The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-05-19
MODERN OLD MAIDS.
Hhay are Jolly and Good -Naturcd- 49,
Dress In Exquisite Taste.

They IRE jolly and Good -Natured, 49,
Dress In Exquisite Taste.
According to the idea Of things which
prevailed not 90 very long ago. the wo-
man who did not marry was blighted
being. It did not matter whether she
rems1ed single hom CHOICE or neces-
sity: for since it was considered wo-
mans only manifest and unalterable
destiny to marry, she must of course be
regarded a. . failure in life if she did
not do this. And though she may have
refused forty offers Of marriage, or have
had the most imperative duties of any
sort, or developed the most decided tai
emit for some vocation in life other than
marriage yet neither one nor all OF these
would have been accepted as 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 minds OF the peo-
pie in general the typical '.old maid. =
She was always pictured as gaunt,
angular, and forbidding in appearance:
morose and ill-tempered in disposition.
"a became blighted and disappointed
being; hating youth and pleasure OF all
sorts. with q special grudge against
lovemaking 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 wo-
men and the broadening of their oppor-
tunities in every way their destinies have
broadened also. A woman is still. per-
haps, expected first to marry, and it is
best for her that she should, provided
her marriage can be happy and suila-
BILE one. But if from her own choice,
or . necessity arising from lack OF APP
prsciation on the part of the other and
more stupid sex, she remains at the end
of her days what someone calls an ''un-
claimed blessing" she is no longer con-
eidered, from this circumstance alone,
failure and an unhappy creature. She
Is no longer doomed to life of depen-
dence in the house of another, for a
score of vocations are open to her. in
any one of which she may win liveli-
hood or even competence. Consequent-
IL she commands respect, and, far from
being a subject of contempt or pity. she
10 more likely the object of open or Sc
cret envy on the part OF most OF her
married acquaintances
And so it has come about that the
typical old maid OF former times has
passed away, and in the literature OF to-
day we find new types conforming to
the new facts of the case and quite diff
ferent from the old. The modern old
maid is not angular and forbidding in
appearance. but plump and pleasing.
She is not morose and ill-tempered, but
Jolly and good-naturedt to an extent that
makes her the best of company. As
she has meyer had the absorbing cares
that come with marriage, and has no
family of sons and daughters growing
up about her to remind her of the flight
of years, she has naturally forgotten to
grow old, and young people regard her
rs one OF themselves when good times
are beng planned; while in the matter
of lovers and love making she has had
that experience which makes her simply
invaluable as coniidante and adviser.
and she is the repository of all the S.
crets Of this sort which exist within the
range of her acquaintance. She dresses
in exquisite taste, she pets pug dog or
a white cat. golden beetle, or what
ever animal fashion may dictate; is
idolized by her family; especially her
young nephews; has hosts Of admirers,
but is discretion and propriety persona
fed; is the guiding spirit in orphan
asylums, hospit,l fairs, associated
charity matters, and other good works,
and, in short, lives out to the end Of her
days happy. useful, well-rounded ex-
istence. Telegraph