Punch (100.1891)

June 27, 1891.]

PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.

301

A WAIL FROM THE TUB.

A Reminiscence of Sunday, the 14th of June.

Scene.—Hyde Park. Demonstration in progress, with the not un-
reasonable object of inducing Parliament to extend the Factory
Acts to small and insanitary laundries. A lengthy procession,
composed of sympathetic Railway Workers, Cabmen, Journey-
men Tailors, Gas Stokers, House-Decorators, Carpenters,
6fC, (f-c, all with resplendent banners and hired bands, has

freedom," I sez, " but . . . (Here another disturbance takes place;
a little man, with red whiskers, has mildly objected to being leant
upon by a burly stranger, who bawls—" "What are you afraid ou ? You
aiu't bin fresh painted, 'ave yer ? Are yer 'oiler inside—or what ?
Ga arn—I never knoo a earrotty-'aired man good for anything
yet," &o, &c.) Then there's Mr. Matthews, the'OME Seckebtart,
'e's against us, which I think 'e must be a woman-'ater hisself!
[Feeling suggestion from crowd that the Home Secretary has
suffered a disillusion in his younger days,) But I was goin" to tell
yer what we poor women 'ave got to put up with. Now there's a
marched1 into the Park, together with some lorries and drags'; Mrs. Hieonmould, of Starch Row, Hacton Green, as I've worked
containing deputations of ladies from the laundry in the highest i for. [A Lady in crowd, who knoivs Mrs. H. "Ah, she's a
possible spirits. Once arrived, each platform chiefly concerns j beauty ! " Cheers) for Mrs. Hieonmould.) Well, I '11 tell yer
i'self with the grievances of its own particular supporters, while ] something about 'er—it'11 jest show you what she is ! "Why, that
a crowd of sightseers circulates, enjoying the oratory with a j woman, as I know myself, she acshally . . . [She relates a personal
desultory impartiality. The usual silhouettes of gesticulating j and Rabelaisian reminiscence of Mrs. H., to the huge delight of the
speakers appear like jerky clockwork figures above the throng, audience.) I '11 tell yer another thing-— I've worked for a man down
A crowd of Socialists are "remembering Chicago" in a corner, j at South End, Healing, and this'11 show yer the amount o1 hinsult
The chief centre of attraction is a drag occupied by a Philan- and hill-treatment we 'ave to stand, and never say nothing to. I've
thropic Young-lady Chairwo?7ian, her chaperon, some leading \ seed 'im, hover and hover agen, walkin' about among us in his shirt-
laundresses, one or two male sympathisers, and a couple q/J sleeves, with 'is braces 'angin' about is 'eels! {Cheers from the
reporters. The Chairwoman conducts crowd; demonstration with scrubbing-brush

the proceedings with the greatest pos- ^^~^,J/ T by the old Lady in the drag) I 'ave in-

tible tact and grace, but is slightly \X\fyK---——-_ —"~7^A~\ ' deed, and I don't tell yer no lies. (Here a

hampered by the levity of a crowd . \ >^r y*\ ■ Lady in the crowd suddenly exhibits a ten-

composed of factory-girls, semi-imbc- \ W ><r\ dency\to harangue the public on her own

cile larrikins, and professional laun- >C$"r\fcS- \^r^yV\ j wrongs, and has to be suppressed.) And
dresses, whose burning anxiety for NsV-v. / ^m tha.t majl 'e'^ come up to me and say,

reform masks itself under a surface \\ A i /{] "Ain't them shirts finished yet?" he sez.

frivolity. In the neighbourhood is a ain't, and I

lorry decorated with clean shirts, and J \J V* ' I In don't deceive yer." " It's time they was,"

occupied by young washertcomen fired hi \\bijn/bt.(y\> \ 1\ he'd say. " Beggin' your pardon," I'd

by an enthusiasm which manifests it- lj$ J^^^L 111 tell'im, "it's nothink o' the kind; and, if

self in bursts of thrill cheering and W j <^^m^^\__\ ->! j y°n don't believe my word, you may go

lively interchange of chaff with the / $oi|^$?\ ^")% iA and call your Missis out of the back kitch-

spectators. In the meantime, the busi- /j\ ~ W\,!AC \ in?, as knows more about it than you do ! "

ness of this particular platform pro- / V *fj ,' An' are you goin' to tell me we ain't to

ceeds somewhat as follows:— /> 'ave a Factory Act, after that?

