The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-09-18
CRUEL LAWS.
A Startling Bit of Information for the
Mothers of the Land.

A Startling Bit of Information for the
Mothers of the Land.
Millions of mothers all over the
United States gather their little ones
around them, never dreaming that by
the law they have no right to these
children. They do not know that the
sole legal right to the children rests
with the father in all except three of
the States. Most men do not know it.
A majority of fathers, if they did know
it, would never assert their right as
against the mother. But now and then
father, who is as bad as the law knows
his legal rights and assumes them.
Not long ago, within a short ride of
Boston by rail, lived a young man and
his wife and their seven-mOnths-o
baby. Apparently they were at peace
and prosperous. One day the husband
told his wife at noon that certain
family had sent her an earnest invita-
ton to spend the afternoon. The wife
said she chad too many things to do
that day to 90 to visit" But the hus-
band said "You ought to 90 when
they send for you. | will take care of
the baby. Thus urged the wife made
ready and went. AT six O'Clock she
came home. The house was locked,
husband and baby gone. There was no
letter to explain this sudden and
unexpected absence The neighbors
knew nothing. Overwhelmed with
grief and heartache for her nursing
baby, the poor mother consulted
lawyer BY his advice she forced an
entrance to the house. How empty and
desolate it seemed! 1t was evident that
the husband had exercised his legal
right and taken the child where he
pleased. All the neighbors sympa-
thiZed with the wife. Men said that
''if the wretch ever returned he would
deserve to be tarred and feathered. "
EXecration was loud. deep and album
dant, but ons quiet woman who knew
the law said: ale is only as bad as the
law which allows him the sole right to
the child" But every man said there
was no such law. 1t was only after
reference to the statutes they could
admit that here in Massachusetts
married father has legal right to rob
his wife of her children, and that men
who were so cruel. mean and dastardly
were only as bad as the law. There
was but enc opinion of the law and Of
the man. But that could not restore
the tender. hel pless babe to its mother.
If others could sleep and rest there was
neither sleep nor rest for her. The
parents of this husband lived in Can
ada. 1t was most likely he had taken
the child to them. She had been to
their home and knew how to find it.
Making such arrangements as were
possible she started for Canada. The
same night her husband returned. Not
finding his wife, he surmised that she
had gone for the child He had carried
it to his parents. He telegraphed thom
to take the child away and hide it.
This they did. When the young mother
appeared at the door of the parents of
her husband with this measureless grief
in her heart, his mother met her at the
door. One would suppose that the
heart of the old mother would have
melted in sympathy for this grief
stricken young one. But not 50. She
sympathized with her son. 1t can not
now be told how it was managed, but
she found the little one in hot attic,
evidently not having been even washed
since it left home, and she took it to
her own fathers house, where she is
to-day in dread of what may happen to
her and to it.
The brother of this cruel father took
his child a few years ago away from its
mother. Her relatives paid him seven
hundred dollars to bring it back. 1t is
supposed that this man hoped to make
money by similar torture of his wife.
Lucy Stone, IN Boston Globe.