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The Maiden Tribute of Babylon: Part Two

© Viola Ashford

The publication of the articles created a scandal in England. The middle classes, especially the women, were shocked that this trade was going on although it seemed to have been a fairly well-known secret. Josephine Butler had been lobbying for the age of consent to be changed from 12 to 16 for years without much luck. She also wanted the Contagious Diseases Acts repealed. Under these nasty laws girls on the streets, some of whom were not prostitutes at all, could be examined for venereal diseases. Men who visited the brothels or went to bed with these girls were not punished at all.

Stead wrote these articles mostly because of Josephine Butler's determination to do something about these laws but his trickery caused him to be regarded as controversial. Eliza Armstrong really did think that she was in danger because Rebecca Jarrett had drugged her by using chloroform and she woke up to find a strange man (Stead) holding a glass of champagne and a cigar. Rebecca was Josephine Butler's housemaid.

Probably it was very difficult to bring the situation to the attention of the public without resorting to some trickery and sensationalism but many people turned completely against Stead and the punishment meted out to him was vindictive. He was sent to jail for three months. Rebecca Jarrett was also sent to jail.

George Bernard Shaw was especially critical. He wrote that: "We backed him over the Maiden Tribute only to discover that the Eliza Armstrong case was a put-up job of his. After that, it was clear that he was a man who would not work with anybody; and nobody would work with him."

Stead's career was not as illustrious after this - he edited the Review of Reviews - and became very interested in spiritualism. He died on the Titanic.

The age of consent was changed from 12 to 16 mostly because of the articles. The repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, however, didn't occur until 1886 and owed much to James Stanfield, a parliamentarian who strongly supported them.

Opinions about W.T. Stead's sensational journalism remain divided. But he brought the attention of a significant flaw in society to the public and his articles made people of importance take notice. Unfortunately it can be argued that sensational journalism may still be the best way in which to capture the public's attention when society requires change. There is no doubt that W.T. Stead was perhaps the first truly modern journalist.