Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-01-09
WOMEN LEARNING THE LAW.
The Practical Work Of the women's Il
cal EdueatiOn Society.

The Practical Work Of the women's L..
gal EAueatioa Society.
Tin, Women's Legal Education socie-
ty. enc Of the best known Of women g
societies, had lis origin in the philan-
thropic purpose of some earnest women
of this city 10 establish legal dispen-
sarr where ipen and women without
means could procure legal counsel and
assistance grataitously. Emily KEN
pin. LII d. of Zurich university, Swift
zerlGnd, was appointed superintendent
of the dispensary, but inasmuch as she
was not member of the New York bar
khe conld not practice i'll the courts. Dr..
Kempin then undertook to establish a
school or lectuIeship Of law for women
and succeeded so we'll that the Women IS
Legal Education society was incorporate
ed OH June ii, 1890. The object of the
society, as stated in its bylaws. is ''to
facilitate the study CT law by women,
both rs professional students and also as
amateurs, interested in law as a subject
of general intellectual culture, and also
for the sake of practical guidance in per-
sonal and business affairs. Ten ladies,
who were to be the fist directors, each
agreed to pay 500 year for four years
to provide the salary CT the lecturer.
In the fall of 1871 the lectures were
begun under the sanction of the Univer-
sity OF the City Of New York and havo
been continued ever since. The lecturers
have been: Emily kempin, LII. D.,
1890 to 1891; Christopher g. Tiede-
man, IL. D., 1891 to 1892; Isaac
Franklin Russell, LII. d., 1899 to 1895.
The lectures are delivered Gil MONDAYS.
Wednesdays and Fridays, at II o'clock
Il. M, during the winter months, and
are repeated in the evenings Of those
days at o'clock. This year tho follow
ing ladies We're appointed assistant lee
turers in charge Of the evening work,
each liavir" l.eeii graduated from a col
lege and law schCul and admitted TO the
bar: Miss Nci!c StanIeyetta Titus, Ii.
B.; Miss Katherine Elizabeth Hogan,
LII. s., and Miss Ethel RLoLa Evans,
A. B., LII. =.
-Four courses of ~ lectures each are
delivered during the year, covering in
outline all tie leading divisions of legal
doctrine, and are followed by reviews
and an examination. To those who are
successful at the examination the uni
versity grants a certificate signed by the
chancellor. The attendance mt the lee
lures has steadily increased. About one
half Of the regularly enrolled students
apply fer tho chancellor's certificate on
examination. In 1891, II certificates
we've issued; in 1892, 10; in 1898, % ;
i'll 1894, 80, and in 1895, As, MAX
ing total of 129. Up to the clos
ing exercises III April last no less than
SEQ wOMen had attended the women IS
law class with mere or less regularity
The sixth year opened on Oct. rs, with
IS present at the morning lecture and
so III the evening.
The first president Of the society was
Mrs. Leonard Weber, to whose zeal and
energy the establishment and .mainte-
nance of the lectureship for four years
may be ascribed. Mrs. Weber held the
presidency until her death, in May last,
at Heidelberg.
The Rev. DR.. Henry NJ. MacCracken.
chancellor If the university. has carried
ont plan IF re9rGani Zati ION Of the board
Of directors by which iUur vi the orig
inal subscribers have been retained as
directors and the board has been
strengthened materially by enlisting the
interest and service of women we'll
known in educational and philanthropic
work III this city. Mrs. Mum, the wife
CT distinguished physician, and herself
faithful and proficient student, who
received the chanccllor's certificate in
April last. has accepted the Office Of
president Of the society.
The funds Of the society have hereto
fGre been derived from three sources
the annual subscriptions in sums of $1CO
by each Of the members of the old board
Ct directors maintained for four wears
and expiring in 1894; the annual dues
OF s. each, paid by members of the So
ciety, some Of whom awaited themselves
CT the incidental privilege of attending
one course Of IL lectures, and finally the
fees paid by students. $40 for the entire
year, or SO for one course of IL lectures.
Free tuition under the name of scholar
ships has been extended to all who could
not afford to pay the regular fees. None
Of these scholarships is endowed. The
fees paid by students, some Of whom at
tented but a single course. amounted to
about $500 last year.
The Alumne association was formed
early III 1894. Two annual banuuets
have been given. both of which were at
tented by mary distinguished men and
women, and il humber Of parlor meet
iDGs have been held in the interest of
'hs r:,ivcrsity's work in law for yvom-
en.-New York sun.
ccok'n. and Matrimony.
VIC are ready 10 believe that if any