Show SALI LI LAKE LM r p. p F. F fRENCH WO fEN Of MIDDLE AGES WERE VERE I TO VOTE IN CITY ELECTIONS ANCIENT WENT EDICT OF I SUFFRAGE CITED ii i- i Weaker Sex Has Had Voice m Ui Public Affairs for Many Centuries BAD EFFECT OF DIVORCE I Leniency of the Laws Has In 1 Influence I fluence on Persons of i t I All Classes i I k IW n bH Special c l Cable MARQUIS DE CASTELLANE Paris Oct Ila has only an amused smile conservatism for tor the tho tactics or of the English SufI Sut- Sut I fragette hl t n and an credulous hru of the shoulders o shrug for lor the thc exaggerated e reports of the hc h American womans woman's Independence In- In dependence yet et the fact remains mains that the French woman held Important P positions ons man many centuries ago Iii spite or of our advanced civilization r we are still sUII novices no In the thc matter ot of tho civic equality of or the thc ext I Our present pr cour course e sadly belles belies past achievements J in the tho middle ages but hut omen in nt not t only ha had 1 the right to vote voto- certain cases thc they could raise troops execute e. justice coin mono mono levy y taxes and draw up charters CerI I tam tain decrees pronounced by women 7 judges in the thirteenth and four four- Io k i centuries have been f l d tY L. L 3 and nd man many of them arc aro equally as wise as those rendered b by present day mag- mag t. t 1 t An th edict dating as far tar back as 1182 S save men and women equal sion flon of municipal affairs This edict was enforced in thousands of ot French i towns until 1789 In those times Umes there was not so much Inequality between men and women in politics as there was between be be- tween women of or the thc aristocracy and women of ot the bourgeoisie Those ex exten ex- ex ten I rights I have Just mentioned were Wre only accorded to ladles of ot ity However certain privileges were granted anted granted to tho the women of or the people From the time of or thu tho emancipation of tho the communes they thc had a voice in town and village affairs From all Mils tiis we wo sec see that the present may muy well learn from lom tho past Immorality Sanctioned hy should W we disguise It Immorality Immor Immor- ity m Is being regarded more and Ind more moro I IIi favorably ol a b by the civilized ci world world world-at at least by European civilization Of or the growing of oC the ill ill- la Is mainly responsible 0 for or T t this dk How can can t tt working tho-working n j ut U O lUtt M t the upper pp r circles il f Unc- Unc the woman who hog has her rier fourth living husband or her fourth admirer t Not ol only Have c these distinctions been done one at a away with to a great extent In the popular mind but they are dally daily growing less an as regards le legal al rulings The following episode will wm prove the truth of or what I say B By the tho of a n. recent law 1 needy wives and mothers receive a adaily dally daily allowance or of 15 c during during- tho the time that the man of or the house is I in iii camp for tor his obligatory tol military du du- du ties tics At tho the last term terra of or conscript service a man gave ve In the name of his hiB illegitimate illegitimate- wife wiCe as the beneficiary of or the tile governmental allowance using I the discreet title of companion HI His HIa ruse worked so well weIl that his mates followed his example Whether they had equal success I J f t t know But I can state slate positive that this dali dally daily stipend Is to tu any woman which the conscript designates as the mother of or hl his child child Irrespective of legal sanction l cUon to their relationship |