MERMAID (_Stewardess_).—You should call at the offices of the Peninsular and Oriental and the Orient Steamships Companies, and inquire whether there is likely to be any vacancy for a stewardess. The companies, however, generally know of a good many suitable women for such positions. The duties of a stewardess, about which you inquire, are to wait on the lady passengers. A certain amount of experience in hospital nursing is regarded as a strong recommendation.
MARGERY inquires why four-wheeled cabs are called “Growlers.” It would be quite reasonable to attribute the name to the loud rumbling noise they make, their construction being of an inferior kind, and the windows ill-fitting. But it is also a fact that “to growl” is an early form of English to denote “to crawl,” and a “crawler” is a name applied to empty vehicles of either two or four wheels, the driver of which is seeking a “fare.” This term “growler” came into use about the year 1860.
H. E. B.—In Welsh, a double “l” is pronounced as if preceded by “th,” as “Thlandudno”; but the usual pronunciation of that name in English is “Llandidno.”
WATER-NYMPH.—In England, “Rosebud” would have been quite right in entertaining her sister’s friend till her return home; but in a foreign country it may be otherwise, and etiquette might require a young girl to retire from the room after proposing that he should await her sister’s return, and informing him of when it would be, or asking him for any message he might wish to leave. As to the infamous practice of “throwing vitriol in a person’s face,” it is for the purpose of blinding them and burning the face! It may be well to observe that the only way to prevent the burning of the skin from any accidental contact with vitriol, is to wipe it off quickly with a _dry_ cloth, and dust the place over with flour or chalk, and carefully avoid the touch of any liquid. In the case of the eyes, we fear nothing could be done, as they are wet.
ETHEL.—A girl is never “introduced to a gentleman”—it is the reverse. The man should find some remark to make to her, and she has only to reply. You should not say “Good evening” when introduced to each other, and certainly neither should say “I hope you are quite well.” All you have to do when a presentation is made, is to bow and smile pleasantly, and reply to whatever remark he may make, and then say something in the same connection.