At the beginning of 1860 the laws relating to women, as briefly stated by the great jurist, David Dudley Field, were as follows: The elective franchise is confined entirely to men.

A married woman can not sue for her services, as all she earns legally belongs to the husband, whereas his earnings belong to himself, and the wife legally has no interest in them.

Where children have property and both parents are living, the father is the guardian.

In case of the wife's death without a will, the husband is entitled to all her personal property and to a life interest in the whole of her real estate to the entire exclusion of the children, even though this property may have come to her through a former husband and the children of that marriage still be living.

If the husband die without a will, the widow is entitled to one-third of the personal property and to a life interest in one-third only of the real estate.