The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1898-03-16
EDITORIAL.
TAXING BACHELORS.

The following pithy little article tails
upon the shoulders OF The New York
Journal and brings before the public
mind again that silly idea which some
foolish new woman occasionally tries to
support. This idea of taxing bachelors
is usually suggested by a married wo-
man VIII has exhausted every other idea
of reform. we say married woman. for no
single woman with modicum of COM
mon sense would condescend to place
herself in such a false light In this day
there are no old maids except some very
antiquated ones. Since SO many avenues
of selfsupport have been opened to wo-
man she no longer feels it her duty to
accept the first little tender sappling
which presents himself tc her in order, to
get out and make room for the YOUNGER
sister. But if the family means are not
sufficient It's very easy for her 10 be self
sustaining and thus enabled to bide her
time. Now woman of thirty or more
can adOrn society with as much grace
and more dignity than her sister of twenty
years and stands just as much chance of
receiving proposals. We glory in the wo-
man who takes her time about these
things. But see what the New York
Journal has to say about taxing her less
fortunate brothers:
This suggestion is insulting to wo-
men. 1t supports the dull Schopenhauer
idea that all women are united in con-
spiracy to enforce marriage-that wo-
mans merciless treatment of her un fort
innate sister Is punishment for violat-
ing a law which demands lifelong sup
port on purely commercial basis.
In the first place, there are very few,
if any, old maids who could not have
married, had they wanted to marry.
Therefore, if they are not married, it is
their own fault.
In the second place, if man must
choose between compulsory matrimony
with an unloved object for partner ard
an annual fine, the sum of $40 is ridicu-
lousy small.
''In the third place, man ought not to
marry unless he falls in love. If he falls
in love he can't help marrying, provided
tie woman will have him. Nature-a
wise old lady and very fond of children
has arranged things in that way.
"And last, and most important of all
why should a woman ever marry? That
is what we want to know. What man is
good enough for good, sensible woman?
What man is worth sewing, and watch
ing, and mending, and nursing, and plan
ming for? What han that you know is
worthy OF the woman who sits up for
him, listens to his old stories, let's him
think he is important, pities him when
he should be despised, and always keeps
some kind IF sentimental fire burning
for him?
I'VE wish to state thai the old maid
has played the selfish but the wise part.
She has avoided much suffering, and the
shattering of many idOls-a woman can
not be married without knowing that
men amount to very little when you get
close to them.
The old maid is wise, but it is sh
who should be fined if anybody is to be
fined She has usually refused to make
happy great many men. She perpetu-
aIes the bachelor breed by cooling with
sisterly advice the ardOr of youth. Every
old bachelor carries around a second
hand heart that was broken long ago by
No
wv oman. Woman! would you break
his heart and then fine him?
we hope not ="