Middletown transcript., 1873-02-22
Protection to Married Women.


Lewis Tbompsos. Esq. This is one Of
many proposed reforms offered this winter.
This is progressive age, and laws that
vese adapted to the regulation Of the af-
sairs Of society hundred years ago will
not suit the people now. There was
time in the sges past. wheu woman was
considered in every respect as mans iu-
fsrior. aud the position she occupied was
but little better than that Of . msnial, but
- civilization advanced aud suligh'cu-
neut increased, 90, in like ratio, increased
the respec. paid to woman by the sterner
ssx, and now. in the 10Th century, she is
% hr exalted that she no longer occupies
% Inferior position, and her sphere is no
longer confined to handling the distad
sad regulating the affairs Of her house.
hold, SO strongly commended BY the
wiscst Of wise men, but she now mounts
the forum Of the lecturer and her voice is
heard in stirring political oratious from
the stamp. In some places in the West,
suore progressive than the East, the jury
box is grseed by her presence, and her
ballot assists in selecting the civil rulers.
shas IN various States she is found en-
gagged in the pursui, and practice Of the
legal and medical professions. and the
scripture teaching that women should
be silent 10 tho church, is ignored, and
their voice Is heard from the pulpit.
But this is digrcssion from our sub
jecis. However much VIC may deplore
these Innovations upon the old ideas Of
"Womcn's Rights" it is neither the time
or place to discuss them now. Tho old
things have passed away, and new era
has dawncd upon the world. and what is
to be the limit to this progress cannot
now be seen. But to return TO our sub
jcct. In these times Of "mnking haste to
be rich." and Of fast living, when men are
not satisfied to earn their liring in the
sweat Of their brow. and to live within
their means; 10 these times Of great CON-
u,erciai specalaiions aud failures, the per-
sonal property Of the married woman is
often sacrificed by the husband in some
wild chimerical attempt to increase biz
fortune ut one throw. and in too many
instances she is reduced to poverty BY
the reckless mismanagcment Of her prop
erty by her husband, when had her owl
been secured to hor beyond bis control i
would have been ample to support hersel
and family. Many woman is far bet
ter manager than her husband. and il
such instances we're she permitted TO cx
ercise control over his property as well q
her own, il would be better for both, bu
as this could not DO, she should at lcas
have the management Of her own.
Under tho law. too. as il now exists
the hard earnings Of poor laborious wO
man are liable for the debts Of her hus
band. aud may bs seized for such by hi
creditors, and he can demand aud sue 70
her wages. In many cases when the bus
band instead of working for tho suppo'
Of his family, spends his time in bnngn
around drinking saloon: and in dissipa
tiou, this feature Of the law is the sourc
Of great distress to the woman and be
children. Lst her be allowed to recoiy
and retsin the wages she earns, and he
sondition would be greatly amcliorated.
Another commcndablc f'aturs of th
bill 10 that which provides that the hu,
hand shall not be liable for debts create
b. The wiis. II this proposed law is il
tended to operate In the manner in whic
Il reads, II will. II passed, doubtless rail-
furry among the fair ones. aud inc,
Tie vollics Of their indignation. for the
privilege Of ordering whatever they ohoo
iran store to b. paid for BY their hu
bands would be taken away, and the de
creatures could buy nothing but wh
ihsnsslvss could pay for. This wOu
doubtless be . sad drawback upon h
Delights Of shopping. but would not d
husbands risk Of visit from the sbesi
I u nsnsrous iustsncss. BE- greatly
mjshhsdt Il ID lamsntabls fact, iu I
ossy isstanees. that. under The banel
esehisep of osr abcminsblo long cre'
Systsn. many men ass plunged into d.
: sna utterly broken and ruined BY I
sss1lsss estnvssaaes Of their viz,
II shis bin pass and the man who ~
1ss1s d credit V : married voman u,
lssk v ~ ~ he psy, her husbss,
psspssty sill = exempt from s.seusi
un6se psssao ~ dsbss soatrssted BY
~ = PhSs so~& - a. hil1 n I lifAls 400