, 1879-02-09
"MUSTY OLD h1AIDENHOOD.r

xn l!t Editor o. lh< 9Ft1an<-
CHICAGO, Feb. ST. ask the permission ci
THE TRIBUNE to allow me, through its columns,
to refutc, or rather give the other side OF, sone
Of Mr.. ApDlebee's remarks in his lecture Oh
Husbands and Fathers particularly where ba
| refers to men being consigned to live ia |'musty
| old bachelordom through the expensive idea5
and love Of display" which, he states, keeps
men from marrying.
| Now, as there are always two sides to Ques-
| tion, would like to give lew facts On the
| other side, which is the reason why so many
women are destined to live out their days In
".1nusty old maidenhood, ,':-women who, other
| wise situated, would make good wives anil
| mothers. Mr.. AIS assertion, that men remain
single because OF their fear of incurrfng debts
and responsibilities which they cannot meet, y
poor one. l ask, Why do they not choose
wives from among the Intelligent working women
Of OUT countfy.-womcn who, rather than make
unworthy matches, remain single until thev u1e
50 and unwarde There are hundreds Of such
women who have M home but what they par
for, who would be lad to marry good, worthy
man In their everyday -drcss. and bs cuntented
aud happy with i plain little to,nc, aud win
true appreciation enlUy thar which they coulo
call their own, after their years Of struggle with
the world, wnich has proved no Eldorado u
their view.
say it is the gentlemen who arc to b1ame.
for any young man OF intelligence and worth.
Unsteady OF marrying girl his equal in agr,
'tt'ti WHO Is possessed OF good comEaon sense:
gains adinlttancc into wcll-to~do families, and
there selects his bride, .sir| OF IL or u years.
who is wholly inexperienced with the weignty'
problems oi life, ailt who has been cducatea
with high ideas, rs d companion for himselI--a
man III u Or :ereabouts; nc ,u1rries in STYLE
and repcnts 1t leisure.
Should hc bc asked why he did not marry.
girl ucarcr his own a:.v, he Will answer dtsda!n-
tullv. II du:.'t wanI an ola naa1d,h or 'oae
who has too much will OF her own" or, ID
osher words. one who las been her OWN noss
too loiig. 'for she knows too much for me-.
Such arc The inconsistencies OF 1neu; they
invariably take i doll or i bcin. VITO is 4 mere
norentity. one whum -" they eau mold to thef
taste, and leave The girl vito would be co0n~
seior, heipt'sate in business affairs, house
keeper: cook, wife, at,d mother, to drag out
solitary existence; or, If she wears *ith
'waittng,' marry some ''o!d wjdover" Tho
may be forty or lfty years older than nersen,
which consider to be :!ic greatest outrage 10
society. herself. thu man size Hlarries, ald hes
children. should she have any, for It Is m.ss
unnatural thai ANY girl should we'd nlan Tbo:e
cnlsuFcn are older tuan herself. and fecl sa1e
IN saving that no Wulaan would MAKE suca
t1atcf, iiad she the possibility OF choosing CON-
2anion OF like age aud tastes with f'srse1,
and. as our worthy lecturer says, ''wot!en afe
quicker in their perceptions than men": ha1
they the equal chance Of cfoosip" life partncr
they would make happier selections than az
o!tentimcs made by men, Sue being the oeS'
judge of the Interests OF her own and her coil-.
dfeu's lives
But tile way society is regulated s woman has
to stake what ofIcrs'' or go without" :" aud a.
few women can stand tue stigma Of It old manl,
they make their mistakes By marrying the wronSs
man in many instances.