The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-30
THE VANISHING "oLD MAID"
New Opportunities are Constantly
Opening for Women.

he appeal recently sent here fro m
one of e new states for wives for the
large male population there. whether
| made in jest or earnest, reflects wildly
one OF the most important wants OF
the great West. Here i'll the East the
excess OF the female element j. es-
pecially noticeable az this season OF the
YEAR when our summer resorts are
crowded with Young women who
y6se 10 seek their pleasure without
fhe company OF young men. But the
lack of womankind is natural in a new
country, where men go to clear the
land or Ia dig for gold or silver. Few
men wish Ia take women with them
at the iirSt entrance into such a eoun-
try; pioneers have To rough il" in a
manner that but few women can en-
dure, and many man goes to seek
his fortune IN the West, leaving his
sweetheart behind. intending 10 send
for Der when success shall have
crow Ned his efforts.
Ii l. perhaps, a. one result of this
large demand Tor wives from the West
that an important personage is being
rapidly eliminated from our daily life
and consequently from our literature
Half century ago one OF the most
cons picuous figures in anv society. in
town or country, WAS the cold maid. -
The population WAS not as large a
now, the sexes We're more nearly even
in number. and under such circum-
stances an unmarried woman who
had passed the age which society
chose 10 think closed to her the door
al matrimony was marked figure
The term "old maid" became one of
reproach; humoriSts Wed with one
another in depicting her peculiarities.
her terror st sight OF man. and the
thousand and one little notions which
the lonely spinster was supposed To
hold. But gradually IA change has
come over our coInic literature.
ana wal Hover and "oll
maid" are now seldom found in it. for
the reproaen which WAS implied by
the latter term has no longer any
sting. aud an unmarried woman who
ms passed her youth II looked ON a.
one who has al least an excuse for her
AI-tehee' ana not a. blighted being
who Is disappointed in life.
one reason for this change is found
IA tue tact thst new positions are con-
StAAuF opening To women. making
them more independent and seif-reii-
ant. TO into any Of our large business
houses to-day, and women will Toe
+ found employed as clerks and hook-
keepers. situations formerly held ~
clusiFeiy 10y men; or a. stenographsrS
AMI iypeNfilers. new positions which
nave been made nece<<ary BIZ the cyl
gencles OF business during the last fex
years, and which have Teen aas.,.rts
filled by women anxious to be s.lf.
supporting
Toe telegraph and telephone offices
throughout The country also emnInv
thousands ot women, ard bs,si.Ies
these isew occupations there are The
cid ONES oi teacher ana tiFeS>maker
aTsd iui3iiner, Shich have always been
goisldeFed soman's special province
ths itafheti professions. too. have
e.en opeitea to her, aud doctors. law-
ytfs aid the clergy are no longer
necessarily 81 the male ser. while in
'"itihk new papers woman plxvs AN
important part
Another factor which enters into
the Iues lien. and IL il on. that -
average man always linds har,i To al.
t4't. = tdas women KNOW more Than
theS Hsd hity ysaFs aga. ard their in
tsIaeeiual attachments are n,ny..
heafiy on par with those of th.ir
masculine rivals With this a.Iyanr.
ia ga ieaiion they make fiaer siistlae-
1ioFs taan sorIa Tlg ard fewer xonneo
hoN marry for the sake ol A hana
fss women sao wish xoFk are i5I.
Aiad lesser It'll foisl their hands il, ia.
desSnee and pine for tie husband w.,a
never es'Iiies. II there are aav al the
. latter eiass waiting their opportunity.
t~tssF ore vii rFoba is never ie
ohefs.E 1asi t4at 50 pathesicAlly de-
psc9et' II Tie cty ~ gives xanfe..ss
THAT etFsles from tie iar est