An 1858 view on women

An 1858 view on women

One of the joys of visiting the Reading Lasses cafe/bookshop in Wigtown is the opportunity to leaf through the many volumes on the self while enjoying a tasty treat.

Reading Lasses specialises in books about women's issues, history, culture, fiction and related subjects. On a recent visit the book that jumped off the shelf to accompany a cappuccino and a big slice of chocolate cake was “A Woman's Thoughts About Women,” who, surprisingly, or perhaps not so, didn't give her name. The book was published in London in 1858 and the writer ranged over the subject of women, from a viewpoint that would be, ahem, regarded as unusual in these modern times.

“Equally blasphemous, and perhaps even more harmful, is the outcry about 'the equality of the sexes;' the frantic attempt to force women, many of whom are either ignorant of or unequal for their own duties! Who that ever listened for two hours to the verbose and confused inanities of a ladies' committee, would immediately go and give his vote for a female House of Commons? Or who, on the receipt of a lady's letter of business – I speak of the average – would henceforth desire to have our courts of justice stocked with matronly lawyers, and our colleges thronged by 'Sweet girl-graduates with their golden hair?'

“As for finance, in its various branches – if you pause to consider the extreme difficulty there always is in balancing Mrs Smith's housekeeping-book, or Miss Smith's quarterly allowance, I think, my dear Paternal Smith, you need not be much afraid lest this loud acclaim for 'women's rights' should ever end in pushing you from your stools, in counting-house, college or elsewhere.

“No; equality of the sexes is not in the nature of things...”

Later, the Victorian lady author considers the subject of female servants and their damned ingratitude for the favours showered upon them.

“...each is in her station. Providence fixed both where they are; and while there remain, unless either individual is qualified to change, neither has the smallest right to overstep the barrier between them; recognised, perhaps, better tacitly than openly by either, but never by any ridiculous assumption of equality denied or set aside.”

There's nothing more galling than a smart woman: “Why is it that, especially in large towns, a 'clever' servant is almost sure to turn out badly?”

And don't get her started on cooks: “...the servant is often very unjust too. Cook, who has only to dress the dinner, and neither to work nor pay for it, turns up her nose at missis's 'meanness,' i.e displeasure at waste or extravagance – cook, who, if any crash came, has only to look out for another place; while missis has her five children, whose little mouths must be filled, and little bodies must be clothed, and 'master,' whom it breaks her heart to see coming in from the City, haggard, tired, and cross – a crossness he cannot help, poor man! - or sitting down with a pitiful patience, sick and sad, almost wishing, save for her and the children, that he could lay his head on his shoulder and die! What does cook in the kitchen, fat and comfortable, know of all these things – the agonised struggle for position and character – nay, mere bread – which makes the days and nights of thousands of the professional classes one long battle for life?”

Many more such treats await on the shelves of Reading Lasses, not just on the bookshelves but on the shelves of cakes and sweet treats. “...our Galloway cheddar, wild salmon from the River Cree and chicken breasts are all smoked over whisky barrel embers using traditional methods by Marrbury Smokehouse. Our cheese boards combine Marrburry smoked cheese with hand-made organic cheeses from the Locharthur Creamery in Beeswing. Our chutneys and jams re made by a family business in Wigtown. We use Wigwam Bakery bread handmade in Creetown. Our jams, chutneys, award winning Montezuma chocolate and bread are all available for you to buy and enjoy at home. Many of our vegetables and salads are grown for us by Garrochar Market Garden also in Creetown. We include many ingredients from our own organic garden too. We prepare our own soups, cakes and pies in our kitchen from the finest ingredients, organic and locally sourced where ever possible.”

Winter: open 10-5 Monday to Saturday. Open Sunday as well in summer. Reading Lasses, Gerrie, Susan and Bex, 17 South Main Street, Wigtown, Scotland, DG8 9EH. Tel: 01988 403 266. books@reading-lasses.com www.reading-lasses.com.