The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-02
CONVERSATIONS OF THIRTY.
The Modern Woman Finds that Pleas
ures Do Not Vanish with Youth.
Demorest's N1agaz

To nineteen, anything beyond the TWEEN
ties seems like hopeless old age She is
sure that when she is thirty life will have
nothing more to offer; amusements will
cease to amuse, and she will be quite ready
to retire to a convent. She imagines there
is a great gulf fixed between her and that
mystic birthday.
Among the many surprises that await one
at that dreaded hating place, on life's
march is that one has arrived there so
easily. There has been no tug. no strain.
no breathess climbing One simply arrives.
dSn hd
astonished at the fact. But let her stop
and review the ground. and she realizes.
on far higher level than Nineteen occupied
Ion a level, indeed, that that short-sighted
young lady has no conception Of
Let us suppose that often happens in
this age of critical women, Thirty finds her
self still fancy free According to the
some definite aim in life. She is physi-
clan, an architect, a phianthropist, jour
nalist, teacher. an author, an artist, a
sculptor, a musician, or one of the half
hundred other things that woman may
elect in these latter days. Or If, perchance,
she have no taste for public life, she is the
helper and right hand; or a noble society
woman, making the social atmosphere purer
and cleaner by living in 1t.
While she NAV well say she feels no older
than at nineteen, a very slight introspec-
It tin makes her smile. Where is her love for
sad stories, for minor music, for tragedies
at the theater, or for lonely summer twi-
light? She knows what HoweIls means
when he says lone must be very young
or very happy to endure the sadness 9f
seif-pity. or intolerable .'blues? She sell
dom thinks of yielding to the megrims now.
The evil spirit of depression still comes,
sensibly refers it's presence to that piece
of mince pie, or to lack of exercise, or TO
too much routine, and she takes measures
She is for less selfish. and having realized
that there are existences outside Of her own,
she has ceased to be surprised and half re-
sentful when people fail to act according
to her will: she has learned that there are
opinions quite worthy OF consideration pc De
consequently she is tolerant of other peo-
pies views, for she knows there is nothing
so narrow as the intolerance of youth. She
has learned deep charity for other people 8
failings, even fcs lapses from morality; for
she has discovered-possibiy from her own own
how much of our yaunted virtue lies in
not being tempted
She realizes now, too. that life is much
what one makes it. At the same time she
has learned to take its chances as they
come neither wildly elated at its joys, nor
things pass and nothing concerns vitality
but to stand true to our better selves. Out
ward circumstances matter less to her, and
she has learned to smile at disappointments
that would once have crushed her TO the
very dust; Much of the restlessness OF
full TO allow her TO dwell on unsatisred
aspirations.
Another truth has gradually dawned upon
her: she knows that happiness EN- masse is
simply the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow; therefore. she biitheiy appropri-
ates all the bits of brightness that flash
across ones daily path, knowing that these
make up the sum and substance of human
happiness. Moreover. she does not now
feel that she has prescriptive right to he
happy nor does she deem that nature Is
outraged If her will Is gainsaid.
She begins to comprehend the great laws
of compensation: how everything in this
life balances: how much less difference
there is In reality than in appearance, be-
tween lives outwardly diverse. Like Mrs.
Ewine's dear little hero. she has learned 10
say. though with hot tears. It may be-. and
She has learned not to look forward from
day to day. using to-days strength for to-
morrow's burden. She feels the fr-->a of