The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-19
The Spinster Is In It.


Writing in a commendatory sort Of way
about middle age, Mrs. X. GANNErT WELLS
says in the North American Rerie,0: mid
die life for an unmarried daughter is often
very hard, for she may have no real liberty.
girl at forty ought to have her own
choices Just as much as IL she were married"
For woman writer a married woman
writer, to say :" her own choices Just rs much
as II she wore married." is an impressive bit
Of unsolicited testimony to the freedom OF
married women In America, and their habit
Of doing just rs they please. It is true,
moreover, that unmarried daughters OF
reasonably mature years should have just
as much freedom rs their characters and
circumstances will permit. II they are not
to have the natural career that Is desired
for womankind. they should DO free to make
some other kind OF career for themselves,
II they are able.
1t is an exceptional married woman who
will find it possible to "have her own
choices In anything like tho Same degree
as the coming spinster OF forty. who finds her.
self released from parental constraint and
free to get out Of the world as much Us she
can. The earth is to be hers and the fulness
thereof 1t is opening to her. and she
Is advancing upon it with flying feet.
She promises to be ono OF the freest
of mortal creatures. and one OF the
most coercive and competent. Clubs arc
growing up in great cities for her con-
vcnience; big buildings are planned for her
to live in; charities are looking to
her for management; dependent relatives
are to owe their support to the results OF her
intelligent exertions. There was a time
when the ideal condition coveted by women
who craved unlimited freedom was that OF q
widow with one child. Widowhood grows
yearly less necessary, and though the single
child is as desirable as ever, it Is because n
child Is Il pleasure, and not because ono Ia
needed rs a protection. There is very little
left in the way OF the spinster who has en-
lightened parents; and the enlightenment OF
parents is making such progress that in
the course Of another generation We may
expect to see it customary to provide for the
inclination OF unmarried women for an in
dependent existence.
Tho independence OF married women was
secured by law. and Is definitely ascertained.
The independence OF unmarried women Of
mature years, which naturally follows and
was bound to follow, depends not on statu-
tory enactment, but on social custom and
notions OF propriety. or course it takes
longer to change the views OF proper people
upon proprety than 1t does to make new
statute; but the change Is coming. How
many spinsters does each OF us know who
have summer cottages on their own hook,
where, for part OF the year at least, they
are law unto themselves? How many
who support themselves? How many who
travel where they will without any other
than financial limitations? There is good
deal OF solace for the spinster in these days.
and there Is abundant reason to b. glad OF 1t.
The spinster is great boon to individuals,
though perhaps the State has good reasons
for not approving OF her. Likewise to
families. In land where men have little
leisure to visit. and where the habits OF mar
ricd women and children are influenced, II
not absolutely regulated, by the habits OF
men, tho spinster can make visits. thereby
keeping up old friendships and bringing new
atmospheres into homes that have need OF
wholesome variation. The spinsters form
the only approach to leisure class In Amer
lea. Avast work is done by them all the time
Avaster work awaits them All social philoso.
pliers who know anything will hail with
approval all Indications that promise in.
creased liberty and thereby increased use
fulness to spinsters.