Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-27
From the Home Journal.
INTERESTING TO LADIES.
why ARE THERE so MANY OLD MAIDS 2
ny GES1o C. SCOTT.

WHY ARE THERE so MANY OLD MAIDS
PASSING by the subjects which float upon
| the surface of events, we woald, as exclusive.
| ~ as possible, confine our inquiries to dues.
| tions more occult, and to those themes which
most deeply interest that branch OF the refined
readers of the Home Journal which it is oul
| peculiar privilege TO address. And while the
question here submitted has been answered in
II Thousand ways, yet the reasons assigned
have G, nerally been local in their tendency
| application, and consequent influence and
instead of the interest about it waning, it ac.
| quires more Importance by the fact that sew.
eral causes Which are entitled to the joint pa.
ternity of gle.blessedness," are on the in
crease in our cities and large towns.
Whether or not the army OF antique rpinis
ters is increasing, is subject OF wcighty i'm
portance to the philosophical thinker, who re
alizes that the happiness Of family does no
so much derend uptn the material of tht
building in which it is housed-nor whethe
its front be of wood, brick, brown-stone, o.
marble-as it does on whether all of its in
| mates are SO provided against the evils of adj
versity as to to yield them an abiding sense
of position and security against the wiles oi
mcn-animals who are possessed of wealth.
but accursed with low natures and vicious
| habits.
The special evil to the women of our day
and country, and the one which many noble
souls are contending against, is a state of per-
sonal dependence. Fathers do not think seri-
ously enough Of this subject, especially those
who reside in cities, and who depend on the
uncertain career of commerce for the support
Of their families and for guarding them against
what under many of the emergencies to which
humanity is constantly liable. The heads OF
families in our cities are too apt to rely on the
chances of matrimonial alliance tor their
daughters happiness and independence and
this is not only one of the most fertile causes
of weakening extravaganza in the outlays for
furniture, ,equipage, and parurC, but its tend
ency is to keep young ladies ignorant Of the
necessary qualifications Tor becoming suitable
wives for the young merchants and artisans Of
their own class. 1t is true, also, that the par
ents sometimes refine away a young lady's
chance of an eligible and happy matrimonial
alliance, by unbalancing her mind with book
learning, and preventing her from ! rning
anything elSei so that the young lady is not to
blame for looking down upon clerks and APP
prentices. and thus waiting for her heavenly
match of prince, until she becomes hopeless
ly old maidlSh, and the subject of the mrth of
her acquantances who left her, many years
previously, to her SINGLE blessedneSs, while
they contented themselves with 's doing well''
by marrying those OF their own class.
We regard the young merchants and arti-
sans OF our cities as far above, and superior to
those engaged in the same callngs in any 9TH
et part vi iHe WOTlu anu Mnlie some silly
singer or lawyers clerk might be favorably ia
tiuenced by the personal display OF family or
young lady, the sharp practice with the
world which merchants and artisans find ne
cessary, soon teaches them that " they can
not atfori the luxury''-that money, by legiti-
mate business, cannot be rapidly accumulated;
and that, with all their tact, talent and per
severance, they may still fail in business
They, therefore, fear TO assume the RESPONSE
n mn bpr fhau
with large pretensions and unlimited ambition;
while, on the other hand, they do not look for
money with a wife. Ii is now out of fashion
with our young artisans and merchants to
marry for money. They wish to achieve great
ness with congcnitl partner for life, and the
scarcity Of eligible matches of this kind in
duees many Of them to stifie the best emotion
of humanity, rather than marry a woman who
they feel doubtful of being able to support in
style commensurate with their affection for
her, when considering what she has been used
TO, and what she expects according to her
bringing up and education. They may be
wrong in their conclusion, and when being told
that they should marry for love alone, and
trust to that for guiding tho wife, they reply
Shat the argument may have once had weight:
but since the Introduction of SO woman,s
rights conventions" and H clothes reform, as
sociations; It has no power. Many of our
young men of intelligence and good business
poSltlonsJ therefore, place themselves beyond
the influence Of the sex, by heIdIng, as it
were, together, as the stray oxen of society,
and occupying stalls large enough for single
bed, in one of our fashionable hotels, and
rushing to fodder at the sound of the bell, or
the more hdeous gong.
We do not write from common rumor, but
from personal knowledge. The society Of this
metropolis would be much more happy, il
more earnest in the pursuit Of personal inde-
pendence. Shams OF all kinds are sufficiently
exceptionable but Of all the iollies Of this
etfervescent character, shat Of young ladies' de-
pending upon personal appearances for happi-
ness, is iraught with the most dangerous con-
sequence to those who indulge it. Therefore.
to such we would say
&c Be wise to-day-'tis madness to defer"
In this retributive dispensation," if the
| girl sows pride and self-esteem, she will be
likely, when a woman, TO reap tears and re-
| pentance.
In this utilitarian age, man looks upon wo
man as his appropriate co-laborer; but if, il
cities like this, the sexes increase in estrange
ment for the next ten years as fast as the,