Genre:

Serial, Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Gender, Geology, Astronomy, Botany

    In a letter from 'A Maiden Aunt to a Niece, on the Imprudence of Marriage', Dragonmouth compares the insignificance of the wife who is studious of domestic affairs to 'the nobler woman' who knows all about astronomy. Considers the 'smallness of the wedding-ring' insulting to the 'greatness of the female mind', especially when the woman can 'own' Saturn's ring 'with no incumbrance to Saturn himself'. Upholding geology as an elevating pursuit for women, she adds that 'what really great woman would study the mere heart of a mere man, when she might discover fossil shrimps and caterpillars in marble'. Concludes with a similar argument about botany.