The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05
ADIEU TO THE Old Maid
Welcome the Girl Bachelor
in Her Stead.
TRULY THINGS ARE CHANGING,
And the Young Women Of To-day
Are in the Swim.

She Lives In bachelor Apartments aud
Goes About Her BUSINESS Like q Man
What Ii the ET.ct on MarrlaRe'-
Arc the Wives Better md Arc the
Husbands better Satisfied Than Before :
In tho tumutuous revolution OF the woman's
cycle ono old and time honored institution, an
important element in tho economy OF comfort.
is being whircd into the vortex Of desnoude.
The old maid OF romance and tradition has
become the girl bachelor. The patient, un-
complaining. despised. and disconso!atc old
maid Is q rare phenomenon. Perhaps SHE has
been transplantcd without dying. like tho
prophet. to her woll-descrved reward. and II
she has. every musty old martyr and worm
eaten saint will take Off his halo and hustle
into back seat when hor record OF sef.sacri-
sfce and long suffering is published upon CO.
lostial bulletins.
Tho old maid OF tho past had prim. queer
little ways" OF her own. narrow conventional
theories. precise methods. humble. shy con-
seiousness OF iniirmity magniled by tho half
scornful. half plying patronage OF her mar
rled sisters.
The girl bachelor is dcf1anty unconventional
according to old standards. piquantly agCres-
sive. serenely sef-satistied and self-sufilcient.
and II she has not q broader horizon. a IN ore
expansive view. flrmer grasp and surer hold.
fuller experiences. grapdcr possibilities. and
creator freedom IN tho pursuit Of happiness
than married women know. she is mistaken.
The old maid wore turned gowns aud did the
family washing to help tho boys through col
lcge: the girl bachelor takes university hon
ors and joins baseball nino herself.
In the old days the unappropriated blessing
was summoned to the bedside OF the sick and
suffering. to assist at the ceremonies Of ma
tivtty and dissolution. to vigils with other
people teething babies and colicky children.
and. came the call from friend or stranger she
bundled UP her old slippers and clean apron
and arrived on schedule time.
The girl bachelor has lost nothing OF the
divine gift OF healing in the transition. but she
practices 1t at regular physicians rates: and
tho woman's knack OF nursing. developed by
training. she exercises for the equivalent OF n
thousand year with her board and trip to
Europe and the Bermudas thrown in.
In the soul OF tho tiniest baby born into q
fannelly. pin -prcking world there slumbers
spark Of divine individuality. tho germ of
the mystic ego. And in tho ego feminine one
OF the strongest elements Is home creating.
corresponding force and instinct which life
In another's home will not satisfy. and which
restrained or turned OF necessity into fa SO
channels. not infrequently makes the presence
OF o spinster in a household blessing
not altogether desirable. Under this old
regime the maid without husband
meekly accepted the back bedroom in
her married sisters establishment. or stayed
at home to devote her life to gratifying the
whims of the old peoples declining years.
The girl bachelor rearranging old data and
establishing more logical premises has dis
covered that woman herself is the hons CEN
tire. and that the home idea does not involve a
division OF bureau drawers and closet room
with husband. and is not dependent upon
man to growl about tho bills and the beef
steak. to smoke up tho curtains. and bring
company down to dinner.
Self-supporting women. weary of cheeress
hall bedrooms. with baby on one side. sew
ing machine on the other aud a cornet over
head: OF boarding house lunches. warmed over
mystery and nothingness fried in bad butter:
OF boarding house odors which Balzac likens
to the oorrosons of life: have embraced the
homo idea. and gone into sparrow housekeep-
ing under tho caves Of apartment houses and
hats: and not only these. but young women
OF means and place. feeling their faculties
cramped by conformity to other peoples CON
ditions and their possibilities paralyzed by
other peoples restrictions. have set up estab-
ushments OF their own. surrounded them
selves with brie-h-brnc and pictures. rugs and
hangings OF thor own selection. and expert
onced an exhilaration and interest in life q
freedom and deniteness OF individuality uu-
known before.
In Boston. in anticipation OF this new tl.-
parture. apnrtmont hotels have boon provided
for tho girl bachelor. whore woman may
have suite OF two rooms. bath. and privat,
ball at cost OF about $50 n month Tor running
expenses. Breakfast md luncheon she usual
~ prepares on an ingeniously hidden gas
stove. and eats on exquisite china and glass
Dinners are served In tho general dinin: room
OF the house.
The mans club idea Is slowly permcatinc
tho womans intelligence. ana experiments
are mado ON an unassuming scale with good
results. One OF the prcttiest of those co0oper-
ative or club establishments In New York is
the homo OF four nurses. which occupies tho
entire upper floor OF o boarding house in a
pleasant neighborhood. little maid. with
the assistance OF one OF tho mistresses WHO
prssidos In turn over the cooking and market
Ing. keeps the dolls house In running order.
and the womnn's homo-making instinct
finds happy expression in tho arrangement OF
books and pictures and Of tho pretty trines
which seem to distinguish tho woman's home
from the mans quarters For thora is subtle
difference In tho homo idea as Interpreted by
women. mysterious envoloping medium
which In painting would be callod atmos-
phere The supreme motive in o mans homo
u comfort In o womnn's Ia beauty. The effect
Of tho former Is rcstful while the latter Is
pleasursbly exciting.
But who will marry the widowers with small
children Who will look after the Sunday
schools. foreign missions. and insolvent min
ist0rs? Who will bring w tho orphan chill
drsn and take care OF tho invalid mothers2
Who Will teach the primary schools and sit UP
With the sick babiesr How will tho earth 70.
volve on Its axis In the old established way
when tho last old maid shall have gone over to
the girl bachelor majority