An Inferior Article (To the Editor of the Grocer)
Punch
Genre: | Letter, Spoof |
Subjects: | Adulteration, Crime, Commerce, Publishing, Periodicals |
Discusses a letter published in the Grocer describing the adulteration of butter with flour. Criticises the periodical for not publishing the name of the guilty dairy, but explains its reticence in terms of its fear of a crippling libel suit. Laments the legal rights accorded to the vendor, who is 'a fraudulent scoundrel'. Drawing a comparison between inferior foodstuffs and inferior articles, upholds the argument that 'it is for the public good that the criticism of butter and dairymen', like 'the criticism of writings and authors, should be free'. Concludes by urging the necessity of beating into 'the heads of judges and juries that equal latitude should be allowed to the reviews of all articles alike'. |
© Science in the Nineteenth-Century Periodical Project, Universities of Leeds and Sheffield, 2005 - 2020
Printed from Science in the Nineteenth-Century Periodical: An Electronic Index, v. 4.0, The Digital Humanities Institute <http://www.sciper.org> [accessed ]