Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-10-10
SCANDALS OF THE LAW REGARDI IG
WOMAN IN FRANCE.

We have been taught to regard the
French as the most polite and cultured OF
people, yet it is a fact that their high state
of culture and refinement does not prevent
them from submitting to customs and laws
respecting women which, in America, we
would regard as Infamous. A correspond
emit Of the Chicago Inter. Ocean remarks
that no country in the world where re-
forms are possible has so many subjects
worthy OF it's attention in that direction as
France. Not the least of these are the
questions relating to the status Of woman.
It is very common thing to be told that
the American woman who in France APP
pears unattended upon the street is looked
upon as inmodest, and is liable to be reck-
Oned as impure but at the same time this
people, SO scrupulous regarding appear.
ances, afford no remedy to the woman who
has become the victim of the man. In
that highly. civilized country we find that
hastardy cannot be, even in a degree, COM
pensated by fastening the paternity of tie
unfortunate upon the author OF its being.
The condition of the law in this regard has
caused Dumas to issue a pamphlet of pro-
test against this shame of his country. In
! recent case before the Courts there it ap.
peared that farmer was charged with the
guardianship of a young girl, his relative,
and took her to reside as a servant in his
family, The girl was seduced by the
farmer, and the relation resulted in the
birth OF two children. The girl finally
went TO service in Paris, and
the farmer refused to render her
or her children aid. A new guardian in
her behalf brought suit for seduction and
damages. The County Court gave her
verdict of 5000 francs. The Court held
That the extreme youth of the girl, and the
age of the seducer, who was a married
nan, and the relationship which he sus.
sained TO her, justified it in furnishing him
for the betrayal OF his trust and the dis
honor Of his ward. But the case went to
Che Court of Appeals, which held that I'M
der the Code Napoleon the defendant was
responsible only to the Court of his con.
science, and the girl was compelled to re.
turn the 5000 francs and condemned to
pay all the costs of the actions. This de- |
cision brought out Dumas in the protest |
referred to. But it turns out that the |
lawyers all agree that the Court has prop |
erly construed the law, and that in France |
there is no remedy for such outrages. |
The Code forbids " utilization, and every |
child born out of wedlock must forever be
oastardized, except the father voluntarily
recognizes it. The statistics show that
cut once in fifty cases does this acknowl-
sdgment take place. In no case, except it
is the result of physical force, can the
father Of an Legitimate child be compelled
90 provide for it, nor is it possible for the
woman to obtain any repsrstion, even
though any means short of brute force be
employed to compass her ruin. And this
Is the law in polite and refined
France. But it would not be so
bad did not the moral sense of the
people accord with the law, and give it
support. a Frenchman will not only ex.
press no surprise at this state of the law,
but will defend it, and declare that the
fallen woman is entitled to no considera.
zion, nor yet her children, save such IS is
afforded by the asylums. Up to the age of
thirteen the French law protects the girl,
but Just at that time, when of all others
she should be surrounded by the tender
regard of the law, its protection is wholly
and transferred to the man, to