The Choi'ivoman [aih patient good- f i ^gy^^H^p^g^'^^^^v [She, stands down, having mad', the speech

humour). Now, I'm sure you'll nil be ss /v J' jJ^^^S^^-•' t^^lSlaw cf the Afternoon, and is rewarded hy

quiet as you can while I . . . (Hubbub, ^/^^O^^^^BSB^^^^^W approving cries of " Good old girl!"

caused by a personal altercation between Jm^B^Sm^^m&lkh^^Bf An employer of labour is n*xt intro-

iwo Women in the crowd, and shouts of $SiPP^ ^^^BK§K^^^ar duced, and received at first with sus-

" Order.' ") Because really my doctor has Sgfe^l, ^BBS^PttT^IL picion, until he explains that he is heart

ordtred me not to speak in the open air at ^gpljlt ^^^W^'l "vS^k.- anrf soul with them, that he does not

all . . . (Here an ill-conditioned female, ^^C^^^MMW-^A l^fci&n dread the application of the Factory

taking offence for some inscrutable reason, \ %^ ^V\ /> Acts to his own establishment, and con-

remarks loudly, " 'Er doctor, indeed, she's \ /' ^^um\~~W^\Asiders thai it would be an excellent thing

a beauty, she is — 'er and 'er doctor!" ^ J^J^g, AJmmtWn-_'V?-V Ivr\\ I if all the smaller laundries were closed

More calls to order, and extreme indiqna- •',rx'f:0)j~^m^ Pi^fb^Crpp \\p^l^ to-morrow, whereupon the ladies hobi-

lion of the ill-conditioned female at being y^^^-.^^^W^t^^ a--pr^fjiaJ^^A/'/ tually emnloyed in these places cheer

informed that she is " no lady," and had ^ px '. #J^i$tj l2S»rf KuVlv ^J^''"' ^ him heartily.

" better 'old 'er jaw" ; ribald and utterly '■ jrrjTl rlfvi_' "'// -'-•' A Common-Sense Speaker. It's all very

meaningless jests by the larrikins.) Order, f ' yj'/-///lA ''/.IffifflRx Mil I \\ m\\ I ' \ well for you to come'ere and protest against

please.' {Imploringly.) I know you won't ll- \. . Jj JDfK'.u' ' \ *\ the laundresses workin'too long hours, but

make it harder for me lhan you can help. ~^IIiMjMMW\\X * / ~s I tell yer this—it's yer own fault, it's the

{A young Lady in a very tall hat and feather anJJjJWnu \\ . yr Public's fault. You will 'ave yer clean

is heard demanding that the Gentleman in ' ' |) > ^^J:J' shirts and collars sent 'ome every week!

"boxer," on UT,i_ , . , * . ,r , , (Several of the unwashed betray that this

■■ * "1 ve been and Bpoke to hover forty Members o )i j,„„ „„„„ \ a *„_+„;„v,* „:„u

Parlvment mvseK ' " thrust has gone home.) A fortnight am t

j j • a bit too long to wait for your linen! (Una-

Here an enthusiastic \nimous and hearty assent by people in dingy flannels.) And if
some o' these swells and aristocrats weren't so partickler. and didn't
send so much linen to the wash as they do, why, it stands to reason
as the hours the washerwomen 'ud work 'ud be shorter 1
[ Chorus of agreement; suddenunpopularity— especially, oddly enough,
with lighchearted young laundresses — of persons in the crowd
whose collars are at all aggressive in their cleanliness ; universal
feeling that the blame has been fitted upon the right shoulders at
last. More speeches; simultaneous passing of Resolution; the Pro-
cessions march away with colours flying and bands playing, and,
if they have succeeded in advancing the true interests of laboxir,
no one will be more gra'ified than their friend, Mr. Punch.

Joseph's Joust.
[Mr. Chamberlain, from the study of a certain "Liberal Leaflet"
triumphantly draws the large conclusion that the Grladstonians have " dropped
Home Rule.")

To " ride the high horse," my brave Brummagem boy,

Ie doubtless, to you, a delieht and a joy ;

But little avails that equestrian quest,

If the fruit of your ride is the merest "mare's nest."

Ahpkopbiate foe the Sultry Summee Weatheb.—The revival of
Drink at Drury Lane. It ought to be "iced drink."

vot. c. d d