[88] The three peculiars of a women, are her cowyll, her gowyn, and her sarand; the reason these three are called three peculiars, is because they are the three properties of a woman and cannot be taken from her for any cause; her cowyll is what she receives for her maidenhood; her sarand is for every beating given her by her husband, except for three things; and those three for which she may be beaten are, for giving anything she ought not to give; for being detected with another man in a covert; and for wishing drivel on her husband’s beard; and if for being found with another man he chastises her, he is not to have any satisfaction beside that, for there ought not to be both satisfaction and vengeance for the same crime; her gowyn is, if she detect her husband with another woman, let him pay her six score pence for the first offense, for the second, one pound; if she detect him a third time she can separate from him without leaving anything that belongs to her. Aneurin Owen, Professor of Welsh Law.
[89] The law enacts that she ought not to suffer loss on account of the man, since she received no benefit from him, and therefore he is to rear the child. Ancient Laws and Institutions of Wales.
[90] The Welsh laws of Howell the Good were enacted by four laics and two clerks who were summoned lest the laws should ordain anything contrary to scripture. Ibid.
[91] A woman cannot be admitted as surety or as a witness concerning man. Ibid.
[92] Civil Code, Art 340.
[93] The Woman Question in Europe.—T. Stanton. This law of France differs greatly from the old Welsh pre-christian law, which threw the support of an illegitimate child upon the father. Notwithstanding the responsibility thus thrown upon her, a French proverb declares that “the most reasonable woman never attains the sense of a boy of fourteen.”
[94] It was no mere accident that the French language only possessed one word, l’homme, for man, and human being. French law only recognizes man as a human being.—August Bebel.
[95] Legouve—History of Morals of Women.
[96] The baby was born in the next house, and of course I was interested, how can one not be interested when one of these little angels becomes imprisoned in the earth form and begins a career that makes one tremble to think of? Meeting the father a few hours later I ask the customary question. “Another no account girl to be supported,” he said gloomily, and passed on.—Woman’s World. A father of experience spoke differently: “My gals never forget me. They married and went away to their own homes: and though they were none of them well-to-do, yet not one of them ever saw the time she wouldn’t steal a dollar from her husband to give to father or mother; but it isn’t so with the boys. They never knew they owed me anything; they never put their hands in their pockets for me; they never laid awake o’ nights thinking how to scrimp household expenses to get me or mother a present like the gals did. And yet when I was araisin’ ’em I thought one boy was worth a dozen gals.”
[97] See Scandinavian Jurisprudence.