Blow It!

Blow It! Signed with monogram lower right. Source: Fun (19 January 1876): 42. Courtesy of the Suzy Covey Comic Book Collection in the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida. Click on image to enlarge it.

Young Mistress (who has just procured a young girl from the country): — “Well, Mary, have you put out the gas in my room?”

Paulina: — “Yes, Mum, and a rare job it were too. I guess I ’bin a-blowin’ just ’alf-an-hour ’fore it ’ud goo out!”

A pretty scary reflection on the dangers of having those ignorant of new technology around one’s home! Poor Mary, who doesn't understand gas lighting, put out the flame by blowing upon it the way she would put out a candle — with the result that she has filled her employer’s room with gas that awaits only a tiny a spark to turn it into a bomb that will destroy the house. — George P. Landow



[You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the University of Florida library and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite the Victorian Web in a print one.]


Last modified 23 March 2016