New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
LEGALRIGHTS OF WOMEN.

THE LAW OF HUSBAND AND WIFE: 1 SSnnp.lSu
for popular use BY Leila Josephine hoo'i'o'
J2mo. Boston: Lee a shepard
Whatever NAV be thought of the proprcV Vi
wisdom, of women becoming lawyers and practising
with their "brethren" at the bar, this nttie 'ou'c
demonstrates clearly enough that there IS one o'on
of legal work that can be done well by "oHna'' anu
that is the writing of a popular booN uPon W."
subject. If all judicial opinions ana legal "'"' 80?
were written with tile ooncl%hoSs' porSp'N"i'9,
and accuracy that characterize TINS MODEST "oIh Va
legs than 200 pages upon one of the most diihcui'
hrorcbes NJ the law there would be very much less '
cation and less need of counsers aid in obtaining au
indications as to the meaning of previous adIuoica
tons. ,, =, .no
we have very little Seth, s:9 usual thing In the
usefulness of medical works intended TO make every
lavnan his own physician or legal writings 'ha' are
warranted TO supersede the necessity OF emplollls
counsel TO solve legal problems. And Whatever 'no
merits NJ this particular work be, the author
will perhaps be as ready as any one 10 duii' ''''
she has not succeeded in providing lOr INC "'p'o
sional reader for whom the book Is primarily III
tended such information on the law governing '"o
relation of husband and wife as will deter pruueh'
nersons from consulting competent counsel wheh
the emergency involving such questions
arises In their experience. lhueeu
This clear headed writer shows her appreciation Oh
This fact when she says: "But the hceucs vi '"0
distinctions and contradictions between the TWO
systems that Of the comm on law ana thdt vi cq"'
have made the law of husband and wife mos com
plicated and difficult one, and the passage vi III
numerabe statutes on the subject. while they nave
greatly relieved the hardshps of the legal cohd'ol
of both husband and wife, have by no means "Ssehe'
those of counsel whose business ii Is TO ascertain
lust what that condition IS
Yet it does not follow that this little book VIII no'
serve a useful purpose. The author who, despite Her
sex is in active practice at the Boston oar mas
,.rgev devoted her professional labOrs TO cases Ill
volv;nc the legal rights of women II Is Tor them'
and especially for married women that she he'o
writes She is able TO give them much information
respecting the development OF the Ia" Oh hfIl"h
relations from the time when the EnghSh common Ia"
only recognized the womans existence and property
ricbts az they were merged in those of her husband.
down 70 the enactment Of the most liberal statutes
of western States that give to the married woman
all the individual privileges that are enjoyed OS o'
husband while imposing upon her the same oDisaois'
Amended TO the excellent series OF chapters on coede
subjects is stn valuable compilation or
abstract of the statutes of the several states on o
wifes legal status the claims OF WIDOW ana Whoever
on propertv and the divorce laws of the respective
States II the abstract of the laws OF Ncw-lorh can
be taken as criterion, the work has been done WIN
care and thoroughness, although tn writer appears
70 have stumbled the provision of our statute
OF distributions in the case of wldower whose WIG
has died without will or issue
The hook besides its usefulness TO women through
out the country who desire TO inform themselves
generally upon their legal status, Will also serve 10
emphasize the fact, upon which every well informed
LAWYER finds occasion 10 comment that While inc
statutes governing the relation of husband ana VIC
in the various states arc still widely diversified, vet
the constant tendency throughout the country is IN
the direction of such liberal and impartial legislation
as will finally result in the universal recognition OF
The right Of the TO stand on an equal footing
In all respects with her husband before the law.