Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-12-06
FALLEN WOMEN.
FaIIacy of Popular Ideas OF the so-
I j ciai EvfI--A Practicai View.
I.c,,, ~ Mc.l;oal a azetfcf T..

| From the Medical Gazette.l .A'
In reply to a sentimental rhapsody,
| founded upon the issue of the recent
baby-farming case in London, calling
| for the enactment of stringent laws
against the male seducers whose wiles
are held responsible for all, or nearly all,
| the baby-farming, infanticide and prosti-
| tuition that exist in the world-just such
an argument as is repeated week after
week in organs Of female opinion here
"a Correspondent Of the Medical Press
and Circular advances opposite facts,
which are so entirely in accordance with
the views we have heretofore expressed,
that we are tempted to quote them at
some length as guide to reformers on
this side of the water. Speaking of the
| theory that every town or country VII
lage is morally desolated by its conven-
tional aristocratic seducer, who glories
in the ruin Of numerous deserted vic
tins, the writer says
| No doubt, to great extent, this is the
popular view-this looks very like what
might be the case: but, unfortunately
for the denouncers of " the squire who is
ever on the q,ii pice," the theory is but
theory. and exists, with but few excep-
tons, only in the excited imaginations
of old ladies, good-natured clergy, and
some like your frothy correspondent. who
hastily have recourse to anathematlzing
an imaginary monster, Let us view the
subject camly and practically. AS |
have been connected with an institution
which admits many hundreds, Of these
victims" annually, may claim some
attention, and avert from our seq some
of the execrations that have been invoked
on the hero, "who is fawned on by his
friends, and enthusiastically received
into society with open arms" so says
your correspondent, comforting certainly
not very graceful compliment on his
neighbors, or the country which supports
him.
The practical fact is, that the chief
seducers are women and dress-woman
is still the Eve, even of her own sex. 1t
may seem very hard to say so-and may
seem very contrary to all her attributes
of kindness and solicitude, but such is
the fact, and such can be proved beyond
question in very numerous instances.
The tale is often repeated, | might say
in nine cases ont Of twelve. A girl liv
ing at home with her family, or earning
her Abroad honestly, though perhaps
hardly, meets with female companion,
perhaps by chance, perhaps in the course
of her business or trade; this compan-
ion has herself fallen; directly she sets
to undermine the happiness of her
friend; she instils the poison, shows her
that her trade or her business is too
hard, that confinement is irksome, and
that she may easily escape it. lncredi-
BILE as it may appear, she often makes
the preliminary arrangement for her de-
struction, and lures her hitherto virtuous
companion to place of preconcerted
meeting, or to some concourse where
she will be sure to fall; nay, more, she
will share the spoil of the ruin.
This is the great cause of the fall Of
many young servants and work girls, es-
pecially where congregated together;
one or two black sheep will do incalcula-
BILE mischief, and each fresh victim who
falls becomes in turn seducer, and that
Of the most dangerous and insiduous
character. No doubt the man is the in
strument, and those are easily to be
found who are but too prone TO indulge
their licentious habits. While | join in
reprobatng, / must absolye him from
the more detestable crime Of silently
and assduously undermining the moral
difficulties in the unhappy creatures who
fall Evil communications corrupt
good manners" and young girl once
fallen, as may long be undetected,
becomes one of the most subtle elements
in the destruction of her sex.
Again, it is by no means unusual, and
admitted by many who have fallen, that
they have left home and deliberately
went on the town proprio rsotu, some
times from the influence of recklessness;
sometimes, and not unfrequently, from
their homes being rendered unhappy by
a stepmother or from some domestic
difference they determine upon this
course. .t.fli l9i ia N
The love of dress is most powerful
influence, which the present fashion
seems specially TO favor, from its style, |
aud from the opportunities afforded ofl
showing off the natural endowments of
hair, good figure, good feet, etc. !; the fa-
cility for initiating and appearing the
lady offers great and irresistible at
fractions. .''
Let us take another source of destruc-
ton, where women is still the instrument
such cases as these actually have come
within ay knowledge during the last few
months. A virtuous country girl, living
at home, is induced by a neighboring,
and perhaps undetected, girl to rob her
father of his savings Of el0 and fl2 to
60 to America. They proceed to Dub
lin; the inducer brings the innocent girl
to lodging-house, which turns out to be
of doubtful character; she takes care
of the stolen sum; they go to bed-but
by morning the indueer has disappeared,
taking her victims money, and even her
clothes. Her fall is soon secured by the
inmates, her own sex. She becomes a
mother, and is logged for life,
| Another young girl of seventeen robs
her father of ESQ; her inducer, girl, |
accompanies her to Liverpool, takes the
money to secure their passage and berths |
to America, tells the as yet innocent vic
tim TO wait for her IN the street, where,
Of course, shs is left-penniless, friend |
less and yictimized, She cannot return |
home-and falls. tf.t - -
Here, the seducer man, was not pres |
ent TO exercise his qui vive; woman sac |
rifced one Of her own sex for her selfish
purposes. r -uI
Let us take examples Of another kind, |
where the greatest and most affectionate |
efforts have been made 10 prevent or re-
claim this unhappy tendency.
A young girl Of seventeen was taken |
back by her parents, well-to-do people,
who found her on the town; fearing her
again returning. till suitable arrange
ments were made they looked her in her !
bedroom without any clothing but her
chemise, nevertheless she escaped in this |
condition out Of the window, and, with
few shillings she had secreted, got dress
sufficient in a neighboring dealers as
enabled her 20 return TO her associates. \
Another girl, daughter Of respectable
people, was induced 10 20 home. She
was allowed no money, In the hope that
she might remain; but she escaped, and
sold her hair to fashionable hairdresser
for such price as enabled her TO refit
and launch out again.
4 Haro there was no seducers nor indupn-