Part 34 (1/2)

Numbers who might have been restored to reason and usefulness were, in this way, condemned to the horrors of perpetual insanity. Instead of the comforts, kindness and restoration now to be found in the management of the Insane Asylums, the poor lunatic lay in chains in the murderer's cell and howled out his life amid the darkness and foetid exhalations of the h.e.l.l to which he was doomed.

9. North Carolina was thus manfully meeting the requirements of both civilization and humanity; for as the condition of their highways affords the truest test of a people's advancement in civilization, so, also does the provision made for the care and comfort of the unfortunate and helpless afford the highest evidence of a people's progress in humanity.

10. In this memorable session of 1848-49, a still further exemplification of the wisdom of the North Carolina Legislature was seen in their statute for the protection of married women.

Before that time the husband acquired by marriage absolute t.i.tle to his wife's personal estate and a life interest in her real property, and these interests he could sell without her consent.

He could also restrain her of her personal liberty.

11. The statute of this year provided that the husband's interest in the wife's lands should not be subject to sale by the husband without her full and free consent and joinder in the conveyance.

This was to be attested by a privy examination and certificate appended to the deed conveying such lands.

12. A further much needed improvement took place when the ancient English rules allowing the husband the right of personal chastis.e.m.e.nt were also abolished, and this infamous badge of inferiority numbered among the things of the past.

13. There have been periods in the history of all communities when extraordinary development was witnessed. The overthrow of one ancient abuse leads to the correction of another; and thus, in the awakening sympathies of the hour, reformations give way to a new and higher humanity.

QUESTIONS.

1. What is this lesson about? What is said of the period now reached?

2. How was North Carolina feeling the general impulse of improvement?

3. In what condition were the railroads?

4. How far west were the railroads reaching? Which of the roads was obtaining most travel?

5. What important railway is now mentioned? What was to be its extent?

6. Can you describe the pa.s.sage of the ”Railroad Bill” through the Legislature?

7. What charitable inst.i.tutions were provided for at this session? Through whose instrumentality was the appropriation made for the Insane Asylum?

8. What devotion did Miss Dix give to this subject? What had been the disposition of the insane before this?

9. What is said of these internal improvements?

10. What other important law was enacted at this session? Can you tell something of the rights of married women previous to this time?

11. What were the provisions of the new law?

12. What was indicated by these acts of the State?

13. What reflections are made upon this era?

CHAPTER LII.

A SPECTRE OF THE PAST REAPPEARS.

A. D. 1848 TO 1852.

1. The female seminaries of Salem, Raleigh and Greensboro were supplemented, in 1843, in the establishment, by the Chowan and Portsmouth Baptist a.s.sociations, of another female school of high grade, at Murfreesboro. This useful and popular inst.i.tution soon gained reputation and attracted patronage from many of the Southern States. The Edgeworth Seminary at Greensboro was a similar inst.i.tution under Presbyterian rule. It was a worthy rival of its compeers in the education of Southern girls. The University, Wake Forest and Davidson College were advancing their standards and growing in prosperity. The University, especially, under the sagacious administration of ex-Governor Swain, a.s.sisted by an able body of experienced teachers, made great progress.