EDITED BY HERR HARRWITZ, PROBLEM No. XII.-By A. G. M'COMBE, Esq.-White to move, and mate in 4 moves. 1. K. P. 2. 2. K. B. P. 2. 5. K. B. to Q. B. 4. 7. Q. P. I. 8. Q. to K. 2. 9. Q. B. to K. Kt. 5. 10. B. takes Kt. 11. Q. Kt. to Q. 2. 12. Q. R. P. 2. 13. K. R. P. 2. 14. K. R. P. 1. 17. Q. Kt. to K. B. 3. 21. K. Kt. P. 2. 22. K. to B. 1. K. P. 2. 2. K. B. to Q. B. 4. 4. P. takes P. 7. Castles. 8. K. to R. 12. Q. to K. 2. 27. K. to K. 28. Kt. to Q. 4. 29. P. takes Kt. 27. P. takes R. 28. Kt. takes Kt. 29. R. takes P. White resigned. NOTES TO GAME XII. (a.) If Black had checked with K. B. at B. 7, White might have taken with his Q., winning a clear piece. (b.) To prevent White's castling. (c.) After this move White's game is not saveable, do what he may. (d.) He has no good move. Solution to Problem XI. n. 332. 1. Kt. to Q. S (ch.) BLACK. 1. K. to K. 4 (best) 2. K. takes Q. 3. K. to B. 4. 4. Anything. THE EDITOR AND HIS FRIENDS. [APPENDIX.] Is commencing the Appendix to our Fifth Volume, we desire to address a few words to our Correspondents and Readers, and in so doing, to suggest some useful arrangements for future intercommunication. Editor's Address:-London, 69, Fleet Street, The Editor of the Family Friend, All letters of inquiry should be written as briefly and legibly as possible; and but one query should be submitted by one Correspondent at a time. Correspondents should avoid troubling the Editor for information which may be easily obtained by reference to works usually accessible. Thus, the meaning and pronunciation of English words; the dates of well-known events, &c. &c., are not fair matters for Editorial interrogation, since all parties with less delay and trouble than would be occasioned by addressing the Editor, may obtain the required information for themselves. Inquiries which are merely of individual interest will seldom be replied to; and queries of a trifling character, unless they are of a nature to afford amusement, and thus relieve the more solid matter of the Appendix from the disadvantages of dullness and monotony, will seldom be regarded. Legal and medical questions, except such as relate to established general principles of jurisprudence and medical science, must necessarily be set aside. We assume that every paragraph inserted in the Appendix should be useful to many persons, which would not be the case if matters of a merely local or private nature were introduced. Manuscripts addressed to the Editor for acceptance, should have the author's name and address written legibly upon the first page. Contributors are paid according to the following rate of remuneration :-Per page of The Friend, for articles in type as "Ferns and Mosses," (page 325, No. 47), 10s. 6d. ditto for articles in type as the "Simple History of a Family Friend," (page 4, No. 49), 7s. 6d. The small scraps contributed to Pastime, Receipts, Trifles, &c., &c., are usually gratuitous, being given for the benefit of the numerous Family of Friends. Receipts and Hints upon Domestic matters are always highly acceptable. We hope that all our supporters having matters of practical knowledge, which they may be willing to diffuse for the benefit of others, will oblige us with them; and that no one will think a simple hint upon any household matter too trifling to be communicated. Some elderly persons have complained to us of the smallness of a part of our type, and have sought to effect its displacement by a larger kind. We find, however, that by the adoption of small print, we are able to crowd into our pages a mass of useful matter which must otherwise be excluded. To counterbalance the smallness in size, we take every care to obtain extremely clear printing. Our Yumbers are always worked from stereotype plates cast from new type, so that the surface is never worn. Consequently, the majority of our readers find our smallest print sufficiently clear. We do not believe that the perusal of small print does injury to the eyes. Long readings may do so, especially where the eyes are weak. In such cases it would be well never to strain the eyes by too long continued exertion. And as the paragraphs of our Appendix are usually brief, and are numbered, every facility for desultory reading thereof is afforded. Moreover, young people may read to their elder relatives those parts of the Friend unsuited by small print for perusal by aged eyes. Before addressing matters of inquiry to the Editor, Correspondents should refer to the QUADRUPLE INDEX at the close of Vol. IV., which will at once show whether the information they need has been already contained in our pages. Many persons have been disappointed by our silence, because they have overlooked matters already published in our pages, and which therefore could not be allowed to appear a second time. In conclusion, the Editor promises to bestow careful attention upon all communications addressed to him. But he hopes that every indulgence may be extended to one who, though he performs the high functions of an Editor, and assumes the dignitorial "we," is but a man of small pretensions, with little more than a slight acquaintance with general knowledge, and a fair disposition to the industrious and philanthropic use of it, to recommend him to the confidence and regard of so vast a circle of Friendly acquaintances, 1-The Face. B.