Punch (93.1887)

126

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

[September 17, 1887,

A VIKING ON MODERN FASHION.

" What does t'Lass want wi' ton Boostle for ? It aren't bio enough to Smoqgle things, and she can't Steer herself wi' it !'

THE WAIL OF THE MALE;

Being a British Workman's View of the Clieap Female Labour Question,
respectfully submitted to the Trades Union, Congress.

Bill Smith to his Shopmate, Ben Jones, loquitur:—

En ? Give 'em the Suffrage—the "Women ? Why not ?

What else, that's worth having1, lads, haven't they got ?

If it's levelling up, let 'em have it all round,

And ice shan't be the first to complain, I '11 he hound.

They've cut down our wages, and copied our coats,

And I really don't see why they shouldn't have Votes.

WTish J was a woman, old fellow, that's flat;

I should then have a chance, and know what to ho at.

I have just got the " bullet," Mate—sacked without notice,

I wonder what pull my possessin' the Vote is ?

She hasn't got ne'er a one—she's got my job,

I lose a fair crib, and the hoss saves ten bob !

I've been at it five years, kept a family on it,

And she—well, the first thing she buys is a honnet!

They 're cutting us out, Mate—the Women are—straight,

And I s'pose it's no use for to kick agen Fate,

But it seems blooming hard on the wife and the kids,

She's a woman, of course, though she can't earn the " quids,"

But then, being married, she's out of the hunt

For earning or votes. Look here, Bill ! If they shunt

You and me, and our like, as they 're doing all round,

Because Women are cheap, and there's heaps to be found,

Won't it come to this, sooner or later, my hoy,

That the most of us chaps will he out of employ,

Whilst the Women will do all the work there's to do,

And keep us, and the kids, on about half our " screio " ?

Who s a-gomg to gain by that there but the hoss f

And for everyone else it is bound to be loss.

A nice pooty look-out! Oh, I know what they say ;—

That the women work better than us for less pay,

And are much less the slaves of the pint and the pot;

What's that got to do with it ? All tommy rot!

We have all got to live, and if women-folk choose

To collar our cribs or to cut down our screws,

They will have to ho hread-winners, leaving us chaps

To darn stockings at home with the kids on our laps.

Well, I hope as they '11 like it. I tell you what, neighbour,

The world's being, ruined by petticoat labour.

Besides, Mate, in spite of this Woman's Rights fuss,

Work don't make 'em better as women, but wus.

It mucks 'em for marriage, and spiles 'em for home,

'Cos their notion of life is to racket and roam.

Just look at that work-girl there, her with the fringe!

She's a nice pooty specimen! Makes a chap cringe

To think of that flashy young chit as a wife.

That's what cheap woman labour will do for our life.

Oh, give 'em the Vote, and the breeks, while you're at it,

Make 'em soldiers, and Bobbies, and bosses. _ But, drat it,

If this blessed new-fangled game's to prowail,

I pities the beggar who's born a poor Male !

BACKING BACO.

The movements of Prince Ferdinand, as recently reported,
appear to be shrouded in some mystery. It was announced that his
Mamma was about to join him, and that a suite of apartments was
being already prepared for her reception at the Palace. No sooner,
however, was this encouraging piece of news published, than it was
followed by a sinister rumour that the Prince himself was about to
hurry off from Sofia to Baco, one of his country-seats on the frontiers
of Hungary. As there is no mention of his being accompanied by
his suite, it is doubtful if, in going to Baco, the Prince intended to
take " returns." Naturally the Sobranje would like to be assured
that, in going to Baco, he was really only going there and back, and
did not mean, as the name of the place might suggest, to back out of
the situation altogether. But perhaps there may not be, after all,
any good foundation for the story of the proposed journey, in which
event all this disturbing talk of a visit to Baco will prohably end, as
it naturally should, in smoke.

Deae at TnE PfiicE.—The farmers of Derbyshire have been meet-
ing together and trying to fix " the price of milk during the ensuing
winter." Well, the price that we in London pay for milk seems only
too often to be—scarlet fever. That price requires regulating.