Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1886-10-16
MODERN OLD MAIDS.
Jolly aud Good -Natured women Wlo
Dress in Excellent Taste.

Jolly and Good Natured Women WHO
Dress in Excellent Taste.
According TO the idea of things which
prevailed not so very long ago, the
woman who did not marry was a
blghted being 1t did not matter
whether she remained single from
choice or necessity; for since it was
considered a woman's only manifest
and unalterable destiny to marry, she
must, of course, be regarded as fail
ure in life if she did not do this. And
though she may have refused forty Of
fers of marriage, or have had the most
imperative duties of any sort, or devel-
oped the most decided talent for some
vocation in life other than marriage,
vet neither one or all of these would
have been accepted as a valid reason
why she should not follow what society
had decided was the only proper course
| in life for her.
From this condition of things there
arose in literature and the minds Of the
people in general the typical 'old
maid" She was always pictured gaunt.
angular and forbdding in appearance;
morose and ill-tempered in disposition,
as become a blighted and disappointed
being; hating youth and pleasure Of all
sorts, with special grudge against
love making and lovers, since they re-
minded her of her own vanished youth
and the opportunities which she never
| had, or having, had neglected.
But we have changed all that in
these later days. With the education
of women and the broadening of their
opportunities in every way their destl-
nes have broadened also. A woman
is still, perhaps, expected first to marry,
and it is best for her that she should,
provided her marriage can be a happy
and suitable one. But if from her own
choice, or a necessity arising from a
lack of appreciation on the part of the
other and more stupid sex, she remains
at the end of her DAYS what some one
calls an "unclaimed blessing she
is no longer considered, from this cir
cumstance alone, a failure and an un-
happy creature. She is no longer
doomed to life of dependence in the
house of another, for a score of voca
tions are open to her, in any one o
which she may win livelihood or even
competence. Consequently she com
, mands respect, and, far from being
subject of contempt or pity, she is mor'
likely the object Of open or secret env,
on the part of most of her married ac
quaintances.
And so it has come about that th
typical old maid Of former times ha
passed away, and in the literature o
. to-day we find new types conforming
, to the new facts of the case and quit
different from the old The moder
t old maid is not angular and forbiddin
t in appearance, but plump and pleas
1 ing. She is not morose and ill-tem
pered, but jolly and good-natured to a
extent that makes her the best of com
pany. As she has never had the at
a sOrbing cares that come with marriage
: and has no family Of sons and daugt
> ters growing up about her to remn
v her of the flight of years, she has ma
IS urally forgotten to grow old, and youn
Q people regard her as one of themseIv'
n when good times are being planned
while in the matter of lovers and love
!. making she has had that eXperenc
h which makes her simply Invaluable a
+ confidantc and adviser, and she is tn
o repository of all the secrets of this ,ol
3 which exist within the range of her az
h ullaintance. She dresses in eNqusit
:. taste, she pets pug dog or awhile ca
a golden beetle or whatever amin;
fashion may dictate; is idoized by he
4 family; especially her Young nephew
rhaS hosts of admirers. but is di>cretio
:. and propriety personifed; is the guic
! ing spirit in orphan aSyIumS. hoSpit;
+. fairs, associated charity matters an
:. other good works, and, in short, live
out to the end of her days happ,
useful. wrll-roundel existence. Nj
= ,ra"kee YelcUWph