-The simple use of violet powder will prevent the face from displaying an unnatural glossy appearance after washing. 2-Dandelion Coffee. S. T.-Dandelion coffee may be obtained of most chemists. The ordinary chicory possesses the same properties. 3-Alum Baskets. C. W. M.-In making alum baskets, when the crystals form upon only a portion of the nasket, it shows that the quantity of alum employed must have been insufficient. 4-Chess. N. N. S.-Mr. Stanton edits the Chess department of the Illustrated London News; Mr. Walker that of Bell's Life. We do not know Mr. Stanton's professional arrangements; they may be ascertained by addressing him at the office of the News. Horwitz, lately defeated by Mr. Stanton in the Chess Tournament, is often mistaken to be Harrwitz, the editor of the Chess department of The Friend. Mr. Harrwitz does not (we believe) play in the Chess Tournament. He is understood to decline upon private grounds. 5-Hair Dye. G. E.-The hydrosulphuret of ammonia may be procured of any operative chemist or may be ordered through a druggist. G. E. says that he has tried as a hair dye the indelible ink, vol. i, p. 252:-asphaltum one part, oil of turpentine four parts. He says it dyes the hair very well, and being an oil, the hair does not require so much washing previously; but the oil of turpentine is found irritating to the skin, and smells badly. We shall experiment upon the subject. 6-Silkworms. M. J.-By the side of your letter inquiring where silkworms' eggs might be purchased, we find another, from Mr. J. J. Young, jun., 9, High Street, Sheerness, stating that he has a large number for sale. Last year he kept 2,000, which produced about 100,000 eggs. Doubtless a few postage stamps enclosed to the above address would ensure a prompt supply. See also App. par. 134, vol. iv. 7-Enigma. 1 see it stated (par. 56, vol. iv.) that Lord Byron wrote the beautiful enigma commencing"'Twas whispered in heaven, 'twas muttered in hell, And echo caught faintly the sound as it fell." Mary Russel Mitford, in an article on Female Poets, in the Ladies' Companion for February, ascribes its authorship to Miss Catherine Fanshawe. I will give you an extract of the allusion: "My next extract is a restoration. I have it myself printed in two editions of Lord Byron's works, the one English, the other American." The friend already quoted says of it: The letter H," (I mean the enigma so-called ascribed to Lord Byron)," she wrote at the Deepdene. I well remember her bringing it down at breakfast and reading it to us, and my impression is, that she had just composed it." Then follows the riddle.--S. A. S. 8-Graphiology.-Dear Mr. Editor-I am sorry to find you so faithless on the subject of graphiology. Like the excellent Dr. Johnson (that nice tory and high-churchman), I declare-"I thought so once, but now I know it; " that is to say, the more I see of the world, the more I am convinced that there is decidedly a connection between a person's character and his or her hand-writing. I myself am no judge of character, and have no penetration into another's frame of mind: moreover, I am persuaded that it requires habitual practice to set up professionally, or to profess to tell, under all circumstances, a person's character from their hand-writing. Nevertheless, I really should like, if you would have (though I suspect it is otherwise) no objection to send me some MS. of your own -which I should of course prize very highly, and consider quite an honorourable memento-to try my skill upon yourself.-Yours very sincerely and respectfully, J. J. C., Cambridge. We shall be happy to supply J.J. C. with some of our MS., if he will favour us with his address.] 9-Unfermented Bread. Dear Sir, I would much sooner (had I not been prevented by unavoidable circumstances) have acknowledged your kind communication, on the subject of Unfermented Bread contained in p. 174, vol. ii. By following the directions given in that article, we have been enabled to make excellent brown bread; with the white we have not succeeded quite so well. We have produced fine, well-flavoured bread; but not so light as is desirable; we think this may arise from the greater proportion of gluten contained in the bran than in the white Hour. However, we shall "try and try again," until we succeed; we find the addition of half milk an improvement. So interesting a subject is it to us, (my sister and myself, being invalids, very dependent upon good household bread, and living in a situation where fresh yeast was not to be obtained) that, did my means allow of the expense of the journey, I should be induced to ask the favour of an interview with your intelligent correspondent of Blandford Cottage. That, however, cannot be, but we do feel grateful to her for the interesting information, and wished you to know how great a boon you have rendered us, and for which we beg you to receive our sincere thanks.-M. L. New Brighton.-[We have received several letters, thanking us for the article upon Untermented Bread." which we commend to the attention of those readers who have not yet made the experiment. A very little practice will render any person skilful in the production of a light, economical, and wholesome bread, invaluable to all who suffer from dyspepsia.] 