Mrs. Ex-President John Tyler, From Far Over The Waters, Addresses the Women of England-- Wives, Sisters, and Daughters

The Illustrated London News

On Saturday, February 26, 1853, The Illustrated London News published their 610^th issue. In this particular issue, there was a poem published with the title “Mrs. Ex-President John Tyler, From Far Over The Waters, Addresses the Women of England-- Wives, Sisters, and Daughters”. Throughout the poem, the author consistently makes comparisons between the women of England and America. He/she especially draws attention to the differences in the way American wives behave. According to the author, “American women, you should understand, never interfere with their spouses, But spend all their leisure time in looking after their houses”. This statement is directed at the English women and serves as a veiled criticism of the way that they do not live up to the domestic expectations of women at the time. Later in the poem, the author reminds the audience of Victorian women that “Women in the Southern States are the most educated on earth,/ And know to how many hundreds of thousands their friends are giving birth”. It is suggested through these lines not just that motherhood is an expectation of women, but that it is womanly for other women to be aware of and conscious of the number of children their friends are having. This makes it seem like childbirth and motherhood are two of the only things that unite the female population and suggests that it is disadvantageous for women to not participate in the role of mother themselves.

While the role of women in the two cultures is the most central idea of the poem, there is also evidence of other societal issues, such as slavery. Speaking of American women, the author writes, “They have an immense horror of aristocratic display, It would not suit with looking after their negroes all day”. This statement references the prevalence of slavery in American culture and offers an interpretation of the attitude of American women towards slavery. There is a stark contrast to the way that slavery is described in British society. The author refers to slavery in Britain as “once a blot” and instead focuses on the supposed freedom that England provides its people now. It genders England as a female nation and suggests that anyone who “seeks her guardian care,/ In life and limb, in wife and child, is free as her mountain air”. It informs the reader of how far England has progressed, especially in the last thirty years. However, it advises readers to “go to Ireland: its state is quite a shame” and therefore bases the “greatness” of England on the suppose downfalls of other nations.