DOI Heft:
October 24, 1857
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16620#0184
174
[October 24, 1857.
THE LADIES AND THE LOOKING-GLASS.
cctjstomed as we are to the
unravelling of mysteries, we
confess that there are some-
times puzzles which perplex
us. Such a one we find in the
announcement of a lady, that
at the now closing Manchester
Art Palace, the Ladies' Wait-
ing-Room was furnished with
a looking-glass, for the use of
which a penny was the fee
demanded. This she was dis-
posed to consider as exorbi-
tant, and as of a piece with
the biscuits to be had at the
refreshment counters, which
being rather small for penny
ones were charged at two-
pence. As far, however, as
our gallantry will suffer, we
feel compelled to differ with
our fair informant : for the
more we give our mind to the
consideration of the matter,
the more we are disposed to
think the smallness, not the
largeness, of the charge is to
be wondered at. It is true
that our informant somewhat
aggravated her complaint, by stating that the mirror was so placed, that every one must pass
it (in which arrangement the art-people must be viewed as artful dodgers), that she was
wholly unaware that there was any charge for using it; and that, as it was, she " only just
peeped " at it. But although we grant there may be weight in two of these objections, we
must express a doubt if the third can be held valid. Prom taking careful note of female
phraseology, we have more than a suspicion that the "only jus-t peeping of a lady in a
looking-glass, implies a longer occupation of it than the words would seem to indicate._ Sup-
posing our informant is a model of forbearance, her " peep" may have accorded with the
meaning in her Dictionary; but she must recollect, all ladies are not similarly gifted, and in
framing any looking-glass reflection tariff, of course the calculations must be based upon the
aggregate.
It is impossible, of course, to speak with any certainty of anything so frightfully uncertain
as a Woman,* but from making frequent observation of the time which ladies take when they
get before a looking-glass, we can form a pretty accurate opinion on the subject. We
have indeed statistics, very carefully collected, which enable us to calculate with tolerable
exactness, what portion of their lives ladies spend before the looking-glass ; and we are prepared
to show that, making due allowance for feminine uncertainty, the actual duration of "only
just a peep " averages not less than sixteen minutes and a quarter. This at the Art-Palace
price, a penny for a peep, would hourly bring in fourpence and a fraction of a fai#,hing; and
allowing that the Manchester Art-mirror was in constant occupation during six whole hours
per diem, the weekly return would but just exceed twelve shillings. So far, then, from
agreeing that the fee charged was exorbitant, we are more disposed to consider it most
moderate, and to wonder it was thought that it would prove a paying one : a result which
indeed could be only brought about by the artful dodgery aforesaid, of placing the glass so
that in her exit from the waitiDg-room every lady passed it. This of course ensured its being
constantly in use; for one might as well expect an Alderman to pass one the milk punch
without, helping himself, as imagine that a lady could ever pass before a looking-glass without
"just taking a peep at it."
Looking therefore at the looking-glass in the light of an Art-fixture, we cannot see it casts
the least reflection on the artful ones who furnished it. Without imputing sordid motives
to the Manchester Art-treasures, we must, admit, of course, that having spent much money
in showing them, they had substantial reasons for regarding the Art-treasures from a
business point of view, and for keeping a sharp eye to the state of the Art-treasury. Con-
sidering that, in Manchester the Economic Mania is carried to excess, and that business men
have there the greatest possible aversion to lay out money needlessly, we think it was a gallant
act in them to sink a certain portion of their capital in a looking-glass ; and it is preposterous
in ladies to feel a twinge of wonder that such accommodation was not furnished to them
gratis. In common fairness the fair sex should have felt grateful for the delicate attention to
their wants, and have seen in the looking-glass a convincing piece of evidence that, even in
Manchester, men of business sometimes let their gallantry get somewhat the better of them.
* Note by tJce Editor.—Our contributor, ladies, is a confirmed old bachelor, and we will not be answerable for
his misogynic sentiments.
A Fresh-Water Navy.
The Prussian Government has issued a proclamation, in which it humanely recommends
all sailors employed in the Prussian Navy to take, before going to sea, five or six drops of
chloroform, in a wineglassful of barley-water, as it is considered an admirable preventive
against the horrors of sea-sickness.
WHAT GAMMON !
The price of funds was falling fast,
When through the Commons' Lobby, past
A youth who grasped as firm as ice
This Ministerial device:
W hat Gammon!
His gills were stiff, his snowy hand,
*Wore Dent's best kids we understand,
And like a penny-trumpet rung
The accents of that cheerful tongue :
What Gammon!
