Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-29
DO NOT NEED THEM.
Women Are Learning That Husband
Hunting Isn't Necessary.
LIFE OF A GLORIFIED SPINSTER.
Three Old Maids of England Who Accom-
plished World Of Good.
THE WORK OF GOOD QUEEN BEss
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of equals, but a condition In which husbands
are to be rulers and wives subjects. They
can see no chance for harmony in the family
unless the wife plays second fiddle.
These men are fond of telling women that
1t is their mission in life to do duty in
the kitchen andthe nursery and that
they should have nothing to do
But while resignation may be lauded as
virtue. it seems to be quite plain that many
Of the sisters are determined not TO practice
it at present. Many of them have reached
the condition of those whom a recent writer
denominates as ''glorifed spinssers" s"-indi-
viduals evolved from the well-known class
of ''old maids" who have tasted tine de-
lights Of liberty and independence and call
no man master-a new order of women fitted
to take care of themselves, intelligent and
cultured beyond the common, who do
not look forward TO marriage as
their destiny, and who do not feel
deprived of all chance OF happiness because
their souls mates fail to appear upon the
scene and ask them to marry. This sort of
a spinster does not grow sour or cranky.
She does not depend upon her relations for
support until husband turns up. She has
sense enough to see how many OF her friends
have been wrecked by a bad marriage, and
does not mean to throw herself away in like
fashion.
We viii Have More Of Them.
This class of single women will grow
larger with the spread of education and the
facilities that they cow enjoy of making a
livelihood. As Mrs. Chapman observes,
the number Of $4,000 women who will
throw themselves away on 10-cent men will
grow smaller, divorces will grow less in
proportion and happier marriages will be
the rule. It does not seem to the ministers
and laymen who form the "Anti-divorce
Society" that the best way to get at the root
Of the evil is to preach Independence to
women rather than subordination.
But even if all were willing to marry.
there are not enough men to 60 round, hence
however much many of them might desire
the domestic mission, they must accept the
situation and find the exercise for their en-
ergies and their power for good in other
fields. No country can display more
famous lot OF old maids than England, and
no King was ever more beloved and praised
than was the Virgin Queen, Elizabeth, who
made it her end and aim 'to preserve her
throne, to keep England out of war, and
to restore and preserve order" Her
faults were not few, but her
policy as q ruler was distinguished
for good sense. She loved peace, and her
doctrine of moderation and conciliation
brought prosperity to England. ST have
desired" said she in a message to Parlia-
ment, "to have the obedience of my subjects
by love and not by compulsion," and she
won the love of the people fairly, says
Green, by justice and good government.
No married woman, or man either, for tha
matter, ever did more for their country than
the illustrious old maid-Elizabeth.
Three Famous Old Maids.
When Pitt was in power in England, and
when Colonel Boquet was building his
redoubt In Pittsburg, which constitutes the
only relic left of British rule in this vicinity,
there were born three women in England
who achieved fame, who lived long and
useful lives and who were subjected to the
sneers that then. more than now, fell to the
share of old maids-Joanna Baillie, Maria
Edgeworth and Jane Austen. While the
first families of PittsDurg were struggling
with all OF the hardships Of pioneer life
these literary old maids were writing books
that have survived as masterpieces, even
after hundred years. Joanna Baillie was
not so much given to the promotion OF piety
as was Hannah More. The latter gave up
dramatic writing because she thought the
theater demoralizing; but Joanna, equally
bent upon doing good, wrote with the strong
desire to reform the stage by furnishing
plays that should not only give pleasure,
but promote good morals She wrote a
series of "Plays on the Passions that have
won high praise and commendation from
distinguished writers.
Sir Walter Scott said of the truth, power
and feeling shown in these plays that they
entitled her to the fame of standing second
only to Shakespeare, and the assertion has
been made that Byron. Wordsworth and
other late poets have drawn rich stories
from the mine of genius found in the works
of Joanna Baillie. KemDle used OCCASION
ally to play her "De MoDtfort" as giving
scope to his talents, but while her dramas
entitle her to high rank as a poet, and form
"a noble monument to her powerful mind
and eminent genius" they are not acting
plays for the multitude. Even the genius
of Mrs Siddons did not make ''The Family
Legend" in which she played the principal
part, success in the theater. However,
Miss Baillie was not dependent upon her
writings for support, and she was not en-
bittered and soured by the lack OF popular
appreciation for her plays. Her work was
her delight and received warmest welcome
from the eminent writer's and critics of her
time. She lived to be 80 years old, and
used her pen and her talents for the pleasure
and benefit of mankind and the enrichment
of English literature" In comely age,
active and ardent, she and her sister Agnes
lived genial, happy lives as old maids
Through griet and gladness, shade and
sheen
The Miss AIcott of Her Time
Maria Edgeworth, who achieved great
fame in her dav and had a wide influence on
society through her books, was bern in
England, but lived most of her long and
useful life in Ireland. She wrote novels
and tales that were immensely popular. and
her works, says Lord jeffrey, exhibit a
singular union of good, sound sense. mex
haustible invention, and a minute knowl- |
edge of all that distinguishes manners or
touches on happiness in every condition of
human fortune. Miss Edgeworth seems to |
have been the Miss Alcott of a century ago. |
Her books were no less the delight of chill |
dren than of grown people. Her vivid portray |
ais of character. sparkling wit and good
humor, her touches of pathos all showed an
intimate acquaintance with human nature.
Her books were free from religious bias and
prejudice-they were written for the amuse-
ment, and enlightenment Of the people OF
all creeds. Her novels of Irish life are con-
sidered her best, and are said to have been
the inspiration that moved Sir Walter
Scott "to do for Scotland what Miss Edge
worth had done for Ireland"
To us Of to-day the books of Miss Edge
,vortb seem somewhat dulI and the moral is