I’m sorry to hear you’ve been ailing, John I must send you down something from the Rectory. How would you like some Soup?”
“Thankee kindly, Mum — but I b’aint so terr’ble wrapped up in Soup!”
Cartoon by Leonard Raven-Hill (1867-1942). 1904; signed "L Raven Hill" lower right. Punch (3 February 1904): 82. From the Internet Archive online version of a copy in the University of Iowa Library. Click on image to enlarge it
In this scene that the artist sets in a country lane, John still wears the old smock — standard gear for agricultural workers and members of the working classes (and poor) who lived in rural areas. Note the stylish garb of the local minister’s wife, who apparently also uses a walking stick.
[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the Internet Archive and the University of Iowa and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one. — George P. Landow]
Last modified 4 August 2017