Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait.

Tait, William.

Date:: 1840

Credit: Magdalenism : an inquiry into the extent, causes, and consequences of prostitution in Edinburgh / by William Tait. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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$Aheir relation to eacli other can be clearly traced,)(Individaals en-, ^Jowed with this sluggish and listless dispositionjN^have been known j to resist every attempt which has been made to subdue or over-' come it. ' ,^he advice a^d persuasions of parents and friends;have been equally disregarded ^,\andpersonal chastisement has also j been tried^but without leading to any improvement.) / Instead of ' becoming more active and considerate as they approached the age of maturity,\these females became more sullen and obstinate as increased strength seemed^to reinforce them with a firmer deter- '^-yj mination to continue their indolent Jiabits through life.J The consequence of this disposition is, that,i unless their relatives arc in circumstances to support them,Yhey must become beggars or common prostitutes-^ result which is actually confirmed by a series of facts that h'ave been collected for the illustration of this subject. (jGrirls have been repeatedly sent to learn some business or to service,) and/ were found, so^lazy and, intractable that their /teachers or employers;; were under the necessity of discharging tlieni^^ ,^fter having allowed a (few years'of the most important /period of their life, to pass awa^ without being in any respect more useful members of society,;they have ultimately chosen a life of prostitutioiyas the only one which held out to them any pros- pect\r encouragement of a continuation of their lazy habits. There are some whqj^etake themselves to the street as common womei^ that have_£ever(.^manifested any great dislike to worlci' or to be^ actuated by the counsel d^d advice of others,^but who sliow a carelessness and indolence of mind which totally incapacitates them for thinking for themselves. They do as they see others do, and take the advice of all without reflecting whether it is right or Avrong. i Simplicity is^ the; termvby which;this particular turn of mind is characterised.^^ By this term is generally understood indi- viduals that arevnot active agents^jn their own downfall or deai-a- dation,\^\who are merely passive,^and jield readily to the opinions of all,i^without exercising their own judgment,}and(who)of course ^^do not resist|.the solicitations'of(those who are desirous of deceiv- ing them.; There is a want in all of that decision of character which forms so essential a feature in every well-regulated mind. It is not surprising that these persons should be frequently$