, 1873-09-14
FEMALE LAWYERS.

To the Edftor Of The Chicago 7ribune:
SIN: Will you do me tho favor to insert In tho
columns Of THE TRIBUNE tho following brief
reply to an article published in The Chicago
Times Of Sunday last, headed, "Women in tho
Trades aud Professions
The writer OF that article has either willful1y
perverted. or unintentionally misBtated-wo
hope the lattor-the roal truth as to what women
aro aotually doing in tho professions. And, aa
tho writor aarcastically asks What hns be-
como Of tho tew dozen girls who have
bcon graduated from law-schools during
tho past tlreo years ?" VIC claim tho privilege OF
nffording tho desired information. and VIC do go
with great deal OF pridc.
Tho writer aaya, further, "Thor are not ploa-
who graduated with thou." pray, how doos tho
writer know He or she Immediately arrives at
tho rash conclusion that, because these girls do
not stand out prominently before the eye OF the
the profession, ana alo now ''tying gorgeous
ribbons round their wai7ts, In pretty boudoirg,"'
and are dreaming, not Of "greatnoss aud
distinction" but Of "a pair OF auburn w1lisk-
era." All of which is, OF course, lamentably
Nov, while It is an easy matter to make broad
aud sweeping assertions, and to dismiss sub
5eet with a1ostic wave Of tho hand, it il quito
made by good and sufficient evidence. Again.
allowing, for tho sake Of argument, that girl
lawyers do presume to dream of " auburn whisk-
ers," aud men-lawyers Wax eloquent over
than ssNi The ' sons and daughters f q Adam dam
and Eve have boen doing over since tho world
waH. and will undoubtedly continue to do 30 long
As tho world shall exiat2 Human nature Is hu-
man nature; and that would bo = worry flimsy re-
form that would seek to establish itself by ovor-
turning tho lava of nature. Moreover, It is no
more certain that giEl-lawyera dream Of "auburn
whiskors !" than that young mon grow senti-
1t il not fair that tho girls should be credited
with the sins Of both, for tho admiration Is nt.-
tual.
Then, suppose thoy do admire gny ribbons,
and strive to render themselves ~ attractive as
poasible. what Of it7 They would not bo truo
women II they did not. It Is as mnch thotr am
/ bition to DO true women AZ to be HuccoBsful and
honorable lawyers. God gaye thon q love OF tho
T. ay and
| any Idea OF boing ashamed Of the nature God
gavo them. surpohe tho girls plead "guilty :"
to both those accusations docs it follow that they
negleot their business Net At all. Perhaps tho
Illinois absolutely prohibited women from tho
practice OF tho Inv until tho Legislature OF 1879
compelled them to mako tho anendo honorable.
And Isn't the Inquiry Of the writer rather prcma-
| requires student 10 hayo studied law continu-
ously for two vcara before applying for adnlis-
| Hton, and tho lam which admits females into tho
profession has only boen in existence lttlo
over d year; which would neem eatafac-
torily to account for tho fact that but
one woman has avaiod herself Of the
law thus passed, and she had pursued hor
studios for two yoass before tho pasgage OF
eaid Law, snd Is now working quietly and por-
sistontl1 in tho dingy oiilce" which the wftor
refers to. And, after making careful inquiry,
NO arc onab!ed to introduce the writer, II 1le OF
ehe should dahiro to push tho Investigation fur
Arbor. hIicl.;, to another graduate. Of Miohi-
gan University, who las opened Lor office
In hor nntive Town In Massachusetts; to another.
Mrs. Manalold, who is lawyer OF excellont
reputation IN the State Of iowa; to afiHs Phnho
Oozzona, OF st. Louis who is well spoken Of by
tho members Of the Bar Of TINT city; and to i
Young lady who is in actnal praolce in WIocon-
i'm. And it s true Of all that thoy arc working
with their whole might, mind, and strength, with
the pross arraysd in d solid and imponatrnblo
bod; sgainnt ihem, and arc made target for
Immortality by writing artcloa calculated to still
further mlcle their Progrcar Will not all jnHt
| poopln coucedo That tley hayo accomplished
mich instead Of "littefh MAUDE.
CHICAGO, Sept. II, 1879,