Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-09
WOMEN DON'T OWN BABIES.
A Startling Bit of Information for the Mothers
of The Land.

A Startling Bit of Information for the Mothers
of The Land.
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 no right to these children.
They do not know 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 a father who is as bad as the
law, knows his legal rights and assumes
them.
Not long ago, within short ride of Bos-
ton by rail, lived yonng man and his
wife and their 7-month old baby. Appar
emily they were at peace and prosperous.
One day the husband told his wife at noon
that a certain family had sent her an
earnert invitation to spend the afternoon.
The wife said she chad too many things
to do that day to go to visit" But the
husband said: "You ought to go when
they sent for you. will take care of the
baby" Thus urged, the wife made ready
ana went. At six o'clock she came home
gone. There was no letter to ex-
plain 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 desoIate it seemed! It was
evident that the husband had exercised
rir 70 q who
he pleased. All the neighbors sympa-
thized with his wife. Men said that eff
the wretch ever returned he would deserve
to be tarred and feathered." Execration
was long, deep, and abundant, but one
| quiet woman who knew the law, said:
He is only as bad as the law which al
lows him the sole right to the child
| But every man said there was no such
law. 1t was only after reference to the
statutes these could admit that here in
! Massachusetts a married father has a
legal right to rob his wife of her children,
and that men were so cruel, mean and
dastardly were only as bad as the law.
There was but one opinion of the law and
of the man. 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 par
eHts OF this husband lived in Canada. It
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
| the husband returned. Not
finding his wife, he surmised that she
had gone for the child. He had carried it
to his parents. He telegraphed them to
take the child away and hide it. This
they did. When the young mother ap-
peared 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 sym
pathy for the 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
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 hap
pen to her and to it.
The brother of this cruel father took
his child a few years ago away from its
mother. Her relatives gave him $500 to
bring it back. It 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 ?
| It is evident of women to help men make
laws that will protect women and children.
But the representative from the town
where all this happened voted against
women suffrage in the Massachusetts leg
islature last winter. 1t is to be hoped
that the voters there will see to it 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 mo-
theirs and little children that they will flee
as other thieves and robbers flee before
honest people.