The Washington weekly post., 1899-12-26

a rr from a musty volume OF legal lore.
,.T.nr vas when a woman who dared In
innate that she possessed taste for the
-.--..fS of man WAS spoken OF as strong
r-.-ses ana masculine. Her own sex was
sf-a#E Of her mental capabilities. and the
r--r~.te sex seemed uncertain whether 10
-. her in the masculine. feminine. or
r-tfr gender. Her every move was
,f.ssE with suspicion. and she never
s.a4 90 bc pointed out as a woman law
,.sr and consequently, one OF the sights
o. ttf town.
fr~ has changed considerably in this re-
qs-f and al the present time one ex-
r-..srs n0 great amount Of surprise upon
i..-g t7li that this or that woman is
5e-f.st. doctor, or a lawyer. I speak, OF
r7urse. Of cities Small towns possess the
of5-f.rna rrafudices. and a woman who
has ary mysterious initials following her
name Is al once a curiosity.
% remember well what q sensation
created during my vacation last summer
9rr1 Glanced 10 spend some days in
NJ England village. | was really de-
rfrbf.G "a leave. for wherever l turned
eaU some one whisper ana point and /
know IL was all on account Of my pro-
fassfrr The very hired men on the farm
,,rras-a7 a great desire TO have look
er mo. I fear they were very much dis
srroutcd and that their mental pictures
- me we're rudely demolished, for upon
crfrloisirC my personal appearance one
OF them remarked;
O, rWbv. her voice is real soft and gentle.
T. doesn't sound a bit like the squire s
down al the village
The others expressed their astonish-
went and added, And she doesn't wear
pants
EVERY one seemed sadly displeased to
Gee me walk. talk, and dress like others
N nv own sex. / fear that Dr. Mary
Walker. by her masculine attire, has done
q great deal 10 cause ignorant persons
10 suppose that all women followers Of
The sterner sex's professions must neces-
Farlly dress rs does the doctor"
How many women practice law in
Washington"
i think there are only three who really
have cases. although there are a dozen
or so who are entitled 10 practice. Mrs.
Eelva Lockwood, who. as every one
knows was the first woman lawyer in
Washington, still practices. Miss f. NJ.
GIeJt and Mrs. Ellen Spencer Mussey are
both prominent in their chosen profes-
r-Uil IFS. - E-4ltA IoSltI IL dlSO q Nf4A-
known member Of the bar.
Mrs. Lockwood Pioneer.
Mrs. Lockwood is responsible for re
moving some of the barriers confronting
those who wished to follow in her foot
steps. as IL was she who caused the Su-
pIeme Court of the United States TO be
opened to women. Mrs. Lockwood was
the first woman admitted Since then at
least fifteen have gained the coveted
privilege"
Why do women wish 10 be admitted
70 practice before the Supreme Court OF
The United States?"
"As much for the honor, ] should say,
for any other reason, since il is very
seldom that women can make use of the
privilege. still, 10 know that one can do
things which for years have been forbid
cen is always q source of satisfaction.
Then, too, 10 be able to say that one is
permitted to appear before the Supreme
Court is in itself voucher for ones good
standing in the legal profession"
What does a woman do in order to be-
come lawyer in the District?'
In the first place she must study three
years in law school or with a lawyer,
men she is required TO pass very diff
--N-tAL NAl4AiiidN4vU pflDTt a BOARD OF exc
aminers. This examination lasts two
DAYS. and covers subjects which TO out
siders sound like so much Greek. How
ever three years Of study ought TO en-
able one 10 answer anything in regard IA
pleading real property, evidence, probate
law, contracts. equity. and criminal law
For the benent OF those contemplating
law, ! want TO say that it is well known
among lawyers that there are only two
or three States in the Union that have
as difficult examinations
Speaking Of examinations, Mrs Ellen
Spencer Mussey had really practiCed Law
Tor sixteen years before she took an ex.
animation. Mrs. Mussey's career has
been an interesting one. 1t is not often
mat woman steps from the realm OF
domestic life and the care of four small
children into the intricacies Of legal CUES.
lions and makes a success of herself II
happened in this way. Her husband
zen. Mussey. Chanced TO become i'll, an(
matters were in such a neglected state
on account a rush of business that Mrs
NuFsey osncluded 20 go 10 the Office anC
he-p out the clerk during the general,
enforced absence. She acquired such z
lowe for the work and was of so much as
tance 10 hyr husband that upon hi:
+ft lll 10 AtaliN, ne lliSlSktl llldl ne GOult
newer again do without her. and so sh,
rcunained mis- right-hand man and con
Iidante. dividing her lime, as best sh,
could. between her husband and his pro
iesslon on one side and her children ant
domestic life on the other How well sh,
succeeded was shown wren she expressed
determination 10 take the bar examina
uon aud Was told by old lawyers that a!
she had really been praCIicing for sixteeI
years there seemed no need of an exami
nation She insisted upon taking it, how
ever ana passed with a glorious aveTage
ohe is also privileged 10 practice befor,
the United States Supreme Court.
one day, IN order 20 ascertain II am
other women had been admitted sine,
herself. who was number thirteen. Mrs
Mussey inquired OF the clerk II he coul,
tell her the number Of women then on tn
list.
Thirteen he said. and very un
lucky number IL is too. ! feel sorry 10
the thirteenth one
Il am thirteen saiC Mrs. Nussey.
'The ERIK loOaeI embarrassed for
moment then said.
Oh well you're so jolly, no bad lucl
can come 10 you
Imagine a woman lawyer being con
s.aored jolly. But that is what every on
SAYS 9f Mrs. Mussey and yet she Is d.g
nifty personifed when engrossed in he
work
Due To n Woman's Influence.
Mrs, Mussey Is the author Of the hi
known as the Mussey act, which. Whe
chairman OF the committee Of D'strIc
Federation Of WomeE's Clubs she was IN
sir1WtDtal IN lassEg The bin wen
THROUGH in $50 and gave women ard me-
equal rights over their children. Prrviou
io this t!l. fathers could 90 as they pleas
c4 ~ilh ,heir children regardless OF IN
wishes Of the m1ta,r
"Ine outlook for an increase in the nun
beg of woman lawyers in Washington 3
becoming brighter every year. Within N
las, four years q law school especially Ia
women has been Incorporated It's mrs
Graduates made their bow 10 the publ
las- June. when they received their dl
p0Has al the Church OF Our Father
Zach term sees mlff names added "a IA