The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-12
THE QUESTION OF AGE.

The new woman in Ohio is very much
like all other women in one respect--she
does not like to tell her age. For the
matter of that, she is very much like
most men. for the man who has lived
beyond thirty years and is ready to give
the date of his birth is becoming rare
creature. The cause for this hesitancy
is not especially complex or obscure.
The man does not care for age merely
considered as such; he is not particularly
DESTROYS of being esteemed youthful
when he is beyond Juvenile years; he
prefers that his years should not be
matter Of thought because he is himself
apt to be dissatisfied with what they
have brought him. Most men have in
their youthful and enthusiastic days
cherished ambitious plans of one sort
and another which time has not ful-a
filled. Whatever may be the opinion of
other people, and it is not likely to be
more complimentary than their own,
they are secretly conscious that, what
ever may be their apparent success and
prosperity, they have failed to a greater
or less extent in carrying out their
ideals. They may do it yet, there is
still time, but they would rather not
mediate upon time and it's flight, and
therefore the subject of age is quietly
avoided.
Another element enters into the mat
ter in the case of women. Growing out
of the traditions descended from prirni-
tive and uncivilized man that woman
was worth moments consideration
only when young and beautiful, stigma
the term "old woman became almost
a term of reproach. Age is honorable
and may be charming; it's beauty is
very freely and frankly recognized in
these days. but even those women who
have enjoyed praise and admiration
from youth up are sufficiently impressed
with the prevailing feeling that a woman
ought never to be old to be more than
willing to forget their years. This weak
ness is a characteristic of all classes of
women, married and unmarried, the oc-
casional exception only proving the rule.
Men who object to needless questioning
on the subject are rather shame-faced
about it. and have never openly pro-
tested against official inquisition at
least. 1t has remained for women to
SAeAAASA
ing to test the right of official authori-
ties to ask their ages. These ladies will
have the right to vote at school cleo
tions this spring, and preliminary regis
tration calls for a statement of their
ages. This they are Indignantly pre-
pairing to resist. 1t is enough, they de-
clare. for voter to say she is over
twenty-one. 1T is nobody's business
how much older she is, SO that she is
on the right side of the line" This
seems to he a reasonable proposition,
and good deal of interest will be taken
In the result of their opposition to Off
cial meddling. If they succeed in sup
pressing the political inquisitor they
may turn their attention next to the
marriage license man. the court official
who demands their age on the witness
stand and the census taker. With these
disposed of nothing will remain to tell
the tale but the family Bible, and the
woman who cannot dispose of that
record lacks the common measure of
feminine ingenuity. The new woman,
indeed if she set about it. may keep her
age off her tombstone.