10-Impositions. Sir,-Seeing an advertisement in the York Herald of Saturday the 17th ult., that from £20,000 to £30,000 could be realized by any one with a trifling outlay, of which full particulars would be sent by addressing t L. L. D., care of E. W. George, Esq. Solicitor, 7, Clement's Inn, Strand, London, I wrote to him, and received in return a printed circular, in which he says he is the inventor and patentee of the best fabric extant, namely, the Wool Mosaic Tapestry, and has a still more valuable invention, which he is determined to patent in foreign countries. He then solicits me to purchase some shares of five shillings each, and says that from the trifling outlay of five shilings subscribers may make quite certain of realising from £25 to £100 per annum. He says that there will be 40.000 shares, and that it is his intention to patent the invention as soon as the shares are sold. All remittances for shares to be made payable to Wiliam Kendal, Esq., 9, Arthur Street West, London Bridge. I should take it as a great favour if you would inform me, through your valuable Friend, your opinion (as I am a poor man, and cannot afford to lose anything) as to whether it is correct, or like many other advertisements which you have cautioned your readers against fom time to time.-Yours respectfully, G. 1., York.-We have received many inquiries upon this subject, and having examined the prospectuses and cheques issued by the parties in question, we express or opinion, that the scheme is utterly unworthy the confi dence of the public. 11-Black Eyes. R. B.-These accidental disfigurements may be disguised by the use of violet powder and rouge, admixed with a little yellow, to imitate the colour of the skin. A little spermaceti or stiff pomade should first be rubbed upon the spot, and then the powder should be daubed on with the tip of a finger. We remember that, some time ago, a friend of ours from Ireland was giving us an illustration of the manner in which Irishmen flourish the shillaleh. The illustration proved an extremely forcible one, for the silver knob of a very thick cane struck our eye with tremendous effect. In a few hours afterwards, the blackness had set in, and we looked like a pupil of the Ring. Not liking this disgrace, we anxiously inquired for some remedy, and various nos trums and household prescriptions were tried, with no immediate effect. At length we were informed of a method of painting the eye, and were directed to a professor of this high art. We directed our steps to the neighbourhood of Great Windmill Street, and turning up a court, our attention was arrested by a barber's shop, in the window of which was exhibited a card somewhat to the following effect:"Ladies and gentlemen having black eyes may have them effaced by a harmless preparation!" We entered, and found the artist seated before a small bench, with halfdozen pots of colours and pomades before him. It was about eleven o'clock, and we were apprised that we were the fifth applicant in the same circumstances that morning. painting the black eyes of the gentlemen blackguards of The operator, we subsequently learned, lives partly by Family Friends, upon some domestic calamity, and feeling London. Subsequently, we had to meet a gathering of the softening influences of grief stealing upon us, were just about to shed a few tears, when the recollection of our painted eye excited an indescribable consternation; for we had entered the room with the disfigurement well disguised, and should it become revealed, our explanation. we feared, under the circumstances, would have been sus picious and unsatisfactory. So we struggled to subd our grief, and preserve the paint. But upon leaving the room, we found that a profuse perspiration, caused probabi by the excitement of being placed in such a ludicrous dilemma, had started the colour, and given to our eyes speckled and motley appearance that can better be imagined than described. We mention our own sad experience to save others from a like extremity.-Cold appli cations continued for some time after the bow is struck, are, we believe, the best palliative, as they prevent the extravasation of blood from the vessels, 12-The Royal George. B.-This vessel sank at Spithead, on the 30th of August, 1782. 13-To Fry Egys. G. H.-To fry eggs nicely requires some little attention, as they are apt to become hard, black, and unpalatable. There should be plenty of butter or oil, and care taken not to let them be overdone. If ham or bacon is fried with them, it must be done first, and the eggs afterwards. 14-To become Thin, R. M.-Our medical referee sends the following prescription, as one of the most successful in procuring leanness: Take of anxiety as much as you can carry; of labour, twelve hours; of sleep, five hours; of food, oue meal; of disappointed love, one season; of blighted friendship, half a dozen instances. Let these ingredients be mixed care-fully, with a considerable weight of debt, in a mind from which all religious remedies have been excluded, and excessive leanness will speedily be produced. 15-Human Growth. D. G., and H. H.