a great effect upon the pious worshippers. + +In the course of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and chiefly in +the west of Europe, profane elements crept in amongst the holy legends, +and these religious entertainments also developed so greatly, that +hundreds of actors would be engaged in representations lasting over +several days, whilst the eager audiences were so large that the churches +could not contain them, and the stage had to be erected in the +market-places, and out of doors. + +The direction passed more and more into the hands of the laity, who +employed jongleurs, histrions, and strolling vagabonds, whose acting +included gross buffoonery, and whose profanity completely choked the +religious growth first implanted by these miracle plays. The stages, it +should be explained, were of curious construction, being divided into +three stories, the upper one containing the heavenly characters, the +middle one being for the people upon earth, and the lowest for the +denizens of hell. + +At the beginning of the sixteenth century the whole Catholic world was +influenced by those reforms so necessary to the Christian Church of that +time, and so bravely contended for and gained by Luther. The +demoralisation which weakened all the church's fabric was deeply +deplored by the Catholic clergy, and we find at the close of this +century St. Philip Neri founding a congregation of priests in Rome and +drawing youths to church by dramatising in simple form such stories as +the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, etc., which were set to music in +four parts with alternate solos, first by Animuccia (a pupil of +Goudimel), and later on by the great Palestrina. These "sacred actions" +or plays were not performed in the church itself, but in an adjoining +chamber, called in Italian "oratorio," an oratory, and the title has +since then adhered to this species of sacred work. + +Our girls will be pleased to know that the first oratorio, set to music +by Emilio del Cavalieri, was written by a lady, Laura Guidiccioni. It +was acted for the first time in the year 1600, probably in the oratory +of the Church of Santa Maria della Vallicella, in Rome. The name of the +work is "The Representation of the Soul and the Body." It was to be +played in appropriate costumes, and certain choruses were to be +accompanied, in a reverent and sedate manner, by solemn dances. Some of +the characters were Time, Pleasure, the World, Human Life, the Body, +etc. + +As the various forms of music, already named as common to the opera and +oratorio, developed in the former, so in proportion they expanded and +became freer in the latter; those portions which had been mainly founded +upon plain song became more expressive and dramatic, and the melody +assumed a flowing and cantabile character. But whereas you would imagine +that a closer connection between the secular and sacred would be the +result of this change, nevertheless, the composer's conviction that the +music must strive to be of adequate importance to the sacred words and +subjects caused a line to be drawn, ever growing more and more marked, +as time and growth in grace and knowledge went on, between the secular +and sacred musical drama. + +In the seventeenth century we find Carissimi greatly advancing oratorio, +and composing really noble music. You may remember a revival of his +"Jephtha," by Mr. Henry Leslie, a few years back. Scarlatti, Stradella, +and others also contributed to this period. But, notwithstanding its +Italian birth and infancy, it remained for Germany to bring oratorio to +a vigorous manhood, and to its lofty position in the world of music. The +compositions of Handel and Bach, early in the eighteenth century, placed +this sacred art form upon a pinnacle of such height and strength, that +few composers have the stamina or knowledge wherewith to reach it. + +Having gazed at this, for a time, culminating summit, let us go back to +the early days again for a moment to notice a branch of this tree, a +member of this sacred family, whose growth has been parallel with that +of the subject of our sketch, viz., the Passion oratorio, one dealing +with the sufferings and death of our blessed Redeemer. Foremost amongst +the miracle plays, in which originated the sacred drama, was the +representation, during Holy Week, of the Passion of our Lord. To this +day we have interesting relics of this custom, such as the Oberammergau +play in South Bavaria, the performances in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, +and in some parts of Spain. The oldest Protestant composition on this +subject was published in 1570. + +At the commencement of the seventeenth century a great development +followed in the writings of Heinrich Schütz, who wrote music to the +Passion, as told by all four evangelists, and whose tercentenary was +celebrated last year by commencing the publication of all his works. He +did much towards the great musical development in Germany. Following in +his footsteps came Sebastiani, at the end of the century, and Keiser at +the commencement of the eighteenth. In Keiser's Passion we find, in +addition to the Bible narrative, reflective passages for a chorus, +holding much the same functions as the old Greek chorus, with +interpolated solos for "the Daughter of Sion" and "the Believing Soul," +some of which are used later on by Bach, especially in his setting of +the subject according to St. John's Gospel. John Sebastian Bach added, +moreover, many well-known chorales in which the people could join, and +these favourite old hymn tunes had the greatest power over the hearts of +the worshippers. + +Now we have returned to the period at which we left oratorio, and side +by side with Bach's great Passion music stand up those massive +monuments, the oratorios of Handel, of which so much has been written, +and many of which you all know and love so well. It is worthy of notice, +if only to show how recently (viz., almost halfway through the +eighteenth century) action, and costume, and other accessories were +tolerated in connection with the sacred subjects, to tell you that at +the performance of his first English oratorio, "Esther," at the theatre +in the Haymarket, Handel appended the following note to the playbills:-- + +"N.B. There will be no acting on the stage," this being called shortly +after "oratorio fashion," even when applied to performances of secular +dramatic subjects which were to be sung, and not acted. + +After these great works of Handel, no important oratorio was heard in +England until Haydn's "Creation," in 1798. Then, in the present century, +Spohr followed with his "Crucifixion," "Last Judgment," and "Fall of +Babylon;" and then Mendelssohn, that greatest disciple of Bach, whose +"Elijah" and "St. Paul" quite revived the taste for oratorio, and gave +an impetus to it, which extends to our day. + +To end this fragmentary sketch, we may fairly say that oratorio should +contain two important elements:-- + +I. The narrative form, as subject of the whole work. + +II. The didactic and contemplative, as interpolations in soliloquy, or +in chorus of adoration, prayer, and warning. + +A third element, the dramatic accessories of costume, scenery, and +action, we have dispensed with, and, I think, happily so. + +We find in these days in many nations, including our own dear country, +composers are striving after this highest and noblest ideal; let us pray +they may receive that strength necessary for so great a responsibility. +There is none greater in music, and our hearts tell us that unless a +composer knows and believes himself that the subject which in reverence +he approaches is the truth itself, which he must proclaim and preach as +a conviction of his own--we say that unless he thus incorporates himself +in his work it is but mockery, and the result of it nothingness. + + + + +NOTES FOR NOVEMBER. + + +During this month we get the finest effects of the changing tints of +foliage; after a wet, windy summer the colours are poor, but fine and +varied after dry calm weather. + +These autumnal changes of colour are caused by decay and death; the life +in the leaf enabled it to withstand certain chemical changes, which it +can no longer resist as the vital force wanes, and the green colouring +matter is either changed or destroyed. + +We can prove this fact for ourselves if we notice how often, while all +the rest of a tree is green, the leaves and small branches which are +partly broken, and have, therefore, lost a great part of their vitality, +lose their green colour, and become yellow or red. + + * * * * * + +Not only are the broad effects of a landscape made beautiful in autumn +by the rich colouring of large masses of trees, but the close observer +will find every hedge, bottom, and wild common flaming with colour. +Heath tell us "it is the commonest plants whose colours are the most +beautiful and striking." Amongst those which produce the most brilliant +autumnal tints, the following are found almost everywhere in the hedges +in England: Bramble, hawthorn, wild strawberry, dock, spindle-tree, herb +robert, cranes-bill, silver weed, hedge maple, dogwood, black bryony, +ivy; while in the kitchen gardens nothing can exceed the beauty of the +asparagus and the common carrot. + + * * * * * + +Many birds come to England from the north to spend the winter. Wild +ducks, woodcocks, fieldfares, and curlews are coming now, besides +thrushes, larks, and other small birds. Some of these live with us all +through the year, and are only joined by relatives from colder climates. +In very cold winters many birds who do not usually migrate, are driven +south in search of food; but the reception they meet with is hardly +calculated to attract great numbers of strangers to our shores; for the +notice one usually reads in the newspapers is that such and such a rare +bird "has been seen and _shot_." + + * * * * * + +"It is as hot as we have it in India, or, at any rate, I feel the heat +as much." One often hears this statement on a hot summer's day from an +Indian visitor; while, on the other hand, our Canadian cousins assure us +that their bright, clear winter, though so intensely cold, is not so +trying as ours. This is to a great extent caused by the unusual moisture +of the air in England. John Burroughs tells us that "the average +rainfall in London is less than in New York, and yet it doubtless rains +ten days in the former to one in the latter," which he explains by the +fact that in England "it rains easily, but slowly." + +That we can bear greater dry than damp heat is easily proved by holding +one's hand before a fire, and then plunging it into hot water, using a +thermometer in both cases to test the heat. The same fact with regard to +cold can be tried by holding both hands in a draught of cold air, the +one hand being wet, the other dry. + + * * * * * + +Lovers of natural history are not all aware what advantages the first +sharp frost offers them for the study of animal and vegetable life in +ponds. Thoreau, one of the most devoted admirers of nature, says in his +"Walden," that, "The first ice is especially interesting, being hard, +dark, and transparent, and affords the best opportunity that ever offers +for examining the bottom, where it is shallow; for you can lie at your +length on ice only an inch thick, like a skater insect on the surface of +the water, and study the bottom at your leisure, only two or three +inches distant, like a picture behind a glass." + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +Country girls have an opportunity during the early darkness of winter +afternoons of appreciating one of the dangers which beset arctic +explorers during the long twilight which takes the place of day during +the winter months in those northern climes. In towns, the well-lighted +and well-paved streets make walking in the dusk as easy as in the day; +but girls, whose walks lead through fields and rough country lanes, know +how many trips and stumbles are caused by the uncertain light before +darkness sets in. Greely, in his terribly sad history of the sufferings +of his men during their arctic expedition, tells us how much their +difficulties were increased by this dimness of the light. It was +necessary that they should go long journeys on foot, each man carrying a +heavy load of provisions and other stores; and he adds: "The absence of +sufficient light to cast a shadow has had very unfortunate results, as +several of the men have been badly bruised and sprained. When no shadow +is formed, and the light is feeble and blurred, there is the same +uncertainty about one's walk as if the deepest darkness prevailed. The +most careful observation fails to advise you as to whether the next step +is to lie on a level, up an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad +falls quite demoralise a man, and make him more than ever distrustful of +his eyesight." + + * * * * * + +There is not much to be done in the garden this month, but bulbs may +still be put in, though the flowers will not be so good as those planted +earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips planted now ought to flower in +April. + +If the weather is mild, the grass should be rolled occasionally; early +peas and beans may be planted in a dry place, and a little radish seed +sown in a warm corner, but they must be carefully covered if a sharp +frost comes. + +Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs needing it pruned. Now that +the leaves are off, the fruit trees may be more easily examined, and +dead branches, or those that rub against one another, removed. + +If the weather is very cold, take care of delicate plants by spreading +cocoa-nut fibre or light manure over the beds, or by covering the plants +with matting. + + + + +CHILD ISLAND. + +FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS. + +[Illustration] + + +A long time ago--so long that it was ages before my grandfather was a +little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl--there +was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which were +so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and +gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful +white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold +fishes swam in its clear waters. + +On one part of the lake the most lovely water-lilies opened up their +white flowers, looking, as some people said, like tiny boats; but one of +the little girls I am going to tell you about thought they looked like a +set of green saucers and white cups, and used to call them the swans' +best tea-things. Now, in the midst of this Silver Lake stood the +beautiful island called Child's Island. Such a lovely little island as +it was had never been seen before, and I verily believe has never been +seen since. + +Black clouds never came near it, for there the sky was blue and +cloudless always, and I am told that at night more stars might be seen +from that pretty isle than from any other part of the world; but whether +that is true or not I cannot tell. But I do know that its shores sloped +green down to the water's edge, that the brightest and sweetest flowers +bordered every pathway, that the roses were without thorns, and there +was not a single nettle in the whole island. I know, also, that the +grass was the greenest, the trees the shadiest, the flowers the +brightest, and the fruit the ripest to be found anywhere. As to the +animals, there were none but the gentlest kind. Little white mice went +peeping about with their wee pink eyes, pretty tame squirrels bounded +from tree to tree, and a herd of graceful fawns fed and played in the +meadows. Birds of the gayest plumage and sweetest song were there; +pretty poll-parrots hopped among the trees, crying, "What's o'clock? +What's o'clock?" In short, it was the brightest, merriest, sunniest spot +in the world, and I can say no more in its praise than that. All day +long the sun shone gently down upon the little isle, and the wind never +raised its voice above a whisper. + +But, besides birds and butterflies, fawns, and flowers, there was +something else in this pretty isle. Now, what do you guess that +something was? Why, a beautiful fairy palace. + +I call it a fairy palace, not because fairies lived there, for they did +not, but because it was the work of fairy hands, and was more beautiful +than any other palace in the world. It stood in the midst of a lovely +garden, but no wall or railing shut it in from the rest of the island; +and you and I, had we been there, might have walked across the green +lawn, and plucked some of the gay flowers, and gone up the marble steps, +without anyone saying, "Stop! You must not go there." Round about the +palace, in groups of twos and threes, were several little houses, all +very beautiful and all exactly alike. + +[Illustration] + +Now, I daresay you will think that this was a very pretty place, at the +same time, very strange; yet the strangest and, to me, the most charming +thing of all was that there were none but children in this little +island. They were all quite young, the eldest amongst them were not +twelve years old; they were the king and the queen, who, of course, +lived in the beautiful palace. And thus, because only children dwelt +there, it was called Child Island. + +[Illustration] + +Well, these little folks had nothing to do but to play; and a rare time +they had of it, as you shall hear; but perhaps you would first like to +know how it happened that they were alone in this island without any +grown people to take care of them. Then listen, and I will tell you. + +The Silver Lake and Child Island belonged to the good fairy Corianda, +who was very fond of little children, and took great pleasure in +inventing games for, and otherwise amusing them. She loved all children, +but she was especially fond of those of Noviland, the king of which was +one of her subjects. She used often to slip on her magic veil, which +rendered her invisible, and go amongst the little folks of Noviland to +watch them at their play, or at their lessons, or to peep at them whilst +they slept. It was in this way that she found out there was scarcely a +child in Noviland but what was discontented with what it had, and sighed +for what it had not. + +One fancied that Noviland would be the jolliest place in the world for +little boys if there were no lessons, no schools; but grammar and +spelling spoiled all. Pepitia thought that if she might wear fine +dresses like mamma, have a coach and six to ride in, and no one to +control her, she would be perfectly contented. The little Teresa sighed +for a land where there was no A B C, and Dorinda for one where toys grew +on trees, and no hard-hearted shopkeeper demanded money before they were +plucked. Herbert wished he lived in a place where there were plenty of +gay butterflies, and that he had nothing to do but to hunt them. Thus +each child had something to wish for, and something to be discontented +about. + +I wonder whether there are children in any other part of the world who, +like those of Noviland, want what they have not, and grumble at what +they have? Do you know any? Ah, no! I suppose there are no other little +folks so silly, so I won't urge the question, but go on with my story. + +When the good fairy heard all these murmurings, she said to herself, "I +will gratify these little people for a short time in what they want, and +we shall see if they will be happy then." + +So she set her fays to work, and had built on Child Island the beautiful +palace and houses I have told you of. When all was ready, she and her +fays took the little grumblers out of their beds one fine night and +wafted them away, whilst still asleep, to Child Island, taking care, I +should tell you, to leave changelings from Fairyland in their places, so +that the parents might not be filled with grief in the morning to find +that their dear children had been stolen away. + +The next morning, after the sun had dispelled the mist which always +seemed to hang about him before breakfast at Child Island, and he was +fresh and bright for the day, like little boys with clean faces ready +for school, the young strangers were all assembled on the lawn in front +of the palace, and the fairy spoke to them as follows:-- + +"My dear children, as you all fancy you would be happier if you were +quite free from control, and if you had nothing to do but to play, I +have brought you to this beautiful island, where you can amuse +yourselves all day long. You will have everything supplied to you, and +there will be no one to dictate to you. These pretty houses I give you +to live in. The palace is for the king and queen, and the other houses +are so precisely alike that none of you will be able to dispute as to +choice. You, Philip, who are the eldest boy, shall be king, and you, +Pepitia, who are the eldest girl, shall be queen. Be kind and +good-natured to one another, and I will always be your friend. Don't eat +too much fruit or cake, as that will make you ill. Now, come with me, +and I will show you the inside of the palace." + +Then they followed the good fairy, in a merry crowd, up the marble +steps into the hall of the palace, and a grand hall it was, with its +rows of pillars and richly decorated walls. The fairy led them up the +staircase and through the royal apartments, which consisted of +drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, and dressing-rooms, where the +looking-glasses reached from floor to ceiling and the wardrooms were +filled with magnificent dresses. Then into the throne-room, hung with +crimson velvet embroidered in gold, and where, at the upper end, were +two golden thrones inlaid with precious stones and cushioned with +crimson velvet. The more they saw the more delighted the little folks +were; they clapped their hands with joy, and cried, "Oh, my! how +beautiful!" at least twenty times in a minute. + +"Oh! shouldn't I like to be you," said Amanda to Pepitia, "you will be +queen, and have all these fine things." + +After they had seen all that was in the palace, the fairy took them over +the other houses, all of which were elegantly furnished, but it would +take up too much time to tell you of all the beautiful things that were +in them. Just fancy how you would like to furnish a little house that +had drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and whatever you +fancy you would like to put there _was_ there, and even more than that. +No wonder the children were pleased. + +After the fairy had shown them all the pretty things the houses +contained, and had allotted to each set of children the particular house +they were to inhabit, a crystal car, drawn by six white swans, was seen +to approach the shore. Then the fairy said, "Now, my little dears, I +must go, for here is my coach and six come to fetch me." So she kissed +them all round, bade them be good children, said she would come to see +them again some day, got into her car, and was soon out of sight, the +children shouting, "Good-bye, dear Fairy, good-bye," till they could see +her no longer. + +Then they said, "What shall we play at first?" + +"Let us go into that pretty dell, where the fawns are at play, and +gather some of the flowers," said Pepitia. To this they all readily +assented, and ran skipping and singing into the dell. Some pulled long +rushes and sat themselves down to weave little baskets; some gathered +nosegays, some played with the fawns. Presently one of them said, "Oh! +suppose we have a dance." + +"Yes, yes, yes, so do," cried a dozen little voices. + +"But there's no music," objected the queen, "we can't dance without +music. How I wish we had some!" + +"I'll hum a tune," said Sophia; and she immediately began one. + +"No, that's so stupid," said Amanda. + +"Oh!" screamed a little boy. "Look there!" + +"Look where? What's the matter?" cried they all. + +"Why, look at that big yellow thing," replied the child, pointing to a +large gourd which lay upon the ground, "it's opening all by itself!" + +And sure enough it was slowly opening, as if it were a monster mouth +taking a lazy yawn. The children clustered together and watched it +eagerly, when, to their great amazement, out popped a little figure, not +more than six inches high, dressed in a suit of sky blue velvet with +white lace ruffles at the throat and wrists. The dress was fastened down +the front and at the knees by diamond buttons; diamond buckles were in +its shoes, white silk stockings on its legs, and on its head a crimson +cap with white feather. As soon as this quaint little figure jumped out +of the gourd he was followed by another, and another, and another, till +there were a full score of them, all dressed exactly like the first, and +each carrying a tiny musical instrument in his hand. + +As the last jumped out the gourd closed, and the leader of the +Liliputian band stepped a few paces in front of his fellows, and, taking +off his feathered cap, made a low bow to the king and queen, then, +without speaking a word, he sprang on to the foremost branch of a white +Mayflower bush, which was in full blossom, and immediately his little +companions perched themselves on different branches behind him, and +began tuning their tiny instruments. + +The children, full of glee, arranged themselves for a dance, the band +struck up "Sir Roger de Coverley," and away they all went, their little +feet keeping time to the music as truly as the leader's tiny baton. They +danced, and they danced, and they danced, till they were too tired to +dance any more, then they flung themselves down to rest; upon which the +little leader of the band jumped down from his perch and placed himself +on a broad smooth leaf, that two of his band spread on the grass +opposite to where sat the king and queen. + +He made a low bow to their majesties, the band struck up, and the little +fellow commenced dancing a _pas seul_. If you had seen him prancing and +capering about the leaf, now with his arms akimbo, going jauntily round +and gracefully bending his body from side to side, keeping time to the +music as he did so; now suddenly clasping his hands above his head, +whirl rapidly round and round till he got to the front edge of the leaf, +and then, springing into the air, come down on the very tips of his +pointed shoes; if you had seen all this I think you would have laughed +and shouted as loudly as did Rosetta, Minette, and all the rest of the +little folks. When the droll fellow had finished his dance he flourished +his feathered cap, made a low bow, and backed to where his companions +were standing. The gourd slowly opened again, and each little fellow +making his bow, popped in as quickly as he had popped out; then the +gourd closed, and nothing more was seen of the little musicians that +day. + +The children gathered round the gourd and tried to open it; tapped at +it; called to the little musicians to come back; bent down their pretty +heads to listen; but all was useless, no sound came from it, and they +might as well have tried to open the oak tree 'neath which they stood as +it. + +Now, for fear you should think that the good fairy had left these little +children to take care of themselves entirely, to cook their own food, +wash their own clothes, make their own beds, and all that sort of +work--for children, you know, cannot do these things for themselves, and +that is why they are always so good and obedient to mammas and papas and +kind aunts, who see to all these things being done for them--I will tell +you what queer, droll little beings she left in the island to attend to +the domestic concerns of the young king and queen and their little +subjects. + +Just shut your eyes and fancy you see a little brown figure with small +dark eyes, like black beads, sharp nose, thin lips, and glossy red hair, +combed off the face, plaited into a long tail behind, and tied by a bow +of black ribbon. Then fancy this little figure, with arms so long that +they reach to its knees, dressed in a dark blue smock frock without +sleeves, a red leather belt round its waist, dark red trousers on its +legs, and green morocco shoes on its feet; then call it a Noman, and you +will see precisely the sort of beings which were left to wait on the +young inhabitants of Child Island. They were all alike and all dressed +alike; they used to make their appearance and begin to dust and sweep, +and light fires, and such like, just after cock-crow every morning, and +they all disappeared every night directly the children were safely +tucked in bed. They came all together and they disappeared all together, +but where they came from or where they went to nobody ever knew, so you +must not expect me to tell you. + +I daresay you will think these Nomen a strange race, but I am going to +tell you something stranger still concerning them, and that is that none +of them could talk, no--not one! + +Was not that odd? They had some way of talking amongst themselves by +means of signs, but the only words they could say to their young masters +and mistresses were, "nob, nob," which meant no, and "yah, yah," which +meant yes. These they uttered very quickly, and nodding their heads at +each sound. + +Now, the good fairy had charged these little beings to be very kind and +attentive to the children; to cook their meals and serve them nicely, +and to keep their houses in pretty order. + +She also charged the children to be kind and gentle to the Nomen; never +in any way to tease, annoy, or insult them, for if they did, the fairy +said, and she looked very grave as she said it, "some punishment would +immediately follow." This Master Edmund found to be quite true, when one +day he attempted to kick the Noman who was brushing his hair, for as he +raised his leg to kick, an invisible hand pulled the other from under +him, and Master Edmund measured his length on the floor. So, also, Miss +Sophia, who said one day, whilst looking in the glass, admiring herself +and sneering at the Noman who was fastening her frock, "What a fright +you are with your squiny eyes and red hair! I shouldn't like to be such +a fright as you are." Upon which she immediately felt a sharp prick on +her nose, whereon a large red pimple, as big as a cherry, made its +appearance; her frock was torn to tatters, and on going to her wardrobe +for another she found it quite empty, so she had to wear her rags all +that day, as it was not until the next that the clothes came back to her +wardrobe, and the pimple left her nose. I warrant me she will never be +saucy to the Nomen again! + +Master King Philip had a lesson of the same kind once, at his dinner +table, when all his court were dining with him. Calling to one of the +Nomen who were waiting, "Make haste, you brown rascal, and fill me a +glass of wine!" the words were scarcely out of his mouth than he got a +smart sounding slap on his face, and his elbow was violently jerked, so +that he spilt all his wine, whereupon the little lords and ladies +tittered, and some were so uncourtly as to laugh outright, and say it +"served him right," which made Master King Philip wish he had not been +so bounceable. + +One evening, after they had been some weeks on the island, the king told +his courtiers to prepare for a butterfly hunt, which he intended to have +the next day. Early on the morrow they all assembled at the palace, +attired in green and white, and each carrying an ivory rod, at the end +of which was a green net, with which to catch the butterflies. On +reaching the top of the staircase the little lords went to the +dressing-room of the king, and the little ladies to that of the queen. +Her majesty was dressed in white satin trimmed with green. + +"Won't you wear your crown?" asked Rosetta. + +"Well, I don't know," said the queen, in an undecided tone of voice. +"Ought I? Won't it be too heavy for the chase?" + +"Oh, but kings and queens always wear their crowns when they go +out--don't they?" said Rosetta, appealing to her companions. + +"Yes, yes; to be sure they do. Wear the crown--do wear the crown!" they +all cried, clapping their hands. + +Pepitia did not require much persuasion on the subject, as she dearly +liked to be finely dressed. And, indeed, when she had put it on, and +also her velvet train lined with satin and trimmed with ermine, I must +confess she did look a charming young queen. The little Dorinda was so +struck with her appearance that she screwed up her face into a comical +expression of surprise, and, holding up both her hands, exclaimed-- + +"Oh, my! Aren't you smart!" + +"But I don't like the way your hair is done," said Amanda, who was +disposed to be quizzical. + +"Don't you?" rejoined the queen, tartly. "Then you needn't." + +Amanda was on the point of making an equally tart reply, when +fortunately the king appeared at the door, and so interrupted the +threatened dispute. He also wore his crown and train, and, moreover, he +carried the ball and sceptre in his hand; for this little monarch was +not disposed to part with any of the insignia of royalty, and thought he +might as well not be a king if he did not wear the grand trappings +belonging to his office. + +Then the whole party went down into the hall to be marshalled into +proper order by Alphonse, who always took upon himself to be master of +the ceremonies whenever he could get a chance. This was not effected +without a vast deal of chattering and confusion; and report says that +one or two sounds like "Shan't!" "Shall!" were distinctly heard, +followed by what sounded like, and probably was, a slap. + +The little train-bearers were especially difficult to manage, owing to +their constantly wanting to speak to one or other of their companions in +the rear, which inclination occasioned their majesties several +unmajestic jerks from behind, and, of course, called forth a sharp +reprimand from the majesty so pulled; the only effect of which was a +vast deal of giggling amongst the little girls, and the making of droll +faces by the little boys. + +"Please, queen, Edmund's making a face!" cried a little lady-in-waiting, +looking at the culprit and speaking to the queen. + +"Oh, you story-teller!" cried Edmund, indignantly. "I ain't." + +"I'll box your ears if you do so again, you rude boy," said the queen, +turning sharp round on the guilty Edmund. At this threat the urchin made +a queer grimace, and then pretended to cry, sobbing out, "Oh, please, +queen, don't!" + +[Illustration] + +At length all were got into their proper places, and the procession set +out. The king and queen, with their train-bearers, marched first, then +strode consequential Master Alphonse, and the rest of the party +followed, two and two, all singing a jingling rhyme as they marched, and +swinging their nets to the tune. This is what they sang:-- + + "Bring your nets and make haste; + Come away to the butterfly chase, + Up the meadow and through the dell, + By the path we know so well; + Shout loud, jump high, + And haste to catch the butterfly." + +When they came to the dell where most butterflies were to be found they +all separated and got their nets ready, whilst Alphonse took a thin +switch and gently beat amongst the flowers, which grew in great +profusion. + +Presently a cloud of large, brilliant butterflies flew up, and the +children, shouting, started off in chase of them. The train-bearers were +not proof against the excitement of the moment, and, quite forgetting +their post of honour, scampered off pell-mell with the rest, leaving +their majesties looking rather foolish. + +"The rude little things, to run off in that manner!" cried the queen. + +"Here, I say, you Alphonse!" shouted the king, forgetting his dignity, +"come back! I shan't play if you're going off like that. Come back." + +But Alphonse was too busy chasing a brown and gold butterfly to heed +King Philip or anybody else. + +Just then there flew past an immense butterfly with wings of crimson, +black, and gold. Philip immediately forgot all about being a king; away +went ball and sceptre, and off he started in full chase. Now the queen +loved butterflies no less than the king, so no sooner did she see him +take to his heels than she started off in pursuit of the same butterfly. + +Away they both went, their trains flying behind them, over hillocks and +through bushes, quite regardless of their fine clothing. + +The butterfly led them a fine dance; many a time they thought they had +got it, but it always managed to fly off just as the extended thumb and +finger were about to close upon it. Philip and Pepitia were tired, +though by no means inclined to give up the chase, when the butterfly +burrowed itself deep into a convolvulus flower that grew on the top of a +not very high bank. + +"Now we shall have him," cried Philip, as they both scrambled up the +bank. But, alack and alas! Pepitia's foot got caught in her long train +just as she got to the top of the bank, and down she fell, roly-poly, to +the bottom. + +Poor Pepitia! she quite forgot she was a queen, and began to cry most +lustily, not the less because she could not use her arms to raise +herself, for in her tumble she had got so rolled round and round in her +train that she could not move her limbs. + +Philip ran quickly to her assistance, and soon extricated her from her +embarrassment, but as she still continued to cry, he tenderly, for he +was a tender-hearted boy, sat her down on a grassy mound and tried to +console her. + +"What is the matter? Have you hurt yourself, dear?" + +But Pepitia only sobbed and sobbed instead of answering, partly because +she was hurt, and partly because she was vexed, and the poor little king +began to fear she would never leave off crying. + +"I wish that Alphonse and the rest would come back," said he, feeling +disposed to pick a quarrel with "that" Alphonse when he did come. + +(_To be concluded._) + + + + +AFTERNOON TEA. + +[Illustration] + +(_See Frontispiece._) + + + A pretty cottage, and maidens three, + Blithe and happy as maids can be, + Out in the garden at afternoon tea. + + Just such a feast as girls will make-- + Fruit and flowers and a big plum cake, + And plenty of laughter for laughter's sake. + + The sunflowers nodded their heads so tall, + The dahlias smiled 'neath the moss-grown wall, + The three little maids outdid them all. + + I warrant me in that garden gay + Was never a bloom more fair than they, + As they sipped their tea on that summer day. + + Three little maids. Ah! one is dead, + And one is married; and one, unwed, + Now lives alone in the old homestead. + + There are silver threads in her golden hair, + Her cheek is pallid and lined with care, + Yet is she still accounted fair. + + And daily her gracious, tender ways + Win a more loving meed of praise + Than did the prime of her girlish days. + + Yes, youth will wane as the years go by; + Too soon do the rose-leaves scattered lie, + But charms there are which may never die. + + And hence it happens that oft we trace + Through timeworn features the soul's sweet grace, + And beauty lives in a faded face. + + SYDNEY GREY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +HEALTHY LIVES FOR WORKING GIRLS. + +"Grant her in health and wealth long to live." + +These are the words in which many of us, Sunday after Sunday, pray for +our gracious Queen. We desire for her health and wealth; and justly so; +both are necessary. The one for her comfort, and to enable her to +perform her arduous duties; the other for her exalted rank and position. + +For ourselves, however, it is to be hoped we rarely pray for what is +termed wealth; but, on the other hand, how needful it is that we should +supplicate unceasingly for health. "Grant me health, Lord, to perform my +daily task." We have, indeed, need to ask for that unpurchasable, that +priceless blessing. If we possess it already, we need to implore its +continuance; if we have lost it, so much the more earnestly and devoutly +should we solicit a return to its paths. Yes, next to the possession of +a healthy conscience, we hold physical health to be the greatest of all +gifts, but, like most of the grandest, fairest, and divinest things on +earth, many of us accept it as a matter of course. And when, through our +own want of forethought, through neglect of the most ordinary rules of +health, through reckless indifference, we are forced practically to +acknowledge that the most robust health has its limits of endurance, +then we chafe and pine; and life, which seemed such a joyous, easy thing +a month ago, is now a dreary burden, duty a heavy chain, pleasure a +fiction; and self, weary self, rises in the ascendant, occupies all our +sympathies and thoughts, and leaves us dissatisfied and indifferent, +ungrateful and ungracious. + +There are those who believe that by not attending to or neglecting their +health they are acting unselfishly. They say it is so selfish to be +always considering whether this is good or harmful or that is likely to +encroach upon the domain of health. If this sentiment is carried to the +verge of hypochondria, we grant its truth. There is nothing more odious +than a person who is constantly looking out for the weathercocks, and +who, as soon as he finds the wind in a certain quarter, shuts himself +up, and carefully excludes all intercourse from the outer world; or who +can trace certain symptoms--the hypochondriacs' pet word--to the extra +spoonful of salt or sugar in yesterday's seasoning; who is a bore to his +surroundings and a melancholy object of interest to himself; who is +nothing but a useless encumbrance upon the face of the earth. + +This is not the taking care which we advise or suggest. Things good in +themselves may be perverted into errors by the spirit and the want of +judgment with which they are pursued, and we fervently believe that if +our prayer for health is answered, it will be first by the opening of +our own eyes to facts and laws to which we were hitherto blind, or of +which we have been ignorant, than to the practical observance of these +laws, and our willingness to be subject to them. + +But it is not of those who are merely inconvenienced by illness that we +would speak to-day. Not of those who are only subjected to the loss of a +little pleasure, a good deal of temper, and who are learning a lesson in +being patient. In a word, we do not write for the well-to-do invalid, +but for a very different class. Our remarks are intended especially for +those of "our girls" to whom health is, perhaps, the only capital they +possess. To whom loss of health means loss of work, loss of wage, +anxiety, which aggravates matters, and perhaps serious privations to +those in any way dependent upon their exertions. + +Yes, the army of girl and women workers in this great metropolis is, +indeed, a vast one, and work for them is no sinecure. If they cannot +work so thoroughly or efficiently as men, at least it is for them +greater toil than for the sterner sex. Of a more delicate organisation, +of less robust frame, of smaller powers of endurance, the "buffets of +fortune" meet with less resistance, and are more readily yielded to. +Added to this, men have the advantage of being early trained to the +habit of work which many of our girls have not, and they have greater +facilities afforded them for outdoor exercise, of which they very +readily avail themselves. These are all advantages which women do not +possess, or if they do, it is after a careful course of acquired +systematic training with a view to meet those demands upon their health +and strength which are entailed by the continued and steady application +to one branch of labour or to one particular profession. There is no +doubt that a girl cannot take up an engagement which demands her daily +presence at a stated place and at a given time, to perform duties which +perhaps require the concentration of mental powers, and very frequently +the maintenance of the body in one position for many hours together. +There is no doubt, we repeat, that unless such avocations are begun and +continued with decidedly common-sense views as to diet, hygiene, and +general deportment, but little time will elapse ere our girl will +succumb for a greater or less period to the unusual fatigue and the +unwonted restrictions to which she has to submit. + +It is fatal in such cases to regard health from a careless or +indifferent standpoint. It is a question which must be considered by +every one of the legion of working girls and women who labour for their +own, and often for others' bread. Looking at it from the most practical +standpoint, it will be found to be the greatest economy in the end. If +the health is kept at a fair standard of excellence, the mental powers +are maintained in a state of useful energy. As soon as health is below +par, even when not sufficiently so as to force us to desist from work, +the brain loses its elasticity; we are dull, become mere machines +instead of intelligent workers, and our duty gets irksome and fails to +interest us. And here let us interpose one word. If we wish to spare +ourselves that most wearying of all sensations, that fatal sense of +boredom and disgust for our daily task which sometimes creeps in upon +us, we must try with all our hearts to take an interest in what our +hands find to do. