Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21
1LAIDENS AND SPINSTERS.
The Cycle of n WOMan's Life From
Seventeen to Fifty

MAIDENS AND SPINSTERS.
The Cycle of n wOman's Life From
Seventeen to Fifty.
BIER DEPTHS OF THOUGHT, MELANCHOLY IDEAL
ISMS, DELICIOUS HOPES, YEARNISG ASPIRATIONS,
FETISH, ENVY. JEALcuslEs AND OTHER EMO
lions.
London Mayfairl
A splnster's life begins at the age of seven
teen and ends at the age OF fifty. When she
res cheS the age OF fifty She either becomes an
time at about five and twenty. There are, OF
course, exceptions. Some girls begin life very
m ade If eaer mt knew w young
coctty. Her grandma had asked her to come
and see her, and for her reception had prepared
feast OF seq So cake e, and mud and also
the cake, but objected to the wine, ana after
CHANGING with great contempt at the book OF
fairy stories, threw it on the floor. saying that
she preferred real tales-th1ngs she could Inn
prove her mind on. what will this world
come to- shrieked the old lady; Improve her
aa mh ne aa shock moI k Nov
too much; the old lady took to her bed and
never recovered.
But most girls begin to live at IL; and from
II to so every year Is like figure in an auction
GERS catalogue which Is meant to indicate
fresh lot" OF course, there are depths of
thought, melancholy idealisms, delicious hopes,
yeal ming aspirations, profound acceSseS OF piet-
ism, dark emotions of envy, sickening spasms
of Jealousy-al making eras for themselves,
and sometimes contriying Wild departures,
which cannot be sounded, nor, indeed, even ad-
verified to, in comprehensive summary of
thirty three years OF existence. Yet the spin
ster's life may be gathered from hints, which
may De snrewd enough to go deep without be-
ng yoiuminouS.
At II, then: she thinks often of1ove: delights
In love songs; fills Moore's poems with pencil
in company. At IS: still thinks a great deal Of
love; would care nothing for poverty, provided
she had sweetheart who adored her: indeed,
ted to the ideal whom she has not yet met
Still reads great deal of poetry and novels
which deal largely with love and the death
of the heroines; passionately fond Of child
rem: At 10: a little more critical;
finds some of the poetry that pleased her last
year little weak; looks about for steadier au-
in ball, and is not quite so particular as to the
men who are introduced to her. At 20: is not
sure whether, after all, it would not be best to
be an old mans darling. Nevertheless she flirts
she enjoys her food whether people are looking
at her or not. At 81: her belief in old men IS
strong; she has lost her prejudces In favor OF
upon money were her ideal to present himself.S
AT %: thinks her younger sister rather forward
IN her m. manners, particularly with young men;
lions which include the younger sister are
merely acts OF pol1teness which people don't
want to be literally interpreted. At 23: is an
noyed If any one says in her presence that the
pallor of half the girls one meets comes from
tightlactng At "a: laces deliberately for waist,
and does not much mind il it is known;
agreeable than that of young men, and is flat
tered If boys pay her attention. At 25 is found
behind bazaar stalls; initiates the style of the
fashionable beauty, frequently alters the char
acter OF her couture, and uses great many
different kinds Of stuff for her hair. At 49, de-
I&lareS she hates the idea of marriage; wonders
now girls can voluntarily enter state of bond
age; marks all passages in novels In which men
are called tyrantS and ceases to notice other
peoples babies. AT q: falls in love; about four
months of quiet anguish and despair; sits late
into the night alone in her bedroom; is lifted;
writes twenty letters in all conceivable styles,
from the pasSlonately scOrnful to the mild sac
rifeial, forgiving, heartbreaking style-none OF
which are posted; destroys the ball room pro-
gramme on which he has written his name At
IS: Nose red, even In spring; shoulders a shade
thin; resolves to dress her hair lower, as the
hair on one side. At 80: Declines to take part
in tableau WANT and thinks that sort of en-
tertalnment rather 1mmodest; begins to write
acter-and believes that If she could only find
patience she could write novel.
At 80: writes novel, in which she introduces
the one love OF her life; finds publisher who
will publish it at her own risk; accepts his ofer
she Is sure he will read it; does not stop the
footman at table from A)ling her wine glass. At
81: increasing size of waist; is mistaken for
mammals youngest sister; reads the quarterly
RtUtelC, and can converse on woman'S suffrage.
At 80: is wearing three false teeth. At 49, finds
girls much more forward than they used to be;
also that the style of dancing grows objectioha-
BILE; Is usually taken down to supper by married
men. At "a: Is told that her sisters music master
has called her Bella. In consequence, retraces
two years OF her life, studies the corSetmakers
advertisements and chooses bright colors. At
So: powders boldly, parts her hair down the mid
die, gives up earrings and keeps the window
blinds down to save the furniture At SO: can
converse on the educational question and
waltzes whenever she can get chance. At 81:
is grave when the subject of age IS discussed,
&c CHI fEnc y1f,t l1<Nl-
hears OF the elGpement OF a friends husband
with an actress, and is more than ever thankful
that she IS unmarried; takes an interest in
church matters, and learning that the curate is
lad up calls and sends repeatedly. At 80: regu-
larry Criiiks a glass OF hot Scotchw hisky-and-
water before going to bed; admits that she likes
quite an old woman.
AT 40: likes scandal; reads the reports of the
law courts: subscribes again to lending libra
~, and finds that she grows drowsy after late
dinner. At Al: keeps lap-dog, two cats, par
rot and three canartes; takes much interest in
her health, tries great many advertised medi-
cines, and INDUCES in constitutionals." At 49,
Is nervous at night, particularly when the wind
is high; keeps man-servant, who must be mid
dle-aged, highly respectable, and one who is
used to attending on single ladies preferred;
In the garden. AT 43: attends early celebrations,
and helps to decorate the church at Easter and
Chr1stmaS and the harvest festival. At Al:
grows little frivolous; chooses gay caps: reads
exciting novels At IS: feels the cold, also feels
lonely; advertises for a lady to share her home;
quarrels with lady over the servants, and vows
parrot dies; her doctor proposes to her; She de-
clines him in mild letter, and says they will
always be dear friends. AT Al: takes two glasses
OF hot whisky before retiring at night; breakfast
in bed; writes poetry and sends It to the local
press. At 4s: is robbed by her man-servant:
finds cap that becomes her, and makes up her
mind to wear nothing else; notices that her hair
has grown gray over the ears At 40: grows
bad-tempered, and is greatly troubled with SER
wants; another animal dies and is carefully bur
led At so: makes her will, and leaves all her
property to the doctor.
California Wines,
1t invariably happens that the products of the
grape in a new Wine producing country are de-
cried by those interests in the sales of wines of
the old world. This has initiated seriously
although not so much now as formerly-against
orr native wines ypddad worn tho oo1n o;e