Perfectly Dweadful. Punch. 27 September 1856, page 124.
Guard. "Now, Sir! If you're going on by the Express. Here's just Room for One!"
Tourist. "Wha-t! Get in with hawwid old Women, and Squeeming Children! By Jove! You know! I say! It's Intawible, you know!"
The tourist's pronunciation — what might to us appear a speech impediment — is mocking a particular kind of upper-class pronunciation rather than casting doubt on his heterosexuality. His plaid blanket and tam-o-shanter hat suggests he's heading for Scotland.
[Scanned image (from a volume in the Athenæum Club Library) and text by George P. Landow You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]
Last modified 3 September 2007