Punch,  55 (1868), 197.

Mrs. Punch's Letters to Her Daughter  [10/11]

Mrs Punch

Genre:

Letter, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Gender, Education, Nutrition, Politics, Domestic Economy, Human Development, Animal Behaviour


    Describes her attendance of the recent meeting of the Social Science Congress at Birmingham. Reminding her daughter of her support for the 'Rights of Both Sexes of Man', she explains how she planned to address the audience on the subject of 'Digestion and Dinners', which she considers to be just as important as the favourite topic at the meeting—education. She explains that while she hails 'with delight' the 'dawning' of the 'Golden Age', when the 'higher privileges of education will be open to all who prove themselves worthy of them', the cooking of dinners must remain with the woman. Explains that she is not insinuating that 'our daughters must become cooks and kitchen-maids', but urges all women to master 'the alpha and omega of the science of dinners'. Proceeds to insist that her husband will only support the proposed new 'College for Women' if 'some such person as Dr. Lankester' provides instruction on the subject of 'eating and drinking'. Explains to her daughter that women should 'exercise a sort of lofty pity' for men and 'keep up the poor gorillas' fire as the savages do, since they cannot keep it up for themselves'. Reiterates the importance of women cooks to men's careers and concludes by imagining some of the cooking prizes that would be awarded at a 'Ladies' College'.



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