The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-16
CURFEW FOR WOMEN
New York Judge Says They Must be
In by Midnight.

New York, Dec B.-Gotham women
must be indoors at midnight if they
wish to have any standing IN the law
A new Solomon arose today and delfber-
ately threw down the gantlet to the sex.
He did It in shape Of learned decision
to this effect:
If a woman Is out Of doors later than
midnight she cannot compel anyone to
let her in. If she has latch key, Of
course she can do as she pleases, but
according to Justice Andrews Of the SUI
preme court, she has no right to ask her
landlord to let her in II she should hap
pen to miss her car OF stay late after
the theater for a little supper, or, in fact,
for any other reason.
The decision resulted from a little quar-
rel that Miss Florence Abel had with
her landlord, Jacob A Omdrak Miss
Abel is q dressmaker and got tired, she
says Of working in her rooms all day,
and then having to stay there all even
ing until bedtime without some little
recreation. So she formed the habit Of
going to the theaters or elsewhere, and
occasionally she returned In the early
morning.
For a time all went we'll All she had
to do was to tinkle the bell and the door
was unlocked for her. But of late the
nights have been colder and Mr. Omdrak
became opposed to the late hours his
tenant was keeping. So, on Nov 10 he
refused to get up and upon the door
when the bell was tinkled. Miss Abel
took a room at a hotel that night and
the next morning she went to the land
lord hammer and tongs.
She set forth that she was paying $50
a month for the two rooms she was oc-
cupying and that if she desired to be ont
late it was her own business. and that
he was compelled 70 give her access to
her apartments. The landlord merely
smiled and said nothing. was biding
his time
Three days later the dressmaker went
home late again and rang the bell. with
the same effect She had to so to the
hotel again. This was the last straw,
and she resorted to the law. She told
Justice Andrews today that she paid her
rent regularly, was her own lord and
master. and accountable TO no one for
her hours. and she demanded that ON
drak live up TO his contract and admit
her TO her rooms whenever she desired
to be let IN. She asked for an injunction
to this end.
Omdrak was not prepared TO admit
Miss Abel had any right to demand ad-
mission whenever she pleased. He argued
moreover. that there was a great many
other tenants in his house and it is ne
cessary for their protection that the
doors be kept locked. He also objected to
giving Miss Abel a key.
Then he produced her lease, and on
this the decision was rendered This
document set forth as all leases do thar
the tenant was 20 be admitted 70 the
premises at reasonable hours"
Justice Andrews granted the plaintiff
a preliminary injunction requiring Mr.
Omdrak TO admit her II she rang the
bell earlier than u o'clock. but he left
ii with the landlord as TO what he shall
do If his tenant is outdoors after that
hour and rings for admittance.
Senator Shoup Of Idaho never sits with
his back To the door. Even In the Senate +
restaurant he always occupies a seat tha- +
commands a view of all entrances. This 4
is simply the force Of habit. as for forty
years The senator almost lived with gun 4
in his hand. For a long time he lived or (
the frontier. and during the war served I.
as a scout among the Rocky mountains +
in New Mexico The habits then acquired !
cling to him even after ten years service I
in the United States senate.
Thirteen colored women whose ages 4
range from thirty-Ave 10 seventy-dve. are I
attending night school n Jersey City and I
taking their first lessons in reading. Sew (
eraI az the older women were born in /
slavery. and scme Of these have become +
sufficiently accomplished TO read q simple 4
history Of the Cnited States with its rec
ard " the CHARACTERIZATION OF her race.