Part 11 (1/2)

A person desiring to have her name struck from the rolls of public women must make a written application, specifying her reasons for desiring to change her mode of life, and indicating the means of support on which she is henceforth to rely. In three cases the demand is granted forthwith: 1st. When the girl _proves_ that she is about to marry; 2d. When she produces the certificate of a physician that she is attacked by an organic disease which renders it impossible for her to continue the calling of a prost.i.tute; and, 3d. When she has gone to live with her relations, and produces evidence of her late good behavior.

In all other cases the office awards a ”provisional radiation.” For a period of time, which varies, according to circ.u.mstances, from three months to a year, the girl is still under the supervision of the police, such supervision being obviously secret and discreet. When the girl pa.s.ses triumphantly through this period of probation, her name is definitely struck from the roll of prost.i.tutes.

When a girl, after having her name thus struck out, desires to be inscribed afresh, her request is granted without delay or inquiry, it being wisely supposed that she has repented of her decision. A re-inscription also takes place when a girl, after radiation, is found in a house of prost.i.tution even as a servant.

A prost.i.tute is struck from the rolls by authority of the office when she has disappeared, and no trace of her has been found for three months.

M. Parent-Duchatelet gives the following table of radiations, which, taken in connection with the table already given of the number of prost.i.tutes registered, shows the movement of reform:

+------------------------------------------+

Women struck off the Rolls of

Prost.i.tutes

Years.

-----------------------------------

At their

In consequence

own request.

of absence.

Total.

------

------------

--------------

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1817

485

575

1060

1818

477

582

1059

1819

469

571

1040

1820

415

716

1131

1821

433

733

1166

1822

417

739

1156

1823

502

605

1107

1824

442

602

1044

1825

456

527

983

1826

486

554

1040

1827

490

542

1032

1828

572

415

987

1829

298