The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1897-10-22
ThfDsmorrAt-S STIR
A WORD TO OLD MAIDS.
by FANNIE FIELDING.

MY dear sister 0n mhlds llor ais'
am an old maid, ! wish to have
quiet talk with you, doing all tho
talking myself.
And first and foremost let me con
~gratulate you, or should ] say, condolt
with you?
Well, really, this depends entirely
on why you are an old maid, and what
kind OF an old maid you are, for there
are various kinds
There are the cold, eccentric, Gym
ical, unsocial and thoroughly selfish
old maids, and there are kind, sweet,
thoughtful old maids, who dearly love
people and want to be loved by all.
and especially by the. young. And
there are many grades all OF the way
between the two.
You each have Il reason why you are
unmarried. Few In number are those
who have never had offers. Some have
been, as IL were, on the eve OF mar
rage and discovered, before IL was too
late, that their betrothcd Vas all un.
worthy OF their love, and some, from
a sacred sense OF duty TO an aged pa
rent or invalid sister or some Other
relative dependent on them, have
buried their love, deep out Of sight
Of human eyes, and taken up the bur,
den Of life with sweet words and low
ing smiles, and thanked God fOI
strength to endure yet with an un'
satisfied longing in their hearts, still
knowing that in the great beyond they
shall be satisfied.
Then there are those who gave theii
love, ALL their love, to one true man
and ere the marriage vows said, death
stepped in and removed the beloved,
and from that time no other love has
entered the dcsolated sanctuary.
There are some Of our sister ole
maids who should be condoled with
Just as there are also scores q
married women who should have con
dolence, and the married who are 81
situated are far more deserving OF gu
sympathy than the other class.
How sad it has been for q youn!
and charming maiden to give her hant
and all the wealth Of her love and ap
parently the remainder OF her earthly
life to u mar whom she considers al
ideal Of perfection, d~elighting in
vision OF the greatest and most exalt
cd happiness by her union with him
and within a few months after thei
marriage to find all the beautiful flow
ers Of delight turned into the ashes o
a lifelong disappointment and hope
less despair; that instead Of bein
able to make his home the one dc
lightful place on earth to him, to be
come conscious that he cares nOthin
for it save as a place where he ca
come and eat when he is hungry, an
rest and sleep when tired or almos
helpless from the effects OF the win
cup and midnight rcvelries with boo
companions.
All. sister old maids, no matter VIII
you are such, II it has been thrOug
the ~falseness OF the other sex, or
death removed your loved one befoI
you wore the bridal robes, you cannt
have the despairing heart OF sorro
OF the disappointed married siste
Oh! a living daily sorrow must be
thousand, nay, ten thousand tim
harder to bear.
And you dear single sisters, who a
seeing silver threads here there am.
the brown, or black, or golden tress
that surround your brow, what ha'
you made OF your life, aud what al
you still making Of it? What hay
you done for others, and what are 80
doing now for them?
Have you cherished your sorrow an
felt that DO other person has ever bee
called to endure SO much? Have 20
been cold and unsympathizing wit
those around you, wrapping, as
were, a mantle Of seldshness abou
you, lending no helping hand to thos
In distress, and frOwning on all til
Innocent gayeties Of the young, Ger
surfing severely every giddy mistak
some sweet pure girl has made, neve
thinking that in the solitude OF he
own room her cheeks may be burnin
and her heart aching because Of he
thoughtless act? Or have you remen
bered the many little mistakes 70
made when you were a young girl, ft
we have all been young, and in exDt
%perienced, and do you remember hO'
you have wept and been miserabl,
oh! so miserable, for fear you wOul
be too severely censured, and now, n
Numbering these things, have 20
RETAINED from evil speaking agains
sweet innocent young sisters whoi
you have reason to believe are trul
trying to be all that womanly girl
should be, and whatsoever good 20
have found to do, have you done
with your might-doing a kind &C
here and giving a bright smile and
loving and cheerful word there, re
Numbering eve that we have on
Lord and Master, and that we all ar
children of the dear Heavenly Father
II you have thus made the best posi-
BILE use Of your life, causing ito be
blessing to others, then you arc richl
deserving Of congratulations. II not
prOffer TO you my.sinccre coincidence
~
Cftarpe this In the Cleveland Plain