Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-05-29
For the Spectator !
DEERF1ELD, Nav 21st,

DEERFIELD, May 2lSt, 1866.
Mr.. EDrroR.-In your issue of the 18th inst,
there appeared piece written over the sigma
ture of Nancy Shefey, Kizzie Long, &c., in
which they were giving expression to their dis
appointment in the supposed gallantry that
would be lavished upon them by the soldier
boys who were fortunate enough to return to
their homes safely Why are you, ladies, so
much disappointed, or, why cannot you enjoy
yourselves as before the war? The reason is
plain to a close observer. Four years have O.
lapsed since this cruel war began, and necessa-
rily four years have been added to your ages,
bordering upon old maidenism at the beginning
of the war. You are now too far advanced in
years to be noticed by the young men or young
wldowers, and so humilating is the thought
that you cannot conceal it but give publicity to
it through public journal. Poor, faded, with
cred and desponding creatures, | would advise
you to purchase some paint artificial curls and
false teeth, and go to some portion of the coun-
try where you are not known, and exhaust your
store OF deception upon some poor greenhorn
who might perhaps be deluded by you. For,
at your ripe old age, / think hear you exclaim,
{" any body, oh! Lord - that my day and
night dreams my be realized, and my happiness
consummated. But, alas how vain are hu-
man expectations, in the morning we dream of
happiness, and before evening, are really mis-
cradle; and [ fear such fate awaits you, ladies.
You have forgotten that human life is but as
the journey of a day. You have risen in the
morning Of your youth full Of vigor and expeo-
tatlon set forward with spirit and hope, i'm
merged yourselves in luxuries, and roved thro'
the labrynths of Inconsistency till the darkness Of
old age has begun to invade you, and anxiety
obstruct your way, and now you look back upon
your lives with horror, with sorrow, with repug-
nance, and wish, yes, often wish that you had
not refused some of the offers you have had
Happy are they who learn not to despair, as
your day has passed and your strength is wasted,
| think you had better give it up. Poor
Wldowers !" | am sorry you have such con-
temptIble opinion of them, as / come under
that category myself But it is plain to every
intelligent observer of passing events, why they
are SO repugnant to you. You have been
kicked as high as the dome on the Capitol,
hence your dislike to them, but my advice to
you is, if you can, by your deception in any
way, get one, you had better do so. as he would
be accustomed to the harness, and would not
kick, but | do not think you will succeed.
will, therefore, point you to something, as con-
ducive, nay, absolutely necessary to your pleas
ure. Get a cat and small bob-tail dog, and
go to some secluded place where you will not
give you so much trouble by their Indifference,
and live a life suitable to your age and manners,
as you are not the right age to mingle with the
young and les hOnnates gens." MIR. Editor, l
think unless these ladies succeed In getting hus-
bands soon it would be well to point them to
the Institution, erected for the safe-keeping of
persons with unbalanced minds. There is no
danger of their being eaten by the cows, as
they sprang up early and were nipped by the
first frost, whitening, drying up and losing their
substance WIDOWER.