PREFACE.

This compilation is designed to present, in most compact form, the more nportant laws of California of special interest to women and children. is now reasonable to suppose that the women of this state will take a reater interest in all the laws on the statute books, since henceforth they 'ill share with the men the responsibility of lawmaking. It is true, howver, that there is a comparatively small body of the law which concerns nem especially this will be found in the following pages.

The constitution which all voters, male and female, ought to read careilly, might well have been printed herein entire. But as a state edition › pamphlet form has recently been issued by the Secretary of State, from hom a copy may be obtained, reprinting here has not been considered ecessary. Of the large number of educational enactments only the fundaental "Act to enforce the educational rights of children" has been given; compilation of the "School law of California" may be had from the uperintendent of Public Instruction.

The extracts in this book are arranged numerically under the codes. he Civil Code contains the law covering the rights and duties of the dividual; and the Code of Civil Procedure, the law which shows how ose rights may be enforced. The nature of the Penal Code is sufficiently dicated from its title. The Political Code contains that body of the w which defines the rights, powers and duties of the state, its subdiisions, and its officers.

No comments, notes or citations to cases have been given; as all these ings may be found in the complete codes of California, copies of which re or ought to be accessible in every public library of any size. The tate Library, which contains a very fine law collection, is ready at all mes to assist the citizens of the state in their enquiries.

CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY,

Sacramento, April 13, 1912.