In Conclusion. 213 



that basis and keeping clearly in view that so it has 

 been all through, we can at least more readily under- 

 stand how the result of a traditional and inherited 

 moral sentiment all too deadened and dormant, should 

 serve to take the edge off the feeling of shame and blunt 

 the sense of honour in the sex amongst whom chastity 

 is properly deemed the crown of all the virtues. Born 

 into and nurtured from childhood in a pervasive social 

 atmosphere of this sort it becomes readily intelligible 

 how women whose characters otherwise one would be 

 sorry to impugn in the least barely realise it as any 

 permanent stain on their womanhood to have been the 

 mother of a bastard. And here, doubtless, we touch 

 the most formidable phase of a species of immorality 

 that has gained for the common people of these regions 

 an unenviable notoriety. We need not contrast it with 

 the measure of the like vice as it exists among the 

 classes where purity in one sex is demanded and valued ; 

 and, indeed, such contrast or comparison cannot be 

 made. Only this much may be said with truth that 

 while the women who sadly fail in virgin modesty 

 ordinarily prove true and faithful wives when married, 

 even the men who join with them in wedlock do also 

 as a rule act with conjugal fidelity thereafter. With 

 them the vice as it exists is gross and open ; we see it 

 in its full extent, and may know its limits ; and in this 

 way the common people of the rural community probably 

 suffer some considerable injustice when their sins in this 

 respect are sought to be contrasted with those of certain 

 other classes more highly civilised it may be, and enjoy- 

 ing far greater social advantages. 



Generally viewed then the life of last century, in so 

 far as it has come under our notice, cannot be regarded 

 as strongly typical of the " good old times." Confining 

 our retrospect to that period we should certainly be 

 compelled to say 



Those times were never 



Airy visions sat for the picture. 



