Military Birching Scene
I’m not quite sure what to make of this scenario; the men are mostly in military uniforms, but it’s a mixed party with interested ladies that have gathered to witness a birching:
Said to date from 1905, in La Flagellation Passionelle, the author (but probably not the illustrator) of which was Don Brennus Aléra. The art style reminds me a little bit of Helga Bode.
See Also:
The story is available online in French, but I’ve read it in English. It claims that it’s a true story, only possible in England, and reported by an English author who changed some of the names. From the introduction, “In 1860 a depot battalion was stationed at Shingleton in southern Britain. The officers, all boys, led a very free life there; they introduced women into the quarters every day through a small gate which opened onto a plane-tree avenue and which was very aptly named Love Lane.” It’s a tale as old as time. One of the women, Fanny Hayward, is upset none of the men will buy her something and steals and sells a watch. Of course another woman, her rival, sees her selling it and reports her. The officers are all into spanking, and frequently spank these women before making love, so they plot a public punishment for Fanny. They have a big dinner party with rich food, and all of the men invite dates. Everyone knows what will happen and they are all very excited, but they keep it a secret from Fanny. After dinner, they announce the theft and that they know who did it. They have a ‘courts-martial’ for Fanny and after finding her guilty, give her the choice of a bare bottom punishment from them, or being turned over to the police. As the drawing shows, she chose the public punishment.