The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-01
BAB CHATS ABOUT AN
INTERESTING TYPE OF
WOMANHOOD.

One rype or woman has entirely DIS
appeared--that is. the gentle old malo
who had "a little income and was every
body's friend. To you she was Cousin
Mary" TO somebody else she was Aunt
Molly" while somebody else, VINO had
rome To school with her, called her
Minnie When there was long ILL.,
aess. she appeared On the scene and was
the gentlest of nurses. who never grew
weary and who never lost patience. At
the time of a wedding she was on hand
TO help piake the wedding cake. TO as
sist with the trousseau and TO dress the
bride. When Death Knocked at the
front door. she met him with all re-
spcct and reverence and allowed no
strange hand TO touch ,the dear dead
one. while she was the only one whose
voice could really console those In trou-
bic. she begged pardon for the prodigal
and was always ready 90 excuse any hu-
man weakness. She had more friends
than she could count. more homes than
she could live in, and when she came TO
die everybody missed her. She was
loved and respected. and IL s-me young
fool once in awhile spoke Of her as ''an
old maid IL was in an apologetic tone.
as IL all mankind needed TO be excused
for not having discovered her perfec-
tions. This gentle creature, the friend
of the entire family, has disappeared.
and in her place is the energetic. bus
fling independent bachelor woman. This
woman Is very much alone and so fond
of speaking of her independence that
one is tempted to wonder whether she
finds il as agreeable as she claims It H.
She is not willing to be one in the large
family; not willing TO be, as was the
gentle old maid. the friend of many.
but she seeks the much talked of inde-
pendence. and. earning her own living
she stands quite alone. While she has
hundreds of acquaintances l am tempt
ed TO wonder If she ever gets as much
love as did her less highly educated
predecessor, whom she is inclined to
ecorn. .
The average woman or today, being
abnormal, yearns for a business career
Undoubtedly there are times when II
Is necessary. but nowadays too often
that woman who has a good income
thinks 10 be like a man and increase It.
Miss Small Fortune, who could live I'm
comfort on what was left her by her
father and make herself an absolute
necessity 10 all those bound 10 her by
ties OF blood, refuses to do this. She
ia some special way. Now, il is all
right II woman has TO earn her liv-
ing. respect her for IL. and applaud
her ability il she can achieve IL i'm some
special, original and feminine way, but
when IL Is not necessary. when il is
simply an unwomanly desire TO get out
into the busy world. / do not think any
one who knows what a woman ought TO
be- what side OF her nature IL is best
TO cultivate. should encourage her. The
daughter OF this rich man has taken
UP artistic gardening. The daughter
of that rich man is furnishing several
dairies with fresh milk and eggs, while
a millionaire's daughter is managing a
dancing class. Several women not only
OF good but OF assured position are
ready to manage your society book for
you. and in this way tell you just who
you should and should not have on
your list. How is this going To straight
en- itself out2 Will there be n survival
o. the fittest? VIII there come time
when the woman who should earn her
own living win do so quietly and hon
estly. or will the unholy craze for