My Virtual Reading Room

Publisher's note: this letter (dated circa 1886) was found in the desk of Mrs. James Smith, of London, Britain, when the desk was put up for auction by Mrs. Smith's descendants in 2008.  We can only assume Mrs. Smith had forgotten to post the letter.

Dear Sir:

I must write to you to express my extreme displeasure at the advice I received from one of the books published by your office.  The book in question is Cassell's Household Encyclopedia.  I have, on multiple previous occasions, found it to be an excellent resource for advice on diverse household matters.  However, it failed me miserably in this instance.

My pussycat has somehow gotten infested with fleas.  Naturally, I turned to the above-mentioned book for advice.  It had no advice regarding cats, but it did describe in detail how to rid a dog of fleas, and it seemed to me that the process would not be particularly different with a cat.

Following your advice, I rubbed the cat with camphor powder.  First of all, I got scratched and bitten for my pains.  That is not the book's fault, you will say, and perhaps you are right in that.  However, what your book neglected to mention is that the camphor powder will sift off the cat and will get into the rugs all over the house as the cat walks about.  I have been beating my rugs for the last three days and the house still reeks of camphor.

Perhaps you can at least suggest some way to get rid of this disagreeable smell?

Very truly yours,

Mrs. James Smith