The weekly clarion., 1879-03-05

Chicago Legal News; Mrs. Foster, OF
/ Iowa; Mrs. Goodell, of Wisconsin. and
f Mrs. Foltz. of San Francisco. She Is
/ the last victor in the tournament. >
| There was a Ter proLibita on the statute
books of California, against women prac-
/ titioners in the courts, but Mrs. F'oltz,
aided by many noble men and women in
+ that State, and especially by State Sena-
/ tor Murphy. of San Jose. forced its re-
peal through both Houses of the Cali
f tornia Legislature, and the Democratic
Governor, Irwin, signed the bill Mrs.
Foltz passed a most credible examina-
tion before Judge Belden, and was re-
Gently admitted to practice before the
/ Fourth District Court Of San Francisco.
Her story is a romance Born in Indi-
ana twenty-eight years of age; the
mother of five children she is in fine
health, and shows great intelligence and
energy. She read law first as past
time; then as passion, and finally
adopted it as profession.
In England, women vote for school
directors if they possess a certain free
hold. and some Of the most useful school
directors in London are ladies. Massa-
chusetts Is moving in the same direction.
\ bill IS before the Legislature, confer
ring upon women the right to vote for
members Of school committees. This
movement is advocated on different
grounds from that in favor Of female
suffrage on all subjects. The petition
asking for the law permitting them to
vote on all matters relating to schools
Is signed by conservative elements in
Massachusetts society.
Some very incapable men were elect
ed, at the last city election. to the
School Boards in Philadelphia, but the
Boston example will not be forgotten
1t will produce a golden harvest in
Pennsylvania and other States, where
our Incompatible school systems have,
within a few years, been subjected to
some severe trials and temptations j =
Now that the lady lawyer has become
an accomplished fact, certain of the
daily newspapers declare that we must
look carefully to the age of our judges.
1t will not do, they say, to have young
unmarried men on the bench, listening
to the pleading of handsome lawyers,
in petticoats. ct is obvious, Of course
that only young and handsome women
will turn lawyers.)
But womans influence in the court
room existed long before women lawyers
were thought of. Remember Sullivan's
. Trial by Jury" and the excitement
the affair created. Absurd as that story
Is, there appears to be a case almost
similar in real life, in our own day, and
in Pennsylvania. A beautiful woman is
on trial in one of the county towns,
charged with conspiracy to rob, and one
of the jurors has fallen deeply in love
with her When first called as a Juror
he was slouchily dressed; his flannel
shirt was unadorned by collar; his hair
unkempt, and beard shaggy. When he
took his seat he was a changed man.
From the moment he laid eyes on the
prisoner he has bettered his appearance.
He IS attired in glossy store clothes, his
hair is smooth and shiny, his beard is
trimmed and regulated, and his vast ex-
panse Of shirt is white and spotless.
There is no doubt about his condition.
He never fails to keep the woman in
sight The other jurors vainly try to
obstruct his view. They sit before him.
He leans over, and looks around them;
he peers between their heads Here is
a danger which cannot be guarded
against. Women viii get into court, if
not as lawyers, then as prisoners or
proS----tOrs.