The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-08-17
f7aner Eom Mai.ls..
Itisless than tfor{vi syears since 5

l.. It's less than forty wears since that
cotrteoas, gallant a4el fopling of phrases.
Nh. y. u. Willis, characterized the class
of single Wofnen as ssThe Dried ups. .
One canlnot imagine "a writer of equal
/ reputation, gentleman OF equal breed
ing committing such "a diseourtesy to-
day. From his point of view. it was as
tifsa hunchbaek should be taunted with
his bent spine, or a cross-eyed man with
his lobliqaity of aisioni for he assumed
that unmarried women were celibate be-
cause they were so plain, so poor in
charms, so unattraetive, that no man
would marry them.
+ II literature and society are better
hammered asg now, s4t regarding single
women :. with courtesy and often
with admiration, it is because our theo-
rlesabout them are madeto square more
nearly with our facts. 1t is matter OF
common observation that in every circle
some OF its most delightful members are
sn,aldens past their youth. They are
cultivated, witty. gracious, hespitable,
chaHning1y dressed, dizupa1ate, from the
srpf at their throats. to the rosettes on
theft Slippers Are these the women
whom men pass bypa Orthere are those
Others who do not choose s.1ety, but
who are the ded exs sassscltina in solmanv
'hohseh holdssthe power behind the throne
greater than the throne itself; the incar-
nate Jud gment, wisdom, economy liber4
aality Of the esfamilEslAre men SO dull that
they do not see how these bountifu1 ones
hold Happiness in their hands and scatter
it broadcast? ..ansla.. 3,.o..s :.
= Thackeray, that tenderest Of cynics,
that NEST serious of testers, declared
that anyfwomap -might marry. any. man,
if she would. And It IS certainly true
that most Old maids shasesd sdeclinedI to-
pay CHE price of marriage, The Just
cause and impeachment which have With
lleadstliem frem the holy estasee matri-.
menyahaFe been from within, not, from
Without. They certainly do not hold
themselves too good toImarrpl ThevF
that true marriage is the, ideal
state, But it has been their fortune not
to find that other half and fulfillmentofs
themselves, whose coming could alone
justify the vowing of VOWS. They are
too honest, too brave, and too pure to-
use marriage al a. 'makershift. And it
is plain that there cannot be in existence
more thoughtful, more large hearted, u
mere sci elf5sacrificing, more. modest, ten
der and. truthful women than these. :. $
Asifthe sworlds comes to- fseeF that .
woman woman Is AS separate an entity, as dis 4
tlnct an Individuality, as man, it viii
pay less and less regard to her accidents
and more to herself :. H.wiIl not take it
for granted sthatsh has had a .sdisae-
pointment" at q tender age, or buried
youthful lover, or been the victim of
q misunderstanding" if she write her.
self Mss at forty. Nor will it audibly
wonder why acharning woman is uns
married after twenty five 1T will sad-
mire her for her admirableness, whether
thathas had the certificate of some man j
expressed appreciation gor not, { It will
permit her to live her own life. 80
But though it was the old notion of
feminine ineompleteness and subjeetion
Which made the lot Of single women
reproach TO the unthlnking, they-therns
selves have not, been blameless. Their
patience has been too endless, their
meekness too long suffering their sub |
mission too complete. Almost with one
accord have they consented to efface
themselves, as the French say. ,grieying
the while in silence that married sisters
and preoccupied brothers-inslaw and CAV
young nieeesz7alas. that even .disap-
pointed parents-were SO ready to efface
thena.. For there is a certain sanction siliil
acceptance. When they. .acquiesce in the
general verdict that they are nobotfies.
they enter the finaljudgment. 4u15a baiI
dSelf-sacrifice is q virtue much mis-,
understood. To deny ones self for a
great end, to help the weak, To- relieve
the burdehed, thatyis. heroic But. only
to sew for the idle, to take steps for the
inconsiderate, to pamper vanity and |
folly with endless Services, to be an I'M
paid upper servant for 1inappreciatiye.
to make. ones self of no ac-
count that selfishness may prosper, this
is sgslayish, ,-andperpetuatesty tyranny. This
degrades and belittles her who ministers.
as it initiates and fmisleads her who is
lI,l unto. 81 sGovgf gs.isaarv F.r.j
Inc single woman may maintain that |
precious dignity Of bearing, which CON-
mands respect If her plate be below |
the salt, it is left her to- prove that1wliere
MacGregor sits is the head of the table.
Nor should she slight her dress, ana put
away from herthe ornaments and graees
Of life. They are her armor and de-
fef1se, her argafnent and appeal For IL
is for her to show, in her own person.,
how much more is the woman than the /
wife, and how incontestable is her right |
TO a place in the house, III society, and |
mthe world sssq syxg qnrs q i. sari5II /
!. Ali women love love. The hope Of a /
home other own, of q fond husband and /
bio torehf of dbaby hands zstirs early. in; /
avery maiden's heart. It is with sense /
If loss and hardship that she sees that /
hope fade without fruition. swhen g.ss
.'the 6od Of wounds,
~ ~ Who sets to seas q shore. * +
Comes to her IN His silent rounds
- kaJfyAnd SAYS No more. s.ySgs. ....sY
But life is fun Of compensations. It is
eft her to1enioy, to- labor, and 20 aaspire:l
DerhapsEit.is is Left; her. to illustrate. as her
more fettered married sister can hot, the
'eal capacitya the daetuaf fpuwerucf |
achievement, of~- hss-sex--Harper's /
'asat ad5 dftw dnsr1I Il edu sH
I'm How csapreinely beautiful Mature
4 thic rsrays,ipnr - caiJ fbo o1,,4,, ,.,x,-x -