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.

    54/292 (page 34)
    ''i'^ CLASSES OF PROSTITUTES, ( ^ much greater than many would be apt to imagine. man may by industry\perseverance,\and determination,\raise himself from (any rank of sodVy to another ,^y\but_ this is not the case with a V(woman who forsakes the path of viHue^and prostitutes^her body r to? the love of ^ain.'i The general law in regard to them appeare to be, like that of gravitation, always pressing downwards. ( Pros- titutesj&iewly enlisted always receive the highest honours^ for, in the mosl respectable houses especially, faces often seen become stale, and the (clebauchees who frequent them must either have a change or they desert the houses^) This puts the keeper constantly on the alert; and^f a girl is know^o have lately joined the ranks, (every efFor^ is ^ad^ to (secure her^s a boarder a^d lodger^by Iv holding out to Her the brightest prospects) whicli^^uch a life can |f afford?) It is almost unnecessary to observe, tFat these prospects are never realized. The(mannef)in which^iese girl^are(deceivedj and the(brutal -and;^ disgraceful treatmentVhich( they)often, receive, will be afterwards particularly adverted to. Suffice it in the mean time to observe, that ^aenever they are turned ou^ ^ey descend a ste^^; {and so on,^iH they sink into the lowest state of degrada- tion]|nto which it is possible for a human being to fall^ By this it is not meant absolutely to affirm, that no one ever rises from the meanest grades of prostitutes to the highest, and that none who commence their career in the High Street, do ever rise to a more exalted station. The force of circumstances is such as always to depress rather than elevate them. Some do overcome this pressure of circumstances, and find their way into a more respectable sphere. These, however, must be looked upon as exceptions to the general law by which the fate of prostitutes is regulated; and (if any do advance themselves,'(it is found to be owing to some unusual state ofj^nental power)and(jictivity; vvliich ^ery few|prostitutes'are fortunate enough to possess.; Some, again, are so endowed by nature, that the idea of de- scending from a high to a lower class wounds their feelings to such a degree, that they make a bold and strenuous (effijrt to re- turn to a more virtuous..life.^ ^If)they are(iuisuccessful)in accom- plishing their wishes/Inany of tlicm make a suicidal attempt upon their lives, or(cliange their place of abodc^for some/distantj;itj''