Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1842-01-28

OLD MAlDS.-AmOng the foolish pre1udiceS
which discredit the judgement of mankind.th
prejudices against old maids is one of the most
foolish. The very fact that a lady is an old
maid, is or ought to be, creditable. 1t is an
evidence that she possesses prudence, foresight
and refined taste; admirable qualities in woman.
1t is better to be overly prudent, than not to be
prudent and cautious enough. The old maid
generally has the virtue Of prudence in its per-
fection.-she has had offers of Marriage, no
doubt; what groom of 80 and upwards has not.
She had rejected several suitors. most likely,
and doubtless she had her reasons for so doing.
1t had been well for many welded woman.
had she practiced the same caution. Much
better is it to be happy old maid than mis-
cradle wife. So tho't the old maid. and thought
correctly, when she rejected Messrs. so and
so Perhaps one whom she was consured for
refusing had since proved a drunkard and va
grant, having succeeded in getting wife has
made her eminently wretched. All this mis-
chief the old maid may have foreseen, and by
her prudenc escaped it.
Old maids are often. very often. women Of
superior minds, and such are most likely to he
old maids for more than one reason. In the
first place, they have the discretion to be slow
in selecting their partners for life; and as three
fourths of mankind have not the qualifications
10 make good husbands. it may be supposed
that discreet woman will reject three out of
four Of those who solicit her hand. This of
course makes her chance of happiness much
greater. The second cause WHY sensible wo-
man are apt to become old maids is, that most
men dread them. Yes, it is fact, that most
men dread sensible women. 1t is not un-
common to hear man, who is not fool HIM
self, make disparaging remarks concerning
female Solomons,' 'Patos in petticoats" &c.
Who have ever known very highly gifted la
dies to be popular among their male acquaint-
ances! Men are apt to think that talents do
not belong to the feminine mind; and even
when they have discernment enough to admire
gifted woman as friend or occasional COM
panion, they rarely think of making her a
companion and friend for life. All these things
tendvto show that sensible ard gifted women
are most likely TO be old maids, and the con.
verse Of the opposition holds good, with few
exceptions; nalds are generally sensible
and gifted HS6eH.
Where is thu wpnan who knows how to
conduct business s-ris.she not an old maid -
who are the successful 'aalhoresscs 1.-THE most
merltorious are almost invs<iabIe old maids.
Where is the lady who has bacome eminent
IN any art or science 2-In nine vases ont If
ten she is an old maid. Even your most cela-
brated singers and dancers are unmarried. and
presumed to be old maids Though they sel.
dom allow themselves to look old. Where Is
the woman distinguished or celebrated for any
thing, from Queen Elizabeth to Miss Martini
eau! Ay, search her out, and see an old maid.
OF something truely wonderful and rare, viz !:
an exception from rule very general. Glory
to the old maids !say we.-Let them flourish
let them have statues erected to their honor
let them be eligible to seats in Congress and
places in the Cabinet LET them be generals
IN the army, if the chose and commodores in
the navy. Were we to acknowledge their re-
gard IN all those things, we might End our ac-
count IN lt.--Especially, as NJ. C's, they might
DO better than many, inspautaloons, who have
gone before them.--Give them trial.--Nat.
Gazette.