New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-28
Parental AUTHORITY
rro,, HE London floke


II is hv no means certain that the law regulating
the parental power in England IS ~ n satisfactory
state 4 father and mother in England have never
enjoyed that authority over their OFFSPRING whlcD
n most other countries 1t Is thought necessary 70
confer, and BOW that the precocity OF the rising
generation is becoming every day more cnnspcuous'
II may be conscieutl0usly doubted whether some
strengthening OF the parents hands would NOT 20
advisable The power OF the parent over ms on
spring Is one which has been yarOnsy regulated IN
different times and places. The ethnologist or
iurisc0usllt Ia, IN ample field before hlA IN DIS
cussng the relative merits OF different systems
But the history of civilization has almost lnFatl-
ably kept pace with decline in the power o. me
father: 30 that the least progressive nations may
almost be defined as those in which the laws on tbs
subject have remained most STATIONARY Cnlha .
the stock example OK country Whlcu j. AT OnC9
the most stagnant aud the most tolerant OF PARENTAL
tyranny. A Chinese book recently Issued shoNs
that the right OF exposing children or actuaily
de,trpvinr them and OF selling them rs slaves, IS
still freely exercised 10 many parts OF the CeesNal
Empire such practices barharous Is they may
now appear. we're undoubtedly common 10 alnoss
all nations IN primitive stage. / e history o.
Abrahams sacrifice SHOWS the existence OF one OF
them amongst the Hebrew patriaTcns, ana tue sale
Of Joseph by his brethren gives color ~ ieast 10
the suppOsIt.on that power OF sale also e1isted'
The common assumption that Roman lathers eH-
ercised the same power has OF late been denied
but il seems that. however little they aValIe9
themselves of such power they ostensiDly enjoyed
il lu common with the other iull nights over tno
person aud property OF their offspring. IL was ohly
by very gradual anu taruy steps tAAI tie pt99PI!c
tary rights In question weTo undermined Dy legls-
latIye changes. and that a legal nctlon WAS IN,
vented and developed To allow sons the privilege
of possessing and enjoying that which they had
earned by their own eXertIOns while the father was
sill alive. IL India the old patriarchai 81 stem IS
still fully recognized by the native law. hindpo
family lives uudIy ded" under the care anG charge
of its chief and the sons and granGsous as wei as
the unmarried daughters and gran idaCghters' re-
main still subserylcnt 10 their anscy stor however
Old they may be. BY AlahOmedan law tie
Arrangement OF the family Is different, tor the
Young children are all committed 70 the mother, or
efftasp
The boys remain under their tuielage tli they are
about seven years old, and the daughters uhth
they are married. or Of age. But the right OF the
pareut is much more restricted tnan either among
The HindOos of India or IN the ancient common
wealths he father may not make the dau ghters
work al all and il sends ont the sons 70 aDOr Nc
NAV only deduct out OF their earnings what VIII
~ for fboir mgintruauce aud must save Up tue
surplus for them ill they come OF age.
or all modern European countries, france Is tuaS
in which the parental authority Is most iuIly re-
coCnized. Personal correction IS allowed WITHIN
very wide limits up t. the age OF sixteen, auu IL
this IS not eicaciOUs, the father may apply 20 lho
court and have lis child imprisoned Tor any tlmo
less than a month. After the age OF sixteen this
Imprisonment cannot be demanded as a sht, Dut
must he requested in petition to the ju"se; ous
then on the other hand, the Incarceration may 10
extended 10 any period not exceeding SIX fnOntns.
IL is however in the matter OF marriage that tue
parent Is allowed the most Gespotic and UnJ'ls;;
movers Girls are absolutely prohlDlted uDtil
twenty-One and young men until twentF-iVe. rom
marrying without the consent OF the iatl@F II lie IS
alive or OF the mother if he is dead and eyen
after that age the unfortunate Benedict must
before marrying the lady OF his choice. address
humble request i'm the shape Of repeated Gces re-
spect.eur to the parental despot