The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-10-16
Is AN OLD MAID A FAILURE.
4 Physician Says So. but what su,
Evening World" Readers.
From Tie World


From The World
These are trying times for the young
woman. She liz apt. in the midst Of
agitation concerning the advanced wo-
man. to lose sight of some OF the bless
ings which fell to the lot of the unad
vanced. There IL IL possibility that in
the enjoyment OF new powers and posi-
bilities she will overlook certain old
ones which were not TO be despised. In
her lately acquired independence she
may forget that independence had its
compensations. In her ability to live
her own life." as progressive persons
put it. there Is danger OF ignoring the
fact that there is a good deal to be said
In favor of linking her life with an
others Briefly, there IL danger that
the young woman OF the present day
may scOrn matrimony or may defer
mntrimony until she is no longer fitted
for that honorable estate.
"Can women be as happy unmarried
as married." said a prominent physi-
clan. who has had opportunity to study
the question, the other day. mo, l do
not think so. In the first place, an un-
married woman has not the same sort
of outn-preserving interests that a
married one has. Moreover. unless she
Is A woman of remarkable character she
cannot fail to grow more or less set
and selfish; and It Is surprising to know
how much mental states affect the
health. Why" continued the doctor,
warming to her subject. 81 believe that
half the cases OF neuresthenia and ner-
Nuus depression in my practice are
F,,N.lF hut in
need Of some absorbing interest. The
average woman must haYs place where
she IL supreme, not only oyer the Ia
animate objects, but over live beings.
She must have Intense personal inter
ests 1t Is not enough for her to be a
part of the big machine"
The doctor paused and looked as
though she we're rejecting a,Gtn on nb the s sha
reused herself and went on: ,,
1T isn't 20 bad when one Is twenty
or twenty-five. But It's little worse
m wnss t Trying Still stiil after forty At frst
th. enthusiasm, the novelty and fresh.
ness make life Interesting enough and
full enough, but little by little the sla-
mour fades and her profession IS not
enough Women are 80 constituted that
they live largely In the emotions. They
need homeland home means nus
band and children. There are very rev
women large-souled and broad minded
enough 10 expend their affections wisely,
to keep their hearts young and fresh
| through such remote and impersonal
| means az hospitals and flower missions
| There are a few. OF course. but cheery
unselhsh and young as they manage to
| keep themselves one always feels tha'
| even they would have been happier mar
| ried. .
zone great trouble with this present
hue and cry about woman's work anc
her Independence" continued the doc
| tor, lis that 1t makes the young womeT
! put OF all thoughts OF marrying until
| IL Is too late. | don't mean too late tol
| them to marry, but too late for them tC
grow into adaptabilty with their nus
bands. The years after woman IL
first through school and has had hei
first experience OF life, either profes
sional or social. are years. OF settlint
! down If she gives herself up to hel
career and to living her own life anc
all that, she rapidly gets into a stst'
where she Is really untitled for matri
mony. She may find her career, will
| all its ATTRACTIONS and possibilities, un
| satisfactory, but at the same time II i
difRcult for her to grow into domestic
life after few years OF professional
life. II 1. all a problem" continued tn
doctor, signing. and I dare say II vii
not be settled In one day"
with which gloomy conclusion and
sigh the doctor abandoned the question