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

from The Worldl
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 its
compensations. In her ability to live
her own lifc," 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 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 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 I'M
married woman has not the same sort
of youth-preserving interests that a
married one has. Moreover, unless she
s 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, II believe that
half the cases OF neuresthenia and 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 oyer the IN
animate objects, but over live beings
She must have intense personal inter
ests 1t Is not enough for her to be g
part of the big machine"
Tho doctor paused and looked n,
though she were rejecting on the sac
lot OF numerous patients. Then sh'
reused herself and went on:
81 isn't go bad when one Is twenty
or twenty-five. But it's little worse
when one Is over thirty, and sadder and
more trying still after forty At mrs.
the enthusiasm, the novelty ana fresh,
fun enough, but little by little the gla,
mour fades and her profession Is no,
enough Women are so constituted Una
they live largely in the emotions. IheH
band and children. There are very Few
women large soulcd and broad-mindec
enough to eXpcnd their affections wisely
to keep their hearts young ana lpTst
means az hospitals and flower missions
There are u few, Of course, but CHEEKY
unselhsh and young as they manage tt
keep themselves one always feels tina
even they would have been happier mar
ricd.
'One great trouble with this presen
hue and cry about woman's work ant
her independence" continued the doc
tor. "is that 1t makes the young womeI
put off all thoughts of marrying until
il is too late. ] don't mean too late To-
them to marry. but too late for them Il
grow into adaptability with their nus
bands The years after woman Il
first through school and has had he
first experience of life, either profes
sional or social. are years OF settling
down II she gives herself up to he
career and to living her own life AM
all that, she rapidly gets into stat
where she IL really untitled for matri
mony. She may find her career, witt
all its attractions and possibilities, un
sa satisfactory, hut az the same time 1t !
difficult for her to grow into domesti
life after a few years of protest. ona
life. 1t Is all a problem" continued tn
doctor, signing. land I dare say II vii
not he settled in one day"
with which gloomy conclusion and
sigh the doctor abandoned the question