SYMPATHETIC VISITOR: Poor dear Mr Smith , how he must suffer with all that sneezing and coughing!
MRS SMITH : He does. indeed: but you can't think how it amuses the baby:
In the second of two programmes Richard Stilgoe continues his sidelong glance at what made the Victorians laugh. The songs of the music-hall, the polished wit of sophisticated dons. the oaths and invective of the hackney-cab drivers, or the quips of society hostesses, were often cruel. for beneath the sentimentality of the age was a hard streak and the ' collapse of stout party ' gave endless amusement.
Taking part:
JUDY BENNETT , ANNABEL BUNT CHARLES COLLINGWOOD Based on the book by RONALD PEARSALL
Producer JOHN KNIGHT