MIRIAM.--We cannot too strongly insist upon the foolishness of taking patent medicines. How anyone can trifle with her health in this way we cannot conceive. When you take patent medicine, what are you doing? You are throwing into your blood a decoction of which you know nothing. You are feeding yourself upon drugs which, for all you know, may poison you. And what do you take these drugs for? Oh, for a headache, or for biliousness! And yet you have no stronger authority for taking the stuff for your ailment than the assurance of the company who sells the medicine. Of course we know that most patent medicines are inert; but only this morning a case is related in the newspapers of a woman who died from taking somebody’s pills. Give up your silly habit of taking drugs at all. If you were not careless with your health you would probably not be suffering from your present troubles. MISCELLANEOUS. SOLDIER’S FRIEND.--The Royal Artillery College is at Woolwich. The Royal School of Military Engineering is at Chatham. We do not quite comprehend your question. The candidate would have to pass the entrance examination, of course. FIANCÉE.--At a reception after a two o’clock wedding the refreshments would consist of tea, coffee, or iced coffee, cups of any kind you may like; sandwiches, jellies, blancmanges, trifles, ices, cake, bread and butter; plenty of flowers, and the wedding-cake. You could have some tiny tables arranged about the room, but the refreshments are what are called “standing up,” exactly like a large afternoon tea. The bride’s father provides carriages for the bride and the family in the house. Her bridesmaids should meet her at the church, and if needful a carriage should be provided for their return; but it is not customary to provide any for the guests, unless the church be at a great distance off. In this case it is better to invite the guests to the reception only, but this is optional. You would take your father’s left arm to walk up the aisle, and you return in the same carriage that brought you, unless the bridegroom should possess a carriage of his own, when the bride sometimes returns in that, but not always. MABEL.--For a mayor’s reception held in the evening you and your husband should both wear evening dress. The lady mayoress generally receives her guests, and you should give your names to the servant who announces you, and then go forward and shake hands.