The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-10 00:00:00

THE MARRIED WOMEN'S PROPERTY BILL.

On tho motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. H. C. LOPES said he believed no measure had been
brought into the house in so plausible a manner as had
this bill by the hon. and learned member for Reading. He
thought the bill was of a very revolutionary character,
and would throw discord and distrust between husbands
and wives where harmony and concord now exist. Tho
hon. and learned member for Reading had said that, a bill
similar to this had been in use in the United States, but

he denied that there was a similarity between the cases
of the two countries. Ho denied that there was any
analogy between the law of settlement and the giving of
unconditional control over the property by the woman

immediately she married. He traced the liability
of the husband under the existing law, and ho
contended there was nothing either unjust or unfair
iu it. The law had worked satisfactorily for very
many years, and he appealed to the heads of families

if there was necessity for the introduction of such
a bill as this. He instanced the effect it would have on the
upper and lower or industrial classes. Among the upper
classes it would have no effect whatever, because a settlement
would still be made. Suppcising, for instance, a woman is ex-
travagant, and her husband is deeply attached to her, the
woman runs into debt, and according to this bill she is

liable to bo sued, and in case her husband does not pay the
debt, she is liable to be sent to prison. Would a man, so
deeply attached to his wife, allow his wife to be sent to
prison? Most decidedly not. He referred to the cases of
Mrs. Lyon and Mrs. Borradaile ; he said in any similar cases
in future great dissension would exist among the relations
of such people. Referring to the industrial classes he said
very frequently the women were married without having
anything in the world, and when they had to incur the
expenses for the u..ie of the household, did the hon. and
learned member intend that the wife should be taken into
custody? He concluded by moving that the bill be read
a second time time that day six months.
Mr. E. K. KA.RSLAKE opposed the bill for the same
reasons as had been advanced by the hon. member (Mr.
Lopes.) He criticised the various clauses of the bill, and
showed that there was not the slightest necessity for some
of them, and the others were quite inconsistent with the
professed objects of the bill.
Mr. HEADLA M supported the bill.

Mr. 0 L DNEY admitted the law ought to be remedied,
but he could not imagine there was the slightest necessity
for carrying the law to such an extreme as was contem-
plated by this bill. The grave thing he contended was
that it would establish an interest in the household entirely
so•arate from that of the husband.

Mr. POLLARD-URQUIIART instanced examples
where husbands had laid their hands on the property of
their wives, and had gone to the Continent and there
squandered it, and he thought such a law demanded some
alteration.

After some further discussion the house divided, when
lere appeared—

Ayes 123
Noes
The SPEAKER then gave his casting vote with the ayes.
Mr. LEFEVRE then moved that the bill be referred to
a select committee, which was agreed to.
BURIALS (IRELAND) BILL.
The house then went into committee on this bill, the
object of which was to enable Roman Catholics to be
buried in any parochial burial grounds on due notice being
given.

A division took place upon the main proposal of the
measure on the first clause, which was carried by
122 to 91. Another point that gave rise to some
discussion was the giving notice to the police when
a funeral opposed to the tenets of the Protestant
religion was proposed to take place in the burial ground
belonging to that Church. It was contended that no
danger need be entertained as to collisions taking place
when two funerals of different religions took place in the
same ground at the same hour, the result of which was
that amendments was not persisted in.
Sir H. BRUCE then took a general objection to the
bill on the ground that it allowed a Hindoo, or the
followers of any peculiar creed, to perform certain rites in
the burial ground of a Protestant church. The hon. mem-
ber was addressing the house at a quarter to six at which
hour the debate ceased in accordance with the standing

orders.
The Voters in Disfranchised Boroughs Bill passed
through committee.
The amendments on the Established Church (Ireland)
Bill were ordered to be taken into consideration on Friday
next.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of and
the house adjourned.

THE BLUSH OF A CUTTLE FISH.--Under the
influence of strong emotion the human face turns
Pale, or blushes ; in somo individuals it even becomes
blue. The cuttle fish does this, and more. Yielding to
the impressions of the moment, it suddenly changes
colour, passing through a variety of tints, and only resum-
i❑g its familiar hue when the cause of the change has
disappeared. It is, in fact, gifted with great sensibility,
which reacts immediately on its elastic tissues in a
most extraordinary and unlooked-for way. Under the in-
fluenco•of passion man is born to blush ; but under no sort
of excitement does he cover himself with pustules. The
cuttln-fish not
.only changes colour, but throws out an
eruption of littlo warts. "Observe," says D'Ozbigny, " a
poulpe in a pool of water. As it walks round its retreat,
it is smooth and very pale. Attempt to seize it, it quickl
assumes a deeper tint, and its body becomes covered
the instant with warts and hairs, which remain there un
its confidence is entirely restored.—Diokeas'd "Ali th
-Year licrtuid."