Worcester daily spy., 1861-11-07

New Publications.
"WoMAN's RIGHTs UNDER THE LAW In
THREE LECTURES, DELIVERED IN Boston
JANUARY 1861, by CAROLINE II. DALI. Bos-
TON WALKER, WISE, & Co. PIP. l64. This
volume continues the discussion OF the "wo-
man" question, if we may use term, with all
due respect, which will at once give our mean
ing. Mrs. Dali has considered "wOmans
right to labor" in previous work, which was
fayorably noticed by us at the time Of its pub
lication, and which las now had Il wide circu-
lation. What woman's rights are "under the
law" was an inquiry which must have met
Mrs d. at every turn, aud which she could
not avoid considering. We are glad she has
given to us in this book all that her indefatig-
able industry and rare opportunities enabled
her to learn. We welcome the book for its
large information and because it is a woman's
view Of Subjects which very nearly concern
her sex. but which few women have written
upon also because it will help in keeping the
attention of thoughtful minds to the great de-
bate in which it takes its needed place. Mrs.
D., however, wisely objects to the generally
received idea that it has special significance
and interest from its relations 10 woman, as if
it were one which had anything to do with
sex. 1t certainly has not. Human wit can
never separate what God has joined together.
The "twain" are one and whatever touches
either has a common interest which eXalls it
from partial to one Of general concern. In
her first lecture Mrs. Dali treats of The "orien-
tai estimate" ard the "French law" Tho lat
ter topic has an American interest as well as
general one, inasmuch as this law has rule
10 some extent in Louisiana and Canada Be-
sides, the "Code Napoleon governs lar be-
yond The limits OF France, and lis practical
workings in any direction can never be unim-
portant. What it does for woman may be
found N this lecture, accompanied with gener-
al statements, showing the pursuits open and
the rates of compensation paid to her in
France. The second lecture is on the ENG
nlsd States Law a and sd9g tgg Jbajg % P58h the e
man rights"
While we recognize the necessity Of making
known, widely as may be, what the "Com.
mon Law" teaches because OF the unqualified
praise it has generally received from the legal
profession, and, also because it now governs
lis where statutory laws have not interfcred
with it, yet its lessened value may be seen in
the fact that since 1850, in aiaeteen states laws
have been passed which have enlarged the
power Of married women over their own prop
erty, and in greater or less degree, lifted
them out of that state of dependence upon
the will or whim of the husband in which the
common law placed them. We know that such
changes have not always been wisely made.
We could tell OF cases where the pecuniary
temptation offered by th.m to widows has
been too strong to be restrained by either a
sense of justice, Or the claims Of affection ; but
we have yet 10 lealn that these unpleasant
exhibitions are much worse in woman than in
man. We haye yet to see the good cause
which in its onward course has not suffered by
indiscreet laws, or wicked agencies but they
can no more blind us as to the movement
which they retard, than the spots ON the sun
can prevent us from seeing and feeling its life
giving beams. The general sweep of these
laws has been towards emancipation, and we
have no tears that any well considered step in
that direction will ever be retraced.
Mrs. d.. we think, overrates the value of
the right to vote Be that as it may as a
practical question it is too far distant to de
serve now the prominence she gives to it.
We think she has indicated in this, and also
IN her other books, far more potential agencies
for the uplifting of her sex. SO far as her
noble words shall lead or have led any women
TO win through labor pecunary independence
and a fuller development of her whole being;
or, by combination OF capital and business
capacity, may lead them to engage in mann
featuring on large scale; or enlarge the
sphere OF woman's honorable activities in any
direction, she has done and will be doing the
work that seems now nearest our hands.
That done, we may safely leave the men and
women of that day to determine the next step
toward woman's final Acknowledgement In
this volume she has spoken well on the wicked
distinction made by society-by woman quite
as much as by man-between the seducer aud
seduced; and, also, on woman's right to find
''AH IA i'io PiOPNl PloSS de utE COuHSellOT
and friend" " for which she deserves the thanks
OF every rght.minded woman She has done
good service, too, in bringing to our remem-
brance SO many women, who, by their brave
ry, ability and greatness have done honor to
our common nature. Ii she had only pre-
served the testimony Of such thinker as
John stuart Mill to one such woman, and that
woman his wife, her book would not have been
prepared in vain. One sentence of that testi.
mony we copy :-"Were but capable of in
terpreting to the world one half the preot
thoughts and noble feelings which are buried
in her grave, l should be the medium of =
greater benefit to it than is ever likely 10
arise from anything that l can write. un.
prompted and unassisted by her all but unri
vailed wisdom"
We commend this little book to independent
thinkers. 1t has facts not easily found else.
where, and is an additional evidence of the
marked industry, ability, courage, and con.
scientiousness OF its author
CECIL DREEME, by Theodore Winthrop,
published by Ticknor & Fields, is story of
great interest, brilliantly written Major Win.