Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-23
ALEXANDRIA:
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER %, 1918.
OLD MAIDS,


mankind the slaves Of certain prejudfces;
and VIVA, is more to be regretted is that we
find the wise and enlightened not free from
their influence. Among those current in the
worlds that entertained against female ce-
libacy. An old maid is considered sour
enyious, censorious being. Under the de-
Synation Of Tab, she is introduced into the
dramatis persona Of The novelist, as well
as of the dramatic writer {; in fashionable
circles she is considered fair game for the
wit oil the petulant, and the sneer OF the ILL
natured if she don't play al cards, she IS
considered lumber in the drawing-room :
like an antiquated piece Of family furniture
the general wish consigns her to The soli'
tude of the garrett, or the avocations OF the
nursery; and all seem leagued in treating
her with neglect and ridicule. II being TO-
reign 10 my present purpose, | shall decline
entering into any disquisition concerning
he truth of charges made against old maid
enism. | shall only observe, that young
maids and matrons are sometimes censo.
rious, iI.-natured, and possessed of no small
portion Of acid in the composition OF their
tempers TO harbor such sentiments towards
antiddated virginity, in many instances is
unjust il not cruel, and always illiberal.
CeIibacy is either voluntary or oons'raln.
ed. In this country so few embrace SIM
gle life from choice, that, added to those
who may yield to it from necessity, t
can have no sensible effect upon our po-
pulation I've have, in fact, people enough
for all the purposes OF society: and not
outstanding the great consumption OF hu-
man life by war, population is on the in
crease every where so that voluntary &C.
libacy cannot be considered political Of
fence. The injustice o. this pref dice will
appear in stronger light when operating
against involuntary celibacy, or that des-
criplion of maids who would, if they could,
approach the altar OF Hymen, when it is
considered that no criminality can reasona-
bly, be ascribed to what cannotbe remedied
or avoided. The usages Of society, want
of fortune, and other causes, consign fe-
male. TO involuntary celibacy.
Females cannot consistently WOO; they
must be wooed by our sex and such are
the restraints imposed on The fair sex, that
were female to make the first advance to-
wards matrimonial union, she would ex.
pose herself to censure and obloquy, and,
perhaps, render herselfan object OF disgust
to the man whom her inclinations would
select as partner through life but il
there are men in whose breasts advances
on the part Of the female would create dis
gust, there are others whom such conduct
would inspire with partially towards her,
believing it to be the result of fatter-
ing preference so diversely constituted is
the human mind, it sometimes happens
that female in paying an exact respect to
the laws imposed on such occasions, misses
an opportunity of establishing herself for
life, and thus becomes the martyr Of pro.
priety in becoming the victim Of the preju-
dices entertained against female celibacy.
But let US turn our eye TO the old bache-
lor, who may be considered the chief cause
Of the celibacy of females
However exceptionable in principle, or
tainted in conduct, by fashionable view,
the old bachelor meets with indulgence,
and his company is sought after. He makes
one of the company at the card table: he
ils chair at the dinner and supper table
he gives lessons to young misses emancipa-
ted from the boarding school, in the SCI
ence of Irritation and small talk he attends
matrons 10 the playhouse, church, and pla-
ces of public resort now would ask any
dispassonaie person which Of the two des-
criptions of persons is the more respectable,
the antiquated virgin ofirreproachabe con-
duct, who makes herself as useful as her ST.
tuation will allow in domestic life OF the
hoary bachelor, who, being unwilling TO
wed, because he cannot find female pos.
sessed Of equal fortune, connexion and qua
LITIGATION, to what he thinks himself entitled
to, to marry him, abandons himself to a
promiscuous intercourse with the profigate
part of the other sex, or roams about, cor
rupting innocence, or seducing the unsus-
pecting from the paths Of virtue, until at
length he attaches himself to some unfortu-
nate impure, whom he makes the partner
of bis Illicit pleasures during the unexpired