Sodom alias London by Editor

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Jul 23, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 28.

Sodom alias London.

By Editor

THE most astounding disclosures of wickedness in high places in London are being made by the Pall Mall Gazette. The nature of these disclosures, and the vast amount of iniquity revealed amongst “the upper classes” are appalling, and far beyond the conception of any who has not read them. Of course it has produced a sensation, for “Honorable” and titled villains are so accurately described in connection with their lecheries that they are readily recognized. Newsdealers and boys in large numbers have been arrested for selling the paper; and many more seem interested in stopping the hideous revelations than in stopping the abominable practices. It is a well-established fact that an active market is sustained in girls from thirteen to seventeen years of age, often drugged and taken to the houses of the dealers, and some of the rich and honorable purchasers are very fastidious—none are accepted unless accompanied by a doctor’s certificate that they are innocent girls! These certificates are obtained in the house of the procuress. The following is from the notes of an interviewer:—

“A well-known member of Parliament being interviewed by a commissioner, laughed heartily. When asked what he knew or surmised concerning the traffic in young girls, he said: ‘It is true maids are obtained at so much a head. I myself have procured a hundred at £25 each. The girls knew what they were doing and it is nonsense to call it rape. They know their purity is a realizable asset and they are not slow to set a price upon it.’”

One of the law-makers “laughs heartily” over the horrible facts produced! The following extract from a report of an interview with a dealer will give an idea of what is going on in the metropolis of the chief “Christian nation” of the earth:—

“The price has perhaps fallen, but the loss resulting from this is more than made up by the increased demand. For instance, Dr. ———, who used to take a girl weekly at £10, now takes three in a fortnight at prices ranging from £5 to £7 each.”

“What,” exclaimed the reporter, ‘take seventy innocent girls yearly?’

“Certainly,” replied Mme. X, ‘he would take 100 if procurable, but,’ she continued, ‘he is so very particular, we cannot supply him. He will not touch shop-girls and then, too, all must be over sixteen, because of the law in regard to abduction. I am careful enough to keep within the pale of the law,’ said the Madame.”

If Sodom was worse than this, what could it have been?