Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-02
GRANDMAS OF TODAY
THEY KEEP IN THE RACE WITH THE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE END.

| died before l was born and the other
| when l was a few months old. 1
| thought it would be so comforting to
| have a grandmother because they al
| ways regarded their grandchildren as
being incapable OF doing wrong. At
| least they were sure TO multiply ones
/ virtues and minimize faults. Their
| chief object in life, as L picture them,
| was to minister to their descendants
| comfort, to make the crooked places
| straight. The grandmother of my fan
/ cy would keep my clothes in repair,
| darn the stockings, knit plenty of wash
rags and silk mittens, surprise me with
my favorite dishes. laugh at my jokes
and generally submerge her life in the
/ affairs of mine. What was | going to
do in return for all this unselfish devo-
| ton? l would be her granddaughter.
| That, according to the old traditions,
was quite enough compensation.
| 1 was holding forth, exploiting my
views and desires on the grandmother
| question in the presence of one of those
| people who delight to take n person
down and make him feel cheap, espe-
| Sially if they imagine one is posing as
| younger thca the family Bible records
| This individual spoke up and said:
| 'Why, if your grandmothers were liv-
| ing they would be so aged that they
would be mummified. Instead of darn
| ing your stockings, knitting your nit
| tens. they would be blind. deaf and i'm
beetle. You would have to tend them
with greater slaviShness than a mother
| newborn babe, and without the
sweet recompense in the latter case.
When people become imbecile with
age, they grow repulsive. and the pro-
| longing of this state is dreadful, while
| each day the unfolding of Il budding
life is filed with mysterious delights"
OF course l did not want Il grand
| mother that was deaf. blind and imbe-
Gle. 1 thought / would drop the sub
ject, as it appeared to he getting per-
sOnal. But my companion continued:
Besides, could it be possible in the or
der of things for you to have a vigor-
Gus, industrious, capable grandmother,
she would not be sitting I the chimney
corner darninG your stockings. She
would be out attending to her lodge or
club business, visiting tue millinery
openings, ordering a fashionable gown,
playing cards or attending high tea.
The old fashioned grandmother is as
much a thing of the past as the spin
ming wheel. the canalboat, stagecoach,
making candles and family rendered
soap"
protested that did not believe my
grandmothers would be of the modern
pattern. l had heard my mother tell
often of how completely her mother
lost her taste for society and outside
fcoi oh dol 6rnn
She had raised a large family, but
these reproductions were just as much
delight as had been the originals. She
infinitely preferred their society to that
of grown people. Their prattle, school
experiences, little ambitions, filed her
life completely. She was constantly
planning surprises for them by making
animal cakes, individual pies, candy,
aprons, hoods, doll clothes.
Yes, but if she lived now she would
be different The air she would breathe
is filed with assertiye germs which de-
clare that every woman owes it to her
self TO have career and stand at the
helm and steer it to the very end. She
must not allow her life to be submerg-
ed in that of her own children, as they
make their appearance rather unwel-
come frequently. but must have outside
missions. AS soon as her offspring is
married off, which is accomplished
with as great dispatch as diplomacy
can secure. then she is free to carry out
pet schemes and natural desires I'M
trammeled."
Perhaps you are right" l replied.
Such a grandmother as this would be
no comfort TO me as a grandmother
while she might be Il most helpful
friend, and could be proud of her po-
sition in the literary, artistic or philan-
thropic world as her tastes might die
tate her pursuit.
\ grandmother of my acquaintance
said to me not long ago: 1T would be
great trial TO me to have my grand
children or any children in the house
with me now. l could not adapt my
self to their demands and Interrupt
lions. i have raised my family and
now want my time for individual pur-
suits" This woman has especial tai
ents and necessities for using them,
and in her case these feelings may not
seem unnatural. But this is much the
sentiment that possesses the grand
mothers of the age who have no special
missions or avocations outside the do
nestle circle. If they have means,
they buy handsome gifts for their
grandchildren and wish them to have
all the advantages possible that do not
represent personal self sacrifice or cur
tailment of freedom of action.
Women are imbued with the spirit of
the age, which demands that there
shall be no old ladies with caps and
shawls who stay at home and guard
the fireside. but that they must keep in
the race with the young people to the
very end.-Susan w. Ball in Terre
Haute Gazette.