Thoughts" celebrity. There is this author's new comedy, entitled "Proof Positive," playing with "terrible success," as the critics used to say of Gay's "Beggar's Opera." Miss M. Oliver and Mr. George Clarke are very happy in their respective parts, and altogether we think Mr. Burnand may congratulate himself upon the caste he has brought together.

The Royal Park Theatre (late the Alexandra) has also opened its doors, and is dividing its stage between laughable farce and opera-bouffe. Miss Emily Soldene is the great attraction, in her original character of Drogan in "Geneviève de Brabant." Whether Fortune will shine more favourably on this theatre under its new name, remains to be proved. The management certainly deserve. success, for they have made the theatre as comfortable and pretty as we could wish.

"East Lynne" has been revived at the Globe, but the performance calls for no particular notice.

The new historical play, ." A Crown for Love," has not fulfilled all that was expected from it. Apropos of this, Mr. Tom Taylor promises another play with a plot from history. It will carry the title of "Anne Boleyn."

Music still holds the stages. At the Criterion Theatre Lecocq's opera-bouffe, " Fleur de Thé," is being given in an English garb, Miss Sudlow and Messrs. Fisher and Marshall sustaining the principal, and somewhat difficult, parts with much success. Opera-bouffe also reigns supreme at the Philharmonic Theatre. Offenbach's sparkling "Les Georgiennes" is just now being performed with a vigour and crispness truly delightful. The orchestra is in excellent condition, and Offenbach at Islington has the good fortune to be not only effectively, but intelligently, played.

The great Harvest Festival at the Crystal Palace went off with considerable éclat. The choral arrangements, under Mr. Barnby, were admirably carried out, and gave far more satisfaction than the solos, which were hardly audible. The great building presented a beautiful appearance, with its appropriate decorations of corn, cereals, flowers, and fruit, from Messrs. Sutton's great store at Reading.

English opera has ceased to exist at the Princess's. We sincerely hope that Mr. Carl Rosa's venture proved a success, about which, however, we have grave doubts. The interest soon died out; and now Mr. Santley and the rest of the company are off to the provinces. Of the recent performances little mention need be made. "Faust" went off smoothly, and the same may be said of Cherubini's "Deux Journées," which seems scarcely so well adapted for translation as an Italian opera.

The production of Balfe's "Siege of Rochelle" calls for a few remarks. This opera was Balfe's steppingstone to fortune. It was produced for the first time some forty years ago, when Alfred Bunn, surnamed "The Poet Bunn," was the lessee. How such a successful issue came about it is hard to tell, for all who know or have seen the "Siege of Rochelle are aware that,

from beginning to end, it is little more than a parcel of nonsense. For some reason, however, best known to himself, Mr. Carl Rosa revived the work, and with little better result, we fear, than to impress upon musical folks of to-day the fact that it could never start the fame of a Balfe now-a-days. On its most recent revival, the "Siege of Rochelle" had the advantage of an excellent caste, but we fear the exchequer results were anything but favourable, notwithstanding this advantage. The caste included Mr. Aynsley Cook, as the Count de Rosenberg; Mr. H. D. Bates, as the Marquis; Mr. Santley represented Michel; while Mesdames Cook and Gaysford gave the respective parts of the Princess Euphemia and Marcella. The singing and acting of all these offered but little ground for fault-finding; while Mr. Santley's rendering of the charming ballad, "When I beheld the anchor weighed "-Henry Phillips' old song-needs a word of special praise. Our popular baritone sings this song as no one else can sing it, and to hear this performance is alone worth a visit to the Princess's, and the sitting out of an opera which in many parts is flimsy and weak to the extreme. We must not omit to state that the opera had every chance afforded it for a successful issue. The scenery, the band, the chorus-everything-was perfect. The truth is, that Balfe's music is wedded to an undramatic drama, to which, unhappily, it does not give wings. Admirers of Balfe, however, must not be downcast; greater musicians than he have failed to scale such an Olympus.

