The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-08-08
A Case aa, Of
Wonan's Rights:
Involving a Case In the
Courts
By MARTHA ". MONROE

Margaret Elwood was new woman
in every sense Of that term. She be-
lieved In the ability Of woman to do
anything that man can do. but ad-
mitted that since woman had been
kept in a subordinate position from
time immemorial she needed time
and opportunity to develop any par
ticular faculty. "A muscle" she ar
gued. "becomes flabby and weak from
disuse. Exercise it and 1t becomes
hard and strong"
But Miss Elwood believed in the
home and the family. She recognized
that 1t was woman's mission to bear
children, but she denied that this was
all of woman's mission.
Edmond Blair was equally liberal
minded. He was a. fine man and If he
married would require fine woman
for his wife. What he meant by
fine woman was not snowy woman,
but one with head on her shoulders.
one who could think out problem In
everyday life and execute 1t. He had
no Use for what is commonly called
smart woman.
These two met and were mutually
pleased with each other. Miss Elwood
admired Mr. Blair's reasonable way of
looking upon subjects. He was a
lawyer by profession and used to es-
tablishing his points before insisting
upon them. He knew the difference
between a proved fact and dictum.
He was the first man Miss Elwood had
ever met who accorded thoroughly
with her views Of the proper sphere
for woman. They became engaged.
So far as reason, judgment and fore
sight go. never did a couple become
engaged with better prospects for hap
piness. Nevertheless. that they might
take proper precaution against max
ing mistake, they agreed to put of
their marriage for one year.
Everybody, as soon as the engage
ment was announced, remarked that
It was an excellent match. Persons
who were noted for caution and fore
thought said that If marriages were
always made up in that way there
would be no divorce. There was but
one person who predicted that the
match would he failure. That was
the lady's father. He had been at the
head Of large manufacturing plant
for thirty years and during his incum-
bency had been one man power He
declared that his daughter and her
fiance were each quite capable of lead
ing I'm any enterprise. He saw nothing
more feasible in two heads to a family
than two heads to his business.
1t was not to be expected that
man whose judgment Aad for three
successive decades been warped by
ruling small army Of employees
would take an unbiased view Of cir
cumstances arising from union Of
hearts. Mr.. Elwood simply gave his
opinion. He did not attempt to en-
force It, When an old friend twitted
him by reminding him that democratic
principles cannot find favor in des-
pot he replied. IF | am a despot my
daughter is quite likely to be one
through heredity"
One day Miss Elwood called at the
Office OF her fiance and, being admitted
to his consulting room, said to him:
Here are the papers in the case Of
the Mercy hospital (of which ! am
managing directory against the CITY,"
81 thought you told me 1t was case
of the city against the hospital"
ut doesn't make any difference.
There's suit to be tried, and l wish
you to act for US. The city ordered us
to put down q sidewalk surrounding
our buildings. which occupy whole
block. at cost of over $1,000. The
matter has been in dispute between
the city and the hospital for several
years, and am perfectly familiar
with all that has TRANSFERRED. Conse-
quently | am the one to present the
points at issue and indicate the po-
sitiOn it is desirable that you should
take The city engineer told me re-
peatedly that
81 beg pardon. Margaret, for inter
rupting you. but when our firm takes
a case we make the necessary investi-
cations and decide upon the course to
pursue ourselves"
She looked at him in surprise.
(which means. | suppose. that all
these years during which have been
contending with the city government
and the experience l have acquired
count for nothing"
''It is not matter of your expert
ence. 1t Is a matter Of law"
"And l, who am responsible for the
proper handling Of the case. am to put
It in your hands with the confidence Of
a child. Do you suppose that my as
sociates on the board will excuse me
In case you are beaten?"
Mr.. Blair looked at his fiancee with
a troubled glance. To refute her ar
gument. to set her right In the matter
between them. would require his going
back SO far that a great deal of his
valuable time would be taken up be-
fore. he could make his position clear
TO her. There are great many knots
In the affairs Of men that II is not
practicable to attempt to unite They
must be cut And the cutting makes
the trouble. Mr.. Blair found himself
On position to cut this knot
IF you don't have every confidence