-We know of nothing by which the growth of the human body may be promoted, except perhaps, a due regard to physiological jaws, proper exercise, food, and rest. Gymnastic exercises may be adopted with great advantage, especially those which contribute to muscular development in a vertical direction, such as swinging by the arms, &c. But care should always be taken not to carry exercise to excess. The benefits resulting from it are often marred by the lassitude and debility resulting from over-exertion. 16-Lip Salve. Ó. C.-A good li salve may be made as follows:-Take an ounce of the oil of sweet almonds, cold drawn; a drachm of fresh mutton suet; and a little bruised alkanet root; and simmer the whole together in an earthen pipkin. Instead of the oil of sweet almonds, you may use oil of Jasmin, or oil of any other flower, if you intend the lip salve to have a fragrant odour.-2. Take a pound of fresh butter; a quarter of a pound of bees-wax; } four or five ounces of cleansed black grapes, and about an ounce of bruised alkanet root. Simmer them together over a slow fire till the wax is wholly dissolved, and the mixture becomes of a bright red colour: strain, and put it by for use.-3. Oil of almonds, spermaceti, white wax, 1 and white sugar-candy, equal parts, form a good white lip salve. 17-Black Lead in Clock-work.-The purest oil after some time becomes thick, and when used in clock-work retards the movements. A watch-maker of Geneva tried the use of black lead very finely powered, and applied it to the pivots, in some instances dry, in others with a little alcohol. The powder adhered strongly; there was no friction of metal upon metal-all was expended on the black lead, which endured it for fourteen years without interruption. All the teeth of the wheels, pivots, and other parts exposed to friction, in an astronomical clock, were found polished as bright as a diamond, but quite uninjured. It was already known that the use of oil or fatty matter was rather hurtful than useful where there was friction of wood against wood, and that in such cases black lead, powdered steatite, or French chalk (all of triding cost), might be successfully employed; but no one had ever dreamed of using such substances in cases of friction of metal against metal. It seems that this dust, which does not mechanically adhere to metal, is influenced by some chemical agent developed by friction, similar to magnetism or electricity, which fixes it. tion!" The chief causes of greyness of the hair, are sickness, anxiety, and sedentary occupations. Labourers whose employments involve healthful exercise in pure atmospheres, and whose diet is simple and wholesome, retain the colour of their hair to a late period. Usually, the greyness of the air is an indication that the bodily fluids have begun to be absorbed, the textures to be dried up and become withered. But frequently the affection is local, not general; accidental, not constitutional. "All whose employment renders much sitting necessary, and little or no exercise possible; all who study much; all who, from whatever cause, have local determinations of blood, particularly if towards the head, are the persons most liable to carry grey hairs." Mental emotions have frequently caused the hair to turn suddenly grey. "It will, indeed, be fortunate if a desire to preserve the beautiful luxuriance of the hair, should induce any fair votary of fashion and civilization to forego late hours and heated rooms; and try whether it is not better and productive of more happiness, as well as calculated to produce this end, to exercise her limbs, and inhale the fresh and untainted breath of the morning hours." 20-Joanna Southcott. T. R.-Joanna Southcott was an ignorant female fanatic, and was born in the west of England, of parents in humble life, in 1750. When about forty years of age, she assumed the airs of a prophetess; and her numerous converts, who are said to have amounted to at least 100,000, put implicit faith in her wild and blasphemous rhapsodies. She described herself as the woman spoken of in the book of Revelations; and although in the highest degree illiterate, she scribbled a mass of unintelligible nonsense, which she dignified with the title of prophetic inspirations, while she carried on a lucrative trade in the sale of seals, which were, under certain conditions, to be the passports to eternal salvation. At length, after having passed her grand climacteric, she was at tacked with a disease which had the outward appearance of pregnancy, and she boldly announced that she was destined to become the mother of the promised Shiloh. So fully persuaded were her deluded followers of its truth, that they made the most splendid preparations for the reception of the miraculous babe that superstition and credulity could suggest; when, about the end of 1814, her death put an end to their expectations. The body of Joanna underwent an anatomical examination after her death, when the extraordinary appearance of her shape was fully accounted for on medical principles; but the belief in her divine mission was not eradicated from the minds of her votaries, and the sect is not even yet wholly extinct. 21-Black Eyes-see 11.