The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-01-11
WHAT ARE YOUNG WOMEN TO DO =,
"A Feeling Discussion of u Worry Anxious
Question.
What are we girls to do ?"

What are we girls to do ~
ms, writes correspondent in the
=. LOUIS Spectator, was the question Of a
beautiful Richmond belle. 'Here there
are, continued this lovely woman, Gin
the beat of society of our city, over two
hundred and fifty marriageable girls,
many of them highly accomplished and
attractive women, fitted to grace any po-
sition; and in all Richmond we have
not dozen really eligible men. We
have hosts of beaux, but no prospective
husbands. Our streets swarm with pleas
ant young fellows, who do for escorts,
dancing partners and Irritation material
but We have absolutely no men to whom
an intelligent, spirited, ambitious girl
could possibly think Of tying herself and
her fortunes. They lack education, in.
dependence, purposa-everything that ia
necessary to rise. There is no future for
them, and apparently none for us but to
form an old maid brigade and start on q
crusade to some Of the far Western Ter.
rltoories, whero sterling men are plenty
and women scarce"
They did not 60 crusading to the West.
and to-day the lamentations of the Vir.
ginia belle find full justification in the
fact that Richmond is literally oyerrun
with those most estimable, but seldom
enYied or enviable portion Of the divine
economy known as old maids. Every
ball room and parlor wall is richly tapes.
tried with these slightly faded flowers.
But Richmond is not alone in this dc.
licious misery. The same complaint coca
up from every city in the land. The
West sends to the East gentle moan of
SYMPATHETIC woe. Plenty Of girls, lovely
as the sun shone on, but panicky lack
OF desirable young men.
Thus spoke clever and accomplished
young lady not long ago to journalist !:
You mockingly criticise us for en-
couraging the attentions of what you
contemptuously style 'whipper r.snappers,'
'sniPs' and callow goslings,' but how can
we help it? There are twenty of these
little fellows in society where there is
one really desirable man and if it were
not for chem we would miss many an en-
tertainment that we want to attend,
many an opera and play, many q set in
dancing, that we now enjoy. But for
these very pigmies, with their three hair
scornfuliy, every girl would be left at
home half the times she now gets out,
sad would be wall flower moro than
half the time when she managed to in
veigle her father or brother into escort
ing her to parties and receptions. You
find me plenty of those cultivated, as.
piring men with future you talk about,
and Ill find you plenty of girls capable
OF appreciating them and ready to drop
all their retinue of 'snips' for thcm at
any time. Bring on your real men,
Irot out your much talked Of thorough
breds."
She was only debudnte, but she non
plussed him. Tell over all the masculine
beads of your society rosary; take an
inventory of your male acguaintances in
what is called good society, and you will
have to admit that this vehement young.
girl indictment is "true bill" All
over the country a man-famine prevails.
We have hosts of society fellows
swells, giddy boys-but they are hardly
the husband material sensible woman
would select. Many Of them are kind
hearted, agreeable little creatures, dis.
posed to do everything in their power to
earn the gratitude Of the girls, 10 whose
enjoyment they attribute themselves and
all they have and are. But consider
able proportion of them are freaks of
nature, only to be accounted for when
the creation of mosquitoes, feas, mumps
and measles IS explained. They are as
much alike, find them where you will, as
30 many peas. There is not originality
enough in them for the tailors they pat.
ronize to get up sufficient difference to be
recognized under q microscope.
What is to be done7 Where is the use
of all our nineteenth century progress in
art and science, if an improved article of
society man can not be invented aud
manufactured in greater abundance?