At the tiny Royalty Theatre, in Dean Street, Soho, Mr. Charles Morton (now holds the reins of management. The bill of fare still contains opera-bouffe, represented by Offenbach's "La Perichole," and this is followed by Sullivan's "Trial by Jury." Of the recent performances of the former work little need be said. Madame Dolaro still acts and sings with her accustomed skill and taste; the other characters, too, are creditably sustained. In Sullivan's dramatic cantata, the names that deserve mention are those of Mr. F. Sullivan, the learned Judge; Miss Vernon, the Plaintiff; Mr. Connell, the Usher; and the Foreman of the Jury, Mr. Husk. The chorus, too, is excellent, and so is the band under Mr. Simmonds' direction.

The Covent Garden Promenade Concerts continue to be popular. Herr Wilhelmj has been surprising the visitors with his feats of manipulation in such pieces as Bach's Chaconnes, and some Chopin and Wagner paraphrases, etc. The selections from Verdi's latest opera, "Aida," have given great satisfaction, and they reflect no little credit upon Signor Arditi, by whom they were arranged expressly for these concerts.

At the Crystal Palace, the Saturday Afternoon Concerts are drawing large audiences. No blame can be attached to Mr. Manns for his selections-they are as varied and as fair as they possibly could be. On one Saturday we have a work of Bach's early days, and on the following one we get a symphony or a movement by some living writer. All schools, too, are justly represented. Only recently

we enjoyed a programme with Cherubini's "Anacreon overture, representing France; Hugh Pierson's Symphonic Prologue to "Macbeth," fulfilling the same duty for our own country; and, lastly, the German element in the shape of Beethoven's wonderful Concerto No. 4 in G, for pianoforte and orchestra. This latter work brought forward Mr. Charles Hallé, who returns to us with his marvellous executive powers as fresh and brilliant as they ever were. Of recent vocalists at Sydenham we may note the first appearance of the sisters Badia, who promise to become public favourites.

The musical season of 1875-6 may now fairly be said to have started. Mr. Chappel's Monday Populars are shortly to begin; the Alexandra Saturdays are now going on; one of Mr. Carter's "grand oratorio performances," as he terms them, has already taken place; Mr. Bache has commenced his recitals, and the Sacred Harmonic Society promise to begin shortly. Yet, where is Mr. Barnby's Albert Hall Choir? Do Messrs. Novello, Ewer, and Co. intend starting some more daily concerts? We should say their answer to this question would be "No!"

THE 'HE profession of certificated nurse is one which is open to none of the objections which make nearly all women recoil with disgust from the idea of having women educated for surgeons or physicians, and at the same time it is a profession for which they are eminently suited, and more especially so when possessed of the culture, gentleness, and pleasant manners of a gentlewoman. I propose to give here the gist of a sensible and practical leading article that appeared in a daily paper some months ago on this subject. After noticing what an excellent thing it is to train up in hospitals a race of hospital nurses of higher character and more professional knowledge than the majority of the order, the writer calls attention to the want of a class of professional nurses, with thoroughly competent training, with manners and general education qualifying them for the work, to attend the sick in private families. There cannot be a greater blunder than to suppose that the women of every family can do all that is required for a patient in case of sickness, under the doctor's orders. The nurse's work requires less ample and large knowledge than that of the physician; but it needs appropriate knowledge just as much; and it would be as reasonable to fancy that a father or brother could and ought to prescribe for a sufferer as that a mother, wife, or sister should necessarily be able properly to nurse him. If knowledge were not wanting-clear apprehension of the doctor's orders, capacity to observe, appreciate, and report correctly a change of symptoms, intelligence to avoid serious mistakes, such as untrained nurses constantly commit--the very fact that they are so near and dear, so terribly interested in the result, deprives them of the calm self-possession and steady will essential to good nursing. A doctor prefers to call in other advice for his own family; and yet a doctor's duties are not half

so delicate and trying as a nurse's. The constant presence in the sick-chamber, the fearful strain on the nerves produced by the combination of a demand for incessant intellectual vigilance, presence of mind, wakefulness and physical energy, with a bitter, gnawing anxiety preying upon the heart and brain, render the task of the amateur nurse the heaviest that woman can be called on to perform, and leave us no cause to wonder that when no longer sustained by necessity of exertion women so generally break down under its effects. A patient is better nursed by a professional, if she can be trusted to do her duty with professional zeal and earnestness equal to that of the doctor, and better cheered and refreshed by the visits of relatives who have not been worn out in spirit by watching and labour, and are not, therefore, struggling all the time to repress their feelings and control their tendency to hysterical tears.

The difficulty of procuring such nurses is then pointed out. There are establishments that profess to train them; but few indeed that give the requisite period of training, and not many that get the right material. The private nurse needs much higher professional knowledge and aptitude than the hospital nurse. The latter sees the doctor at the bedside twice a day; she can call in the resident medical officer whenever there is a critical change; all she has to do is to be obedient and vigilant. But the private nurse sees the doctor generally once a day, and cannot send for him if a change takes place. She must be competent to act rather on the spirit than the letter of his orders; and to do this she must understand both the disease and the treatment; the meaning of particular symptoms, and the course which the physician is pursuing. A year's training is not sufficient for such a nurse; and she requires a higher theoretical instruction than the

ordinary nurse. To profit by this she must be originally a woman of education and intelligence, and this is the very class of women who, at present, are too apt to think that no profession but that of teaching is open to them, and that by accepting any other they would lose caste. But the "Standard" goes on to say "that a first-class nurse like Miss Nightingale or Miss Lees holds a rank hardly inferior to that of a distinguished physician. A lady trained under one of these for three years or so, competent as she would be by that time to undertake the most difficult charges in her profession, would hold a position on which no woman could pretend to look down. There are scarcely any nurses of this sort; there is a demand for ten times more than can be supplied by existing means of education."

"The Nightingale School," says the "Standard,” "provides for volunteer pupils, who, having paid for their education, are, of course, free to do as they please with it, and we trust that its system will be adopted elsewhere. At present, we doubt whether any other school gives a professional training high enough, long enough, and full enough, to produce the kind of professional nurse to which. we refer. But at any rate the thing can be done; and the pressure of candidates for such instruction would very soon lead to ample provision for their needs. The situation of a nurse born and educated as a lady, possessing high professional qualifications, and able to claim from a great school a testimony to her proficiency, would be one of dignity and independence; far preferable to that of an unemployed woman left with a bare maintenance, incomparably better than that of a governess, or any member of the few and overcrowded occupations in which ladies can practically engage. She could command amply sufficient remuneration and suitable treatment; and she who is educated to such a profession is in truth provided for.' At present the demand for competent superiors and instructors in nurse schools, hospitals, etc., would absorb all who could be trained; some few years must elapse before any considerable number of such nurses would be at the command of private families. So much the better for the profession. They would be rare enough at first to be able to establish their status and position for years before competition would cause them anxiety or oblige them to consider the humours of their employers."

These are encouraging words, and seem intended for the class for whose benefit these papers on employment were originated.

The following information as to training, I quote from L. M. H.'s useful "Year Book of Woman's Work," a second edition of which has just appeared.

Candidates may enter most hospitals as probationers. A few receive lady pupils who pay. Less than one year s training is not to be recommended to anyone, while three

years is the general period for which probationers are engaged the first year as probationers, the second and third as nurses, with a rising salary. Such are the arrangements at the new Westminster Training School and Home for Nurses, at which I understand there are still some vacancies. Were several ladies to enter together, they would, at any rate, avoid the uncongenial society, which is one of the drawbacks to entering most hospitals as probationers.

The salary, the first year, is £16, with board, lodging, and washing. Application to be made to Miss Merryweather, 8, Broad Sanctuary, S.W.

At the Middlesex Hospital four ladies are received for training. They board and lodge in the Home for Nurses, attached to the hospital, and are charged one guinea a week. Young women are also trained as nurses for other institutions at a charge of 10s. a week.

Ladies are also trained at St. John's Nursing Home and Sisterhood, Norfolk Street, Strand, at St. Thomas' University, Charing Cross, and King's College Hospitals, and at the Children's Hospital in Ormond Street. At St. Thomas', however, all must enter on the same terms, viz., as probationers under the Nightingale Fund.

At the Royal Infirmary, and Royal Southern Hospitals, Liverpool, and at the Infirmary, Leicester (address Miss Burt), ladies can also obtain training. The expense at Leicester is £40 a year, exclusive of washing.

The profession has thus special advantages. It is not expensive to train for; it would be encouraged by the medical profession, and approved by the sterner sex; and the position of trained nurse should not affect more injuriously the social position of any gentlewoman than that of governess. Rightly looked upon, both callings are honourable and even sacred. SYLVIA.

In a former article I referred to Newnham Hall. On Monday the 18th of October, this New Ladies' College, situated at the back of the Colleges at Cambridge, was formally opened, and received into its rooms twenty-seven students, the resident mistress being Miss Clough, the sister of the poet. This Hall was much needed, as accommodation could not be found at Girton College. The large number of ladies who go to Cambridge for the purpose of attending lectures could not be provided with lodgings, a difficulty that will now be removed. Newn ham Hall has been built, at considerable cost, by a number of persons interested in promoting the higher education of women, who have formed themselves into a limited liability company for that purpose. The payment for

There

one term's residence at the Hall is to be £20. are some exhibitions and scholarships, which are open to competition and can be held by lady students at the Hall. Those ladies who intend to make teaching a profession will be allowed to attend the lectures.

OUR WORK-ROOM.

RULES AND REGULATIONS. All letters requiring answers in the following month's issue must be forwarded to SYLVIA, CARE of EDITOR, Messrs. Ward, Lock, & Tyler, Warwick House, Paternoster Row, E.C., before the 5th of each

month.

2. All letters asking questions should be written on one side only of the paper, and a space should be left for each answer.

3. In writing for advice as to the making up and altering of dresses, it is advisable to mention height, complexion, and colour of hair, in order that the best combinations of colour may be given.

4. Photographs sent for this purpose cannot be returned, unless accompanied by a stamped directed envelope.

5. Letters for the Work-room must be written on separate paper from those intended for the Drawing-room or the Exchange Column.

No charge is made for replies to any question in the Work-room: it is open to all comers, and all are welcome.

As we give elsewhere all the latest information as to modes and styles, we cannot answer questions as to the way of making up new materials, except when the quantity is so limited as to require contriving, in which case we are glad to give our best help.

As we are anxious to give ladies every assistance in making their own dresses, we are glad to announce that courses of lessons in practical dressmaking and cutting out are given at 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. Lessons on Home Millinery will also be given shortly at the same address.

Ladies intending to join these classes are requested to communicate with Madame A. Letellier, 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, who will gladly supply necessary information as to terms, hours of classes, etc.

An AMERICAN SUBSCRIBER asks-For what purposes the Macramé lace is used in England; she has used it only for brackets. Will the editor please give some point lace patterns for brackets, tidies, etc. [Macramé lace may be used for trimming bed-hangings, and even knitted quilts. I fancy it is much the same as the old-fashioned work that our grandmothers called knotting. You should send twelve stamps to the Manager, Bazaar Office, 32, Wellington Street, for the Macramé Lace Book, which contains many good patterns and clear instructions.]

H. F. H. would feel obliged if Sylvia would tell her whether there is a band to form a collar to the pattern of night dress in the September number of THE YOUNG ENGLISHWOMAN. [The band consists of a straight piece of calico, width according to taste.] H. F. H. has tried the crochet pattern No. 533, but the directions are so vague that she cannot make it out. [The directions are not so full as usual, but I have just managed to do a pattern from them. It makes a pretty little pattern, though not exactly like the illustration, I confess.] H. F. H. has taken THE YOUNG ENGLISHWOMAN some time, but has not asked any questions before. She finds it very useful and entertaining. H. F. H. has recently lost her husband; as she is quite a young woman, is it peculiar to wear a hat on the beach in hot weather, as the bonnet and fall are so very heavy? [It is not usual, but is quite excusable in such hot weather as we had when you wrote in September.]

ROSE ELIZABETH writes-Will black velvet and black silk polonaises or tabliers be worn over coloured skirts this winter? [No.] And will black straw hats be worn? [Yes.] What kind of muff would be suitable for a lady of twentythree? [Any kind she likes.] Could one wear a velvet mantle trimmed with corded silk, or ought one to have fur for winter? [Corded silk can be worn in winter.] Will those little round velvet hats that look like boys' caps, be as fashionable for ladies this winter as they were last? [Turban hats were not fashionable last winter, but they will always be worn, more or less, in furs or velvet.] What coloured bow should one wear at the throat with a dress of the enclosed pattern. [The very palest blue.] And is it too old-looking for a young lady of twentyone? [No.]

LILLA has enough grey merino (pattern enclosed) to make a polonaise or skirt, and she would like to know which would be best for her to make of it, and what she could wear with it, and is it too light for winter? Lilla is short, and rather slight. [It is more suitable for a polonaise than for a skirt. Wear it over velveteen of a .darker grey.]

MARIE writes-Dear madam, seeing the kindness with which you answer all questions asked by your subscribers, I have ventured to solicit your kind advice and assistance. J have a black crape cloth dress, which has been very little worn; skirt walking length, body attached to skirt, a small tunic and loose walking jacket, with wide sleeves, the skirt has back and front width, and one pair of gores; the material is 40 inches wide. Can this material be worn out of mourning if dyed? If so, I would like it dyed plum colour if possible, or what would you advise? [It would dye a dark purple, or a dark Navy blue.] Also, will you kindly give me a few hints as to how it could be made up prettily: could it be mixed with something warm, such as velvet, as I should want to wear it out of doors? [If you have it dyed dark purple, you might have it made up with velvet or velveteen of the same colour. Your loose walking jacket would perhaps make a tight basque jacket, if you prefer that.] I am going to trouble you still further. In your article entitled "Novelties of the Month," you mention a serge dress which can be had from Madame De Tour, trimmed with rows of braid, at a guinea and a half each. If I sent for one must I send my pattern to Madame De Tour, or how does she ensure the dress fitting? If you will kindly answer these questions I shall be much obliged to you. [You can have the bodice made by sending your measurements round the waist, shoulders, and length of back.]

Will Sylvia kindly tell MARGUERITA what she can have done to the dress like the enclosed pattern, which she bought in the spring, but has been very little worn because she disliked the make. It is made with puffings all down the front, and three puffings round the back, about a quarter of a yard from the bottom. The back is long, but tied up with tapes at the waist; then there are two long sash ends, with puffings round, and some smaller loops without them. The body is quite plain, but the sleeves and band are trimmed with brown satin, which is too much worn to use again. Marguerita is 5 feet 4 inches; has dark brown hair, and a pale complexion, and is thin,

and very upright, which is the reason the dress does not suit her, as it makes her look like a poplar tree. All the puffings are cut so that the dress could not be dyed, and Marguerita is afraid will prevent it from being made up in any other fashion; but as Sylvia is so clever, she may have some plan of her own. Marguerita is so delighted with the journal that she wishes it would come out every week instead of every month. Try and answer in November. [Full tabliers suit slight people like yourself, much better than trimmed skirts. I should make the dress into a pretty walking costume as follows:-- Get six yards of brown and grey checked material rather similar to that of your dress. Cut out a tablier from the check, long and full, which trim with the puffings which are at present up the front of your dress. For a short skirt you can spare a width from the back of your skirt, and some material will be cut off the length of the other back 'widths. With all this you can cut the principal portions of the basque bodice as given in our pattern for two colours in June. The other portions will be in the check. Your present sleeves will do, trimmed with a cuff of the check. Gather the tablier up the front, and put small bows and ends of the brown material down the front. Gather it also on the hips, and drape it gracefully at the back. This style will not only suit your figure better, but will agree more with your pale complexion and dark hair, than an entirely brown dress.]

EUNICE wishes to know if Sylvia will kindly tell her the best way to trim and brighten up a It is made with dress like pattern enclosed. jacket-body apron, and a large square one at the back (very ugly), and perfectly plain skirt, no trimming being on the dress whatever, and blue is the only colour that suits Eunice's tall figure, fair hair, and complexion. [Trim it with a pretty dark and light grey checked material, with a bright blue line running through them. They have them at Peter Robinson's from Is. 6d. per yard. Wear pretty blue bows with it in your hair and at the throat. Could you not cut off the corners of the ugly square tablier, and draw it up with tapes, so as to drape more gracefully?]

IDALIA writes-Dear Sylvia, I have a dovecoloured French merino dress skirt, a little way on the ground at the back, made with a deep The dress pouff, jacket bodice, coat sleeves. has just been made a year, but I have never had it on, as the dressmaker was desired to trim it with a nice contrasting colour, and instead she matched it abominably; so I took the trimming off and put it on another dress that it suited, and put the other one away. I should like it trimmed with black velvet, but cannot go to much expense; and as I shall have to do it myself, I should be glad if you would tell me how. Must I use piece or ribbon velvet? Will you kindly tell me how I must trim it, and how much velvet it will take? [Piece velvet looks best, but is rather troublesome to put on, in inexperienced hands, as it must all be put on on the cross and lined. It is also more expensive than ribbon velvet. I cannot tell you how much velvet to get, without knowing where the trimming is to go. Your dress would be more fashionable if trimmed with narrow close pleatings of itself, or a darker shade of grey in merino or silk. Black

velvet on colours is not much worn just now.] Could I trim a homespun polonaise with knotted wool fringe? Can you tell me the price of it? [Yes. From Is. 6d. per yard.] What would Madame Letellier charge for the flat pattern of the polonaise, on fig. 548 of this month's magazine? Could I have it cut with sleeves? Apologizing for troubling you, and hope I am in time for an answer in the November number. [The price is given under the illustration, 2s. 9d. for the flat pattern. You could have it with sleeves.]

VIOLET presents her compliments to Sylvia, and would she kindly say in the November Work-room what will be the most fashionable shape for winter bonnets. Will they have turnedup brims? [So far as I can tell so early in the season, the shapes will be various. The rather small shape with round brim will probably be a favourite.] And will hats have turned-up brims, or will they have broad brims, and be worn down on the forehead? [They are beginning to be worn forward again.] What kind of veils will be most fashionable? [The small untrimmed mask veil of net, most probably.] Are beaded ones still worn? [Very little.] Is borax good for softening hard water? I mean the water one washes in, or does it injure the skin? [I do not know, but can recommend a bag of oatmeal to be kept in the jug.] Does Sylvia mean to say that taking a small supper is injurious to the complexion? [Surely Sylvia never implied such a thing. I think a slight supper is a necessary meal for those who dine early, but rich, hot suppers injure the digestion, and consequently, the complexion.]

