Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-09-14
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
GIRL BACHELORS.
They Are a Widely Discussed and Inds
pendent Class.

modern ct,itization-sh is the girl
bachelor to the critics who praise and
Lame. She has had at least a tiny
space in almost every paper of note,
and all agree on some points That she
IS selfish, infinitely selfish-holds a sort
of monopoly, as it We're, of that uncom-
mon trait-seems to be a favorite theme
of her critics. They also assert that
she must necessarily become unwoman-
~, and one of them went further re-
Gently and said that the old maid Of
other days who was ''houshold servant
in general" to any or all of her rela-
tives had a brighter future before her
than the single woman of to-day who
supports herself
The great advancement made by WON
en- in the last half century is largely
due to the fact that they are, in meas
ure at least, free to earn their own liv-
ing by doing the worl, which they can
do best, no matter what that may he.
Only in independence can any class
Of human beings reach their highest
development, and if the unselfshness
and true womanliness so much praised
and lamcnted as thing almost lost in
this day means ignorance and weak
yielding to amy fate rather than make
an effort TO help ones self il is not
such a bad loss after all. Looking back
al the life of the single woman of the
good old days ! ann deeply impressed
with the privilege Of living in these un-
rcgcnerate times,
Fifty years ago the single women Of
middle age was felt TO have no mission
in liee save to be the unpaid and gencr-
ally unthanked drudge for such of her
relations as were willing to give her
food and shelter This was often given
grudgiugly enough, especially as She
advanced in years and became less able
10 work Passed from one 10 another.
as her services were needed or her pres
cnce became tiresone She truly chad
not where to lay her head She was
regarded and made to feel that She
was an object OF charity and must be
content with whatever her more for
tunate relatives were willing TO give
her. She might nurse, teach, doctor,
keep house, minister 10 the wants Of
any or all Of her relatives, hut wages
for her faithful services was an uu-
heard-of thing.
There were exceptions, % course, just
rs there were slaves who were better
OF in slavery than in freedom, tut the
tendency was bad II gave the idea
that women were incapable of support
inr themselves. They were not edu-
Gated to any special calling, because to
be somebody's wife or somebody's
old maid servant did not require any
special training.
Woman who could carry on bust
ness, edit paper, or run her own farm
to profit was almost as rare as red
headed Indian. Even literary work
was looked upon as unwomanly No
wonder women turned 70 marriage as
the last hope, and prayed, ANY one,
good Lord, viii do
With the war. which Gesolated SO
many houcs and forced upon SO many
women the necessity Of earning money
or starving, came the awakening to the
fact that there was a wide field for
women outside of domestic service.
Men were 50 scarce that women had
a chance To show their mcttle II
might be said Of the civil war that it
resulted ia the freeing OF the Negroes
and the old maids
The single woman the girl bachelor
of to-day, is often the majnstay and
money earning 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 family. They do not
make fuss over IT, either hut 20
quietly about their business as a man
would. making no preteuse Of good
ness simply doing their duty. and
little proud, perhaps, Of their ability 10
do il wen Whom one remembers the
innumerable charities to which women
give 50 lavishly Of their time and
money, the charge that selti>hncss is
likely a. come with freedom seems un-
founded
one paint more. Circumstances have
made the girl bachelor All ~ Htera-
ture of to-day, from thc highest re-
view to the penny newspaper. breaches
tile necessity If independence for sjngle
women Parents and schools teach it,
III t~ expected of the average gitl that
SHE shalt hc ablc o earn her own liv-
ing ia some aay From hahybood this
idea is ia~t3led into her mind. and
usually She rises u the occasion
notify aud successfully
u recover mate relatives arc no
longer willing Is gjye homes Is thc
single women Of their families aud few
mawie8 women care a. admit q single
relative permanently - their home
circle ln these days Of cNtroyaeaut
iNfu,r few men can .fla1i te offer .,.V@