This Cautionary Tale Of A Drunk Woman Is A Hilarious And Sad Victorian PSA
Ladies: Do not drink. You will get pregnant. And you will die.
In the late 1800s, magic lantern slide shows became popular both as a medium for entertainment and education. This series, "The Story of a Crime," tells the tale of a woman named Margaret Bell, "who is driven to drink, prison, and ultimately her death, by personal misfortune." Moral of the story: DO NOT GIVE IN TO THE DEMON DRINK. (Women.)
Meet Margaret. She is your average, happy mother, who spends two-thirds of her waking hours socializing with a baby.
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On special days, her friend comes over and the two sit in a picturesque alley where they engage in such thrilling activities such as mending and sewing.
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Sometimes, as is natural for the weak female heart, she pines for her husband, who is off at sea, drinking whiskey and carousing with his fellow sailors.
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When woman is alone, woman is emotional. It is a shortcoming of her sex.
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BUT BEWARE. For danger lies ahead for the woman who succumbs to demon drink.
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It takes but a few sips before Margaret has neglected her household duties; she passes out, judgement so poor that she has mistaken a wooden box for a bed pillow.
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Several hours later, Margaret's sister comes by — as she does daily — to drop off Margaret's nephew, Edwin, so that she may provide more child care. Edwin is the first to see Marge in her drunken state. For shame, Margaret!
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Children should not be left alone with women infected with demon drink.
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Because ALL WILL DIE.
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Now they are dead.
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Margaret, however, manages to come back from death's door. Yet she awakens in jail, imprisoned for MURDER.
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This, ladies and gentlemen, is the face of a murderess.
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And NOW she is dead.
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Hopefully, you have learned your lesson. (Women.)