, 1873-02-06
W0MEN'S RIGHTS IN ILLINOIS,

From the 81 Lonts Republican.
atotn ngItg ~ a. married. women uhlor the recent
formidable oven before tho full extent Of tboir
departure from the old common law standard
was revealed in tho late decision Of Judge Blod-
gett IT., IN nt stato, ct least tho tyrant man hast
shoulders and relieved la hclpma}a from all Of
its pconnfary responsibilitiea. L thoy boil, own
pfop,erts PERT mt tho tlmo Of marriage, eyory cent
aG nInn hna oee oeeomHs fo,d liable for hsr ebta in.
marriage, MAJ, bnt not ono farthing Of her'prop.
lact, ha property Gnu DO takon for her ante.
nuptta I1p debtn apa she yot retain her own prop.
n9ia. sufo enough, and not his at all. She ia
mistress Of her own timo can engage in. INV
y hhn peaaas and collect and control her
or OF any property. aho may Inherit after ttar 1nar.
g riage, can 30 takon for tho support Of her
cnlidren, her husband, or herBolf, while tho laet
Hon5 . oi his earnings aud ovory dollar he may in
bis vito and chtldrou, no matter how poor ie
may be or how rich thoy may bo. Wien tia wife
dies, tho husband doos not get farthing Of tho
vi Wlfoa property, though II be worth niilona.
the widow gcts a third Of the property besides
q variable specific allowance, ald II there aro no
children, ahe gets all absolutely. The wife cau-7
not be punished for crimo committeib BY her at :
ial1oI ~"y eIt.liv 1lo may commit by ber com.
ma;nd. % well as for thone which aho' may w COM COM
NIT by hia. command. -. :.
Those and many. other inequalities, MI inurinr,
to tho advantage Of the wife, In matters 81 az
vorce, separate maintenance and civil riphtg nnf3
feaponsibilltiea, mako pretty formidable cata-
!!oguo oa womeu,s: rights and i1nmunitios under
the gallant Legislation Of Illinois. But, os II
another fea turo Wero noedotl to break tla hacIr
of tho kneeling Benedict, Judge Dlodeatt d.
cldcd, last week, that utlder these laws fln wifo
'may. enter into partnership with. hor.huaband
anu carry On business with him for her own gen-.
aTate intorost; Or with my otlor woman a husband-
S Wloae 70 wy Of doing tAngs she may like better
while her - meier do 'weel" husband Ia roapo1lBi.
bic for tho caro- md maintenance Of herself and.
tue childron. II shc chooseu to plead pressing
business combining her to her distant counting
room md tho society Of her business, partnnr-
the handsome Jones, until midnight. her own
"o!d man" has no alternative but to mind tho
children ut home, aud wait patiently till she let's
hersolf III with tho night-koy. His. consent to
the arrangement, ,is not ut all necessary, and tho
ence, and protects her business Hecreta. :
from his unmanner!y espionage. Her
interest In bis ostate ia such t1aE ehe can over
hnul bis accounts and orosB-oxanlino him upon
overy suspicious itom OF expenditure; but VOC
to tho brute II ho dare invade the sacred privacy
or her separate businoss. Such violation Of
nor lawful rights as married woman Ia cause
tor dlvorce all the expenses Of which, on both l
sides, will como out Of his pocket.
Never before since Eve became pnryeyor Of
forbidden fruit have her married daughters; ::
enjoyed auol prorogatigcs. Why even her
eldest born, the suffrage martyr, Susan. must
regard tho ba}lot-box "a a hollow moekery, com.
pared to tho Htern Joys Of an Illinois mothor-iu.
law under this legislation. %