Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-11-26

Special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal
New York, Nov. 20.--Did it over
strike you that, as nation, we de-
mand rather mean sort of funY
The joke in the newspapers, or at
che theatre, that causes the widest
laughter is that directed at somebody's
mother-in-law, at an old maid, or at
somebody who is not young in years.
The American geDeralizing, is won
derfully lacking in respect. lie forgets
that there is no old maid (how abomi-
nable that phrase isl who could not
have married had she wished. He
forgets that when sickness, sorrow
or death comes to household it is the
kindly old maid to whom he turns,
not only for sympathy, but flor active
help. He forgets that, when the
mother OF his children died, it was the
old maid aunt. or the old maid sister
who took care OF them, who taught
them to love him, and who trained
them to be credit to his name. He
forgets all about this, and thinks it is
no more than she ought to do, because
she has no family of her own. But
who docs everything he ought to do?
have an IDEA that when that man,
and his number is many, is wandering
around the gates of heaven, praying
for admission. he will be surprised at
the number of old maids securely
seated therein. And he will be more
surprised when. of their unselfishness,
they send up supplication for him.
The stupid looking man who tells,
with great glee, joke about mother
in-law never stops to think how often
mothers in-law are really mothers-in-
love. How many men have been helped
along in their business by their wives
mothers? How many men would find
their dinners much less attractive il it
were not for the mothers of their wives?
And how many men, when anything
worries them, turn as naturally to
their mothers in law as flowers do to
the sum- You couldn't count the num-
Der sf men who have accepted kind
nesscs from their mothers in-law, ana
yet, these very men, instead of curling
their lips with scorn at vulgar jokes
about them seem to find such jokes
most interesting, and most witty. And
then, too, how these young men laugh
at the jokes about old age? But are
they going to be young forever? And
do they ever stop to think how much
more knowledge there is in an old head
than in young one? Youth seems to
think that it will always be beautiful
and interesting. that it will never need
consideration or mpathy; and it goes
along jeering at that which it despises,
until some day, the truthful mirror
calls it's attention to wrinkles and gray
hair. and some other day 1t finds that
it is neglected for younger men. Then
comes the loneliness of old age.
A loneliness, my friend, that is too
often deserved. If, while you are
young and strong and bright, you
trouble yourself about nobody, who is
less attractive than you are, how can
you expect to find sympathetic friends
when the days of your youth have
passed away. Your old age will be
miserable. and your death will be
lonely. Think out where the mistake
was. and while there is time give some
thought to those who have not as much
OF the real joy of life rs you. and share,
in sympathetic way, Of the good
things with those whose pleasures are
few.
Life is game of give and take
Things even themselves up even in this
world. Then there is something else
that you think it fine TO make Jest of
and that is marriage. You talk
about it in light way; you laugh at
its responsibilities, and you see no
reason why it should be counted as a
sacrament. And yet, the bringing to
gether of two people to vow to love and
10 be true through sickness and health,
through riches and poverty, until
death do them part, is a wonderful
act; one that makes or mars two lives,
and how do you prepare for it? How
do you choose the woman who is to be
the close companion Of your life. Your
dearest friend and helpmate? Do you
make 40 effort to SEQ her in her own
home, surrounded by those of her own
name. and far away from the madden
ing crowd called society? Do you make
an eiio;t to read her heart, az if il
we're book, where you could discover
the strength OF her love, the certainty Of
her truth, and of tho beauty of her faith
do you try to watch her behavior
with. the little children about her, in
order to foresee the sort of mother
she will be to your children? No, you
don't look for wife in this way. You
meet her at dance, at the opera, or al
dinner party. Your heart is captured
By her ability to chatter, to dance, to
dress we'll, and to have train oil
foolish adorers following her.
The daughter Of a silly mother, she
is, too often, educated only for social
life, and she knows nothing whatever
about making home in which man
can live and less about creating love
in which a man will find happiness.
Sometimes, after her marriage, good
strain. that has laid dormant, will
awaken, and tho ignorant, but loving
wife, will endeayor to make herself
what she should be. But this doesn't
happen often. Oftenest she regards
you az a desirable catch, as good
money maker, and one who isn't much
bother. Fancy a noble-hearted woman
regarding her husband with pleasure,
because he wasn't much bother! Al
if to be bothered, and to be bothered
very much, to give pleasure TO mar
she loves, il not Joy for the right sor
Of woman. How can you help il all
Well, the world can't be made bette
in day, but it can be improved ever,
minute. You can add to it's goodness
By refusing to find fun in low, vulga
jokes against women, against old age
and against marriage
Somebody said, not very long ago