fering with the sanctity of the home! But the law can step in, as
it has in some provinces, and prevent a man from leaving his wife with
only "her keep." The law is a reflection of public sentiment, and when
people begin to realize that women are human and have human needs and
ambitions and desires, the law will protect a woman's interest. Too
long we have had this condition of affairs: "Ma" has been willing to
work without any recompense, and "Pa and the boys" have been willing to
let her.

Of course, I know, sentimental people will cry out, that very few men
would leave their wives in poverty--I know that; men are infinitely
better than the law, but we must remember that laws are not made to
govern the conduct of good men. Good men will do what is right, if
there were never a law; but, unfortunately, there are some men who are
not good, and many more who are thoughtless and unintentionally cruel.
The law is a schoolmaster to such.

There are some places, where a law can protect the weak, but there are
many situations which require more than a law. Take the case of a man
who habitually abuses and frightens his family, and makes their lives a
periodic hell of fear. The law cannot touch him unless he actually
kills some of them, and it seems a great pity that there cannot be some
corrective measure. In the states of Kansas and Washington (where
women vote) the people have enacted what is known as the "Lazy
Husband's Act," which provides for such cases as this. If a man is
abusive or disagreeable, or fails to provide for his family, he is
taken away for a time, and put to work in a state institution, and his
money is sent home to his family. He is treated kindly, and good
influences thrown around him. When he shows signs of repentance--he is
allowed to go home. Home, very often, looks better to him, and he
behaves himself quite decently.

Women outlined this legislation and it is in the states where women
vote that it is in operation. There will be more such legislation,
too, when women are given a chance to speak out!

A New Zealander once wrote home to a friend in England advising him to
fight hard against woman suffrage. "Don't ever let the wimmin vote,
Bill," he wrote. "They are good servants, but bad masters. Over there
you can knock your wife about for five shillings, but here we does jail
for it!"

The man who "knocks his wife about" or feels that he might some day
want to knock her about, is o