The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-12-19
T HE old maid In the sense OF
i, the typical home-body. illing
a distinct niche In the ma
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]
tion's households, is passing
/ from among us, giving way 10 the
/ bachelor woman, with her own pecu-
/ liar aspirations and established inter-
/ ests. Even now the genuine old maid
/ Is SO scarce as 10 have risen in value
/ In another generation or so she Will
( have become extinct. and there will be
, only a garbled likeness OF her-cer
| tainly not one that does her Justice
preserved to posterlty. In future times
| the story of woman's first decamp-
ment from the home circle will sound
In students ears as the tales OF the
ancients sound now to us-interesting,
romantic, but very remote from cur
rent issues.
1t will be told how, In the latter part
Of the nineteenth century, a maiden
Eve in the sheltered home garden, all
| unblemisbed and sound of heart, got
lnkling Of a strangely sweet fruit
called independence. How she tasted
1t. and finding it good, told her sisters
about it. She told her brothers and
brother-in-law about it also, and they
smiled indulgently. Independence
yes, 1t was a pretty good thing. The
fruit of a tree whose tap-root reached
back TO creation. 1t agreed with men
splendldly but it was doubtful how 1t
would do for women.
What did women want with II, any
how? They had love, shelter. protec-
ton. Even influence and reverence
had been accorded to them. and now
they must cast eye upon an exclusively
mans prerogative. clearly not meant
for them. And the men OF the day.
so the tale will continue took counsel
together as TO how the women folk
had contrived to get hold OF this pecu.
liarly mans benefit. Had some man
turned traitor in a doting moment and
let on TO sister or sweetheart as 70
the wonderful qualities Of independ-
ence? Or was the discovery just
some new phase of that mavelous in
tuition that lurked in the feminine
makeup.
But however the new idea started 1t
must be stopped before mischief en-
sued. In the first place there was not
enough of the fruit TO so around If
woman dipped into it, AS IL was,
even with the entire stock kept for the
sterner sex some man had to put up
with very small share. 1t must be
explained to woman that the after
taste of independence was bad and
lessened the pleasure in things woman
had heretofore delighted in. That a
continual diet Of il induced coarse
tastes. developed an understanding OF
money matters for one thing and a
clear-sightedness and critical faculty
that i'll cOmported with feminine
charms.
What chance would man have with
woman If she brought too close criti-
cisms 10 bear on him? What cherished
beliefs and rapturous experiences
were threatened if woman got any
nearer in likeness TO man than she
was then-she who had been brought
up to revere the being masculine with
all unqueStioning faith in his powers
and superiority?
No. 4 taste of independence might
be we'll enough for woman's regal2-
ment on occasion. Just sufficient to
Jolly her along, and that taste judi
clously mixed with other ingredients.
But for daily commons it was too
stimulating for the feminine constitu-
ton.
Well, the arguments We're sounded,
the protests reiterated. But womGn's
day had come She slipped off her do
nestle habits and traditions as natu-
rally rs the bud slips its sheaths when
the moment is ripe and made for the
opportunities that opened with an en-
ergy and enthusiasm that caused her
critics first to stare, then applaud, then
help her.
And theyeupon all over the land vaS
heard the swapping of family ties and
the air settling into hundreds and nun
dreds OF vacant spaces in household
economy.
This will be the story Of woman's
enfranchisement-particularly of the
single woman-portraye in social his
tory many years hence; and coupled
with 1t will be "reminiscences of the
sort of person the old maid was before
she developed business capacity-how
she had a talent for mending. darning,
comforting and soothing, the like OF
which never was secured TO mans
household after her taking away; how
she cared for the little folks OF what
ever household sheltered her with an
uufagging loyalty that was tenderness
itself and knit in with the very mar
row of her being.
In fact. stanch loyalty and disintcr-
estcdness will be the chief traits OF
the old-style old maid preserved TO
posterity. Now It was a niece upon
whom she lavished her affection. turn
ing over to this niece whatever store
of money she possessed. and abdicating
every slightest right TO spend her own
means OH herself. Again. II was in
cousins home that she shone vital
influence. so ever present and 10 be
depended upon that her ministrations
were counted as much a matter o.
course rs the suns rising and setting.
Now she was volunteer foster-mother
I'm a sisters household. cuddling and
doing for n succession OF infants in
the family cradle. and so leaving the
mother freer for social and connubial
duties And whatever she did she did
uncommouly well. with 4 thoToughness
that could only come OF genuine love
for the task.
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