Page:Wrong and Right Methods of Dealing with Social Evil - Elizabeth Blackwell (1883).djvu/41

Rh every woman—for the intelligent honesty with which he has collected these facts; also to Earl Granville for choosing this capable investigator, when a former agent sent over from Scotland Yard had been completely hoodwinked. Leaving, therefore, the hideous details in this Blue Book as a lasting testimony to the social corruption produced by legally regulated prostitution, the statement only will here be given in the calm official language used by Mr. Snagge, of the results of the investigations he was desired by the British Government to make. They are contained in the three following answers:

Answer 1. I find it to be established as a fact beyond all doubt that for many years a trade or traffic has been carried on, whereby a very large number of English girls—many, if not most of them, under the age of 21 years—have been enlisted to become inmates of brothels in Continental cities in consideration of fees or "commissions" paid by the keepers of the houses to the persons procuring the girls.

Answer 2. I find that fraud was frequently and successfully practiced; that girls under age were easily enrolled; that in the case of English girls, false certificates of birth were the rule rather than the exception, and that the girls entered upon a life, presently to be described, to which they were almost irretrievably committed before they could possibly become aware of its true nature and condition. I