personal estate. If there are neither descendants nor kin—brothers, sisters, their descendants, father nor mother—the widow has the entire real estate for her life, and all the personal estate absolutely. If a child of the marriage was born alive, whether living or dead at the death of the wife, the widower has her entire real estate during his life, and the whole of her personal estate absolutely, subject to all legal claims. If there has not been a child born alive, the widower has a life-interest in one-half of her real estate, but the whole of her personal estate absolutely.
The father is the legal guardian of the children, and he alone may appoint a guardian at his death.
For failure to support his wife and minor children, a man may be fined from $10 to $100; and, by Act of 1887, arrested and required to give bail not exceeding $500. The court may order him to pay reasonable support not exceeding $100 per month and give security to the State. If he fail to comply, he may be committed to jail. The wife is competent as a witness.
Suffrage: The women in Milford, Townsend, Wyoming and Newark who pay a property tax are privileged to vote for Town Commissioners in person or by proxy. All such women in the State may vote for School Trustees.
Office Holding: In January, 1900, the Supreme Court denied the application of a woman to practice at the bar, on the ground that a lawyer is a State officer and all State officers must be voters.
In the one city of Wilmington women are eligible as school directors, but none ever has been elected.
A woman factory inspector was appointed by the Chief Justice in 1897, and reappointed in 1900.
Women never have served as notaries public.
Occupations: Only the practice of law is legally forbidden.
Education: Delaware has one college, at Newark, which receives State funds. Women were admitted in 1872, and during the next thirteen years eighty availed 'themselves of its advantages. It was then closed to them. The only High School in the State, at Wilmington, is open to girls.
There are in the public schools 211 men and 643 women teachers. It is impossible to obtain their average salaries.
