The Washington times., 1895-03-05
BRING WOMAN into COURT
Justice Brewer Pleads for Fuller
Legal Status for Her.
He Predicts That in the Future She Will
Occupy Position Vastly Different
from the Present.

Women in court was the subject of
Columbian University yesterday after
noon by Justice Brewer, of the United states
Supreme Court Fully half of the audience
which filled the hall were women. and they
received the remarks of the lecturer with
appreciative applause His talk was in
terspcrsed with many amusing anecdotes
illustrative of the subject
Mr.. Brewer referred first TO the difficulty
of getting woman into court. 1t is, he
said, as every lawyer knows, essential to
the jurisdietionthatth the defendant be brought
into court by due service of a proper writ
SO, he said, before passing to Judgment
against this defendant she must be duly
in? BY what process and by what form OF
action? He showed the inadequacy of man
damus, quo warranto, assumpsit, or re-
pleyinto move woman, ard finally decided
that the action of attachment was the only
one potent to the entire sex
He then spoke of the rights of the woman
| after she had been brought into court, and
what, under the laws OF the land, she might
and might not do. In other words, it was
necessary, he said. to ascertain the legal
condition and rights OF women.
And there is said Mr. Brewer, sin
this theme that which must command the
attention OF every thoughtful man and
woman. No one can be insensibe to the
fact that as respecting the sex there is
silently but surely going on vast social
change. The place she is to fill in years
I ffA
which she has hitherto occupied. We often
hear the assertion that it is the glory of
christianity TO have elevated women; to
have opened before her many a hitherto
closed door, and to have given her earthly
| life dignity because it has given ii higher
value and larger usefulness.
''One thing" continued Mr. Brewer,
that better illustrates this change is tie
modification i'll the laws respecting her.
For the laws Of nation are the evidences
| of the Thought OF the nation and the progress
it is making in civilization and culture"
Mr.. Brewer then referred to the fact
| that the enfranchisement of women was now
| the theme of many an earnest appeal from
! the pulpit and the press. He said it was
| the inspiration of many feithful toiler
! in the work OF uplifting humanity. making
! toll seem light, seif-denal and sacrifice
| a pleasure, and transmitting, through the
mystic light reflected from its far-away
| spendor, all the insult and sneer and SANDER
of the base and sordid into wreaths of
! laurel and crowns of joy
| He contrasted the old commonlaws of this
country ana Englan1inTeference to the rights
| OF women with the present. He spoke OF
| the lawyers dread of q female client. but
more particularly OF his dread of female
| adversary. He contrasted the husbands of
a century ago with the husba nds OF to-day.
and regretted that the lives of married peo-
! pie to-day should lie SO diveTging.
| The more Closely said Mr. Brewer,
the two lives run into each other, the
more OF mutually in education i'll toll,
in counsel. and in business, the better for
! the two. Hand in hand they went out Of
/ Eden, and hand in hand they must traverse
the earth TO the paradise OF the future. ="