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do that do with thy +might." It is not only right to think and act up to this; it is the +greatest wisdom also; for our own comfort and happiness. Work done with +a will only takes half the time in doing. The hours fly, and the sense +of weariness has no time to creep in. This is a spirit, it will be +found, which can be easily cultivated, and will, after a little effort, +come quite naturally, much to our benefit in every way. + +It has seemed to us, in spite of the great advance that has been made in +the teaching of hygiene, and the possession by many of a fair knowledge +of the laws which govern it, that there is still a lamentable want of +practicability in its application; that is to say, the theories we +learn, and to which we subscribe, are rarely, and then very imperfectly, +carried out in actual individual life. We grant that great improvements +are visible on all sides, in what we might term general hygiene; but +where we perceive a great deficiency still, is in that personal +application of the laws of health which must and can only be properly +applied by individuals to themselves, so as to make them fit into the +circumstances under which they exist. + +It will not help our girls much, for instance, to have learnt the number +of cubic feet of oxygen that is necessary for turning the purple blood +into scarlet--the amount of nitrogenous, phosphatic, carbonaceous, and +other elements which are requisite for building up new tissue, etc., +etc., and many other dry facts of a kindred nature, if she does not put +this knowledge to practical use. There is a wide division between facts +thus learnt off glibly at school and the practical application of them +to our daily wants. + +The human body, if it is to be maintained in but a fair state of health, +requires a certain amount of fresh air--a certain amount of +flesh-forming, bone-forming, brain-forming, and warmth-giving nutriment. +Our girls require to have a tolerable, if not exactly a faultless, +circulation, in order that these various foodstuffs may be digested, +_i.e._, converted into these flesh, bone, and brain-forming tissues. In +order to have a tolerable circulation, the body must have a regular +amount of exercise and of fresh air. There, in a nutshell, is the secret +of the whole matter. Given a fairly normal state of health to begin +with, that health may be maintained by a little wise direction of our +actions towards supplying the really very moderate demands of Nature, +upon which, however, modest as they are, she insists, to enable her to +carry on the process of healthy life. Deprive her of that little, and +the results are such as we too frequently see--broken-down health from +overwork (so-called) of many of our busy sisters. It is our intention +here to endeavour to put this plainly before our girls. + +We will imagine, then, that some of our girls have to pass many--say +eight or ten--hours of their days in work; that that work is sedentary +work; that our girls are very apt to stoop, for their poor backs get +weary sometimes. We will imagine that it is winter, and sitting as they +do all day, they like to have all the windows closed. Our girls will not +feel very hungry when meal-time comes, especially if they have to +provide their own meals. In fact, many of our girls practise a little +economy in this direction, if the choice of doing so rests with them. +Economy, we all know, is imperative in many conditions of life--not only +amongst working girls; and it is a serious matter to practise it +wisely--to determine and mark clearly the line that divides the luxuries +from the necessities. In the former practise as much economy as you +will; in the latter it is only a false way of meeting matters which will +have to be balanced by-and-by with heavy interest. + +Well, our girls not being very hungry (for their lungs are full of +impure air, and they feel tired and weary--rather sleepy too--all from +the same cause), they think they will make themselves "a nice cup of +tea--strong, you know." They do not care whether they have milk with it +or not, so long as the tea is strong and gives them a fillip. With this +they will eat a little roll and butter or bread and cheese. This +so-called meal is either partaken of in the room in which they work, or +our girls go out for it. In the latter case they stand a little better +chance; for often the fact of going out of the room in which they have +been seated all the morning brings with it a sense of returning +appetite, and induces them to procure a more substantial meal. But even +this is rarely the case; for they have an odd sinking at the chest, and +if they eat a heavy meal and sit down directly after it, they get that +weight behind their waistbands, they cannot breathe, and they feel +altogether miserable. They do not feel like this, they think, after the +good, strong tea--the clearest proof to them that they should look to it +as a main resource during the midday rest. Probably tea is again hailed +with delight during another break in the work-hours; and at the end of +the day our weary one is so fearfully tired, although she has been +sitting all day, that she feels as though her limbs would never carry +her home. Come what may, she must ride. She puts herself into the first +Underground Railway carriage that will take her to her destination, and, +exchanging the carbonic acid gas of the workroom for the sulphurous gas +of the underground tunnels, she arrives home spent and utterly tired +out, longing to get to bed and rest her weary limbs and pillow the poor, +fatigued head. In the morning, feeling refreshed after Nature's kind and +grateful rest, she plucks up again and walks to the scene of her duties. +But she has to be there by a certain time, and, somehow, she always +manages to be just a little late in starting, so that at the last she +has to hurry to arrive at the appointed hour. She looks at every clock +she passes; she starts at some which tell her that it is later than she +thought, feels relieved at others which are more merciful; and, putting +on an extra spurt at the last, manages to arrive just to the minute. + +But what good can our girl get from a walk taken under such +circumstances? It is ten times as fatiguing--the mind is harassed, the +heart is beating wildly, and the breathing is short and hurried. + +The routine of the previous day is then repeated. There is the same +shyness of air, the same imperfect meal, the same lassitude, the same +finale. + +Pursue this course, or one similar to it, for a few months and we defy +any girl to keep well. She may not yet break down altogether, but she +will have lapsed from positive into negative health, and the merest +straw may turn her negative health into actual bodily incapacity--which +means the loss of work and wages to which we have referred. + +And is it to be wondered at? Our girl has been steadily withholding +from Nature all those elements upon which she imperatively insists as +the condition under which alone she will consent to carry on her work. +Long-suffering she is, and ever eager to repair any neglect that has not +been carried too far. Only return to the right path, and she busily sets +to work to make good the ravages which have followed upon our ignorance +or neglect of her laws. But it must be the right path. None other will +do. She will not be cajoled into working with any other than her own +simple tools. + +Our girls have withheld from her air, food, exercise--the three great +factors of her powers--and have given for them miserable substitutes. +Though kind, she cannot be put off with excuses. She is inexorable, and +the same results will follow our neglect of her laws, whether it be due +to a want of acquaintance with them or want of attention. It is as much, +if not more, from these causes, then, that our girl has become ill than +from the supposed overwork. Overwork might have been the immediate +cause; that is to say, her collapse might have followed upon a little +extra pressure or hurry of work; but the real cause will be found to lie +in that steady neglect of the primary laws of health to which we have +alluded, and upon which too much emphasis cannot be laid. Had it not +been so, the fatigue engendered by an extra hour's work would have been +set right by a good night's rest. + +And when our girl is ill, her recovery will depend upon the degree to +which she is enabled to meet the demands of Nature. If she can have +plenty of rest, peace of mind, fresh air, light, digestible, and +nourishing food, sunshine, and genial surroundings, she will soon be +herself again. But if our brave worker has not these indispensables, or +has them in a chance, get-me-if-you-can sort of way, then she lingers +on, and often rises from her couch but half cured, and plunges on again +under the old conditions, until something occurs which some persons call +"a chance," some by another name, which mercifully changes the current +of her life for a while, or perhaps for a permanency. + +It is said that "men do work while women weep." That is part of an +old-time ditty. In this generation women do not leave all the work to +their brothers, and we will hope that in proportion as we work more, so +we weep less. And women are not to be pitied that it is so. Work is one +of the greatest of blessings, and when its aim is high, is, we believe, +blessed. There is no reason why our work should be irksome to us, or +should be aught but a pleasure. We must make up our minds to a certain +number of disagreeables, and be prepared to meet them as they arise; but +beyond that we should endeavour to take a pleasure in our work and a +pride in its correct fulfilment. This will be easy to do with health, +but without it will require more moral resolution than many of us +possess. + +Let us then turn this subject over in our minds and see if nothing can +be done to make matters a little smoother; to enable us to be happy in +our work-a-day lives; to lessen the chances of becoming ill, and, in +spite of circumstances, to meet Nature's demands in one way or another. + +First, then, as to air. That early morning walk is a good thing. It is +well to get the lungs filled with pure morning air. Even in the London +streets the air is tolerably good at that time. But many of our girls +live a little way from the crowded streets, and only come into them for +business or professional purposes. Some live too far to walk the whole +distance into town. If that is the case, they should ride part of the +distance. They should choose for the walking that part of the route +which has the most trees about it, going a little out of their way even +to walk through one of the parks or squares. They should not hurry, but +should take care previously to allow themselves ample time. This can +quite well be done by a little management, and when our girls are imbued +with a sense of its importance we are sure will be. They should, if +possible, meet one of their companions who is going the same way, and +should chat to their hearts' content. (We are not afraid of the +non-performance of this part of our prescription.) This will exercise +the lungs, send plenty of fresh air into them, and lessen fatigue. A +walk, under such conditions, is of untold value. + +Our girl then will begin her day in better spirits. She will feel in a +lighter mood; difficulties will be brushed aside. Instead of a furtive +glance at the clock, and a thankful gasp that she has arrived in time, +she will never think of the hour till she enters the room, for she has +not troubled her mind about it, knowing she has given herself ample +time. With all the arts of persuasion at her command she will then seek +to lead her companions to have the windows open, just a chink or two at +the top; and will gradually lead them round to her own conviction of the +necessity for fresh air, and of the great desirability there is for an +outlet for the carbonised air which is being emitted by one and all from +their lungs. Before long she will have gained her point, and the open +window will be a daily fact. + +We are speaking now, of course, of our sensible girl, the one who has +taken in the justice of our remarks, and who intends to act up to them +as far as she can. + +At luncheon time she will produce from her store some well cut +sandwiches, made preferably with brown bread, and, with heroic +determination, refuse tea (for it is hard to give up a habit), and will, +instead, regale herself with a glass of milk, or a cup of cocoa; or, if +she has neither of these, she will make a little strong beef-tea of +Liebig's extract of meat, and partake of it with her roll and butter, +remembering that, by the addition of an egg, she will make her broth +more sustaining. + +If she goes out to a restaurant and does not care for meat, she will +recollect that its properties may be found more or less in eggs, in +milk, in lentils, in haricot beans, in oatmeal, and in peas. Oatmeal +porridge and milk form an excellent, inexpensive, and nutritious lunch +or midday dinner. In some form or other one of these nitrogenous foods +should be taken during the midday meal; and, if the taste and finances +permit, should be supplemented by a little fresh, stewed, or dried +fruit. Fruit is most wholesome, and is well enclosed within the border +line of necessities. + +Then, when tea time comes round, our sensible girl will either take milk +again, or else will dilute her tea largely with milk, or, failing that, +with water, and will refuse altogether to drink tea that has "stood" for +more than a quarter of an hour. In the evening she will feel less tired +(_i.e._, less exhausted from want of air and food), and will repeat her +method of procedure of the morning on her journey home. Arrived there, +she will feel far less weary and exhausted, and will enjoy a quiet, +social evening, a book, a little music, or some such relaxation. + +But we can hear her, O. S. G., saying, after pursuing this _régime_ for +awhile, "It is true I am better in a great many ways, but I do still +have back-ache, I do still have the weight in my chest, which I know now +to be indigestion; you say nothing about that. Even your pea-soup or +your oatmeal porridge punishes me, and make me wish we could altogether +live without eating." + +Be not so impatient, my dear sensible one, we are coming to that now. +One great reason of your back-ache is that stoop of yours. You seem to +think it essential to maintain your spine in the shape of the letter C. +You have got into a very bad habit, and if you try now to sit upright +you get as tired as possible--your back, too, is not the only sufferer; +your digestive organs are all cruelly cramped--all the delicate +machinery, by the aid of which occur the changes of the food in its +conversion to the different bodily tissues, is impeded in its action, is +hemmed in, is fretted. Instead of a free circulation, and an unimpeded +course between all the channels of communication, the functions of +digestion are carried on with difficulty, and the stooping pose is the +cause of many other complications into which we have not space to enter +here. + +We have said that exercise is necessary. A great part of that is indeed +gained by the walk to and from business. But that is not sufficient. +Indeed, we do not consider that walking exercise, exclusive of any +other, is sufficient to keep the body in health; but in the instance we +are imagining it is especially insufficient. The body ill brooks being +kept in one posture for any length of time; and during sedentary +occupation some of the muscles are maintained in a state of extension, +whilst others are as unduly kept in a state of relaxation. These +relative conditions, kept up as they are for hours and hours, cannot +fail to have their marked results on the health of our girl. If she were +at home, she would throw her work aside, get up and walk about a little, +or run upstairs to stretch out her limbs; but in business this is not to +be thought of; so she must bear it as best she can. Not so, say we. +There is even here a remedy--even here a way of procuring an immense +amount of relief. Our only fear for its adoption, however, rests in its +extreme simplicity. But when our girl thinks a little more she will +learn that all really great and effective things are simple, and that it +is only their useless wrappings that blind people to their real simple +grandeur. We shall give O. S. G. our remedy in its modest garb of +truthfulness, and she will, we think, not reject it. We would advise +her, then, three or four times during the day, to stand upright by her +chair--she need not even move from her place--throw her shoulders back, +stretch her head up, expand her chest, and arch the spine well inwards, +remaining in that position for at least half a minute. This will +entirely change the posture of all the muscles, those which before were +expanded being now contracted, and _vice versâ_. She will then send her +arms straight up over her head, and either bring them down from there +like a wheel, or, if she has not room for this, will bend her arms so as +to form a V with each arm, the two points of the V being respectively +the shoulder and hand and the lower point the elbow. If done properly, +this will beautifully expand the chest, and will contract the muscles of +the back both laterally and longitudinally. Our girl must take care, +however, to keep her head very erect, if she would have the whole +benefit of the exercise. The whole business occupies about a minute and +a half; it is as easy and as simple as breathing; and, we repeat, its +usefulness is not to be measured. + +The chief difficulty in this part of our _régime_, after its extreme +simplicity, will lie in its novelty. It will seem absurd and ridiculous +to those who do not understand these matters, but O. S. G. will have to +learn to bear the ridicule of others some time during her life, and she +might as well begin now. She may be sure that only those will laugh at +her whose opinions are not worth considering, and if she quietly +persists in doing what is right, the ridicule will first be changed into +respect, and then into imitation. + +O. S. G. must remember that her health is her all. At least, it is the +all of the girl of whom we are speaking. Now, it is most imperative that +she should guard that health as she would a treasure. Once aware of the +simple rules which must be observed to that end, she will shape her +actions so as to make them fit in with the circumstances of her life. + +The dress of our girl workers is also a point to be considered. It +should be durable, suitable, comfortable, and should be made simply and +practically. The dress is far better when made in one, _i.e._, not +divided at the waist, then the weight of the garment is equally +distributed over the body, from the waist and shoulders. There should be +no steels or kindred impediments, which have to be considered in sitting +down. A durable wool material, thicker in winter, thinner and lighter in +colour and texture in summer, is always the most durable, and keeps its +freshness longer. The bodice should fit well and comfortably at the neck +and round the arm-holes, so that there is no pressure anywhere. + +For a working gown there is nothing, in our opinion, to equal the +princess dress, made to clear the ground, and modernised, if our girl +wills, by a flouncing, and a little puffed drapery behind, either with +or without a scarf loosely tied round the waist. + +For slender girls the round-gathered dress and bodice (in one) are very +useful and suitable. The principal advantage of the princess dress is +its continuity from the shoulders downwards, leaving the waist free of +bands and tapes. With spotless collars and cuffs, our girl will be both +suitably and well dressed. A good woollen combination under-garment for +warmth and protection from the cold, thicker in winter, thinner in +summer. One, or at the most two, woollen petticoats, made with sloping +bands, to prevent pressure at the waist, will form a very comfortable +and practical dress, and, moreover, one that will present a very fair +appearance. + +No, we know we have said nothing about stays; we are no friend to them; +we dislike them heartily, and we shall never rest until we can release +our girls from their trammels. We know the difficulties that present +themselves on all sides, but these can be met and overcome. Once release +our girls from this bone and steel bondage, her health will rise to a +high state of excellence. But she has so accustomed herself to use her +stays as a prop upon which she leans, that not without great resolution +on her part will she consent to pass through the small discomfort of the +change. + +Once she has done so, however, she will wonder that she never thought of +it before, so light, so free, so agile will she feel. These stays are +our girls' worst foes, and have as much to answer for the indigestion as +all else put together. + +If our girls wish to be happy, merry workers, as well as hard, +responsible workers, they will have to learn to do without stays; they +will have to train their own muscles to supply them with the support +they now seek in the corset. + +"How are we to do this?" we hear some exclaim, who have followed us so +far. "How are we, who work from morn till eve, to begin 'training our +muscles?' We have no time now for that sort of thing." + +Get a little more patience, dear girls. Reforms go slowly, but steadily, +if willing hearts go together. We hope ere long to show you that this, +too, is possible. + +Meantime, for an immediate step in the right direction, let us urge upon +those who have not the courage to throw aside the corset, to set about +rendering it less harmful. Let the working corset be soft, and denuded +of its bones, and let the front steel be exchanged for a very flexible +one, and let the stays, above all, be very loosely laced. We feel we are +weak in conceding thus much even, but we look upon it as the thin end of +the wedge, which represents the fulfilment of our aim. + +We think we have now said enough to set our girls thinking, and though +we have far from exhausted our subject, we hope that each reader will be +able to deduce some hints which may be applicable to herself. + + + + +BOOKS FOR TIRED GIRLS. + + +Have not some readers of THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER a few to spare? + +A little reading-room and library for business girls is about to be +opened in the new Y.W.C.A. Buildings, 316, Regent-street, now quickly +nearing completion. Help is greatly needed in making it really +attractive for those whose minds are hungry after the day's mechanical +work, but who are too weary to take up a prosy volume. + +Brightly written works of history, biography, natural history, travels, +etc., would be warmly welcomed, and good poetry and fiction; also graver +books, specially such as would be helpful to Sunday-school teachers. + +Parcels should be addressed to Miss L. Trotter, 316, Regent-street, +London, who will thankfully acknowledge them. + + + + +ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. + + +EDUCATIONAL. + +H. F. and CONAMARA.--Write to Griffith and Farran, St. +Paul's-churchyard, E.C., for a small shilling manual called a "Directory +of Girls' Clubs," which will give you a large choice of educational, +literary, industrial, artistic, and religious societies instituted for +the benefit of girls, the cost being little more than nominal. + +M. HEDGE.--The change of your address, from what has been given in the +"Directory of Girls' Clubs," will probably cause you inconvenience, +which it is now too late to avoid. You should have named the probability +of a change. In any case, we can tell our readers that those who wish to +avail themselves of your useful Society for Studying Languages, should +address the secretary at Lyndhurst Lodge, Chelsea-road, Southsea, Hants. + +A. G. O. E.--We scarcely think that any system for helping the memory +for ordinary use would be of service to you in the matter of playing +long pieces of music by heart; it is so much a mechanical operation, the +hands often acting while the mind is preoccupied with other matters. Try +to learn a simple air, not a long piece of six pages. + +A SWISS GIRL.--The Cambridge and Oxford examinations are open to +students of all nationalities alike. For information respecting those of +either university, write direct. If you wish to compete in the Cambridge +junior local examination, held in December, you must be under seventeen. +Write to the Rev. G. F. Browne, St. Catherine's College; fee, £1. For +the Cambridge senior you must be under eighteen. The Cambridge higher +(local) examinations are held in December and in June; fees, £1 and £2. +An honour certificate in this examination admits to Tripos examinations +the members of Girton and Newnham who have resided during a sufficient +number of terms, provided the student has passed a language and +mathematics. If your age should exclude you, you might go to the +universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, or St. Andrews, where no limitations +are made in respect to age. + +GUESS.--We advise you to write to the British chaplain of the Embassy +Chapel, in the Rue d'Aguesseau, for information and the best advice, as +he has taken a special interest in the matter of English girls being +sent to French schools, and has publicly addressed the question in all +its many bearings. Address the British Chaplain. + +ANXIOUS MOTHER.--See our answer to "Guess." There is a French Protestant +institution, directed by Madame Yeatman Monoury, 27, Bd. Eugène, Parc de +Neuilly, Paris, which is, or was, patronised by the Rev. Canon Fleming, +the late Bishop of Carlisle, Bishop of Down, Lord Napier of Magdala, and +other persons of consideration. There is also a Protestant school at 27, +Rue des Bois, près du Bois de Boulogne, for which the charge amounts to +£60 per annum. Apply to the lady directress, Mademoiselle Jonte. + + +ART. + +A COLONIAL SUBJECT.--The illuminating body mentioned is used on +parchment and hot-pressed drawing-paper. It is mixed with the +water-colours to render them opaque. + +R. C. M.--1. To press flowers, gather them when dry, not quite +full-blown, and before the sun has faded them; press them between sheets +of botanical-paper, change and dry the latter constantly. 2. You can +draw an outline upon a mirror with red pencil and Indian ink. It is +better, however, to mark the design through tracing-paper with a +knitting-needle. + +ASTHORE and DOLLY.--The generality of the advertisements named by you +are not to be relied on, and we advise your not spending your money as +you propose. + +LARRY WILFER.--Female art scholarships are conferred by the Slade +School, by the Crystal Palace School of Art, and by the National Art +Training School, South Kensington. Apply for farther information to the +secretaries of each of these schools. + +A WOULD-BE ARTIST.--There is a school of wood-engraving at 122, +Kennington Park-road. The yearly fee for instruction is £3, and free +scholarships after the first year are obtainable by students. These +latter must be upwards of sixteen years of age. + +PRINCESS PEACE.--1. There is a preparation sold by Lechertier and Barbe +for fixing chalk drawings. It is a liquid, which is blown upon the +picture when finished with an apparatus resembling a scent-spray (price +2s.). 2. If you can obtain regular employment from a good firm, +wood-carving is profitable, especially when you can originate your +designs; but these appointments are not to be had every day. Show some +of your work to an upholsterer, or a carver and gilder, and you may +either obtain an engagement or at least an order. + + +HOUSEKEEPING. + +A YOUNG WIFE is certainly entitled to display any large articles of +silver she may possess on her sideboard in the dining-room. + +PASTORA should have the silver cleaned by a silversmith. 2. A recipe for +"pot pourri" has lately been given. + +A FARMER'S DAUGHTER.--The feathers required a very much longer time for +drying, and must also be "stripped," as it is called, _i.e._, all the +large thick stalks taken out. It is these which have not dried, and +retain the animal particles, causing the smell. + +PINCHER and FREDA.--A recipe for "pot pourri" was given at page 224, +vol. v. + +A YOUNG DOMESTIC.--We should recommend the eiderdown quilt being sent to +a cleaner's, as it will only lead to disappointment if you wash it at +home. Put a little glycerine on the tea-stain before it goes to the +wash. + +PRIMROSE should try a little tripoli and water upon the surface of the +table. It will remove the spots. + +PRIMEVERE.--There have been no other papers but those you mention on +"Economical Housekeeping," but we shall probably give more on both +subjects. + +WILLOUGHBY.--We do not think that either green gooseberry jam or jelly +can be kept green; they always boil a light red. + +NOVICE IN HOUSEKEEPING.--If you paid more attention to ascertaining what +meat, game, fish, poultry, fruit, and vegetables were in season (fully +in), and then procured them at places where you had not to pay for extra +high rents, as you do when shops are situated in expensive localities, +you would bring down your bills greatly. + + +MISCELLANEOUS. + +INKY PEN.--We sympathise much with your anxiety, but we can only say to +you as we say to all who wish to succeed in literary work, you must try +and try again for a long time before you will succeed, and success is +not even then assured. + +E. MC. T.--Your sedentary life as a dressmaker does not agree with you. +You should try to take more exercise and warming food. Dress in woollen +under-clothing, and rub the body well in the morning with a cloth dipped +in salt and water. + +VIOLET VERNON.--We have heard that the homoeopathists have a special +cure for such little excrescences. + +TOM-TIT writes very well. The 2nd of January, 1865, was a Monday. + +NYMPHIA ALLA.--Disease or weakness of the nervous system is often, +unhappily, an inheritance from our parents. Not that they may be nervous +themselves, but that their course of life--late hours, over-taxed brain, +poor living, fast living, drink, or bad constitution, etc., result, one +or more, in bequeathing a wretched inheritance of weak nerves, not +positive disease, to their children. Live generously, go to bed early, +be much in the open air, and take a tonic if required, and by a doctor's +advice. + +ALONE.--We sympathise with you, and approve of the sentiments you +express in verse; but the latter is not even correct in composition, +quite apart from its lack of any ideality, which is inseparable from +true poetry. No sentence should be divided (excepting as a joke in a +burlesque piece) between two lines thus-- + + "But 'what' He was preparing _for + Him_ was not on earth; it was where" + +B. W. complains of "taking fits of laughter into her head." Evidently, +she has apartments to let in that repository. In any case, it is well +that she should find so much to entertain her and feel so bright and +happy. This state of things will only change too soon. + +FIDDLESTICKS.--Your verses have been written without due knowledge of +metrical composition. + +MATY GERTY.--We are glad to hear that you have rosy cheeks. Surely you +would not like to look like a washed-out, pasty-faced, sickly little +girl? Young folks often get spots in the face from eating too fast, +swallowing half-masticated food, and indulging in too much jam and sugar +and "lollypops." By this means they spoil their teeth as well as their +skin. + +GLADYS.--Your neck should be examined by a good surgeon. You may have +broken some small tendons, and need to be bandaged. It might be +desirable to go to one of our first-class hospitals, and so get the +opinion of more than one experienced surgeon. You write a pretty hand. +On no account change it to the coarse "park-paling" style of writing +which so many girls affect to look "strong-minded." They do not take us +in by it! + +VERY GRATEFUL WOMAN.--Homoeopathic doctors give vegetable +medicines--not minerals. The principle of the system is "like cures +like." Allopaths give drugs of a directly opposite character to the +disease, instead of that which, taken in health and in different +proportions, would produce the disease to be cured. + +[Illustration] + +L. M. O.--The famous Library of Alexandria was burnt by the Saracens in +642 A.D. It was a union of two collections. One was made by the +Ptolemies, and the other was that of Pergamus, formed by Eumenes, and +given by Mark Antony to Cleopatra. Eumenes was a chief officer in the +army of Alexander, and well worthy to succeed him, as he did. + +[Illustration: + +RULES + +_I. No charge is made for answering questions._ + +_II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym._ + +_III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any of the +questions._ + +_IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the post._ + +_V. No more than two questions may be asked in one letter, which must be +addressed to the Editor of_ THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, _56, Paternoster-row, +London, E.C._ + +_VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter of the nature +of an advertisement will be inserted._] + +JOEY.--We will consider your wishes in future, if possible. + +UNHAPPY S. (we cannot read the name).--We feel for you much in being +separated from a home so dear to you; but you must look away from all +second and human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand of One who +is as good and as merciful as He is wise and mighty. If you wish for +peace and real happiness, seek His favour and guidance and personal care +in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, and ask Him to give you +a contented spirit, and grace to be thankful and reverently loving +towards "Him who first loved us." + +ROSEBUD.--Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and let them be very +easy and wide in the toe. + +AMERICA.--You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's (Susan Warner's) +works in any encyclopædia. We have not room in our over-crowded +correspondence column for long lists of books, so only give the chief +works of interest. + +SWEET NINETEEN (?).--The young ladies of a family are called Miss Edith, +Miss Margaret, etc., by gentlemen who do not know them well. + +IONA would not require to know the name of the head of the department. +She should ask for the secretary or the head clerk. + +PRIMROSE.--Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, and of very ancient and +distinguished family; but he became a Christian by conviction. Having +had no personal acquaintance with him, we could not possibly answer such +a question as yours, even were it right to do so. + +DAISY A.--Your contribution is declined, with thanks. It is not devoid +of merit, but needs more experience in writing. + +GEORGIANA W.--We are much obliged, but do not think the essay fit for +our amateur page, nor is the subject new nor interesting enough. + +ETON GARDENS had better wear gloves to protect the hands. We know no +other way. + +A FIJI GIRL.--The work of a bookkeeper is the same almost everywhere. +She keeps books, and in a hotel she would make out the accounts of the +visitors, of course. + +DAMARIS.--The lady bows first, of course, if she has been formally +introduced. Invite the brother, certainly. If you know the family you +do not need a separate introduction to him. + +LAURA.--We have always prophets of evil amongst our friends, and a +celebrated American advises that "no one should prophesy unless he +knows." There are no reasons for believing that there are any real +inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean. + +STRUGGLING BIRD.--We sympathise with you; but in committing your way to +God in prayer, you do the best that we could recommend. It is best to +avoid any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so wild and +wilful; but should she do anything very wrong, you will have to lay the +case before your father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. You +are right in regarding example as better than precept. + +CAMOMILE is thanked for her grateful letter. If she used a better pen +her friends would like her writing better. + +FERNIE.--1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus exposed to the +trying winds from that quarter, to which you specially object. Ventnor, +in the Isle of Wight, various places on the south coast of England and +in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and the Isle of Sark, would +suit your mother. The latter island is specially ordered as a cure for +asthma. 2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper, +varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic. + +SIRENA.--If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of course take off one +glove at afternoon tea. + +A YOUNG WIFE.--We are not quite sure that we should advise any business +man to give up in England and go to Australia unless he saw his way very +clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your friend who has already +emigrated, and take his advice on the subject? Write also for full +particulars of expenses and advice to the secretary of the Colonial +Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, Portman-square, W. The rates of +passage, third-class, are, £18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class, +from £20 to £28; third-class, £17 to £21. + +A LOYAL IRISH GIRL.--We are very glad that you have been improved by the +late competition. We are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is +very creditably written and composed. + +SWEET WILLIAM.--Directions for bookbinding were given in vol. ii., pages +342, 426, and 810. + +R. L. I.--Our paper can be got in all the colonies. Many thanks for the +information that the free grants of land were stopped in Tasmania in +January last. + +A NURSERY GOVERNESS, we think, is unhappy and discontented because she +dwells on herself and her own feelings too much, and thinks too little +of other people and their happiness. She must try to live most in +others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As yet she fails to +comprehend the Christ-like character which is so lovely an acquisition, +and the higher service to which we are destined by following Him in all +things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, in so doing is the +happiest and truest life to be found. + +YOUNG LOCHINVAR should bear in mind the enormous ages attained by the +antediluvian patriarchs, and that the world around them was so quickly +populated that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people who +possibly, as he thought, would regard him as a monster to be driven from +amongst them. A long course of years succeeded that on which he slew his +brother through envy and a hatred as to what was holy and God-fearing. +In the first days of man upon earth they married their sisters, there +being no physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God. + +M. R. (Norwood).--We pity you! To what a miserable, unwholesome state of +deformity you have reduced yourself! We do not open our columns to +persons who boast of having so far degraded themselves. + +F. M. C.--On no account take a cold bath if it do not agree with you. +Have it tepid, or as warm as you feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet +were warmed you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th June, +1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, and +requires a good ear; but we should recommend it in preference to the +banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited for general music. + +LIZZIE MATTIE CLOVER.--Coals are called "black diamonds" because coals +and diamonds are both carbon. + +SINGLE DAHLIA.--You do not name your age. Try St. Mary's Hospital, +Paddington, W. Write to the matron. We could not say whether it would be +against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday. + +HOPEFUL.--Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical man, and take plenty +of exercise and a tepid bath every morning. + +LUCY.--From what you say of your being "saucy" to your stepmother, and +that you are slapped "whenever you tell lies," and that you think you +"ought to do as you choose," we see that you have been a spoilt child, +and deserve some sort of correction. You are evidently well and suitably +fed. We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were good, obedient, +and respectful, you might then venture to say when the maid laced you +in. It is to be regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all. + +A BUNCH OF VIOLETS might undertake bookkeeping, or, if she know any +thing of millinery, she might get a little extra work from that. Her pay +in the shop is very small. Everyone should be paid enough to live upon, +and 8s. a week is not enough to live and dress upon. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. +357, October 30, 1886, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + +***** This file should be named 18501-8.txt or 18501-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/0/18501/ + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357, October 30, 1886 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: June 4, 2006 [EBook #18501] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + + + + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/illus001a.png" width="600" height="224" alt="THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER" title="" /> +</div> +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="" width="100%"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Vol. VIII.—No. 357.</span></td><td align='center'>OCTOBER 30, 1886.</td><td align='right'><span class="smcap">Price One Penny.</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +<hr style="width: 95%;" /> + +<p class='center'>[Transcriber's Note: This Table of Contents was not present in the original.]</p> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<p class='center'> +<a href="#THE_SHEPHERDS_FAIRY"><b>THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY: Chapter 5.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#THE_ROMANCE_OF_THE_BANK_OF_ENGLAND"><b>THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND: Introduction</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND: Chapter 1.