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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    viously employed as servants, and^^ome have been trained from childhood to a life of prostitution/; (jMany/of ^cse females)_belong'to (strictly religious families^ some ,of them even (are the sisters £^id daughters of ministers of different denominations,jand -vvho consequently mjght bejexpected to have (had) both the^recepts a\d examples)of(4e]igion strictly (^inculcated upon them); but, taking prostitutes as a body,<it may pretty confidently be stated regarding them, that they/have re- ceived a very imperfect religious instruction. Many of the Irish, and those belonging to the city }\ho have been trained from infancy to a life of prostitution^liave no notions of religion^ and are in- sensible to the misery tfiey are bringing upon themselves by con- tinuing the course of wickedness/they are at present pursuing. The same opinion is stated by jDuchatelet, in reference to the prostitutes in Paris. They are represented as being in a profound state of .ignorance-with respect to religion. A great number, he observes, have scarcely an idea of the commonest sentiment of the Divinity; and they are not sparing of jests and sarcasms upon matters of religion, QJiough most)of them fare anxious for religious consolation-Vhen severe or fatal sickness assails them. A similar statement is given by Dr_R^n in his work on the Prostitution in London. They liave seldom, he says, any sense of religion while vicious; but when misery, poverty, and disease afflict them, they often wish for religious consolation. The character of an abandoned Avoman is represented by the Rev. Mr M'Dowall of New York, as darker than the worst portrait the ablest pen can draft. Their imaginations are defiled, f and.;^their minds filled witli. the yilest affections and the deadliest f passions. Life is a burden to these wretched women. \ Their liopes of happiness and respectability in life are blasted.Death they welcome as the harbinger of rest.'^. He says nothing abput 'the state of religious feeling amongst the prostitutes there ;\in- dee37^ it ' is' alTlrue that lie las stated regarding the number of prostitutes, it becomes very questionable if there is any thing like true religious feeling experienced by any considerable number of the inhabitants of that city. (TExcept/thc very ignorant classes of prostitute^^already rcfeired to,,there are perhaps;few in Edinburgh