The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-01-23
Old Maids the Best Judges of Men.

Old Maids the Best Judges Of Men.
The only woman who, as a class, have
any comprehensive view of masculine
human nature, are old maids. Last
week, Mrs. Green spent an afternoon with
Mrs. Rogers. After the manner of wo-
men, much of their talk was of their
husbands. Each told the other "his"
good qualities and harmless idiosyncrac-
les. When they parted each thought the
other blessed with a faultless husband.
Now, it happened that the ladies were
visited, in day or two, by their former
schoolmate, Miss Holton. Mrs Green
insisted that her dear Jennie should stay
all night. eff you were married." said
she, 'I couldn't ask it; but you've no
husband, no house, no babies, to call you
home; SO there is positively no excuse"
pleasant is the faith of the young mat
to do that is worth doing.) Miss Hol-
ton remained; and, while Mrs. Green put
the children to bed and told Biddy about
breakfast, Mr.. Green, loving his wife
with all the strength of noble man, eK-
erted himself in trying to entertain her
old friend. He found her a woman
whose leisure and opportunities for cul
ture had not ended with her school-days.
She, as well as he, was in sympathy with
the worlds best aims, and so it happened
that, in the first evening of their acqaint-
ance Mr.. Green had shown her more of
his better nature, more of his highest
convictions, than her former classmate,
good Mrs Rrogers, anxious about pickles
and little dresses, had seen in the neigh
borly visit of year.
Miss Holton had not been as much
disposed towards matrimony in long
time. How delightful must be the con-
slant companionship of manly strength
when softened by such culture, and such
delicacy! Retired to her own room, she
drew from her pocket a neglected letter,
and wrote an answer that would gladden.
the heart of the most exacting lover. In
the morning she astonished Mrs. Green
by addressing her as "happy woman"
Most people appear at disadvantage
in the morning. Their peculiaritics stick
out with unusual and disagreeable dis
tinctness. One, waking, does not at once
put himself into his best relations with
those around him. The new day is in
some respects new life, and he cannot
adjust himself to it without few pre-
liminary trials that may jar the house
hold. Later, when he has found his
bearings, he seems to have taken on a
veil that isolates him just enough to
make him agreeable. At breakfast Mr..
Green while treating his wife with his
usual tenderness, astonished and distress
ed Miss Holton by showing, if not by
direct expression, by implication, that
he regarded her as a kind of appendage
to himself. A great deal nearer than
his horse and great deal dearer than
his dog she undoubtedly was, but not, it
were easy to see, in his habitual thought,
an independent human being like him
self, who must some day give an account
of the talents intrusted to her keeping.
When they left the dining-room, Miss
Holton's pleasant letter was writhins in
the CRATE. "Mrs. Rogers hasn't seen
that trait of the amiable Mr.. Green, I'm
sure" she thought, and then, "Oh dear, "
she whispered to herself, "I shall never
have the courage to marry till I'm a
widow" Constantly,
Some secret truths, from learned-pride concealed,
To maids alone and children are revealed
A carriage was at the gate. Mrs. Rog-
ers desired Miss Holton's company for
the day. That afternoon, deep in one of
those confidential communions dear to
feminine hearts, Mrs. Rogers startled
her friends by bursting into tears and ex-
claiming that, though John was the best
man living, he had one fault that was
such a, trial "I wouldn't have Mrs.
Green know it for the world" said she,
because she'd tell her husband, and be-
cause-because Mr.. Green isn't that way
a bit, and she wouldn't understand it,
and would think my husband not as
good as hers. But there are no such
dangers with you, dear, and it is such a
comfort to talk to you" Then followed
one of those confessions of unhappiness
that every old maid hears from time to
| times
Thus yon may see that old maids have
peculiar advantages for studying mascu-
line human nature The married wo-
man thinks to grow wise listening to
women who praise their husbands indi-
vidually, or drinking in the equally one
sided ideas of her lord; but her knowl-
edge has no depth. She knows but one
man; that one, thankfully be it spoken,
"the best one in the world" The old
maid knows many, "all poor creatures"
something the matter with the best of
Them" and, if Buckle hadn't told us
that woman do not reason inductively,
we might expect from the sisterhood
some severe generalizations on mascu-
line worth. But old maids see too much
that is good for that. The only "man-
haters," are woman unhappily married,
who look at all men through one; which
is something the old maid never does
RAMBLER.
Better than Whisky.