Arizona republican., 1919-12-02

BY GRACE JOHNSTON
 When our states were casting about for a set of laws to govern the people someone came forward with Black stones writing of the common law of England. It was a wonderful bundle of laws and it was adopted in toto by practically all our states. This old common law of Blackstone contained many discriminations against woman. It made the husband sovereign of the household and the wife an adult child.'
 To this day, all our states which in herited the law of England retain on against wives which trace back to the common law of Blackstone.
 Is Her Mind Unsound
 In regard to the wife's separate property (realty or personality which was hers at marriage), the laws of many states handicap wives. Unless she prevents it by legal process a woman's property can be levied on for her husbands debts in some states. In a great many states, a wife cannot dispose of her real property or land without her husbands consent. She Gd1nOI ulSUOSt LII ltf ptISO plOp- erty in some states without such con- sent.
 In regard to the wffe's separate business, the laws of the states con- tain some annoying remnants of the old common law. Two states, Louis jana and West Virginia, class wives as unfit to make legally binding con- tract. The husbands consent is re- ;,, ct hafnro a mifn ms enter into a contract In West Vir- ginia, Michigan and Alabama she can not go into business without her hus- bands approval
 A married woman cannot go surety without her husbands consent in some states, even though she have property of her own which would cover the amount involved. In a number of states women may not be stockholders or incorporators in a business com pany. A woman who has husband cannot be administratrix of an estate or execftrix of will in some states and in others she cannot sue without her husbands consent.
 When a Woman Earns
 In regard to a wife's earnings and | profits, the laws of most states say | lUdl lHt Nllc dquCNS OA gains are her own-~but with limita- 1 tions. In a number of states they are her own only if she lives separate | from her husband. In six or more states the law says that a wife can not demand pay for work in her hus- the old days. In that day the monas tery had been built-and the church and afterward, house by house, anC street by street, San Jose had come int existence. But the hacienda was there first-an original grant at the time O the conquest. The dukes of Rimine. had always owned it until lately-ver. lately, in fact, since the armistice, l had passed to Dr. Curtis. But whethe Curtis was a Mexican or an American or a Spaniard. Don Pedro would no say. He had a vehicle to take me t the hacienda at my convenience.
 It suited my convenience to go a once.
 The administrator received me, tn hacendado was away from home.
 I had come from the States, I sai' gravely, to take charge of the littl ward whom the haeendado had recentl adopted.
 It was long chance-and wa amazed to see it win.
 There was such a child, the admin istrator admitted and they had bee expecting a governess for week! Blu 1t had been reported that the senor had been seized by bandits only a feV days previous to my appearance. Bu reports-? The administrato shrugged his shoulders and regarde me gravely. I might remain-if would condescend to accept hospitalit. The doctor himself would return three days. He would decide whethe I was the right governessi
 From which wisdom I knew tha within three days I must have Bab Babs in my arms, somewhere up to ward the border.
 And not even Morrison could hel me. l must manage it alone. fTo Re COntinuedl