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#HISTORICAL_SKETCHES_OF_MUSICAL_FORMS"><b>HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MUSICAL FORMS: Sketch 1.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#NOTES_FOR_NOVEMBER"><b>NOTES FOR NOVEMBER.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#CHILD_ISLAND"><b>CHILD ISLAND: Part 1.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#AFTERNOON_TEA"><b>AFTERNOON TEA.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#HEALTHY_LIVES_FOR_WORKING_GIRLS"><b>HEALTHY LIVES FOR WORKING GIRLS.</b></a><br /> +<a href="#ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS"><b>ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</b></a><br /> +</p> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h2><a name="THE_SHEPHERDS_FAIRY" id="THE_SHEPHERDS_FAIRY"></a>THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY<br /> +<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;">A PASTORALE.<br /></span> + +<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;"><span class="smcap">By DARLEY DALE</span>, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc.</span></h2> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus01b.png" width="600" height="546" alt=""THE POOR LITTLE BARONESS, WHO WAS ASLEEP, STARTED UP."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">"THE POOR LITTLE BARONESS, WHO WAS ASLEEP, STARTED UP."</span> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + +<h3>CHAPTER V.<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;">THE CHATEAU AFTER THE LOSS OF THE BABY.</span></h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus002.png" width="150" height="308" alt="A" title="" /> +</div> +<p>s the baron had conjectured, +the housemaid +whom he had +called out of the +nursery to look for +Léon's cane, on finding +her master had +gone without it, did +not hurry back, but +stopped talking to +some of the other +servants for perhaps +a quarter of an hour, +when she returned to +the nursery, and to +her amazement found +the baby was gone. +She was not alarmed at first, except +she supposed she should get a scolding +from the nurse, who she imagined had +come in and taken the child to another +room; however, having the excellent +excuse that her master had called her +away she went in search of the nurse, +but now not finding her anywhere, and +hearing from the footman that she was +not expected back till very late, Marie +became seriously alarmed.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps madame has taken it into +her room; she might have heard it crying, +and fetched it," suggested the footman, +and Marie, very much against her +will, felt she was in duty bound to go +and see.</p> + +<p>So, knocking at her mistress's door, +she called out, "Madame, has she taken +the baby?"</p> + +<p>The poor little baroness, who was +asleep, started up, and called to the +servant to come in.</p> + +<p>"Madame, has she the baby?" repeated +the girl.</p> + +<p>"The baby? No, what do you mean? +Where is it, and where is nurse?" cried +the baroness, jumping up and slipping +on a dressing-gown and slippers.</p> + +<p>Marie began to cry, and to pour forth +such a volley of words, excuses, fears, +alarms, and wonders that the baroness +could make out nothing, and rushed to +the nursery to see for herself what had +happened. The empty cradle did not, +however, throw much light upon it, and +the servants who answered the bell, +which the baroness clashed wildly, +looked as scared as the sobbing Marie +to find the baby had disappeared. A +search from attic to basement was at +once instituted, the men-servants were +sent into the grounds with lanterns, the +whole house was turned topsy-turvy, in +the midst of which the nurse returned, +and finding her baby was gone, went +into violent hysterics, while the young +baroness, with flying hair and dilated +eyes, rushed about, wringing her hands, +and looking, as she felt, distracted with +grief.</p> + +<p>The search was, of course, in vain, +and they were just coming to the conclusion +that the baby had been stolen, +when the baron returned from seeing +Léon off.</p> + +<p>The moment the baroness heard his +voice in the hall she flew down the wide +oak staircase, crying, "Arnaud! Arnaud! +My precious baby is gone, it is +stolen; find her, find her, or I shall go +mad." And a glance at her wild eyes +almost testified she spoke the truth.</p> + +<p>"She is not stolen, she is safe enough," +said the baron, sulkily.</p> + +<p>"Safe? Where? Where? Take me +to her, my precious one; where is she?" +cried the baroness, with a loud burst of +hysteric laughter on hearing her child +was safe.</p> + +<p>"Silence, Mathilde, don't behave in +this ridiculous style. Come with me," +said the baron, in a tone his wife had +never heard him use to her before, and +which had the effect of reducing her to +tears; and, sobbing wildly, she hung on +her husband's arm as he half led, half +carried her upstairs, and laid her on a +sofa in her own room.</p> + +<p>"Now, Mathilde, if you will try and +compose yourself, I will tell you what I +have done with the baby. For some +time I have felt sure that you were +ruining the child's health by the absurd +way in which you coddle it up, and, +moreover, making yourself a perfect +slave to it, neglecting all your other +duties," began the baron, as he seated +himself on the edge of the sofa by the +side of his sobbing wife, who was, however, +much too anxious about her baby +to be able to listen patiently to the marital +lecture to which the baron was about to +treat her.</p> + +<p>"But Arnaud! Arnaud! where is the +baby? Oh, do tell me; it is cruel to +keep me in this suspense," sobbed the +baroness.</p> + +<p>Now, to be cruel to his wife was the +very last thing the baron intended; it +was only out of the extremity of his +jealous love for her that he had sent the +baby away. Thoughtless and selfish he +might have been, but surely no one could +say he had been guilty of cruelty to this +wife, whom he loved so madly that even +her love for her child had raised the demon +of jealousy within his breast. The +word "cruel" stung him to the quick; +it was a new phase of his conduct, one +that had never struck him before, and +as he glanced at the poor little baroness, +who had half risen on the sofa, and was +looking at him with an agonised look on +her pretty face, he was seized with remorse, +and felt it impossible to go on +with the <i>rôle</i> he had attempted to play +of the wise father and husband, who had +only acted for the good of his wife and +child. Already he was beginning to repent +of his rash act, and if it had been +possible to go after the yacht the chances +are the baron would have started at +once, and brought back the baby for +the pleasure of seeing its mother smile +again. As it was impossible, the next +best thing was to make the best of it, +and if Mathilde could not be comforted +in any other way, why he must promise +to let her have it back again. He decided +all this as he petted the baroness, +and tried to comfort her by whispering +fond nothings into her ear; but he soon +found all his caresses were useless, unless +he yielded to her entreaties and told +her where the baby was, and as all +he knew about it was that it was on +board Léon's yacht, on which it was +being taken, he believed, to England, +though he was by no means sure, this +did not tend to allay the poor mother's +anxious fears.</p> + +<p>Her baby confided to the wild Léon's +charge, tossed about in a yacht with not +a woman on board to take care of it, +her fragile little daughter, on whom the +wind had never been allowed to blow, +now at the mercy of wind and waves for +days, and then, supposing the child was +alive, which in her present mood the +baroness declared to be impossible, even +if it were, not to know where it was till +Léon came back, perhaps for a week or +more, for the baron dare not tell her it +would probably be a month before he +returned—oh, it was unbearable! She +was sure she could neither eat nor sleep +until she had her baby back. Life until +then would be a burden to her. What +could she do without it? Already she +was sure it knew her; and oh, how happy +she had been watching by its cradle! If +Arnaud only knew how she delighted in +nursing and playing with it, even to gaze +on it while it slept was a joy to her! Oh, +if he only understood, he would never +have been so cruel as to send it away.</p> + +<p>All the baron's arguments as to the +advantages to the baby which were to +be derived from his scheme, and the +wonderful health and strength it was to +derive from leading a less luxurious life, +failed to reassure the baroness, and she +passed a sleepless night, and looked so +ill and miserable the next morning that +the baron was angry with her for looking +ill, and with himself for being the cause. +No one in the house but the baroness +had been told the night before what had +become of the baby, the general opinion +being that it had been taken or sent to +some woman in the neighbourhood to +look after; but when it became known +that it was sent away in Léon's charge +no one knew where, the sympathy with +the baroness was universal, and the baron +found himself looked upon as a jealous +tyrant, with no real love for either his +wife or child.</p> + +<p>"A nice father you are," cried his +brother Jacques.</p> + +<p>"The idea of trusting Léon with a +baby. Why, he will pitch it overboard +if it cries," said little Louis, a remark +which so annoyed the baron that he +promptly seized Louis by the collar and +turned him out of the room.</p> + +<p>"You really must have been mad, +Arnaud, to dream of such a thing as +entrusting Léon, of all people in the +world, with an infant," said the old +baroness, for once taking the part of her +daughter-in-law against her son.</p> + +<p>Père Yvon said nothing just then; it +would not have been wise to have done +so while the baron's temper was ruffled +by the criticisms of his family or in their +presence, but when he was alone with +Arnaud, Père Yvon spoke his mind pretty +freely, and read the baron a severer +lecture than he had ever done all the +years he was under his tuition.</p> + +<p>It was nothing but jealousy which had +prompted such a mad, cruel act, and +jealousy of the most unreasonable—he +might almost say unpardonable—kind: +a father to be jealous of his wife's love +for his own child! There was a German +saying, excellent in the original, but +which lost the double play upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +words in the translation which Père Yvon +quoted to the baron—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Die Eifersucht ist eine Leidenschaft,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Der mit Eifer sucht muss Leiden schaffen,"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>which means, freely translated, that +jealousy is a passion which brings misery +to him who indulges in it; and Père Yvon +impressed upon Arnaud that if any misfortune +happened to the baby, he would +have no one to blame but himself, for +though all sins bring their own punishment, +jealousy is undoubtedly one that +can never be indulged in with impunity. +This, and much more to the same effect, +Père Yvon said, and the baron, lying in +an easy chair, listened patiently enough, +partly because he was very fond of the +chaplain, and partly because he was so +angry with himself now for his folly that +it was a relief to him to be blamed +roundly for it.</p> + +<p>All that day the baroness wandered +about the house in a vague, restless way, +unable to settle to anything, and trying +to amuse herself by consulting with the +nurse as to how they should go and +fetch the baby back when they discovered +where it was. She ate little or nothing, +and after another sleepless night looked +so worn and ill that the baron sent for a +doctor, who came and urged strongly +that the baby should be sent for at once, +or he would not be answerable for the +consequences; the suspense and anxiety +were telling so on the baroness that if +the strain lasted much longer he feared +she would have an attack of brain fever.</p> + +<p>On hearing this the baron was dreadfully +alarmed, and telegraphed to Léon's +agent at Havre to let him know immediately +he heard from M. Léon de Thorens, +who had sailed two nights before +in the Hirondelle for a cruise in the +Channel. The agent telegraphed back +that he knew no more than M. le Baron +at present, but so soon as he received +any further information he would let the +baron know. This did not reassure the +baroness, who had taken it into her head +that something had happened to the +yacht, and not all Arnaud's promises +that the moment he knew where the +child was he would go himself and bring +her back could comfort the poor, anxious +little mother, who, with pale cheeks and +black marks round her great brown eyes, +which were always large but looked bigger +than ever now that they had not +been closed since the baby left, wandered +about the château, looking like a +picture of despair.</p> + +<p>This lasted for nearly a week, and +then came a telegram from the agent to +say the Hirondelle was lost in a fog off +the east coast of England with all hands +drowned. The baron was alone when +the telegram was handed to him, and +the news was such a shock to him that +he read the message over again and +again before the words, though they +were burnt indelibly into his brain, conveyed +their full meaning to his mind. +Slowly he grasped the terrible truth; +poor Léon, the life of the house, wild, +handsome Léon was drowned, and his +own poor innocent baby as well, drowned, +and by his fault. He was little better +than a murderer, he thought, in the first +outburst of his grief, and he must tell +Mathilde, and perhaps kill her too. How +should he ever have the courage to do +this? Strange to say, though perhaps, +after all, it was not strange, the baron +was far more cut up at the sad fate of +his little girl, whom, a few days ago, he +had been so anxious to get rid of, for a +while, at least, than he was at the news +of poor Léon's death. So much hung +on the baby; Mathilde's life might almost +be said to depend upon its recovery, +and now he must go and strike +the blow which would perhaps kill her. +Père Yvon was indeed right; his jealousy +was truly bringing a terrible punishment +in its train, and the baron buried his +face in his hands, and sobs of bitterest +grief shook his whole frame. At +last, rousing himself, he went to the +door of the study where the chaplain +was engaged teaching the younger boys, +and beckoned him out. Père Yvon saw +at a glance by the baron's pale, scared +face, as well as by the telegram he held +in his hand, that something terrible had +happened, and drawing Arnaud into the +nearest room, he asked eagerly what was +the matter. The baron answered by +placing the telegram in his hands, and +paced the room in a frenzy while Père +Yvon read it. The chaplain's first +thought was for the poor widowed mother, +whose darling son was thus cut off in +the beauty of his youth. He had known +her so many years, and had comforted +her in so many sorrows, it was natural +he should think of her first, before the +other mother, who had her husband to +comfort her, and whose child was only +an infant of a few months old.</p> + +<p>"La pauvre baronne! My poor +madame! It will break her heart: her +darling son," murmured the chaplain.</p> + +<p>"Ah, poor Léon. I can't realise it +yet that we shall never see him again, +and my poor, innocent baby too; it will +kill Mathilde. Oh, mon père, how +are we to tell them?" groaned the +baron.</p> + +<p>"I will tell your mother; it is not the +first time I have been the bearer of ill +news to her, and you must break it as +gently as you can to your wife. It is a +sad day indeed for this household, but +the Lord's will be done. He knows best, +and He will not send any of us more +than we are able to bear," replied Père +Yvon, as he went on his sad mission to +the old baroness.</p> + +<p>As he had said, he had broken many +sorrows to her, but he had never had to +deal a heavier blow than when he told +her her favourite son was drowned, the +son of whom she was so proud, whom +she loved better than all her other children; +but the baroness was a saintly +woman, and one of her first sayings after +she heard the news was, "Mon père, it +is hard, but it is just—he was my idol."</p> + +<p>She did not grieve in any extravagant +way; she did not absent herself from any +meals; she attended mass, for she was a +devout Catholic, in the private chapel +every morning, and, indeed, spent a +great deal of time there in prayer; she +never gave up one of her accustomed +duties, visited the poor as regularly as +ever, but from the day she heard the sad +news to her death, which happened a +few years later, she was scarcely seen to +smile again, and she was never heard +to mention Léon's name except to Père +Yvon. Hers was a life-long sorrow, too +deep for words, too deep for even tears +to assuage its poignancy; her heart was +broken; she had no further interest in +this life; all her hopes were centred on +that life where she hoped to meet her +darling son again, never to be separated +from him.</p> + +<p>The young baroness bore her trial +very differently. She gave way to a passionate +outburst of grief on learning that +her baby was drowned—a grief in which +the baron shared, and was, indeed, in +more need of consolation than his wife, +for to his sorrow was added remorse and +bitterest stings of conscience for having +brought such sorrow to his wife, about +whom he was very anxious, until the +doctor assured him the sad certainty +was even better for her than the terrible +suspense she had been enduring for the +last week. To a young, passionate nature +hitherto undisciplined by the sorrows +of life, like the young baroness's, +anything was easier to bear than suspense, +and the doctor assured Arnaud +that the passionate grief in which his +wife indulged would do her no harm—on +the contrary, she was more likely to get +over it quickly. Violent grief is rarely +lasting; there invariably follows a reaction.</p> + +<p>A few days later the baron received +another telegram from the Havre agents, +telling him they had found out that the +Hirondelle had left Yarmouth, on the +Norfolk coast, where she had been lying +for two or three days, the day before she +was lost, and was then intending to +cruise round the coast of Great Britain. +The baron was immediately raised from +the depths of despair to the highest pinnacle +of hope on hearing this, for he +felt sure Léon had gone ashore at Yarmouth +to place the baby with some +Englishwoman, and had remained there +some days on purpose. Confiding his +new hope to Père Yvon, he at once decided +to start that night for England by +Dover and Calais, for already steamers +ran once or twice a week between these +ports. He would then go on to Yarmouth +by stage-coach, and make all inquiries +for his baby. His difficulty was, he did +not know the language, but living near +the Château de Thorens was a Monsieur +de Courcy, who had married an English +wife, and spoke English very well. He +was intimate with the De Thorens, and +the baron hoped he might be able to +help him in his trouble.</p> + +<p>Accordingly he called on the De +Courcys at once, and, to his great relief, +Monsieur de Courcy offered to go to +Yarmouth with him, while Madame de +Courcy suggested that the baroness +should come and stay with her during +their husbands' absence, for the château +was a very gloomy place for the poor +young mother while the shadow of death +rested upon it. Arnaud jumped at this, +for he had never been separated from +his wife since their marriage, and he +would far rather leave her with this +pretty young English lady than at the +château, while his mother's grief for +Léon saddened the whole household.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +It was easy to account for his journey +to England, by saying that he was going +to get particulars of the accident from +the place off which it happened. This +would seem only natural to Mathilde, +who must on no account be told that he +had any hope of finding the child. She +had accepted the news of its death without +questioning it, and it was far better +to let her continue under this impression +than to raise fresh hopes, which, after +all, might never be realised, and if he +could only persuade her to come to Parc +du Baffy while he was away he would +feel quite happy about her.</p> + +<p>Madame de Courcy and the baroness +were on intimate terms with each other, +although Madame de Courcy was a +staunch Protestant, and both the baron +and baroness bigoted Romanists; but +the great attraction to Mathilde, as +Madame de Courcy guessed, would be her +child, a beautiful boy of three years old, +in whom the baroness had delighted +until her own baby was born and +absorbed all her time and affection. +Knowing this, Madame de Courcy offered +to send her boy to the château with the +baron, hoping to inveigle the baroness +to return with him to Parc du Baffy, a +manœuvre which succeeded admirably, +for Mathilde, not having seen the little +Rex for some weeks, was so enraptured +with him that she could not part with +him, and as Madame de Courcy could not +be asked to spare her child as well as +her husband, the baroness consented to +go and stay at the Parc while the baron +was away. The little Rex was too old +to remind her of her own baby, and his +pretty mixture of French and English +amused her immensely, and for the +moment charmed away her sorrow. +Had she known the real object of her +husband's visit to England, the suspense +and anxiety would have made her +seriously ill; not knowing it, the change +and Rex's society did her good, so that +Madame de Courcy was able, after a +day or two, to write to the baron and tell +him his wife was certainly better and +more cheerful since she had been at the +Parc du Baffy.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the baron and M. de +Courcy reached Yarmouth safely, and +learned the day and hour on which the +Hirondelle arrived and also left Yarmouth, +and that the cause of her remaining +so long there was the absconding +of an English sailor, named, or, at +all events, calling himself, John Smith. +The baron was more elated than ever at +hearing this, for he knew the Englishman +was to place the baby out to nurse, +and if he were safe, the chances were +that the child was too; but when, +after having run two or three John +Smiths to earth and discovered that they +bore no resemblance to the original, it +became evident that the real John +Smith had made himself scarce, and +was probably not John Smith at all, the +baron's hopes of recovering the child +again fell, though he could not abandon +the idea that if he could only find the +runaway sailor he should hear some +news of the child. The wish was, perhaps, +father to the thought, but he +could not help thinking the child was +not on board the Hirondelle when she +went down, now that he found the +English carpenter had left the yacht at +Yarmouth. But the baron felt his inability +to speak English a great drawback +to prosecuting his inquiries as +fully as he would have liked, although +M. de Courcy was very kind and did all +any friend could have been expected to +do; still, it was not the same as speaking +the language himself, as the baron felt, +and he bitterly regretted he had never +tried to master its difficulties. Many of the +Yarmouth fishermen and boatmen remembered +the Hirondelle and the handsome +French gentleman to whom she +belonged, but not one had ever seen the +sign of a baby on board her, though +this did not throw much light on the +matter, as the baby might easily +have been kept below or removed at +night.</p> + +<p>At last, after spending a week or ten +days in fruitless inquiries, the baron and +his friend returned to France, the baron +convinced in his own mind that some +hope of his child being safe still existed, a +hope which he dared not communicate +to the baroness, but which, nevertheless, +lingered in his breast for many a long +day.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="THE_ROMANCE_OF_THE_BANK_OF_ENGLAND" id="THE_ROMANCE_OF_THE_BANK_OF_ENGLAND"></a>THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND; +<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;">OR, +<br /> +THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> EMMA BREWER.</span></h2> + + +<h3>INTRODUCTION.</h3> + +<p>A gentleman asked me the other day upon +what subject I intended next to write, and +on telling him that the Editor had kindly permitted +me to deal with the Bank of England +and the National Debt, he said, "Nonsense! +what do girls want to know about the Bank +of England and the National Debt? Let +them be content to leave all such knowledge +to men, and rest satisfied if they get their +dividends all right and know how to spend +them properly and keep out of debt."</p> + +<p>He seemed to forget that to do even the +little he permitted us would require knowledge +and education of a liberal character, and that +without these our desires might outrun our +income, and getting into debt might prove our +normal condition.</p> + +<p>A thorough knowledge of our circumstances +is better than partial blindness, and to see +things all round and weigh them justly is +better than sitting with hands folded while +men see and judge for us.</p> + +<p>The subjects of the Bank of England and the +National Debt are well worth a study, and +will not fail to afford us both varied and +interesting information.</p> + +<p>Among other things they will tell us how +the Bank of England came into existence; +what the nation did previous to its existence; +how our country came to have a debt which +it has never been able to pay off, and how it +would prove a calamity if it were possible to +pay it off suddenly.</p> + +<p>Again, we shall learn the meaning of +"selling out" and "buying in" money, and +what is understood by "consols," "reduced +threes," "stocks going up and down," "a +run upon the Bank," "panic," and many +other such terms.</p> + +<p>There is no reason why girls should not be +able to give answers to all of these, and every +reason why they should, seeing that an +intimate knowledge of these subjects is as +much a part of our nation's history as is the +history of our kings and queens, our wars, and +our institutions.</p> + +<p>And even beyond this, it is a matter of +importance that girls having property, little or +much, should understand the character of +those to whom they entrust it.</p> + +<p>There are many and valuable books +published upon these subjects, but they are +expensive to buy and take a long time to wade +through; in addition to this, they are so +learned that we women-folk fail often to get +the simple information we require, even when +we have read them.</p> + +<p>The Bank of England, either by name or by +sight, is known, I suppose, to all of us; but +its origin, its working, its influence, is not so +familiar to us, and it does not seem to me that +we should be going at all out of our province +if we were to ask the "Old Lady of Threadneedle-street" +to tell us something of her +history, her household, and her daily life, seeing +that most of us contribute to her housekeeping, +some more, some less.</p> + +<p>We trust her so completely that "safe as +the Bank of England" has passed into a +proverb; yet, for all that, we should like the +old lady's own account of how she came into +existence, and how she became such a power +in the land, and what she does with all the +money we lend her, and out of what purse she +pays us for the loan.</p> + +<p>She certainly ought to be able to tell an +interesting tale—for her palace, her servants, +her house-keeping, her treasures, her cellars, +her expenditure, her receipts and clearing, the +frights she has every now and again both +given and received, must each and all be more +amusing and full of interest than any fairy tale +told by Grimm or Andersen.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<h3><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I. +<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;">THE STORY OF THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE +STREET.</span></h3> + + +<p>And so you want me to tell you the story of +my life! Telling tales is not quite in my line, +but I will do the best I can; and should I become +garrulous and tedious, as old ladies are +wont sometimes to be, you must recall me by +a gentle reminder that you live in the present +century, whose characteristics are short, decisive, +and by all means amusing.</p> + +<p>My career has been a strange and eventful +one, as you yourselves will see if I can interest +you sufficiently to listen to the end.</p> + +<p>Of course, I was not always known as the +Old Lady of Threadneedle-street; indeed, I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> +can well remember the feeling of annoyance +with which I saw <i>Mr. Punch's</i> illustration of +me in 1847, as a fat old woman without a +trace of beauty, except in my garments, which +were made of bank notes. I have kept a copy +of it, and will just pencil you the outline.</p> + +<p>The annoyance was intensified when I found +myself handed down to posterity by him as +the <i>Old</i> Lady of Threadneedle-street. He +could have no authority for this picture, seeing +that, like the Delphian mystery of old, I am +invisible, and deliver my oracles through my +directors.</p> + +<p>You are girls, and will quite understand the +distress of being thrust suddenly into old age. +Up to 1847 I was young, good-looking, and +attractive, and to be bereft of my youth and +romance at one blow; to know that from +henceforth all would be prosaic and business-like, +that I should never again have lovers +seeking my favour, was a condition of extreme +pain. I had always prided myself on my figure, +but even this <i>Mr. Punch</i> did not leave me, but +told the world that it was due to +tight-lacing. It was very cruel, +and I have sometimes thought it +was envy of my position; but let +that go. I took counsel with +myself, and determined to face +the future with the resolve to be +the very nicest old lady in the +world, and to make myself so +useful to my fellow-creatures that +they should love me and stand +by me even though my first +youth had passed. And I am +sure you will agree with me in +thinking that I have accomplished +this, and that not only +have I kept clear of weakness +and decrepitude, but have +achieved for myself a reputation +and position second to no lady +in the land.</p> + +<p>It has been necessary for me +to make this little explanation, +otherwise you might have thought +I had never been young. And +now to proceed.</p> + +<p>It was in the reign of William +and Mary that I first saw the +light, being born in Mercers' +Hall on the 27th of July, 1694.</p> + +<p>From this place, after a few +months, I was removed to +Grocers' Hall, Poultry; not the +stately structure with which you +are acquainted, but one much +more simple, which was razed +to make room for the present +building.</p> + +<p>I may say, without vanity, +that my birth created a sensation throughout +the length and breadth of the land.</p> + +<p>The House of Commons even was not +exempt from this excitement, but set aside its +serious work to discuss whether or not I should +be strangled and put out of the way, or +nurtured into strength by its support and +countenance.</p> + +<p>Those members who were in favour of the +last resolution declared that I should rescue +the nation out of the hands of extortioners, +lower interests, raise the value of land, revive +public credit, improve commerce, and connect +the people more closely with the Government, +while those of the contrary opinion assured +the House that I should engross the whole +money of the kingdom, that I should weaken +commerce by tempting people to withdraw +their money from trade, that I should encourage +fraud and gaming, and corrupt the morals +of the nation.</p> + +<p>Little recked I of all the stir and commotion +my birth was causing, as, nursed and +cared for by my father, William Paterson, a +Scotch merchant, and his friend, Mr. Michael +Godfrey, I gradually grew into strength. It +was not till long afterwards that I heard and +understood the circumstances of my birth, and +how around me were centred the interests of +the kingdom.</p> + +<p>When I was only twelve months old, those +who were bound together to take care of my +interests separated my father from me, giving +as an excuse that he was of too speculative and +adventurous a spirit to be entrusted with my +welfare.</p> + +<p>Poor father! It has always seemed to me +very sad that he who had worked so long and +so persistently for my success should have +been condemned to spend the last years of +his life in solitude and neglect in Scotland, +while I, his child, was gradually becoming +everything that his highest ambition could +have pictured; but so it was.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px; border: solid; 0.5px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus005.png" width="400" height="468" alt="THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. +From "Punch."" title="" /> +<span class="caption">THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. +From "Punch."</span> +</div> + +<p>I have often wished that he had employed +those last weary years of his in writing a history +of his life. I am sure it would have interested +all classes of readers, but I suppose +he was too sad and out of heart. He was +forty-one years of age at the time of my +birth, having been born in Dumfries in 1658. +He was one of those who may be said +to live before their time. He possessed great +ability, knowledge, and experience, and was a +great traveller, yet, with all this, his life was a +series of disappointments and failures.</p> + +<p>His great friend, Michael Godfrey, who had +worked so faithfully by his side, would, I am +sure, never have forsaken him, but he was +struck down by a ball in the trenches of +Namur, in 1695, while seeking the king in my +interests.</p> + +<p>He was a great loss to me, although I was +too young at the time to estimate it fully. He +has left behind him a quaint and graphic account +of my infancy, with which I shall hope +to make you acquainted later on.</p> + +<p>Should you feel any interest in him, look in +St. Swithin's Church some day when passing, +and there you will find a monument to his +memory, which records that he "died a +batchelour, much lamented by his friends, +relations, and acquaintances for his integrity, +his knowledge, and the sweetness of his +manners."</p> + +<p>My name "Bank," which signifies "bench" +or "high seat," I derived from Italian forefathers, +who, in early days, carried on their +business in the public places or exchanges on +<i>benches</i>.</p> + +<p>This business of theirs consisted chiefly in +being the depositories of the wealth of rich +people, and making payments for them according +to written orders, and further in receiving +money from some people on interest, +and lending it to others at a higher rate. I +have been told that in their day making a +profit by lending money was not considered at +all an aristocratic proceeding, and procured +for those who indulged in it the name of +usurers, a word I do not like; it savours of +sordidness.</p> + +<p>From my very birth I was educated to be +reliable, steady, secure, and faithful, and to be +true and just in all my dealings.</p> + +<p>It was made clear to me that it was the +lack of these qualities in the +money affairs of the kingdom +which had led to the necessity +of my existence, and I was made +distinctly to understand that it +was only upon my developing +largely these peculiar traits of +character that I should continue +the existence thus begun.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>My education was quite different +from that of other girls. I had +to learn arithmetic almost before +I could speak, and the state and +condition of kings and governments +were instilled into my +mind as regularly as food into +my body.</p> + +<p>There were no novels, no light +literature for me, except what I +could extract for myself out of +the dry material placed before +me. Still, my mind was not +warped with this peculiar bringing +up, and now that I am an old +woman, I think I can see that I +owe this to the character of +those who governed and directed +me.</p> + +<p>Of course, this peculiar education +and training kept me far +ahead of other girls, and while +they were scarcely out of the +nursery, and still enjoying battledore +and shuttlecock, I was seeking +information, either by reading +or conversation, concerning +my forefathers, position, duties, +and property.</p> + +<p>Young as I was, I began to +feel creeping over me a sense of responsibility, +and a longing to know how best to fulfil all +that was required of me. I knew that I was +rich, but how did I become so? I knew that +my riches were expected to make others rich, +but how? I was always asking questions, and +sometimes succeeded in getting an answer, +which served as a clue, and sent me to search +old parchments or to make comparisons.</p> + +<p>It was some time before I could piece the +scraps of information together, but gradually +I did so, and then assuredly I saw the awfulness +of my influence and position, and determined, +with God's blessing, to be a comfort +and support to the widows and orphans who +trusted in me, as well as a source of strength, +security, and honour to the nation and its +rulers, and I resolved that henceforth my +name, <i>the Bank of England</i>, should carry with +it a meaning wherever it was heard, far beyond +its original signification; it should be +another term for wealth, honour, and thrift—a +something to be trusted, and in which nothing +foul, mean, or sordid must be found.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be continued.</i>)<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HISTORICAL_SKETCHES_OF_MUSICAL_FORMS" id="HISTORICAL_SKETCHES_OF_MUSICAL_FORMS"></a>HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MUSICAL FORMS.</h2> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Sketch I.—The Oratorio and Passion Music (Sacred Drama).</span><br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">By</span> MYLES B. FOSTER, Organist of the Foundling Hospital.</h3> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus006.png" width="150" height="369" alt="I" title="" /> +</div> +<p>n a former number, +in prefacing +reviews of +new music, we +said sufficient +upon the subject +of listening +to music to call +the attention of +our many readers +to the performances +going +on so frequently +in all +parts of the +world, and now +we persuade +ourselves that +there may be +some to whom +a short account +of the various +and varied +forms, to which +our attention as +audience is +most frequently +invited, +would be +of interest, even though they have some +knowledge of the subject already; and that +there may be others to whom these very incomplete +sketches may appear as information, +and as an incentive to further investigation.</p> + +<p>For our first sketch we have chosen the +oratorio, for it is undoubtedly the highest +form of musical dramatic art, and is founded +upon and contains the greatest and deepest +truths of the Christian life. As regards the +actual music forms employed, we find, indeed, +similar ones in the operas, such as the various +forms of recitative, the aria, the duet, and the +chorus, and even the scena; but in the sacred +works, who are the heroes and heroines? Are +they not the instruments of the Divine power, +the messengers of the good tidings? And +what are the subjects? Are they not the +struggles, the trials, the victories of noble +souls? With such sacred characters, with +such lofty thoughts, the composers of the +oratorio, dealing, not with the semblance of +truth that the opera contains, but with the +truth itself, are bound to express their feelings +and emotions in the grandest and most perfect +thoughts.</p> + +<p>Purely sentimental ideas, and the whole list +of passions and struggles in human existence, +rather form the basis of opera than the proper +subjects for oratorio, and the modern attempts +to transform the sacred ideal into the region +of operatic and dramatic realism seem to fall +singularly short of expectation. To our minds, +the strongest period in the history of oratorio +was the time of Handel and Bach, and writers +of to-day have yet to graft on to their work the +more careful study, and the strengthening +influence of these noble masterpieces in +stronger cuttings, to make the struggling +young plant a healthy and beautiful tree. +Let us progress, by all means, but true progression +is but the joining of all that is good +in the preceding age with all the fresh beauty +God bestows upon us in this our day.</p> + +<p>We seem to be comparing or contrasting +the secular form opera and the sacred oratorio, +and it is interesting to know that the origin +of both may be traced back to the same +source—viz., early miracle plays and moralities. +For some time after the introduction of +Christianity into Eastern Europe, the new +converts seem to have retained their fondness +for the heathen practice used in religious, as +in secular, celebrations of theatrical representations, +which were chiefly upon mythological +subjects, and all of which angered and +distressed the priests of the new religion. +However, the latter soon found out that it +was necessary to reach the minds of these +people through their more acutely trained +senses and the medium of their old traditions, +and thus in these early ages the dramatic +element worked its way into the church +worship. Spiritual plays were arranged by the +priests in all parts of Christianised Europe, +who chose scenes and stories from both Old +and New Testaments, and from the lives of +the saints and holy men. The plays were +acted upon a stage, usually erected under the +choir of the church. As women were not permitted +to appear, priests took all the characters, +male and female. We learn, from many +reliable sources, that these sacred representations +had a great effect upon the pious worshippers.</p> + +<p>In the course of the fifteenth and sixteenth +centuries, and chiefly in the west of Europe, +profane elements crept in amongst the holy +legends, and these religious entertainments +also developed so greatly, that hundreds of +actors would be engaged in representations +lasting over several days, whilst the eager +audiences were so large that the churches +could not contain them, and the stage had to +be erected in the market-places, and out of +doors.</p> + +<p>The direction passed more and more into +the hands of the laity, who employed jongleurs, +histrions, and strolling vagabonds, +whose acting included gross buffoonery, and +whose profanity completely choked the religious +growth first implanted by these miracle +plays. The stages, it should be explained, +were of curious construction, being divided +into three stories, the upper one containing +the heavenly characters, the middle one being +for the people upon earth, and the lowest for +the denizens of hell.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of the sixteenth century +the whole Catholic world was influenced by +those reforms so necessary to the Christian +Church of that time, and so bravely contended +for and gained by Luther. The demoralisation +which weakened all the church's fabric was +deeply deplored by the Catholic clergy, and +we find at the close of this century St. Philip +Neri founding a congregation of priests in +Rome and drawing youths to church by +dramatising in simple form such stories as the +Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, etc., which +were set to music in four parts with alternate +solos, first by Animuccia (a pupil of Goudimel), +and later on by the great Palestrina. These +"sacred actions" or plays were not performed +in the church itself, but in an adjoining +chamber, called in Italian "oratorio," an +oratory, and the title has since then adhered +to this species of sacred work.