The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-01-09

There are too many old maids by hall
in the world.
Not, perhaps, for the comfort of those
individuals land their name is legion)
who like some meek and ever-ready
pair of shoulders upon which to lay the
burden of "do this" and "do that and
"don't forget the other thing" Make
wrights and scape-goats have their uses.
Society composed merely of men and
their wives without these "ancients"
would be not unlike an i'll packed trunks;
there would be rattling and shaking
aud breakages innumerable. Old maids
are needed to "pack in" to fill up the
intersticeS, and steady the uncertain.
and support the weak. But there is no
kind of danger Of the race Of old maids
becoming extinct, so long as the world
%ags in its usual style, and the snn
rises and sets after its accustomed rou-
tine!
How is it with the old bachelors?
Well, they are somehow regarded with
gloomy respect, outre and semi barba-
rous though they have become. They
are not the victims of neglect! Thcy
might have been married had they cho-
sen to say the word to some expeotant
young LADY, But an old maid-that's $
quite another matter She can't help
herself-she is the victim of untoward
circumstances People look at her as
they might regard an unstable piece
of calico left over the season on the
merchants back shelves, or a picture
that hangs unsolicited on the artists
hands. 1t is the general opinion that
she is very much to be pitied-that she
has tried her best, angling in the brook
of life for the shy fish called "hus-
band" but without success.
Now, what is she to do! Womanly
delicacy forbids her to snap her finger
in the face of this obtrusively plying
world and silence its whispers by the
bold assertion: It's no such thing. /
have had opportunities to be married
and ! am an old maid by my own choice
and election7" And if she did face up
the world in this manner, the world
wouldn't believe her
1t is very hard to be misjudgcd, and
the old maid has more generally to
drink this bitter cup to the dregs!
ut is such a pity Mary Such-a-one
has never -married-she would have
made such nice wifel" How often
we hear that expression, and how it
must aggr avate the single sisterhood!
"Such nice wife for somebody-such
a useful household machine; such a
willing drudge!" And what does the
old maid herself think about it7 Does
she regret that she hasn't been led, an
orange blossom decked lamb to the
sacrifcial altar Of matrimonyH Or does
she fall back contentedly upon her corps
de reserUs OF green tea, worsted work,
and mint drops, thanking her benign
stars that she has never been inveigled
into that bondage wherefrom there is
no escape save by death or divorce?
After all, there is a good deal to be
said in favor Of the life Of an old maid.
She is independent, firstly, to begin
with. No number Of Fourths of July
could convey the full adequate idea of
her entire liberty Of speech, motion,
and thought, II she wants to 60 any
where, to the North Pole for instance,
or Van Diemen's Land, she has nething
to do but to pack up and go. Nobody's
permission is to be meekly asked, no
body'scountenance to be fnrtively stud
led. If she likes her breakfast at four
o'clock in the afternoon, and eatsit like
one Of the Signers of the Declaration!
If by airy chance she gets out of tenn
per, there are no sharp angles of any
one else's temper to strike wordy fire!
She is self-reliant, selfsuficient, self
contained,
She is held responsible for nobody
else's backsliding. Ifsome poor, over
burdened wretch blows out bis brains,