Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-03-14

WOMAN AND HOME.
THIS WOULD. BE A DISMAL WORLD
WITHOUT THE "OLD MAID"

T. Dressmaker's Trials-Beware of Mans
Fiatrery-A Martyrdom of Today-Cha-
perons for Lady Tourists-The Way Not
20 slecp-Side Reading.
There is deal of well meant sympathy
And commiseration wasted on the old maid
bhe does not need it half SO much as do ninety
nine hundredths of those that put forth this
wasted food of sympathy. 1t is about as
sensible TO judge Of the characteristics of old
maldom by one emblttered sample as it
would be TO estimate crop of apples-rosy,
sweet apples-by one or two imperfect, sour
specimens Of the fruit. Yet, for some in
scrutable reason, the bitter, half developed
apple Is accepted as guage and type Of the
whole crop of sun kissed, round sweet apples,
whose flavor is priced by the human family.
Happy, indeed, is the house that shelters
az old maid. She is the keystone of the
household arch. As the children's "Auntien
she blends the love of the mother with the
discipline of the father. To the former she
Is right hand, and TO the latter a constant
source of satisfaction and peace of mind
The mother is often immersed in cares that
distract her from maternal duties; the latter
is prone to bring bis business worries home
with him, to the rendering of his children
seapcgoats by his i'll nature. But the maiden
sister is steadfsstness personifed, and her
mental pendulum swings serenely at all times
She is 10 the home favored by her presence
and ministrations what the governor" is to
the steam engine-a controlling power that
regulates the entire domestic machinery. a
che little brood Dut aside childish things and
become lads and lasses, who so near to their
young hearts condolences as "Auntief'
The latter has lived through her hearts
history. Size is as the keen eyed pilot who
stands at the helm Of boat threading its
way among the shoals and bends of tortu
Gus river. She has been among all the shoals
and quicksands that woman's first quarter
century can hold. She is best fitted to point
out Uenderly and wisely, to her young prodi
gies the right course; better than their
mother, for the latter in her safe harbor of
matrimony, has Rotaad,iired suclelhnw ledge
as our firm pilot has gained; better than the
father, for he has maG,s, obtuseness and sell
dom, indeed Wins sons or daughters con-
fidence in such delicate matters make
them turn iustinctively to the blessed old
maid Of the family. And there they find
such rich stores of compromising sympathy
and wisest, tenderest counsel as send them
fOrJD from Gef DFesctice Uua0&Iul JLdU among
women some were born to be ''old maids
For, 1t must be assumed, some are so born;
others are old maids from choice, and-popu-
lar opinion to the contrary Notwithstanding
not few are old maids from choice.
The old maid is born to do good; not to
shower the wealth of her woman's nature
upon one mainland he possibly, and very
probably, undeservlng-but upon many, who
can appreciate the good they receive at the
hands Of warm hearted, sunny tempered
maiden of middle age. Outside the sanctuary
of home, where the "Auntien is high priestess
in all that makes the home happy one, the
mnistrations Of spinsterhood make countless
thousands glad, when pain and illness hold
sway: where visJas Of cots stretch between
white walls, there the old maid is found. Her
football is as soft as her heart, yet mans
judgment guides her mlniStratons among the
sufferers. And, when the last scene comes,
when ones pilgrimage is ending, who SO gen
Tie in her attendance SO soft of touch, so dett |
so altogether desirable ia the SILENT shaded /
room as the old maid.
1t Is only the shallow, the thoughtless, the
unworthieSt among men and women who
will use the term ''old maid" in any sense
savoring of slight. This would be dismal
world indeed, bereft of the presence and the
offices of the old maid.-B B. in Home Maya