Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1890-08-28
In W0MAN'S BEHALF.
"OuR MYRA."
The Success Which Has Crowned the Ef-
forts of One Bright, Persevering Woman.

"OUR MYRA."
The Success Which Has Crowned the Ef-
forts of One Bright, Persevering Woman.
1t is interesting to note in the prog
ress of events that the success of women
in walks OF life outside of the fami-
ly circle has not interfered at all with
that sweet domesticity of nature, about
which men of every age have had so
much to say. A woman can sit all day
in rocking-chair at home, reading q
novel and holding a pet poodle, and no
one will censure her. But let her elect
to sit in an Office chair, and fulfill the
| duties of a profession, and she will be
| Immediately target for criticism.
| However, it is pretty well understood
now that woman who espouses a pro-
fesson need be no less womanly in
voice, style, manner or dress than II she
! sat at home in a rocker. The tailor
made suit was not the outcome of a pro-
fessional need, but was instituted by the
girl who friyels, and adopted by her
business sister. The art of expression
has taught woman that she need not
use a squeaky voice as an emblem OF fem
ininity, and a modest, unassuming man
ner is a dover in any profession. These
last were the attributes pertaining to
the first woman who ever applied for ad-
mission to the bar of the United States
and was refused.
James," said Mrs. Bradwell to her
husband, who was at that time Chi
cago Justice, what do you suppose
they mean by refusing to receive me
at the bar on account of legal disa-
bility?"
"My dear" said the good-natured
man, "you arc woman and are disqual-
ified or might say Sdisbarred-eh?"
81 don't believe it, James. This is
not one of the dark ages. | know just
as much about law as that little whip
per-snapper s., who was given the
right to practice his profession. i have
done great deal more legislative work
than he, and all those prominent jurists
and Legislators listen to me with the
greatest respect and adoptmy measures,
but they won't give me the only right
that / demand and which they claim
am fitted for, the right to practice be-
fore any court in the United States"
81 will look into it," said her hus-
band, gallantly; and he did. He went
to Springfield to the Illinois Legisla-
ture, to Washington to the Supreme
Court, and when he returned he said to
his wife:
"Well, Myra, I've found out what the
disability is"
"Have you?" asked the little woman ca
gerly, tell me what it is. Hurry
James, I've waited years for this What
is the disability that prevents me from
succeeding in my professiQn?"
81 am," said Judge Bradwell, meekly
"You are a married woman instead of &
femme sole, and so you can not be /;
lawyer. never thought of that, die
you?"
mo, and I shall call you my disabil
ity now out of revenge, until l repea
that stupid old law, if tn ere is one, 'anC
Mrs. B. was as good as her word, bu
it did not disturb in the least the har
mony of their united lives or of thei
beautiful household.
AS Chicago's first lady lawyer, Mrs
Bradwell was soon well-known and sh,
had rich fund of anecdote to tell con
cerning those days when she wore he
hair in shower of abundant blacl
curls and dressed sweetly in lady-lik,
silk costumes and edited the Legal News
her own law paper. All the lawyer
knew "Our Myra,' as she was Away
called, and they admired her pluck an,
go-aheadativeness and her singleness o
purpose.
: Mrs Bradwell filed printed argumen
| in which her right to license to prac
tice before the bar of the United State
, was earnestly and ably maintained. Nh
, Justice Laurence delivered the opinion
: of the Court and denied the application
, Then it became apparent that there wa
really no established law forbidding
: woman to practice in the Courts
=. whether she was married or single
There were certain technicalities easil
} removed by the Legislature if that judi
cial body choose to exercise its authci
ity, which it would not then do, unde
the old idea that it was not advisabf
;, for women to leave their domesti
, sphere for legislative halls.
= Mrs. Bradwell like the clever woma
/, she is, finding she could not becom
queen of the ermined throne, was sati:
fled with being the power behind tn
= throne, Busy with her legal newspaper
:, which was taken and read by the mos
= astute of the lawyers and judges, sh
} found her time filed with an actua
= practice which brought her both none
u and fame, and at last, when she ha
ceased to labor for it, the coveted homo
was granted. She was permitted
) practice before the bar Of the Unite
: States law courts as an honor ary men
/ ber and there the matter rests.-Mr
s NJ. L. Rayne, in Detroit Free Press.