Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-06-07
NO. l34.
MISCELLANEOUS READING
OF OLD MAIDS.
From BsaRey'S { LondOn) MSceHmyI

we Ind IN letter of hers 10 Miss Oole!
her old schoolmistress at Roe Head. AN ex
preston of her pleasure at knowing, in Miss
Woolers own instance, that "a lone woman
can be happy, as we'll as cherished wives and
proud mothers. Il am glad of that. spec
ulate much on the existence of unmarried
and never-tobe married women nowadays
and have already got to the point of consid-
ering that there is no more respectable char
I acter on this earth than an unmarried woman
who makes her own way through life; quiet
ly, persevcrngly, without the support Of hus
band or brother, and who having attained
! the age of forty y-ive or upwards, retains III
her possession a well-regulated mind, a dis
position to enjoy simple pleasures, and tortI-
tude to support inevitable pains, sympathy
with the suiferings Of others. and willingness
! u relieve want rs far as her means extend
/ We have already seen the impersOnation she
| eventually sketched Of such character III
one of the old maids in shirley" But that
! story contains ample evidence Of the struggle
! and searchings OF heart which this yexed
! question cost the still minated writer. Caro-
line Iielstone is made to pine, with blank
misgivings and obstinate questionings, as she
calculates her chances of becoming an old
maid-and asks herself, What was | created
for, wonder? where is my placein the world:
All, she sees presently, that is the question
which most old maids are puzzled 10 solve,
other people solve it for them by SAYING
Your place is to do good to others, to be help
full whenever is help wanted" That !.
right in some measure, she reflects, and
very convenient doctrine for the people who
hold it; but she p0rceiyes that certain Gets Of
human beings are very apt to maintain that
other sets should give up their lives to them
and their service, and then they requite them
bv prase--they call them devoted and virtu-
GUS "ls this enough Is it to live: Is there
not terrible hollowness, mOckery, want,
craving, in that existence which Is gwen
away To oothers, for want of something of your
own to bestow it on? suspect there is. -
And later, we are told that Caroline felt with
pain that the life I'VE have seen what that
was) which made Miss Ainley happy could
not make her happy; pure and active as 1t
was: in her heart she deemed it deeply deary
because it was so loveless-to her ideas, 80
forlorn. And still later, q disqulsition en-
sues ON the social status Of single women IN
England, and the authors belief that they
should have moro to do--bettcr chances Off
tcrcstiug aud profitable occupation than they
possess now. She complains for example,
that while the brothers i'll certain households
she names are i'll business or i'll professions.
their sisters have no earthly employment
but stitching and sewing; no earthly pleasure
| but an uproftable visiting and no hope, III
! all their life to come of anything better.
This stagnant state Of things makes them
| decline in health: they are never well; and
their minds and views shrink to wondrous
narrowness." The great wish, she continues,
the sole aim of every one of them is to lie
married, but the majority will never marry
they will die as they now live. They scheme,
! they plot, they dress to ensnare husbands
! The gentlemen turn them into ridiculc; they
| don't want them the hold them very cheap;
! they say "the matrimonial market is over
! stocked" And then anon comes this apos-
girls, many of them fading around you, drop
ping off in consumption or decline, or, what
is worse, degenerating to sour old maids
cnvous, backbiting, wretched, because life
! is a desert TO them or, what is worst of all,
reduced to strive, by scarcely modest coquetry
and debasing artifce, to gain that position
and consideration by marriage which to cell
hacy is denied" Currer Bell at least spoke
that she knew, and testified that which she
had seen" But, after all, a good old maid,
IS the best, and happiest of women.
A LEXANDRIA LIBRARY COMPANY
n Library kept in the south room, frst.stoIy,
! Of the LYcEUs HALL, :. ". corner of Prince AMI
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--DIRECTORS:-
| Henry Fleming, J. Edward Chase,
J Benz amin Barton. Sylvester scott,
| Elisha ]. Miller, Andrew Jameson,
! s. Ferguson Beach, Richard L.. Carne, j.,
! Stephen Swain, John A. MilbUu,
James W. Berry.
TreasuIcr-Andrew Jameson.
nv Sly Librarisn-Ed. RoXbury.
| INRUITS CAN BE PRESERVED WITH
! II THEIR ORIGINAL FLAVOR By USING
TIE EXCELSIOR FRUIT and PRESERVE
CANS"-They are the cheapest in use. Their
popularity is constantly increasing. Hundrcis
who have used them can certify to Their qualItle5
| am also manufacturing the "IHPR0VEu
EXCELSIOR CAN, for Shipping, as no. IA.
incident To transportation eau break the cement.
Call and examine them.
Also receiving the celebrated DR.. KANE SELF
/ VENTlLATfNG DINING ROOM REFRlnk
/ kATuh, Al elegant and useful piece Of furniture
! Also Waterman Patent and other Retngcrat"r.
! Porcelain Lined WATER COOLERS, new AMI
/ beautiful article Call and examine them at
apl1 ". |. GREGORY, lis 4 l2O KiRg-t
GREENS MANSION HOUSE,
: CORNER Oh CAMERON ASD FAIRFAX ST".
( nHIS we'll known and POPULAR HOTEL
( having undergone a THORG Ugh RENUFA-
/ TION a1d REFLRYISHiNG, Ia now open, with
everything complete, for the convenience and &c
i ,ommodstiun of BOARDERS and TRAVELLERS.
~" The Proprietor has secured the service of
GEORGE L. STEWART and SAMUEL
| GREGORY. undes whose joint management ~
pain. will he apared to sustain the reputation Vi;
the HOUSE ~ FIRST CLASS HOTEL Al
every respect. JAMES GREEN.
Alexandria. February l. is5s-iti
NOTICE The highest market price pad tor
~ old Scrap Iron, Wrought and Cast, RaZr
Rsre. Cnupsr. brass, Lead, Zine, Bones, d..
J. W. KENT & co,
cur. b aion and Duke sts.. or No. 80 fhiou -
sep 2u-tf
yINHE SUBSCRIBER wishes TO purchase lsTgs
/ lot oil Cotton OF Linen RAGS, for which he viii
pay in cash the highest market prices.
j. D.. MCGRAW, Upper end vi kingsf.
nav 2--irJnly2d
WE have y few more Of those Patent STEP
b w LADDERS and CLOTHES ORSES. nDw
landing, from Boston. HERRING & EVANS,
apis Royal street. doors south of King.