</p> + +<p>Our girls will be pleased to know that the +first oratorio, set to music by Emilio del +Cavalieri, was written by a lady, Laura +Guidiccioni. It was acted for the first time +in the year 1600, probably in the oratory of +the Church of Santa Maria della Vallicella, in +Rome. The name of the work is "The +Representation of the Soul and the Body." +It was to be played in appropriate costumes, +and certain choruses were to be accompanied, +in a reverent and sedate manner, by solemn +dances. Some of the characters were Time, +Pleasure, the World, Human Life, the Body, +etc.</p> + +<p>As the various forms of music, already +named as common to the opera and oratorio, +developed in the former, so in proportion +they expanded and became freer in the latter; +those portions which had been mainly founded +upon plain song became more expressive and +dramatic, and the melody assumed a flowing +and cantabile character. But whereas you +would imagine that a closer connection +between the secular and sacred would be the +result of this change, nevertheless, the composer's +conviction that the music must strive +to be of adequate importance to the sacred +words and subjects caused a line to be drawn, +ever growing more and more marked, as time +and growth in grace and knowledge went +on, between the secular and sacred musical +drama.</p> + +<p>In the seventeenth century we find Carissimi +greatly advancing oratorio, and composing +really noble music. You may remember +a revival of his "Jephtha," by Mr. Henry +Leslie, a few years back. Scarlatti, Stradella, +and others also contributed to this period. +But, notwithstanding its Italian birth and +infancy, it remained for Germany to bring +oratorio to a vigorous manhood, and to its +lofty position in the world of music. The +compositions of Handel and Bach, early in +the eighteenth century, placed this sacred art +form upon a pinnacle of such height and +strength, that few composers have the stamina +or knowledge wherewith to reach it.</p> + +<p>Having gazed at this, for a time, culminating +summit, let us go back to the early +days again for a moment to notice a branch +of this tree, a member of this sacred family, +whose growth has been parallel with that of +the subject of our sketch, viz., the Passion +oratorio, one dealing with the sufferings and +death of our blessed Redeemer. Foremost +amongst the miracle plays, in which originated +the sacred drama, was the representation, +during Holy Week, of the Passion of our +Lord. To this day we have interesting relics +of this custom, such as the Oberammergau +play in South Bavaria, the performances in +the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and in some +parts of Spain. The oldest Protestant composition +on this subject was published in 1570.</p> + +<p>At the commencement of the seventeenth +century a great development followed in the +writings of Heinrich Schütz, who wrote music +to the Passion, as told by all four evangelists, +and whose tercentenary was celebrated last +year by commencing the publication of all his +works. He did much towards the great +musical development in Germany. Following +in his footsteps came Sebastiani, at the end +of the century, and Keiser at the commencement +of the eighteenth. In Keiser's Passion +we find, in addition to the Bible narrative, +reflective passages for a chorus, holding much +the same functions as the old Greek chorus, +with interpolated solos for "the Daughter of +Sion" and "the Believing Soul," some of +which are used later on by Bach, especially +in his setting of the subject according to St. +John's Gospel. John Sebastian Bach added, +moreover, many well-known chorales in which +the people could join, and these favourite old +hymn tunes had the greatest power over the +hearts of the worshippers.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>Now we have returned to the period at +which we left oratorio, and side by side with +Bach's great Passion music stand up those +massive monuments, the oratorios of Handel, +of which so much has been written, and many +of which you all know and love so well. It is +worthy of notice, if only to show how recently +(viz., almost halfway through the eighteenth +century) action, and costume, and other accessories +were tolerated in connection with the +sacred subjects, to tell you that at the performance +of his first English oratorio, "Esther," +at the theatre in the Haymarket, Handel appended +the following note to the playbills:—</p> + +<p>"N.B. There will be no acting on the stage," +this being called shortly after "oratorio +fashion," even when applied to performances +of secular dramatic subjects which were to +be sung, and not acted.</p> + +<p>After these great works of Handel, no important +oratorio was heard in England until +Haydn's "Creation," in 1798. Then, in the +present century, Spohr followed with his +"Crucifixion," "Last Judgment," and "Fall +of Babylon;" and then Mendelssohn, that +greatest disciple of Bach, whose "Elijah" and +"St. Paul" quite revived the taste for +oratorio, and gave an impetus to it, which +extends to our day.</p> + +<p>To end this fragmentary sketch, we may +fairly say that oratorio should contain two +important elements:—</p> + +<p>I. The narrative form, as subject of the +whole work.</p> + +<p>II. The didactic and contemplative, as +interpolations in soliloquy, or in chorus of +adoration, prayer, and warning.</p> + +<p>A third element, the dramatic accessories of +costume, scenery, and action, we have dispensed +with, and, I think, happily so.</p> + +<p>We find in these days in many nations, +including our own dear country, composers +are striving after this highest and noblest +ideal; let us pray they may receive that +strength necessary for so great a responsibility. +There is none greater in music, and our hearts +tell us that unless a composer knows and +believes himself that the subject which in +reverence he approaches is the truth itself, +which he must proclaim and preach as a conviction +of his own—we say that unless he thus +incorporates himself in his work it is but +mockery, and the result of it nothingness.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NOTES_FOR_NOVEMBER" id="NOTES_FOR_NOVEMBER"></a>NOTES FOR NOVEMBER.</h2> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus07a.png" width="150" height="212" alt="D" title="" /> +</div> +<p>uring this month we get +the finest effects of the +changing tints of foliage; +after a wet, +windy summer the colours +are poor, but fine +and varied after dry +calm weather.</p> + +<p>These autumnal changes +of colour are caused by decay +and death; the life +in the leaf enabled it to +withstand certain chemical +changes, which it can no longer resist as the +vital force wanes, and the green colouring +matter is either changed or destroyed.</p> + +<p>We can prove this fact for ourselves if we +notice how often, while all the rest of a tree is +green, the leaves and small branches which +are partly broken, and have, therefore, lost a +great part of their vitality, lose their green +colour, and become yellow or red.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Not only are the broad effects of a landscape +made beautiful in autumn by the rich colouring +of large masses of trees, but the close +observer will find every hedge, bottom, and +wild common flaming with colour. Heath +tell us "it is the commonest plants whose +colours are the most beautiful and striking." +Amongst those which produce the most +brilliant autumnal tints, the following are +found almost everywhere in the hedges in +England: Bramble, hawthorn, wild strawberry, +dock, spindle-tree, herb robert, cranes-bill, +silver weed, hedge maple, dogwood, black +bryony, ivy; while in the kitchen gardens +nothing can exceed the beauty of the asparagus +and the common carrot.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Many birds come to England from the north +to spend the winter. Wild ducks, woodcocks, +fieldfares, and curlews are coming now, besides +thrushes, larks, and other small birds. Some +of these live with us all through the year, and +are only joined by relatives from colder climates. +In very cold winters many birds who do not +usually migrate, are driven south in search of +food; but the reception they meet with is +hardly calculated to attract great numbers of +strangers to our shores; for the notice one +usually reads in the newspapers is that such +and such a rare bird "has been seen and <i>shot</i>."</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>"It is as hot as we have it in India, or, at +any rate, I feel the heat as much." One +often hears this statement on a hot summer's +day from an Indian visitor; while, on the +other hand, our Canadian cousins assure us +that their bright, clear winter, though so +intensely cold, is not so trying as ours. +This is to a great extent caused by the +unusual moisture of the air in England. John +Burroughs tells us that "the average rainfall +in London is less than in New York, and yet +it doubtless rains ten days in the former to +one in the latter," which he explains by the +fact that in England "it rains easily, but +slowly."</p> + +<p>That we can bear greater dry than damp +heat is easily proved by holding one's hand +before a fire, and then plunging it into hot +water, using a thermometer in both cases to +test the heat. The same fact with regard to +cold can be tried by holding both hands in a +draught of cold air, the one hand being wet, +the other dry.</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Lovers of natural history are not all aware +what advantages the first sharp frost offers +them for the study of animal and vegetable +life in ponds. Thoreau, one of the most +devoted admirers of nature, says in his +"Walden," that, "The first ice is especially +interesting, being hard, dark, and transparent, +and affords the best opportunity that ever +offers for examining the bottom, where it is +shallow; for you can lie at your length on ice +only an inch thick, like a skater insect on the +surface of the water, and study the bottom at +your leisure, only two or three inches distant, +like a picture behind a glass."</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>Country girls have an opportunity during +the early darkness of winter afternoons of +appreciating one of the dangers which beset +arctic explorers during the long twilight +which takes the place of day during +the winter months in those northern +climes. In towns, the well-lighted and well-paved +streets make walking in the dusk as easy +as in the day; but girls, whose walks lead +through fields and rough country lanes, know +how many trips and stumbles are caused by +the uncertain light before darkness sets in. +Greely, in his terribly sad history of the sufferings +of his men during their arctic expedition, +tells us how much their difficulties were increased +by this dimness of the light. It was +necessary that they should go long journeys +on foot, each man carrying a heavy load of +provisions and other stores; and he adds: +"The absence of sufficient light to cast a +shadow has had very unfortunate results, as +several of the men have been badly bruised +and sprained. When no shadow is formed, +and the light is feeble and blurred, there is the +same uncertainty about one's walk as if the +deepest darkness prevailed. The most careful +observation fails to advise you as to +whether the next step is to lie on a level, up +an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad +falls quite demoralise a man, and make him +more than ever distrustful of his eyesight."</p> + +<hr style='width: 25%;' /> + +<p>There is not much to be done in the garden +this month, but bulbs may still be put in, +though the flowers will not be so good as +those planted earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and +tulips planted now ought to flower in April.</p> + +<p>If the weather is mild, the grass should be +rolled occasionally; early peas and beans may +be planted in a dry place, and a little radish +seed sown in a warm corner, but they must be +carefully covered if a sharp frost comes.</p> + +<p>Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs +needing it pruned. Now that the leaves are +off, the fruit trees may be more easily +examined, and dead branches, or those that +rub against one another, removed.</p> + +<p>If the weather is very cold, take care of +delicate plants by spreading cocoa-nut fibre +or light manure over the beds, or by covering +the plants with matting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus07b.png" width="300" height="131" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + +<h2><a name="CHILD_ISLAND" id="CHILD_ISLAND"></a>CHILD ISLAND.<br /> +<br /> +<span style="font-size: 75%;">FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS.</span></h2> + +<div class="wrapleft" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus008a.png" width="599" height="367" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="wrapleft" style="width: 292px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus008b.png" width="293" height="427" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>A long time ago—so long that it was ages before my grandfather +was a little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl—there +was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which +were so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and +gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful +white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold +fishes swam in its clear waters.</p> + +<p>On one part of the lake the most lovely water-lilies opened up +their white flowers, looking, as some people said, like tiny boats; but +one of the little girls I am going to tell you about thought they +looked like a set of green saucers and white cups, and used to call +them the swans' best tea-things. Now, in the midst of this Silver +Lake stood the beautiful island called Child's Island. Such a lovely +little island as it was had never been seen before, and I verily +believe has never been seen since.</p> + +<p>Black clouds never came near it, for there the sky was blue and +cloudless always, and I am told that at night more stars might be +seen from that pretty isle than from any other part of the world; but +whether that is true or not I cannot tell. But I do know that its +shores sloped green down to the water's edge, that the brightest +and sweetest flowers bordered every pathway, that the roses were +without thorns, and there was not a single nettle in the whole island. +I know, also, that the grass was the greenest, the trees the shadiest, +the flowers the brightest, and the fruit the ripest to be found anywhere. +As to the animals, there were none but the gentlest kind. +Little white mice went peeping about with their wee pink eyes, pretty +tame squirrels bounded from tree to tree, and a herd of graceful +fawns fed and played in the meadows. Birds of the gayest plumage and +sweetest song were there; pretty poll-parrots hopped among the trees, +crying, "What's o'clock? What's o'clock?" In short, it was the +brightest, merriest, sunniest spot in the world, and I can say no more in +its praise than that. All day long the sun shone gently down upon +the little isle, and the wind never raised its voice above a whisper.</p> + +<p>But, besides birds and butterflies, fawns, and flowers, there was something +else in this pretty isle. Now, what do you guess that something +was? Why, a beautiful fairy palace.</p> + +<p>I call it a fairy palace, not because fairies lived there, for they did not, +but because it was the work of fairy hands, and was more beautiful than +any other palace in the world. It stood in the midst of a lovely garden, +but no wall or railing shut it in from the rest of the island; and you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +and I, had we been there, might have walked across the green lawn, and plucked +some of the gay flowers, and gone up the marble steps, without anyone saying, +"Stop! You must not go there." Round about the palace, in groups of +twos and threes, were several little houses, all very beautiful and all exactly +alike.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus009.png" width="600" height="801" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>Now, I daresay you will think that this was a very pretty place, at the +same time, very strange; yet the strangest and, to me, the most charming +thing of all was that there were none but children in this little island. +They were all quite young, the eldest amongst them were not twelve +years old; they were the king and the queen, who, of course, lived in +the beautiful palace. And thus, because only children dwelt there, +it was called Child Island.</p> + +<p>Well, these little folks had nothing to do but to play; +and a rare time they had of it, as you shall hear; but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +perhaps you would first like to know how it +happened that they were alone in this island +without any grown people to take care of +them. Then listen, and I will tell you.</p> + +<p>The Silver Lake and Child Island belonged +to the good fairy Corianda, who was very fond +of little children, and took great pleasure in +inventing games for, and otherwise amusing +them. She loved all children, but she was +especially fond of those of Noviland, the king +of which was one of her subjects. She used +often to slip on her magic veil, which rendered +her invisible, and go amongst the little folks +of Noviland to watch them at their play, or at +their lessons, or to peep at them whilst they +slept. It was in this way that she found out +there was scarcely a child in Noviland but +what was discontented with what it had, and +sighed for what it had not.</p> + +<p>One fancied that Noviland would be the +jolliest place in the world for little boys if +there were no lessons, no schools; but +grammar and spelling spoiled all. Pepitia +thought that if she might wear fine dresses +like mamma, have a coach and six to ride in, +and no one to control her, she would be perfectly +contented. The little Teresa sighed for +a land where there was no A B C, and Dorinda +for one where toys grew on trees, and no hard-hearted +shopkeeper demanded money before +they were plucked. Herbert wished he lived +in a place where there were plenty of gay +butterflies, and that he had nothing to do but +to hunt them. Thus each child had something +to wish for, and something to be discontented +about.</p> + +<p>I wonder whether there are children in any +other part of the world who, like those of +Noviland, want what they have not, and +grumble at what they have? Do you know +any? Ah, no! I suppose there are no other +little folks so silly, so I won't urge the question, +but go on with my story.</p> + +<p>When the good fairy heard all these murmurings, +she said to herself, "I will gratify +these little people for a short time in what +they want, and we shall see if they will be +happy then."</p> + +<p>So she set her fays to work, and had built +on Child Island the beautiful palace and +houses I have told you of. When all was +ready, she and her fays took the little +grumblers out of their beds one fine night +and wafted them away, whilst still asleep, to +Child Island, taking care, I should tell you, +to leave changelings from Fairyland in their +places, so that the parents might not be filled +with grief in the morning to find that their +dear children had been stolen away.</p> + +<p>The next morning, after the sun had dispelled +the mist which always seemed to hang +about him before breakfast at Child Island, +and he was fresh and bright for the day, like +little boys with clean faces ready for school, +the young strangers were all assembled on the +lawn in front of the palace, and the fairy +spoke to them as follows:—</p> + +<p>"My dear children, as you all fancy you +would be happier if you were quite free from +control, and if you had nothing to do but to +play, I have brought you to this beautiful +island, where you can amuse yourselves all day +long. You will have everything supplied to +you, and there will be no one to dictate to +you. These pretty houses I give you to live +in. The palace is for the king and queen, and +the other houses are so precisely alike that +none of you will be able to dispute as to +choice. You, Philip, who are the eldest boy, +shall be king, and you, Pepitia, who are the +eldest girl, shall be queen. Be kind and +good-natured to one another, and I will +always be your friend. Don't eat too much +fruit or cake, as that will make you ill. Now, +come with me, and I will show you the inside +of the palace."</p> + +<p>Then they followed the good fairy, in a +merry crowd, up the marble steps into the hall +of the palace, and a grand hall it was, with +its rows of pillars and richly decorated walls. +The fairy led them up the staircase and +through the royal apartments, which consisted +of drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, +and dressing-rooms, where the looking-glasses +reached from floor to ceiling and the wardrooms +were filled with magnificent dresses. +Then into the throne-room, hung with +crimson velvet embroidered in gold, and +where, at the upper end, were two golden +thrones inlaid with precious stones and +cushioned with crimson velvet. The more +they saw the more delighted the little folks +were; they clapped their hands with joy, and +cried, "Oh, my! how beautiful!" at least +twenty times in a minute.</p> + +<p>"Oh! shouldn't I like to be you," said +Amanda to Pepitia, "you will be queen, and +have all these fine things."</p> + +<p>After they had seen all that was in the +palace, the fairy took them over the other +houses, all of which were elegantly furnished, +but it would take up too much time to tell you +of all the beautiful things that were in them. +Just fancy how you would like to furnish a +little house that had drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, +bedrooms, kitchens, and whatever you +fancy you would like to put there <i>was</i> there, +and even more than that. No wonder the +children were pleased.</p> + +<p>After the fairy had shown them all the +pretty things the houses contained, and had +allotted to each set of children the particular +house they were to inhabit, a crystal car, +drawn by six white swans, was seen to +approach the shore. Then the fairy said, +"Now, my little dears, I must go, for here is +my coach and six come to fetch me." So she +kissed them all round, bade them be good +children, said she would come to see them +again some day, got into her car, and was soon +out of sight, the children shouting, "Good-bye, +dear Fairy, good-bye," till they could see +her no longer.</p> + +<p>Then they said, "What shall we play at +first?"</p> + +<p>"Let us go into that pretty dell, where the +fawns are at play, and gather some of the +flowers," said Pepitia. To this they all +readily assented, and ran skipping and singing +into the dell. Some pulled long rushes and +sat themselves down to weave little baskets; +some gathered nosegays, some played with +the fawns. Presently one of them said, "Oh! +suppose we have a dance."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, yes, so do," cried a dozen little +voices.</p> + +<p>"But there's no music," objected the +queen, "we can't dance without music. How +I wish we had some!"</p> + +<p>"I'll hum a tune," said Sophia; and she +immediately began one.</p> + +<p>"No, that's so stupid," said Amanda.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" screamed a little boy. "Look +there!"</p> + +<p>"Look where? What's the matter?" +cried they all.</p> + +<p>"Why, look at that big yellow thing," +replied the child, pointing to a large gourd +which lay upon the ground, "it's opening all +by itself!"</p> + +<p>And sure enough it was slowly opening, as +if it were a monster mouth taking a lazy yawn. +The children clustered together and watched +it eagerly, when, to their great amazement, out +popped a little figure, not more than six +inches high, dressed in a suit of sky blue +velvet with white lace ruffles at the throat and +wrists. The dress was fastened down the +front and at the knees by diamond buttons; +diamond buckles were in its shoes, white silk +stockings on its legs, and on its head a crimson +cap with white feather. As soon as this quaint +little figure jumped out of the gourd he was +followed by another, and another, and another, +till there were a full score of them, all dressed +exactly like the first, and each carrying a tiny +musical instrument in his hand.</p> + +<p>As the last jumped out the gourd closed, +and the leader of the Liliputian band stepped +a few paces in front of his fellows, and, taking +off his feathered cap, made a low bow to the +king and queen, then, without speaking a +word, he sprang on to the foremost branch of +a white Mayflower bush, which was in full +blossom, and immediately his little companions +perched themselves on different +branches behind him, and began tuning their +tiny instruments.</p> + +<p>The children, full of glee, arranged themselves +for a dance, the band struck up "Sir +Roger de Coverley," and away they all went, +their little feet keeping time to the music as +truly as the leader's tiny baton. They danced, +and they danced, and they danced, till they +were too tired to dance any more, then they +flung themselves down to rest; upon which +the little leader of the band jumped down from +his perch and placed himself on a broad +smooth leaf, that two of his band spread on +the grass opposite to where sat the king and +queen.</p> + +<p>He made a low bow to their majesties, the +band struck up, and the little fellow commenced +dancing a <i>pas seul</i>. If you had seen +him prancing and capering about the leaf, now +with his arms akimbo, going jauntily round +and gracefully bending his body from side to +side, keeping time to the music as he did so; +now suddenly clasping his hands above his +head, whirl rapidly round and round till he +got to the front edge of the leaf, and then, +springing into the air, come down on the very +tips of his pointed shoes; if you had seen all +this I think you would have laughed and +shouted as loudly as did Rosetta, Minette, +and all the rest of the little folks. When the +droll fellow had finished his dance he flourished +his feathered cap, made a low bow, and backed +to where his companions were standing. The +gourd slowly opened again, and each little +fellow making his bow, popped in as quickly +as he had popped out; then the gourd closed, +and nothing more was seen of the little +musicians that day.</p> + +<p>The children gathered round the gourd and +tried to open it; tapped at it; called to the +little musicians to come back; bent down +their pretty heads to listen; but all was +useless, no sound came from it, and they +might as well have tried to open the oak tree +'neath which they stood as it.</p> + +<p>Now, for fear you should think that the +good fairy had left these little children to take +care of themselves entirely, to cook their own +food, wash their own clothes, make their own +beds, and all that sort of work—for children, +you know, cannot do these things for themselves, +and that is why they are always so +good and obedient to mammas and papas +and kind aunts, who see to all these things +being done for them—I will tell you what +queer, droll little beings she left in the island +to attend to the domestic concerns of the +young king and queen and their little +subjects.</p> + +<p>Just shut your eyes and fancy you see a +little brown figure with small dark eyes, like +black beads, sharp nose, thin lips, and glossy +red hair, combed off the face, plaited into a +long tail behind, and tied by a bow of black +ribbon. Then fancy this little figure, with +arms so long that they reach to its knees, +dressed in a dark blue smock frock +without sleeves, a red leather belt round its +waist, dark red trousers on its legs, and green +morocco shoes on its feet; then call it a +Noman, and you will see precisely the sort of +beings which were left to wait on the young +inhabitants of Child Island. They were all +alike and all dressed alike; they used to make +their appearance and begin to dust and sweep,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +and light fires, and such like, just after cock-crow +every morning, and they all disappeared +every night directly the children were safely +tucked in bed. They came all together and +they disappeared all together, but where they +came from or where they went to nobody +ever knew, so you must not expect me to tell +you.</p> + +<p>I daresay you will think these Nomen a +strange race, but I am going to tell you something +stranger still concerning them, and that +is that none of them could talk, no—not +one!</p> + +<p>Was not that odd? They had some way of +talking amongst themselves by means of signs, +but the only words they could say to their +young masters and mistresses were, "nob, +nob," which meant no, and "yah, yah," +which meant yes. These they uttered very +quickly, and nodding their heads at each +sound.</p> + +<p>Now, the good fairy had charged these +little beings to be very kind and attentive to +the children; to cook their meals and serve +them nicely, and to keep their houses in +pretty order.</p> + +<p>She also charged the children to be kind +and gentle to the Nomen; never in any way +to tease, annoy, or insult them, for if they +did, the fairy said, and she looked very grave +as she said it, "some punishment would +immediately follow." This Master Edmund +found to be quite true, when one day he +attempted to kick the Noman who was +brushing his hair, for as he raised his leg to +kick, an invisible hand pulled the other from +under him, and Master Edmund measured his +length on the floor. So, also, Miss Sophia, +who said one day, whilst looking in the glass, +admiring herself and sneering at the Noman +who was fastening her frock, "What a fright +you are with your squiny eyes and red hair! I +shouldn't like to be such a fright as you are." +Upon which she immediately felt a sharp prick +on her nose, whereon a large red pimple, as +big as a cherry, made its appearance; her frock +was torn to tatters, and on going to her wardrobe +for another she found it quite empty, so +she had to wear her rags all that day, as it was +not until the next that the clothes came back +to her wardrobe, and the pimple left her nose. +I warrant me she will never be saucy to the +Nomen again!</p> + +<p>Master King Philip had a lesson of the same +kind once, at his dinner table, when all +his court were dining with him. Calling +to one of the Nomen who were +waiting, "Make haste, you brown rascal, +and fill me a glass of wine!" the words +were scarcely out of his mouth than he got a +smart sounding slap on his face, and his elbow +was violently jerked, so that he spilt all his +wine, whereupon the little lords and ladies +tittered, and some were so uncourtly as to +laugh outright, and say it "served him right," +which made Master King Philip wish he had +not been so bounceable.</p> + +<p>One evening, after they had been some +weeks on the island, the king told his courtiers +to prepare for a butterfly hunt, which he intended +to have the next day. Early on the +morrow they all assembled at the palace, +attired in green and white, and each carrying +an ivory rod, at the end of which was a green +net, with which to catch the butterflies. On +reaching the top of the staircase the little +lords went to the dressing-room of the king, +and the little ladies to that of the queen. Her +majesty was dressed in white satin trimmed +with green.</p> + +<p>"Won't you wear your crown?" asked +Rosetta.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know," said the queen, in +an undecided tone of voice. "Ought I? +Won't it be too heavy for the chase?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but kings and queens always wear +their crowns when they go out—don't they?" +said Rosetta, appealing to her companions.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; to be sure they do. Wear the +crown—do wear the crown!" they all cried, +clapping their hands.</p> + +<p>Pepitia did not require much persuasion on +the subject, as she dearly liked to be finely +dressed. And, indeed, when she had put it +on, and also her velvet train lined with satin +and trimmed with ermine, I must confess she +did look a charming young queen. The little +Dorinda was so struck with her appearance +that she screwed up her face into a comical +expression of surprise, and, holding up both +her hands, exclaimed—</p> + +<p>"Oh, my! Aren't you smart!"</p> + +<p>"But I don't like the way your hair is +done," said Amanda, who was disposed to be +quizzical.</p> + +<p>"Don't you?" rejoined the queen, tartly. +"Then you needn't."</p> + +<p>Amanda was on the point of making an +equally tart reply, when fortunately the king +appeared at the door, and so interrupted the +threatened dispute. He also wore his crown +and train, and, moreover, he carried the ball +and sceptre in his hand; for this little monarch +was not disposed to part with any of the +insignia of royalty, and thought he might as +well not be a king if he did not wear the grand +trappings belonging to his office.</p> + +<p>Then the whole party went down into the +hall to be marshalled into proper order by +Alphonse, who always took upon himself to +be master of the ceremonies whenever he +could get a chance. This was not effected +without a vast deal of chattering and confusion; +and report says that one or two +sounds like "Shan't!" "Shall!" were distinctly +heard, followed by what sounded like, +and probably was, a slap.</p> + +<p>The little train-bearers were especially difficult +to manage, owing to their constantly +wanting to speak to one or other of their +companions in the rear, which inclination +occasioned their majesties several unmajestic +jerks from behind, and, of course, called forth +a sharp reprimand from the majesty so pulled; +the only effect of which was a vast deal of +giggling amongst the little girls, and the +making of droll faces by the little boys.</p> + +<p>"Please, queen, Edmund's making a face!" +cried a little lady-in-waiting, looking at the +culprit and speaking to the queen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you story-teller!" cried Edmund, +indignantly. "I ain't."</p> + +<p>"I'll box your ears if you do so again, you +rude boy," said the queen, turning sharp +round on the guilty Edmund. At this threat +the urchin made a queer grimace, and then +pretended to cry, sobbing out, "Oh, please, +queen, don't!"</p> + +<p>At length all were got into their proper +places, and the procession set out. The king +and queen, with their train-bearers, marched +first, then strode consequential Master Alphonse, +and the rest of the party followed, +two and two, all singing a jingling rhyme as +they marched, and swinging their nets to the +tune. This is what they sang:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Bring your nets and make haste;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come away to the butterfly chase,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Up the meadow and through the dell,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">By the path we know so well;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Shout loud, jump high,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And haste to catch the butterfly."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>When they came to the dell where most +butterflies were to be found they all separated +and got their nets ready, whilst Alphonse +took a thin switch and gently beat amongst +the flowers, which grew in great profusion.</p> + +<p>Presently a cloud of large, brilliant butterflies +flew up, and the children, shouting, +started off in chase of them. The train-bearers +were not proof against the excitement +of the moment, and, quite forgetting their post +of honour, scampered off pell-mell with the +rest, leaving their majesties looking rather +foolish.</p> + +<p>"The rude little things, to run off in that +manner!" cried the queen.</p> + +<p>"Here, I say, you Alphonse!" shouted the +king, forgetting his dignity, "come back! I +shan't play if you're going off like that. Come +back."</p> + +<p>But Alphonse was too busy chasing a brown +and gold butterfly to heed King Philip or +anybody else.</p> + +<p>Just then there flew past an immense +butterfly with wings of crimson, black, and +gold. Philip immediately forgot all about +being a king; away went ball and sceptre, and +off he started in full chase. Now the queen +loved butterflies no less than the king, so no +sooner did she see him take to his heels than +she started off in pursuit of the same butterfly.</p> + +<p>Away they both went, their trains flying +behind them, over hillocks and through bushes, +quite regardless of their fine clothing.</p> + +<p>The butterfly led them a fine dance; many +a time they thought they had got it, but it +always managed to fly off just as the extended +thumb and finger were about to close upon it. +Philip and Pepitia were tired, though by no +means inclined to give up the chase, when the +butterfly burrowed itself deep into a convolvulus +flower that grew on the top of a not very +high bank.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall have him," cried Philip, as +they both scrambled up the bank. But, alack +and alas! Pepitia's foot got caught in her long +train just as she got to the top of the bank, +and down she fell, roly-poly, to the bottom.</p> + +<p>Poor Pepitia! she quite forgot she was a +queen, and began to cry most lustily, not the +less because she could not use her arms to +raise herself, for in her tumble she had got so +rolled round and round in her train that she +could not move her limbs.</p> + +<p>Philip ran quickly to her assistance, and +soon extricated her from her embarrassment, +but as she still continued to cry, he tenderly, +for he was a tender-hearted boy, sat her down +on a grassy mound and tried to console her.</p> + +<p>"What is the matter? Have you hurt yourself, +dear?"</p> + +<p>But Pepitia only sobbed and sobbed instead +of answering, partly because she was hurt, +and partly because she was vexed, and the +poor little king began to fear she would never +leave off crying.</p> + +<p>"I wish that Alphonse and the rest would +come back," said he, feeling disposed to pick +a quarrel with "that" Alphonse when he did +come.</p> + +<p class="center">(<i>To be concluded.</i>)</p> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus011.png" width="400" height="140" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="AFTERNOON_TEA" id="AFTERNOON_TEA"></a>AFTERNOON TEA.</h2> + +<p class="center">(<i>See Frontispiece.</i>)</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 375px; height: 650px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus012a.png" width="300" height="616" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">A pretty cottage, and maidens three,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Blithe and happy as maids can be,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Out in the garden at afternoon tea.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Just such a feast as girls will make—<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fruit and flowers and a big plum cake,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And plenty of laughter for laughter's sake.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The sunflowers nodded their heads so tall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The dahlias smiled 'neath the moss-grown wall,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The three little maids outdid them all.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I warrant me in that garden gay<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Was never a bloom more fair than they,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">As they sipped their tea on that summer day.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Three little maids. Ah! one is dead,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And one is married; and one, unwed,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Now lives alone in the old homestead.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">There are silver threads in her golden hair,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Her cheek is pallid and lined with care,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Yet is she still accounted fair.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And daily her gracious, tender ways<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Win a more loving meed of praise<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Than did the prime of her girlish days.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Yes, youth will wane as the years go by;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Too soon do the rose-leaves scattered lie,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">But charms there are which may never die.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">And hence it happens that oft we trace<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Through timeworn features the soul's sweet grace,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And beauty lives in a faded face.<br /></span> +</div></div> + + +<p style="text-align: right;"><span class="smcap">Sydney Grey.</span></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus012b.png" width="500" height="324" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="HEALTHY_LIVES_FOR_WORKING_GIRLS" id="HEALTHY_LIVES_FOR_WORKING_GIRLS"></a>HEALTHY LIVES FOR WORKING GIRLS.</h2> + +<p>"Grant her in health and wealth long to live."</p> + +<p>These are the words in which many of us, +Sunday after Sunday, pray for our gracious +Queen. We desire for her health and wealth; +and justly so; both are necessary. The one +for her comfort, and to enable her to perform +her arduous duties; the other for her exalted +rank and position.</p> + +<p>For ourselves, however, it is to be hoped +we rarely pray for what is termed wealth; +but, on the other hand, how needful it is that +we should supplicate unceasingly for health. +"Grant me health, Lord, to perform my daily +task." We have, indeed, need to ask for that +unpurchasable, that priceless blessing. If we +possess it already, we need to implore its +continuance; if we have lost it, so much the +more earnestly and devoutly should we solicit a +return to its paths. Yes, next to the possession +of a healthy conscience, we hold physical +health to be the greatest of all gifts, but, like +most of the grandest, fairest, and divinest +things on earth, many of us accept it as a +matter of course. And when, through our +own want of forethought, through neglect of +the most ordinary rules of health, through +reckless indifference, we are forced practically +to acknowledge that the most robust health +has its limits of endurance, then we chafe and +pine; and life, which seemed such a joyous, +easy thing a month ago, is now a dreary +burden, duty a heavy chain, pleasure a fiction; +and self, weary self, rises in the ascendant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +occupies all our sympathies and thoughts, and +leaves us dissatisfied and indifferent, ungrateful +and ungracious.