The father is the legal guardian of the children, and may appoint a guardian of their persons and property by will.
The law requires the husband to support the family, but there is no effective way for its enforcement. Any one may sell the wife necessaries and subject the husband's property to the payment of the bills, if he does not furnish a suitable support, but he can claim his homestead against such a debt and in many ways render this remedy unavailing.
In 1895 the "age of protection for girls" was raised from 10 to 14 years. The penalty is "death, with privilege of the jury to recommend to mercy, whereupon the penalty may be reduced to imprisonment in the penitentiary at hard labor during the whole lifetime of the prisoner."
Seduction under promise of marriage is punished by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $5,000, or imprisonment for not less than six months nor more than five years.
Suffrage: Women possess no form of suffrage.
Office Holding: In the early '90's Gov. Benjamin R. Tillman secured the election of the first woman State librarian. Ever since this office has been filled by a woman, elected annually by the Legislature. No other elective office is open to women.
A number of the engrossing clerks in the Senate are women.
Through the efforts of the W. C. T. U. there is a police matron at Charleston.
Dr. Sarah Allen was appointed physician in the State hospital for the insane in 1896, and still holds the position.
There are women directors on the board of the Columbia Library Association.