The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1878-01-18

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lossal tabernacle to find a sure founda-
tion in a bottomless cesspOol.
HONOR TO WHOM HONOR Is DUE.
It is always Of interest to know our
benefactors, who they were, and when
and where they lived. OF the pioneers
in the woman movement and of those
who, while yet the masses slumbered
concerning the giant injustice which
custom made and law rigidly enforced
regarding the personal and property
rights of women, found courage to voice
their convictions concerning it, the
present workers in this great reform
feel specially interested. Harper's pub
locations, known and quoted as author
ity throughout the nation, furnish
many an item Of this character, and in
their general and editorial conduct ac-
cord always to women justice, and to
those who plead for an extension of
their privileges, fair and impartial hear
ing. 10 HaTper's Magazine for March,
1877, we find the following testimony con-
cerning a man who, before the present
century was born, saw the brutal inius-
tice Of the English common law toward
women, and seeing, spoke out boldly
concerning it. This man was Judge
Reeve, founder of the first law school in
the colonies. His place of residence
was Lilchfield Hill. a New England viii
lage in the hills Of Northwestern Con-
necticut. The chronicle tells US that it
is no exaggeration to say that this iso-
lated towR-was, in and prior to Revolu-
tionary times, the center Of culture
unexcelled, and in some respects un-
equaled in its day. It is further de-
scribed in 179s as ga delightful village
on fruitful hill, richly endowed with
its schools, both professional and seien-
tifc, with its venerable governors and
judges, learned lawyers, Senators and
Representatives, both State and Ma
tional, and with population enlight-
ened and respectable"
That the learning and accomplish
ments did not all belong to the men Of
| Lilchfield, the following aneedote is re-
lated to prove: "Among the ladies at
the national Capital during the second
administration OF Washington, none
was more noted for personal attractions
and rare accomplishments than the
wife Of the Secretary of the Treasury.
Said Mr.. Liston, the British minister,
one day to General Tracy, then United
States Senator from Connecticut, Your
country woman, Mrs. Wolcott, would
be admired even at st. James,
"'Sir,' replied General Tracy, She is
admired even on Lilchfield HILL"
In this place lived Judge Reeve, and
here his famous law school fourished.
The testimony concerning him goes
on TO say: "He was the first eminent
lawyer in this country who dared to
arraign the common law Of England for
its severity and refined cruelty in cut
ting off the natural rights of married
women, and placing their property, as
well as their persons, at the mercy of
their husbands, who might squander or
board it up at pleasure. All the nit
igating changes in our jurisprudence,
which have been made to redeem help
less women from the barbarities Of her
legalized tyrant, may fairly be traced
to the author Of the first American
treaties on The Domestic Relations"
1t will further interest our readers to
know that the first "female" seminary
was like the first law school in this
country here established. Il was begun
in 1892 by Miss Sarah Pierce, and was
for many years pre-eminent in its
sphere. During the nearly forty years
of its continuance more than fifteen
hundred young ladies were educated in
its halls. But the visitor, curious in
regard to its site, is now pointed only to
the great elms that once shaded its roof.
From the history Of this quaint and
quiet New England village, rich in its
memories aud surrounded by its halo of
past glories, we Gull for the special at
tention Of women these facts, that honor
may be rendered to whom honor is
due. c.