The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1902-12-25
"H HE old maid in the sense OF
the typical home-body, hliinS
=. distinct niche in the ma

tion's households, Is passing
from among us, giving way to the
bachelor woman. with her own pec,,-
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 viii
have become extinct, and there will he
only n 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-interestng,
romantic, but very remote from cur
rent issues.
1t will be told how. in the latter part
of the nineteenth century, maiden
Eve in the sheltered home garden. all
unblemlshed and sound of heart. got
inkling of a strangely sweet fruit
called independence. How she tasted
it. 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, it was pretty good thing. The
fruit of tree whose tap-root reached
back to creation. 1t agreed with men
splendidly. but it was doubtful how 1t
would do for women.
What did women want with 1t, 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 doting moment and
let on to sister or sweetheart as TO
the wonderful qualities of indcpend-
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 go around If
woman dipped into it. AS it 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 it 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 critl-
cisms to 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. A taste of independence might
be well enough for woman's regale
ment on occasion. Just sufficient tc
jolly her along, and that taste judi
ciously mixed with other ingredients
But for daily commons it was toe
stimulating for the feminine constitu
ton.
Well, the arguments were sounded
the protests reiterated. But woman''
day had come. She slipped off her do
nestle habits and traditions as natu
rally as the bud slips its sheaths wher
the moment is ripe, and made for thu
opportunities that opened with an en-
ergy and enthusiasm that caused hel
critics first 10 stare, then applaud, theI
help her.
And thereupon all over the land va
heard the swapping of family ties ant
the air settling into hundreds and hun
dreds of vacant spaces in nouseholt
economy.
This will be the story of woman;
enfranchisement-particularly of th'
single woman-portraye in social his
tory many years hence; and coupled
with it will be "reminiscences of th'
sort of person the old maid was before
she developed business capacity-hoN
she had talent for mending, darning
comforting and soothing, the like o
which never was secured TO man
household after her taking away; hoy
she cared for the little folks of what
ever household sheltered her with al
unhagging loyalty that was tenderness
itself and knit in with the very mar
row Of her being.
In fact, stanch loyalty and disinter
estedress will be the chief traits o
the old-style old maid preserved I
posterity. Now 1t was niece upo
! whom she lavished her affection, turn
| ing over to this niece whatever stor
| of money she possessed, and abdicatin
| every slightest right to spend her ow
means on herself. Again. II was In
| cousins home that she shone vita
| influence, so ever-present and to b
| depended upon that her ministration
| We're counted as much q matter @
| course as the suns rising and setting
| Now she was volunteer -mothe
in a sisters household, cuddling an
| doing for n succession of infants !
the family cradle, and s0 leaving til
mother freer for social and connubii
duties. And whatever she did she dl
uncommonly Well, with thoroughnef
| that could only coma of genuine 10y