[400] Note this incident, from the _Westminister Review_, October, 1856: "A lady whose husband had been unsuccessful in business established herself as a milliner in Manchester. After some years of toil she realised sufficient for the family to live upon comfortably, the husband having done nothing meanwhile. They lived for a time in easy circumstances after she gave up business and then the husband died, _bequeathing all his wife's earnings to his own illegitimate children_. At the age of 62 she was compelled, in order to gain her bread, to return to business." [401] For a full account of the elaborate machinery see Chitty's note to Blackstone, vol. i, p. 441, of Sharswood's edition. [402] _Holy Living, ch. 3, section I: Rules for Married Persons._ [403] Boswell, vii, 288. Perhaps if the venerable Samuel had had the statistics of venereal disease given by adulterous husbands to wives and children he might not have been so sure of his contention. [404] Quoted by Professor Thomas in the _American Magazine_, July, 1909. [405] See 20 and 21 V., c. 85--Aug. 28. 1857. [406] See 7 Edw., c. 12--Aug. 9, 1907--Matrimonial Causes Act, which also gives the court discretion in alimony. [407] Blackstone, iv, ch. 15. [408] 4 _and_ 5 _V., c._ 56, _s._ 3. [409] The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1885, 48 _and_ 49 _V. c._ 69, section 5: "Any person who (1) unlawfully and carnally knows or attempts to have unlawful carnal knowledge of any girl being of or above the age of thirteen years and under the age of sixteen, or (2) unlawfully and carnally knows or attempts to have carnal knowledge of any female idiot or imbecile woman or girl under circumstances which do not amount to rape, but which prove that the offender knew at the time of the commission of the offence that the woman or girl was an idiot or imbecile, shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the discretion of the Court to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour." Section 4: "Any one who unlawfully and carnally knows any girl under the age of thirteen shall be guilty of felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to be kept in penal servitude for life." Any one who merely attempts it can be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour. CHAPTER VIII WOMEN'S RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES