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

  • Tait, William.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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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    made in a previous chapter, tend to show that the number who could not read was much less than might have been anticipated. But the mere circumstance of having learned to read, is no proof that they have derived any knowledge from it. Many are able to read who are ignorant of every thing that is of importance to them, and who never practise reading with a desire to profit by it. It is seriously believed that very few young women in the lower walks of life are in the practice of thinking on what they read, if they read any at all, as they have very confused and in- correct notions about every subject of importance. It is the want of reflection that keeps them ignorant; and ignorance pre- vents them seeing their own interest; and hence they prefer a life of licentiousness and wickedness to one of purity and happi- ness. BAD EXAMPLE OF PARENTS. When parents are guilty of immoral conduct and conversation in the presence of their children, the latter soon learn to imitate their example. An evil line of conduct is much more easily fol- lowed than a virtuous one ; and all young people are ready to go astray unless their passions are checked or controlled by the influ- ence of parental persuasion. If such is the natural tendency of the human mind, it is inconsistent with reason to expect that children will act uprightly when they are trained up in the patli that leads to ruin. It is a lamentable fact that there are thou- sandscof children in Edinburgh who have never received the ad- vice of a father or mother as to the proper manner in which they ought to conduct themselves in the world—Avho never heard the name of God mentioned in the families to which they belong but in profanation—who never saw more respect paid to the Sabbath than other days of the week, unless in having seen it appointed as an especial day of revelry, fighting, and dissipation—who have seen the Bible despised and laid aside, and the newspapers, primed with revolutionary and infidel effusions, substituted in its place— who, in short, have been in the daily habit of hearing the most profane and obscene language, and of witnessing every law of