C. H. M. is very grateful to Sylvia for her kind advice, and ventures to trouble her a second time. C. H. M. has some black net, with a small round spot on it, that she would like to make into a sleeveless jacket and tablier. Would the jacket need to be lined, or could she make it without a lining? Does Sylvia think it would be an improvement to bead the jacket and tablier? [Net is scarcely strong enough to bear the weight of beads. The jacket ought to be lined with very thin black muslin. It would wear a very short time if made without any lining.]

MARY will be greatly obliged if Sylvia will give her a little advice. Mary has been in mourn. ing fifteen months for her dear mother. She wishes to know if she can wear a black velveteen dress and black and white checked tunic for the coming winter? she having a large cloak which she thinks she can convert into a tunic, if Sylvia thinks it will be sufficient mourning. [It will be sufficiently deep mourning.]

SALLIE would feel greatly obliged if Sylvia would advise her what to do with a French merino dress like pattern enclosed. It is nearly as good as new, but being in mourning nearly every winter since she has had it, it is very oldfashioned. Would Sylvia advise her to have it dyed? [Yes.] And what colour? [Navy blue or prune.] Would it dye navy blue, brown, or dark green? [Any of these.] And which will be most fashionable this winter? [Navy blue and prune.] Can it be dyed without unpicking? [Most probably.] It is trimmed with black velvet and fringe; could that be dyed the same colour as the dress? [No. Black will not dye to the same shade.] My height is 5 feet 3 inches; am air, auburn hair, and rather stout. Would like to wear it with a black velvet bonnet, trimmed with very pale blue. Would be so obliged if answered in the November number of THE YOUNG ENGLISHWOMAN.

AIGUILLE will be glad if Sylvia would kindly tell her if the Bulgare pleats for outdoor dresses will be worn during the coming winter? [Yes, though not a very convenient style for outdoor dresses. The short train will be held up in the

left hand, which will get very cold out of the protection of the muff!] And also, whether the pleated cuffs for sleeves are cut straight or on the cross? [Straight.]

EMILY Would like to know if Sylvia would kindly tell her with what she could trim a large tight-fitting silk velvet out-door jacket, nearly new; it is now trimmed with gimp and lace. Emily would like it trimmed with something to make it look warmer for winter, but is afraid sable would be too expensive, and does not like imitation fur. [Fox is not so expensive as sable. Or you might trim it with uncurled ostrich feathers. Chinchilla or opossum would perhaps suit your purse.]

MYRTALE writes-Dear Sylvia, I have not before troubled you, but should be very glad if you would now give me your kind advice on one or two things. Some time since I noticed pearl powder recommended to a correspondent for whitening the teeth. I procured some from a chemist, who said he should not like to advise its use for the teeth; and I want to know if it is some particular kind; and if so, where can I obtain it? [I never heard of pearl powder being used for the teeth. Will you kindly let me know in what number it was recommended?] I have a grey felt hat which has been very little worn, what would be the best shape to have it altered? I am rather short, eighteen years of age, and have an oval face. The Tyrolese and Lorne shapes used to suit me, is there not some such shape being worn now? [Hats will be worn rather high in the crown this year. Brims straight, curved, and turned up, every variety.] I have a handsome cashmere jacket, tight-fitting in the back, with basques beautifully trimmed, but the fronts are perfectly plain, and reach scarcely below the waist. Please could I in any way lengthen them by adding a piece on? I am always obliged to wear jackets on account of feeling the cold in my arms. [You might put pieces to the fronts, and cover the joins with trimming to match that on the back basques.] Should not coat sleeves of dresses be cut very small, so as to almost fit the arms tightly? [Very narrow indeed.] And are puffed sleeves still fashionable? [Pleats are more fashionable than puffs, laid on quite flat, either lengthwise or round the arm.] Can you tell me how to remedy the following? I have a grenadine bodice, made with basques back and front, but being so thin a material, if it is fastened moderately tight it gives, and being worn so loose it makes my waist look so thick. Can I wear a satin waistband with it, or would it be better to take away the front basques, and then wear a band? [Tuck the basques in under the tunic, or skirt, and wear an oxydized chatelaine belt.] Should dresses be made high in the neck, and tightly closed up for out-of-door wear? [Yes.] And is it considered vulgar to wear collars rather loose and open for indoors? [No, but it is not good taste to wear them so in the street.] Can you or the clever editor (whom we seem to expect to know everything), tell me if there is any means of preventing myself feeling the cold in the water. I am learning swimming, and thoroughly enjoy it but for this one thing. When I have been in the water about ten minutes I shiver dreadfully, and turn bluey white; sometimes my fingers go dead, however active I may be, and if I dip my head much, I have an intense headache afterwards. It does not arise from timidity, for I never feel the slightest fear, and shall be intensely disappointed if I have to give it up. [It arises from defective circulation. You should come out of the water immediately you begin to feel so cold. Then, perhaps, after awhile you may gradually be able to remain in

