A problem solved.. Agony aunts have heard it all but their advice has changed over the years. In an extract from her new book gathering up their pearls of wisdom, Tanith Carey looks at some of the good and often hilarious advice from days gone by.Byline: Tanith Carey Love, courtship and marriage Q I am 20 and I look much younger than my age. I have been going out with a boy of 16 and I told him I was only 15. He's very keen on me and has been talking about getting engaged next year. Do you think he will drop me if he finds out how old I am? A You've got a problem on your hands, Granny! An old woman of your age should know better than to tell such naughty fibs. Don't worry though. If this boy decides you are too old for him, he may like to have you as his favourite maiden aunt. BOYFRIEND, 1962 Q My second husband is nice, but he will talk to me about his first wife. How can I stop him? A Start talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to him about your next husband. TIT-BITS, 1961 Q I am 15 and my heart is broken. A Fiddlesticks fid·dle·sticks interj. Used to express mild annoyance or impatience. [From pl. of fiddlestick, bow for playing a fiddle. ! Stuff and nonsense Noun 1. stuff and nonsense - senseless talk; "don't give me that stuff" hooey, poppycock, stuff hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality, bunk - a message that seems to convey no meaning ! At 15 one's heart is still green; it is made of gristle gristle: see cartilage. and does not break, it just bends or gets a dent that comes out again. So cheer up, and don't expect any sympathy from me about a boy... Anyhow, I'm surprised at you being so dowdy dow·dy adj. dow·di·er, dow·di·est 1. Lacking stylishness or neatness; shabby: a dowdy gray outfit. 2. Old-fashioned; antiquated. n. pl. and oldfashioned as to have "a love affair", as you call it, at your age. You must have come out of the ark! I think you are a goose, and a goose's opinion is of no value to me... Be off with you. Scoot! WOMAN'S MAGAZINE, 1933 Q At what age should a girl marry? A When she has had enough of flirting, knows how to get a decent dinner and has made up her mind to accept the trials as well as pleasures of her new relations, whatever they may be, with that fortitude a good woman always manages to muster. THE WEEKLY MAGAZINE 1860 Beauty, fashion and personal appearance Q I've turned down several proposals of marriage and suddenly I've realized the reason why. I put curlers in my hair every night and I'm scared to death at the thought of a man ever seeing me like that. Don't tell me to have a perm. My hair frizzes up for the first few weeks, then is just like rats'-tails again as soon as the frizz frizz 1 tr. & intr.v. frizzed, frizz·ing, frizz·es To form or be formed into small tight curls or tufts. n. 1. The condition of being frizzed. 2. A small tight curl or tuft. comes out. A If you're really stuck on wearing curlers for the rest of your life For The Rest Of Your Life is a British game show on ITV, hosted by Nicky Campbell. It is produced by Initial, a company of Endemol. Format Round One , you'll have to find a boy that likes you in them. Before the next boyfriend gets round to proposing, ask him to coffee - and keep your curlers in. If he's so crazy about you that he doesn't mind, then he's the man for you. BOYFRIEND, 1962 Q How can I increase my height? A Take plenty of outdoor and physical exercise. At night always sleep with the body quite straight, without bending the knees. THE GIRLS' HOME PAPER, 1910 Q I can never keep a boyfriend. I go to dances and sometimes I get a date, but rarely a second one. I'm terribly selfconscious because I have a crooked nose; do you think this could be the reason for my continual failure. A I know a boy who adores girls with crooked noses. He's never taken out a girl with a normal beak beak or bill Stiff, projecting oral structure of birds and turtles (both of which lack teeth) and certain other animals (e.g., cephalopods and some insects, fishes, and mammals). . 'Fraid I can't introduce you - he's got a fiancee now. But his obvious liking for crooked noses makes me think that it's not the beak that puts the boys off you. You say you are 'self-conscious' about your nose. Perhaps it's the selfconsciousness and not the nose that's the trouble. BOYFRIEND, 1962 Sex, sin and moral dilemmas Q Do you think a man has a right to be more passionate than his wife? My husband is, and it revolts me. A A man cannot help his nature, my dear. It is normal to be passionate and if you cannot meet your husband in this, you are depriving him of something natural and necessary. It is you who are at fault. Won't you send me your address so that I can write to you and explain to you how to make what now revolts you into the sweetest thing in both your lives? MOTHER AND HOME, 1936 Careers, money and a woman's role Q I am 23, engaged to a young man I love very much. But he is very mean. He hasn't even bought me a ring... Is it true that mean men make jealous husbands? A Certainly meanness is a very difficult thing to put up with in a husband, but are you sure that your boyfriend has this fault? Extravagance and spendthrift One who spends money profusely and improvidently, thereby wasting his or her estate. Under various statutes, a spendthrift is a person who wastes or reduces her estate through excessive drinking, gambling, idleness, or debauchery in a manner that exposes that individual or ways - though they seem very charming on the surface - can cause trouble too! MIRABELLE, 1956 Q Pete and I have only been married a year and already I am just an old housewife to him. He scarcely speaks in the morning and never takes me out anywhere, and more and more he goes out with the boys before coming home. A Are you sure the shoe isn't on the other foot? That he isn't the disillusioned? Are you the girl he married? What about breakfast? Are you dressed pretty, or creams and curlers? Are you nice to come home to? I have yet to know a man who doesn't want to show off his wife if she is the prettiest and happiest girl in the street. Try looking and acting your date-best tonight. See what happens. Are you feeding him well? VALENTINE, 1958 !! EXTRACTED FROM NEVER KISS A MAN IN A CANOE BY TANITH CAREY, PUBLISHED BY BOXTREE, pounds 9.99. |
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