of her being a married woman. She immediately brought
a suit to test the legality of this decision. This
interesting case was carried to the Supreme Court of the
United States, which sustained the decision of the lower
courts.[364] Miss Hulett had reason to expect that since she
was unmarried, this decision would not prejudice her case.
Just on the threshold of her chosen profession, the rewards
of youthful aspirations and earnest study apparently within
her grasp, her dismay may be imagined when no response
whatever was vouchsafed her petition. A fainter heart would
have accepted the situation. To battle successfully with old
prejudices, entrenched in the strongholds of the law,
required not only marked ability, but also a courage which
could not surrender. Miss Hulett took a country school for
four months, and bravely went to work again. While teaching
and "boarding round," she prepared a lecture, "Justice vs.
The Supreme Court," in which she vigorously and eloquently
stated her case. This lecture was delivered in Rockford,
Freeport, and many other towns, enlisting everywhere
sympathy and admiration in her behalf. After taking counsel
with Lieutenant-Governor Early and other prominent members
of the legislature, she drafted a bill, the provisions of
which are:

_Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois
represented in the General Assembly_, That no person shall
be precluded or debarred from any occupation, profession, or
employment (except military), on account of sex. Provided
this act shall not be construed to affect the eligibility of
any person to an elective office.

Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring any
female to work on streets or roads, or serve on juries. All
laws inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.

Friends obtained for this bill a very favorable introduction
into the legislature, where it passed and received the
Governor's signature. Passing up the steps to her home one
rainy day, the telegram announcing that the bill had become
a law was placed in her hands, and in referring to the
incident, Miss Hu