Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-18
ITALIAN WOMEN
AND THE LAW
BY VIDA SUTTON.

Prof. Sighorina Terese Labriola is the
only woman lawyer in Rome. There is
but one other indeed. in all Italy, Sig
norma Barro in Turin. But neither of
them is allowed to come into court to
plead cases, though Signorina Barro car
ries on a large practice as private
counselor. Signorina Labriola belongs to
the younger school. She took her degree
with high honors few years ago and
her name was inscribed on the register
of lawyers with the men who had taken
their degrees at the same time The
question of woman's practicing law
had not come up in the city of Rome,
anG there was in the statutes no
mandate against it the signoripa went
boldly into the field. Had she been OBJ
scure and feeble she might not have
been debarred; but she is eloquent and
keen and her first two cases were such
brilliant successes that she was brought
into the limelight. Thereupon her right
to practice was challenged The matter
was taken into the courts. which decided
that as she was woman her name
and the city.lost thereby an able lawyer.
Forbidden her profession. the signorina
devotes herself to teaching and writing.
She is the only lady" professor in the
law and philosophy to classes of men
and women. There is more OF the in
tensity of the artist than there is formal
ism of the pedagogue in the vivid man
ner in which she lectures. and her
courses are very popular with the stu
dents Today she is talking on 1.-The
Philosophy of Right and there are
number of visitors. women from the
various women's organizations, to hear
her.
fixed, rigid thing. No. 1t is a growing
thing, being made as mans creation pro-
crosses. One thing today. but bigger
thing tomorrow And if We define 1t at
all we can call it the direction of forces
of life that creates greater, fuller life.
And laws. What are they? They are
makeshifts. That is all. They are made
for today They must be remodeled for
tomorrow. The great laws of the uni
verse and of nature are the realities to-
ward which they are pushing. And when
to mankind the sense of these great laws
dawns fully enough, he will not heed
the makeshift.
And our freedom. Is there such
thing? No. 1t is a dream. All things
obey law. To be free is only to obey
the highest law. We shake off old fet-
tiers. but it is because We recognize
greater obligations. Yesterday We had
conscience that made us sensitive to
save our own souls and be fit for the
heaven beyond U.S. Today We are md
ing social conscience that makes us
sensitive for the we'll being Of all men.
Tomorrow we will find the individuals
needs are at one with social needs, and
begin to make our heaven on earth"
Such are the theories that Signorina
Labriola promulgates. But she is more
than theorist; she is a practical work
er for the revision of the legal code
as it applies to women. With the Mar
ehesa Clelie Pellicano, authoress of the
book THE Italian Woman and the Law"
she has organized a society whose pur-
pose is to work for legislation removing
-woman's legal disabilities. Today in
Italy woman is a minor in the eyes of
the law. and the married woman is under
the authority of her husband, who con-
trolls her property and owns her children.
This system is medieval" says Sig
norma Labriola. and unfit for the ideals
of the twentieth century. If Italy is to
keep pace with modern times she must
have modern CODE and woman's equal
ity before the law must be established"
This is the next step in woman's
progress in Italy. according to the clear
vision of Rome's lady lawyer.