(A Reformer's Note to a Current Controversy.)
Oh, ungallant must be the man indeed Who calls "nine women out of ten" "knock-kneed"! And he should not remain in peace for long, Who says "the nether limbs of women" are "all wrong." Such are the arguments designed to prove That Woman's ill-advised to make a move To mannish clothes. These arguments are such As to be of the kind that prove too much. If Woman's limbs in truth unshapely grow, The present style of dress just makes them so!
QUEER QUERIES.—A Question of Terms.—I am sometimes allowed, by the kindness of a warder, to see a newspaper, and I have just read that some scientific cove says that man's natural life is 105 years. Now is this true? I want to know, because I am in here for what the Judge called "the term of my natural life," and, if it is to last for 105 years, I consider I have been badly swindled. I say it quite respectfully, and I hope the Governor will allow the expression to pass. Please direct answers to Her Majesty's Prison, Princetown, Devon.—No. 67.
IN THREE VOLUMES.
Volume I.—Awakening.
And so the work was done. Belinda, after a year's hard writing, had completed her self-appointed task. Douglas the Doomed One had grown by degrees into its present proportions. First the initial volume was completed; then the second was finished; and now the third was ready for the printer's hands. But who should have it? Ah, there was the rub! Belinda knew no publishers and had no influence. How could she get anyone to take the novel up? And yet, if she was to believe the Author, there was plenty of room for untried talent. According to that interesting periodical publishers were constantly on the lookout for undiscovered genius. Why should she not try the firm of Messrs. Binding and Print? She made up her mind. She set her face hard, and muttered, "Yes, they shall do it! Douglas the Doomed One shall appear with the assistance of Messrs. Binding and Print!" And when Belinda made up her mind to do anything, not wild omnibus-horses would turn her from her purpose.