The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-10-12
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
MY LADY SPINSTER.
There is Place In the World for Every
Sinrle Woman

OF unbCunded content and a constant
inspiration to excellence. The reverse
is even more true. The man or woman
who feels out of harmony with life be-
cause OF belief that he or she is unncc
essary, superfluous, finds the springs
of healthy living Slapped at their very
foundations.
The position of the single woman has
been rendered unjustly disagreeable be-
cause of "a mistaken idea that she is SUI
perhuous SO long as she is not mated.
The changes on this theme have been
rung so persistently that a woman may
be almost pardoned if she comes TO con-
slider her existence a. great mistake on
the part of the Creator.
1T would be an edifying and convinc-
ing proof that the army of single wom-
en- has an important place in the worlds
economy if for the space of one year all
unmarried ladies over twenty-five years
Of age could be suddenly spirited away
10 one of NJ. Flammarion's planets.
Think of the older sisters, the daugh-
ters, the unselfish aunts who are
sources of supply to innumerable nieces
and nephews and kinsfolk, the noble
hand of workers for charitable and be-
ncvolent objects, the hospital nurses,
and those outside OF hospitals, the
writers, readers, companions house
keepers, and, above all, the faithful
teachers--all on leave of absence from
this earth for three hundred and sixty
five days What void would be felt in
the land, and how glad we would be to
welcome them home again even in Mas
sachusctts. whence first arose the cry
about superiority of women
Tie single woman herself is, how
ever, qUite largely responsible for the
public sentiment concerning her. She
fails to demand the respect due her
worthy position in the community.
Her work is generally performed with
ont ostcntation, and she accepts with
quite too much meekness the unfair es-
innate that is often passed upon her,
and thus adds to the difficulties of her
own and her sisters position.
Eut let her not think of superfluity in
the case of such very excellent and
necessary commodity. 1t is quite evil
dent that the Creator of our little world
fully understands the conduct Of its
snrv to its successful evolution that we
should be indicted into all its myster
les. Had it been best that all women
should bc provided with husbands, the
wastes of life incident to war, dissipa-
tiou. crime and folly would hav, been
in some providential manner made good
or altogether avoided. Had the worlds
happiness been chiefly dependent on
man no doubt the masculine half of
humanity would have been in excess.
it is therefore a matter of congratula-
ton that to woman has been vouch-
salcd the honor Of strength of num-
b"rS
Individually, however. the single
woman often lamcnts her condition
and regards her life as of comparatively
littlr vainc, This is especially true
during THAT trying period when the
transition from young-womanhood to
the miGdIc-uged years is taking place.
She finds the recreations and employ
mCntS Of youth still attract i've. hut the
majority OF her circle of friends have
gone On to a new mode of life, Hnd are
no longer interested in the saTnc oh
jcctS In more than one sense sine is Of
unccrtain age. She is uncertain where
she belongs in the social world. She
is uncertain how to dress, whether to
wear hats or bonnets. If she be modest,
she shr.nlis with horror from being
thought intrusive. Uukind lips speak
words OF reproach il she manifest the
slightest interest in the socicil- Of the
other SEX, and the poor woman with her
girls heart often feels that there IS no
rc&l p alc for her, no room in tho social
economy for one who has missed what
the world considers the manifest des-
tiny &; woman. She may have had
lovers by the score and refused them
MI. while her married friend accepted
her first Offer and never expected
another. And she is sometimes driven
to thr conclusion that had she married
the most insignificant or unworthy of
her lovers. however little she cared for
him hnr position would hav. been su-
rr",cy II many ways to the present one.
i Is NJ this period that Il woman oft
ca a..rr:'s most. but her suffering and
sr,r.orture are UNNECESSARY and unjust
in me last degree. There is room. wide
room, tur kcr still. There is ~ dangh-
tiers place to fiji, perhaps. Erpthers
ana sisters have left thc oid home fog
new ores Father and mp,hrr, one or
both. sorriy Hecd tlc grT,i us mip-trI-
tioa which she alone can give. With
on, H,r .Gci- lives would indeed be-
lon ~ aul Gc>aatc. 4 brother o: SIS
tc". OK or unfortunate. rHQIitr> the
attentions which INT for her must bc
delegated to the bands OF a hjre.ing.
]. family ties are all sa;Nirrrd, IGer-
are everywhere tree mot'.'T~,, neglect
c5 children. hupcss Old pcOp.c, the poor
an. destitute. WHOSE n"ra- are ntarc,i II
iuy,apoSition with the unnarrirl sis
tcr's ability to heir M, with'ut m'an-
in- was the plan t,:at is'"' iit' should
go quietly on alunr- ~ Al,-1eeine
Eve has taken notice of All its move
mtnts. Not lav bat has It's pacC
with tire Eternal Not a wn,laa in III,
sight is SupertlunIS,
Says Dr. bushnell: ''Tkere is def
mite plan for the life OF evrry human
being lie is grid u, visi6)y or ilriSi
bly,. for some cxac; ilinS. which it vii
he the true i sniiranr' of his life 1,
have avcomuii>AssL GDi has 4 narticu
lar care iur every man. n p,''->o'1a, inter
cst IN him. and StmrGt Nv iH- lEln q NJ