Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com.

Dear Prudence,

I cannot agree with your advice to the young immigrant from Pakistan ("Extreme Privacy, Please"). Henry Kissinger came to this country when he was 16. Time hasn't done a lot for his accent--though, admittedly, there are rumors that he cultivates his slow, lumbering delivery.

But what if the young man had crooked teeth? Would you advise him to skip orthodontia, telling him "appearances mean nothing ... those who make judgments based on looks and speech are superficial Neanderthals?" That's a high-minded philosophy, but I'm afraid it may hinder you in real life.

What if this person wants to study law? Telling people that "time will solve all problems" is a bankrupt idea. My advice to this person is to seek help from a speech pathologist. Actors and entertainers often do this. Richard Burton wasn't born speaking the king's English. As the English say, "Accent is everything."

--Accent on Success

Dear Ax,

Though no Brit has ever said to Prudie, "Accent is everything," she accepts your other arguments. She cannot resist pointing out, however, that Mr. Kissinger has done OK for a guy who sounds like he is growling in a German movie.

The points you make are more useful than Prudie's earlier oh-just-ignore-it approach. Prudie culpa, Prudie culpa.

In this particular case, let's just say when the original advice was given the wheel was spinning, but the hamster had gone.