Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-13
THE WOMAN ON THE JURY
Why Does She Tolerate Diseonfort
and Nesleet?--New Secretary Of
the Pennsylvania German So
ciety-Dr. Finegan and
the Authors
By GEORGE NON Mccain

that they have the vote. certain derelctions
on the part of the masculine officials.
Particularly courthouse officials.
One, in particular, deserves both atten.
ton and censurc.
1t is the total lack OF the most ordinary
convenicnces for comfort and privacy where
women serving on a jury are compelled TO
remain out overnight in the discharge of
their duty as citizens.
In the vast majority Of rural courthouscs
accommodation for men jurors. hung UP
from dark till dawn. are of the most primi.
tive character.
They are forced to dozc on chairs. sleep
on the floor. or snatch few winks stretched
out on a table.
The object seems to be TO make their
period of jury duty as barren of comfort as
possible.
Presumably. the scheme is to hurry their
deliberations and compel verdict in the
shortest space of time.
The idea is monstrous.
IN THE case Of women jurors it borders
L on sheer barbarity to force them to ac-
cort discomfor, and a coarse neglect that
would shame the poorest home.
The Montgomery courthouse in Norris.
town has no facilities whatever for the ac-
commodation Of women Jurors detained over
night
II Is comparatively new and Is a hand
some and commodious structure.
II was erected. Of course. before equal
suffrage became III" law Of the land
But in the interim. and in antcipat ton Of
such n contingency some arrangement for
women jurors comfort should have been
devised.
A JURY the other day was held over.
n night There were two women upon ii.
1t was the first occasion Of the kind in
the county.
When night came they bundled into the
Grand Jury room. where couches had been
arranged. but where they were compelled to
sleep without any covering except their
capcs or cloaks.
A woman tipstaf sat, or nodded, all night
at the door
The room was steam heated, but that fact
could not offset the lack Of the ordinary
necessities and niceties of everyday life.
IT the purpose of this sort of treatment
and it is by no means peculiar to Mont
eomcry County-is to discourage women from
serving on juri"S il may accomplish its
purpose.
doubt. however. If the woman voter will
accept with compacenry very much of that
sort Of thing.
\ threat TO take ii out al the polls. ,lpon
ofhciais guilty of such carelessncss. would
bring the offenders to their feet with a salute
or acqnlescenc" in mighty short order.
TNllE Pennsylvania German Society has
L secured as its secretary. in place of the
late Dr. Neads, of Reading. one of the most
erudltc men in this State.
He is not only a Pennsylvania German
par excellence. but he is also q scholar, a
bibliophc and historian.
refer TO DIR. i. +. s. johnson. of Here
ford Township. Berks County, Just across
the line from Montgomery.
Ills ancestry. on his mohers side. goes
back to the early eighteenth century in the
German settlements Of Eastern Pennsyl-
Vania.
He is n Princeton man Of 1890. q grad.
uatc of Hartford Theological Seminary. and
bears the degree Of doctor Of philosophy.
lie is clergyman.
Tn 1904 while DR.. johnson was pastor of
L the church at Thirtict and Cumberland
streets. this city. he was appointed editor of
the Corpus Schwcnkfcldianorum by the
Hoard of Publication of the Schwenkcr-
fielder Church.
II is the historical and literary body Of
that denOminat ion aud it is located in
Wolfenbuettel, Germany.
From 1904 10 1918 DR.. johnson and his
family resided in Germany.
lie had in the meantime been elected chief
of the editorial staff.
At the outbreak OF the World War the
American members fuDind themselves unable
to leave Germany.
They had an immense library of books
aud historical documents which could not
be removed 10 the United States under Tho
circumstances.
They remained in Germany until after the
arniStice.
In this way Dr.. Johnson WAS enabled 20
preserve this most valuable col"ctiOn of his
torica material.
When landed in New York il comprlscd
fourteen tons of invaluable records
nR. JOHNSON brought this material TO
- Pcnnsburg. where it is now being or-
ranged under his care.
Ipon assuming his duties as secretary of
the pennsylvania German Society he opened
his headquarters in III" Schwcnkfc.der His
torical Library IN Pcnnsburg
In addition to these duties. DR.. johnson
is president of the Historical and Natural
Science Society of tn" Pcrkiompn Region.
and Is member Of hc Board of Trustees
OF PCrkiomen School
Numerous Europcan historical socIcties
have elected him 10 honorary membcrship,,
il" is also pastor Of the Hereford Men
MONTE Church at Baly.
DR. THOMAS T.. FINEGAN. Superin.
II t"ndcnt Of Public Instruction. through
his assistant director uf the Administration
bureau, Prof. &. r. lloban, is engaged upon
work that * Of interest to every author
and writer in Iii" STAT.
lie has begun n collection of the pubIica
tons OF Pennsylvania authors. which are 10
| be placed N the Education Binding us n
memorial TO the literary mon of the Com.
monwealth
Prof. lloban does no state il his ter 10
| authors whether or not he proposes TO in.
! cludr the historical. statistical, educational
| biographical and literary work generally OF
| Pennsylvania authors since the time Penn.
! sylvania was named after its immortal
| founder.
! Or. without further source Of information,
| whether it is TO bc collection of the works
| of living literati and fctionists:
| If the former, then he has some job on
! his hands.
! When h" completes his work he shon]d
have tho most superb library Of Pcnnsylva.
! ntana on the hemisphere.
! do not know Of any project along the
! literary lin" that Is more 10 be commended.
Attention Of Thomas Lynch Montgomery.
PennSNivAnia Historical Society. and John
.Ashurst City Librarian, please
JiI.,,n,