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.
Women do not serve on the board of any State institution.
They can not be notaries public.
Occupations: Women are not permitted to practice law. No other profession or occupation is legally forbidden to them.
Education: In 1894 the State University at Columbia opened its doors to women. In the same year the Medical College of Charleston admitted them, and still later Furman University (Baptist) at Greenville. These were direct results of the agitation for equal rights Charleston College and Clemson Agricultural College are closed to women, but they may enter the other educational institutions. Gov. Benjamin R. Tillman was largely instrumental in securing the Girls' Industrial and Normal College at Rock Hill, in 1894.
In the public schools there are 2,245 men and 2,728 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $25.18; of the women, $24.29.