In happy homes he'd seen the light
Of household mirth extinguished quite,
The storm-cloud gathered fast the while,
But still he muttered with a smile :
What Gammon!
" Oh, stay ! " one member said, " and think!
We stand upon an awful brink! "
He gently closed his left blue eye,
But still he answered with a sigh:
What Gammon!
" Try not that dodge," another said,
" Dark lowers the tempest overhead;
The mutiny's spreading far and wide."
But still that cheerful voice replied :
What Gammon !
Beware the Sepoy's pampered mood.!
Beware our helpless womanhood !
This was the Opposition's cry,
A voice replied: " That's all my eye:
And Gammon !"
Next day the wires electric bore
A horrid tale from red Cawnpore ;
Still muttered by the Speaker's chair,
That youth with somewhat startled air :
What Gammon!
True to his scent, as faithful hound,
That youth our own reporter found,
Still clenching in his grasp of ice,
That Ministerial device:
What Gammon!
There, smoothing down his bran new hat,
Lifeless, but elegant he sat,
And 'mid the death-knell booming far,
A voice fell from that falling star:
What Gammon!
* On the authority of au eminent antiquarian who
studies such matters.
A Distinguished Antiquary wishes to know, in whose possession is the chair on which
Verbum. sat"
YERY IMPORTANT.
The attention of his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief is particularly requested
to the annexed important communication received
by Mr. Punch through the kindness of Her
Majesty's Post-Master General:—
" Sir " Queens Road Obr. 5 Bays-water.
" I now take the opportunity of in-
forming you as I was standing near the Great
Western railway Station having a leasure five
Minutes a train come in and I saw get out one-
of the carrages six or eight of the royal horse
gard blues on leaf of absence for 36 hours each
of them having a box or a Carpet bag and one
of them having a pair of top boots and they
engaged as many dirty raged lot of litle boys to
cary them wich drawd great atcration and I
hope I shall not intrude in sending this as a
copy fo punch
" I have the honour to remain Sir,
" Yours obidient Servant,
" Dr. Heulet."
An Early Sign op Christmas.—Mr. Harry
Boleno, the Clown, was seen hovering about the
stage-door of Drury Lane Theatre last week.
[October 24, 1857.
THE LADIES AND THE LOOKING-GLASS.
cctjstomed as we are to the
unravelling of mysteries, we
confess that there are some-
times puzzles which perplex
us. Such a one we find in the
announcement of a lady, that
at the now closing Manchester
Art Palace, the Ladies' Wait-
ing-Room was furnished with
a looking-glass, for the use of
which a penny was the fee
demanded. This she was dis-
posed to consider as exorbi-
tant, and as of a piece with
the biscuits to be had at the
refreshment counters, which
being rather small for penny
ones were charged at two-
pence. As far, however, as
our gallantry will suffer, we
feel compelled to differ with
our fair informant : for the
more we give our mind to the
consideration of the matter,
the more we are disposed to
think the smallness, not the
largeness, of the charge is to
be wondered at. It is true
that our informant somewhat
aggravated her complaint, by stating that the mirror was so placed, that every one must pass
it (in which arrangement the art-people must be viewed as artful dodgers), that she was
wholly unaware that there was any charge for using it; and that, as it was, she " only just
peeped " at it. But although we grant there may be weight in two of these objections, we
must express a doubt if the third can be held valid. Prom taking careful note of female
phraseology, we have more than a suspicion that the "only jus-t peeping of a lady in a
looking-glass, implies a longer occupation of it than the words would seem to indicate._ Sup-
posing our informant is a model of forbearance, her " peep" may have accorded with the
meaning in her Dictionary; but she must recollect, all ladies are not similarly gifted, and in
framing any looking-glass reflection tariff, of course the calculations must be based upon the
aggregate.
It is impossible, of course, to speak with any certainty of anything so frightfully uncertain
as a Woman,* but from making frequent observation of the time which ladies take when they
get before a looking-glass, we can form a pretty accurate opinion on the subject. We
have indeed statistics, very carefully collected, which enable us to calculate with tolerable
exactness, what portion of their lives ladies spend before the looking-glass ; and we are prepared
to show that, making due allowance for feminine uncertainty, the actual duration of "only
just a peep " averages not less than sixteen minutes and a quarter. This at the Art-Palace
price, a penny for a peep, would hourly bring in fourpence and a fraction of a fai#,hing; and
allowing that the Manchester Art-mirror was in constant occupation during six whole hours
per diem, the weekly return would but just exceed twelve shillings. So far, then, from
agreeing that the fee charged was exorbitant, we are more disposed to consider it most
moderate, and to wonder it was thought that it would prove a paying one : a result which
indeed could be only brought about by the artful dodgery aforesaid, of placing the glass so
that in her exit from the waitiDg-room every lady passed it. This of course ensured its being
constantly in use; for one might as well expect an Alderman to pass one the milk punch
without, helping himself, as imagine that a lady could ever pass before a looking-glass without
"just taking a peep at it."
