The evening world., 1894-10-16
Is AN OLD MAID A FAILUREf
A Physician Says SO, but What Say
Evening World" Readers.
(From The World.

These are trying times for the young
woman. She Is 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 Is a 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 It's
compensations. In her ability to "live
her own life.' as progressive persons
put II, 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 is danger that
the young woman of the present day
may scOrn matrimony or may defer
matrimony 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, / dc
not think so. In the first place. an un-
married woman has not the same sort
OF youth preserving interests that a
married one has. Moreover. unless she
IL a woman of remarkable character she
cannot fail to grow more or less set
and selfish; and 1t is surprising to know
how much mental states affect the
health. Why" continued the doctor,
warming to her subject. Il believe that
half the cases OF neuresthenia ana ner-
yous depression In my practice are
cat sed, not by overwork, but by the
need OF some absorbing interest The
average woman must have place where
she is supreme, not only over the IN
She must have intense personal inter
ests. 1t is not enough for her to be
part OF the big machine"
The doctor paused and looked as
though she were rejecting on the sad
lot OF numerous patients linen she
reused herself and went on:
ut isn't SO bad when one Is twenty
or twenty-five. But IT'S n,ue daeS worsf apd
more trying still after forty. At first
the enthusiasm. the novelty and fresh,
ness make life interesting enough ana
full enough. but little by little the gla.
mour fades and her profession is not
enough Women are so constituted that
they live largely in the emotions. They
need u homeland home means nus
band and children. There are very few
women large -souled and broad-minded
enough to expend their affections wisely,
to keep their hearts young and fresh
through such remote ana lmperSonal
means as hospitals and flower missions
There are a few, of course, but CHEEKY,
unselfish and young as they manage To
keep themselves one always feels that
even they would have been happier mar
rled.
zone great trouble with this present
hue and cry about woman's work anC
her independence" continued the doc
tor, "is that II makes the young womer
put off all thoughts of marrying unit
| II Is too late. l don't mean too late FOL
| them to marry, but too late for them tc
grow into aduptability with their hus
bands. The years after woman Ii
first through school and has had hei
first experience Of life, either protes
| sional or social, are years of settling
down. II she gives herself up to hel
career and to living her own life ant
all that, she rapidly gets into stat'
where she Is really untitled for matri
mony. She may find her career, will
all It's ATTRACTIONS and possibilities, un
satisfactory, but at the same time II II
| difficult for her 10 grow into domestic
| life after a few years of professiona
! life. 1t Is all problem" continued tht
| doctor sighting, "and | dare say II will
| not he settled In one day"
with which gloomy conclusion and I
sigh the doctor abandoned the question