in darkest england and the way out-第16章
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There is no need for me to go into the details of the way in which men and women； whose whole livelihood depends upon their success in disarming the suspicions of their victims and luring them to their doom； contrive to overcome the reluctance of the young girl without parents； friends； or helpers to enter their toils。 What fraud fails to accomplish； a little force succeeds in effecting； and a girl who has been guilty of nothing but imprudence finds herself an outcast for life。 The very innocence of a girl tells against her。 A woman of the world； once entrapped； would have all her wits about her to extricate herself from the position in which she found herself。 A perfectly virtuous girl is often so overcome with shame and horror that there seems nothing in life worth struggling for。 She accepts her doom without further struggle； and treads the long and torturing path…way of 〃the streets〃 to the grave。
〃Judge not； that ye be not judged〃 is a saying that applies most appropriately of all to these unfortunates。 Many of them would have escaped their evil fate had they been less innocent。 They are where they are because they loved too utterly to calculate consequences； and trusted too absolutely to dare to suspect evil。 And others are there because of the false education which confounds ignorance with virtue； and throws our young people into the midst of a great city； with all its excitements and all its temptations； without more preparation or warning than if they were going to live in the Garden of Eden。
Whatever sin they have committed； a terrible penalty is exacted。 While the man who caused their ruin passes as a respectable member of society； to whom virtuous matrons gladly marryif he is rich their maiden daughters； they are crushed beneath the millstone of social excommunication。 Here let me quote from a report made to me by the head of our Rescue Homes as to the actual life of these unfortunates。
The following hundred cases are taken as they come from our Rescue Register。 The statements are those of the girls themselves。 They are certainly frank； and it will be noticed that only two out of the hundred allege that they took to the life out of poverty：
CAUSE OF FALL。
Drink 。。 。。 。。 14 Seduction 。。 。。 33 Wilful choice 。。 。。 24 Bad company 。。 。。 27 Poverty 。。 。。 。。 2 Total 100
CONDITION WHEN APPLYING。
Rags。。 。。 。。 25 Destitution 。。 27 Decently dressed 48 Total 100
Out of these girls twenty…three have been in prison。 The girls suffer so much that the shortness of their miserable life is the only redeeming feature。 Whether we look at the wretchedness of the life itself； their perpetual intoxication； the cruel treatment to which they are subjected by their task…masters and mistresses or bullies； the hopelessness； suffering and despair induced by their circumstances and surroundings； the depths of misery； degradation and poverty to which they eventually descend； or their treatment in sickness； their friendlessness and loneliness in death； it must be admitted that a more dismal lot seldom falls to the fate of a human being。 I will take each of these in turn。
HEALTH。This life induces insanity； rheumatism； consumption； and all forms of syphilis。 Rheumatism and gout are the commonest of these evils。 Some were quite crippled by bothyoung though they were。 Consumption sows its seeds broadcast。 The life is a hot…bed for the development of any constitutional and hereditary germs of the disease。 We have found girls in Piccadilly at midnight who are continually prostrated by haemorrhage； yet who have no other way of life open； so struggle on in this awful manner between whiles。
DRINK。This is an inevitable part of the business。 All Confess that they could never lead their miserable lives if it were not for its influence。
A girl； who was educated at college； and who had a home in which was every comfort； but who； when ruined； had fallen even to the depth of Woolwich 〃Dusthole；〃 exclaimed to us indignantly〃Do you think I could ever； ever do this if it weren't for the drink？ I always have to be in drink if I want to sin。〃 No girl has ever come into our Homes front street…life but has been more or less a prey to drink。
CRUEL TREATMENT。The devotion of these women to their bullies is as remarkable as the brutality of their bullies is abominable。 Probably the primary cause of the fall of numberless girls of the lower class； is their great aspiration to the dignity of wifehood；they are never 〃somebody〃 until they are married； and will link themselves to any creature； no matter how debased； in the hope of being ultimately married by him。 This consideration； in addition to their helpless condition when once character has gone； makes them suffer cruelties which they would never otherwise endure from the men with whom large numbers of them live。
One case in illustration of this is that of a girl who was once a respectable servant； the daughter of a police sergeant。 She was ruined； and shame led her to leave home。 At length she drifted to Woolwich； where she came across a man who persuaded her to live with him； and for a considerable length of time she kept him； although his conduct to her was brutal in the extreme。
The girl living in the next room to her has frequently heard him knock her head against the wall； and pound it； when he was out of temper； through her gains of prostitution being less than usual。 He lavished upon her every sort of cruelty and abuse； and at length she grew so wretched； and was reduced to so dreadful a plight； that she ceased to attract。 At this he became furious； and pawned all her clothing but one thin garment of rags。 The week before her first confinement he kicked her black and blue from neck to knees； and she was carried to the police station in a pool of blood； but； she was so loyal to the wretch that she refused to appear against him。
She was going to drown herself in desperation； when our Rescue Officers spoke to her； wrapped their own shawl around her shivering shoulders； took her home with them； and cared for her。 The baby was born dead a tiny； shapeless mass。 This state of things is all too common。
HOPELESSNESSSURROUNDINGS。The state of hopelessness and despair in which these girls live continually； makes them reckless of consequences； and large numbers commit suicide who are never heard of。 A West End policeman assured us that the number of prostitute…suicides was terribly in advance of anything guessed at by the public。
DEPTHS TO WHICH THEY SINK。There is Scarcely a lower class of girls to be found than the girls of Woolwich 〃Dusthole〃where one of our Rescue Slum Homes is established。 The women living and following their dreadful business in this neighbourhood are so degraded that even abandoned men will refuse to accompany them home。 Soldiers are forbidden to enter the place； or to go down the street； on pain of twenty…five days' imprisonment； pickets are stationed at either end to prevent this。 The streets are much cleaner than many of the rooms we have seen。
One public house there is shut up three or four times in a day sometimes for fear of losing the licence through the terrible brawls which take place within。 A policeman never goes down this street alone at nightone having died not long ago from injuries received there but our two lasses go unharmed and loved at all hours； spending every other night always upon the streets。
The girls sink to the 〃Dusthole〃 after coming down several grades。 There is but one on record who came there with beautiful clothes； and this poor girl； when last seen by the officers； was a pauper in the workhouse infirmary in a wretched condition。 The lowest class of all is the girls who stand at the pier…headthese sell themselves literally for a bare crust of bread and sleep in the streets。 Filth and vermin abound to an extent to which no one who has not seen it can have any idea。 The 〃Dusthole〃 is only one； alas of many similar districts in this highly civilised land。
SICKNESS； FRIENDLESSNESSDEATH。In hospitals it is a known fact that these girls are not treate
