Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-01
HONORED OLD MAInS.
san Francisco Call.

san Francisco Call.
Ii is quite likely that clearer under
standing of the disadvantages under
which married women labor in the eyes
Of the law has tended to keep back many
from the married estate, but there must
also be taken into consideration that wo-
men are in a ma aio-ity in most parts OF
the world. II this Western country.
where the sexes are more equally divided,
he n. ,ority Of women 10 marry: but in
the East, where men are in the minority.
there are more unmarried women. Take
the State OF New York. for instance, with
its ma iority for women of 10000. or Mas
sachIsctts. with its still larger number,
and il will be readily understood why
these two States show large proportion
of "old maids Il is. however, to the
removal of all Oliium from that Self-same
title of old maid that much OF the Will
( ingneSS Of women TO remain single may
be attributed. When il was regarded as
occasion for reproach for 4 woman to be
unmarried at p, few possessed the cour-
age to brave public opinion and follow
their individual iaclina5ions in the mat
ter. For this reason many formerly en-
tered upon alliances entirely unsuitable
for them. Out OF this fact. perhaps, as
much as from any other circumstance,
has arisen the common idea that maTri-
age is game governed purely by chance
at which those VINO play may feel toler-
ably certain OF losing. That there are
really more happy marriages than there
are disastrous ones has been the oOSer-
vatiCn of nearly all VINO have studied the
question. but the general public hears
more a5out the unhappy mismatches that
end in the divorce court.
With the enlightenment Of public Opin-
ion ii;:g arisen Il growing sentiment Of re-
sPec5 for those women who, their tastes
inc;ining them for life Of single bless
edness, have had the courage to accept
that as their destiny. and who,
rreferring dreary hearths to desert souls,
are willing to spend their lives alone
rather thal link them to Others for any
reason save that OF mutual affection and
adaptability.
Women who have the courage and
strength OF purpose to make this choice
are the very ones best fitted to do good
work in life, and for such there are, in
this age, many avenues open. Many
woman who has never known the JOY of
motherhood has, in her capacity of teach
er, PLAYED an important part In forming
the character of hundreds of the children
of Others. Many q one who has no hus-
band TO represent her has by tongue and
pen shaped the opinions and votes Of
scores. Many a one who has never claim
ed the love of one has gained the undy-
ing love and gratitude OF many, as she
has watched by coUches Of suiferingand
smoothed the pillow Of pain, while fol-
lowing her chosen vocation as nurse.
Think of the grand old maids this
world has known. Miss Nightingale,
MissWillard. Miss Phelps, Miss Anthony,
Miss Alcott, Miss Cousens. Such list
could be enumerated as would fill the
"Woman'S Column" and still it would
not comprehend them all.
These we all know, but who does not
call to mind among his own private cir
Gle of acIpaintances half a score of grand
old maids who are doing noble work, each
in her own little corner? They are to be
found among the efficient workers in
every good cause, ready with minds at
leisure from themselves to enter heart
and soul into every enterprise for the ad-
vancement Of the race. They are our
workers, our teachers, our
agitators of questions Of reform. Who
can estimate the good that has been done
by Miss Dodge on the School Board of
New York, or by Miss May among the
schools of Massachusetts,, or even of
many less widely-known worker in
other fields?
The world has moved upward, and it /
is on a higher-plane to-day in its treat /
ment Of all women, but not the least sig |
nifcant feature of its progress is its atti-
tude toward single women. They have |
a wide field open to them, and are rapid |
ly advancing to occupy it. And when,
in the great reckoning day, account is |
taken Of each ones work, there will be a
grand showing of noble achievements |
for the old maids