The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-07-22
from Be"fey's ( London } Afisceliany.
OF ON nnyDo

gotia'ing with some London publishers for
the production Of "Poems by Currer, Ellis.
and Acton Bell"-the unknown name,
(le46)-we find in letter of hers to Miss
W'oolrr. her old schoolmistress at Roe Head,
m expression Of her pleasure at knowing,
in Miss Wooler's own INSTANCE, t.. at IN lone
woman" can be happy, as we'll as cherished
wives and proud mothers. 81 am glad Of
that. 1sperula,e much on the existence of
unmarried and neverto-be married women
now-a.oays; and l have already got to the
point Of considering that there ia no rqpre
respectable character on this earth than an
unmarried woman, who makes her own
way through life, quietly, perseveringIy.
without support Of husband or brother;
and who. having attained the nge of forty
hive or upwards, retains in her possession
well regulated mind, disposition to enjoy
s'mPle pleasures, and for,itude to support
inevitable pains, sympathy with the suffer
'ngs of others. and willingness to relieve want
as far as her means extend" We have al
ready seen the i'npersonation she eventual
ly sketched Of such character in one Of
the old maids in ''Sbirly." But that same
story contains ample evidence Of the struea
giles and searcl,ngs of heart which thi.
vexed question cost the still minated w.i-
ter. Caroline IIelstone is made to pine,
with blank missgivings and obstinate ques-
tionings, as she calculates her chances of
becoming an old maid-and asks herself
What was I created for, wonders Where
is my place in 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
's to do good 10 others. to be helpful when
help is wanted" That is right in some
measure. she reflects, and very convenient
doctrine for the people who hold it; but
she perceives that certain sels of human
beings are very apt to maintain that other
sets should give up their lives to them and
their services to them and their service, and
then they requite them hy praise they
call them devoted and virtuous. rs this
enougha Is it to livea Is there not n ter
rble holowness. mockery, want, craving.
in that existence which is given away to
others, for want Of something Of your own
to bestow iton? suspect there is" And
later, we are told alat Caroline felt with
pain that the life(we have seen what that
was)which made Miss Ainley happy coull
not make her happy; pure and active as i,
was, in her heart she deemed it deepiy
dreary because it was 40 loveless--to her
ideas, 80 forlorn. Aud still later, disqu
l sitlon ensues on the social status of single
women in England. and the authors belief
that they should have more to do-bettcr
chances Of interesting and profitable occu-
patton than they possesst now. She com
plains. for example. that while the brothers
in certain households she names are in bust:
ness or in professions, their sisters have no
earthly employment but sttcl'ing,and sew
ing: no earthly pleasure, but an nnprofta-
ble visiting; and no hope, in all their life to
come, ,Sof anything better. This stagnant
state Of things makes them decline in health;
they ara never we'll aud their minds and
views strink to wonlrous .narrowneas."
The great wish, she continues sole
aim Of every enc Of them is tobe married,
but the majority will never marry.thsy
will die rs they now live. They scheme.
they plot, they dress to ensnare husbands
The gentlemen turn them into ridicue {:
they don't want thom they l'oi them very
cheap; they say ",he matrimonial market
is overstockt'l." And thenanon comss this
! apostrophe-"Men Of England look at your
poor girls, many of them f~lings around
you. dropping off 10 consumption or de-
Glue; or,,wbat Is worse, degenerating to
ssonr'old Manifestations backbiting, wretcl,-
ed, because life is a desert to them or, what
is worst Of all reduced to strive, l,y scarce.
" modest coqus.ry and delMsing ariiee. .to
gain that position and consideration by mar
riage which 10 cslbsey j. denied" Currer.
Bell at least spoke shat abe knew and tes.
titled that which shs Mad seen"
A good Story ii told of = doctor ia a
tows. pot / Shu1dssd miles from Vermont.
The dSalo, kept missing his wood, and 6.
E,ytDf. Asswss ex:ected, Il proved TO ybs
~ wssk Of y nssgnsighbor, who soon mp.
fe& Id Sa}e}3fiflv pnlKno, art Ill M. ,fs..