Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1897-04-22
Old Maids.
BEN JACOBS.

George Eliot says: I'm the days since
Adams marriage, /, has been good for some
men TO be alone, and for some women also
While this is undoubtedly true, it would
seem still more true to reverse the clauses
and make the sentence read, "for some WON
en- to be alone, and some men also" since II
is infinitely better and easier for women to
live single than for men.
The Creator said 1t was not good for man
to be alone, and He created woman. He has
nowhere said it was not good for woman
however, and unless VIC become polygamsts,
it is certainly necessary for very many wom'
en- to be alone,
Marriage is certainly an institution found
ed and blessed by God, and hence II must be
intended that most should marry, but surely
not all. 1t is quite generally supposed among
men, and by many women that no woman
willingly remains single-that every woman
would marry if given an opportunity
These we hold to be unreasonable and un-
true. While there is vast number of un.
married women, it is quite probable there is
not one in a hundred, who has not had one
or more opportunities TO marry. Must n
woman accept any offer, however unsuitable,
rather than remain single?
While marriage is in itself right and for
most persons best, there may he excellent
reasons for some women to remain single.
1t has been quite q general opinion that
marriage is the chief aim and end of exist
encc, yot no woman must make the least
effort to accomplish that end. She is ex.
pected to remain i'll a passive state of waiting
until the right, or quite often, the wrong
man appears upon the scene, and decides to
bestow upon her his name If no man comes
to the rescue, she must inevitably be relcga'
ted to that iunumerable band of much talked
of, much misunderstood, and very much
abused "old maids"
Why is it any more of disgrace to be
unmarried than married. What is the
reason for the great and ever increasing
army of women whose reproach lies in the
fact of being single?
The reasons are many and varied. Many
girls are in such circumstances of life that
they seldom meet gentlemen at all eligible.
and if they meet them at all meet them only
as casual acquain:ances Must woman
accept any offer, however unsuitable, rather
than remain unmarried and be called by that
disgraceful title, "old maid?' Why is it
not as suitable for woman to remain un.
married as for mani" Is it not possible
that some women, or even many women are
better suited for single life than for married
life? Which is the happier, woman who
prefers single life to marrying beneath her,
or TO marrying one she does not love, or the
woman who marries solely for the sake OF
being married!
In the society pictured by Edward Beliamy
in Looking Backward" women will have
the same right to evince preference for
mans society, that man now has for the
companonship of woman, and there will bc
no reason for marrying with any motive
other than love, since all classes will be sit
uated financially alike.
DR.. Pomeroy in Ethics Of Marriage,
would have all marriageblc men, that is
men of suitable age who do not marry, taxed
for the support of single women. While it
is true that very many women, either from
necessity Or choice. remain unmarried, is
their sphere of usefulness limited?
At the present time, nearly all occupations
are open to women, and is being recognized
as quite able to compete with man in almost
every profession. We have able women
journalists, physicians, speakers, lawyers
and many successful women of business.
For those who cannot or do not care to ell
gage in any profession, there are thousands
of other things to be done.
1t may not be good luck to be woman
but when one begins with it from baby
one gets used to it. And there must be a
place for woman or she would not be-
There must be something for each human
being to do. There are shops, stores, count.
ing rooms, already giving employment to
women; and if these places are overcrowded,
there is always room in the great field of
housework: place as honorable as those
before named. Many women earn fair
livelihood, going out by the day doing mend
ing for families, most benevolent work.
odd Maids have countless opportunities
for doing good that women whose hearts
and hands are full with home-making and
housekeeping do not have. Be sure there
is place and work for every one Of Gods
creatures for one who is sneeringly
called IAN old maid"
Lonely, did you say? Yes, it must be ad-
mitted that single woman's life may be
very lonely, and loneliness wears no aIluring
charms, but married women may be lonely
too. Better be lonely Us a single woman,
than be bound for life to an unloving and
unloved husband. Marry by all means, if
marriage means helpful lives and happiness,
but don't marry to avoid being called an
told maid"
When girl has first learned how TO kiss,
- I,>x, ol,p .v~t lns,I