Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-09-29
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER go. 1918.

Gazette, so favorable to Ola MAIDS; but
am nevertheless happy in believing that the
author will not find many TO agree with
him in his opinions. Doctor Johnson says,
marriage has many pains, but cellbacy
has no pleasures - and, in truth, the SEN
timents of your correspondent are SO much
at variance with the feelings and, opinions
of all associated beings, whether civilized
or savages, that should rather suppose he
was some Old Bachelor who was only en-
deavoring to argue himself into good OPT
Mon Of a condition which he does not halt
like; and by way Of putting the best lace
possible upon it, stands forward 10 vindl-
cate the state of the venerable sisterhood.
| own they have some right to be proud OF
such champion; for his observations are
ingenious and well written, and bis reason
ing plausible, considering the difficulty OF
his undertaking. We generally feel in
clned to pity those who are compelled to
remain in any condition oflife against their
inclinations; and it will probably be al
lowed that, however they may disguise
their sentiments in conversation, 1t IS the
first and natural wish Of every young wo-
man to get suitably married, and that there
is not one old maid in thousand who is in
thsts;tuation, by her own choice I: for 1t IS
not likely that any "young lady" would
voluntarily yield to that dreadful destiny"
which she would consider as the highest
affiont to imagine likely 10 befal her," and
which has appeared to her "the most me-
lancholy upon earth" | readily grant that
many maids Of fifty or sixty can boast OF
several offers made to them, when their
charms were yet unfaded, and who there
fore say, with an air of triumph, Z" / might
hare been married. This, however, is
far from saying that they preferred single
life for if might, with due difference,
hazard conjecture, (and God forbid that
| should srantonly disturb the tongue of an
old maid) should suppose that such offers
were declined, not from an appetite for
single life. but because the offers did not
suit the ladies' expectations-and because
a secret vanity whispered to them that they
had charms to procure more advantageous
ones. The arguments of your correspon-
dent in favor of old maidenhood, may be
successfully turned against 1t. 1.-THE mar.
rage state does not possess the comforts OF
a single life, il is at least exempt from its
evils--from the misery arising from disap-
pointed hopes-and from the envy produ-
ced by the sight of another in possession OF
pleasures long and ardently wished tor +;
and which the inability to enjoy had greatly
exaggerated beyond their real value
Every situation in life has pains and plea
sures peculiar to itself; but ] believe the
pleasures of single life are so very few
and so little eligible, that they are seldom
thought an equivalent for its many discom-
forts, privations and notifying circumstap-
ces. Though there are, no doubt, many
unfortunate unions which destroy the peace
Of both parties, there are also many which J
though unnoticed in the tranquility CT
noiseless life, live in bliss, and
"-Whom love cements in holy faith ,
" And equal transport -
So loo, il there are some virtuous old maids
who can look without malignity at the hap I
piness of others, how many more shall we
find whose peevishness and morosenesS rem
der them burthensome to themselves and
greatest enjoyment is to
scandalize the character Of married women,
whom they envy while they affect to des-
pise them p" Independence" will be found
a poor consolation for the many solid pri-
vations Of single life. Let US take the
opinion of the greatest human investigator
Of the nature OF our species mark what
says:
Earthlier happy isbe rose distill'd,
Than that which whitening on the virgin
thorn,
Grows, lives, and dies, in single blessed
ness.
Besides, cannot be easily persuaded that
a single woman has ii in her power to do
more good than married one. believe
that il is in most cases exactly the re. .
verse. A lady with whom am acquainted,
besides "being always busy in promoting
the happiness Of all around hers" be- !.
sides acting the parts Of physician, &c. to
the poor of the village in which she lives;"