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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    and threats together, that they are sure ultimately to attain their object. (The only -way to ensure escape, is to pass them without any notice ;}and, shouldjt]iey_sj).eal{^ to/return them no answer/) Whenever a man speaks, he is half pledged to accompany them ,to their lodging or a tavern ; indeed, he is no longer able to act according to his own will, being generally surrounded by three or more the moment he begins to manifest the least disinclination, when, by pressing and pulling, they usually manage to empty his pockets of every farthing of money he may happen to have in his possession. As^ioney is their sole object^they soon let their victim take his OAvn will after they have obtamed it; and as the (unconscious dup^ imagines his^ sole__safeiy,.depends .i]a^fiig]it,\jie runs from the spot, proud at having obtained his libertj'-,'^ when to his mortification, and too late to regain his lost property, he makes the astonishing discovf^i:^ tliat Tie lias Tjeen^bbed.) Those belonging to the present division of prostitutes who have (^t one time\been in the more respectable houses,j|very soon become ^dissipated and ill-dressed) and/if in a short time they do not [.terminate their miserable existencCj^hey become so much altered « in appearance, that no one who formerly knew them would be . able to recognise them!^ It is somewhat(SifFe^nt with(thoseyho have(never been any high errand who have been grained from childhood to a life of prostitution?) When newly merged into womanhood, many of the latter class become very blooming and florid in their complexion, and remarkably tidy in their dress. Most of them go bareheaded, and display great taste in the man- ner they arrange and ornament their hair. These are a most(dan- gerous class of prostitutes^as thcir(clean and healthy-like appear- ance is apt to attract thoyightless young trades lads into their company \ and all of them being expert swindlers\^they are sure to rob every one who ventures to associate with them.^ They often take up with common thieves and strolling players or musi- cians, and accompany them from place to place, and sooner or later commit some crime, for which they receive banishment. It is very easy for one who. carefully watches all their movements, to know when they have been stealing to a considerable amount. On a sudden, two or more of them who have shared the booty /