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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    the roof of a public brothel may for a time shelter and encourage Its growth, it must sink and wither immediately on exposure. (JIusbands or Fancy Men of Brothel-KeepersX^itrQ are few <1 brothel-keepers that have not husbands^(^;oo7^men) (or fancy I nlen.^ By a (spoony man)is to be understood(an individual who supports one of these women,)oXgrants her pecuniary^^ssistance when sloe requires it; and (a/fancy maip is an individual who is ^ither partially o\ wholly^ supported bj one of these abandoned womerK) For^e/latter^hey_ha\'e, in general, a great respect and affection.) Whey 1^^ however,^o affection for the former, and respect them only for the money a;nd attention which they receive from them. It is the(spoony men)wlLO generally(set them up in business)(take furnished apartments for themXbecome secu- rity for the payment of their rent,) and who generally belong to th^vealthier classes of society) whjle the (fancy men ^are always thefobjects of their own choice^^nn general; poor,; and. often belong , ' to tli^ students of law or medicine.; The lower, classes of^rothel-' keepersAhave seldom spoony men; but(aJr;of them Lave fancy menjVwio generally^'Cserve as bullies to the establishment. The office o^bully)is to fettle all disputes by physical force which occur between the girls and their lovers]) It appears from the work of Duchatelet on the prostitution in'rParis,)and that of Dr Ryan on the prostitution in(Xondony that bullies are'mucli more common, \and of a more^Jmnidable caste) in botli these cities,^han in Edinburgh;^fe'''!Bullies in London are represented as ^^^ost desperate characters,j and ard^ady to commit any crime,J) however atrocious; and ai-e said tor' spend the day in public houses,Aand the/'night)in(1)rothe]s) in Avliich they always assist in robbing and onen m murdering their victims. It is farther affirmed, that there is an aqueduct of large dimensions, near Fleet-ditch, into which murdered bodies are precipitated by bul- lies, and discharged at a considerable distance into the Thames, without the slightest chance of discovery. (In Edinburgh, nothing of this kind is known to be carried on; and it i^only in the lowest honses,\which are dens of thieves^^hat the bullies are ■ known to show themselves^^