Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-10-01
In WOMAN'S BEHALF.
WOMEN LAWYERS.

kind in the history of the world.
The class, consisting OF fourteen
members, was made up of teachers,
business women and ladies' OF society
The course completed was in CONNER
cial law. 1t had lasted eight months,
and had been conducted by DR.. Emily
Kempin. 1t was great success. The |
three lawyers who were present at the
examination said they had never wit
messed any thing better among young
men who were being examined-sel-
dom any thing as good. This was not
said in compliment, for they were seri-
GUS men, and believed they were per-
forming serious duty in criticising,
advising and encouraging the women
who had entered on totally new ca
reer.
1t is very pleasant to write this as it
proves that law, the last profession to
admit women, is one for which they are
exceptionally fitted. In law and equity
there are few broad principles and an
infinity Of detail. Now detail is wom-
ans province. She has, moreover, the
tact, the quicltness OF perception, the
patience (she has had long training),
and above all, the dpl0m6 that go to
make up successful lawyer. There is
n broad field for women as lawyers,
particularly for those of their own sex
who are forced TO have recourse to the
tribunals of justice. woman in dis
tress, suffering from another's wrong
doing will often shrink from appealing
to the courts because she has to state
her case to a man-to reveal secrets or
TO make charges from which her natur-
nj delicacy recoils. With woman she
will be more free. She will state her
case frankly, without artifce-it would
he useless between them-and will re-
ceive equally frank and honest advice
Law is not sort of black art, as to
many it seems Blackstone defines it
as the perfection of reason" and while
we may be tempted to smile in derision
at the definition, in face of the astound-
ing decisions sometimes rendered by our
judges, little study will make it clear
that it is not the law, but the lawyer,
who is at fault.
All that should be reformed. The
question, Can lawyer be honest?'
should not be discussed seriously by the
public press, as has happened within
few months But women are not en-
tering the profession of law as mems
critics, but as their helpers. There
never has been any holy, reformatory
or charitable work done by man which
would not have beenbetter done had his
mother, his wife or his daughter helped
him. So let it be with law. To the
ordinary mind the name seems synony-
nous with mystery and harshness. Let
women prove that the word means alb
solute justice between man and man,
and that the harshness is only for the
deliberate evil-doer.
do not believe that law is necessar-
lily expiatory. have immense faith in
its reformatory power when used not
to crush, but to elevate and save.
Already the Kempin club, the organ
cation into which the women graduates
have formed themselves, has been in
vited to join another society for practi-
cal work. The new body will be known
as the Bureau of Justice" and it's
duty will be to visit the city courts of
justice and look after the needs of those
who have no one but God to consider
them They will listen to the cases,
and when necessary interfere in behalf
of the poor and oppressed. In a great
city like New York there is much of
that kind of work for those willing to
undertake it. No one means to do
wrong to the helpless, but judges be-
come hardened, the defense is doubt
full, time is limited, there are so many
cases on the calendar, and so the vic
tim is sentenced as the quickest way of
disposing of him.
The presence of women on-lookers in
a courtroom, of women too intelligent
to be carried away by their sympathies,
and too sympathetic to permit useless
suffering, will indeed be comfort and
hope, if not to the prisoner, at least
to the wife and children, or to the aged
mother, to whom the detention of the
accused is sometimes literally matter
of life or death.
OF the mem bers of Dr. Kempin's class
one-half, perhaps, will enter the regular
law school of the university next year,
and study for admission to the bar
1t is great thing for women that an
other profession has been thrown open
to them. Teaching, women's great de-
Al 4, "A
success pecuniary or otherwise, is quite
out of the question. Private teaching
can be hired at almost any price the
student is willing to pay, while in pub
lc-school teaching the individual is lost
in the system. A dead level of medioc.
rity is required of all, and nothing else
is tolerated.
In law, am told, individuality counts
for every thing. 1t is said to be the one
calling in which nothing but ability
succeeds. This is probably something
of an exaggeration, but it is pleasant to
hear that brains and industry are really
of some account, and that every
thing does not depend ON friends ant
politics.
The study of law will never be taker
up as fad or a pastime. 1t is too
heavy, too difficult, for that But the
young woman who feels within hersel
that she has the necessary ability ant
the necessary perseverance will do wei
to consider it. If she takes it up as ;
man does-as life business-she will
succeed.
To many ladies know the sound o
woman lawyer" seems unfeminine
They fear to lose the pretty, graceful
ways, the accomplishments, and thu
ignorance that to some people are 81
delightful in the young girl. But thu
world has got past the period whel
clinging, helpless women were consid
cred charming 1t is doubtful if sucl
woman ever seemed charming to he
husband after marriage.
And now, for the benefit OF thos