Clare's entry:
To the Editor, The Times. July 19th, 1850.
Sir,
This is a sorry subject to draw to the attention of your readers, and there have
been times when such a condition of affairs would not have occurred, and in which if
it had occurred, would not have been long endured.
There is a worrying deterioration of public behaviour within our society, normally
characterised by high standards of propriety. The following instance in which I,
myself, was involved, describes just such an occasion.
Whilst in the city of Winchester in June last, attending a meeting of high
literary merit, I was accommodated in The College. I was aware that there were some
members of the fairer sex present, also accommodated within the building, but
certainly had no idea that our bedchambers were mutually accessible.
I was awoken from my slumbers at quarter-past 7-o`clock on Saturday morning by a
hammering upon the door to my chamber. On rising from my bed to ascertain the cause
of this disturbance, and having first, thankfully, covered myself with a suitable
garment, on opening the door, I witnessed a lady (if I may call her that) partially
attired, in some kind of flowing night cloak. I have unwillingly to admit that she
was not unpleasant to my eye despite her totally improper behaviour. She explained
that she had taken a wrong turn and did not know the way back to her own bedchamber. I was completely taken aback by this intrusion into my privacy and can only imagine with horror the fate that may have befallen her should she have chanced to knock on a door other than my own.
These facts I give you.
I am Sir, your most obedient servant,
Algernon Periwinkle.
Christine's entry:
Sir,
A number of disquieting occurrences have lately come to light, the most recent of
which concerns a manifest assault on public morals during a learned literary
conference in the city of Winchester, in view of which I feel it to be my imperative
duty to express my righteous disapprobation in order to protect our glorious
civilisation, which by far surpasses that of most other countries in this world.
The informed reader will be aware that the French Revolution started with a
complete reversal of the established order, as if the situation in Mozart’s
celebrated opera, The Marriage of Figaro, were a prophesy fulfilled. Indeed those who
had hitherto been servants were turned into masters and mistresses and vice versa.
The resulting chaos is still raging in France, where ill-conditioned minds have
become insubordinate by the fruition of a little power, and the seeds thereof have
spread and imperilled and damaged the very fabric of their society.
One account from reliable sources maintains that in Paris there are women
(one cannot call them ladies) of good society who dress like gentlemen and smoke
cigars in public. One such person is reputed to write and publish literature, whilst
having the effrontery of flaunting a succession of paramours, many of whom are
illustrious writers and composers.
It is my plea to all good citizens of this country to resist the advance of such
abominable conduct on our shores. I urge all our worthy gentlemen to instil proper
notions of feminine virtue in their wives and daughters. The Lord created Eve as a
helpmate for Adam to breed and raise children, and, as St. Paul preached, to remain
silent, discreet and subordinate behind their masters and benefactors.
May the Lord protect our nation from the vile errors of our foreign neighbours.
Catherine's entry:
Sir,
On the 24th of June last I attended, in my capacity as author, the Writers’
Conference in Winchester, the visitation of which necessitated an overnight stay.
Appropriately men and women were accommodated in separate areas. However, as I
discovered, a corridor in fact conjoined these two parts of the building.
To my shock I was awoken early in the morning by a sharp knock on the door.
Naturally I arose, imagining an emergency. I opened the door to a lady of
indeterminate age dressed in nightwear. She asserted that she had lost her way in
the building and requested help.
In my astonishment I was, of course, at a loss for a reply. I was much angered at
this interruption to my repose and appalled by this lady’s forwardness. Is this, I
wonder, symptomatic of a general decline in public decency? I would urge all readers,
as upstanding citizens of the United Kingdom, to take heed to prevent further
decadence in our society.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Charles Knight.
Ann's entry:
Letter to The Editor, The Times
Sir,
My sister members of the Ladies Temperance Society of Chatham do write to you in
the expectation that your most Esteemed Newspaper, which we are assured is read in
detail by our most important and influential members of society, will bring pressure
to bear on the designated Authorities to rid our streets of louts and drunks.
The continuing disgraceful moral behaviour carried out by these most wretched and
unpleasant members of this declining society, which, to our delicate states of mind
includes, shameful for us to say, Women as well as Men, is a matter which we, as
noble hearted women of the Ladies Temperance Society are compelled to bring to the
immediate attention of your respected Readers.
Rough men and loose women are apt to roam Aimlessly through our streets, with the
odour of drink and lust about them, so that Ladies of refinement are most afraid to
venture forth to carry out their legitimate pastimes and feel supreme distress and
disgust at the Moral Decline we are witnessing in our very midst.
Sir, we wish to elucidate that Idle Hands are oft times the perpetrators of loose
Morals and Illicit Behaviour in the lower classes of our society, and we are most
desirous to convey to your Readers that hard work should be the abiding solution in
ridding our social order of these appalling common people. Should they be gainfully
employed, we are in no doubt that the increasing incidents of murder, mayhem, and
theft would reduce amply to allow those of us with mild manners, who lead Good,
Moderate and God Fearing lives, to go about our business without hindrance.
I, am Sir,
Yours most faithfully,
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