Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-05-10
IGRANDMAS OF TODAY
THEY KEEP IN THE RACE WITH THE
YOUNG PEOPLE TO THE END.


The Ola Fashioned GrandmOther. the
One who PlacidIy sat In the chim-
ney Corner DarnInE stOckinEs, 10 a
Thing Of the Past.
was bemoaning the fact that had
never known my grandmOthers. One
died before ! was born and the other
when was a few months old.
Thought Il 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 mlttens, surprise me with
my favorite dishes. laugh at my Jokes
and generally submerge her life in the
affairs of mine. What wns | going TO
do In return for all this uhselGsh devo-
ton? would be her granddaughter.
That, according to the old traditions.
was quite enough compensation.
was holding forth. exploiting my
views and desires on the grandmother
question In the presence of one Of those
people who delight to take a person
down and make him feel cheap. espe-
cially II they imagine one is posing as
younger than the family Bible records.
This individual spoke up and said:
"why, II your grandmothers were liv-
ing they would be 30 aged that they
would be mummlflPd. Instead Of darn
ing your stockings. knitting your nit
tens. they would he blind. deaf and inn
beetle. YOU would have to tend them
with greater slavishness than a mother
a newborn babe. and without the
sweet rPcOmpense In the latter case.
When people become Imbecile with
age. they grow repulslve. and the pro-
longing of this state In 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-
eile. ] thought would drop the sub
ject. as 1t appeared to be getting per
sonal. But my companion continued:
"Besides. could It I've possible In the or
der of things for you to have a vigor-
Uus. 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 thing of the pnst as the spin
ming wheel. the canalhoat. 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
n delight as had been the originals She
infinitely preferred their society to that
OF grown people. Their prattle. school
experiences. little ambitions. filled her
life completely She was constantly
planning surprises for them 10y making
animal cakes. individual pies. candy.
aprons. hoods. doll clothes.
"Yes. but If she lived now she would
bp different The air she would breathe
Is flled 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 II TO the very end She
must not allow her life TO be Eubmerg.
ed In that OF her own children, az they
make their appearance rather unwel.
come frequently. hut must have outside
missions. AE soon as her offspring is
married of which iR accomplished
With as great dispatch Az diplomacy
can secure. then she N free 10 carry out
pet schemes and natural deEires m
tFnmm+ipd -
perhaps you are right" ! replied.
Such grandmother IN this would he
20 comfort TO uIe az q RTandmOi her.
while she might be- a most hPlpful
friend. and cOuld he proud OF heF pO-
sitiOn Id the literary. artisIic OF phiIan-
thrOpic world as her tastes might die
tate her pursuit.
A grandmother OF my acquaintanee
said TO mt not long ago 'II would be .
great trial 70 me TO have my grand
children or any children In the bOuRP
With me now ! couId not adapt my.
sslf 20 their demands and lnteFTup.
t!Jns have raised my family and
OOW want my time for individual Dur-
suits This woman has PEppcial tai.
entB and nespaSitiPR for using them.
and In bPr case these feelings may not
seem unnatural Hut this IL murh the
sentiment that Possesses the grand.
mothers OF the age VITO havP no special
lnlsGlOns or avOcaiiOnR ontRlde the DO
nestle circle II they have means.
they buy handsome gifts for theft
grandchildren and wish them 70 have
all the advantages possible that DO not