longer.] And now, dear Sylvia, I am afraid I am tiring you, but I know how good you are. [If you write again, please keep to the rules.]

HONOR will feel obliged if Sylvia will give her some directions regarding some cretonne work, as she is thinking of doing some. 1. Should the satin be stretched on a frame? [No. It is tacked on linen and worked in the hand.] 2. Where can the cretonne be purchased suitable for the work? [Messrs. J. and J. Simpson, 89, Newgate Street.] 3. After the group is cut out, should it be pasted or gummed on the satin, and how is this to be done most satisfactorily? [Paste is better than gum. It requires to be done very neatly, but you need not be particular to paste down all the edges, as the stitches will keep the cretonne down.] Is there any book of directions published, and where can it be procured? [I do not know of any book of directions. The work has been described more than once in THE YOUNG ENGLISH WOMAN. It is not difficult, but requires taste in the arrangement of the birds, leaves, and flowers.]

VERENA Writes-Will Sylvia kindly advise me what kind of jacket to have this winter. I want black, and one that will be useful for some time to come? Will the double-breasted pilot jackets be fashionable this winter? [Cloth jackets will be fashionable. They will be worn rather long, and trimmed with braid, passementerie, or fur. 2. Naturally you get hot when you dance. I know of no remedy.] Will some one send the words of "Robin Adair." [Please send a stamped addressed envelope, that the words may be forwarded to you.]

E. A. J. presents her very kind regards to Sylvia, and would be glad if she would tell her what kind of jacket will be worn this winter? Her income is not large, and she can only afford about 21s., 255., 30s., or 355., and she does not know at all what to choose. 2. Also, what kind of dress would be serviceable and look nice for church, and generally for best, what material, etc.? The trimmings and way of make E. A. J. can always gather from the magazine. [Cloth jackets will be fashionable this winter. Are you skilful enough to cut one out by the pattern given this month? If so, it would be cheaper to buy a good cloth, and have it made at home. The fashionable trimmings are braid, passementerie, uncurled ostrich feathers, or fur. A very dark blue cloth keeps the colour better than a black If you cannot make a jacket yourself, you should be able to buy a pretty good cloth one trimmed with braid for 35s. A good tailor usually makes ladies' jackets a better fit than you can buy them ready made. I am about to inquire prices of one or two, and will let you know next month. 2. Serge, cloth, vivogne, rep, satin cloth, or winter homespun.]

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HOME DRESSMAKING.

MADAME ADELE LETELLIER begs to announce that ladies can have their own materials fitted at 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, at a moderate charge, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from ten to one o'clock.

A course of lessons in Practical Dressmaking for ladies, cutting out, etc., will be given at the above address, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from two to half-past three o'clock, by an experienced dressmaker.

Ladies intending to join these classes are requested to communicate with Madame Adele Letellier, 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, as to terms, etc.

MARMION'S DENTILANE, an excellent and refreshing wash for the teeth, may be had at 30, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.