Broadside regarding a dialogue between a married man and a young woman

Commentary

This broadside begins: 'A MARRIED MAN CAUGHT IN A TRAP, OR, THE LOVER'S Detected A LAUGHABLE DIALOUGE. Which took place in a Railway Carriage, between a Married Gentleman, and a Young Lady of this Town, which was overheard by a gentleman, who immediately committed the same to writing.' Included at the top of the sheet is an illustration of a young woman, and a man on bended knee.

What then follows is an account of the rather trite dialogue between Emma and Thomas, the married gentleman and young lady of the title. Although they are obviously conducting an illict love affair, the conversation between the two is passionless and stultifying. Whilst published and distributed as a broadside, this dialogue was probably intended to be performed to an audience. The use of humorous voices and facial expressions during the retelling would have greatly enhanced its comedic value.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.

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