The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-14
FOR FEMININE READERS
THEORY THAT NORTHERN WOMEN
GROW OLD BY WORRYING.
MiddIe-CIass American Girls as COM
pared with Foreigners-S1ow Prog
ress of German Women.

The Page Club met at the home of Mrs.
Reg, North Postoffice, Fairfax county, Vir-
ginia, few days ago. reports it's president,
with a full attendance of members, says
writer in the New York Tribune. The sub
ject chosen for the days paper by mem
Der was 'Woman's Age,' being suggested
by the discussion at a Professional Wom-
ans League meeting, when Mrs. Jeanette
Robinson Murphy, in paper, in which she
refers to the age of women, said:
l believe the reason negroes never look
old is because they don't really know how
old they are, and we women show our age
because we know all about it.
The writer of the paper begged to differ
with this view. She argued as follows:
Our age is, perhaps, the most troublesome
thing we have to deal with. We are either
like David Copperfield, 'unpardonably
young or unpardonably old, according to
accepted standards.
THAT the colored women do not show
their age because they do not know it is a
point of view. They do not show their
age because they never worry. Trouble rolls
off of them; there is no place for it to stay
in their smooth, easy-going minds. White
women would look just as young if they did
not worry any more than the colored wom-
en- do. Living among colored women all my
life, l have never known any to take
trouble very seriously to heart, or, if they
DO, it is the exception which proves the
general rule. Women who have unfaithful,
brutal husbands, maynard and ungrateful
children and trials of all kinds still retain
that easy, comfortable manner. laughing
off every trouble, however deep.
'They take all conditions of life, good or
bad, as matter of course; this is the mani
fest reason of their perpetual youth. They
do not fight against existing conditions;
cept. not question, is their rule of life. This
habit comes not only from their formerly
enslaved position but from their natures
and from climatic influences.
All Southern people, white or black, ac-
cept established rules Of life-do as their
MISREPRESENTATION did it, why, of
course II is the right thing for them TO do:
This, feeling brings about great content and
freedom from the strain of reforming the
old.
Southern women do not look, at the same
age, as old as Northern women, who
restless and striving. Southern women are
quieter, live more easily, worry less and,
any woman, black or white Northern or
Southern, trouble about their ages, and.
knowing it, make every effort to keep the
knowledge from others? What can you find
better or more honorable than age? Age of
the heart and mind is all we have to fear
II the heart keeps young and the mind is
full of sweet, new thoughts we have moth
ing to fear from the ageing body, from wrin-
kleS and gray hairs. Some of the most
charming Southern women | know are near
ly seventy, full of wit and sparkle, attract
i've yes, more attractive than many young
girls. No one thinks of their gray hair, ex-
cept to admire it. Their cheeks are rosy,
eyes bright and every one is charmed with
, the young heart within.
With their rich and varied experience of
life, the loving Christianity of their time
tempered spirit we can say heartily, look
ing at them
-" What can you find better and more
honorable than age?' "
The paper was received with much pleas
ure. This discussion followed:
You are quite right said Mrs. Allen.
II know an old colored woman who has
husband who won't support her. He gets
good wages, but spends his money for his
own amusement and is unkind, besides.
She works hard every day to keep the
cabin; | remonstrated with her for living
with him, and she nSwered:
- 'sho'. honey. men is all alike. Yo'
musn't place no pennence in 'em. Deys
got the insurance to do anyt ing, but Yves
ME. l feel es like young girl mos OBJ de
time, when l don't work too hard.
MY old nanny used to say, Feel ole;
youse daid an buried!
ITO illustrate how worry will make even
a colored woman feel DID, / said once to
an old colored woman who had passed most
of her years in slavery:
Do you ever feel old, Aunt Venus?'
: nebber did, chile till dis yere free
cause l keep tinkin how l used to work
all de day. an get NAH clo'es, nah corn
pone. NAH cabin, an plenty of holiday time
work all day an all night, sometimes, an
/ doan git enough to kiver nah back or fill
nah mouf, an | amt got a roof over nah
head. L does feel ole, honey. L amt no
account no mo,