The Washington times., 1914-03-10

the latter case, the hours conflict,
white in the former womans
working hours and her play hours
are the same as those OF man.
Too Many Barriers.
Woman has had barriers torn
down for her in the practice OF her
profession, but there still are too
many obstacles in the way Of her
acquiring a legal knowledge, Mrs.
Mussey thinks.
There is no place in the dis
trict now where a white woman
may study medicine" she declar-
ed. Women are taxed the same
as men, but in half of the States
they are not admitted to state uni
versities and colleges. Even in
Boston there has been but one
law school for years, until the for
matiOn, just a few weeks ago. of
another school, called the 'Portia
class
"In the South. conditions are
worst of all. In Georgia and Nir-
gin women are precluded from
taking the bar examinations. We
are making a valiant fight to over
come that, and within the last
few weeks. the club women Of At
lanta have started concerted
SIlpTC 10 a'!O" "OltiS1 Oh lHdt
State to practice law.
One Girls Record.
Il am corresponding now with a
bright Georgia girl. who wants to
study law but can find no way to
do it. She has been studying alone,
and her unaided progress. from what
she tells me, would surpass the rec
ords Of many male students in law
schools.
Woman are not admitted TO Har-
ward Law School nor to Columbia
University Law School. At the Uni
vers:ty of Pennsylvania, Dean Lewis,
an ardent supporter of women in the
professions. has had the ban on our
Sex removed. There is no law
school open to women in Baltimore"
Aside from their natural diffidence
In talking to men about their affairs,
there are psychological reasons,
Mrs. Mussey believes. whv women
ultimately will demand women law
yers.
1T is almost Impossible for the
average man TO understand the aver
age womans depth of ignorance in
business matters. Mrs. MuSSey said.
Like one woman I knew. who said
that. when consulting her lawyer,
she always looked wise and said
their absolute 'ack of acquaintance
with the elemental prime pies Of bust
ness and legal procedure.
Puzzle By Income Tax.
Il have Just returned from At
lantic City, where 1 stopped at
hotel where there were several
wealthy women who were com
pletelv fiabbergasted by the income
tax. The new law is somewhat
complicated, but it is nothiI to lie
awake nights about. as far as 1t
affected them. ! explained % ha "A
dozen women what was eXpec,ed
from them. and their gratitude was
almost pathetic"
Though no woman has yet attained
prc-emlnent place in the law. Mrs
Mussey sald. Washington afforded
numerous examples OF successful
women lawyers She ci ed Ida May
Meyers are having the largest
practice in this city before the
Court OF Claims, and said Emma
Gillette had won prestige as an au-
thOr.ty on real estate law.
Government work affords splen-
did openings and department heads
are welcoming women wi. h Il legal
training" Mrs. Mussey said. Les
lie NJ. Shaw, when Secretary Of tlc
Treasury. asserted that he would fill
as many ogal PAGES with women as
le could, and James Wickersham
followed the same policy while he
was Attorney General. Secretary
Bryan, whose wife studied law. is
an advocate Of professional women.
Won By Study.
Recently bright and pretty
young girl. employed 8s a stenog-
rapher, came to consult me about
taking up law. She had i quick
mind but could see no special
reason why she should have wanted
to take up law. ~>e to me she had
d chance for promotion. but that a
man was put ahead of her because
he had a slight legal know edge.
THE next time a chance like
that comes along 1 am going to be
ready for it she declared.
she did rtudy law. and she did
get her promotion. That is the kind
Of spirit that is putting women for
ward IN both business and the pro-
fess.ons. II is TIE sort of spirit
which the right sort Of a man will
admire. 1t Is the mediocre men who
decry women's advance