-An eminent physician related to the writer that on visiting his own asylum for insane patients, one of them suddenly struck him a blow on each eye, the severity of which produced immediate swelling and blackness of both eyes. In the afternoon he visited the hospital, going his usual rounds, when one of the patients there, a very poor fellow, observing the doctor's sad disfigurement, asked him if he could care himself. The physician owned that he knew of no remedy that would remove the blackness speedily enough, and expressed an earnest wish that he did, as he should be unable to venture out the next day, and could not attend his numerous patients. Upon this, the poor hospital patient said to him with a smile of evident self-congratulation, will do as I tell you." The doctor answered, that he would gladly do anything to be free from his dreadful appearance. The man told him to get the roots of the common bryony -to be found in almost every hedge-to scrape the roots, and apply the scrapings to his eyes at night, by means of muslin bound over them, assuring him that if he did so, all blackness would be removed by the morning. The doctor did so, and his disfigurement was so effectually cured by the next morning, that he was enabled to pay his usual professional visits, without inconvenience. The doctor has been dead several years, but he was a man in very extensive practice, and the first physician in a populous city. --T. C. H. 18-The Sting of Bees. H. T.-Although the poison"Well, doctor, you can cure me, and I can cure you, if you which a bee emits when it inserts its sting, is proved to be a highly concentrated acid, it does not follow, that the application of all alkalies will neutralise the acid. Ammonia, for example, we have known, in several instances, to produce distressing consequences such as excessive local inflammation, temporary erysipelas, and general distress to the constitution. The more gentle alkalieschalk, or the "blue bag," are much more likely to effect a cure, and cannot injure. The same person will be variously affected by the sting of a bee; at one time, scarcely any inconvenience will attend it; at another, much swelling; again, but little enlargement, although great pain, &c. The eye suffers considerably, though in general the uneasiness is local; but if the back of the ear be stung, there is frequently a general affection of the system; sickness, giddiness, numbness, nervous trembling, &c. &c., which will sometimes continue for hours. A draught of camphor julep, and total repose, we have known to be beneficial in this latter case; and would earnestly recommend it to our readers, should they be placed in circumstances to require assistance. 19-Grey Hair.-How many are the inquiries for preventures of and remedies for grey hair! With what terror the first indications of change of colour are regarded, not by the fair sex alone, but by many of the "lords of crea 22-Eye-Lashes and Brows. E. T.-Very often a good countenance is impaired by colourless eye-lashes and brows, and the beauty of that lovely organ, the eye, is greatly diminished by these defects. We have bestowed much experimental attention upon the subject, and find that the lashes and brows may be permanently dyed, by the usual liquid hair-dye, with excellent effect. But as the dye stains the skin, considerable care is required. Let the following instructions be rigidly adopted, and the process will be found at once safe and easy:-Obtain a discreet and careful operator, and employ the dye composed of the two liquids, the nitrate of silver, and the hydro sulphuret of ammonia. Articles required:-The dye, a small piece of bees'-wax, three short and stiff camel-hair brushes, a small toothcomb, a jug of warm water, a towel, a piece of soap, and two small gallipots or saucers. First meit the bees'-wax, and with one of the brushes lay a thin. coating of it over the flesh near the lashes and the brows, to prevent discolouration of the skin if the dye touches it. Then take the small toothcomb and raise up the brows or lashes between its teeth, then with a brush apply the nitrate of silver (the white fluid), continue thus until the lids and brows of both eyes have been perfectly touched with it. Then wash the comb, and wipe it dry, and using it again, taking the brows and lashes in succession as before, apply the hydro-sulphuret of ammonia, and the hair will instantly become dark, or black. If either of the fluids drop upon the skin of the face during the operation, immediately wipe it off with the soap and warm water. If the hair is not sufficiently darkened in one operation, repeat it after the interval of a day or two. One effective dying will last six months or more. Weak eyes, with light eye-lashes, will find relief from excessive light by darkening the lashes. 23-Precautions in Case of Fire. H. T.-The following are among the best precautions in cases of fire, and should be impressed upon the memory of our readers:-1. Should a fire break out, send off to the nearest engine or police station.-2. Fill buckets with water, carry them as near the fire as possible, dip a mop into the water, and throw it in showers on the fire, until assistance arrives.-3. If a fire is violent, wet a blanket, and throw it on the part in flames.-4. Should a fire break out in the kitchen chimney, or any other, a blanket wetted should be nailed to the upper end of the mantel-piece, so as to cover the opening entirely, the fire will then go out of itself; for this purpose, two knobs should be permanently fixed in the upper ends of the mantel-piece, upon which the blanket may be hitched. -5. Should the bed or window-curtains be on fire, lay hold of any woollen garment, and beat it on the flames until extinguished.