</p> + +<p>There are those who believe that by not +attending to or neglecting their health they +are acting unselfishly. They say it is so +selfish to be always considering whether this +is good or harmful or that is likely to encroach +upon the domain of health. If this sentiment +is carried to the verge of hypochondria, we +grant its truth. There is nothing more odious +than a person who is constantly looking out +for the weathercocks, and who, as soon as he +finds the wind in a certain quarter, shuts himself +up, and carefully excludes all intercourse +from the outer world; or who can trace certain +symptoms—the hypochondriacs' pet word—to +the extra spoonful of salt or sugar in yesterday's +seasoning; who is a bore to his surroundings +and a melancholy object of interest +to himself; who is nothing but a useless encumbrance +upon the face of the earth.</p> + +<p>This is not the taking care which we advise +or suggest. Things good in themselves may +be perverted into errors by the spirit and the +want of judgment with which they are pursued, +and we fervently believe that if our prayer for +health is answered, it will be first by the +opening of our own eyes to facts and laws to +which we were hitherto blind, or of which we +have been ignorant, than to the practical +observance of these laws, and our willingness +to be subject to them.</p> + +<p>But it is not of those who are merely inconvenienced +by illness that we would speak +to-day. Not of those who are only subjected +to the loss of a little pleasure, a good deal of +temper, and who are learning a lesson in being +patient. In a word, we do not write for the +well-to-do invalid, but for a very different +class. Our remarks are intended especially +for those of "our girls" to whom health is, +perhaps, the only capital they possess. To +whom loss of health means loss of work, loss +of wage, anxiety, which aggravates matters, +and perhaps serious privations to those in any +way dependent upon their exertions.</p> + +<p>Yes, the army of girl and women workers +in this great metropolis is, indeed, a vast one, +and work for them is no sinecure. If they +cannot work so thoroughly or efficiently as +men, at least it is for them greater toil than +for the sterner sex. Of a more delicate +organisation, of less robust frame, of smaller +powers of endurance, the "buffets of fortune" +meet with less resistance, and are more readily +yielded to. Added to this, men have the +advantage of being early trained to the +habit of work which many of our girls have +not, and they have greater facilities afforded +them for outdoor exercise, of which they very +readily avail themselves. These are all advantages +which women do not possess, or if they +do, it is after a careful course of acquired +systematic training with a view to meet those +demands upon their health and strength which +are entailed by the continued and steady +application to one branch of labour or to one +particular profession. There is no doubt that +a girl cannot take up an engagement which +demands her daily presence at a stated place +and at a given time, to perform duties which +perhaps require the concentration of mental +powers, and very frequently the maintenance +of the body in one position for many hours +together. There is no doubt, we repeat, that +unless such avocations are begun and continued +with decidedly common-sense views as to diet, +hygiene, and general deportment, but little +time will elapse ere our girl will succumb for +a greater or less period to the unusual fatigue +and the unwonted restrictions to which she +has to submit.</p> + +<p>It is fatal in such cases to regard health from +a careless or indifferent standpoint. It is a +question which must be considered by every +one of the legion of working girls and women +who labour for their own, and often for others' +bread. Looking at it from the most practical +standpoint, it will be found to be the greatest +economy in the end. If the health is kept +at a fair standard of excellence, the mental +powers are maintained in a state of useful +energy. As soon as health is below par, even +when not sufficiently so as to force us to desist +from work, the brain loses its elasticity; we +are dull, become mere machines instead of intelligent +workers, and our duty gets irksome and +fails to interest us. And here let us interpose +one word. If we wish to spare ourselves that +most wearying of all sensations, that fatal +sense of boredom and disgust for our daily +task which sometimes creeps in upon us, we +must try with all our hearts to take an interest +in what our hands find to do. "Whatsoever +thy hand findeth to do that do with thy +might." It is not only right to think and act +up to this; it is the greatest wisdom also; for +our own comfort and happiness. Work done +with a will only takes half the time in doing. +The hours fly, and the sense of weariness has +no time to creep in. This is a spirit, it will be +found, which can be easily cultivated, and will, +after a little effort, come quite naturally, much +to our benefit in every way.</p> + +<p>It has seemed to us, in spite of the great +advance that has been made in the teaching +of hygiene, and the possession by many of a +fair knowledge of the laws which govern it, +that there is still a lamentable want of +practicability in its application; that is to +say, the theories we learn, and to which we +subscribe, are rarely, and then very imperfectly, +carried out in actual individual life. We grant +that great improvements are visible on all +sides, in what we might term general hygiene; +but where we perceive a great deficiency still, +is in that personal application of the laws of +health which must and can only be properly +applied by individuals to themselves, so as to +make them fit into the circumstances under +which they exist.</p> + +<p>It will not help our girls much, for instance, +to have learnt the number of cubic feet of +oxygen that is necessary for turning the purple +blood into scarlet—the amount of nitrogenous, +phosphatic, carbonaceous, and other elements +which are requisite for building up new tissue, +etc., etc., and many other dry facts of a +kindred nature, if she does not put this +knowledge to practical use. There is a wide +division between facts thus learnt off glibly at +school and the practical application of them +to our daily wants.</p> + +<p>The human body, if it is to be maintained +in but a fair state of health, requires a certain +amount of fresh air—a certain amount of flesh-forming, +bone-forming, brain-forming, and +warmth-giving nutriment. Our girls require +to have a tolerable, if not exactly a faultless, +circulation, in order that these various foodstuffs +may be digested, <i>i.e.</i>, converted into +these flesh, bone, and brain-forming tissues. +In order to have a tolerable circulation, the +body must have a regular amount of exercise +and of fresh air. There, in a nutshell, +is the secret of the whole matter. Given a +fairly normal state of health to begin with, +that health may be maintained by a little wise +direction of our actions towards supplying the +really very moderate demands of Nature, upon +which, however, modest as they are, she insists, +to enable her to carry on the process of healthy +life. Deprive her of that little, and the results +are such as we too frequently see—broken-down +health from overwork (so-called) +of many of our busy sisters. It is our intention +here to endeavour to put this plainly +before our girls.</p> + +<p>We will imagine, then, that some of our +girls have to pass many—say eight or ten—hours +of their days in work; that that work is +sedentary work; that our girls are very apt to +stoop, for their poor backs get weary sometimes. +We will imagine that it is winter, and +sitting as they do all day, they like to have all +the windows closed. Our girls will not feel +very hungry when meal-time comes, especially +if they have to provide their own meals. In +fact, many of our girls practise a little economy +in this direction, if the choice of doing so +rests with them. Economy, we all know, is +imperative in many conditions of life—not +only amongst working girls; and it is a serious +matter to practise it wisely—to determine +and mark clearly the line that divides the +luxuries from the necessities. In the former +practise as much economy as you will; in the +latter it is only a false way of meeting matters +which will have to be balanced by-and-by with +heavy interest.</p> + +<p>Well, our girls not being very hungry (for +their lungs are full of impure air, and they feel +tired and weary—rather sleepy too—all from +the same cause), they think they will make +themselves "a nice cup of tea—strong, you +know." They do not care whether they have +milk with it or not, so long as the tea is strong +and gives them a fillip. With this they will +eat a little roll and butter or bread and cheese. +This so-called meal is either partaken of in +the room in which they work, or our girls go +out for it. In the latter case they stand a +little better chance; for often the fact of going +out of the room in which they have been +seated all the morning brings with it a sense +of returning appetite, and induces them to +procure a more substantial meal. But even +this is rarely the case; for they have an odd +sinking at the chest, and if they eat a heavy +meal and sit down directly after it, they +get that weight behind their waistbands, +they cannot breathe, and they feel altogether +miserable. They do not feel like this, they +think, after the good, strong tea—the clearest +proof to them that they should look to it as a +main resource during the midday rest. Probably +tea is again hailed with delight during +another break in the work-hours; and at the +end of the day our weary one is so fearfully +tired, although she has been sitting all day, +that she feels as though her limbs would never +carry her home. Come what may, she must +ride. She puts herself into the first Underground +Railway carriage that will take her to +her destination, and, exchanging the carbonic +acid gas of the workroom for the sulphurous +gas of the underground tunnels, she arrives +home spent and utterly tired out, longing to +get to bed and rest her weary limbs and pillow +the poor, fatigued head. In the morning, +feeling refreshed after Nature's kind and grateful +rest, she plucks up again and walks to the +scene of her duties. But she has to be there +by a certain time, and, somehow, she always +manages to be just a little late in starting, so +that at the last she has to hurry to arrive at +the appointed hour. She looks at every clock +she passes; she starts at some which tell her +that it is later than she thought, feels relieved +at others which are more merciful; and, putting +on an extra spurt at the last, manages to +arrive just to the minute.</p> + +<p>But what good can our girl get from a walk +taken under such circumstances? It is ten +times as fatiguing—the mind is harassed, the +heart is beating wildly, and the breathing is +short and hurried.</p> + +<p>The routine of the previous day is then repeated. +There is the same shyness of air, the +same imperfect meal, the same lassitude, the +same finale.</p> + +<p>Pursue this course, or one similar to it, for +a few months and we defy any girl to keep +well. She may not yet break down altogether, +but she will have lapsed from positive into +negative health, and the merest straw may +turn her negative health into actual bodily +incapacity—which means the loss of work and +wages to which we have referred.</p> + +<p>And is it to be wondered at? Our girl has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +been steadily withholding from Nature all +those elements upon which she imperatively +insists as the condition under which alone she +will consent to carry on her work. Long-suffering +she is, and ever eager to repair any +neglect that has not been carried too far. +Only return to the right path, and she busily +sets to work to make good the ravages which +have followed upon our ignorance or neglect of +her laws. But it must be the right path. +None other will do. She will not be cajoled +into working with any other than her own +simple tools.</p> + +<p>Our girls have withheld from her air, food, +exercise—the three great factors of her powers—and +have given for them miserable substitutes. +Though kind, she cannot be put off +with excuses. She is inexorable, and the same +results will follow our neglect of her laws, +whether it be due to a want of acquaintance +with them or want of attention. It is as much, +if not more, from these causes, then, that our +girl has become ill than from the supposed +overwork. Overwork might have been the +immediate cause; that is to say, her collapse +might have followed upon a little extra pressure +or hurry of work; but the real cause will +be found to lie in that steady neglect of the +primary laws of health to which we have +alluded, and upon which too much emphasis +cannot be laid. Had it not been so, the +fatigue engendered by an extra hour's work +would have been set right by a good night's +rest.</p> + +<p>And when our girl is ill, her recovery will +depend upon the degree to which she is +enabled to meet the demands of Nature. If +she can have plenty of rest, peace of mind, +fresh air, light, digestible, and nourishing food, +sunshine, and genial surroundings, she will +soon be herself again. But if our brave worker +has not these indispensables, or has them in a +chance, get-me-if-you-can sort of way, then +she lingers on, and often rises from her couch +but half cured, and plunges on again under the +old conditions, until something occurs which +some persons call "a chance," some by +another name, which mercifully changes the +current of her life for a while, or perhaps for a +permanency.</p> + +<p>It is said that "men do work while women +weep." That is part of an old-time ditty. In +this generation women do not leave all the +work to their brothers, and we will hope that +in proportion as we work more, so we weep +less. And women are not to be pitied that it +is so. Work is one of the greatest of blessings, +and when its aim is high, is, we believe, +blessed. There is no reason why our work +should be irksome to us, or should be aught +but a pleasure. We must make up our minds +to a certain number of disagreeables, and be +prepared to meet them as they arise; but +beyond that we should endeavour to take a +pleasure in our work and a pride in its correct +fulfilment. This will be easy to do with +health, but without it will require more moral +resolution than many of us possess.</p> + +<p>Let us then turn this subject over in our +minds and see if nothing can be done to make +matters a little smoother; to enable us to be +happy in our work-a-day lives; to lessen the +chances of becoming ill, and, in spite of circumstances, +to meet Nature's demands in one +way or another.</p> + +<p>First, then, as to air. That early morning walk +is a good thing. It is well to get the lungs filled +with pure morning air. Even in the London +streets the air is tolerably good at that time. +But many of our girls live a little way from +the crowded streets, and only come into them +for business or professional purposes. Some +live too far to walk the whole distance into +town. If that is the case, they should ride +part of the distance. They should choose for +the walking that part of the route which has +the most trees about it, going a little out of +their way even to walk through one of the +parks or squares. They should not hurry, but +should take care previously to allow themselves +ample time. This can quite well be done by +a little management, and when our girls are +imbued with a sense of its importance we are +sure will be. They should, if possible, meet +one of their companions who is going the same +way, and should chat to their hearts' content. +(We are not afraid of the non-performance of +this part of our prescription.) This will +exercise the lungs, send plenty of fresh air into +them, and lessen fatigue. A walk, under such +conditions, is of untold value.</p> + +<p>Our girl then will begin her day in better +spirits. She will feel in a lighter mood; difficulties +will be brushed aside. Instead of a +furtive glance at the clock, and a thankful gasp +that she has arrived in time, she will never +think of the hour till she enters the room, for +she has not troubled her mind about it, knowing +she has given herself ample time. With +all the arts of persuasion at her command she +will then seek to lead her companions to have +the windows open, just a chink or two at the +top; and will gradually lead them round to +her own conviction of the necessity for fresh +air, and of the great desirability there is for an +outlet for the carbonised air which is being +emitted by one and all from their lungs. +Before long she will have gained her point, +and the open window will be a daily fact.</p> + +<p>We are speaking now, of course, of our +sensible girl, the one who has taken in the +justice of our remarks, and who intends to act +up to them as far as she can.</p> + +<p>At luncheon time she will produce from her +store some well cut sandwiches, made preferably +with brown bread, and, with heroic determination, +refuse tea (for it is hard to give up a +habit), and will, instead, regale herself with a +glass of milk, or a cup of cocoa; or, if she has +neither of these, she will make a little strong +beef-tea of Liebig's extract of meat, and partake +of it with her roll and butter, remembering +that, by the addition of an egg, she will +make her broth more sustaining.</p> + +<p>If she goes out to a restaurant and does not +care for meat, she will recollect that its properties +may be found more or less in eggs, in +milk, in lentils, in haricot beans, in oatmeal, +and in peas. Oatmeal porridge and milk +form an excellent, inexpensive, and nutritious +lunch or midday dinner. In some form or +other one of these nitrogenous foods should be +taken during the midday meal; and, if the +taste and finances permit, should be supplemented +by a little fresh, stewed, or dried fruit. +Fruit is most wholesome, and is well enclosed +within the border line of necessities.</p> + +<p>Then, when tea time comes round, our +sensible girl will either take milk again, or +else will dilute her tea largely with milk, or, +failing that, with water, and will refuse +altogether to drink tea that has "stood" for +more than a quarter of an hour. In the +evening she will feel less tired (<i>i.e.</i>, less +exhausted from want of air and food), and will +repeat her method of procedure of the morning +on her journey home. Arrived there, she will +feel far less weary and exhausted, and will +enjoy a quiet, social evening, a book, a little +music, or some such relaxation.</p> + +<p>But we can hear her, O. S. G., saying, after +pursuing this <i>régime</i> for awhile, "It is true I +am better in a great many ways, but I do still +have back-ache, I do still have the weight in +my chest, which I know now to be indigestion; +you say nothing about that. Even your pea-soup +or your oatmeal porridge punishes me, +and make me wish we could altogether live +without eating."</p> + +<p>Be not so impatient, my dear sensible one, +we are coming to that now. One great +reason of your back-ache is that stoop of +yours. You seem to think it essential to +maintain your spine in the shape of the letter +C. You have got into a very bad habit, and +if you try now to sit upright you get as tired as +possible—your back, too, is not the only +sufferer; your digestive organs are all cruelly +cramped—all the delicate machinery, by the +aid of which occur the changes of the food in +its conversion to the different bodily tissues, is +impeded in its action, is hemmed in, is fretted. +Instead of a free circulation, and an unimpeded +course between all the channels of communication, +the functions of digestion are carried +on with difficulty, and the stooping pose is the +cause of many other complications into which +we have not space to enter here.</p> + +<p>We have said that exercise is necessary. A +great part of that is indeed gained by the walk +to and from business. But that is not sufficient. +Indeed, we do not consider that walking +exercise, exclusive of any other, is sufficient +to keep the body in health; but in the +instance we are imagining it is especially +insufficient. The body ill brooks being kept +in one posture for any length of time; and +during sedentary occupation some of the +muscles are maintained in a state of extension, +whilst others are as unduly kept in a state of +relaxation. These relative conditions, kept up +as they are for hours and hours, cannot fail to +have their marked results on the health of our +girl. If she were at home, she would throw +her work aside, get up and walk about a little, +or run upstairs to stretch out her limbs; but +in business this is not to be thought of; so +she must bear it as best she can. Not so, +say we. There is even here a remedy—even +here a way of procuring an immense amount +of relief. Our only fear for its adoption, however, +rests in its extreme simplicity. But +when our girl thinks a little more she will +learn that all really great and effective things +are simple, and that it is only their useless +wrappings that blind people to their real simple +grandeur. We shall give O. S. G. our remedy +in its modest garb of truthfulness, and she will, +we think, not reject it. We would advise her, +then, three or four times during the day, to +stand upright by her chair—she need not even +move from her place—throw her shoulders +back, stretch her head up, expand her chest, +and arch the spine well inwards, remaining in +that position for at least half a minute. This +will entirely change the posture of all the +muscles, those which before were expanded +being now contracted, and <i>vice versâ</i>. She +will then send her arms straight up over her +head, and either bring them down from there +like a wheel, or, if she has not room for this, +will bend her arms so as to form a V with +each arm, the two points of the V being respectively +the shoulder and hand and the lower +point the elbow. If done properly, this will +beautifully expand the chest, and will contract +the muscles of the back both laterally and +longitudinally. Our girl must take care, however, +to keep her head very erect, if she would +have the whole benefit of the exercise. The +whole business occupies about a minute and a +half; it is as easy and as simple as breathing; +and, we repeat, its usefulness is not to be +measured.</p> + +<p>The chief difficulty in this part of our <i>régime</i>, +after its extreme simplicity, will lie in its +novelty. It will seem absurd and ridiculous +to those who do not understand these matters, +but O. S. G. will have to learn to bear the +ridicule of others some time during her life, +and she might as well begin now. She may +be sure that only those will laugh at her whose +opinions are not worth considering, and if she +quietly persists in doing what is right, the +ridicule will first be changed into respect, and +then into imitation.</p> + +<p>O. S. G. must remember that her health +is her all. At least, it is the all of the girl of +whom we are speaking. Now, it is most imperative +that she should guard that health as +she would a treasure. Once aware of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +simple rules which must be observed to that +end, she will shape her actions so as to make +them fit in with the circumstances of her life.</p> + +<p>The dress of our girl workers is also a point +to be considered. It should be durable, suitable, +comfortable, and should be made simply +and practically. The dress is far better +when made in one, <i>i.e.</i>, not divided at the +waist, then the weight of the garment is +equally distributed over the body, from the +waist and shoulders. There should be no +steels or kindred impediments, which have to +be considered in sitting down. A durable +wool material, thicker in winter, thinner and +lighter in colour and texture in summer, is +always the most durable, and keeps its freshness +longer. The bodice should fit well and +comfortably at the neck and round the arm-holes, +so that there is no pressure anywhere.</p> + +<p>For a working gown there is nothing, in our +opinion, to equal the princess dress, made to +clear the ground, and modernised, if our girl +wills, by a flouncing, and a little puffed +drapery behind, either with or without a scarf +loosely tied round the waist.</p> + +<p>For slender girls the round-gathered dress +and bodice (in one) are very useful and suitable. +The principal advantage of the princess +dress is its continuity from the shoulders +downwards, leaving the waist free of bands +and tapes. With spotless collars and cuffs, +our girl will be both suitably and well dressed. +A good woollen combination under-garment +for warmth and protection from the cold, +thicker in winter, thinner in summer. One, or +at the most two, woollen petticoats, made +with sloping bands, to prevent pressure at the +waist, will form a very comfortable and practical +dress, and, moreover, one that will present +a very fair appearance.</p> + +<p>No, we know we have said nothing +about stays; we are no friend to them; +we dislike them heartily, and we shall never +rest until we can release our girls from their +trammels. We know the difficulties that present +themselves on all sides, but these can be +met and overcome. Once release our girls +from this bone and steel bondage, her health +will rise to a high state of excellence. But +she has so accustomed herself to use her stays +as a prop upon which she leans, that not without +great resolution on her part will she consent +to pass through the small discomfort of +the change.</p> + +<p>Once she has done so, however, she will +wonder that she never thought of it before, +so light, so free, so agile will she feel. These +stays are our girls' worst foes, and have as +much to answer for the indigestion as all else +put together.</p> + +<p>If our girls wish to be happy, merry workers, +as well as hard, responsible workers, they will +have to learn to do without stays; they will +have to train their own muscles to supply them +with the support they now seek in the corset.</p> + +<p>"How are we to do this?" we hear +some exclaim, who have followed us so far. +"How are we, who work from morn till eve, +to begin 'training our muscles?' We have +no time now for that sort of thing."</p> + +<p>Get a little more patience, dear girls. Reforms +go slowly, but steadily, if willing hearts +go together. We hope ere long to show you +that this, too, is possible.</p> + +<p>Meantime, for an immediate step in the +right direction, let us urge upon those who +have not the courage to throw aside the corset, +to set about rendering it less harmful. +Let the working corset be soft, and denuded +of its bones, and let the front steel be exchanged +for a very flexible one, and let the +stays, above all, be very loosely laced. We +feel we are weak in conceding thus much even, +but we look upon it as the thin end of the +wedge, which represents the fulfilment of our +aim.</p> + +<p>We think we have now said enough to set +our girls thinking, and though we have far +from exhausted our subject, we hope that each +reader will be able to deduce some hints +which may be applicable to herself.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="BOOKS_FOR_TIRED_GIRLS" id="BOOKS_FOR_TIRED_GIRLS"></a>BOOKS FOR TIRED GIRLS.</h2> + + +<p>Have not some readers of <span class="smcap">The Girl's Own +Paper</span> a few to spare?</p> + +<p>A little reading-room and library for business +girls is about to be opened in the new +Y.W.C.A. Buildings, 316, Regent-street, now +quickly nearing completion. Help is greatly +needed in making it really attractive for those +whose minds are hungry after the day's +mechanical work, but who are too weary to +take up a prosy volume.</p> + +<p>Brightly written works of history, biography, +natural history, travels, etc., would +be warmly welcomed, and good poetry and +fiction; also graver books, specially such as +would be helpful to Sunday-school teachers.</p> + +<p>Parcels should be addressed to Miss L. +Trotter, 316, Regent-street, London, who will +thankfully acknowledge them.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS" id="ANSWERS_TO_CORRESPONDENTS"></a>ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.</h2> + + +<h3>EDUCATIONAL.</h3> + +<p>H. F. and <span class="smcap">Conamara</span>.—Write to Griffith and Farran, +St. Paul's-churchyard, E.C., for a small shilling +manual called a "Directory of Girls' Clubs," which +will give you a large choice of educational, literary, +industrial, artistic, and religious societies instituted +for the benefit of girls, the cost being little more than +nominal.</p> + +<p>M. <span class="smcap">Hedge</span>.—The change of your address, from what +has been given in the "Directory of Girls' Clubs," +will probably cause you inconvenience, which it is +now too late to avoid. You should have named the +probability of a change. In any case, we can tell +our readers that those who wish to avail themselves +of your useful Society for Studying Languages, +should address the secretary at Lyndhurst Lodge, +Chelsea-road, Southsea, Hants.</p> + +<p>A. G. O. E.—We scarcely think that any system for +helping the memory for ordinary use would be of +service to you in the matter of playing long pieces of +music by heart; it is so much a mechanical operation, +the hands often acting while the mind is preoccupied +with other matters. Try to learn a simple air, not a +long piece of six pages.</p> + +<p>A <span class="smcap">Swiss Girl</span>.—The Cambridge and Oxford examinations +are open to students of all nationalities alike. +For information respecting those of either university, +write direct. If you wish to compete in the Cambridge +junior local examination, held in December, +you must be under seventeen. Write to the Rev. G. +F. Browne, St. Catherine's College; fee, £1. For +the Cambridge senior you must be under eighteen. +The Cambridge higher (local) examinations are held +in December and in June; fees, £1 and £2. An +honour certificate in this examination admits to +Tripos examinations the members of Girton and +Newnham who have resided during a sufficient +number of terms, provided the student has passed +a language and mathematics. If your age should +exclude you, you might go to the universities of +Edinburgh, Glasgow, or St. Andrews, where no +limitations are made in respect to age.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Guess</span>.—We advise you to write to the British chaplain +of the Embassy Chapel, in the Rue d'Aguesseau, +for information and the best advice, as he has +taken a special interest in the matter of English +girls being sent to French schools, and has publicly +addressed the question in all its many bearings. +Address the British Chaplain.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Anxious Mother</span>.—See our answer to "Guess." +There is a French Protestant institution, directed +by Madame Yeatman Monoury, 27, Bd. Eugène, +Parc de Neuilly, Paris, which is, or was, patronised +by the Rev. Canon Fleming, the late Bishop of +Carlisle, Bishop of Down, Lord Napier of Magdala, +and other persons of consideration. There is also a +Protestant school at 27, Rue des Bois, près du Bois +de Boulogne, for which the charge amounts to £60 +per annum. Apply to the lady directress, Mademoiselle +Jonte.</p> + + +<h3>ART.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Colonial Subject</span>.—The illuminating body mentioned +is used on parchment and hot-pressed drawing-paper. +It is mixed with the water-colours to +render them opaque.</p> + +<p>R. C. M.—1. To press flowers, gather them when dry, +not quite full-blown, and before the sun has faded +them; press them between sheets of botanical-paper, +change and dry the latter constantly. 2. You can +draw an outline upon a mirror with red pencil and +Indian ink. It is better, however, to mark the +design through tracing-paper with a knitting-needle.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Asthore</span> and <span class="smcap">Dolly</span>.—The generality of the advertisements +named by you are not to be relied on, and +we advise your not spending your money as you +propose.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Larry Wilfer</span>.—Female art scholarships are conferred +by the Slade School, by the Crystal Palace +School of Art, and by the National Art Training +School, South Kensington. Apply for farther information +to the secretaries of each of these schools.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Would-be Artist</span>.—There is a school of wood-engraving +at 122, Kennington Park-road. The yearly +fee for instruction is £3, and free scholarships after +the first year are obtainable by students. These +latter must be upwards of sixteen years of age.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Princess Peace</span>.—1. There is a preparation sold by +Lechertier and Barbe for fixing chalk drawings. It +is a liquid, which is blown upon the picture when +finished with an apparatus resembling a scent-spray +(price 2s.). 2. If you can obtain regular employment +from a good firm, wood-carving is profitable, +especially when you can originate your designs; but +these appointments are not to be had every day. +Show some of your work to an upholsterer, or a +carver and gilder, and you may either obtain an +engagement or at least an order.</p> + + +<h3>HOUSEKEEPING.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Young Wife</span> is certainly entitled to display any +large articles of silver she may possess on her sideboard +in the dining-room.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pastora</span> should have the silver cleaned by a silversmith. +2. A recipe for "pot pourri" has lately been +given.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Farmer's Daughter</span>.—The feathers required a +very much longer time for drying, and must also be +"stripped," as it is called, <i>i.e.</i>, all the large thick +stalks taken out. It is these which have not dried, +and retain the animal particles, causing the smell.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Pincher</span> and <span class="smcap">Freda</span>.—A recipe for "pot pourri" was +given at page 224, vol. v.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Young Domestic</span>.—We should recommend the +eiderdown quilt being sent to a cleaner's, as it will +only lead to disappointment if you wash it at home. +Put a little glycerine on the tea-stain before it goes +to the wash.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Primrose</span> should try a little tripoli and water +upon the surface of the table. It will remove the +spots.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Primevere</span>.—There have been no other papers but +those you mention on "Economical Housekeeping," +but we shall probably give more on both subjects.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Willoughby</span>.—We do not think that either green +gooseberry jam or jelly can be kept green; they +always boil a light red.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Novice in Housekeeping</span>.—If you paid more +attention to ascertaining what meat, game, fish, +poultry, fruit, and vegetables were in season (fully +in), and then procured them at places where you had +not to pay for extra high rents, as you do when +shops are situated in expensive localities, you would +bring down your bills greatly.</p> + + +<h3>MISCELLANEOUS.</h3> + +<p><span class="smcap">Inky Pen</span>.—We sympathise much with your anxiety, +but we can only say to you as we say to all who wish +to succeed in literary work, you must try and try +again for a long time before you will succeed, and +success is not even then assured.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">E. Mc. T.</span>—Your sedentary life as a dressmaker does +not agree with you. You should try to take more +exercise and warming food. Dress in woollen under-clothing, +and rub the body well in the morning with +a cloth dipped in salt and water.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Violet Vernon</span>.—We have heard that the homœopathists +have a special cure for such little excrescences.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Tom-Tit</span> writes very well. The 2nd of January, 1865, +was a Monday.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Nymphia Alla</span>.—Disease or weakness of the nervous +system is often, unhappily, an inheritance from our +parents. Not that they may be nervous themselves, +but that their course of life—late hours, over-taxed +brain, poor living, fast living, drink, or bad constitution, +etc., result, one or more, in bequeathing a +wretched inheritance of weak nerves, not positive +disease, to their children. Live generously, go to +bed early, be much in the open air, and take a tonic +if required, and by a doctor's advice.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Alone</span>.—We sympathise with you, and approve of the +sentiments you express in verse; but the latter is not +even correct in composition, quite apart from its lack +of any ideality, which is inseparable from true poetry. +No sentence should be divided (excepting as a joke +in a burlesque piece) between two lines thus—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"But 'what' He was preparing <i>for</i><br /></span> +<span class="i0"><i>Him</i> was not on earth; it was where"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>B. W. complains of "taking fits of laughter into her +head." Evidently, she has apartments to let in that +repository. In any case, it is well that she should +find so much to entertain her and feel so bright and +happy. This state of things will only change too +soon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fiddlesticks</span>.—Your verses have been written without +due knowledge of metrical composition.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Maty Gerty</span>.—We are glad to hear that you have +rosy cheeks. Surely you would not like to look like +a washed-out, pasty-faced, sickly little girl? Young +folks often get spots in the face from eating too fast, +swallowing half-masticated food, and indulging in +too much jam and sugar and "lollypops." By this +means they spoil their teeth as well as their +skin.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Gladys</span>.—Your neck should be examined by a good +surgeon. You may have broken some small tendons, +and need to be bandaged. It might be desirable to +go to one of our first-class hospitals, and so get the +opinion of more than one experienced surgeon. You +write a pretty hand. On no account change it to +the coarse "park-paling" style of writing which so +many girls affect to look "strong-minded." They do +not take us in by it!</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Very Grateful Woman</span>.—Homœopathic doctors +give vegetable medicines—not minerals. The principle +of the system is "like cures like." Allopaths +give drugs of a directly opposite +character to the disease, instead +of that which, taken in health +and in different proportions, +would produce the disease to be +cured.</p> + +<p>L. M. O.—The famous +Library of Alexandria +was burnt by the Saracens +in 642 <span class="smcap">a.d.</span> It +was a union of two +collections. One was +made by the +Ptolemies, and +the other was +that of Pergamus, +formed by Eumenes, +and given by Mark +Antony to Cleopatra. +Eumenes was a chief +officer in the army of +Alexander, and well +worthy to succeed +him, as he did.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;"> +<img src="images/gop_86_10_30_illus016.png" width="600" height="751" alt="RULES + +I. No charge is made for answering questions. + +II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym. + +III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any +of the questions. + +IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the +post. + +V. No more than two questions may be asked in one +letter, which must be addressed to the Editor of +The Girl's Own Paper, 56, Paternoster-row, +London, E.C. + +VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter +of the nature of an advertisement +will be inserted." title="" /> +<span class="caption">RULES<br /> +<br /> +I. No charge is made for answering questions.<br /> +<br /> +II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym.<br /> +<br /> +III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any +of the questions.<br /> +<br /> +IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the +post.<br /> +<br /> +V. No more than two questions may be asked in one +letter, which must be addressed to the Editor of +The Girl's Own Paper, 56, Paternoster-row, +London, E.C.<br /> +<br /> +VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter +of the nature of an advertisement +will be inserted.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class="smcap">Joey</span>.—We will consider +your wishes in future, +if possible.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Unhappy S</span>. (we cannot read the name).—We feel for +you much in being separated from a home so dear to +you; but you must look away from all second and +human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand +of One who is as good and as merciful as He is wise +and mighty. If you wish for peace and real happiness, +seek His favour and guidance and personal +care in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, +and ask Him to give you a contented spirit, and grace +to be thankful and reverently loving towards "Him +who first loved us."</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Rosebud</span>.—Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and +let them be very easy and wide in the toe.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">America</span>.—You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's +(Susan Warner's) works in any encyclopædia. We +have not room in our over-crowded correspondence +column for long lists of books, so only give the chief +works of interest.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sweet Nineteen</span> (?).—The young ladies of a family +are called Miss Edith, Miss Margaret, etc., by +gentlemen who do not know them well.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Iona</span> would not require to know the name of the head +of the department. She should ask for the secretary +or the head clerk.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Primrose</span>.—Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, +and of very ancient and distinguished family; but +he became a Christian by conviction. Having had +no personal acquaintance with him, we could not +possibly answer such a question as yours, even were +it right to do so.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Daisy</span> A.—Your contribution is declined, with thanks. +It is not devoid of merit, but needs more experience +in writing.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Georgiana</span> W.—We are much obliged, but do not +think the essay fit for our amateur page, nor is the +subject new nor interesting enough.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Eton Gardens</span> had better wear gloves to protect the +hands. We know no other way.</p> + +<p>A <span class="smcap">Fiji Girl</span>.—The work of a bookkeeper is the same +almost everywhere. She keeps books, and in a hotel +she would make out the +accounts of the visitors, +of course.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Damaris</span>.—The lady bows +first, of course, if she has +been formally introduced. +Invite the brother, certainly. +If you know +the family you do not need a separate introduction +to him.