COWARDLY INSULTS TO LADIES
Sir, - I
have just come with my family from a large provincial town, to reside in London,
and was a good deal surprised to learn from several friends here that I must be
guarded in permitting my daughters (just out of their teens) to walk in the
parks, or even go "a shopping," without protection in the shape of a
servant, or one of their brothers, younger or old, as London was infested by a
number of ill-conditioned blackguards who made it a business to insult and
terrify young ladies by following them and even being daring enough at times to
attempt to speak to them. I confess I was so incredulous about such cowardly
lasciviousness that I did not think it necessary to interdict my girls from
walking, even in pairs, without some protection, but to-night on my return home
I was roused to no ordinary pitch of indignation when one of my younger
daughters, who had been shopping with a relative of hers, a lady upwards of 30
years of age, told me that in Oxford-street at a young fellow in the garb of a
gentleman kept walking before and behind them alternately for some time, and at
last had the audacity to come alongside and make some observation, when the
ladies took shelter in a stationer's shop and the genteel ruffian immediately
disappeared. Now, Sir, I appeal to you to give publicity to my complaint, in
order that it may direct attention to this deplorable phase of London life, and
probably the scoundrels may dread the possibility of exposure. The advice I have
given to my daughters in case of any future persecution is to subdue their alarm
as much as possible, and as soon as they can see a policeman to ask his
protection, and give the monster in charge. However small may be the punishment
which a magistrate can inflict, I shall at all events find out the fellow's
whereabouts, and if I don't manage within 12 hours afterwards to give him the
sorest skinful of bones in all London, my name will be unworthy of the venerable
title of
PATERFAMILIAS FROM THE PROVINCES.
Times, January 2nd, 1862
THE STREETS OF LONDON
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir - In answer to the general accusation brought against my countrymen by
your correspondent in The Times of today, "Paterfamilias from the
Provinces," allow me to say a few words in their defence by recording my
own experience. During the last 18 months I have been in the constant habit
of traversing Oxford-street alone, circumstances preventing my being able to
procure an escort in the shape of a brother or a servant, and never have I
received the slightest incivility from my chivalrous countrymen.
young ladies from the country, being anxious to discover what
headdress is most fashionable, or to what degree of circumference the present
style of dress extends, will walk down Oxford-street dressed in red
cloaks and pork-pie hats with white feathers (a dress most suitable for the country
, but hardly consistent with the quiet demeanour necessary for walking in the
streets of London), they cannot expect to escape the notice of those few
despicable idlers, unworthy the name of men, who take advantage of the weakness
of women, whom they ought to feel it their duty to protect.
No doubt, a longer experience of London will show the young
ladies in question that it lies greatly in their own power, by attention to
quiet dress and behaviour, to prevent such annoy ance and "Paterfamilias
" will be spared the necessity of displaying his knightly prowess.
I enclose my name and address, which I request you not to
publish. I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
Jan. 7.
PUELLA.
Times, January 9th, 1862
THE STREETS OF LONDON
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir - My absence from London prevented me from
seeing "Puella's" letter until to-day, and I can assure her that my
ladies were not attired in "pork pies with white feathers and scarlet
cloaks," but in plain mourning, like all loyal people at such a time. I
should be glad to learn that the general experience of ladies residing in London
was the same as "Puella's," but I am ashamed to say that my notice has
more fully convinced me of the crying nature of the evil , and it will certainly
not be lessened by such correspondents as the one - shall I call her fair one? -
referred to.
Yours faithfully,
PATERFAMILIAS FROM THE PROVINCES.
Jan.11.
Times, January 13th, 1862
THE STREETS OF LONDON
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - I have waited hoping to see more able pen than mine
employed in thanking "Paterfamilias from the Provinces" for bringing
before your notice the annoyance ladies are subject to in passing through the
streets of this great city. If I could I would most gladly take the romantic
view of the case that "Puella" has, but I cannot; my experience proves
to me she is wrong. Being engaged in teaching, I, of course, frequently walk
alone in going from one pupil's residence to another, and I assure you, Sir,
there is great cause for the indignation of "Paterfamilias" and all
such right-feeling men. I do not know how the evil can be got rid of; that I
leave to wiser heads, feeling sure that, if you undertake it, some good
must be done.
I will agree with "Puella" in the admiration of our
"chivalrous countrymen," so far as to record the fact that they are
not young men (to their honour be it said), but middle-aged and sometimes old
men who act in this unmanly way. They seem to have no employment. What a pity
there should be such people! Any time before 10 or half-past 10 in the morning
ladies can walk alone in comfort. I suppose these cowardly creatures do not come
out so early as business men.
