St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-06
WOMEN Don't OWN BABIES.
Startling Bit OF Information for
ths. Mothers of the Land.

th% PaOtbcES OH inc
Lucy Stone in Boston Globe.
Millions of mothers all over the United
States gather their little ones around them,
never dreaming that by the law they have
10 right to these children. They do not
know that the sole legal right to the chill
dren 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 short ride of
Boston by rail, lived young man and his
wife and their seven mOnthS-Old baby. APP
parently they were at peace and prosperous.
One day the husband told his wife at noon
that certain family had sent her an earn
est invitation to spend the afternoon. The
wife said she had too many things to do
that day to go to visit" But the husband
said: You ought to go when they send tor
You. | will take care of the baby" Thus
urged the wife made ready and vent. At
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 a 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 neignbors
sympathized with the wife. Men said that
If the wretch ever returned he would de-
serve to be tarred and feathered." EXecra-
ton was loud, deep and abundant, but one
quiet woman who knew the law said: lie
is only as bad as the law which allows him
the sole right to the child" But every man
said there was lie such law. 1t was only
after reference to the statutes they could
admit that here in Massachusetts married
father has the 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 one opinion Of
the law and of the mall But that could
not restore the tender. helpless babe to its
mother If Others could sleep or rest.
there was neither sleep nor rest
for her. The parents of this hus-
band live in Canada. 1t was
most likely he had taken the child to
them. She had been to their home and knew
how to find 1t. Making such arrangements
as were possible she started for Canada.
The same night the husband returned.
Not finding his wife. he surmised that she
had gone for the child. He had carried it
10 his parents. He telegraphed them to
take the child away and hide it. This they
did When the young mother appeared al
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 so. She
sympathiZed with her son. 1t cannot now
be told how it was managed, but she found
the little one in d hot attic. evidently not
having been even washed since it left home,
and she took it to her own fathers house,
where she is day i'll dread Of what may
happen to her and to it.
The brother of this cruel father took his
child few years ago away from its mother.
Her relatives paid him 500 to bring it back.
1t is supposed that this man hoped to make
money by similar torture of his wife.
There was a great deal of indignation,
both among men and women, in the case
quoted above. But what does it avail ? 1t
is evident there is need of women to help
men make laws that will protect women
and children. But the representative frvm
the town where all this happened voted
against women suffrage in the Massachu-
sets legislature last winter 1t is to be
hoped that the voters there will see to il that
he does not have the opportunity to do so
again. Meantime the reproach of all good
citizens men and women, should be so
poured out upon men who wrong mothers
and little children that they will flee as
other thieves and robbers fee before honest
neODle.