The North-Carolinian., 1858-01-30

';;Il s. s !
destiny q f,nan. H5le u Iss success a -
eution of any project to provide husbands Tor
single ladies' of an uncertain age affect the ad-
vancing interests of our civilization? What
tale will it tell npon future generations?
1t was such train of reflection as the above
which led the writer of this report to the de-
termination to set on foot project for the ac-
complishment of long cherished idea OF effec-
ting something in the behoof adverted to- he
claimed no exalted rank in the scale OF human
itarians, but simple position asian humble but
ardent member of the universal brotherhood OF
Philanthropical Reformers.
Accordingly early in April last he set himself
to working out the outline for the plan OF The
Marriage Promoting Association, for the bene-
fit of Middle-aged and Elderly Single Ladies'"
Having satisfied himself of the eligibility and
feasibility of the plan, he collected around him
band of chosen and tried confidential friends
and with their aid Completed the details of the
plan, and opened the way clearly for its execu-
ton. He has to thank Providence that the
germ he so anxiously cultivated is now firmly
established in fruitful vigor, and that his novel
experiment is now brilliant success.
The Association have founded an "O1d Maid
Asylum, the details in the plan and conduct Of
which are simple, but effectual. We have a
large and commodious building in the heart OF
(Boston) city, with chambers, and drawing
rooms, elegantly, and fashionably furnished.
Or Association is classified into Working and
.snecure y. embers, the former class being COM
: ,risea in what style The Executive Commit
| tee. This committee is subdivided into tthe
Matrimonial and Bachelor committees with
duties assigned partly Separate, and partly con-
current The Executive Committee consists
entirely Of married gentlemen and ladies, to
whom is entrusted the whole conduct of
institution; while our sinecure members consist
exclusively of bachelors and widowers. The
separate duty Of the Bachelor Committee, is to
hunt up bachelors and wdowers of good char
acter and standing, candidates for mat rimony,
and induce them to join Association. Up
on doing so. they record their names, conncc-
tions, professions, and fortunes in the appro-
pirate register, ana then, upon performing GER
tain initiatory cerem n es, the principal OF which
Gas IN most soci,t es), is a pecuniarY forna'ity
and promising to conform to our regulations,
and faithfully to peGsorn the duties imposed.
they are entitled to all the privileges OF mem
bersh'p. These privileges and duties are the
following: they are bound to visit the asylum
regularly, and as frequently as their business
n will permit: they must attend all parties, and
entertainments given at the Asylum, unless
prevented by reasonable necessity; they must
be polite to the ladies, and particularly atten-
tive to those recommended to their notice, and
thrown in their company; they must cultivate
an internal marriageable disposition, and a
5 lively sentimentality, and endeayor to make
themselves good conductors of animal magne-
tism in fine, we bind members over in a
sort of matrimonial recognizance to use all hon
est endeavors to get married, and select o br ID.
s from some of the ladies whose company they en-
| JOY at our Institution.
word on the regime of our institution anf
our mode of selecting bcnefciap. Among
. the almost overwhelming nuinbeOoF applica
5 tions, the Matrimonial Committeexperforn
their duty ,nes:ly and fearlessly. by selecting
: only such as come up to our standard of educa
. ton, position, age, &c. The Asylum is inten
. ded solely for the relief of old maids, and hence
: the applications of widows have been uniforml,
! reiectcd,-long experience having taught "
Il that they are abundantly able to take care O
h themselves And here let me, once for all. re
n mark as to the term old maid, which to som,
has, in its home'iness and familiarity, something
e of offence; the committee after mature de,ibe
I ration determined not to discard it. nor to sac
t rfce term without synonyme to silIy preiu
dice. But our chief difficulty was in fixin,
: upon the proper age at which this advanced
stage of female e-blessedness shonld be sait
: commence. The various views entertaines.
S on this interesting point were really surprising
e One thought twenty-five the proper chronolog
r ical standpoint; while another contended tha
womans life had only properly commenced a
r that age, and cited in support of this view th
laws OF European nations in latitudes not NOR
northern than ours, which only allow ladies t
oe manageable at twenty-five years of agey
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