y to the fathers and mothers
of children dying without wills, was secured by Representative T. A.
Chase in 1894.

Senator O. M. Barber, now State auditor, was the author, in the same
year, of the law allowing a married woman to be appointed executor,
guardian, administrator or trustee.

The father is the legal guardian and has custody of the persons and
education of minor children. He may appoint by will a guardian even
for one unborn. (Code, 1894.)

If the husband fail to support his wife the court may make such
decision as it thinks called for, and the town may recover from a
husband who deserted his wife and children, leaving them a charge upon
it for one year previous to the time of action.

A married woman deserted or neglected by her husband "may make
contracts for the labor of her minor children, shall be entitled to
their wages, and may in her own name sue for and recover them."

In 1886 the "age of protection" for girls was raised from 10 to 14
years. In 1898 it was raised to 16 years. The penalty is imprisonment
in the penitentiary not more than twenty years or a fine not exceeding
$2,000, or both, at the discretion of the court. No minimum penalty is
named.

SUFFRAGE: Women have the same right as men to vote on all questions
pertaining to schools and school officers in cities, towns and graded
school districts; and the same right to hold offices relating to
school affairs. This law, which had been enacted in 1880 and applied
to "school meetings," was re-enacted when the "town system" was
established in 1892, and gave women the right to vote on school
matters in the town meetings.

OFFICE HOLDING: Since 1880 "women 21 years of age" may be elected to
the office of town clerk, and to all school offices.

In 1900 thirteen women were elected town clerks; six were serving as
school directors, eighty-four as county superintendents and
seventy-five as postmasters, according to the Vermont _Register_,
which is not always complete.

Women sit on the State Board of Library Commissioners. In 1900 they
were made eligible to serve as trustees of town libraries.

This year also a law making women eligible to the office of notary
public was secured by Representative J. E. Buxton.

OCCUPATIONS: No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to
women.

EDUCATION: Equal advantages are accorded to both sexes in all the
colleges, except that the State University, at Burlington, does not
admit women to its Medic