The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-03
Copyright Campbell Photo Co.
Mrs Norman de r. Whitehouse.

ter have Cor much less than should
have done by possibility" The regret
ne expressed was merely that the sale
OF the daughter might have been a
better bargain.
Not only were daughters sold and
wardships freely dealt IN but wives
suffered ind!gn!ties worse, infinitely,
than beatings. Ii had become so COM
mon for husbands TO make a traffic u
the chastity of their wives that severe
| regulations were enacted to repress the
practice"
Thus. even in the days of knight
/ hood. women needed and were given
the protection OF the law. This pro-
lection has been increased until at the
present time, they enjoy in many NJ
our States almost the same privileg $
and liberties that men have. The mod
ern woman looks to the law as de-
fence against oppression, so chivalry
now finds few occasions to express itself
except in courtesy. And courtesy. too.
seems often to fail in situations for
which precedent has not established
fixed rules.
The men OF the southern States talk
much Of chivllry, but in the recent
session of the Mississippi House II
Representatives there have been scenes
of an indcscribable nature. The same
session which refused to consider a bill
for woman suffrage discussed the ad-
verse report of the Judiciary Commit
tee against raising the age OF consent
from IL to Is years. Let every father
and mother think what this means
The r!bald remarks made during the
discussion OF this subject caused the
withdrawal from the House gallery OF
two hundred women who were present
in support of the bill. Not only wers
the women of the State most unchival-
rously ridiculed but the tragic question
Of the defenceless children was humor-
ously treated and joked about
The men OF Virginia raise their hats
IN greeting women and give them thor
seats in street cars, but the virginia
House of Representatives discussed ~
March II, in an uproar of ridiCule, the
question OF woman suffrage. The fat
that women asked the right to taxa
their place beside men In the govern
mcnt ~ their state was in itself enough
70 bring forth the coarsest humor,
\ similar scene was recently enacted
IN the Kentucky House.
The ideal of Chvalry was doubtless
very beautiful but, in the wear OF every
ginning insufficient as a completr pro-
lection FOR the dCfcnCClcss. To-day r.
remains no less insufficient Would
any anti-suffragist consent to de- away
with all laws protecting womcu and
trust only to chivalry to defend 'h'm"
Would women una1m themselves %:
their already hard earned legal pro-
lection TO restore chNalry TO 10, :yr-
mer power?
, Even the aut!-Sufiragisls wnud
probably protest against the rcpcN ~
such laws as give women the rig. -
own property, sign checks, maxi "
divorce unfaithful husbands and share
the control Of their children. Thy
. would surely oppose the repeal az tie
> laws that protect wives from even rrt D.
lated beatngs, young girls from 0' 'lt
sold by their fathers, and husband, tr n
trarioking ia the chastity of tntT
wives.
Vet each one Of these laws is an ""-
, croachmCnt upon the claim cf ch.Na 3
{ to protect the dcfcnCclcSs ny '.'
strength Of a mans arm alone
Chiyalry, although shorn Of So n.l.N
. OF its powers, stll exists. 1t moons
T. something to every ono, suNrag'",S ga
anti suflrapists, l'ut Il seems ,o nh
different things.
' The Chivalry Of the anti-su'rtr''-
y claims for itself alone the power
protect the weak aud wishes lie d''
fcnc,lcSs TO remain unarmcd in 'rl''
to increase the opportunity for rr''"-
ton.
- The ch,yary Of the suNrae,sts W'-'.'
the weak 10 he strengthened ans '"r
y defcncolrsS armed IN order 90 p. +.
= tie need oI prot elton
The sunragists hcu"Yr ti1'
far from disappearing from 'h. - "
e the earth. is developing Into - ne" Az
better type.