I trust you will do all in your power to remove this evil and
I am sure those of England's daughters, and they are many, who from
circumstances are compelled often to walk alone, will indeed by grateful to you.
I am, Sir, yours truly,
Jan.
15
M.
Times, January 18th, 1862
THE STREETS OF LONDON
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, - The
application of a little knowledge of the world and common sense to the case of the angry
patents who consider it
shameful that their young daughters cannot frequent Oxford and Regent-streets
without the risk of being spoken to by "miscreants," may possibly relieve you and the
public from future appeals of a similar nature. I fear that in London, as in all other great cities,
young and good-looking girls will always require a companion in public places frequented by young
and good-looking men if they desire to be secure from interruption.
All
fathers of families are, like "Paterfamilias from the Country," quite
certain that their daughters are perfectly demure and well behaved, until they have conclusive
proof to the contrary. They a forget the private history of their own youth;
they cannot believe that Blanche ever looked kindly at a strange joli
garçon who appeared struck with her appearance; or that Isabel ever designedly
showed rather more than her very neat ankle to a young officer in crossing a street. It
never occurs to them that bonnets of the "kiss me quick"
build, loud stockings, exaggerated tournures, capes, and crinolines; vagrant
ringlets straying over the shoulder, better known by the name of "follow
me, lads," and such like decoys, are all unmistakeably intended to attract the
notice and attentions of the male sex. Of all mankind, they are the very last to
discover that Blanche and Isabel take a good deal of notice of the young
men in a quiet way when they walk out alone, and are not at al displeased at being taken notice of themselves, provided the
bounds of decorum are not obviously and inconveniently transgressed. Many
little harmless and interesting adventures may occur to the dear girls during their morning walks of which they say
nothing at all when they return home; and when at last, they discover that advances meant by
them in innocent fun are met by their admirers in vicious earnest, a crisis becomes
necessary - Paterfamilias is told
or discovers that his innocent daughters have been "spoken to," and
then we, the public, have to listen to these foolish revilings at the "miscreants" who have
been. guilty of the flagitious act, and these empty menaces of "skinfuls of
sore bones" to be administered to the said "miscreants" on discovery of their
whereabouts.
As long as young men are young men and young women are young
women these things and worse occur daily, and will continue
to do so in spite of all the letters that can be written to The Times,
and "Paterfamilias from the Country" had better be told at once that, if he wishes his
girls to walk Regent-street and
Oxford-street at all hours in perfect security from interruption, he had better
either accompany them himself or send a proper protector with them.
Occasionally, but very seldom, ruffianly insult are offered to women
everywhere, but I know no capital city in which it is easier for a lady to
protect herself against impertinence than London. Application to the first
policeman met is an obvious remedy, which will never fail of success; and no
respectable shopkeeper either in Oxford-street or in Regent-street will ever
hesitate for a moment to come to a lady's rescue on such an occasion, to say
nothing of the bystanders, who would not certainly side with the aggressor.
The "skinful of sore bones" menace is a two-edged
weapon on which I would not recommend "Paterfamilias from the Country" to rely. It
is far more effective in print than it is likely to be in practice. Your "heavy
fathers" are apt to be pursy and
scant of breath, while your Lovelaces and Lotharios are generally
straight-limbed, lithe, active fellows - far
more apt to inflict sore bones than to suffer
from them.
My advice to your clients, Sir, is this:- "Look after your daughters properly; if they are young
and pretty, don't send them parading alone or in couples in the crowded thoroughfares and
parks of the metropolis; recollect that they are but women, and that, as such, they are not averse to the notice
and admiration of the other sex, and if they are "spoken to" often, consider that it is just possible
the fault may be not entirely on the other side.
If "Paterfamilias from the
Country" is angry with
me, as I fear he may be, for having spoken thus plainly to him, I would
suggest that the next time his daughters are anxious to take a little exercise
it alone in Regent-street or the park, he should insist on their doing so in their worst instead of their best
bonnets, and without their crinolines. I prophesy that he will in that case find that innocent Blanche
and
demure Isabel had far rather stay at home than appear in public without an apparatus the sole object
of which is to delude "miscreants" into the supposition that the wearers are moulded in what the
Secretary to the Admiralty would call the voluptuous "lines" of the Venus
Callipyge.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
COMMON SENSE
Times, January 21st, 1862