Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-08-15

Especial Corrcspondencel
BosroN, Aug. 9-The superfiuous woman
In Boston is a fact-a grim, realistic, numerical
fact, which can neither be ignored nor
properly adjusted in the social economy. She
is pervasive 20 point that ought to interest
legislatures in her behalf. don't mean that
she Is eareering through the world at any
startling pace, soaring unprotected mascu
Unity into apprehensionS of matrimony. On
the contrary, she is, for the most part, "A
modest person, and a most worthy person.
She pervades solely because of her numer-
osity. She can't help it. She is everywhere.
The atmosphere is dense with femininity.
Every time | come to Boston notice it more
and more. Travellers who land here for the first
time, firm in the belief that the superfluity Of
women i'm Massachusetts, is a newspaper joke,
generally haul down their flag and surrender
al the end Of the week. 1t all means some
thing il we could only read the signs Alright
Yesterday a man was telling that his sisters
family had just been increased by pair Of
twins unfortunately they are girls" he
said, and he sighed as he spoke.
A sensible woman spoke up: Don't you
think the CREATOR knows what he is about
Would he create women, superfluous or other
wise, for any but a wise purpose!"
To which the sigher nothing replied
will say il, an excess of femininity is as
had for society an excess of mascuinity.
II is mentally enfeebling to both men and wo-
men. In many boarding houses rows of huS-
handless women, maids and widows, young
and old. surround the tables, much to their
own disgust. Here and there a conSumptive
youth or shaky old man relieves the petit
coated mOnotony and feeds his own vanity at
the same time That's the worst of i'll What
men there are pass for twenty times their
worth on account of their scarcity, till they
grow great in their own estimation that
they become insufferable 10 everybody save
those who are obliged to endure them.
Like the hackwoodsman who praised his
sweetheart till she wouldn't speak 10 him
she thought she was 80 much his superior
the superfluouS women Of Boston get paid for
their homage To men in much the same coin.
They are lorded over, snubbed, put down and
otherwise made to fesl their insignihcance IN
the presence Of a creature born TO pantaloOns
and command The creature may be-frV-
quently is-httle in body and mind, narrow
of soul and feeble as TO brain, and with a
face as unhandsome as an Aztec god Ali the
same. he believes ne is a most satisfactory
piece Of the creators handiwork He hasn't
enough rivals 10 keep him humble.
Marry that old mani" said a young lady,
when rocent May and December alliance
was being discussed. why shouldn't shei
would marry anybody-mark you, anybody-
to get out of my present environment" Tue
young ladies of this city talk a good deal
about their environments. What was her
environment! The routine work the drudgery
even, of home that was only kept together
10y keSping boarders. There industry waged
a spirited and rather hopeless battle with
poverty in its genteeler aspects Her imagina
tion WIS active, and by reason Of her ~en-
vironment" rather depressed in tone, and sh,
saw herself growing old, neglected, disheart-
ened, and virtually imprisoned-for you an
truly imprisoned when you know you are in
n place which you can only get out Of by
miracle. For Thu reason she drew her con
illusions rather strong. Had she been a grade
higher in brain she would have taken to
"carecring," and would have succeeded, too;
for the Boston woman of good executive brain
knows no such word Us fail