Wilmington journal., 1864-11-10
OUR SURPLUS WOMEN.

OUR SURPLUS WOMEN.
The great mortality of this war; p ,rticulary among
the young men of the country is likely to raise certain
practical questions between the sexes, which are not
unworthy the attention of the rthecting mind. The
disproportion between the will be great upon
the advent Of peace and the prepondeanee OF the te
male element so heavy, that is by irrelevant
to inquire what we are to do with our women The
preudces against foreigners are SO great that the I'M
portaon of husbands to supply the deficiencies which
will exist however satisfactory 1t may ne 10 many young
ladies' would receive the approval OF the country
There s therefore, remaining no expedIent Tor the DIS
position of the surplus population OF this class out 10
make their situation 10 single life as agreeaoie as tne
circumetances will permit, or the alternative OF poyga
my. For the latter We have the precedent OF many
eminent examples, such, for instance as jacob and
David and Solomon-the latter OF whom is recorded to
have shared his affections ancng as many IS seven nun
dred princesses and royal paftners Ahasuerus, who
became enamoured Of Esther, and the present Sultan OF
Turkey-together with those Arabian cailphs that
fourished in Bagdad-eocd other illustrations OF the
practice. We regard ths howver, as difficult OF real
Zation in circumstances and prefer TO recommend
the organization of Protestant religious houses, ike
the Converts and Sisters of Mercy among the Roman
Catholics. Such an institution early known in
the Christian Church, and alusion Is supposed to he
made to it IN those pass lges IN the New testament
where decreases referred 10. They were known ln'
uinis Il, ancils &c. Pny, in his famous account OF
the persecution of the Christians lin the hrst century,
mentions thetE ancIlg' 9uR n5naStrG d1ce6anttr-
They are also mentioned by Lucan of Samosata, un-
der the name OF widows. Bernadus Achinus and Lyse-
defend the practice-as do Monte q1leu aud ' Or
teire in later times.
1t to us that oung ladies may even now
fairly give their attention to this suhect 1t IS clearly
sentmental-as much conveLtual llie-and Will
be matter of necessity, unless female cebracy IN Its
present Objectionable form throw it's shadow oVr
the whole land. We, t)r part, like Old maids, ID
exceptional cases. and regard them as the best informed
and most agreeable members OF their sex-:auonal o!
maured woman, instead Of maapert young misses wlt1
| nothing to recommend them but the blood IN ther
cheeks-but of course tabefd OF spinsters OF sixty
at dinner, gray, gauct and sharp eaurCJ would pio
late all correct taste and is not to DE tolerated.
must retire surplus young women. They can dtd-
their lives deeds of charity, and acts OF inGrt
and single life after all is nothing when you get
used to i--as in the case of the eels.
An equally grave question concerns our unmarried
male population. The opportunity is now afforded O
marrying almost whom you ptase-just as when one
stands under apple .ree he pluck the one which
he iauces. The national peril in this matter is, tha
poor human nature will pluck only the red and richly
coorcd fruit-and thinks little of what may be mos
conducive 10 health, or possess the more durable prop
critics for expression and preserving. All of our mos
useful women have been ugly and we tremble at tht
state Of things VIXEN all this better class s entirely eX
cudCd from The duties OF wives and mothers The ab-
OF all comfort in the domestic arrangements the
absence OF that subordnation and patience which is 81
|
OF Engish lille to the open air exercise of the French
the attention to the co'Due rather than the christian
| ty of the children-must mark period where all tht
less solid clements of the female fraternity is not horned
in households. Nature has ordered it, that ther
is nothing of very high perfection earthat least ii
humanity. Single sanirg qualities are bestowed
conspicuous excelencee--but never Uniform perfec-
tion. qte good are apt to oe weak; the intellectual
are ugly bad the beautiful are silly and vicious O
at least the beautiful and intellectual cannot also pos
sess vir lie. Therefore applaud the ugly thei
chances is greatly increased tor mbaility and 6ense
We young to ponder these truths whel
the opportunity is TO te made use Of many for lif
time, and not tor honey moon. Be careful tina
your portner through this troublous career comes t.
you with the promise of pug nose dsntended mouth
d sallow complexion, ungainly form, big foot, a
dull eye, bad ooth-fy the rare and wonderful spell
of female beauty-fy it as Ulysses did, tied to the mas
of the ship, the treacherou mnsre!sy that assaicd BIZ
fortitude of the tabled Pelorus. Your Medicean We
nus will treat you to smiles, but she viii spoil you
soup but she will neglect your shirts she will charm
your eye but she will shock your philosophy she viii
for season crafty your taste for the beautiful but sh
will not, the broad stretch of e cheer your journey
OF pour upon your soul the mnisering balm of kin
dred spirit. Ugly women will nurse your sick m;ne
and your sick body Charlottesville Chronicle.