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Laura</span>.—We have always prophets of evil amongst +our friends, and a celebrated American advises that +"no one should prophesy unless he knows." There +are no reasons for believing that there are any real +inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Struggling Bird</span>.—We sympathise with you; but +in committing your way to God in prayer, you do the +best that we could recommend. It is best to avoid +any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so +wild and wilful; but should she do anything very +wrong, you will have to lay the case before your +father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. +You are right in regarding example as better than +precept.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Camomile</span> is thanked for her grateful letter. If she +used a better pen her friends would like her writing +better.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Fernie</span>.—1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus +exposed to the trying winds from that quarter, to +which you specially object. Ventnor, in the Isle of +Wight, various places on the south coast of England +and in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and +the Isle of Sark, would suit your mother. The latter +island is specially ordered as a cure for asthma. +2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper, +varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sirena</span>.—If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of +course take off one glove at afternoon tea.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Young Wife</span>.—We are not quite sure that we +should advise any business man to give up in +England and go to Australia unless he saw his way +very clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your +friend who has already emigrated, and take his +advice on the subject? Write also for full particulars +of expenses and advice to the secretary of the +Colonial Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, +Portman-square, W. The rates of passage, third-class, +are, £18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class, +from £20 to £28; third-class, £17 to £21.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Loyal Irish Girl</span>.—We are very glad that you +have been improved by the late competition. We +are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is +very creditably written and composed.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Sweet William</span>.—Directions for bookbinding were +given in vol. ii., pages 342, 426, and 810.</p> + +<p>R. L. I.—Our paper can be got in all the colonies. +Many thanks for the information that the free grants +of land were stopped in Tasmania in January last.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Nursery Governess</span>, we think, is unhappy and discontented +because she dwells on herself and her own +feelings too much, and thinks too little of other people +and their happiness. She must try to live most in +others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As +yet she fails to comprehend the Christ-like character +which is so lovely an acquisition, and the higher +service to which we are destined by following Him +in all things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, +in so doing is the happiest and truest life to be +found.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Young Lochinvar</span> should bear in mind the enormous +ages attained by the antediluvian patriarchs, and that +the world around them was so quickly populated +that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people +who possibly, as he thought, would regard him +as a monster to be driven from amongst them. A +long course of years succeeded that on which he slew +his brother through envy and a hatred as to what +was holy and God-fearing. In the first days of man +upon earth they married their sisters, there being no +physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God.</p> + +<p>M. R. (Norwood).—We pity you! To what a miserable, +unwholesome state of deformity you have reduced +yourself! We do not open our columns to persons +who boast of having so far degraded themselves.</p> + +<p>F. M. C.—On no account take a cold bath if it do not +agree with you. Have it tepid, or as warm as you +feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet were warmed +you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th +June, 1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an +easy instrument to learn, and requires a good ear; +but we should recommend it in preference to the +banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited +for general music.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lizzie Mattie Clover</span>.—Coals are called "black +diamonds" because coals and diamonds are both +carbon.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Single Dahlia</span>.—You do not name your age. Try +St. Mary's Hospital, Paddington, W. Write to the +matron. We could not say whether it would be +against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Hopeful</span>.—Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical +man, and take plenty of exercise and a tepid bath +every morning.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Lucy</span>.—From what you say of your being "saucy" +to your stepmother, and that you are slapped +"whenever you tell lies," and that you think you +"ought to do as you choose," we see that you have +been a spoilt child, and deserve some sort of correction. +You are evidently well and suitably fed. +We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were +good, obedient, and respectful, you might then venture +to say when the maid laced you in. It is to be +regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">A Bunch of Violets</span> might undertake bookkeeping, +or, if she know any thing of millinery, she might +get a little extra work from that. Her pay in the +shop is very small. Everyone should be paid +enough to live upon, and 8s. a week is not enough +to live and dress upon.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. +357, October 30, 1886, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + +***** This file should be named 18501-h.htm or 18501-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/0/18501/ + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. 357, October 30, 1886 + +Author: Various + +Release Date: June 4, 2006 [EBook #18501] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + + + + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER. + +VOL. VIII.--NO. 357. + +OCTOBER 30, 1886. + +PRICE ONE PENNY. + + + + +THE SHEPHERD'S FAIRY + +A PASTORALE. + +BY DARLEY DALE, Author of "Fair Katherine," etc. + + +[Illustration: "THE POOR LITTLE BARONESS, WHO WAS ASLEEP, STARTED UP."] + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CHATEAU AFTER THE LOSS OF THE BABY. + +As the baron had conjectured, the housemaid whom he had called out of +the nursery to look for Leon's cane, on finding her master had gone +without it, did not hurry back, but stopped talking to some of the other +servants for perhaps a quarter of an hour, when she returned to the +nursery, and to her amazement found the baby was gone. She was not +alarmed at first, except she supposed she should get a scolding from the +nurse, who she imagined had come in and taken the child to another room; +however, having the excellent excuse that her master had called her away +she went in search of the nurse, but now not finding her anywhere, and +hearing from the footman that she was not expected back till very late, +Marie became seriously alarmed. + +"Perhaps madame has taken it into her room; she might have heard it +crying, and fetched it," suggested the footman, and Marie, very much +against her will, felt she was in duty bound to go and see. + +So, knocking at her mistress's door, she called out, "Madame, has she +taken the baby?" + +The poor little baroness, who was asleep, started up, and called to the +servant to come in. + +"Madame, has she the baby?" repeated the girl. + +"The baby? No, what do you mean? Where is it, and where is nurse?" cried +the baroness, jumping up and slipping on a dressing-gown and slippers. + +Marie began to cry, and to pour forth such a volley of words, excuses, +fears, alarms, and wonders that the baroness could make out nothing, and +rushed to the nursery to see for herself what had happened. The empty +cradle did not, however, throw much light upon it, and the servants who +answered the bell, which the baroness clashed wildly, looked as scared +as the sobbing Marie to find the baby had disappeared. A search from +attic to basement was at once instituted, the men-servants were sent +into the grounds with lanterns, the whole house was turned topsy-turvy, +in the midst of which the nurse returned, and finding her baby was gone, +went into violent hysterics, while the young baroness, with flying hair +and dilated eyes, rushed about, wringing her hands, and looking, as she +felt, distracted with grief. + +The search was, of course, in vain, and they were just coming to the +conclusion that the baby had been stolen, when the baron returned from +seeing Leon off. + +The moment the baroness heard his voice in the hall she flew down the +wide oak staircase, crying, "Arnaud! Arnaud! My precious baby is gone, +it is stolen; find her, find her, or I shall go mad." And a glance at +her wild eyes almost testified she spoke the truth. + +"She is not stolen, she is safe enough," said the baron, sulkily. + +"Safe? Where? Where? Take me to her, my precious one; where is she?" +cried the baroness, with a loud burst of hysteric laughter on hearing +her child was safe. + +"Silence, Mathilde, don't behave in this ridiculous style. Come with +me," said the baron, in a tone his wife had never heard him use to her +before, and which had the effect of reducing her to tears; and, sobbing +wildly, she hung on her husband's arm as he half led, half carried her +upstairs, and laid her on a sofa in her own room. + +"Now, Mathilde, if you will try and compose yourself, I will tell you +what I have done with the baby. For some time I have felt sure that you +were ruining the child's health by the absurd way in which you coddle it +up, and, moreover, making yourself a perfect slave to it, neglecting all +your other duties," began the baron, as he seated himself on the edge of +the sofa by the side of his sobbing wife, who was, however, much too +anxious about her baby to be able to listen patiently to the marital +lecture to which the baron was about to treat her. + +"But Arnaud! Arnaud! where is the baby? Oh, do tell me; it is cruel to +keep me in this suspense," sobbed the baroness. + +Now, to be cruel to his wife was the very last thing the baron intended; +it was only out of the extremity of his jealous love for her that he had +sent the baby away. Thoughtless and selfish he might have been, but +surely no one could say he had been guilty of cruelty to this wife, whom +he loved so madly that even her love for her child had raised the demon +of jealousy within his breast. The word "cruel" stung him to the quick; +it was a new phase of his conduct, one that had never struck him before, +and as he glanced at the poor little baroness, who had half risen on the +sofa, and was looking at him with an agonised look on her pretty face, +he was seized with remorse, and felt it impossible to go on with the +_role_ he had attempted to play of the wise father and husband, who had +only acted for the good of his wife and child. Already he was beginning +to repent of his rash act, and if it had been possible to go after the +yacht the chances are the baron would have started at once, and brought +back the baby for the pleasure of seeing its mother smile again. As it +was impossible, the next best thing was to make the best of it, and if +Mathilde could not be comforted in any other way, why he must promise to +let her have it back again. He decided all this as he petted the +baroness, and tried to comfort her by whispering fond nothings into her +ear; but he soon found all his caresses were useless, unless he yielded +to her entreaties and told her where the baby was, and as all he knew +about it was that it was on board Leon's yacht, on which it was being +taken, he believed, to England, though he was by no means sure, this +did not tend to allay the poor mother's anxious fears. + +Her baby confided to the wild Leon's charge, tossed about in a yacht +with not a woman on board to take care of it, her fragile little +daughter, on whom the wind had never been allowed to blow, now at the +mercy of wind and waves for days, and then, supposing the child was +alive, which in her present mood the baroness declared to be impossible, +even if it were, not to know where it was till Leon came back, perhaps +for a week or more, for the baron dare not tell her it would probably be +a month before he returned--oh, it was unbearable! She was sure she +could neither eat nor sleep until she had her baby back. Life until then +would be a burden to her. What could she do without it? Already she was +sure it knew her; and oh, how happy she had been watching by its cradle! +If Arnaud only knew how she delighted in nursing and playing with it, +even to gaze on it while it slept was a joy to her! Oh, if he only +understood, he would never have been so cruel as to send it away. + +All the baron's arguments as to the advantages to the baby which were to +be derived from his scheme, and the wonderful health and strength it was +to derive from leading a less luxurious life, failed to reassure the +baroness, and she passed a sleepless night, and looked so ill and +miserable the next morning that the baron was angry with her for looking +ill, and with himself for being the cause. No one in the house but the +baroness had been told the night before what had become of the baby, the +general opinion being that it had been taken or sent to some woman in +the neighbourhood to look after; but when it became known that it was +sent away in Leon's charge no one knew where, the sympathy with the +baroness was universal, and the baron found himself looked upon as a +jealous tyrant, with no real love for either his wife or child. + +"A nice father you are," cried his brother Jacques. + +"The idea of trusting Leon with a baby. Why, he will pitch it overboard +if it cries," said little Louis, a remark which so annoyed the baron +that he promptly seized Louis by the collar and turned him out of the +room. + +"You really must have been mad, Arnaud, to dream of such a thing as +entrusting Leon, of all people in the world, with an infant," said the +old baroness, for once taking the part of her daughter-in-law against +her son. + +Pere Yvon said nothing just then; it would not have been wise to have +done so while the baron's temper was ruffled by the criticisms of his +family or in their presence, but when he was alone with Arnaud, Pere +Yvon spoke his mind pretty freely, and read the baron a severer lecture +than he had ever done all the years he was under his tuition. + +It was nothing but jealousy which had prompted such a mad, cruel act, +and jealousy of the most unreasonable--he might almost say +unpardonable--kind: a father to be jealous of his wife's love for his +own child! There was a German saying, excellent in the original, but +which lost the double play upon the words in the translation which Pere +Yvon quoted to the baron-- + + "Die Eifersucht ist eine Leidenschaft, + Der mit Eifer sucht muss Leiden schaffen," + +which means, freely translated, that jealousy is a passion which brings +misery to him who indulges in it; and Pere Yvon impressed upon Arnaud +that if any misfortune happened to the baby, he would have no one to +blame but himself, for though all sins bring their own punishment, +jealousy is undoubtedly one that can never be indulged in with impunity. +This, and much more to the same effect, Pere Yvon said, and the baron, +lying in an easy chair, listened patiently enough, partly because he was +very fond of the chaplain, and partly because he was so angry with +himself now for his folly that it was a relief to him to be blamed +roundly for it. + +All that day the baroness wandered about the house in a vague, restless +way, unable to settle to anything, and trying to amuse herself by +consulting with the nurse as to how they should go and fetch the baby +back when they discovered where it was. She ate little or nothing, and +after another sleepless night looked so worn and ill that the baron sent +for a doctor, who came and urged strongly that the baby should be sent +for at once, or he would not be answerable for the consequences; the +suspense and anxiety were telling so on the baroness that if the strain +lasted much longer he feared she would have an attack of brain fever. + +On hearing this the baron was dreadfully alarmed, and telegraphed to +Leon's agent at Havre to let him know immediately he heard from M. Leon +de Thorens, who had sailed two nights before in the Hirondelle for a +cruise in the Channel. The agent telegraphed back that he knew no more +than M. le Baron at present, but so soon as he received any further +information he would let the baron know. This did not reassure the +baroness, who had taken it into her head that something had happened to +the yacht, and not all Arnaud's promises that the moment he knew where +the child was he would go himself and bring her back could comfort the +poor, anxious little mother, who, with pale cheeks and black marks round +her great brown eyes, which were always large but looked bigger than +ever now that they had not been closed since the baby left, wandered +about the chateau, looking like a picture of despair. + +This lasted for nearly a week, and then came a telegram from the agent +to say the Hirondelle was lost in a fog off the east coast of England +with all hands drowned. The baron was alone when the telegram was handed +to him, and the news was such a shock to him that he read the message +over again and again before the words, though they were burnt indelibly +into his brain, conveyed their full meaning to his mind. Slowly he +grasped the terrible truth; poor Leon, the life of the house, wild, +handsome Leon was drowned, and his own poor innocent baby as well, +drowned, and by his fault. He was little better than a murderer, he +thought, in the first outburst of his grief, and he must tell Mathilde, +and perhaps kill her too. How should he ever have the courage to do +this? Strange to say, though perhaps, after all, it was not strange, the +baron was far more cut up at the sad fate of his little girl, whom, a +few days ago, he had been so anxious to get rid of, for a while, at +least, than he was at the news of poor Leon's death. So much hung on the +baby; Mathilde's life might almost be said to depend upon its recovery, +and now he must go and strike the blow which would perhaps kill her. +Pere Yvon was indeed right; his jealousy was truly bringing a terrible +punishment in its train, and the baron buried his face in his hands, and +sobs of bitterest grief shook his whole frame. At last, rousing himself, +he went to the door of the study where the chaplain was engaged teaching +the younger boys, and beckoned him out. Pere Yvon saw at a glance by the +baron's pale, scared face, as well as by the telegram he held in his +hand, that something terrible had happened, and drawing Arnaud into the +nearest room, he asked eagerly what was the matter. The baron answered +by placing the telegram in his hands, and paced the room in a frenzy +while Pere Yvon read it. The chaplain's first thought was for the poor +widowed mother, whose darling son was thus cut off in the beauty of his +youth. He had known her so many years, and had comforted her in so many +sorrows, it was natural he should think of her first, before the other +mother, who had her husband to comfort her, and whose child was only an +infant of a few months old. + +"La pauvre baronne! My poor madame! It will break her heart: her darling +son," murmured the chaplain. + +"Ah, poor Leon. I can't realise it yet that we shall never see him +again, and my poor, innocent baby too; it will kill Mathilde. Oh, mon +pere, how are we to tell them?" groaned the baron. + +"I will tell your mother; it is not the first time I have been the +bearer of ill news to her, and you must break it as gently as you can to +your wife. It is a sad day indeed for this household, but the Lord's +will be done. He knows best, and He will not send any of us more than we +are able to bear," replied Pere Yvon, as he went on his sad mission to +the old baroness. + +As he had said, he had broken many sorrows to her, but he had never had +to deal a heavier blow than when he told her her favourite son was +drowned, the son of whom she was so proud, whom she loved better than +all her other children; but the baroness was a saintly woman, and one of +her first sayings after she heard the news was, "Mon pere, it is hard, +but it is just--he was my idol." + +She did not grieve in any extravagant way; she did not absent herself +from any meals; she attended mass, for she was a devout Catholic, in the +private chapel every morning, and, indeed, spent a great deal of time +there in prayer; she never gave up one of her accustomed duties, visited +the poor as regularly as ever, but from the day she heard the sad news +to her death, which happened a few years later, she was scarcely seen +to smile again, and she was never heard to mention Leon's name except to +Pere Yvon. Hers was a life-long sorrow, too deep for words, too deep for +even tears to assuage its poignancy; her heart was broken; she had no +further interest in this life; all her hopes were centred on that life +where she hoped to meet her darling son again, never to be separated +from him. + +The young baroness bore her trial very differently. She gave way to a +passionate outburst of grief on learning that her baby was drowned--a +grief in which the baron shared, and was, indeed, in more need of +consolation than his wife, for to his sorrow was added remorse and +bitterest stings of conscience for having brought such sorrow to his +wife, about whom he was very anxious, until the doctor assured him the +sad certainty was even better for her than the terrible suspense she had +been enduring for the last week. To a young, passionate nature hitherto +undisciplined by the sorrows of life, like the young baroness's, +anything was easier to bear than suspense, and the doctor assured Arnaud +that the passionate grief in which his wife indulged would do her no +harm--on the contrary, she was more likely to get over it quickly. +Violent grief is rarely lasting; there invariably follows a reaction. + +A few days later the baron received another telegram from the Havre +agents, telling him they had found out that the Hirondelle had left +Yarmouth, on the Norfolk coast, where she had been lying for two or +three days, the day before she was lost, and was then intending to +cruise round the coast of Great Britain. The baron was immediately +raised from the depths of despair to the highest pinnacle of hope on +hearing this, for he felt sure Leon had gone ashore at Yarmouth to place +the baby with some Englishwoman, and had remained there some days on +purpose. Confiding his new hope to Pere Yvon, he at once decided to +start that night for England by Dover and Calais, for already steamers +ran once or twice a week between these ports. He would then go on to +Yarmouth by stage-coach, and make all inquiries for his baby. His +difficulty was, he did not know the language, but living near the +Chateau de Thorens was a Monsieur de Courcy, who had married an English +wife, and spoke English very well. He was intimate with the De Thorens, +and the baron hoped he might be able to help him in his trouble. + +Accordingly he called on the De Courcys at once, and, to his great +relief, Monsieur de Courcy offered to go to Yarmouth with him, while +Madame de Courcy suggested that the baroness should come and stay with +her during their husbands' absence, for the chateau was a very gloomy +place for the poor young mother while the shadow of death rested upon +it. Arnaud jumped at this, for he had never been separated from his wife +since their marriage, and he would far rather leave her with this pretty +young English lady than at the chateau, while his mother's grief for +Leon saddened the whole household. It was easy to account for his +journey to England, by saying that he was going to get particulars of +the accident from the place off which it happened. This would seem only +natural to Mathilde, who must on no account be told that he had any hope +of finding the child. She had accepted the news of its death without +questioning it, and it was far better to let her continue under this +impression than to raise fresh hopes, which, after all, might never be +realised, and if he could only persuade her to come to Parc du Baffy +while he was away he would feel quite happy about her. + +Madame de Courcy and the baroness were on intimate terms with each +other, although Madame de Courcy was a staunch Protestant, and both the +baron and baroness bigoted Romanists; but the great attraction to +Mathilde, as Madame de Courcy guessed, would be her child, a beautiful +boy of three years old, in whom the baroness had delighted until her own +baby was born and absorbed all her time and affection. Knowing this, +Madame de Courcy offered to send her boy to the chateau with the baron, +hoping to inveigle the baroness to return with him to Parc du Baffy, a +manoeuvre which succeeded admirably, for Mathilde, not having seen the +little Rex for some weeks, was so enraptured with him that she could not +part with him, and as Madame de Courcy could not be asked to spare her +child as well as her husband, the baroness consented to go and stay at +the Parc while the baron was away. The little Rex was too old to remind +her of her own baby, and his pretty mixture of French and English amused +her immensely, and for the moment charmed away her sorrow. Had she known +the real object of her husband's visit to England, the suspense and +anxiety would have made her seriously ill; not knowing it, the change +and Rex's society did her good, so that Madame de Courcy was able, after +a day or two, to write to the baron and tell him his wife was certainly +better and more cheerful since she had been at the Parc du Baffy. + +Meanwhile the baron and M. de Courcy reached Yarmouth safely, and +learned the day and hour on which the Hirondelle arrived and also left +Yarmouth, and that the cause of her remaining so long there was the +absconding of an English sailor, named, or, at all events, calling +himself, John Smith. The baron was more elated than ever at hearing +this, for he knew the Englishman was to place the baby out to nurse, and +if he were safe, the chances were that the child was too; but when, +after having run two or three John Smiths to earth and discovered that +they bore no resemblance to the original, it became evident that the +real John Smith had made himself scarce, and was probably not John Smith +at all, the baron's hopes of recovering the child again fell, though he +could not abandon the idea that if he could only find the runaway +sailor he should hear some news of the child. The wish was, perhaps, +father to the thought, but he could not help thinking the child was not +on board the Hirondelle when she went down, now that he found the +English carpenter had left the yacht at Yarmouth. But the baron felt his +inability to speak English a great drawback to prosecuting his inquiries +as fully as he would have liked, although M. de Courcy was very kind and +did all any friend could have been expected to do; still, it was not the +same as speaking the language himself, as the baron felt, and he +bitterly regretted he had never tried to master its difficulties. Many +of the Yarmouth fishermen and boatmen remembered the Hirondelle and the +handsome French gentleman to whom she belonged, but not one had ever +seen the sign of a baby on board her, though this did not throw much +light on the matter, as the baby might easily have been kept below or +removed at night. + +At last, after spending a week or ten days in fruitless inquiries, the +baron and his friend returned to France, the baron convinced in his own +mind that some hope of his child being safe still existed, a hope which +he dared not communicate to the baroness, but which, nevertheless, +lingered in his breast for many a long day. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +THE ROMANCE OF THE BANK OF ENGLAND; + +OR, + +THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. + +BY EMMA BREWER. + + +INTRODUCTION. + +A gentleman asked me the other day upon what subject I intended next to +write, and on telling him that the Editor had kindly permitted me to +deal with the Bank of England and the National Debt, he said, "Nonsense! +what do girls want to know about the Bank of England and the National +Debt? Let them be content to leave all such knowledge to men, and rest +satisfied if they get their dividends all right and know how to spend +them properly and keep out of debt." + +He seemed to forget that to do even the little he permitted us would +require knowledge and education of a liberal character, and that without +these our desires might outrun our income, and getting into debt might +prove our normal condition. + +A thorough knowledge of our circumstances is better than partial +blindness, and to see things all round and weigh them justly is better +than sitting with hands folded while men see and judge for us. + +The subjects of the Bank of England and the National Debt are well worth +a study, and will not fail to afford us both varied and interesting +information. + +Among other things they will tell us how the Bank of England came into +existence; what the nation did previous to its existence; how our +country came to have a debt which it has never been able to pay off, and +how it would prove a calamity if it were possible to pay it off +suddenly. + +Again, we shall learn the meaning of "selling out" and "buying in" +money, and what is understood by "consols," "reduced threes," "stocks +going up and down," "a run upon the Bank," "panic," and many other such +terms. + +There is no reason why girls should not be able to give answers to all +of these, and every reason why they should, seeing that an intimate +knowledge of these subjects is as much a part of our nation's history as +is the history of our kings and queens, our wars, and our institutions. + +And even beyond this, it is a matter of importance that girls having +property, little or much, should understand the character of those to +whom they entrust it. + +There are many and valuable books published upon these subjects, but +they are expensive to buy and take a long time to wade through; in +addition to this, they are so learned that we women-folk fail often to +get the simple information we require, even when we have read them. + +The Bank of England, either by name or by sight, is known, I suppose, to +all of us; but its origin, its working, its influence, is not so +familiar to us, and it does not seem to me that we should be going at +all out of our province if we were to ask the "Old Lady of +Threadneedle-street" to tell us something of her history, her household, +and her daily life, seeing that most of us contribute to her +housekeeping, some more, some less. + +We trust her so completely that "safe as the Bank of England" has passed +into a proverb; yet, for all that, we should like the old lady's own +account of how she came into existence, and how she became such a power +in the land, and what she does with all the money we lend her, and out +of what purse she pays us for the loan. + +She certainly ought to be able to tell an interesting tale--for her +palace, her servants, her house-keeping, her treasures, her cellars, her +expenditure, her receipts and clearing, the frights she has every now +and again both given and received, must each and all be more amusing and +full of interest than any fairy tale told by Grimm or Andersen. + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STORY OF THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. + +And so you want me to tell you the story of my life! Telling tales is +not quite in my line, but I will do the best I can; and should I become +garrulous and tedious, as old ladies are wont sometimes to be, you must +recall me by a gentle reminder that you live in the present century, +whose characteristics are short, decisive, and by all means amusing. + +My career has been a strange and eventful one, as you yourselves will +see if I can interest you sufficiently to listen to the end. + +Of course, I was not always known as the Old Lady of +Threadneedle-street; indeed, I can well remember the feeling of +annoyance with which I saw _Mr. Punch's_ illustration of me in 1847, as +a fat old woman without a trace of beauty, except in my garments, which +were made of bank notes. I have kept a copy of it, and will just pencil +you the outline. + +The annoyance was intensified when I found myself handed down to +posterity by him as the _Old_ Lady of Threadneedle-street. He could have +no authority for this picture, seeing that, like the Delphian mystery of +old, I am invisible, and deliver my oracles through my directors. + +You are girls, and will quite understand the distress of being thrust +suddenly into old age. Up to 1847 I was young, good-looking, and +attractive, and to be bereft of my youth and romance at one blow; to +know that from henceforth all would be prosaic and business-like, that I +should never again have lovers seeking my favour, was a condition of +extreme pain. I had always prided myself on my figure, but even this +_Mr. Punch_ did not leave me, but told the world that it was due to +tight-lacing. It was very cruel, and I have sometimes thought it was +envy of my position; but let that go. I took counsel with myself, and +determined to face the future with the resolve to be the very nicest old +lady in the world, and to make myself so useful to my fellow-creatures +that they should love me and stand by me even though my first youth had +passed. And I am sure you will agree with me in thinking that I have +accomplished this, and that not only have I kept clear of weakness and +decrepitude, but have achieved for myself a reputation and position +second to no lady in the land. + +It has been necessary for me to make this little explanation, otherwise +you might have thought I had never been young. And now to proceed. + +It was in the reign of William and Mary that I first saw the light, +being born in Mercers' Hall on the 27th of July, 1694. + +From this place, after a few months, I was removed to Grocers' Hall, +Poultry; not the stately structure with which you are acquainted, but +one much more simple, which was razed to make room for the present +building. + +I may say, without vanity, that my birth created a sensation throughout +the length and breadth of the land. + +The House of Commons even was not exempt from this excitement, but set +aside its serious work to discuss whether or not I should be strangled +and put out of the way, or nurtured into strength by its support and +countenance. + +Those members who were in favour of the last resolution declared that I +should rescue the nation out of the hands of extortioners, lower +interests, raise the value of land, revive public credit, improve +commerce, and connect the people more closely with the Government, while +those of the contrary opinion assured the House that I should engross +the whole money of the kingdom, that I should weaken commerce by +tempting people to withdraw their money from trade, that I should +encourage fraud and gaming, and corrupt the morals of the nation. + +Little recked I of all the stir and commotion my birth was causing, as, +nursed and cared for by my father, William Paterson, a Scotch merchant, +and his friend, Mr. Michael Godfrey, I gradually grew into strength. It +was not till long afterwards that I heard and understood the +circumstances of my birth, and how around me were centred the interests +of the kingdom. + +When I was only twelve months old, those who were bound together to take +care of my interests separated my father from me, giving as an excuse +that he was of too speculative and adventurous a spirit to be entrusted +with my welfare. + +Poor father! It has always seemed to me very sad that he who had worked +so long and so persistently for my success should have been condemned to +spend the last years of his life in solitude and neglect in Scotland, +while I, his child, was gradually becoming everything that his highest +ambition could have pictured; but so it was. + +[Illustration: THE OLD LADY OF THREADNEEDLE STREET. From "Punch."] + +I have often wished that he had employed those last weary years of his +in writing a history of his life. I am sure it would have interested all +classes of readers, but I suppose he was too sad and out of heart. He +was forty-one years of age at the time of my birth, having been born in +Dumfries in 1658. He was one of those who may be said to live before +their time. He possessed great ability, knowledge, and experience, and +was a great traveller, yet, with all this, his life was a series of +disappointments and failures. + +His great friend, Michael Godfrey, who had worked so faithfully by his +side, would, I am sure, never have forsaken him, but he was struck down +by a ball in the trenches of Namur, in 1695, while seeking the king in +my interests. + +He was a great loss to me, although I was too young at the time to +estimate it fully. He has left behind him a quaint and graphic account +of my infancy, with which I shall hope to make you acquainted later on. + +Should you feel any interest in him, look in St. Swithin's Church some +day when passing, and there you will find a monument to his memory, +which records that he "died a batchelour, much lamented by his friends, +relations, and acquaintances for his integrity, his knowledge, and the +sweetness of his manners." + +My name "Bank," which signifies "bench" or "high seat," I derived from +Italian forefathers, who, in early days, carried on their business in +the public places or exchanges on _benches_. + +This business of theirs consisted chiefly in being the depositories of +the wealth of rich people, and making payments for them according to +written orders, and further in receiving money from some people on +interest, and lending it to others at a higher rate. I have been told +that in their day making a profit by lending money was not considered at +all an aristocratic proceeding, and procured for those who indulged in +it the name of usurers, a word I do not like; it savours of sordidness. + +From my very birth I was educated to be reliable, steady, secure, and +faithful, and to be true and just in all my dealings. + +It was made clear to me that it was the lack of these qualities in the +money affairs of the kingdom which had led to the necessity of my +existence, and I was made distinctly to understand that it was only upon +my developing largely these peculiar traits of character that I should +continue the existence thus begun. + + * * * * * + +My education was quite different from that of other girls. I had to +learn arithmetic almost before I could speak, and the state and +condition of kings and governments were instilled into my mind as +regularly as food into my body. + +There were no novels, no light literature for me, except what I could +extract for myself out of the dry material placed before me. Still, my +mind was not warped with this peculiar bringing up, and now that I am an +old woman, I think I can see that I owe this to the character of those +who governed and directed me. + +Of course, this peculiar education and training kept me far ahead of +other girls, and while they were scarcely out of the nursery, and still +enjoying battledore and shuttlecock, I was seeking information, either +by reading or conversation, concerning my forefathers, position, duties, +and property. + +Young as I was, I began to feel creeping over me a sense of +responsibility, and a longing to know how best to fulfil all that was +required of me. I knew that I was rich, but how did I become so? I knew +that my riches were expected to make others rich, but how? I was always +asking questions, and sometimes succeeded in getting an answer, which +served as a clue, and sent me to search old parchments or to make +comparisons. + +It was some time before I could piece the scraps of information +together, but gradually I did so, and then assuredly I saw the awfulness +of my influence and position, and determined, with God's blessing, to be +a comfort and support to the widows and orphans who trusted in me, as +well as a source of strength, security, and honour to the nation and its +rulers, and I resolved that henceforth my name, _the Bank of England_, +should carry with it a meaning wherever it was heard, far beyond its +original signification; it should be another term for wealth, honour, +and thrift--a something to be trusted, and in which nothing foul, mean, +or sordid must be found. + +(_To be continued._) + + + + +HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF MUSICAL FORMS. + +SKETCH I.