Punch,  32 (1857), 221.

Our Own Vivandière

Anon

Genre:

Letter; News-Commentary; Illustration

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Hospitals, Periodicals, Patronage, Reading, Gender

Publications cited:

Illustrated London News


    Introduces a letter concerning 'Mother Seacole' (the merchant trader Mary Seacole) who expresses a 'mother's affection' for Punch owing to the fact that 'as she walked through the wards of the hospital at Spring Hill [...] the sufferers would plead for a glimpse of Punch', several copies of which were 'old and worn and frayed by many a strong hand brought low by the Russian bullet or pestilence'. The letter adds that Mother Seacole 'believes there will yet be work for her to do somewhere. Perhaps in China, perhaps some other distant country there may be women's work to do'. Punch contends that both the British army and the public 'will be disgraced if Mother Seacole, by reason of declining circumstances, should have to ascend into a garret' and asks England to help her, both by lending hands and giving money. The illustration shows a woman, holding up a copy of Punch and standing by the bedside of a wounded soldier.



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