The herald., 1896-05-10
WHEN IS SHE An Old Hl|ll
CHAUNCEY M. DEPEw. tessff
MID ~ IyAT.G


bitrarily that all unmarried women over
sc were old maids.
1t seems that a certain citizen had
bequeathed a sum of money for annual
presentation to young unmarried per-
sons of both sexes who supported their
parents through the latters' declining
years 1t was intended as reward to
such young people because they had
chosen to care for their parents instead
of marrying.
No age was mentioned in the will.
and therefore, the prefect was obliged
to settle the matter to the best of his
judgment. This he did by declaring
that all bachelors and spinters over 80
could no longer be considered young.
When does young woman become an
old maid? What mysterious line sep
crates the term of spinsterhood into
halves. the first portion being that of
eligibility for matrimony and the sec
cnd that of forced resignation to single
rlessedneSs?
Old maid used to be considered term
OF reproach, but in these days of girl
bachelors and new women it has almost
become obsolete. Yet there is no other
word which exactly expresses the un-
married woman who has given up all
ideas of becoming a wife through her
lack of opportunity
So the decree mentioned was consid-
cred too sweeping by many persons in
Paris. and in this country 1t would seem
almost more difficult to settle this prob
lem. as minds are so divided as to what
constitutes an old maid. a Sunday
Journal reported questioned number
of peoplewhoSe opinions are worth haV-
ing, and this is what they said:
Chauncey NJ. Depew declared that he
did not feel that he was an authority
on the subject of old maids. But when
pressed for an opinion. remarked: Il
do not think it question of age. 1t is
a matter of appearance and disposition,
and also somewhat of community. In
Oklahoma, for instance. where there are
plenty of men, woman has so many
chances to marry that she would not
be considered an old maid as early as
In a New England town. where men are
scarce. A woman in Oklahoma conf
dent of her many chances to marry
would not think herself an old maid,
but the New England woman knowing
that there were ten women to every man
in her town or village. would appreciate
the fact that she was considered an old
maid.
II have had many sweet young things
of 40 tell me that they were 2S, and have
only learned their real ages through
their envious friends telling me the
truth. OF course, this Is since became
eligible In family where there are
several daughters under 25 and some
oldest remaining girl is very apt to be
considered an old maid. These girls
begin to look upon themselves as old
maids and unconsciously adopt more
quiet styles in dress and behavior.
On the other hand, l have in my mind
two very charming ladies of So who have
been social successes in all the large
capitals of the world. notably New
York Paris and London These ladies
have whole cabinets filled with memen-
tos of disappointed admirers whom they
have refused. They are OF the same age
as their married friends whose daugh- =
ters they chaperon and who. in nine
cases out of ten. will capture the girls
admirers Now / call those young wom-
en- very frisky girls, Another that 1
know has been belle for fifteen or six
teen years. and is more of belle with
each season When she married a
friend of mine rothing but the family
register could make me believe that she
was day over -.
In New York girls do not grow old so
quickly as in other places. One reason
for this is that the oldest inha bitant is
too busy here to keep track of their ages.
They continue girls until they are about
40 I have known many very frisky
girls of 40. so l do not think that it is
question of age"
II quite agree with the prefect,' said
Lillian Russell, when l asked her the
question. Certainly if a woman does
not marry before she is 80 she can be
considered an old maid. and that is al
lowing her much more time than most
people would. a young woman is sup
posed to have her best chances to marry
before she is % and if she lets these
years slip by her chances are supposed
to diminish. Many persons would re-
gard her as an old maid then, especially
if she had younger sisters
Il do not think the term is considered
as much of reproach in New York as
in small villages. In fact. | think girls
are marrying later in life than they did
q few years ago. A girl who had passed
90 without any admirers would, short
time ago be thought an old maid, bui
now it is different. OF course. great
deal depends upon a girls attractive
ness. If she has long list of admirers
and many proposals of marriage sht
could not be dubbed an old maid, NJ
matter how old she might be.
Murat Halstead was emphatic in hi
defense of the unmarried woman owe
50. 1T is my impression" he said, tina
women become much more attractive
after that age. be they married or un
! married. They understand life and it
| responsibilities better than whei
| younger, and they are truer and NOR
! sympathetic comrades and companions
| The most charming women do not al
! ways marry. and the old maids of to
! day are sought after more than tn
| debutantes, in my opinion. ! think tina
! Balzac's woman of 30 is a perfect de
| scription of an ideal old maid. l an
| sure that this is the only kind that eX
| lists nowadays"
The Rev. Madison G. Peters said: -
| woman is never an old maid until sh
| becomes old maidish / know man
| charming young women of 30 who ar
| not one half so old maidish as girls o
| q. American women here in New Yorl
! do not become old maids unless the
| are born 50. | believe that the reproac
| in which the word was once used ha
| gone out with a great many other fool
| sh superstitions. Women are no
| brought up nowadays to believe tha
| their chief aim in life is marriage. The
| are broader minded and do not gossi
! about unmarried men or women. The
! know that many remain single throug
| choice. No. | do not think that ol
| maidishness is a question of age a
| much as it is of disposition.
DR.. w. J. O'Sullivan was enthusiast
! on the subject of old maids. 'Ther
| are no old maids in the sense in whic
| the word was once used.' he declared
! Women are always charming, an
| some of them grow more fascinating a
| they grow older The idea that mar
! riage is the chief aim of woman n
! longer exists in the minds of sensibl
people. Old maid was once term c
ridicule or reproach, but there are an
number of beautiful and attractive VIC
| men who prefer to remain single. VIC