A THING PUNCH WANTS TO KNOW

WHY YOUNG LADIES - AY, AND YOUNG WIVES, FOR THE MATTER OF THAT - WILL ENCUMBER THEMSELVES WITH GARMENTS THAT ARE A GRIEVANCE TO THOSE THAT WEAR, AND STILL MORE TO THOSE THAT PAY FOR THEM, WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THE MODEST COSTUME IN OUR SKETCH WOULD COST THEM ONE-HALF THE TROUBLE, AND THEIR FATHERS OR HUSBANDS ONE-HALF THE MONEY?

Punch, March 27, 1875

After lunch I went for a walk with Sir John Puleston, M.P., in St. James's Park, which is a most fascinating place. In front of us near Birdcage Walk, about twenty yards away, was a young woman most fashionably dressed. She was leading one of those silly clipped black poodles, and was mincing her way along when suddenly and most appropriately in Birdcage Walk her bustle, shaped like a bird-cage, came rattling down from out of her voluminous skirts. She never deigned to turn, but walked on. Innocently - and stupidly - in spite of Sir John's restraining hand, I ran on, picked up the contraption, came upon the owner, and proffered it to her, but she turned on me furiously and said: "Not mine!" and walked on. I shall know better next time.

R.D.Blumenfeld's Diary, June 24 1887