Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-10-05

n chance 10 snow their inoGJir. A.
might be said OF the civil war that IL
resulted In the freeing Of the Negroes
and the old maids.
The single woman--the girl bachelor
Of to-day, Is often the mainstay and
incorporating member Of her family.
For every Independent single woman
who lives In ease and gay "bachelor-
hood" there are ten who are the bread
winners for n family They do not
make n fuss over IL, either, but 90
quietly about their business as man
would, making no pretense OF good
ness, simply doing their duty, and n
little proud, perhaps, OF their ability 10
do II well. When one remembers the
innumerable charities 10 which women
give so lavishly OF their time and
money the charge that selfshness is
likely TO come with freedom seems un-
founded.
One point more. circumstances have
made the girl bachelor. All our litera-
ture of to-day, from the highest re-
view 10 the penny newspaper, breaches
the necessity Of independence for single
women. Parents and schools teach II;
II Is expected Of the average girl that
she shall he able 10 earn her own liv-
ing In some way. From babyhood this
idea is instilled into her mind, and
usually she 'rises TO the occasion"
nobly and successfully.
Moreover, male relatives are no
longer willing to give homes TO the
single women of their families, and few
married women care 10 admit single
relative permanently to their home
circle. In these days of eXtravagant
living few men can afford 10 offer asy-
lums 10 their unmarried female rela-
tives; their incomes will not justly the
extra expense.
And they are likely TO think and TO
say "With the many opportunities
open 10 women, she can make her own
living as ! make mine. Why should
she expect TO be II burden on my shout
ders?"
This may sound hard, and be thought
untrue-perhaps II is untrue OF the
richer classes-but down among the
rose roots" among the great common
people" from which class the girl bach
elor most often comes, II Is sadly true.
But the girl bachelor does not expect
support "The bread OF charity Is bit
ter" she knows well, and that Of hon
est toll Is very sweet So she goes her
way, busy. honest and independent,
knows the pleasure OF earning what
She spends and spending what she
earns, and the content that only comes
/ TO those who owe no man cent
She Is only solitary from necessity.
as witness the innumerable clubs,
"holnes" and flats In which working
women congregate. And as for rub
bling of the sharp corners-well, those
of MS who have really had TO work for
living know that our contact with
the world in the struggle for bread
generally polishes us off.
II may be--we Lnow II is-much
| pleasantcr 10 have ones own home cir
Gle to love and work for, But all can
not have this and there often the
Independent single woman OF the fam
/ lily is the sturdy oak, while the other
members are the "clinging vines"
| Such lives rs those of Louisa NJ. AL
colt, Clara barton, Florence Nightin-
gale and Susan II. Anthony are enough
to prove that the independent woman
is not necessarily selfish woman. -
Sharlot NJ. Hall, in Detroit Free Press
\ 'trong pressure is being brought TO
bear TO have the senate confirm Jnmsa
J, Van Allen us ambassador TO Italy.