me. They were
calm, direct and as unruffled as though it were the usual order
of things. Those who voted are of the highest social standing.
They received the utmost courtesy at the polls and voted without
any embarrassment whatever.

Numerous changes in the statutes have been made during the past twelve
years, modifying the discriminations against married women under the
old Common Law.

In 1888 it was enacted that a wife might bring action for slander in
her own name and defend her own character.

The last of these improved laws went into effect in 1898, when the
inheritance of property was made the same for widow and widower.
Absolute control of her own estate was vested in the wife. Power was
given her to make contracts and bring suit, and she alone was to be
liable for her own actions.

Inequalities still exist, however, in regard to divorce and
guardianship of children. The fifth ground for absolute divorce is as
follows: "Where the woman before marriage has been guilty of illicit
carnal intercourse with another man, the same being unknown to the
husband at the time of marriage." A similar act on the part of the
husband prior to the marriage does not entitle the wife to a divorce.

The father has complete control of the minor children and may appoint
a guardian by will. If he die without doing so the mother becomes
their natural guardian, but her control over a daughter terminates at
eighteen years of age while the father's continues to twenty-one. This
power of appointing a testamentary guardian was created by an act of
Charles II, and adopted as a part of the laws of Maryland. It gives
the father power, by deed or will, to dispose of the custody and
tuition of his infant children up to the age of twenty-one, or until
the marriage of the daughters. It gives him custody of their persons
and all their real and personal estate, not only such as comes from
his family, but all they may acquire of any person soever, even from
the family of the mother. The guardian is placed _in loco parentis_
and his rights are generally regarded as paramount.

For non-support of the family the husband may be fined $100 or
imprisoned in the House of Correction not exceeding one year, or both,
at discretion of the court. (1896.)

Wife-beaters are punished by flogging or imprisonment.

In 1899 women succeeded in having the "age of protection" for girls
raised from 14 to 16 years, with penalty ranging from de