Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-03-29
WHY poNrTHsY WEpi
Women's Sole Object In Life Nc
Longer Consists In Endeavorinl
TO Marry.


Women's Sole Object In Life No
to Marry.
The numoer of women eschewing the
married state and from choice living life
Of "single bles sedness" Is daily Increasing,
tho vanity Of the opposite sex notwithstand-
ing. for no man il willing to admit that
woman would lead solitary life II she had
an opportunity to change IT,
That Is an exploded idea.
The time has been when women from the
cradle were taught that marriage was the
only outlook for her this side Of the grave,
consequently there were fewer "old maids"
than at present. Nowadays the facts are
80 entirely opposite to such condition Of at
fairs It is we'll to consider them.
Before the beginning of the war with the
south women had not attained any material
position in the business world. The chief
employment of those whom necessity drove
10 earn living was, first, with the needle,
which has been the mainstay OF pumbcrless
families for generations, also that OF teach
ing in private families and public schools,
the latter of whom were almost exclusively
under the guidance Of n male principal.
Other restricted avenues were open, but no
one dared to brave public opinion and be-
come the object of unlimited vituperation,
excepting those whom hunger compelled to
accept any employment that offered. The
call for men, issued at the beginning OF tho
war together with later enlistments, kept
thousands OF homes without bread winners,
ard women who had up to this time been
generally considered incapable took up the
- 1oi hu fathnro
husbands, sons, and brothers, the result OF
which is still felt and will increase with
each succeeding generation. The men left
their homes to fight for principle; the
women were left to bear the plain. matter
of fact details of everyday life. No roseate
glow OF sentiment relieved them OF the cold
gray of necessity.
The plow was guided by slender unao-
customed hands long taught 10 consider that
only the male portion Of he family could ac-
cCmllish the nee eSSary sowing ana reaplng,
and stil these women who worked with a
rover almost divine managed to support
their families, pay taxes, aud in a great
many cases TO cancel the mortgages that
had been threatening their homes for an in
definite number OF years. In The towns and
cities Cf larger growth, women with famil
les dependent upon them, women who up 10
that time had never known "a want ungrati
fed, urged by neces sity. began 10 find that II
was not capacity that they lacked but OPP
pOrtunity Employers were Ocseged and
only after great reluctance and ndering
upon the subject, together with the dearth of
male employees, id they open their doors,
not fully but just crevice where the more
persistent succeeded in crossing the Rubi-
con"
The succeeding generation gave evidence
Of n great change in the females and ~ a
lesser extent in the males Boys and girls
Of that time upon arriving at manhood and
womanhood were the producers OF a differ
ent order of women and the effect reac he'd
TO the men, but not so generally. In the
case Of the latter the ability 10 do was TO a
certain extent allowed to lie dormant as
the necessity 10 accomplish was TO a certain
extent removed only so lar as his own per-
sonal wants and desires urged him 10 eXcr
ton. Not that he has less for himself, but
he has nothing for any one outs dc of self,
for as women showed a decided ability 20
take care Of then selves in n much better
fashion than had been heretofore provided
by their natural protectors, less attention
was paid by certain order of men 10 win
ming place in life other than that which
leaves them a greater amount Of leisure
after the attainment OF their tastes and de-
slres A man or woman without lauda0le
ambition soon sinks 10 mediocrity, and
while the men are fewer in number that do
sire to accomplish a high STANDARD OF excel
lence the daughters almost TO a fraction
keep moving onward, striving TO attain a
little better a little higher. In the good
old days. when marriage was the chief end
of woman any man that was financially
capable of maintaining q family (and in a
great many cases If he was not was CON
sidered desirable and desired life's COM
panion mental caliber or moral training,
refinement or education very rarely playing
any part in the selection Of a husband
How have the ideas and demands Of our
sisters increased Women Of course N AIRY,
as they should and will az long as the world
exists but among the women OF thought and
mental developement a upion Is impossible
without the further addition of mating Of
the intellect tastes, and refinement Such
women remain single from choice rather
than prostitute their womanhood by a union
which is "A degradati0n-- Men Of intellect Of
broadened views recognize their good fell
lowship' and in daily business intercourse
treat with greatest respect. more honor, and
higher courtesy these women of whom they
are proud, paying tribute 10 their womanli-
ness, their dignity, their ability, and their
appreciation Of their own Independence.
These are the women that, married, too
often have forced upon them the po sition of
the oak 81 pportlng the twining tendrils that
can neither help sustain nor beautify
The world no longer looks with contempt
uDon the woman who takes up the burden
of life laid down by iucapab hands, but
stands shoulder 10 shoulder with the proud
est OF her fellows. Not crying aloud de-
manding the ballot or rights" of which
she could not stop u plrtake If offered TO
her sex, but more effectually working to the
glory and honor OF her sex than the shrek
ing ranks Of women who pursue an ignis-
fatuus, which blinds no one bat the pur-
suers-H. g. Jay, in Chica 20 Times.