-6. Avoid as much as possible leaving any door or window open in the room where the fire has broken out, as the current of air increases the force of the fire.7. Should the staircase be burning so as to cut off all communication, endeavour to escape by means of a trap-door in the roof, a ladder leading to which should always be at hand.-8. Avoid hurry and confusion; no person, except a fire policemen, friend, or neighbour, should be admitted.9. In case a lady's dress takes fire, she should endeavour to roll herself in a rug, carpet, or the first woollen garment she meets with.-10. It is a good precaution to have always at hand a large piece of baize, to throw over a female whose dress is burning, or be wetted and thrown on a fire that is recently broken out.-11. A solution of pearlash in water, thrown upon a fire, extinguishes it instantly; the proportion is a quarter of a pound dissolved in some hot water, and then poured into a bucket of common water.-12. It is recommended to householders to have two or three firebuckets, and a carriage mop with a long handle, near at hand; they will be found essentially useful in case of fire. -13. All householders, but particularly hotel, tavern, and inn-keepers, would exercise a wise precaution by directing that the last person up should perambulate the premises previous to going to rest, to ascertain that all fires are safe, and lights extinguished. 24-Alleged Danger of Modelling in Wax. F.-The following article having appeared in the Times, into which it was copied from a Manchester paper, has excited a great deal of inquiry. We intend to investigate the subject, and shall be glad if our friends will aid us by their experience, as we feel assured that the evil is altogether an unnecessary one:"Few persons, especially, perhaps, of the many young ladies who are now practising the very pleasing art of modelling fruits, flowers, &c., in wax, at all suspect the great danger in which they are placed from the poisonous nature of the colouring matter of the wax which they handle so unsuspectingly. The white wax, for instance, contains white lead; the green, copper; the yellow, chrome yellow; the orange, chrome yellow and verinillion -strong poisons all; while many other kinds of wax are equally poisonous, and, therefore, dangerous. There are very many persons who are aware of the intense sufferings, for very many years past, of Mr. W. Bally, phrenologist and modeller in wax, in which latter branch he has laboured for twenty-four or twenty-five years, three of them as teacher of the art at the Manchester Mechanics' Institution. Mr. Bally has been at times completely paralysed, and is now, and has long been, very nearly so, especially in the hands and arms; and he has also been afflicted with extensive ulceration of the throat, and has almost totally lost his voice. Both himself and his medical adviser, after a long attention to his symptoms, are satisfied that the primary cause of his affliction is the extent to which the subtle poisons in the wax with which he has worked have been absorbed into his system through the pores of his hands; while the disease has been generally strengthened, and one part of it accounted for by the occasional application of his fingers to his lips while at work. Mr. Bally says that he has known several cases in which young ladies have been attacked with partial paralysis of the hands and arms, after having devoted some time to the practice of modelling; but at the time he had no suspicion of the cause. As all the requisite colours can be obtained from vegetable matter, and as the use of mineral colouring seems to lead to such deplorable results, the subject should be carefully investigated by those working with coloured war."-Manchester Examiner. 25-Woman.-Not the least among the Editor's correspondence, are letters from both sexes discussing the social duties, position, and rights of women. Some argue that woman should be an intellectual being, that she should seek out every refinement, and rise as far as possible above the common-place of household drudgery. Others contend that the true mission of woman is to fulfil the homely duties in a quiet and submissive manner; and that her constant aim should be at cleanliness and good and punctual cookery, as the highest responsibility devolving upon her. Both doctrines run to extremes. We shall have a little serious talk upon the subject hereafter. And as a humorous prelude thereto, we introduce a communication from a couple of the fair sex, (which from the irregularity of its metre appears a doggerel duet) A VOICE FROM THE KITCHEN. Let the critic stoop from his lofty pride, And be making shirts and collars? Or peruse Sir Humphrey Davy, Talk of woman's gentle nature; In dread scenes of butchery! Sons of vegetarianism, Do you wonder Locke's neglected, Our grandmothers you love to praise, Who could knit, and spin, and darn; Like them, we have been spinning too, But 'tis a poetic yarn. Then, gentlemen, don't be so hard! Nor scoff, because you're master; And you shall have this rich reward, Your buttons sown on faster! MARY AND LAURA |