The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-09-12
OLD MAIDS NO LONGER.
Ella Wheeler Wilcox Thinks World
Less Inclined to Jest About:
This Subject.

A correspondent who signs herself as
Moreland' makes a protest against the
thoughtless jests perpetrated at the ex-
pense of single women. She says:
us it not about time the world ceased
prosecuting it's so-called odd maids?
1.-The day Of burning inoffensive old
women as witches is, happily, past; the
horrors OF the 1nquisition are gone, never
to return; but the ever-ready jibe and
1eer at the unmarried woman OF over -
years are still with us.
mot quite so barbarous, but some
times almost as cruel. are the thrusts
aimed at her-sometimes in pure malice,
but oftener in malicious or thoughtless
jest.
'"The worst of it is that they are aimed
at class OF women who are usually Of
the most refined and sensitive natures
writer's, teachers, professional and bust.
ness WOmen-WOmen whom both nature
and education have made, not only to
think. but to feel, deeply.
,,h hMore eo1 than n often they are women men
from securing good husbands, for, while
holder and less retiring girls We're rush.
ing headlong into the mad scramble for
a husband, they bided quietly at home.
doing the homely,. useful tasks that came
to their hand, and preferring to wait for
the ideal to come seeking them.
thousands and thousands of young,
unmarried women are toiling in school,
room and store that younger brothers ard
sisters may have an education, that
improvident may have a home or greater
comforts in their declining years.
think the world is already much less
inclined to jest about "old maids than
of old. The spinster of long ago was an
object for the commiseration of gods and
| occupation. She must 'live around
! with relatives, and act as her own nurse
| and watcher at the bedside Of her slowly
dying youth and as chief mourner at its
| funeral. She must keep in the domestic
| circle-yet be concious that she was not
of it.
| She must hear counting and marriage
| and birth discussed. and know none Of
! these experiences were for her; and she
! must smile through it all and bear unre-
sentfully the badinage of married friends
| and relatives regarding her lonely state.
The Spanish 1nquisition could not have
afforded worse torture than the. old
| maids of half a century ago endured.
Today in New England towns, few
such women are. found. But even the
| Connecticut AMI Vermont and New
Hampshire single women are finding
their way out into the broad. busy world
! of progress. where the divine gift for
every aching neutrality-suspicious. awaits
| them.
The "bachelor woman is term I do
| not ike-because [ like nothing mascu-
| line about a woman-saye the man him.
self!
Yet a bachelor woman is the only term
| at present which has been coined to ex-
| press the difference between the spinster
| of the last century and the one of this.
The 'spinster'-'Old maid'-was
| helpless, dependent creature when she
| stepped outside the family circle. The
bachelor woman is as Independent as any
! man in the land.
The old maid was lonely and ate her
heart in silence.
The bachelor woman is SO busy with
| her occupation she forgets her loneliness
the greater part Of the time.
The old maid was obliged to tag along
| with married couples if she had any
pleasure in society.
The bachelor woman goes to the the
| alter, the reception or on journey, alone
and fearless. as man does.
The spinster had no money, only as it
! was doled out by relatives.
The bachelor woman earns a handsome
income, and often assists her married
| relatives or her young nephews and
nieces.
Men were afraid to pay attention to
| the old maid lest they should awaken
false hopes; they enjoy talking with the
D1cnclOf woman, "nOm tney KNOW to be
quite independent Of them, and who is
interesting because she has associated
with the world and understands human
ity, and is frequently far better informed
regarding the events of the times than
they are;
No, indeed, the bachelor woman is not
to be laughed at or ridiculed today
She is a power in the world. I do
not think she has attained woman's full
mission-because l believe nature meant
man and woman to mate. Until they
do, neither can reach perfect develop
ment mentally, morally or physically
But she has evolved out of the narrow
and pitiful sphere Of the "old maid and
I rejoice for her.-Ella Wheeler Wilcox,