The age-herald., 1897-09-23
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The mental and physical activity of the present-day woman has broadensd life. csrtai11y for that especial class formerly called old maids. These hitherto had @ limised sphere in every part of the world. not only narrow and circumscribed, but it was one of self-effacement, and self abnega.ion. under dhe most fortunate circums Iances. In many instances there were galllnlg, humiliat,ng conditions in their domestic relations winch removed all tha sunshine from their hungry, starving hearts, and left only heavy shadows which made thclr existence desolate and dreary. Wotnen who d.d mot marry b.fore they were twenty-five years of age, were frequently considered, a generation ago, as only to be tolerated as upper sealmstresses in many other- wise we'll regulated families. They were deemed a reflection upon the social suc- cess of the family and absolute failures as far as society was concerned. The missionless women grew old and wrin- kled before their time they saw Efe through a glass darkly, and accepting their hapless fate, serenely or cyn'cally according ito temperament--aw death.
 Now all is changed; women have so much to occupy their minds, so much 4o IL. out upon life with cheerful, happy eyes, and 'their sweet, alert faces reflect the com.entment of the soul and brain. With the many avenues which wocnem can fortable incomes, the reason for a mar rfage of convenience no longer exists. Unless a woman marisa man she loves, and who Is capable of supporting her, she had better never marry and so Cine majority of sensible women think. Therefore the women of pluck and cour- age find many things in life worth n- sidering at this time besides mat imony 1t is no longer the end and a,m of their existence, and they are forcing the world to dCCDIQ "a pldNS WINIc NHiSS IS something to do, something to think of, and something to live for, even if they prefer nob to marry alt all. There are now many distinguished women who quite glory in the independerca of old maidenhood, and they are sunny hearted and cheerful because they have aspira- tions and ambitions which develop their mental and moral faculties. Among this number ifs Mss Helen Varick Boswell, the well known campaign orator, and or ganizer of campaign clubs. She is member of a Baltimore family which holds ths old traditions regarding wo- mans sphere, but with the most modern independence, Miss Boswell has apart ments ip Now York which she uses as headquarters in her political work, as we'll as an attractive heme. 1n reply to an inquiry regarding "old maids" the other day, she said:
 The term is obsol.ts because the condi- tions of women's lives have so changed in the last decade. No longer does a woman look upon marriage as the only possible happin ss for her. Women ars now engrossed in affairs. They are in business everywhere. Look at the army of active business women clsrks, jour nalists, typewritsrs, stenographers, phy- sicians. All these women have helped to change conditions. Co-education has been vital factor. Coll. ge education too has had a vast part to play in these changes. Nowadays a woman does not marry the first man who proposes to her. Twenty-Five years ago 1t was con sidered nothing less than flying in the F face of AProvids nee if she did not. Now if she thinks of marriage, she says, twill this man interfere with my work, my affairs? I have made my own life, my own happiness. Do I need his com panionship to complete my lfe?" And fin nine casss out of ten she decides that she is quite as well off without the mah.+
 "Is she as well off?"
 ''Well," replied Miss Boswell seriously, "I myself bslieye that marriage rounds out woman's existence. I like the companionship of men. I am by no means a man-hater. But there is no denying the fact that conditions have greatly changed and will change still mora. Women are becoming more and more averse to matrimony for the reason that they have discovered that there