The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-13
ROTHERT a. co.

her trunks and have everything tumbled
out on the floor before she has been there
ten minutes, but when the younger SPIN
ster auntie goes on her annual visit these
great. strapping boys stand IN great awe
of her, and say: Please may / look AT
so and SOP and ask their mother on the
sly why Aunt Jane is such an old mala.
The mother replies, Aunt Jane is not
near so old as Aunt Mary. why, don't
you ever call her an old maid and the
reply, why, Aunt Mary isn't any old
maid She lets us root in her things.
Those chaps have the definition OF old
maid down pretty fine. 1t isn't being
married or unmarried, nor Is II years
that makes woman an old maid, but
it is 'finiclIy' ways.
"The position OF the unmarried woman
is as high and honorable as that OF n
married woman, and she is more indie
pendent and free as TO thought and. FOR
the most part, action"
When asked whether she thought that
the new woman had altered the position
of the spinster. DR.. Miles said. with Il
little impotence: "TEere is no new wOm-
an. | don't like that term at all. Just
because woman is doing things That she
has never done before is 10 reason WHY
she is new. Women have always been
progressive since the creation. All this
stir about boomers and bicycle riding
doesn't mean that woman IS progressing;
not that | object to either Specially, Tor
TO a truly modest woman all things are
modest, but stucy and awakening
thought are the true signs of progress
sion. My friend and companion. the Rev.
Phoebe a. Haraford, holds the same
views that do concerning the new wom-
an, married or unmarried. doing that
which to her is the most wOmanly."
No doubt Or. Nless views on the spin
ster Will be more highly approved by the
little old maid with the expressive cork
screw ringlets than Will Mrs. Stanton's.
for she says that there is such "a thing
as a real, genuine old maid or spinster,
"And L am one, my dear" she continu-
ed pathetically. land for my part l think
we MI a very important niche II. society.
be we rich or poor. Take a rich one. for
instance: she seeks out boys and girls
who need some one 10 show faith in
them and 10 help them out financially.
She does not give rashly. but hestows
here and withholds there very judicious-
~, and she treats her various charities
in the same discriminating way. Some
times she develops her own power in nu-
but the real old maid doesn't often find
much time TO bestow on herself The
wife and mother must devote her time
exclusively TO her own home ana TO the
training Of her own children. but an old
n aids lines of work are not so limited,
and while the latter is probably not so
blessedly happy she has her rewards in
rendering others so.
IF the spinster Is poor In worldly
goods. she earns her own living in a pro-
fession or a trade or relieves an over
furdened sister or brothers wife OF a
thousand and one cares. Really. being
an old maid myself l feel little delica-
cy In saying II, but l do not see who
could possibly take her place. If she Is
q gracious, well-bred, tasteful old maid.
she does the right thing at the right
time, says the right word in the right
place. smooths the rough ways for the
youngsters, and rubs off the sharp edges
OF everyday life for their parents. The
old maid is all right II people viii just
let her remain an old maid. but II she
Is dubbed bacheor.' or something else
equally foreign to her nature, she win
surely wipe herself of OF the face OF the
earth by marriage from sheer horror at
bnch progress. York Sun.