to be applied to the
maintenance and education of the children or the support of the wife.
The judge assigns the children for their best interests. In general
practice the mother, unless disqualified morally, retains the custody
of female children of any age and of males to the age of eight, when
they are usually given to the father. There is no absolute rule, and
in case of children or property an appeal may be taken to a higher
court.

The father is the natural guardian of the persons and education of the
minor children, and is entitled to be appointed guardian of their
estates.

The law of support, revised in 1895, provides that "if the husband
fail to support the wife or children from the proceeds of the land
_she_ may have or fail to educate the children as the fortune of the
_wife_ would justify, she may in either case complain to the County
Court, which upon satisfactory proof shall decree that so much of
_her_ proceeds shall be paid to the wife for the support of herself
and the education of the children as the court may deem
necessary."[439]

SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.

OFFICE HOLDING: Most of the public offices have some women on their
clerical force, that of the comptroller having seven. They are paid
the same as men for the same work.

Women were postmasters of both Senate and House in the Legislature of
1900, and acted as clerks of committees.

They can serve as notaries public.

OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women. They practice law and medicine, are managers of many kinds of
business and proprietors of hotels, and two have been presidents of
banks.

Mrs. Henrietta King is widely known as "the Cattle Queen of the
World." Her ranch covers a million acres, and the net proceeds of her
sales of horses and cattle are estimated at $500,000 a year. A number
of women own and manage ranches.

EDUCATION: Most of the leading institutions of learning are open to
both sexes. Among these are the State University, Baylor University
(Baptist), Southwestern University (Methodist South), Fort Worth
Polytechnic (Methodist Episcopal), Trinity University (Cumberland
Presbyterian) and Wiley University (colored). Austin College and the
State Agricultural and Mechanical College are restricted to male
students.

The State Industrial College for Girls (white) was established by the
Legislature of 1900, with an appropriation of $60,000. All of the
industries will b