The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-07-16
PETTICOATs AT THE BAR.

The other day, Mrs. Arabella Mans
field, a young lady OF "a, was admitted
to practice in the courts Of Iowa. We
are heartily glad of it, for we dare say
there are many functions ofa attorney
for which Mrs. Mansfield is admirably
qualified. There is no reason in the
world why the great bulk of what is
known as office work i'll the legal pIo-
fession should not be performed by wo-
men, and of course whatever enlarges
woman's opportunities of earning an
honest living, without detracting from
her natural position in society, must be
looked upon as benefit to the commu-
nitv at lai ge. Mrs. Mansfield's hus-
band was admitted to practice at the
same time; and we presume the pair
might make very efficient firm under
the title of s'Mansfield and Husband,' J.
or "Mansiieid and Wife, according to
circumstances. We do not recommend
them to open separate offices, be
cause they might happen to be en-
gagged in opposite sides OF the same
canse, and one of the two might have
no better ground to go upon than abuse
Of the opposite counsel-whieh would
lead to unpleasant domestic conse-
quences. But, if Mrs. Mansfield will
mind the office while Mr.. Nj. attends to
the courts, perhaps no two other law
yers in Iowa may be able TO compete
with them.
We fear, however, that of the women
who aspire obe lawyers, comparative
| w few, even supposing they had hus-
bands. would be satisfied with such a
division of labor We fear there is a
| lurking ambition among the feminine
students of & hitty and Blackstone to be
| barristers rather than attorneys, and we
confess that the substitution of the CHG
| non for the horse-hair wig is not an at
tractive prospect. Think of the wife of
your bosom, or the maiden of your
| dreams, bullying a witness in crowd
ed courtroom, hectoring the judge,
rantino till she is red III the face about
the suffering of the lll-used prisoner at
the bar, flattering stupid jury, visit
| inc the Tombs to consult with her cli-
ent. the. eminent housebreaker or the
| distinguished pickpocket, discussing in
public the foul details OF crime, and go
| ing home to the domestic fireside cross,
| weary and hardened with the temper
irving labors Of the day. We do not
believe any woman could practice a
wear at the bar without losing almost
/ every quality that makes w III u
charming. But besides this there is a
| still more serious danger, which we find
so pointedly illustrated by recent oc-
currence in the British House of Lords,
that we copy an account of the affair
from London newspaper:
1.-The ShedGen legitimacy case was
resumed this morning for the fifteenth
! time before the House of Lords. The
ord Chancellor commented upon the
extreme prolixity of Miss Shedden's adj
dress, which has now occupied fourteen
days. and exhorted her to confine hei
remarks to the evidence. Shortly aitel
commencing to address their Lordships
this morndg, Miss Shedden swooned
and was carried out. d.. Bond being
sent for, testified that the lady was suf-
fering from hysteria, brought on by
nervous exhaustion. Their Lordship'
postponed the case till tomorrow
when, if Miss Shedden should be una.
BILE to proceed, her father will bt
heard"
When women undertake to argue
cases before jury, how often will the
expel fence of Miss Shedden be repeat
ed? An address fourteen days long
and only cut off at last by hysteria !
Need we say more IN. 7. Tribune.