--THE ORATORIO AND PASSION MUSIC (SACRED DRAMA). + +BY MYLES B. FOSTER, Organist of the Foundling Hospital. + + +In a former number, in prefacing reviews of new music, we said +sufficient upon the subject of listening to music to call the attention +of our many readers to the performances going on so frequently in all +parts of the world, and now we persuade ourselves that there may be some +to whom a short account of the various and varied forms, to which our +attention as audience is most frequently invited, would be of interest, +even though they have some knowledge of the subject already; and that +there may be others to whom these very incomplete sketches may appear as +information, and as an incentive to further investigation. + +For our first sketch we have chosen the oratorio, for it is undoubtedly +the highest form of musical dramatic art, and is founded upon and +contains the greatest and deepest truths of the Christian life. As +regards the actual music forms employed, we find, indeed, similar ones +in the operas, such as the various forms of recitative, the aria, the +duet, and the chorus, and even the scena; but in the sacred works, who +are the heroes and heroines? Are they not the instruments of the Divine +power, the messengers of the good tidings? And what are the subjects? +Are they not the struggles, the trials, the victories of noble souls? +With such sacred characters, with such lofty thoughts, the composers of +the oratorio, dealing, not with the semblance of truth that the opera +contains, but with the truth itself, are bound to express their feelings +and emotions in the grandest and most perfect thoughts. + +Purely sentimental ideas, and the whole list of passions and struggles +in human existence, rather form the basis of opera than the proper +subjects for oratorio, and the modern attempts to transform the sacred +ideal into the region of operatic and dramatic realism seem to fall +singularly short of expectation. To our minds, the strongest period in +the history of oratorio was the time of Handel and Bach, and writers of +to-day have yet to graft on to their work the more careful study, and +the strengthening influence of these noble masterpieces in stronger +cuttings, to make the struggling young plant a healthy and beautiful +tree. Let us progress, by all means, but true progression is but the +joining of all that is good in the preceding age with all the fresh +beauty God bestows upon us in this our day. + +We seem to be comparing or contrasting the secular form opera and the +sacred oratorio, and it is interesting to know that the origin of both +may be traced back to the same source--viz., early miracle plays and +moralities. For some time after the introduction of Christianity into +Eastern Europe, the new converts seem to have retained their fondness +for the heathen practice used in religious, as in secular, celebrations +of theatrical representations, which were chiefly upon mythological +subjects, and all of which angered and distressed the priests of the new +religion. However, the latter soon found out that it was necessary to +reach the minds of these people through their more acutely trained +senses and the medium of their old traditions, and thus in these early +ages the dramatic element worked its way into the church worship. +Spiritual plays were arranged by the priests in all parts of +Christianised Europe, who chose scenes and stories from both Old and New +Testaments, and from the lives of the saints and holy men. The plays +were acted upon a stage, usually erected under the choir of the church. +As women were not permitted to appear, priests took all the characters, +male and female. We learn, from many reliable sources, that these sacred +representations had a great effect upon the pious worshippers. + +In the course of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and chiefly in +the west of Europe, profane elements crept in amongst the holy legends, +and these religious entertainments also developed so greatly, that +hundreds of actors would be engaged in representations lasting over +several days, whilst the eager audiences were so large that the churches +could not contain them, and the stage had to be erected in the +market-places, and out of doors. + +The direction passed more and more into the hands of the laity, who +employed jongleurs, histrions, and strolling vagabonds, whose acting +included gross buffoonery, and whose profanity completely choked the +religious growth first implanted by these miracle plays. The stages, it +should be explained, were of curious construction, being divided into +three stories, the upper one containing the heavenly characters, the +middle one being for the people upon earth, and the lowest for the +denizens of hell. + +At the beginning of the sixteenth century the whole Catholic world was +influenced by those reforms so necessary to the Christian Church of that +time, and so bravely contended for and gained by Luther. The +demoralisation which weakened all the church's fabric was deeply +deplored by the Catholic clergy, and we find at the close of this +century St. Philip Neri founding a congregation of priests in Rome and +drawing youths to church by dramatising in simple form such stories as +the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, etc., which were set to music in +four parts with alternate solos, first by Animuccia (a pupil of +Goudimel), and later on by the great Palestrina. These "sacred actions" +or plays were not performed in the church itself, but in an adjoining +chamber, called in Italian "oratorio," an oratory, and the title has +since then adhered to this species of sacred work. + +Our girls will be pleased to know that the first oratorio, set to music +by Emilio del Cavalieri, was written by a lady, Laura Guidiccioni. It +was acted for the first time in the year 1600, probably in the oratory +of the Church of Santa Maria della Vallicella, in Rome. The name of the +work is "The Representation of the Soul and the Body." It was to be +played in appropriate costumes, and certain choruses were to be +accompanied, in a reverent and sedate manner, by solemn dances. Some of +the characters were Time, Pleasure, the World, Human Life, the Body, +etc. + +As the various forms of music, already named as common to the opera and +oratorio, developed in the former, so in proportion they expanded and +became freer in the latter; those portions which had been mainly founded +upon plain song became more expressive and dramatic, and the melody +assumed a flowing and cantabile character. But whereas you would imagine +that a closer connection between the secular and sacred would be the +result of this change, nevertheless, the composer's conviction that the +music must strive to be of adequate importance to the sacred words and +subjects caused a line to be drawn, ever growing more and more marked, +as time and growth in grace and knowledge went on, between the secular +and sacred musical drama. + +In the seventeenth century we find Carissimi greatly advancing oratorio, +and composing really noble music. You may remember a revival of his +"Jephtha," by Mr. Henry Leslie, a few years back. Scarlatti, Stradella, +and others also contributed to this period. But, notwithstanding its +Italian birth and infancy, it remained for Germany to bring oratorio to +a vigorous manhood, and to its lofty position in the world of music. The +compositions of Handel and Bach, early in the eighteenth century, placed +this sacred art form upon a pinnacle of such height and strength, that +few composers have the stamina or knowledge wherewith to reach it. + +Having gazed at this, for a time, culminating summit, let us go back to +the early days again for a moment to notice a branch of this tree, a +member of this sacred family, whose growth has been parallel with that +of the subject of our sketch, viz., the Passion oratorio, one dealing +with the sufferings and death of our blessed Redeemer. Foremost amongst +the miracle plays, in which originated the sacred drama, was the +representation, during Holy Week, of the Passion of our Lord. To this +day we have interesting relics of this custom, such as the Oberammergau +play in South Bavaria, the performances in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, +and in some parts of Spain. The oldest Protestant composition on this +subject was published in 1570. + +At the commencement of the seventeenth century a great development +followed in the writings of Heinrich Schuetz, who wrote music to the +Passion, as told by all four evangelists, and whose tercentenary was +celebrated last year by commencing the publication of all his works. He +did much towards the great musical development in Germany. Following in +his footsteps came Sebastiani, at the end of the century, and Keiser at +the commencement of the eighteenth. In Keiser's Passion we find, in +addition to the Bible narrative, reflective passages for a chorus, +holding much the same functions as the old Greek chorus, with +interpolated solos for "the Daughter of Sion" and "the Believing Soul," +some of which are used later on by Bach, especially in his setting of +the subject according to St. John's Gospel. John Sebastian Bach added, +moreover, many well-known chorales in which the people could join, and +these favourite old hymn tunes had the greatest power over the hearts of +the worshippers. + +Now we have returned to the period at which we left oratorio, and side +by side with Bach's great Passion music stand up those massive +monuments, the oratorios of Handel, of which so much has been written, +and many of which you all know and love so well. It is worthy of notice, +if only to show how recently (viz., almost halfway through the +eighteenth century) action, and costume, and other accessories were +tolerated in connection with the sacred subjects, to tell you that at +the performance of his first English oratorio, "Esther," at the theatre +in the Haymarket, Handel appended the following note to the playbills:-- + +"N.B. There will be no acting on the stage," this being called shortly +after "oratorio fashion," even when applied to performances of secular +dramatic subjects which were to be sung, and not acted. + +After these great works of Handel, no important oratorio was heard in +England until Haydn's "Creation," in 1798. Then, in the present century, +Spohr followed with his "Crucifixion," "Last Judgment," and "Fall of +Babylon;" and then Mendelssohn, that greatest disciple of Bach, whose +"Elijah" and "St. Paul" quite revived the taste for oratorio, and gave +an impetus to it, which extends to our day. + +To end this fragmentary sketch, we may fairly say that oratorio should +contain two important elements:-- + +I. The narrative form, as subject of the whole work. + +II. The didactic and contemplative, as interpolations in soliloquy, or +in chorus of adoration, prayer, and warning. + +A third element, the dramatic accessories of costume, scenery, and +action, we have dispensed with, and, I think, happily so. + +We find in these days in many nations, including our own dear country, +composers are striving after this highest and noblest ideal; let us pray +they may receive that strength necessary for so great a responsibility. +There is none greater in music, and our hearts tell us that unless a +composer knows and believes himself that the subject which in reverence +he approaches is the truth itself, which he must proclaim and preach as +a conviction of his own--we say that unless he thus incorporates himself +in his work it is but mockery, and the result of it nothingness. + + + + +NOTES FOR NOVEMBER. + + +During this month we get the finest effects of the changing tints of +foliage; after a wet, windy summer the colours are poor, but fine and +varied after dry calm weather. + +These autumnal changes of colour are caused by decay and death; the life +in the leaf enabled it to withstand certain chemical changes, which it +can no longer resist as the vital force wanes, and the green colouring +matter is either changed or destroyed. + +We can prove this fact for ourselves if we notice how often, while all +the rest of a tree is green, the leaves and small branches which are +partly broken, and have, therefore, lost a great part of their vitality, +lose their green colour, and become yellow or red. + + * * * * * + +Not only are the broad effects of a landscape made beautiful in autumn +by the rich colouring of large masses of trees, but the close observer +will find every hedge, bottom, and wild common flaming with colour. +Heath tell us "it is the commonest plants whose colours are the most +beautiful and striking." Amongst those which produce the most brilliant +autumnal tints, the following are found almost everywhere in the hedges +in England: Bramble, hawthorn, wild strawberry, dock, spindle-tree, herb +robert, cranes-bill, silver weed, hedge maple, dogwood, black bryony, +ivy; while in the kitchen gardens nothing can exceed the beauty of the +asparagus and the common carrot. + + * * * * * + +Many birds come to England from the north to spend the winter. Wild +ducks, woodcocks, fieldfares, and curlews are coming now, besides +thrushes, larks, and other small birds. Some of these live with us all +through the year, and are only joined by relatives from colder climates. +In very cold winters many birds who do not usually migrate, are driven +south in search of food; but the reception they meet with is hardly +calculated to attract great numbers of strangers to our shores; for the +notice one usually reads in the newspapers is that such and such a rare +bird "has been seen and _shot_." + + * * * * * + +"It is as hot as we have it in India, or, at any rate, I feel the heat +as much." One often hears this statement on a hot summer's day from an +Indian visitor; while, on the other hand, our Canadian cousins assure us +that their bright, clear winter, though so intensely cold, is not so +trying as ours. This is to a great extent caused by the unusual moisture +of the air in England. John Burroughs tells us that "the average +rainfall in London is less than in New York, and yet it doubtless rains +ten days in the former to one in the latter," which he explains by the +fact that in England "it rains easily, but slowly." + +That we can bear greater dry than damp heat is easily proved by holding +one's hand before a fire, and then plunging it into hot water, using a +thermometer in both cases to test the heat. The same fact with regard to +cold can be tried by holding both hands in a draught of cold air, the +one hand being wet, the other dry. + + * * * * * + +Lovers of natural history are not all aware what advantages the first +sharp frost offers them for the study of animal and vegetable life in +ponds. Thoreau, one of the most devoted admirers of nature, says in his +"Walden," that, "The first ice is especially interesting, being hard, +dark, and transparent, and affords the best opportunity that ever offers +for examining the bottom, where it is shallow; for you can lie at your +length on ice only an inch thick, like a skater insect on the surface of +the water, and study the bottom at your leisure, only two or three +inches distant, like a picture behind a glass." + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +Country girls have an opportunity during the early darkness of winter +afternoons of appreciating one of the dangers which beset arctic +explorers during the long twilight which takes the place of day during +the winter months in those northern climes. In towns, the well-lighted +and well-paved streets make walking in the dusk as easy as in the day; +but girls, whose walks lead through fields and rough country lanes, know +how many trips and stumbles are caused by the uncertain light before +darkness sets in. Greely, in his terribly sad history of the sufferings +of his men during their arctic expedition, tells us how much their +difficulties were increased by this dimness of the light. It was +necessary that they should go long journeys on foot, each man carrying a +heavy load of provisions and other stores; and he adds: "The absence of +sufficient light to cast a shadow has had very unfortunate results, as +several of the men have been badly bruised and sprained. When no shadow +is formed, and the light is feeble and blurred, there is the same +uncertainty about one's walk as if the deepest darkness prevailed. The +most careful observation fails to advise you as to whether the next step +is to lie on a level, up an incline, or over a precipice. A few bad +falls quite demoralise a man, and make him more than ever distrustful of +his eyesight." + + * * * * * + +There is not much to be done in the garden this month, but bulbs may +still be put in, though the flowers will not be so good as those planted +earlier. Hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips planted now ought to flower in +April. + +If the weather is mild, the grass should be rolled occasionally; early +peas and beans may be planted in a dry place, and a little radish seed +sown in a warm corner, but they must be carefully covered if a sharp +frost comes. + +Green hedges should be clipped, and shrubs needing it pruned. Now that +the leaves are off, the fruit trees may be more easily examined, and +dead branches, or those that rub against one another, removed. + +If the weather is very cold, take care of delicate plants by spreading +cocoa-nut fibre or light manure over the beds, or by covering the plants +with matting. + + + + +CHILD ISLAND. + +FAIRY TALE FOR YOUNGER GIRLS. + +[Illustration] + + +A long time ago--so long that it was ages before my grandfather was a +little boy, and long before his grandmother was a little girl--there +was, not far from fairyland, a beautiful lake, the waters of which were +so clear that as they sparkled in the sunlight they glistened and +gleamed like silver: and so it was called the Silver Lake. Beautiful +white swans sailed majestically on its surface, and thousands of gold +fishes swam in its clear waters. + +On one part of the lake the most lovely water-lilies opened up their +white flowers, looking, as some people said, like tiny boats; but one of +the little girls I am going to tell you about thought they looked like a +set of green saucers and white cups, and used to call them the swans' +best tea-things. Now, in the midst of this Silver Lake stood the +beautiful island called Child's Island. Such a lovely little island as +it was had never been seen before, and I verily believe has never been +seen since. + +Black clouds never came near it, for there the sky was blue and +cloudless always, and I am told that at night more stars might be seen +from that pretty isle than from any other part of the world; but whether +that is true or not I cannot tell. But I do know that its shores sloped +green down to the water's edge, that the brightest and sweetest flowers +bordered every pathway, that the roses were without thorns, and there +was not a single nettle in the whole island. I know, also, that the +grass was the greenest, the trees the shadiest, the flowers the +brightest, and the fruit the ripest to be found anywhere. As to the +animals, there were none but the gentlest kind. Little white mice went +peeping about with their wee pink eyes, pretty tame squirrels bounded +from tree to tree, and a herd of graceful fawns fed and played in the +meadows. Birds of the gayest plumage and sweetest song were there; +pretty poll-parrots hopped among the trees, crying, "What's o'clock? +What's o'clock?" In short, it was the brightest, merriest, sunniest spot +in the world, and I can say no more in its praise than that. All day +long the sun shone gently down upon the little isle, and the wind never +raised its voice above a whisper. + +But, besides birds and butterflies, fawns, and flowers, there was +something else in this pretty isle. Now, what do you guess that +something was? Why, a beautiful fairy palace. + +I call it a fairy palace, not because fairies lived there, for they did +not, but because it was the work of fairy hands, and was more beautiful +than any other palace in the world. It stood in the midst of a lovely +garden, but no wall or railing shut it in from the rest of the island; +and you and I, had we been there, might have walked across the green +lawn, and plucked some of the gay flowers, and gone up the marble steps, +without anyone saying, "Stop! You must not go there." Round about the +palace, in groups of twos and threes, were several little houses, all +very beautiful and all exactly alike. + +[Illustration] + +Now, I daresay you will think that this was a very pretty place, at the +same time, very strange; yet the strangest and, to me, the most charming +thing of all was that there were none but children in this little +island. They were all quite young, the eldest amongst them were not +twelve years old; they were the king and the queen, who, of course, +lived in the beautiful palace. And thus, because only children dwelt +there, it was called Child Island. + +[Illustration] + +Well, these little folks had nothing to do but to play; and a rare time +they had of it, as you shall hear; but perhaps you would first like to +know how it happened that they were alone in this island without any +grown people to take care of them. Then listen, and I will tell you. + +The Silver Lake and Child Island belonged to the good fairy Corianda, +who was very fond of little children, and took great pleasure in +inventing games for, and otherwise amusing them. She loved all children, +but she was especially fond of those of Noviland, the king of which was +one of her subjects. She used often to slip on her magic veil, which +rendered her invisible, and go amongst the little folks of Noviland to +watch them at their play, or at their lessons, or to peep at them whilst +they slept. It was in this way that she found out there was scarcely a +child in Noviland but what was discontented with what it had, and sighed +for what it had not. + +One fancied that Noviland would be the jolliest place in the world for +little boys if there were no lessons, no schools; but grammar and +spelling spoiled all. Pepitia thought that if she might wear fine +dresses like mamma, have a coach and six to ride in, and no one to +control her, she would be perfectly contented. The little Teresa sighed +for a land where there was no A B C, and Dorinda for one where toys grew +on trees, and no hard-hearted shopkeeper demanded money before they were +plucked. Herbert wished he lived in a place where there were plenty of +gay butterflies, and that he had nothing to do but to hunt them. Thus +each child had something to wish for, and something to be discontented +about. + +I wonder whether there are children in any other part of the world who, +like those of Noviland, want what they have not, and grumble at what +they have? Do you know any? Ah, no! I suppose there are no other little +folks so silly, so I won't urge the question, but go on with my story. + +When the good fairy heard all these murmurings, she said to herself, "I +will gratify these little people for a short time in what they want, and +we shall see if they will be happy then." + +So she set her fays to work, and had built on Child Island the beautiful +palace and houses I have told you of. When all was ready, she and her +fays took the little grumblers out of their beds one fine night and +wafted them away, whilst still asleep, to Child Island, taking care, I +should tell you, to leave changelings from Fairyland in their places, so +that the parents might not be filled with grief in the morning to find +that their dear children had been stolen away. + +The next morning, after the sun had dispelled the mist which always +seemed to hang about him before breakfast at Child Island, and he was +fresh and bright for the day, like little boys with clean faces ready +for school, the young strangers were all assembled on the lawn in front +of the palace, and the fairy spoke to them as follows:-- + +"My dear children, as you all fancy you would be happier if you were +quite free from control, and if you had nothing to do but to play, I +have brought you to this beautiful island, where you can amuse +yourselves all day long. You will have everything supplied to you, and +there will be no one to dictate to you. These pretty houses I give you +to live in. The palace is for the king and queen, and the other houses +are so precisely alike that none of you will be able to dispute as to +choice. You, Philip, who are the eldest boy, shall be king, and you, +Pepitia, who are the eldest girl, shall be queen. Be kind and +good-natured to one another, and I will always be your friend. Don't eat +too much fruit or cake, as that will make you ill. Now, come with me, +and I will show you the inside of the palace." + +Then they followed the good fairy, in a merry crowd, up the marble +steps into the hall of the palace, and a grand hall it was, with its +rows of pillars and richly decorated walls. The fairy led them up the +staircase and through the royal apartments, which consisted of +drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, and dressing-rooms, where the +looking-glasses reached from floor to ceiling and the wardrooms were +filled with magnificent dresses. Then into the throne-room, hung with +crimson velvet embroidered in gold, and where, at the upper end, were +two golden thrones inlaid with precious stones and cushioned with +crimson velvet. The more they saw the more delighted the little folks +were; they clapped their hands with joy, and cried, "Oh, my! how +beautiful!" at least twenty times in a minute. + +"Oh! shouldn't I like to be you," said Amanda to Pepitia, "you will be +queen, and have all these fine things." + +After they had seen all that was in the palace, the fairy took them over +the other houses, all of which were elegantly furnished, but it would +take up too much time to tell you of all the beautiful things that were +in them. Just fancy how you would like to furnish a little house that +had drawing-rooms, dining-rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and whatever you +fancy you would like to put there _was_ there, and even more than that. +No wonder the children were pleased. + +After the fairy had shown them all the pretty things the houses +contained, and had allotted to each set of children the particular house +they were to inhabit, a crystal car, drawn by six white swans, was seen +to approach the shore. Then the fairy said, "Now, my little dears, I +must go, for here is my coach and six come to fetch me." So she kissed +them all round, bade them be good children, said she would come to see +them again some day, got into her car, and was soon out of sight, the +children shouting, "Good-bye, dear Fairy, good-bye," till they could see +her no longer. + +Then they said, "What shall we play at first?" + +"Let us go into that pretty dell, where the fawns are at play, and +gather some of the flowers," said Pepitia. To this they all readily +assented, and ran skipping and singing into the dell. Some pulled long +rushes and sat themselves down to weave little baskets; some gathered +nosegays, some played with the fawns. Presently one of them said, "Oh! +suppose we have a dance." + +"Yes, yes, yes, so do," cried a dozen little voices. + +"But there's no music," objected the queen, "we can't dance without +music. How I wish we had some!" + +"I'll hum a tune," said Sophia; and she immediately began one. + +"No, that's so stupid," said Amanda. + +"Oh!" screamed a little boy. "Look there!" + +"Look where? What's the matter?" cried they all. + +"Why, look at that big yellow thing," replied the child, pointing to a +large gourd which lay upon the ground, "it's opening all by itself!" + +And sure enough it was slowly opening, as if it were a monster mouth +taking a lazy yawn. The children clustered together and watched it +eagerly, when, to their great amazement, out popped a little figure, not +more than six inches high, dressed in a suit of sky blue velvet with +white lace ruffles at the throat and wrists. The dress was fastened down +the front and at the knees by diamond buttons; diamond buckles were in +its shoes, white silk stockings on its legs, and on its head a crimson +cap with white feather. As soon as this quaint little figure jumped out +of the gourd he was followed by another, and another, and another, till +there were a full score of them, all dressed exactly like the first, and +each carrying a tiny musical instrument in his hand. + +As the last jumped out the gourd closed, and the leader of the +Liliputian band stepped a few paces in front of his fellows, and, taking +off his feathered cap, made a low bow to the king and queen, then, +without speaking a word, he sprang on to the foremost branch of a white +Mayflower bush, which was in full blossom, and immediately his little +companions perched themselves on different branches behind him, and +began tuning their tiny instruments. + +The children, full of glee, arranged themselves for a dance, the band +struck up "Sir Roger de Coverley," and away they all went, their little +feet keeping time to the music as truly as the leader's tiny baton. They +danced, and they danced, and they danced, till they were too tired to +dance any more, then they flung themselves down to rest; upon which the +little leader of the band jumped down from his perch and placed himself +on a broad smooth leaf, that two of his band spread on the grass +opposite to where sat the king and queen. + +He made a low bow to their majesties, the band struck up, and the little +fellow commenced dancing a _pas seul_. If you had seen him prancing and +capering about the leaf, now with his arms akimbo, going jauntily round +and gracefully bending his body from side to side, keeping time to the +music as he did so; now suddenly clasping his hands above his head, +whirl rapidly round and round till he got to the front edge of the leaf, +and then, springing into the air, come down on the very tips of his +pointed shoes; if you had seen all this I think you would have laughed +and shouted as loudly as did Rosetta, Minette, and all the rest of the +little folks. When the droll fellow had finished his dance he flourished +his feathered cap, made a low bow, and backed to where his companions +were standing. The gourd slowly opened again, and each little fellow +making his bow, popped in as quickly as he had popped out; then the +gourd closed, and nothing more was seen of the little musicians that +day. + +The children gathered round the gourd and tried to open it; tapped at +it; called to the little musicians to come back; bent down their pretty +heads to listen; but all was useless, no sound came from it, and they +might as well have tried to open the oak tree 'neath which they stood as +it. + +Now, for fear you should think that the good fairy had left these little +children to take care of themselves entirely, to cook their own food, +wash their own clothes, make their own beds, and all that sort of +work--for children, you know, cannot do these things for themselves, and +that is why they are always so good and obedient to mammas and papas and +kind aunts, who see to all these things being done for them--I will tell +you what queer, droll little beings she left in the island to attend to +the domestic concerns of the young king and queen and their little +subjects. + +Just shut your eyes and fancy you see a little brown figure with small +dark eyes, like black beads, sharp nose, thin lips, and glossy red hair, +combed off the face, plaited into a long tail behind, and tied by a bow +of black ribbon. Then fancy this little figure, with arms so long that +they reach to its knees, dressed in a dark blue smock frock without +sleeves, a red leather belt round its waist, dark red trousers on its +legs, and green morocco shoes on its feet; then call it a Noman, and you +will see precisely the sort of beings which were left to wait on the +young inhabitants of Child Island. They were all alike and all dressed +alike; they used to make their appearance and begin to dust and sweep, +and light fires, and such like, just after cock-crow every morning, and +they all disappeared every night directly the children were safely +tucked in bed. They came all together and they disappeared all together, +but where they came from or where they went to nobody ever knew, so you +must not expect me to tell you. + +I daresay you will think these Nomen a strange race, but I am going to +tell you something stranger still concerning them, and that is that none +of them could talk, no--not one! + +Was not that odd? They had some way of talking amongst themselves by +means of signs, but the only words they could say to their young masters +and mistresses were, "nob, nob," which meant no, and "yah, yah," which +meant yes. These they uttered very quickly, and nodding their heads at +each sound. + +Now, the good fairy had charged these little beings to be very kind and +attentive to the children; to cook their meals and serve them nicely, +and to keep their houses in pretty order. + +She also charged the children to be kind and gentle to the Nomen; never +in any way to tease, annoy, or insult them, for if they did, the fairy +said, and she looked very grave as she said it, "some punishment would +immediately follow." This Master Edmund found to be quite true, when one +day he attempted to kick the Noman who was brushing his hair, for as he +raised his leg to kick, an invisible hand pulled the other from under +him, and Master Edmund measured his length on the floor. So, also, Miss +Sophia, who said one day, whilst looking in the glass, admiring herself +and sneering at the Noman who was fastening her frock, "What a fright +you are with your squiny eyes and red hair! I shouldn't like to be such +a fright as you are." Upon which she immediately felt a sharp prick on +her nose, whereon a large red pimple, as big as a cherry, made its +appearance; her frock was torn to tatters, and on going to her wardrobe +for another she found it quite empty, so she had to wear her rags all +that day, as it was not until the next that the clothes came back to her +wardrobe, and the pimple left her nose. I warrant me she will never be +saucy to the Nomen again! + +Master King Philip had a lesson of the same kind once, at his dinner +table, when all his court were dining with him. Calling to one of the +Nomen who were waiting, "Make haste, you brown rascal, and fill me a +glass of wine!" the words were scarcely out of his mouth than he got a +smart sounding slap on his face, and his elbow was violently jerked, so +that he spilt all his wine, whereupon the little lords and ladies +tittered, and some were so uncourtly as to laugh outright, and say it +"served him right," which made Master King Philip wish he had not been +so bounceable. + +One evening, after they had been some weeks on the island, the king told +his courtiers to prepare for a butterfly hunt, which he intended to have +the next day. Early on the morrow they all assembled at the palace, +attired in green and white, and each carrying an ivory rod, at the end +of which was a green net, with which to catch the butterflies. On +reaching the top of the staircase the little lords went to the +dressing-room of the king, and the little ladies to that of the queen. +Her majesty was dressed in white satin trimmed with green. + +"Won't you wear your crown?" asked Rosetta. + +"Well, I don't know," said the queen, in an undecided tone of voice. +"Ought I? Won't it be too heavy for the chase?" + +"Oh, but kings and queens always wear their crowns when they go +out--don't they?" said Rosetta, appealing to her companions. + +"Yes, yes; to be sure they do. Wear the crown--do wear the crown!" they +all cried, clapping their hands. + +Pepitia did not require much persuasion on the subject, as she dearly +liked to be finely dressed. And, indeed, when she had put it on, and +also her velvet train lined with satin and trimmed with ermine, I must +confess she did look a charming young queen. The little Dorinda was so +struck with her appearance that she screwed up her face into a comical +expression of surprise, and, holding up both her hands, exclaimed-- + +"Oh, my! Aren't you smart!" + +"But I don't like the way your hair is done," said Amanda, who was +disposed to be quizzical. + +"Don't you?" rejoined the queen, tartly. "Then you needn't." + +Amanda was on the point of making an equally tart reply, when +fortunately the king appeared at the door, and so interrupted the +threatened dispute. He also wore his crown and train, and, moreover, he +carried the ball and sceptre in his hand; for this little monarch was +not disposed to part with any of the insignia of royalty, and thought he +might as well not be a king if he did not wear the grand trappings +belonging to his office. + +Then the whole party went down into the hall to be marshalled into +proper order by Alphonse, who always took upon himself to be master of +the ceremonies whenever he could get a chance. This was not effected +without a vast deal of chattering and confusion; and report says that +one or two sounds like "Shan't!" "Shall!" were distinctly heard, +followed by what sounded like, and probably was, a slap. + +The little train-bearers were especially difficult to manage, owing to +their constantly wanting to speak to one or other of their companions in +the rear, which inclination occasioned their majesties several +unmajestic jerks from behind, and, of course, called forth a sharp +reprimand from the majesty so pulled; the only effect of which was a +vast deal of giggling amongst the little girls, and the making of droll +faces by the little boys. + +"Please, queen, Edmund's making a face!" cried a little lady-in-waiting, +looking at the culprit and speaking to the queen. + +"Oh, you story-teller!" cried Edmund, indignantly. "I ain't." + +"I'll box your ears if you do so again, you rude boy," said the queen, +turning sharp round on the guilty Edmund. At this threat the urchin made +a queer grimace, and then pretended to cry, sobbing out, "Oh, please, +queen, don't!" + +[Illustration] + +At length all were got into their proper places, and the procession set +out. The king and queen, with their train-bearers, marched first, then +strode consequential Master Alphonse, and the rest of the party +followed, two and two, all singing a jingling rhyme as they marched, and +swinging their nets to the tune. This is what they sang:-- + + "Bring your nets and make haste; + Come away to the butterfly chase, + Up the meadow and through the dell, + By the path we know so well; + Shout loud, jump high, + And haste to catch the butterfly." + +When they came to the dell where most butterflies were to be found they +all separated and got their nets ready, whilst Alphonse took a thin +switch and gently beat amongst the flowers, which grew in great +profusion. + +Presently a cloud of large, brilliant butterflies flew up, and the +children, shouting, started off in chase of them. The train-bearers were +not proof against the excitement of the moment, and, quite forgetting +their post of honour, scampered off pell-mell with the rest, leaving +their majesties looking rather foolish. + +"The rude little things, to run off in that manner!" cried the queen. + +"Here, I say, you Alphonse!" shouted the king, forgetting his dignity, +"come back! I shan't play if you're going off like that. Come back." + +But Alphonse was too busy chasing a brown and gold butterfly to heed +King Philip or anybody else. + +Just then there flew past an immense butterfly with wings of crimson, +black, and gold. Philip immediately forgot all about being a king; away +went ball and sceptre, and off he started in full chase. Now the queen +loved butterflies no less than the king, so no sooner did she see him +take to his heels than she started off in pursuit of the same butterfly. + +Away they both went, their trains flying behind them, over hillocks and +through bushes, quite regardless of their fine clothing. + +The butterfly led them a fine dance; many a time they thought they had +got it, but it always managed to fly off just as the extended thumb and +finger were about to close upon it. Philip and Pepitia were tired, +though by no means inclined to give up the chase, when the butterfly +burrowed itself deep into a convolvulus flower that grew on the top of a +not very high bank. + +"Now we shall have him," cried Philip, as they both scrambled up the +bank. But, alack and alas! Pepitia's foot got caught in her long train +just as she got to the top of the bank, and down she fell, roly-poly, to +the bottom. + +Poor Pepitia! she quite forgot she was a queen, and began to cry most +lustily, not the less because she could not use her arms to raise +herself, for in her tumble she had got so rolled round and round in her +train that she could not move her limbs. + +Philip ran quickly to her assistance, and soon extricated her from her +embarrassment, but as she still continued to cry, he tenderly, for he +was a tender-hearted boy, sat her down on a grassy mound and tried to +console her. + +"What is the matter? Have you hurt yourself, dear?" + +But Pepitia only sobbed and sobbed instead of answering, partly because +she was hurt, and partly because she was vexed, and the poor little king +began to fear she would never leave off crying. + +"I wish that Alphonse and the rest would come back," said he, feeling +disposed to pick a quarrel with "that" Alphonse when he did come. + +(_To be concluded._) + + + + +AFTERNOON TEA. + +[Illustration] + +(_See Frontispiece._) + + + A pretty cottage, and maidens three, + Blithe and happy as maids can be, + Out in the garden at afternoon tea. + + Just such a feast as girls will make-- + Fruit and flowers and a big plum cake, + And plenty of laughter for laughter's sake. + + The sunflowers nodded their heads so tall, + The dahlias smiled 'neath the moss-grown wall, + The three little maids outdid them all. + + I warrant me in that garden gay + Was never a bloom more fair than they, + As they sipped their tea on that summer day. + + Three little maids. Ah! one is dead, + And one is married; and one, unwed, + Now lives alone in the old homestead. + + There are silver threads in her golden hair, + Her cheek is pallid and lined with care, + Yet is she still accounted fair. + + And daily her gracious, tender ways + Win a more loving meed of praise + Than did the prime of her girlish days. + + Yes, youth will wane as the years go by; + Too soon do the rose-leaves scattered lie, + But charms there are which may never die. + + And hence it happens that oft we trace + Through timeworn features the soul's sweet grace, + And beauty lives in a faded face. + + SYDNEY GREY. + +[Illustration] + + + + +HEALTHY LIVES FOR WORKING GIRLS. + +"Grant her in health and wealth long to live." + +These are the words in which many of us, Sunday after Sunday, pray for +our gracious Queen. We desire for her health and wealth; and justly so; +both are necessary. The one for her comfort, and to enable her to +perform her arduous duties; the other for her exalted rank and position. + +For ourselves, however, it is to be hoped we rarely pray for what is +termed wealth; but, on the other hand, how needful it is that we should +supplicate unceasingly for health. "Grant me health, Lord, to perform my +daily task." We have, indeed, need to ask for that unpurchasable, that +priceless blessing. If we possess it already, we need to implore its +continuance; if we have lost it, so much the more earnestly and devoutly +should we solicit a return to its paths. Yes, next to the possession of +a healthy conscience, we hold physical health to be the greatest of all +gifts, but, like most of the grandest, fairest, and divinest things on +earth, many of us accept it as a matter of course. And when, through our +own want of forethought, through neglect of the most ordinary rules of +health, through reckless indifference, we are forced practically to +acknowledge that the most robust health has its limits of endurance, +then we chafe and pine; and life, which seemed such a joyous, easy thing +a month ago, is now a dreary burden, duty a heavy chain, pleasure a +fiction; and self, weary self, rises in the ascendant, occupies all our +sympathies and thoughts, and leaves us dissatisfied and indifferent, +ungrateful and ungracious. + +There are those who believe that by not attending to or neglecting their +health they are acting unselfishly. They say it is so selfish to be +always considering whether this is good or harmful or that is likely to +encroach upon the domain of health. If this sentiment is carried to the +verge of hypochondria, we grant its truth. There is nothing more odious +than a person who is constantly looking out for the weathercocks, and +who, as soon as he finds the wind in a certain quarter, shuts himself +up, and carefully excludes all intercourse from the outer world; or who +can trace certain symptoms--the hypochondriacs' pet word--to the extra +spoonful of salt or sugar in yesterday's seasoning; who is a bore to his +surroundings and a melancholy object of interest to himself; who is +nothing but a useless encumbrance upon the face of the earth. + +This is not the taking care which we advise or suggest. Things good in +themselves may be perverted into errors by the spirit and the want of +judgment with which they are pursued, and we fervently believe that if +our prayer for health is answered, it will be first by the opening of +our own eyes to facts and laws to which we were hitherto blind, or of +which we have been ignorant, than to the practical observance of these +laws, and our willingness to be subject to them. + +But it is not of those who are merely inconvenienced by illness that we +would speak to-day. Not of those who are only subjected to the loss of a +little pleasure, a good deal of temper, and who are learning a lesson in +being patient. In a word, we do not write for the well-to-do invalid, +but for a very different class. Our remarks are intended especially for +those of "our girls" to whom health is, perhaps, the only capital they +possess. To whom loss of health means loss of work, loss of wage, +anxiety, which aggravates matters, and perhaps serious privations to +those in any way dependent upon their exertions. + +Yes, the army of girl and women workers in this great metropolis is, +indeed, a vast one, and work for them is no sinecure. If they cannot +work so thoroughly or efficiently as men, at least it is for them +greater toil than for the sterner sex. Of a more delicate organisation, +of less robust frame, of smaller powers of endurance, the "buffets of +fortune" meet with less resistance, and are more readily yielded to. +Added to this, men have the advantage of being early trained to the +habit of work which many of our girls have not, and they have greater +facilities afforded them for outdoor exercise, of which they very +readily avail themselves. These are all advantages which women do not +possess, or if they do, it is after a careful course of acquired +systematic training with a view to meet those demands upon their health +and strength which are entailed by the continued and steady application +to one branch of labour or to one particular profession. There is no +doubt that a girl cannot take up an engagement which demands her daily +presence at a stated place and at a given time, to perform duties which +perhaps require the concentration of mental powers, and very frequently +the maintenance of the body in one position for many hours together. +There is no doubt, we repeat, that unless such avocations are begun and +continued with decidedly common-sense views as to diet, hygiene, and +general deportment, but little time will elapse ere our girl will +succumb for a greater or less period to the unusual fatigue and the +unwonted restrictions to which she has to submit. + +It is fatal in such cases to regard health from a careless or +indifferent standpoint. It is a question which must be considered by +every one of the legion of working girls and women who labour for their +own, and often for others' bread. Looking at it from the most practical +standpoint, it will be found to be the greatest economy in the end. If +the health is kept at a fair standard of excellence, the mental powers +are maintained in a state of useful energy. As soon as health is below +par, even when not sufficiently so as to force us to desist from work, +the brain loses its elasticity; we are dull, become mere machines +instead of intelligent workers, and our duty gets irksome and fails to +interest us. And here let us interpose one word. If we wish to spare +ourselves that most wearying of all sensations, that fatal sense of +boredom and disgust for our daily task which sometimes creeps in upon +us, we must try with all our hearts to take an interest in what our +hands find to do. