e in
any court of justice. She can neither sue nor be sued. She is not
held morally responsible for any crime committed in the presence
of her husband, so completely is her very existence supposed by
the law to be merged in that of another. Think of it; your wives
may be thieves, libelers, burglars, incendiaries, and for crimes
like these they are not held amenable to the laws of the land, if
they but commit them in your dread presence. For them, alas!
there is no higher law than the will of man. Herein behold the
bloated conceit of these Petruchios of the law, who seem to say:

"Nay, look not big, nor stamp, nor stare, nor fret,
I will be master of what is mine own;
She is my goods, my chattels; she is my house,
My household stuff, my field, my barn,
My horse, my ox, my ass, my anything;
And here she stands, touch her whoever dare;
I'll bring my action on the proudest he,
That stops my way, in Padua."

How could man ever look thus on woman? She, at whose feet
Socrates learned wisdom--she, who gave to the world a Saviour,
and witnessed alike the adoration of the Magi and the agonies of
the cross. How could such a being, so blessed and honored, ever
become the ignoble, servile, cringing slave, with whom the fear
of man could be paramount to the sacred dictates of conscience
and the holy love of Heaven? By the common law of England, the
spirit of which has been but too faithfully incorporated into our
statute law, a husband has a right to whip his wife with a rod
not larger than his thumb, to shut her up in a room, and
administer whatever moderate chastisement he may deem necessary
to insure obedience to his wishes, and for her healthful moral
development! He can forbid all persons harboring or trusting her
on his account. He can deprive her of all social intercourse with
her nearest and dearest friends. If by great economy she
accumulates a small sum, which for future need she deposit,
little by little, in a savings bank, the husband has a right to
draw it out, at his option, to use it as he may see fit.

"Husband is entitled to wife's credit or business talents
(whenever their inter-marriage may have occurred); and goods
purchased by her on her own credit, with his consent, while
coha