dirty cellars, drink and people who had no respect for themselves

epub or mobi

Gladstone was often found wandering around the darker environs of the West End. With almost reckless abandon he searched for young women to 'rescue', often asking them back to his house. It was estimated that Gladstone spent a minimum of £2,000 a year helping prostitutes and providing shelters for them. A fellow parliamentarian noted that Gladstone seemed to prefer the young and pretty prostitutes and wryly noted that he 'manages to combine his missionary meddling with a keen appreciation of a pretty face. He has never been known to rescue any of our East End whores, nor for that matter is it easy to contemplate his rescuing any ugly woman and I am quite sure his convention of the Magdalen is of incomparable example of pulchritude with a superb figure and carriage.'