Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-18
KANSAS WOMEN AS LAWYERS.

Mrs. Ella White Brown. of Holton. Kas..
il a woman of two notwithstanding
and law. For many years before coming
to Kansas she, in connection with her
husband. taught in the schools of Indiana:
end on coming to Holton both Mr.. and
Mrs. Brown entered Campbell university
as instructors. The husband was the first
to throw aside the teachers cloak. read
ing law at odd times and passing the nee
essary examinations which admitted him
to the bar. The wife, who had read law
with him, then grew interested in the pro-
fession and determined 10 become a law
yer herself. Consequently she entered the
law school of the state university in the
fall of 1880 and received her degree the
following spring. having done two years
work in one. Mrs. Brown was the first
woman to graduate from the state law
school. In regard to the treatment she
received while there, she has only words
of praise for the dean of the department,
who has always encouraged women TO
take up the study of law. The effect of
this encouragement may be seen in the
half dozen or more young women at pres
ent enrolled in the school.
After graduation. Mrs. Brown returned
to Holton and formed a partnership with
her husband. She remained in the prac-
tice of the profession for five years, and
during that time served a term as city
attorney of Holton. Mrs. Brown is now
professor of English at Campbell uni
Versity. having been drawn thither by 4
love for the old profession-and the ad-
Nantageous offer of the regents. In re-
Gard to the law as a woman's profession,
Mrs. Brown says:
I'm many respects I consider law a good
profession for women. 1t is probably the
most exacting profession In the world. and
a woman should consider her position and
condition before she undertakes to study
with a view to practice. First of all. she
should be strong and well and abundantly
able to endure long strains. Second. she
should naturally be a student. as the prac-
tice Of law would be very distasteful TO
one for whom long research is drudgery.
Third. she should not be in any way SEN
sitive. Fourth. she should be naturally
combative. Fifth. she should have no
other gods.
"A woman who is so situated that it is
possible that at any time she may be called
upon to spend much time in the care of the
sick, or in household duties. will find it
difficult to continue in the practice. 1t
Is work that cannot be planned ahead.
but must be done as 1t comes. and con-
Sequently Is not so easily carried on with
outside duties as is teaching and preach
ing. Granted the proper intellectual traits
and congenial environments and freedom
from other cares, and the profession of
law will be as advisable for a woman as
many other things. I believe 1t is true
of women. as 1t is of most men. that they
enjoy the study better than the practice.
For ambitious and energetic young wom-
en- there Is. In my opinion, an opening in
the legal profession. 1t is n profession that
pays well. There is more money in 1t
than in teaching. but it is not so salts
factory in that 1t does not give an OPP
p%ortunity to make as many warm friends.
Women are more. likely to take to those
professions that are consonant with their
home life, as the large majority of women
are, by nature and inclination, home max
ers."
Mrs. Lucia o. Case. of Topeka, is another
woman lawyer-a member of a firm COM
posed Of husband and wife. When asked
to give a public expression of her views in
regard to the law as a profession for
women. she replied: II am not in the habit
of trying to get myself before the people.
and accede to your request only in the hone
than an expression of my views, such as
you desire. may perhaps do the cause Of
humanity good. For / recognize no wom-
ans cause aside from the cause of human
ity. In regard to the law, as a woman.s
profession. 1 would say that to my mind
every reason applicable to the law as a
profession for men applies with equal force
to the law as a profession for women.
THE people are of the different sexes,
the laws apply to both sexes (although
made by one). AS we know that study of
any line Of thought or branch of knowledge
or science gives wisdom in that branch, it
seems fit that women SHOULD study law In
order that they may be capable of applying
1t to cases which come UP in the various