ABSTRACT
Basll,ltwoman', ReYIIW,] ... , l$,b, .11., Review,. 205
brid~e. It contains the record of the mission undertaken by himself and by Mrs. George Butler to the Continent, to inquire into the various Government systems for the state regulations of vice. This journey has resulted in the International Federation. 'fhe system in France and Italy more especially, is demoralizing the very core of society, but tliere are not wanting noble men and women in both countries to protest against' it. One instance of the encouragement given by the government of Italy to vice, will suffice. By an order dated 1860, any prostitute who shall present a certificate proving that she has deposited a sum in the savings bank, receives a premium in monel" equal to a twentieth of the amount slie has paid in. There is now a widespread .association in Italy embracing every town of
importa~ce, and counting among its members many deputies to Parliament, and women of the hi~hest rank, as well as delegates from alI the working men s societies. In France the evil is so wide-spread, that a meeting of working men against the govemment regulations was deprecated as too dangerouH, as out of every 100 men, 30 or more had a daughter or sister in St. Lazare or other government prisons. Thoughtful and religious people in France have largely joined the association in order to combat this growing evil. In Germany, petitions have been presented to the Reichstag by the Inner )fission ot the Evangelical Church, against the extension of the present system. In Switzerland, where as yet it prevails only in two or three cantons, amongst which Geneva has' a fearful pre-eminence, fatal to its reputation as an University city, the very centre of the Federation exists. It is supported by well-known thinkers and workers, M. Loyson (Pere flyacinthe), Pastor Borel, l\f. Aima Humbert, M •. BuM, President of the Society' cle l'Utilite. Publique, and others. The
206 Review •• [ Eoglllhwoman" n~"le ... Ma, 15tb, 1876. objects of the Federation are to combat the increasing immorality of'the age, to prevent the State from tolerating or supporting vice, aud to open refuges for young girls, giving earnest attention to the question of hOliest industries for them, and the raising of women's wages. On all this work the book gives careful and valuable information.
