Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-06

/ surprising that ministers do not see that
they impair the solemnity of marriage when
the form used requires promises that have
no binding force on either of the contract
ing parties
Mrs. Alice Scatcherd, of Leeds, who was
delegate to the International Council of
Women held in Washington, said that the
law of intestacy in England is unjust to all
women. There # man dies without a will
| his male relatives get larger share than do
| his female relatives; if woman dies with
| out making will her male relatives get
larger share again than her female relatives.
If man dies without children, and he has
no near relatives, it would naturally be sup
posed that his money would 60 to his wife;
not so-she is only allowed one-half Who
gets the other half? The Crown. But if q
wife dies without making will and she has
no children or near relatives the husband
gets the whole of it. This partlality and
inequality are as piainly set forth in the in
testate laws of this country.
NO EXCUSE FOR THE LAWS
Women have great need to know some
thing of the laws which have been made for
them. Through the loving care of good
husbands they are largely protected from
the hardships imposed by the survival of
statutes that are now disgrace to civiliza-
tion. But where is the sense of allowing
laws to remain that every fair-minded man
knows are just and that seem to be only
for the interest of mean men and rascals?
In Mrs. Devereux Blake's report upon the
illegal Condition of Women in the United
States. she says that in spite of all the prat-
ing about home being the sphere of women,
in large part of the country married
woman has no legal home. After her hus-
bands death the widow may remain 40 days
in her husbands residence-so runs the law
in more than half the States. In the
knowledge of all are tragedies in real life
that surpass the most VIVID pictures of
fiction, that have been caused by the 'inhu-
manity of man." Conscientious and consid-
crate husbands protect their wives from the
hardships of the law, but such hardships
should not exist. Such laws should be
blotted out.
In the South woman may be deprived of
every cent she has in the world by her hus-
band, and submit to see her own property
squandered by him on immoral companions
Self sacrifice is ever the preaching to wom-
en-. It would be better for all if they would
let that go little, and study up the making
of equal and impartial laws. 1t would be
for the interest of all women if the good
sisters would let the heather rage for
awhile, to let the Indians have such taste
of wholesome neglect as would force them
to work rather than be forever on the beg,
and take up the time in such study of the
law as would prepare them for the coming
Constitutional Convention, when the repeal |
of unjust laws could be urged with good eff |
feet. Notice may be given right here that |
there should be representative women in |
that convention. 1t needs the wisdom of |
both men and women to make marriage and |
divorce laws that will be fair alike to hus-
band and wife.
The woman question Is on in both church |
and State, and has got to be settled. The |
discomfort which brings about great reforms
and changes is in the air. Public sentiment
is such now that there is great hope and
happiness in store tor the future.
BESSIE BRAMBLE,