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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$called his respectability—the situation and size of his house—the number of servants that he keeps—the reputable character of his friends and acquaintances—and the number of parties he annually entertains—are with such parents the criteria which qualify him for marriage, and which render him worthy of the hand of their fair daughter. (The opinion or consent of the young lady herself is seldom asked or obtained, Vlhe friends foolishly imagining that if they are pleased,\ she ha^no right to be dissatisfied.Y Love is d^pig£d,!)and talked of ai a word withouj jneajiin^-^|/_fopic^n whi^_£oets^aiid philosophers deljght to expatiate,|but which they themselves never experienced—a thing which young people often thought the)M^eItX5^^^which in fact had no existence.By such reasoning, ^parents' frequently persuade their daughters to form connexions)whicll(^hey would naturally have declined,^)and thus -, doom them to a life of perpetual sorrow and disappointment; for, where connubial affection does not exist, there can be no real hap- piness and enjoyment. The following sketch of the history of a beautiful but unfor- -^unate girT7°represents the dreadful consequences of the officious interference of friends in a matter so much affecting the destiny of their daughters :—Miss was the second daughter of a wealthy and respectable merchant in one of the largest towns in England. When she attained the age of maturity, she had suitors of every rank and description. Her beauty and figure were such as to attract attention, and secure the admiration of all who saw her. Amongst her numerous admirers, she accepted the addresses of one who, for intelligence and appearance, was sur- passed by none, and in every other respect was calculated to make an affectionate and indulgent husband. He could not indeed boast of his riches, for he had only recently commenced business ; but his connexions and prospects were of so promising a nature, as to render his success certain. Marriage was so generally un- derstood as about to take place between the parties, that all their friends and acquaintances began to congratulate both them and their relatives on their happy prospects. The father and mother of Miss , however, took little or no notice of such com- pliments, and endeavoured to change the subject of conversation$