The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-11-21 00:00:00

MORE SHOCKING IGNORANCE!

(From Punch.)

A short time ago Punch had occasion to horrify his
readers by publishing the report of his select committee
on education, which revealed the amount of ignorance of
domestic matters prevailing among young men generally.
His commissioners have just sent up to him their second
report, which relates to the knowledge of business and
the affairs of life possessed by young ladies ; and he has
determined, at the risk of creating a fearful panic in the
marriage market, to print it.
Miss Mary Anne Watkins examined—ls the daughter
of a private gentleman. Has several brothers and sisters.
Is engaged to be married to a young surgeon as soon as
he can get into practice. Has an idea that she ought to
know something of housekeeping ; supposes it comes na-
turally. Can sing and play; draw and embroider. Cannot
say that she ever darned a stocking. The price of brown
Windsor soap is from Is. to Is. 3d. the packet ; cannot
tell what yellow comes to ; never bought any. Ciraassian
cream is half-a-crown a pot; does not know the price of
pearlash. Knows how to furnish a house ; would go to
the upholsterer's and buy furniture. Cannot say how
much she would expect to give for an easy chair, or for a
wash-hand-stand, or for a set of tea-things ; should ask
mama, if necessary; never thought of doing so before.
Papa paid for the dress she has got on : forgets what he
gave for it. She has no notion what his butcher's bill
amounts to in the year.

Miss Harriet Somers.—Papa is a clergyman. Is unable
to say whether he is a pluralist or not. He is a curate,
and has but one curacy. Expects to be married, of course.
Would not refuse a young man with £3OO a-year. Has
no property of her own. Has some skill in needle-work ;
lately worked a brigand in red, blue, green, and yellow
worsted. Can make several washes for the complexion.
Cannot tell how she would set about making an apple-
dumpling. Loaves should remain in the oven till they
are done ; the time they would take would depend upon
circumstances. If she were married, would expect her
husband to be ill sometimes; supposing him to be ordered
calves'-foot jelly, should send for it to the pastry-cook's.
It never occurred to her that she might make it herself.
If she tried, should buy some calves' feet ; what next she
should do cannot say. Has received a fashionable educa-
tion; knows French and Italian. Likes dancing better
than anything else.
Miss Jane Briggs.—ls the daughter of a respectable
tradesman, a grocer and tea dealer. Looks forward to a
union with somebody in her own station in life. Was for
five years at a boarding-school in Clapham. Really can-
not say what a ledger is ; it may be the same as a day-
book. Has an album ; has painted flowers in the album,
also butterflies. Has never ironed a frill. Knows what
a receipt is ; it tells you how to dress things; should sup-
pose that a receipt in full was a receipt that told you all
the particulars. Never heard of a balance-sheet ;it may
be a calico sheet for aught she knows. Cannot say whe-
ther papa buys or sells at prime cost. Has eaten fowl
occasionally ; never trussed one ; does not know how to
make stuffing for a duck or a goose.
Miss Elizabeth Atkins—Resides at Hampstead, with
her parents. Papa is a solicitor; his office is in Gray's-
inn. Will have a little money of her own shortly, when
she comes of age. Is not aware whether she is a minor
or not. The property was left her by an aunt. Cannot
say whether she is a legatee or testatrix. Her property
is real property. Is sure of that. It is in the funds.
Should say that it was not personal property, as it was
not anything about her person. Knows what Consols
are ; has read about them in history ; they were ancient
Romans. Mama keeps house. When she marries ex-
pects to do the same. Is unable to say what the family
milk-score is a•week. Starch is used to stiffen collars ;
has no notion what it is a pound, or what made of, or
whether it is used with hot water or cold. Drugget is
cheaper than a Turkey carpet ; but how much cannot say.
Her time is principally occupied in fancy-work, reading
novels, and playing quadrilles and waltzes on the pano.
Out of the sixty other young ladies examined, three
only knew how to corn beef, six what a sausage was com-
posed of, and four how to make onion sauce. Not one of
the whole number could brew. They mostly could tell
what the last new song was; but none of them knew the
current price of beef. Every soul of them meant to
marry as soon as possible. What is to become of their
husbands ? Echo answers " What ! " and Punch shud-
ders at the idea.

A LEOPARD KILLED BY A LION IN WOMBWELL'S
NIENAGERIE.—On Thursday night week, a singular event
occurred in Mr. Wombwell's menagerie, now exhibiting
at Leeds. In one of the large compartments of the me-
nagerie were two fine lions and two equally fine and very
docile leopards, and these four animals were usually kept
commandtogethe
rfohretldheopvuerrptohseemohf
yshtohweiirngketehpeeirr, whotraininwges in and thethe
constant habit of going amongst them, and putting them
through a variety of performances after the style of and
equal to Van Amburgh or Carter. Though the four ani-
mals are kept in one cage for the purpose of exhibition,
the lions have been always separated from the leopards
during the time of their feeding, until the night in ques-
tion, when the experiment was tried of feeding them alto-
gether; but no sooner had four pieces of flesh been put
into the cage, and one of the leopards had seized hold of
a piece of the flesh, than one of the lions rushed upon the
unfortunate beast, and almost immediately worried it.
Had it not been for the speedy interference of the keeper,
there is lit!le doubt the other leopard would have also
been kille(l_