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do that do with thy +might." It is not only right to think and act up to this; it is the +greatest wisdom also; for our own comfort and happiness. Work done with +a will only takes half the time in doing. The hours fly, and the sense +of weariness has no time to creep in. This is a spirit, it will be +found, which can be easily cultivated, and will, after a little effort, +come quite naturally, much to our benefit in every way. + +It has seemed to us, in spite of the great advance that has been made in +the teaching of hygiene, and the possession by many of a fair knowledge +of the laws which govern it, that there is still a lamentable want of +practicability in its application; that is to say, the theories we +learn, and to which we subscribe, are rarely, and then very imperfectly, +carried out in actual individual life. We grant that great improvements +are visible on all sides, in what we might term general hygiene; but +where we perceive a great deficiency still, is in that personal +application of the laws of health which must and can only be properly +applied by individuals to themselves, so as to make them fit into the +circumstances under which they exist. + +It will not help our girls much, for instance, to have learnt the number +of cubic feet of oxygen that is necessary for turning the purple blood +into scarlet--the amount of nitrogenous, phosphatic, carbonaceous, and +other elements which are requisite for building up new tissue, etc., +etc., and many other dry facts of a kindred nature, if she does not put +this knowledge to practical use. There is a wide division between facts +thus learnt off glibly at school and the practical application of them +to our daily wants. + +The human body, if it is to be maintained in but a fair state of health, +requires a certain amount of fresh air--a certain amount of +flesh-forming, bone-forming, brain-forming, and warmth-giving nutriment. +Our girls require to have a tolerable, if not exactly a faultless, +circulation, in order that these various foodstuffs may be digested, +_i.e._, converted into these flesh, bone, and brain-forming tissues. In +order to have a tolerable circulation, the body must have a regular +amount of exercise and of fresh air. There, in a nutshell, is the secret +of the whole matter. Given a fairly normal state of health to begin +with, that health may be maintained by a little wise direction of our +actions towards supplying the really very moderate demands of Nature, +upon which, however, modest as they are, she insists, to enable her to +carry on the process of healthy life. Deprive her of that little, and +the results are such as we too frequently see--broken-down health from +overwork (so-called) of many of our busy sisters. It is our intention +here to endeavour to put this plainly before our girls. + +We will imagine, then, that some of our girls have to pass many--say +eight or ten--hours of their days in work; that that work is sedentary +work; that our girls are very apt to stoop, for their poor backs get +weary sometimes. We will imagine that it is winter, and sitting as they +do all day, they like to have all the windows closed. Our girls will not +feel very hungry when meal-time comes, especially if they have to +provide their own meals. In fact, many of our girls practise a little +economy in this direction, if the choice of doing so rests with them. +Economy, we all know, is imperative in many conditions of life--not only +amongst working girls; and it is a serious matter to practise it +wisely--to determine and mark clearly the line that divides the luxuries +from the necessities. In the former practise as much economy as you +will; in the latter it is only a false way of meeting matters which will +have to be balanced by-and-by with heavy interest. + +Well, our girls not being very hungry (for their lungs are full of +impure air, and they feel tired and weary--rather sleepy too--all from +the same cause), they think they will make themselves "a nice cup of +tea--strong, you know." They do not care whether they have milk with it +or not, so long as the tea is strong and gives them a fillip. With this +they will eat a little roll and butter or bread and cheese. This +so-called meal is either partaken of in the room in which they work, or +our girls go out for it. In the latter case they stand a little better +chance; for often the fact of going out of the room in which they have +been seated all the morning brings with it a sense of returning +appetite, and induces them to procure a more substantial meal. But even +this is rarely the case; for they have an odd sinking at the chest, and +if they eat a heavy meal and sit down directly after it, they get that +weight behind their waistbands, they cannot breathe, and they feel +altogether miserable. They do not feel like this, they think, after the +good, strong tea--the clearest proof to them that they should look to it +as a main resource during the midday rest. Probably tea is again hailed +with delight during another break in the work-hours; and at the end of +the day our weary one is so fearfully tired, although she has been +sitting all day, that she feels as though her limbs would never carry +her home. Come what may, she must ride. She puts herself into the first +Underground Railway carriage that will take her to her destination, and, +exchanging the carbonic acid gas of the workroom for the sulphurous gas +of the underground tunnels, she arrives home spent and utterly tired +out, longing to get to bed and rest her weary limbs and pillow the poor, +fatigued head. In the morning, feeling refreshed after Nature's kind and +grateful rest, she plucks up again and walks to the scene of her duties. +But she has to be there by a certain time, and, somehow, she always +manages to be just a little late in starting, so that at the last she +has to hurry to arrive at the appointed hour. She looks at every clock +she passes; she starts at some which tell her that it is later than she +thought, feels relieved at others which are more merciful; and, putting +on an extra spurt at the last, manages to arrive just to the minute. + +But what good can our girl get from a walk taken under such +circumstances? It is ten times as fatiguing--the mind is harassed, the +heart is beating wildly, and the breathing is short and hurried. + +The routine of the previous day is then repeated. There is the same +shyness of air, the same imperfect meal, the same lassitude, the same +finale. + +Pursue this course, or one similar to it, for a few months and we defy +any girl to keep well. She may not yet break down altogether, but she +will have lapsed from positive into negative health, and the merest +straw may turn her negative health into actual bodily incapacity--which +means the loss of work and wages to which we have referred. + +And is it to be wondered at? Our girl has been steadily withholding +from Nature all those elements upon which she imperatively insists as +the condition under which alone she will consent to carry on her work. +Long-suffering she is, and ever eager to repair any neglect that has not +been carried too far. Only return to the right path, and she busily sets +to work to make good the ravages which have followed upon our ignorance +or neglect of her laws. But it must be the right path. None other will +do. She will not be cajoled into working with any other than her own +simple tools. + +Our girls have withheld from her air, food, exercise--the three great +factors of her powers--and have given for them miserable substitutes. +Though kind, she cannot be put off with excuses. She is inexorable, and +the same results will follow our neglect of her laws, whether it be due +to a want of acquaintance with them or want of attention. It is as much, +if not more, from these causes, then, that our girl has become ill than +from the supposed overwork. Overwork might have been the immediate +cause; that is to say, her collapse might have followed upon a little +extra pressure or hurry of work; but the real cause will be found to lie +in that steady neglect of the primary laws of health to which we have +alluded, and upon which too much emphasis cannot be laid. Had it not +been so, the fatigue engendered by an extra hour's work would have been +set right by a good night's rest. + +And when our girl is ill, her recovery will depend upon the degree to +which she is enabled to meet the demands of Nature. If she can have +plenty of rest, peace of mind, fresh air, light, digestible, and +nourishing food, sunshine, and genial surroundings, she will soon be +herself again. But if our brave worker has not these indispensables, or +has them in a chance, get-me-if-you-can sort of way, then she lingers +on, and often rises from her couch but half cured, and plunges on again +under the old conditions, until something occurs which some persons call +"a chance," some by another name, which mercifully changes the current +of her life for a while, or perhaps for a permanency. + +It is said that "men do work while women weep." That is part of an +old-time ditty. In this generation women do not leave all the work to +their brothers, and we will hope that in proportion as we work more, so +we weep less. And women are not to be pitied that it is so. Work is one +of the greatest of blessings, and when its aim is high, is, we believe, +blessed. There is no reason why our work should be irksome to us, or +should be aught but a pleasure. We must make up our minds to a certain +number of disagreeables, and be prepared to meet them as they arise; but +beyond that we should endeavour to take a pleasure in our work and a +pride in its correct fulfilment. This will be easy to do with health, +but without it will require more moral resolution than many of us +possess. + +Let us then turn this subject over in our minds and see if nothing can +be done to make matters a little smoother; to enable us to be happy in +our work-a-day lives; to lessen the chances of becoming ill, and, in +spite of circumstances, to meet Nature's demands in one way or another. + +First, then, as to air. That early morning walk is a good thing. It is +well to get the lungs filled with pure morning air. Even in the London +streets the air is tolerably good at that time. But many of our girls +live a little way from the crowded streets, and only come into them for +business or professional purposes. Some live too far to walk the whole +distance into town. If that is the case, they should ride part of the +distance. They should choose for the walking that part of the route +which has the most trees about it, going a little out of their way even +to walk through one of the parks or squares. They should not hurry, but +should take care previously to allow themselves ample time. This can +quite well be done by a little management, and when our girls are imbued +with a sense of its importance we are sure will be. They should, if +possible, meet one of their companions who is going the same way, and +should chat to their hearts' content. (We are not afraid of the +non-performance of this part of our prescription.) This will exercise +the lungs, send plenty of fresh air into them, and lessen fatigue. A +walk, under such conditions, is of untold value. + +Our girl then will begin her day in better spirits. She will feel in a +lighter mood; difficulties will be brushed aside. Instead of a furtive +glance at the clock, and a thankful gasp that she has arrived in time, +she will never think of the hour till she enters the room, for she has +not troubled her mind about it, knowing she has given herself ample +time. With all the arts of persuasion at her command she will then seek +to lead her companions to have the windows open, just a chink or two at +the top; and will gradually lead them round to her own conviction of the +necessity for fresh air, and of the great desirability there is for an +outlet for the carbonised air which is being emitted by one and all from +their lungs. Before long she will have gained her point, and the open +window will be a daily fact. + +We are speaking now, of course, of our sensible girl, the one who has +taken in the justice of our remarks, and who intends to act up to them +as far as she can. + +At luncheon time she will produce from her store some well cut +sandwiches, made preferably with brown bread, and, with heroic +determination, refuse tea (for it is hard to give up a habit), and will, +instead, regale herself with a glass of milk, or a cup of cocoa; or, if +she has neither of these, she will make a little strong beef-tea of +Liebig's extract of meat, and partake of it with her roll and butter, +remembering that, by the addition of an egg, she will make her broth +more sustaining. + +If she goes out to a restaurant and does not care for meat, she will +recollect that its properties may be found more or less in eggs, in +milk, in lentils, in haricot beans, in oatmeal, and in peas. Oatmeal +porridge and milk form an excellent, inexpensive, and nutritious lunch +or midday dinner. In some form or other one of these nitrogenous foods +should be taken during the midday meal; and, if the taste and finances +permit, should be supplemented by a little fresh, stewed, or dried +fruit. Fruit is most wholesome, and is well enclosed within the border +line of necessities. + +Then, when tea time comes round, our sensible girl will either take milk +again, or else will dilute her tea largely with milk, or, failing that, +with water, and will refuse altogether to drink tea that has "stood" for +more than a quarter of an hour. In the evening she will feel less tired +(_i.e._, less exhausted from want of air and food), and will repeat her +method of procedure of the morning on her journey home. Arrived there, +she will feel far less weary and exhausted, and will enjoy a quiet, +social evening, a book, a little music, or some such relaxation. + +But we can hear her, O. S. G., saying, after pursuing this _regime_ for +awhile, "It is true I am better in a great many ways, but I do still +have back-ache, I do still have the weight in my chest, which I know now +to be indigestion; you say nothing about that. Even your pea-soup or +your oatmeal porridge punishes me, and make me wish we could altogether +live without eating." + +Be not so impatient, my dear sensible one, we are coming to that now. +One great reason of your back-ache is that stoop of yours. You seem to +think it essential to maintain your spine in the shape of the letter C. +You have got into a very bad habit, and if you try now to sit upright +you get as tired as possible--your back, too, is not the only sufferer; +your digestive organs are all cruelly cramped--all the delicate +machinery, by the aid of which occur the changes of the food in its +conversion to the different bodily tissues, is impeded in its action, is +hemmed in, is fretted. Instead of a free circulation, and an unimpeded +course between all the channels of communication, the functions of +digestion are carried on with difficulty, and the stooping pose is the +cause of many other complications into which we have not space to enter +here. + +We have said that exercise is necessary. A great part of that is indeed +gained by the walk to and from business. But that is not sufficient. +Indeed, we do not consider that walking exercise, exclusive of any +other, is sufficient to keep the body in health; but in the instance we +are imagining it is especially insufficient. The body ill brooks being +kept in one posture for any length of time; and during sedentary +occupation some of the muscles are maintained in a state of extension, +whilst others are as unduly kept in a state of relaxation. These +relative conditions, kept up as they are for hours and hours, cannot +fail to have their marked results on the health of our girl. If she were +at home, she would throw her work aside, get up and walk about a little, +or run upstairs to stretch out her limbs; but in business this is not to +be thought of; so she must bear it as best she can. Not so, say we. +There is even here a remedy--even here a way of procuring an immense +amount of relief. Our only fear for its adoption, however, rests in its +extreme simplicity. But when our girl thinks a little more she will +learn that all really great and effective things are simple, and that it +is only their useless wrappings that blind people to their real simple +grandeur. We shall give O. S. G. our remedy in its modest garb of +truthfulness, and she will, we think, not reject it. We would advise +her, then, three or four times during the day, to stand upright by her +chair--she need not even move from her place--throw her shoulders back, +stretch her head up, expand her chest, and arch the spine well inwards, +remaining in that position for at least half a minute. This will +entirely change the posture of all the muscles, those which before were +expanded being now contracted, and _vice versa_. She will then send her +arms straight up over her head, and either bring them down from there +like a wheel, or, if she has not room for this, will bend her arms so as +to form a V with each arm, the two points of the V being respectively +the shoulder and hand and the lower point the elbow. If done properly, +this will beautifully expand the chest, and will contract the muscles of +the back both laterally and longitudinally. Our girl must take care, +however, to keep her head very erect, if she would have the whole +benefit of the exercise. The whole business occupies about a minute and +a half; it is as easy and as simple as breathing; and, we repeat, its +usefulness is not to be measured. + +The chief difficulty in this part of our _regime_, after its extreme +simplicity, will lie in its novelty. It will seem absurd and ridiculous +to those who do not understand these matters, but O. S. G. will have to +learn to bear the ridicule of others some time during her life, and she +might as well begin now. She may be sure that only those will laugh at +her whose opinions are not worth considering, and if she quietly +persists in doing what is right, the ridicule will first be changed into +respect, and then into imitation. + +O. S. G. must remember that her health is her all. At least, it is the +all of the girl of whom we are speaking. Now, it is most imperative that +she should guard that health as she would a treasure. Once aware of the +simple rules which must be observed to that end, she will shape her +actions so as to make them fit in with the circumstances of her life. + +The dress of our girl workers is also a point to be considered. It +should be durable, suitable, comfortable, and should be made simply and +practically. The dress is far better when made in one, _i.e._, not +divided at the waist, then the weight of the garment is equally +distributed over the body, from the waist and shoulders. There should be +no steels or kindred impediments, which have to be considered in sitting +down. A durable wool material, thicker in winter, thinner and lighter in +colour and texture in summer, is always the most durable, and keeps its +freshness longer. The bodice should fit well and comfortably at the neck +and round the arm-holes, so that there is no pressure anywhere. + +For a working gown there is nothing, in our opinion, to equal the +princess dress, made to clear the ground, and modernised, if our girl +wills, by a flouncing, and a little puffed drapery behind, either with +or without a scarf loosely tied round the waist. + +For slender girls the round-gathered dress and bodice (in one) are very +useful and suitable. The principal advantage of the princess dress is +its continuity from the shoulders downwards, leaving the waist free of +bands and tapes. With spotless collars and cuffs, our girl will be both +suitably and well dressed. A good woollen combination under-garment for +warmth and protection from the cold, thicker in winter, thinner in +summer. One, or at the most two, woollen petticoats, made with sloping +bands, to prevent pressure at the waist, will form a very comfortable +and practical dress, and, moreover, one that will present a very fair +appearance. + +No, we know we have said nothing about stays; we are no friend to them; +we dislike them heartily, and we shall never rest until we can release +our girls from their trammels. We know the difficulties that present +themselves on all sides, but these can be met and overcome. Once release +our girls from this bone and steel bondage, her health will rise to a +high state of excellence. But she has so accustomed herself to use her +stays as a prop upon which she leans, that not without great resolution +on her part will she consent to pass through the small discomfort of the +change. + +Once she has done so, however, she will wonder that she never thought of +it before, so light, so free, so agile will she feel. These stays are +our girls' worst foes, and have as much to answer for the indigestion as +all else put together. + +If our girls wish to be happy, merry workers, as well as hard, +responsible workers, they will have to learn to do without stays; they +will have to train their own muscles to supply them with the support +they now seek in the corset. + +"How are we to do this?" we hear some exclaim, who have followed us so +far. "How are we, who work from morn till eve, to begin 'training our +muscles?' We have no time now for that sort of thing." + +Get a little more patience, dear girls. Reforms go slowly, but steadily, +if willing hearts go together. We hope ere long to show you that this, +too, is possible. + +Meantime, for an immediate step in the right direction, let us urge upon +those who have not the courage to throw aside the corset, to set about +rendering it less harmful. Let the working corset be soft, and denuded +of its bones, and let the front steel be exchanged for a very flexible +one, and let the stays, above all, be very loosely laced. We feel we are +weak in conceding thus much even, but we look upon it as the thin end of +the wedge, which represents the fulfilment of our aim. + +We think we have now said enough to set our girls thinking, and though +we have far from exhausted our subject, we hope that each reader will be +able to deduce some hints which may be applicable to herself. + + + + +BOOKS FOR TIRED GIRLS. + + +Have not some readers of THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER a few to spare? + +A little reading-room and library for business girls is about to be +opened in the new Y.W.C.A. Buildings, 316, Regent-street, now quickly +nearing completion. Help is greatly needed in making it really +attractive for those whose minds are hungry after the day's mechanical +work, but who are too weary to take up a prosy volume. + +Brightly written works of history, biography, natural history, travels, +etc., would be warmly welcomed, and good poetry and fiction; also graver +books, specially such as would be helpful to Sunday-school teachers. + +Parcels should be addressed to Miss L. Trotter, 316, Regent-street, +London, who will thankfully acknowledge them. + + + + +ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. + + +EDUCATIONAL. + +H. F. and CONAMARA.--Write to Griffith and Farran, St. +Paul's-churchyard, E.C., for a small shilling manual called a "Directory +of Girls' Clubs," which will give you a large choice of educational, +literary, industrial, artistic, and religious societies instituted for +the benefit of girls, the cost being little more than nominal. + +M. HEDGE.--The change of your address, from what has been given in the +"Directory of Girls' Clubs," will probably cause you inconvenience, +which it is now too late to avoid. You should have named the probability +of a change. In any case, we can tell our readers that those who wish to +avail themselves of your useful Society for Studying Languages, should +address the secretary at Lyndhurst Lodge, Chelsea-road, Southsea, Hants. + +A. G. O. E.--We scarcely think that any system for helping the memory +for ordinary use would be of service to you in the matter of playing +long pieces of music by heart; it is so much a mechanical operation, the +hands often acting while the mind is preoccupied with other matters. Try +to learn a simple air, not a long piece of six pages. + +A SWISS GIRL.--The Cambridge and Oxford examinations are open to +students of all nationalities alike. For information respecting those of +either university, write direct. If you wish to compete in the Cambridge +junior local examination, held in December, you must be under seventeen. +Write to the Rev. G. F. Browne, St. Catherine's College; fee, L1. For +the Cambridge senior you must be under eighteen. The Cambridge higher +(local) examinations are held in December and in June; fees, L1 and L2. +An honour certificate in this examination admits to Tripos examinations +the members of Girton and Newnham who have resided during a sufficient +number of terms, provided the student has passed a language and +mathematics. If your age should exclude you, you might go to the +universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow, or St. Andrews, where no limitations +are made in respect to age. + +GUESS.--We advise you to write to the British chaplain of the Embassy +Chapel, in the Rue d'Aguesseau, for information and the best advice, as +he has taken a special interest in the matter of English girls being +sent to French schools, and has publicly addressed the question in all +its many bearings. Address the British Chaplain. + +ANXIOUS MOTHER.--See our answer to "Guess." There is a French Protestant +institution, directed by Madame Yeatman Monoury, 27, Bd. Eugene, Parc de +Neuilly, Paris, which is, or was, patronised by the Rev. Canon Fleming, +the late Bishop of Carlisle, Bishop of Down, Lord Napier of Magdala, and +other persons of consideration. There is also a Protestant school at 27, +Rue des Bois, pres du Bois de Boulogne, for which the charge amounts to +L60 per annum. Apply to the lady directress, Mademoiselle Jonte. + + +ART. + +A COLONIAL SUBJECT.--The illuminating body mentioned is used on +parchment and hot-pressed drawing-paper. It is mixed with the +water-colours to render them opaque. + +R. C. M.--1. To press flowers, gather them when dry, not quite +full-blown, and before the sun has faded them; press them between sheets +of botanical-paper, change and dry the latter constantly. 2. You can +draw an outline upon a mirror with red pencil and Indian ink. It is +better, however, to mark the design through tracing-paper with a +knitting-needle. + +ASTHORE and DOLLY.--The generality of the advertisements named by you +are not to be relied on, and we advise your not spending your money as +you propose. + +LARRY WILFER.--Female art scholarships are conferred by the Slade +School, by the Crystal Palace School of Art, and by the National Art +Training School, South Kensington. Apply for farther information to the +secretaries of each of these schools. + +A WOULD-BE ARTIST.--There is a school of wood-engraving at 122, +Kennington Park-road. The yearly fee for instruction is L3, and free +scholarships after the first year are obtainable by students. These +latter must be upwards of sixteen years of age. + +PRINCESS PEACE.--1. There is a preparation sold by Lechertier and Barbe +for fixing chalk drawings. It is a liquid, which is blown upon the +picture when finished with an apparatus resembling a scent-spray (price +2s.). 2. If you can obtain regular employment from a good firm, +wood-carving is profitable, especially when you can originate your +designs; but these appointments are not to be had every day. Show some +of your work to an upholsterer, or a carver and gilder, and you may +either obtain an engagement or at least an order. + + +HOUSEKEEPING. + +A YOUNG WIFE is certainly entitled to display any large articles of +silver she may possess on her sideboard in the dining-room. + +PASTORA should have the silver cleaned by a silversmith. 2. A recipe for +"pot pourri" has lately been given. + +A FARMER'S DAUGHTER.--The feathers required a very much longer time for +drying, and must also be "stripped," as it is called, _i.e._, all the +large thick stalks taken out. It is these which have not dried, and +retain the animal particles, causing the smell. + +PINCHER and FREDA.--A recipe for "pot pourri" was given at page 224, +vol. v. + +A YOUNG DOMESTIC.--We should recommend the eiderdown quilt being sent to +a cleaner's, as it will only lead to disappointment if you wash it at +home. Put a little glycerine on the tea-stain before it goes to the +wash. + +PRIMROSE should try a little tripoli and water upon the surface of the +table. It will remove the spots. + +PRIMEVERE.--There have been no other papers but those you mention on +"Economical Housekeeping," but we shall probably give more on both +subjects. + +WILLOUGHBY.--We do not think that either green gooseberry jam or jelly +can be kept green; they always boil a light red. + +NOVICE IN HOUSEKEEPING.--If you paid more attention to ascertaining what +meat, game, fish, poultry, fruit, and vegetables were in season (fully +in), and then procured them at places where you had not to pay for extra +high rents, as you do when shops are situated in expensive localities, +you would bring down your bills greatly. + + +MISCELLANEOUS. + +INKY PEN.--We sympathise much with your anxiety, but we can only say to +you as we say to all who wish to succeed in literary work, you must try +and try again for a long time before you will succeed, and success is +not even then assured. + +E. MC. T.--Your sedentary life as a dressmaker does not agree with you. +You should try to take more exercise and warming food. Dress in woollen +under-clothing, and rub the body well in the morning with a cloth dipped +in salt and water. + +VIOLET VERNON.--We have heard that the homoeopathists have a special +cure for such little excrescences. + +TOM-TIT writes very well. The 2nd of January, 1865, was a Monday. + +NYMPHIA ALLA.--Disease or weakness of the nervous system is often, +unhappily, an inheritance from our parents. Not that they may be nervous +themselves, but that their course of life--late hours, over-taxed brain, +poor living, fast living, drink, or bad constitution, etc., result, one +or more, in bequeathing a wretched inheritance of weak nerves, not +positive disease, to their children. Live generously, go to bed early, +be much in the open air, and take a tonic if required, and by a doctor's +advice. + +ALONE.--We sympathise with you, and approve of the sentiments you +express in verse; but the latter is not even correct in composition, +quite apart from its lack of any ideality, which is inseparable from +true poetry. No sentence should be divided (excepting as a joke in a +burlesque piece) between two lines thus-- + + "But 'what' He was preparing _for + Him_ was not on earth; it was where" + +B. W. complains of "taking fits of laughter into her head." Evidently, +she has apartments to let in that repository. In any case, it is well +that she should find so much to entertain her and feel so bright and +happy. This state of things will only change too soon. + +FIDDLESTICKS.--Your verses have been written without due knowledge of +metrical composition. + +MATY GERTY.--We are glad to hear that you have rosy cheeks. Surely you +would not like to look like a washed-out, pasty-faced, sickly little +girl? Young folks often get spots in the face from eating too fast, +swallowing half-masticated food, and indulging in too much jam and sugar +and "lollypops." By this means they spoil their teeth as well as their +skin. + +GLADYS.--Your neck should be examined by a good surgeon. You may have +broken some small tendons, and need to be bandaged. It might be +desirable to go to one of our first-class hospitals, and so get the +opinion of more than one experienced surgeon. You write a pretty hand. +On no account change it to the coarse "park-paling" style of writing +which so many girls affect to look "strong-minded." They do not take us +in by it! + +VERY GRATEFUL WOMAN.--Homoeopathic doctors give vegetable +medicines--not minerals. The principle of the system is "like cures +like." Allopaths give drugs of a directly opposite character to the +disease, instead of that which, taken in health and in different +proportions, would produce the disease to be cured. + +[Illustration] + +L. M. O.--The famous Library of Alexandria was burnt by the Saracens in +642 A.D. It was a union of two collections. One was made by the +Ptolemies, and the other was that of Pergamus, formed by Eumenes, and +given by Mark Antony to Cleopatra. Eumenes was a chief officer in the +army of Alexander, and well worthy to succeed him, as he did. + +[Illustration: + +RULES + +_I. No charge is made for answering questions._ + +_II. All correspondents to give initials or pseudonym._ + +_III. The Editor reserves the right of declining to reply to any of the +questions._ + +_IV. No direct answers can be sent by the Editor through the post._ + +_V. No more than two questions may be asked in one letter, which must be +addressed to the Editor of_ THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER, _56, Paternoster-row, +London, E.C._ + +_VI. No addresses of firms, tradesmen, or any other matter of the nature +of an advertisement will be inserted._] + +JOEY.--We will consider your wishes in future, if possible. + +UNHAPPY S. (we cannot read the name).--We feel for you much in being +separated from a home so dear to you; but you must look away from all +second and human causes of this separation to the ruling Hand of One who +is as good and as merciful as He is wise and mighty. If you wish for +peace and real happiness, seek His favour and guidance and personal care +in daily prayer. Lay your troubles at His feet, and ask Him to give you +a contented spirit, and grace to be thankful and reverently loving +towards "Him who first loved us." + +ROSEBUD.--Wear stuff shoes, instead of leather, and let them be very +easy and wide in the toe. + +AMERICA.--You will find a full list of Miss Wetherall's (Susan Warner's) +works in any encyclopaedia. We have not room in our over-crowded +correspondence column for long lists of books, so only give the chief +works of interest. + +SWEET NINETEEN (?).--The young ladies of a family are called Miss Edith, +Miss Margaret, etc., by gentlemen who do not know them well. + +IONA would not require to know the name of the head of the department. +She should ask for the secretary or the head clerk. + +PRIMROSE.--Lord Beaconsfield was by birth a Jew, and of very ancient and +distinguished family; but he became a Christian by conviction. Having +had no personal acquaintance with him, we could not possibly answer such +a question as yours, even were it right to do so. + +DAISY A.--Your contribution is declined, with thanks. It is not devoid +of merit, but needs more experience in writing. + +GEORGIANA W.--We are much obliged, but do not think the essay fit for +our amateur page, nor is the subject new nor interesting enough. + +ETON GARDENS had better wear gloves to protect the hands. We know no +other way. + +A FIJI GIRL.--The work of a bookkeeper is the same almost everywhere. +She keeps books, and in a hotel she would make out the accounts of the +visitors, of course. + +DAMARIS.--The lady bows first, of course, if she has been formally +introduced. Invite the brother, certainly. If you know the family you +do not need a separate introduction to him. + +LAURA.--We have always prophets of evil amongst our friends, and a +celebrated American advises that "no one should prophesy unless he +knows." There are no reasons for believing that there are any real +inspired prophets now, if that be what you mean. + +STRUGGLING BIRD.--We sympathise with you; but in committing your way to +God in prayer, you do the best that we could recommend. It is best to +avoid any exercise of authority over your sister, who is so wild and +wilful; but should she do anything very wrong, you will have to lay the +case before your father, painful and ungracious as the duty may be. You +are right in regarding example as better than precept. + +CAMOMILE is thanked for her grateful letter. If she used a better pen +her friends would like her writing better. + +FERNIE.--1. Herne Bay is on the east coast, and thus exposed to the +trying winds from that quarter, to which you specially object. Ventnor, +in the Isle of Wight, various places on the south coast of England and +in the Channel Islands, especially in Jersey and the Isle of Sark, would +suit your mother. The latter island is specially ordered as a cure for +asthma. 2. After pressing the leaves between sheets of blotting-paper, +varnish them with a solution of gum-arabic. + +SIRENA.--If you eat hot cake or buttered bread, of course take off one +glove at afternoon tea. + +A YOUNG WIFE.--We are not quite sure that we should advise any business +man to give up in England and go to Australia unless he saw his way very +clearly indeed. Why do you not write to your friend who has already +emigrated, and take his advice on the subject? Write also for full +particulars of expenses and advice to the secretary of the Colonial +Emigration Society, 13, Dorset-street, Portman-square, W. The rates of +passage, third-class, are, L18 and kit; sailing vessel, second-class, +from L20 to L28; third-class, L17 to L21. + +A LOYAL IRISH GIRL.--We are very glad that you have been improved by the +late competition. We are much obliged by your kind offer. Your letter is +very creditably written and composed. + +SWEET WILLIAM.--Directions for bookbinding were given in vol. ii., pages +342, 426, and 810. + +R. L. I.--Our paper can be got in all the colonies. Many thanks for the +information that the free grants of land were stopped in Tasmania in +January last. + +A NURSERY GOVERNESS, we think, is unhappy and discontented because she +dwells on herself and her own feelings too much, and thinks too little +of other people and their happiness. She must try to live most in +others, and in giving pleasure and love to them. As yet she fails to +comprehend the Christ-like character which is so lovely an acquisition, +and the higher service to which we are destined by following Him in all +things. Love is the keynote, and, if she try, in so doing is the +happiest and truest life to be found. + +YOUNG LOCHINVAR should bear in mind the enormous ages attained by the +antediluvian patriarchs, and that the world around them was so quickly +populated that Cain might, and did, meet with plenty of people who +possibly, as he thought, would regard him as a monster to be driven from +amongst them. A long course of years succeeded that on which he slew his +brother through envy and a hatred as to what was holy and God-fearing. +In the first days of man upon earth they married their sisters, there +being no physical objection to it ordained by a merciful God. + +M. R. (Norwood).--We pity you! To what a miserable, unwholesome state of +deformity you have reduced yourself! We do not open our columns to +persons who boast of having so far degraded themselves. + +F. M. C.--On no account take a cold bath if it do not agree with you. +Have it tepid, or as warm as you feel comfortable. If the bath-sheet +were warmed you would run no chance of being chilled. The 17th June, +1865, was a Saturday. The violin is not an easy instrument to learn, and +requires a good ear; but we should recommend it in preference to the +banjo or the concertina. The guitar is also unsuited for general music. + +LIZZIE MATTIE CLOVER.--Coals are called "black diamonds" because coals +and diamonds are both carbon. + +SINGLE DAHLIA.--You do not name your age. Try St. Mary's Hospital, +Paddington, W. Write to the matron. We could not say whether it would be +against you. The 12th March, 1864, was a Saturday. + +HOPEFUL.--Perhaps you need a tonic. Ask a medical man, and take plenty +of exercise and a tepid bath every morning. + +LUCY.--From what you say of your being "saucy" to your stepmother, and +that you are slapped "whenever you tell lies," and that you think you +"ought to do as you choose," we see that you have been a spoilt child, +and deserve some sort of correction. You are evidently well and suitably +fed. We greatly disapprove of tight-lacing. If you were good, obedient, +and respectful, you might then venture to say when the maid laced you +in. It is to be regretted that so young a girl should wear any at all. + +A BUNCH OF VIOLETS might undertake bookkeeping, or, if she know any +thing of millinery, she might get a little extra work from that. Her pay +in the shop is very small. Everyone should be paid enough to live upon, +and 8s. a week is not enough to live and dress upon. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. VIII, No. +357, October 30, 1886, by Various + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GIRL'S OWN PAPER *** + +***** This file should be named 18501.txt or 18501.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/5/0/18501/ + +Produced by Susan Skinner and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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