The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-01-29

a woman's duty to obey Sentiment ana
stoicism brought forth civilization, which
Is an ardent desire to grasp the principles
of justice. Civilization has shown man that
woman is his equal in all things and in
many things his SUPERIOR il has eliminated
from his nature the british and material;
1t has caused to grow the esthetical and
spiritual Women are no longer held by
the laws of slavery and injustice, they are
not born to their planes in life; but now
like man, free and unrestrained, have equal
opportunities to carve their names high
upon the scroll of fame.
Fifty years ago a woman could hold no
property as married woman. Her mar
riage was her legal death. Upon her mar
rage her property passed to her husband
as in the eyes of the law they were one
and in the eyes of the husband he was the
one. Even her jewels and her wardrobe
were his, which he could sell without any
interference on her part. All of her bank
stock, notes. bills. ETC., as soon as reduced
to possession became absolutely his. She
could contract no debts. A rich woman
-upon marriage was even poweress to pro-
tect herself from starvation. Her husband
could waste her money in drink, cards and
riotous living; come home a drunken sot;
drive her from her own house, and be pro-
tected by the strong arm of what was called
a just law. There was no remedy save
death; no divorce save where they separ-
ated to meet again at the throne where di-
vine justice IS melted out. Divorces were
scarce. and the divorce courts were open
only to those of high rank There Is an
old case in our own fair state where a wo-
man married a widower; upon her marriage
her property passes to her husband. the
wife dying prior to the husband, and upon
his death the property passed to the child
rem by his first wife. thus deprivlng the
motherless children of their just inherit
ance, causing the children of wealthy
mother to be in rags and tatters upon the
street, begging a pittance with which to
support life.
The lunatic, at any time during a lucid
interval. and even the habtual drunkard.
when sober might buy on credit the neces-
saries of life and his creditors could de-
pend upon the property to secure the IN
debtedness. A child of tender years might
buy on credit food, clothing. medicine tut
tlon, or any other necessaries suited or
adapted to his situation In life The right
given to the infant. lunatic and drunkard
was denied to woman.
Her children, even though of tender
years, needing a loving mothers care. could
be snatched from her possession upon the
demand of her drunken and worthless hus-
band. She could resort to court to
protect. no law to return to her arms her
STOLEN treasure. With a heart overflow
ing with grief and head bowed down with
sorrow. deprived of all her earthly treas
ures and what l'fe holds dear, she is thrown
upon the cold charities of still colder
world. If she should sue for a divorce
and be so fortunate as to secure one. it
brought her no relief, it gave her no prop
erty to protect her from starvation. Should
she leave her husband without a divorce,
he, twenty years afterwards, could pounce
down and possess her all, even her daily
wages were not exempt from his grasp.
When the tongue of SANDER assailed her,
she was powerless, unless her husband