St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-03-02
The Old Maid OF To-Day.


wit. has commonly been assigned to
one of two classes. If to the senti-
mental. she was usually depicted with
one or two limp curls at either side of
a simpering face, a breast-pin made
from the hair of "A departed lover, and
with a general affectation of girlishness
in her dress and manner. She was eX
cessively timid in the matter of mice
and dark halls, and looked upon any
and every man with awe and admira-
ton. seeing in each one possible or
probable lover. In short, what
bright but irreverent friend calls a
'clnger.
II she was assigned to the strong
minded class Il use the term in its
popular acceptance), she was tall and
angular. wore her hair twisted tiercely /
in a tight little knob, scorned useless
adornments of her person, and divided !
her time between driving children and
animals from her premises, and SLAM
dering her neighbOrs, her hand against
every man, and every mans hand
against her.
Now. either the pictures were at
fault, or the types have passed away,
for the old maid of tn day is quite an
other person. In the first place she is
not sentimental. Indeed | do not
know but she leans in the opposite di-
Icction, being rather cool and practi-
cal. However that may he, neither is
she Il man-hater. For having ceased
to consider men in the light of lovers,
she has discovered that they make very
good friends, and it is quite likely that
among her acquaintances there are IA
number whom she regards with a clear
sighted, slightly judicial, but very gen
uine friendship. And with the friend
ship has grown up certain pity or
sympathy, for going ont 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 frank friend
illness which is very comfortable for
both sides.
Secondly. she does not SANDER her
ncighbOrs she has other things to en-
gross her time and thoughts, for she
is busy woman. If fortune has been
kind to her, she keeps up some old
house in old-iashiOncd state she is
prominent in church affairs, her name
appears among the officers of employ
mcnt societies and orphans homes.
Her scrutiny of "cases" is rigorous,
but once satisfied she gives with dis
Greet libcrality. Her advice is solicited
and respected. She is "A recognized
power in the community.
If fortune has been less generous
with her, and she depends on her head
or hands for support, what work she
does is done faithfully, for being re
lcved 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 clear
est heads, quickest wits, and most
facilc fingers are found among these
same old maids. After her day of USE
ful work she goes home to her cosy
room (plainly or elegantly furnished,
it is quite sure to be cosy and home
likc). and sits down by the fire with
her magazine or new book, with none
to modest or make her afraid. No Wis
ions of kneclcss little trousers or toe
less stockings fit between her and the
pages. she has no guilty half-conscious-
ness of pile of unmade shirts, whose
neck bands will invariably be Il six
tccnth of an inch too long or too short
but she rocks and reads and lays M
much mental food. So she know,
something of philosophy and art, she
keeps up with the news of the day
foreign and ut home, she can talk
about the last novel, she dips into
Spencer and Carlyle, and attacks the
North American Review without Z
tTcmOr.
- L., 1,
inclincd) where she sometimes open,
her mouth with wisdom, and talks OF
subjects outside the range of the short
cumiugS of servants, the last bit 81
scandal. or the cost of provisions.
once heard it said by very intelligent
woman (herself married), that she die
not enjoy the society of married wOmeI
because they were always talking
about the prices of things. Now thi'
seems rather harsh criticism on thOs,
wives and mothers whose minds anC
hearts are necessarily racked by thi'
question of prices" and who speal
out of the abundance of their anXietieS
but the fact remains that as staples o
conversation they are not pleasant Ol
profitable, and it sometimes happens
that a husband will turn from the con
Sidcration of these topics to cOnvers,
with some woman who has had tim,
and space to think of other things, -
which. considering the fact that thi
mental limitation in his wife has beer
caused 10y marrying him, always look
unbccomiug in him.
The old maid of to-day, beside be
ing Il worker and reader, is a travel
er. She takes little trips in the sum
mer, with other congcnial spinsters, t,
the mountains or sea-shOre. Sh,
ranges from Maine to Florida and from
Florida to California-she even gOe
abroad" governed only in her pere
CARNATIONS 10y circumstances, or tn,
length of her purse, which purse, b,
il long or short, is hers.
Her DAYS are days of pleaSantness
and her nights are nights of peace. Sh,
goes to bed when she pleaSes, and does
not leave one ear uncovered to lister
for the uncertain steps and waverin!
night key of a late-coming husband
Neither does she turn reStlesSly on he
pillow beside u sober. snoring spouse
and wonder. where the children
school books or the family tlannels ar,
to come from but she drops int,
peaceful slumber, tn dream of her oil,
love, and wakes to wonder whethe
married life with him could ever hav,
become the sordid, meager affair whicl
il i to 50 many husbands and wives.
Do You say, "A selfish life, lived onl,
for her own ease and comfort ?" d.
not think the charge of seltishness cal
Toe proved against the sistcrhood TO
they who read history, or keep thei
eyes open, cannot fail to see that
large share of the hard and disagreed
BILE work of the world has been and i