SECOND EDITIONREVISED, WITH ADDITIONS
In this edition a chapter has been added, bringingdown to date the record of the contest forequal suffrage. The summary on pages 175-235is now largely obsolete; but it has been retainedas instructive evidence of the rapid progress madeduring the last four years.
E.A.H.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.August, 1914.
While making some researches in the evolutionof women's rights, I was impressedby the fact that no one had ever, as far as I coulddiscover, attempted to give a succinct account ofthe matter for English-speaking nations. Indeed,I do not believe that any writer in any countryhas essayed such a task except Laboulaye; andhis Recherches sur la Condition Civile et Politiquedes Femmes, published in 1843, leaves much tobe desired to one who is interested in the subjectto-day.
I have, therefore, made an effort to fill a lack.This purpose has been strengthened as I havereflected on the great amount of confused informationwhich is absorbed by those who have notime to make investigations for themselves.Accordingly, in order to present an accurate historicalreview, I have cited my authorities forall statements regarding which any question couldbe raised. This is particularly so in the chapterswhich deal with the condition of women underRoman Law, under the early Christian Church,and under Canon Law. In all these instances Ihave gone directly to primary sources, haveinvestigated them myself, and have admittedno secondhand evidence. In connection withWomen's rights in England and in the UnitedStates I have either consulted the statutes orstudied the commentaries of jurists, like Messrs.Pollock and Maitland, whose authority cannotbe doubted. To such I have given the exactreferences whenever they have been used. Inpreparing the chapter on the progress of women'slights in the United States I derived greatassistance from the very exhaustive History ofWoman Suffrage, edited by Miss Susan B.Anthony, Mrs. Ida H. Harper, and others towhose unselfish labours we are for ever indebted.From their volumes I have drawn freely; but Ihave not given each specific reference.
The tabulation of the laws of the several Stateswhich I have given naturally cannot be entirelyadequate, because the laws are being changedconstantly. It is often difficult to procure thelatest revised statutes. However, these laws arerecent enough to illustrate the evolution of women'srights.
Finally, this volume was written in no hope thatall readers would agree with the author, who iszealous in his cause. His purpose will be gainedif he induces the reader to reflect for himself onthe problem in the light of its historical development.
E.A.H.
CAMBRIDGE, MASS., 1910.
WOMEN'S RIGHTS UNDER ROMAN LAW, 27 B.C.-527 A.D.
Originally women were always under guardianship—Butunder the Empire the entire equality of the sexes wasrecognised—Women in marriage—Their power overtheir property—Divorce—Women engaged in all businesspursuits—Instances of women suing and pleadingin law—Partiality of the law towards women—Rightso