iving, the widow or
widower has one-third of the personal property, and all of it if there
are none. A homestead to the value of $1,000 is exempted for either.

If a child die possessed of property and without descendants or a will
the father is heir to all of it; if he is dead, the mother inherits
only an equal share with each of the remaining children. If both
parents and all brothers and sisters are dead, the grandfather is the
sole heir; he failing the grandmother shares equally with her
surviving children.

The husband can convey his separate property without his wife's
signature. The wife can not sell or encumber her separate property
without her husband's consent.

The father is the legal guardian of the minor children. If a widow
remarry the guardianship of the children of the first husband passes
to the second, and she can not even appoint a guardian at her death.
No married woman can be a guardian.

The husband is required to furnish support adequate to his property
and position in life.

In 1897 the legal age of marriage for girls was raised from twelve to
sixteen years.

The "age of protection" remains at 12 years. Formerly the penalty was
death or, in the discretion of the jury, imprisonment for not less
than seven nor more than twenty years. In 1891 it was enacted that it
might be regarded as a felony and punished by imprisonment in the
penitentiary not less than two nor more than ten years. Through the
efforts of women bills to raise the age have been repeatedly
introduced but always have been defeated.

SUFFRAGE: Women possess no form of suffrage.

OFFICE HOLDING: In 1887 Dr. Harriet B. Jones was appointed assistant
hospital physician in the State insane asylum, with the same salary
paid the men physicians. She was the first woman ever appointed to
such a position in a State institution in West Virginia. On her
resignation she was succeeded by Dr. Luella F. Bullard, who still
holds the office.

To the untiring energy of Dr. Jones is due the State Industrial Home
for Girls. During two sessions of the Legislature she remained at the
capital, entirely at her own expense and leaving a lucrative practice,
to urge the need of this institution. At length $10,000 were
appropriated for this purpose in 1897 and $20,000 more in 1899. Now a
girl committing a minor offense is no longer placed in jail or in the
penitentiary while her brother for the same misdeed is sent to the
Reform School. Dr. Jones was