19Th Century Prostitutes

[RichardB]

Helping stranded motorists with cat-litter; roasting a chicken and searching t'Internet for 19th Century prostitutes, what a strange day.

Succeeded in two out of the three ...

[RichardB]

Ah, fieldwork, that old chestnut ...

With regard to the number of prostitutes taken separately, it is the highest in the commercial ports, and lowest in the seats of hardware manufactures.

The former branch of this statement is consistent with common knowledge; but the latter presents so much difficulty, that it must be considered very fortunate that the Social Science Congress meets this year at Sheffield, where the connection between knife grinding and virtue may be most conveniently investigated and where every facility will doubtless be afforded for any excursions into the neighbourhood which may be considered necessary for the elucidation of this subject.

1865

Statistical Society of Great Britain

[RichardB]

1835

Multitudes of young women are driven to prostitution or to death by the unendurable curse and privation of passing the best part of the twenty four hours in the vain labour of endeavouring to earn enough to sustain existence by the needle.

There is reason to believe the waste of human life in these half paid employmentsf is only exceeded by the destruction of the grinders in Sheffield.

[RichardB]

1843 Juvenile Depravity

it is stated by all classes of witnesses that

"the most revolting feature of juvenile depravity in this town is early contamination from the association of the sexes";

that "juvenile prostitution is exceedingly common"

and that this is proved not only by

"the language of the Children, even in the open streets which is often most disgusting"

but,

"by the numerous instances of solitary companionship of Children of opposite sex, which every one must encounter who walks out in an evening".

"The outskirts of the town"

says one of the clergymen "are absolutely polluted by this abomination; nor is the veil of darkness nor seclusion always sought by these degraded beings. Too often they are to be met in small parties, who appear to associate for the purpose of promiscuous intercourse, their ages being apparently about fourteen or fifteen".

"The evidence"

says the Sub Commissioner "might have been doubled which attests the early commencement of sexual and promiscuous intercourse among boys and girls".