Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-04-13
GRANDMAS OF TODAY
THEY KEEP IN THE RACE WITH THE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE END.

| One who PIacidly Sat In the CHM
ncy Corner Darning Stockings, Is n
Thing of the Past.
was bemoaning the fact that had
never known my grandmothers. one
died before | was born and the other
when I was n few months old. l
! 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 | 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
nv 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 unselfsh devo-
ton? would be her granddaughter
That, according to the old traditions.
was quite enough compensation.
l was holding forth, exploiting my
views and desires on the grandmother
question in the presence Of one of those
people who delight to take person
down and make him feel cheap, espe-
cially if they imagine one is posing as
younger than 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 mummifed. Instead Of darn
ing your stockings. knitting your nit
tens, they would be blind, deaf and Inn
beetle. You would have 70 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 budding
life is filled with mysterious delights
OF course did not want a grand
mother that was deaf, blind and imbe-
cile. l thought | would drop the sub:
ject, as it appeared to be getting per-
sOnal. But my companion continued:
Besides, could 1t be possible in the or
der Of things for you to have a vigor-
Gus, industrious, capable grandmother,
she would not be sitting at the chimney
corner darning your stockings. She
would be out attending to her lodge or
club business, visiting the millinery
openings, ordering fashionable gown.
playing cards or attending a 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. | had heard my mother tell
often Of how completely her mother |
lost her taste for society and outside |
affairs after she had grandchildren.
She had raised a large family, but |
these reproductions were just as much |
a 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.
Eyes, but II she lived now she would J
h. Tho oi cb % xxyOnld hrnC tho |
Is filled with assertive germs which de-
clare that every woman owes 1t to her.
self to have a career and stand at the |
helm and steer 1t 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
pet schemes and natural desires I'M
trammeled."
perhaps you are right" | replied.
Such a grandmother as this would be
no comfort to me as a grandmother,
while she might be a 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. ut would be a
great trial to me to have my grand.
children or any children In the house
with me now. | could not adapt my
self to their demands and Interrupt
tions. 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 10 her case these feelings may not
seem unnatural But this = much the
sentiment that pOssesst> a. grand.
mothers of the age who haNc no special
missions or avocatiOns outside the do
nestle circle II 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
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 freside, but that they must keep in
the race with the young people to the
very end Susan W. Ball In Terre {
Haute Gazette.
Only a Lawyer.
When Justice Bookstaver was on the