ored woman, Charlotte Ray of New
York, was graduated from the law class of Howard University and
admitted to the bar with the class. Of the fifteen women who
entered the National University only two completed the course,
viz., Lydia S. Hall, and Belva A. Lockwood. The former never
received her diploma. The latter, after an appeal to President
Grant, received her diploma, and was admitted to the district
bar, September 23, 1873. Since that period Emma M. Gillett,
Marilla M. Ricker, and Laura DeForce Gordon have been admitted to
the district bar, and there seems to be no longer any hindrance
to such admissions. The above-named have all appeared in court,
and a number of other ladies have been graduated in the district.
Women have also been appointed notaries public, and examiners in
chancery.

In the profession of medicine there has been more liberality. Dr.
Susan A. Edson and Dr. Caroline B. Winslow have been in full
practice here since the close of the war. Dr. Mary Parsons and
Dr. Cora M. Bland and others, are practicing with marked success.
Last year there were fourteen women duly registered with the
health department, and they all seem to be in good standing.
Howard University has admitted women to its medical classes for
some years, and both white and colored women have availed
themselves of the privilege. Last year Columbia College opened
its doors in the medical department, with a suggestion that the
classes in law and theology may soon be opened also.

Many women in the district within the last few years have entered
into business for themselves, as they are now permitted to do
under the law of 1869, and are milliners, merchants,
market-women, hucksters. In the art of nursing, which has been
reduced to a science, they have free course.

In 1871, a large number of ladies tried to register in the city
of Washington. They marched in solid phalanx some seventy[527]
strong to the registrar's office, but were repulsed. They tried
afterwards to vote, but were refused, whereupon Mrs. Spencer sued
the inspectors, and Mrs. Webster sued the registrars, so testing
their rights in two suits in the Supreme Court of the
District.[528]

In 1866 Jane G. Swisshelm commenced the publication of a liberal
sheet in the District of Columbia, kn