“The Great Emancipator”

Southland Times, Issue 13642, 2 January 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

“The Great Emancipator”

“ The cycle was the great emancipator of woman, and one of the first signs of the change would be reform in dress. The lecturess adopted Lady Macbeth as the type of a noblewoman.” —Report of Mrs Webster’s lecture nt the Warrawee Club. The girls of the last generation Were shrinking, and timid, and shy ; They spoke with extreme hesitation, And fainted—they didn’t know why. They were bashful with other girls’ brothers And shuddered at marriage ; but now, Why most of these girls are our mothers, Though really we cannot tell how. But now Mrs Webster has stated A year or so’s time will reveal How woman’s been emancipated By the use of the conquering wheel. _ That they’ve grown like the Dromio of Shakespeare; Though we’re not very sure we should like To see Portia repairing a puncture, Or Lady Macbeth on a bike. Well, fashions and girls have their humours, And p’raps in a twelve-month or less We’ll meet Desdemona in bloomers, And Ophelia in rational dress ! What a prospect of joy lies before us When woman to knickers reverts ; But the poor little girls in the chorus Will have to take refuge in skirts. —“ Oriel,” in Argus.