“ONE OF THE OLD GIRLS.”—We fear that we cannot answer your questions, for we never have given and never will give the address of any chemist, physician or herbalist, or of any professional or tradesmen whatsoever, in this column. As we know of no depilatory which is useful without being injurious, we could not answer your question under any circumstances. As a well-known physician once tersely put it, “There is no depilator which is not a delapidator.” STUDY AND STUDIO. GRACE DARLING.—1. If the friend whose verses you enclose is “only sixteen and has had a poor education,” her attempt does her credit. There are many defects in composition; for instance, in verse 5 the second person singular (thy) is interchanged with the plural (you). The emphasis on the second syllable of “cannot” (verse 1, line 2), is quite inadmissible, and we think a word must be omitted after “usual,” as that is not a substantive.—2. Your writing strikes us as very good; clear and legible, and likely, as you are only fifteen, to become more “formed” with practice. GREEN-BELLE.—We cannot say that you should encourage your “little friend.” The verses you enclose are sentimental, and do not show poetic ability in any way. If she is, as your letter suggests, quite young, she should choose a different sort of theme when she wishes to attempt metrical composition. S. M.—Life is long, and we cannot decree that you would never write well enough for publication; yet it would be unkind on our part to encourage you in any hope that we should be likely to publish your efforts. The little story in rhyme you enclose is pathetic, but many of the lines are halting. “And who” (line 23) is an ungrammatical expression where it stands. The composition of poetry that will find acceptance is no easy task, so you must not feel hurt by our criticism. FAITH (Western Australia).—1. Dr. Brewer informs us that the “Siamese Twins” were two youths, Eng and Chang, born of Chinese parents at Bang Mecklong. Their bodies were united by a band of flesh stretching from breast-bone to breast-bone.—2. Your quotation— “The undiscovered country, from whose bourne No traveller returns.” is from Shakespeare’s _Hamlet_, act i., scene 3. We appreciate your letter and request. PHYLLIS.—1. An easy Latin grammar for beginners is Arnold’s _Henry’s First Latin Book_, price 2s. 3d. net. Smith’s _Principïa Latina_, part i., is a little more difficult, but excellent. We do not see why, if you are of a persevering turn, you should not teach yourself Latin, and it is an undoubted help towards acquiring any other language.—2. On the other hand we fear you cannot hope to learn the violin entirely unaided. You would certainly contract some bad habit, even if you could contrive to produce the notes.