The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1878-05-07
The Usefulness of old Maids.


pie uncomfortable by their presence.
If this were the fact it would be a sur-
rowful one, truly. But we are told in
the good book, that nothing was ever
created in vain. And so we think there
must have been necessity for old maids.
We were once about to take ride in a
small sail boat. As we steppedupon the
floor Of the little craft, we saw numerous
stones beneath the boards. Upon in
quiry we learned that these stones,
though far from ornamental were put in
for ballast, that was to keep the boat
steady in sailing.
1t has since occurred to us that that
was Just where the necessity of old maids
was felt. Almost every household III the
land is more or less indebted to some
spnster for somewhat Of its luXuries,
comforts, or pleasures
During the eli ghteenth century, and
the first half Of the nineteenth, the
maiden ladies of the colonies and those of
the United States were in great demand
as seamstresscs. Day after day they
drew the bright shining needle through
various grades Of "humspun CLOTH"
linen, fine and coarse; fannels, plain,
striped and plaided; and fulled cloth,
colored with butternut, or soft-maple
bark, or "pursley." Though they
stitched away from early morn till ten or
eleven o'clock at night for only shil
ling day, yet for the most part their
work was we'll done And butfor them the
households would often have found them
selves in rags. For wives and mothers,
found their hands fully employed in
making and preparing their clothes and
attending to the wants of hungry mouths.
The education of girls, as far as books
were concerned, was at best, very limited
in those early days. Often comprised
in what they Glanced to learn during
the first ten years Of their lives. But
what they lacked in culture they made
up in observation, and as they went
about from house to house to perform
their wonted labors, it is not to be Won
dered at if they learned to gossip in an
unwarranted manner; for what host, or
hostess either for that matter, does not
like to hear of the sayings Or doings Of
the next door ncighbor. And the guest
who can give the largest quantity of
news is generally welcomed most cor
daily, no matter whether married or
single. And for this virtue (?) maiden
ladies have been stigmatized as "gos-
sips" for ages.
And yet they were of great use to
various communities wherein they lived.
Were any sick or in distress, who were
called upon more frequently to assist and
comfort the afflicted one than these
veritable old maids, gossipers though
they were; angular and ill-favored they
might be.
Indeed, We suppose they would have
considered it an objectionable sin to put
on gay ribbon, curl or plait the hair, or
in any way to have made themselves at
tractive, after they We're twenty-five
years Of age Nevertheless, they com
forted many hearts with timely aid and
sympathy.
Ard the children's faces always
frightened at the sight of an Aunt
Patience, or Cousin Charity. For there
was always pleasant story to be told,
or a handful Of nuts to be eaten, when
one of these friends came into the family.
Those "old maids" of the early days
should be held in kindly remembrance
for their good deeds and kind words; in
stead of these, the one fault acquired to
please their friends as much as them
selves, has been exaggerated till, " that
gossipping, meddling. sour old maid, y
IN n n
disagreeable and out of sorts.
But to come to the present era. Are
cold maids" useful? Ask the aged
parents who have raised large family
One by one the children have passed
from the home nest, determined to build
worlds for themselves.
One daughter is left of all the happy,
laughing group. Possibly she is the fair
est one of the flock. Is she useful? Who
but she takes the helm. and becomes eyes
to the fast failing sight, feet to the tot
tering limbs, a general support to the
fast failing body; besides taking half the
care of the little nieces and nephew!
that came toddling along from year tx
year; giving a helping hand to the mar
ricd brothers and sisters: fogetting no
to be hospitable to strangers; Away
Astounding in charible duties; helping
the sick and afflicted like her ancien
sisters.
The days have long since passed wher
it was considered unnecessary for girl'
to be educated. Hence the modern ok
maid" is usually well versed in litera
ture, and not unacquainted with the sci
ences. In fact, the majority of our sue
cessful teachers are of this despised class
Ask the rising farmer or the profes
sional man to whom he owes mucl
of his present capacities and honors
and in many, very many cases his an
swer, if truthful, will be, "To one, tw'
or three old maid teachers" and il
this capacity, their usefulness is unlin
tied.
There are still other stations that tn
maiden lady fills equally as. we'll as he
married sisters. Who doubts the useful
ness of such women as Alice and Phmb
Cary, I" Gail Hamilton" Virginia Town
send, Rosa Bonheur, Winnie Ream ali
hundreds Of others, who have sent, an
VINO are seHulHg Jnelf songs OF poetry an
prose; their soul pturai art Throughout
the world; that are silent messengers c
love, sympathy, hope, and comfort t
millions of hearts. All! will not thei
harvest be rich? when their sheaves ar
gathered in from the four corners of tn
earth. To the cold maids" of the min,
teenth century, the politicians, an
even the president Of our grand republi,
owe very much of their success; and t
them are they more or less indebted fo
their high seats in halls of state. n
class of individuals makes itself more ust
full in high and humble places, or nor
fully improves the talent given it, tina
this severely abused race of which w
have been writing And when thes.