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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    were seated, the gentleman asked' if tlicy could have any thing to, drink. - The question Avas no sooner put than his companion (touched a hand-bell Avhich was standing on the mantelpiece, at the sound pf which thei'old woraan(immediate]y appeared, bearing a salver with two glasses and a bottle of wine.'^ T^is piece of ready and unanticipated servictf showed that previous arrangements had been made for the visit^aiicl somewhat(increased the_surp^rise of the gentleman wliu witnessed ity' He was so much engaged in looking around, and reflecting on what was passing before him, that he had entirely forgot to make a narrow inspection of the person who was the primary cause of all his astonishment. Now, however, when he had time to recall his wandering senses, he was determined to throw his eyes in a different direction. The first glimpse which he obtained of(^her features)led [him to the conclu- sion thatHiis unfortunate comjianionj^for he had no doubt she was unfortunate)fliad not improved by candle-light.)';^o be sure, the glimpse was imperfect,, as she still kept on her bonnet, whicli pre- vented his obtaining a full inspection of her face. He tried in various ways to open up a conversation relative to her present cir- cumstances—whether the old woman they had just seen was her mother,^ and (liow long they had inhabited the apartments^they now occupied, and also ^hether she had ever been marriea^ and ^hat had become of her husband^ for he noAv observed for the nrst^hne that'she wore a marriage ring, .guarded by a rich and expensive keeper. (To none of these qliestions did she deign a definite reply ;^ indeed, he found her so very incommunicative, that he felt a difficulty in keeping up the conversation. At a moment when she appeared to take no notice of what he was say- ing, he observed that she had placed one of her feet on the fender, and unconsciously had drawn her frock considerably above her under-clothes, so as to display a very handsome foot and leg, and afford him an opportunity of judging of the quality of that part of her dress. With astonishment, (he observed that there was no harmony between these and her outer garments ; for her boots were of the most costly d_cscription,\her stockings were the finest silk, and her slip was ed^ed \y[th the_richest trimming.; There was