Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1883-06-21
A Plea for the Unmarried.

iect for the exercise Of much thin wit,
has commonly been assigned 10 one OF
two classes. If to the sentimental, she
was usually depicted with one or two
limp curls at either side Of q simpering
face, breast-pin made from the hair Of
departed lover, and with a general
afectation of girlishness in her dress and
manner. She was excessively timid in
the matter of mice and dark halls, and
looked upon any and every man with
awe and admiration, seeing in each one
a possible or probable lover, If she was
assigned to the strong-minded class Il
use the term in its popular acceptancel,
she was tall and angular, wore her hair
twisted fiercely in n tight little knot,
scorned useless adornments of her per-
son, and divided her time between driv-
ing children and animals from her
premises, and slandering her neighbors
her hand against every man and
every mans hand against her. Now,
either the pictures were in fault or the
types have passed away, for the old
maid of to-day is quite another person.
In the first place she is not sentimental.
Indeed, / do not know but that she
leans in the opposite direction, being
rather cool and practical. However that
may be, neither is she man-hater.
For having ceased to regard men in the
light of lovers, she has discovered that
they make very good friends, and it is
quite likely that among her acquaint-
ances there are number whom she re-
CARDS with a clear-sigbted, slightly judi
cial, but very genuine friendship. And
with the friendship has grown up Ger;
tain pity or sympathy; for, going out
into the world herself, she has gained
some idea of the burdens men carry,
and the odds against which they fight
And on this footing she meets her
brother man in society or business with
q frank friendliness which is very COM
Portable for both sides. Secondly, she
does not SANDER her neighbors; she has
other things to engross her time and her
thoughts, for she is a busy woman. Ii
fortune has been kind to her, she keeps
up some old house in old-fashioned
state; she is prominent in church affairs;
her name appears among the officers OF
employment societies and orphans
homes. Her scrutiny of ceases" is rig
orous, but once satisfied, she gives with
discreet liberality. Her advice is solic-
tied and respected. She is a recognized
power in the community. If fortune
has been less generous with ner, and she
depends on her head or hands for sup
port, what work she does is done faith
fully; for, being relieved of the necessity
of keeping one eye on the door for the
coming man, she is able to devote all her
energies to the business in hand, and it
is an established fact that some of the
clearest heads, quickest wits, and most
facile fingers are found among these
same old maids. After her day of USE
full work she goes home to her cozy
room (plainly or elegantly furnished, it
is quite sure to be cozy and home-like), /,
and sits down by the fire with her mag
aZine or new book, with none to modest
or make her afraid. No visions ofknee-
less little trousers or toeless stockings
fit between her and the pages; she has
no guilty half-consciousness of apple Of
unmade shirts, whose neckbands will
invariably be sixteenth of an inch toe
long or too short; but she rocks and she
reads, and lays up much mental food
She goes into society (being socially in
clined), where she sometimes opens hel
mouth with wisdom and talks on sub
iects outside the range of the shortcom
ings of servants, the last bit of scandal
or the cost of provisions. | once heart
itsaid by very intelligent woman (her
laIkf married) that she did not enjoy tn
society of married women because the,
were always talking about the prices o
things. Now, this seems rather harsl
criticism on those wives and mother
whose minds and hearts are necessaril,
racked by the question of 'prices, AM
who speak out of the abundance of thei
anxieties; but the fact remains that a
staples of conversation they are nc
pleasant of profitable, and it sometime
happens that husband will turn fror
the consideration of these topics to con
verse with some woman who has tim
and space to think of other things
which, considering the fact that thi
mental limitation in his wife has bee
caused by marrying him, always look
unbecoming in him. The old maid c
to-day, besides being worker and
reader, is a traveller. She takes littl
trips in the summer, with other conger
ial spinsters, to the mountains or Sc
shore. She ranges from Maine to Cal
fornia-she even goes abroad, goN
erned only in her perigrinations b
circumstances or the length of her purs
which purse, be it long or short,
hers. Her days are days of pleasantnes
and her nights are nights indeed {
peace. She goes to bed when she please
and does not leave one ear uncovered
listen for the uncertain steps and wavel
ing night key of late-coming husband
Neither does she turn restlessly on he
inflow beside sober snoring spous
and wonder, wonder, where the chilt
ren's school books OF the family fial
lnels are to come from; but she droI
Into quiet peaceful slumber to dreal
lof her old love, and wakes to wond'
whether married life with him coul
lever become the sordid, meagre affa
(which it is to so many husbands ar
WIVES Do you say: "A selfish life, live
bnly for her own ease and comfort!'
Eio not think the charge of selfishne
ban be proved against the sisterhoo
Tor they who read history, or keep the
eyes open, cannot fail. to see that a lars
Ibare of the hard and disagreeab
work of the world has been, and is b
hg, done by single women. Inhospital
b reformatory institutions, in the fan
les of relatives, they spend and a
bent, physically, mentally, and tina
fally, for the good of others. A lone
fep Yes, sometimes; but loneliness
~ the worst evil in life; it is bliss col
hred to uncongenial or half-heart,