A Forgotten Crusader

In 1875, the age of consent in England was raised to thirteen. Any girl of that age could legally consent to her own seduction. Before that, it had been twelve. A poor girl who survived to her teens might fetch $100. A middle-class girl of the same age might cost $500. An upper-class child, provided she were beautiful and refined and not more than twelve, might sell for $2,500, since this last involved outright kidnapping.

Some infants were raised for exclusively lewd purposes, but most of the girls were procured by deceit. They would come up from the country in answer to an ad for a serving maid or a children’s nurse. During the interview, the door would be slammed on them and bolted, and that was that. Others, standing confused in the railroad station, would be met by a motherly type who would invite them home for a cup of tea. One procuress roved the stations and parks in the garb of a nun. Others posed as theatrical booking agents. Still others offered to teach dressmaking.

RG

About the Author

Rev. Richard Ginder

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In 1875, the age of consent in England was raised to thirteen. Any girl of that age could legally consent to her own seduction. Before that, it had been twelve. A poor girl who survived to her teens might fetch $100. A middle-class girl of the same age might cost $500. An upper-class child, provided she were beautiful and refined and not more than twelve, might sell for $2,500, since this last involved outright kidnapping.

Some infants were raised for exclusively lewd purposes, but most of the girls were procured by deceit. They would come up from the country in answer to an ad for a serving maid or a children’s nurse. During the interview, the door would be slammed on them and bolted, and that was that. Others, standing confused in the railroad station, would be met by a motherly type who would invite them home for a cup of tea. One procuress roved the stations and parks in the garb of a nun. Others posed as theatrical booking agents. Still others offered to teach dressmaking.