Sir Albert Rollit's Bill for extending the franchise to women was introduced in the early summer of 1892, and defeated on the second reading by only twenty-three votes. _Punch_, in his "Essence of Parliament," refers to an uproarious meeting in St. James's Hall, and to Mr. Asquith's "merciless logic" in demolishing the Bill. The Women's Liberal Federation had declared for the suffrage, and _Punch_ illustrated the situation in a picture of two political lady cricketers appealing to the G.O.M. at the wicket: "A team of our own? I should think so! If we're good enough to scout [i.e. field] for you, why shouldn't we take a turn at the bat?" Women's clubs increased in numbers throughout this period, but met with little encouragement from _Punch_. In 1877 they are satirized as enemies to domestic life; as the haunts of semi-detached, smart women--types which _Punch_ portrayed in his "Dream of Queer Women" (after Tennyson) in the same year, wherein mention is made of the "shrieking sisterhood," realistic novelists, "art-beauties," shrewish suffragists and shady adventuresses. When the project of a Women's University Club was mooted in 1886, _Punch_ takes a less lurid view of its possibilities. Smoking, card-playing and billiards are indicated, but at worst the ladies will only be mild, if sedulous apes of the male clubman. Gossip will predominate, and _Punch_ suggests that the new venture should be called "The Blue-Stocking." As for smoking, in 1888 _Punch_ registered a protest under the title, "To a Fair Nicotian," in which the Laureate remonstrates with Lady Clara. He likes his own yard-long Broseley clay pipe, but disapproves even of a cigarette in the lips of lovely woman. [Sidenote: _The Athletic Woman_] [Illustration: AT "LORD'S" (_It is always well to be well informed_) CLARA (_pointing to the Umpires_): "Who are the two men in billycock hats and white coats?" MATILDA: "Oh, don't you know? Those are the headmasters of Eton and Harrow!"]