trons, 2; visiting committee of State Reform School, one; trustees
of Westbrook Seminary, 3; Stenographic commissioners, 4; trustees of
Girls' State Industrial School, 2; principal of same, one; matrons of
same, 3.

There are fifteen women justices of the peace, with authority to
administer oaths and solemnize marriages.

Women are eligible also as deputy town clerk and register of probate.
They can not serve as notaries public.

OCCUPATIONS: As early as 1884 Maine had women lawyers, ministers,
physicians, authors and farmers. No occupation is forbidden them by
law, and they are found in all departments of work. Since 1887 the
working day for women and children is limited to ten hours.

EDUCATION: The educational advantages accorded to women are equal to
those of men. Bates College, Colby College and the State University,
including the Agricultural Department, were opened to them before
1884. Bowdoin College alone does not admit women.

There are in the public schools 1,020 men and 5,427 women teachers.
The average monthly salary of the men is $35; of the women, $27.20.

* * * * *

During the past ten years the literary club movement has done an
immense amount of educational work, and Maine was the first State to
federate. In 1899 the federation instituted a system of traveling
libraries, which has become a great power for good in the rural
districts, and several clubs circulate libraries of their own. It also
has secured minor bills on educational matters.

In 1893 two important institutions were established--the Home for
Friendless Girls, in Belfast, and the Home for Friendless Boys, in
Portland. There are also other homes for children.

In 1894 the Invalids' Home (now the Mary Brown Home, in honor of its
founder) was incorporated. Any woman in Portland of good character may
be admitted to it for $3 a week.

All of the above were organized by women, and are managed by them.

This in brief is the history of woman's progress in the Pine Tree
State since 1884.

FOOTNOTES:

[296] The History is indebted for this chapter to Mrs. Lucy Hobart Day
of Portland, president of the State Suffrage Association, whose work
is done under the motto, "In order to establish justice."

[297] State officers for 1900: President, Mrs. Lucy Hobart Day;
vice-president-at-large, Mrs. S. J. L. O'Brion; vice-president, Mrs.
Sarah Fairfield Hamilton; corresponding secretary, Miss Anne Burgess;
rec