The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-09

This waste OF graye-dust stamped with crown auo
/ crest
All me! but when The world and were young,
There apple tree.
There a voice came ia the dawn and sung
The buds awake-ah me-
! Oh. Lark of Europe. downward futtering near.
! Like some spent leaf al best.
| You'd never sing again if you could hear
My Blue Bird of the West!
OLD MAIDS.
VIII the Editor please say when a girl reaches
the age when she may properly be called an old
maid:
This question comes in good faith TO the Editor,
and ia good faith must be answered. The answer,
then, IL never.
True, society has moi yet outIived the barbarism
Of old maid bu, j, is ouiliving. and that is worth
something. Time when society said IS was
the utmost limit of youth. and that any woman
who lived single until after that time was an old
maid Now. the period has been advanced 10 30
and so. become more refined and sensible,
| the term viii cease To be applied at all.
There are many words aud expressions that
should be bRnished from The vocabulary of modern
society, and perhaps there is none more odious
Than the Term old maid"
When the term is applied to r woman there is
always a hidden repronch in it, conveying the idea
.
| her attractive enough To make her his wife.
What n fallacy tl.is is, [ make the statement,
and defy contradiction. that there is not
married woman in hundred. even a thousand.
who is past what is considered manageable age.
blu, has had opportunities 10 marry.
After ali, what is a manageable age? woman
who has lived a sensible life and improved her
mind. developed her talents aud acquired habits of
| industry. Is surely better f'ted 10 take the
young inexperienced girl Of Is.
In nine out of TO- or go out OF l00 il is OF
best for girl to marry too young. She should en-
Joy her girhood and all of lis joys and pleasures
before she assumes the duties of a wife and home.
Then why. If this be ,rne call n woman of 30 an
81 old maid " il she is more marriageabie than at 20
IL we must use the old maid" then Al
what age shall apply il !? Who would call a
married woman old woman al 80 or 40?
married woman is called old al 20 so. and surely
the common sense that applies to her should
apply 10 = single woman. II is a siur woman
hood TO call q woman old (" until she Is old in
years aud then il should not be used in reproach-
full WAY
The world sneers at the 'old maid. and the girl
partskes of the spirit OF The age that she applies
IL to herself and looks forward with dread from
early girihood. for fear she will he "oid maid"
II makes young unduIy anxious about
nngenal marriages. which, ruin their happiness
and blight their lives in order 10 escape from the
ban. III a woman is not married, IL is usually be-
cause she prefers TO remain single. or has some
good reason 10 stand ia her way. Many do not
marry because duty requires their services Surely
we ought 10 honor and respect such a woman.
instead of speaking OF her lightly "o!d
maid"
There is the woman who gives up her own happi-
TO fill dead mother place with little children
in the home. Who says hers is not noble choice
There j. The woman who gives up her grihood to the
cnre Of an aged father and mother, until past what
the world calls the marrying age. Who does not
honor her. and what man might moi be proud to
make her his wife?
Then there the women welded to art, science
music. reform. literature. These some OF the
grGndesi women Of the world. women whom we
revere ard would blush TO call old maids" with
the reprosch which the term implies.
Look at Frances Willard the woma who has the
brain. the power. tie enthusiasm 10 move the
world Clara Barton. honoTed by Princes. Kings.
and the humanity of the world Harriet Hosmer,
the scuipiress who has inmortaiized herself and
her in stone that breatbes and moves the
pulses OF mankind; and Rosa Bonheur, whose
glowing canvases exact The tribute of world.
Their name is legion, and they are dear to the
hearts and homes of half the earth.
We speak ia sighting terms OF " old maids" and
yet they angels in homes. Who has not
had maiden aunt who blessing in the
house. miEisering spirit in the time of sickness
and distress. whom we loved ia life and whose
memory cherish la death?
Marriage is not the aim and end of existence IL
is simply incident in the great problem of life.
To live for The world. for humanity, for any branch
OF ART science literature, that will elevate man.
kind, this lie 10 live, aud 10 do this woman need
not marry.
Better by far never to marry than 10 sacrifice
! your life work and enter upon loveiess unhappy
marriage.
substitute for the term +" old maid has been
suggested it is bachelor girl" A bachelor girl
/ is unmarried woman who earns her living I'm a
merry, independent way. and who knows she will
always be happy. married or single. II must
| use old maid" apply it 10 the unmarried. sour,
useless woman who does nothing for herself or
others; but who sits and wonders why a husband
does not come for her.
NoRA's MEYERS.
Never speak of your father as the odd man"
Never abuse who once your bosom.
| friend. however bitter now.
Never rush for seat at a public entertainment
| in utter disregard Of everyone else pushing rudeIy
| by women and children and men older than your.
/ self
never orltlclse your cHnofeu- parents, brothers,
/ sisters members Of your household before CON-
pany.
Never leave a place of Entertainment before IL il
out.
Never talk loud in public places for the bene fl
Of others rather than the person addressed.
Never scold the tick ei-agent Of q railway station
I because a train lie late. when he Is no more "a
blame than yourself.
Never contradict or be disputatious
Never entertain people with accounts of you,
/ domestic difficulties.
| Never repeat scandals nor malicious gossip
Never be that intoiersble torment a tease The
disposition to worry children. Gals aud dogs sim p
displays the restlessness of an empty mind
Never talk in church, or ut the theater or CON.
cert when the performance is going on.
Never talk. either in public or private, when
someone is trying 10 sing play. Not long since
s, private musical. musician stopped playing
aud left the piano. because some young people
were talking.
Never form hasty sudden dis!ikes TO peopls
until you know something of them.
Never be cruel 10 dumb animals There is an old
saying 10 the effect that 1.-The man who is kind to
his horse will he kind 10 his wife,
Never take things for granted. but be
Of every little thing done for you.
Never sniff or speak III of rival ia your profess
sion or trade. This lie the worst possible form and
shows paItry spirit. Have the pride and self
respect to overstate the merits OF a ri, al rathe,
-