The Washington herald., 1909-11-04
BRINGS CHANGE INFRANCE

the same rights as IN England. In France
S. per cent OF the marriages are made
without a contract-that IS 70 say. they
depend entirely on the ordinary law OF
community OF goods In marriage.
Only since 1881 has a married woman
been able 20 open a savings bank account
without her husbands consent, and a law
passed quite recently permits her for the
first time 70 dispose OF the salary she
earns
Again. the law gives the father more
authority over children than the mother.
Thus the consent Of the father alone IS
sufficient sanction for marriage
There are conspicuous inequalities IN
the divorce laws. but the committee FOR
reforming the marriage laws seeks 20
abolish these, and asks for divorce by
mutual consent and the separation Of
property between husband and wife.
In civil life the feministes have some
gains to record. Women. whether en-
plOyers or employed, vote for the COLI
sells de prud'hommes, and are eligible 70
serve on these. They may also be wit
nesses 10 legal documents. They have
power TO form trade unions, but thew do
not take advantage Of the right 20 any
great extent. The number OF women trade
unionists IS ininitesimal when compared
with the number OF women employed in
business and the great industries. which
approaches 100000.
The feministes do not approve OF the
laws which limit hours Of work for wOm-
en-. Three congresses which met IN 1900
favored the repeal Of all the laws re-
strictng labor. I'VE wish for free labor
I IN - 4
Martin.
Since 1871, when Olympic de Gonces first
demanded the suffrage for women. vain
attempts have been made TO secure this
reform Many women, however, seem
half-hearted on this question. not realiz-
Ing that Of all their demands the vote
alone viii give them power 10 claim the
others. At the last Paris municipal cleo
lions a woman. Mile. Laloe, received 527
votes, but she was neither eligible nor
voter
Several journals and reviews support
feminlste theories. In 1897 La Fronde. q
paper composed, printed, and edited by
women. numbered among its contributors
all the most daring and prominent femi-
nistes, under the direction OF Nine Mar
guerite Durand
Outside the reviews and papers, which
scarcely pay their way. feministe leagues
organize benefit societies, working clubs.
as well as courses and lectures, intended
to give women useful instruction, and
schools OF housekeeping-in fact, every
kind OF feminine cooperative work.
To-day the National Council. which IS
affiliated 20 the International Council Of
Women. has 1900 members. and regu-
lates all the various feministe and fem
inine efforts. Mile. Monoa, the president
and Nile. Avril de Sainte Croix, the gen
eral secretary, have reason 10 be proud
OF the results gained IN seven years, and
70 have hrm confidence in the future OF
the association.
1t is unfortunate that the feministe
movement has q tendency 10 centrsIize
Its work in Paris. The National Council
realizing this, has made a successful ef-
fort to form branches at Tours Ror-
deaux. Lyons. Marseilles, Havre. and La
Rochelle But In the provinces people are
SLOW 10 imbibe new ideas, and women
| there seem less interested IN feuoinIste
questions than men.
A sleepy atmosphere surrounds middle
! class women. many intellectuals are anti
Iemlnlste' and the working woman, III
informed as TO her rights. remains IN
moved. All these classes, too, are fnfu-
enced by the fear Of ridicule.
Yet in the Chamber Of Deputies and the
senate group Of prominent men advo-
Gates the woman's cause. But the Re-
publican majority still fears that wom
an s suffrase-which would carry with IT
logically her eligibility for seat-miabt
bring into Parliament a strong clerical
and reactionary element. Some appre-
bend another fall in the birth rate. "One
more politician, one mother less" writes
FAUCET Others disapprove of what they
think will detract from woman's charm.
Frenchwomen have to prove TO men by
their perseverance. judgment, and steady
acknowledgment how foolish all these OBJ
jections are, and II they mean to succeed
In adding to their privileges they should
realize that their strength must depend
on united action.