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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    rA and(unscttled)in their disposition^ being(al\vays in search of hap- piness withoutfinding itjthat long detention in any one place by persuasion or otherwise/is found to be next to impossible. I Like pampered and spoiled children^^hey must have their own way;^' and(any attempt to thwart or 'contradict them^; is sure to rouse their indignation)and(drive them from the house) ^SC^ this ^^0^^ method of retaining theni)^iich brothel-keepers Im^e adopted^ every girl who is in a passion would leave them without a mo- ment's warning or consideration. But^^lthough necessity may have so far suggested these extraordinary means of detaining girls in their serviceAthere can be no doubt but that the greater part of brothel-keepers do it from a lamentable want of the principle of justice,\and!^vith a desire to appropriate to themselves the whole prints of the establishment. ^irls frequ)ently(go to these houses^fter having been kept for some time by gentleme^^n private lodgings,\^'ith an excellent wardrobe, and leave them in a few weeks without being able to ^ carry a single article of dress along with themj) The following ' case of this description came under the author's observation some tmie ago iss had been seduced by an officer in aV^ regiment of root, which had been quartered for some time in Glasgow, and at his desire had followed him to Edinburgh, where she was afterwards kept by him for six months, and received every mark of kindness and attention. Most unexpectedly about this time he feigned a quarrel with her, for the purpose of throwing her off, and made great professions of religion as the grand mo- tive by Mdiich he was actuated, although it was afterwards learned that he had taken a fancy for another young woman whom he had already in lodgings. Being a stranger in Edinburgh, and ashamed to return to her friends, she was in some measure forced to betake herself to the streety^and_was,\by means of a washcrwomixn,\^ ]jer- sujclcg^to^goToj^certain house where she would soonjnake a for- tune]\^he actedaccording to her advice, and took along with her several trunks, containing costly and substantial dresses.\ AbouAwo weeks after entering her new lodgings,)jshe found thaf she had contracted a contagions disease,(under which she sufTered for six wceks^ This long cotirsc of sickness and suffering caused