Looking therefore at the looking-glass in the light of an Art-fixture, we cannot see it casts
the least reflection on the artful ones who furnished it. Without imputing sordid motives
to the Manchester Art-treasures, we must, admit, of course, that having spent much money
in showing them, they had substantial reasons for regarding the Art-treasures from a
business point of view, and for keeping a sharp eye to the state of the Art-treasury. Con-
sidering that, in Manchester the Economic Mania is carried to excess, and that business men
have there the greatest possible aversion to lay out money needlessly, we think it was a gallant
act in them to sink a certain portion of their capital in a looking-glass ; and it is preposterous
in ladies to feel a twinge of wonder that such accommodation was not furnished to them
gratis. In common fairness the fair sex should have felt grateful for the delicate attention to
their wants, and have seen in the looking-glass a convincing piece of evidence that, even in
Manchester, men of business sometimes let their gallantry get somewhat the better of them.
* Note by tJce Editor.—Our contributor, ladies, is a confirmed old bachelor, and we will not be answerable for
his misogynic sentiments.
A Fresh-Water Navy.
The Prussian Government has issued a proclamation, in which it humanely recommends
all sailors employed in the Prussian Navy to take, before going to sea, five or six drops of
chloroform, in a wineglassful of barley-water, as it is considered an admirable preventive
against the horrors of sea-sickness.
WHAT GAMMON !
The price of funds was falling fast,
When through the Commons' Lobby, past
A youth who grasped as firm as ice
This Ministerial device:
W hat Gammon!
His gills were stiff, his snowy hand,
*Wore Dent's best kids we understand,
And like a penny-trumpet rung
The accents of that cheerful tongue :
What Gammon!
In happy homes he'd seen the light
Of household mirth extinguished quite,
The storm-cloud gathered fast the while,
But still he muttered with a smile :
What Gammon!
" Oh, stay ! " one member said, " and think!
We stand upon an awful brink! "
He gently closed his left blue eye,
But still he answered with a sigh:
What Gammon!
" Try not that dodge," another said,
" Dark lowers the tempest overhead;
The mutiny's spreading far and wide."
But still that cheerful voice replied :
What Gammon !
Beware the Sepoy's pampered mood.!
Beware our helpless womanhood !
This was the Opposition's cry,
A voice replied: " That's all my eye:
And Gammon !"
Next day the wires electric bore
A horrid tale from red Cawnpore ;
Still muttered by the Speaker's chair,
That youth with somewhat startled air :
What Gammon!
True to his scent, as faithful hound,
That youth our own reporter found,
Still clenching in his grasp of ice,
That Ministerial device:
What Gammon!
There, smoothing down his bran new hat,
Lifeless, but elegant he sat,
And 'mid the death-knell booming far,
A voice fell from that falling star:
What Gammon!
* On the authority of au eminent antiquarian who
studies such matters.
A Distinguished Antiquary wishes to know, in whose possession is the chair on which
Verbum. sat"
YERY IMPORTANT.
The attention of his Royal Highness the
Commander-in-Chief is particularly requested
to the annexed important communication received
by Mr. Punch through the kindness of Her
Majesty's Post-Master General:—
" Sir " Queens Road Obr. 5 Bays-water.
" I now take the opportunity of in-
forming you as I was standing near the Great
Western railway Station having a leasure five
Minutes a train come in and I saw get out one-
of the carrages six or eight of the royal horse
gard blues on leaf of absence for 36 hours each
of them having a box or a Carpet bag and one
of them having a pair of top boots and they
engaged as many dirty raged lot of litle boys to
cary them wich drawd great atcration and I
hope I shall not intrude in sending this as a
copy fo punch
" I have the honour to remain Sir,
" Yours obidient Servant,
" Dr. Heulet."
An Early Sign op Christmas.—Mr. Harry
Boleno, the Clown, was seen hovering about the
stage-door of Drury Lane Theatre last week.