GRIBBITE.—The metre of your blank verse is quite correct. The writing of blank verse that shall be really musical is very difficult, for the author has no rhymes to depend upon, and the arrangement of ideas and words has to be of peculiar charm and melody. But we can honestly praise your effort. “Good-bye, old year” is not quite so satisfactory. Never make an elision obviously for metre’s sake, especially where you only do it in one instance, as “Whenever, where’er ’tis said.” Here both “evers,” or neither, should be written in the abbreviated form. EMMA PORTLOCK.—Unfortunately your hymn could not find acceptance for publication. The metre is very faulty, and the thought expressed is familiar. “Farewell, Canadian friends!” is better, but we cannot encourage you to do more than to write for your own gratification. COUNTRY LASS.—We are sorry we omitted to criticise your writing in our answer some weeks ago. To begin with, you should use better ink that will not turn brown. Keep a regular space between your lines, and refrain from leaving a margin at the end of some of them. The writing itself would be improved by more decision and firmness, the letters being larger. You can easily make it into a good hand. MABEL BROWN.—1. We have inserted your address for “FLORENCE” to see.—2. No doubt character to some extent can be described from handwriting; for instance, a neat precise person seldom writes a bold, sketchy, untidy hand; a very excitable, nervous person seldom writes a neat, close hand, and so on; but we do not believe that every moral and intellectual quality can be deciphered by this means. Of course we cannot tell how far the estimate you enclose is correct, but we thank you for your pleasant letter. DOLLY.—We do not think any permission is needed for reciting the poem you name. Many thanks for your answer to “NINETTE.” OUR OPEN LETTER BOX. KYLE, Victoria, Australia, writes to inform “GOLD DUST” that “Tit for Tat” is published as a song, in two keys, E♭ and C. The words are by “Nemo,” and the music by Henry Pontet. The song can be procured at Enoch and Sons, 14 and 14A, Great Marlborough Street, London. “KYLE” would copy out and forward the song to “GOLD DUST,” if she knew her address. “NINETTE” (Budapesth) again has answers—from “DOLLY,” who says “Somebody’s Darling” is to be found in Walker’s _Golden Reciter_ (William Walker and Sons, Otley, Yorkshire, price 1s. 6d.); from “VICTORIA,” who refers it and the “Song of the Shirt” to _Recitations for Recreation_, in verse, collected by Mary Trebeck (Wells, Gardner, Darton & Co., 44, Victoria Street, London, S.W., price about 1s.), and from “A. A. L. S.,” who mentions the _Royal Reader_, No. VI. MISS MARGUERITE FITZROY DIXON, 1919, Florence Street, Ottawa, offers to copy out and send “Ninette” the poem, “Somebody’s Darling,” on receipt of her address. MOLLY DARLING wishes to know the author of a “poem,” which we can inform her is a well-known nursery rhyme, beginning—