The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-07-26
WATCHING AND wAlTlua.

WA SSilNG END NAi iiNS.
Oirihood In the tmmcdihtc Centuries Of
the Fast and ut rrescni.
1t is woman's pretogativo to watch and
walt Only throughout childhoods hap
py springtimc, SO brief is tho present all
sufficient. IInping travarscd the bound-
AIRY that separates childhood from maid
nnhood, when May has glidol into Juno,
the first period Of watching and waiting
begins. Tho elimination OF this period
usually produces "thc prince" and,
amid now surroundings, the waiting
continues. While this first duration of
happy waiting, enjoyed by the girls of
to-day, covers several years of their
active livos. In the immediate centuries
of tho past the period of girlhood was re-
strictod to days alone. for girls were
commonly given in marriage almost be-
fore their childhood days had expired.
Researches in history proclaim this un-
wise condition fact, especially among
the nobility
About the year 1910 thoro lived in Italy
Mary Beatrice, Of Modona, a beautiful
child of scarcely fifteen years, She was
devotedly attached to her books, and
earnestly desired to become nun; but
she was selected from among list of
six princcsses to be the wife of the Duke
of York, aftcrward the unfortunate
James III. of England. When informed
by her mother that she was sought in
marriage by the brother of the King of
England, she innocontly asked whore
England was. 1t appears that geography
was not among the studies pursued by
the girls at the convent where Mary
Beatrice was educated When informed
that the Duke of York was widower
and over forty years old, she wept and
protested against the marriage, but all
in vain. When the time arrived for her
to commence her journey to England to
be married, she is said to have cried and
screamed for two whole nights and days,
ana was induced to go, only when her
mother, the Duchess of Modena, con-
sentcd to accompany her. She complet-
cd her fifteenth year five days after her
marriage. Her cventful life, after she
became q devoted English subject and
wcll beloved Quecn,is intensely inter-
esting, and is filled with caro- and sor-
row and closes when she is widowed,
poor and an exile. This is but one among
tho multitudes of similar sacrifices
Mary of England, when welded to
Louis XII. of France, was but sixteen.
Maria Antoinettc, wife of Louis XVI,
was fifteen. and Josephine when first a
bride was sixteen. Eleanor of Castle,
wife of Edward l. of England, was ten.
His second wife but eleven, and he was
sixty. Isabella of France, wife of Ed
ward ILL.,, was thirteen. Anne of Bohe-
mia, wife of Richard H., was fourteen.
Ills second wife was but eight. katha-
rine Of Arragan was sixteen. Anne of |
Warwick was sixteen. Henrietta Maria
was sixteen, while Charlotte Sophia was
sevonteen.
We can but rojoico that during the |
transit Of years education has changed
the custom which compelled our young
daughters to fulfill destinios in their
sweet youth which maturer years alone
warrant. While it Is but natural that
girls should all look forward toward
homes of thcir own ono day, waiting un-
til at least two decades of life have
passed will but botter prepare the way
toward becoming griseldas in the fu-
ture. Think of the innumerable homes
throughout the land where some loving,
patient heart awaits. Sometimes it's
the wife waiting for the coming of her
husband. Again, 1t Is tho gray-haired,
faithful mother, waiting tho return Of
her boy. Thus women watch and wait,
md when having crossed over to the
other side, still will they watch and
wait for the stops of the loved ones com
ing. milwaukee Wisconsin.