Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-05-31
qae Happiest Hour in woman's Life.

1he Fl appiest Hour in Woman's Life.
In order to speak with authority as
to which is the happiest portion of a
woman's existence it would be desirable
to have lived through each stage to the
last of all, and to have retained ones
faculties and interest . I the life of 9TH
ers, of which we had become no longer
the actors, but the spectators, and, LET
us hope, the kindly critics. Such a lot
only Details the more fortunate among
us who can look back upon the storms
and stress of youth from the secure ha-
ven of old age. serencly waiting for the
Pilots call.
Happiness is wild singing bird, which
may not be Gagged or tanned; it will loiter
for Il while of its own free will, and
carol till our hearts dilate with ccStacy
as we listen, some TO the rhythm ana
others to the passion of the song. Yet
we must beware of pursuing our angelic
visitors when 1t spreads its wings fer
flight; it will not return to the lure and
never can be caught. But, if the happy
note rings sweet and clear, it never is a
solo: Il second voice chants out minor
harmony which sometimes is degraded to
discord. The ear in life, as in Wag-
merriam music, is kept upon the stretch,
closes which it imperiouSly demands to
still its yearnng need. And to every ear
separate harmony appeals; each wom-
an, by her nature, temperament and
physique, is fitted for a different purpose,
and happy she whose development is so
sane and wholesome. and whose circum-
stances are SO adjusted that she can take,
as each age succeeds the last, the best
fruits of the garden of life, listen only
TO the sweetest chords of the orchestra
OF nature, noracast an envious eye on
what Heaven has seen fit to refuse her.
Every different period of life had its
own special joys and sorrows, and few
OF us, happy as the days of childhood
were, would care to go back to school
again and sit longing through summer
afternoon, listening to the shouts of
luckier urchins. playing in the fields,
while we sit before Il desk, smearcd
equally with tears and ink. grinding at
a task but half understood and wholly
deteSted. Yet the keen appetite we had
the freshness of the world, our slumbers
TRANSPORTED by heavenly dreams. our
love for and confidence in all mankind,
tie pure flower of ignorance of evil
how shall we not admit that thew are of
the best gifts of God?
Then. how delightful is a girls first
ball! The lights, the music the rapture
OF rythmlc movement. when the heart
scious unison with the music, and the
dawn finds us still untired and still en-
tranced. But too soon we come 10
look for something more. The happy
JOY of dancing, which we share with Ger
tain birds and animals, no longer
sutfices. Any partner is not welcome
now-it must be the right one. Here
chance may favor the girl, and her float
ing fancy light where it may surely rest,
or doubt and rivalry may arise to poi
son the mind and cloud the sky, and
many bitter tear be shed which dims
the bloom of damask cheeks and velvet
eyes. The first romantic fancy of
maiden's heart. nourished in secret. pure
and ethereal as a thread of gossamer
shrinking as Il sensitive plant, is too
often doomed to he wrenched asunder
and trampled in the dusty way of life,
leaving the gray and lasting fabric Of
disilluSiOD in its place.
These early troubles in a woman's
path rarely meet with the sympathy
they actually deserve. They are stig-
matized as romantic folly which moth
er's duty binds her to ignore and depre-
cate for the future safety Of her child.
The feelings at this age are rs acute as
they are unconscious of their origin, and
MANY a soft embroidered pillow. could
it talk, would tell n piteous tale of Stiiied
regrets. SO here again the balance
seems TO be upheld with even hand--the
dawning vision of love, youth. n light
heart and liss0me limbs on the one hand
and tears and privaton and disappoint-
ment OH the other.
Then we marry. Here, with good for
tune, we may find man to love and to
respect. but happy though it be. early
married life is hardly ever free from
Jars. The pair which must 20 in har-
ness together each strain away from the
pole, and the work is hard to get through.
But love is sweet, and JOY is here with
the natural expansion Of a woman's life,
her new delights and pleasant duties.
Children. too, bring checkered light and
shadow to our lot and not that radiant
sun which those who have them not are
apt to fancy. Besides all this, the ucces-
sary tribute to our sex, there sometimes
runs a thread Of interest of another kind,
and as 1.-THE moving finger writes" so
change our views Of life. The husband
has his career, his work in the world,
and for a time the woman eats her heart
out in solitude Of soul These are black
days, but they will pass; the sun viii
shine again, though with a difference
Slowly as the years slip away the mind
begins TO get the better of the body, as
toward the autumn the nights get the
better Of the days and as the physical /
forces wane so burn the stars of intelec-
tual life the brighter Storm and stress.
they still remain, but passion and regrets
are dead. Philosophy repairs the thefts
Of time, and like a strange and wonder
full flower, opening now for the first time
to our gaze, the world spreads forth its |
interests and its claims.
Here we may hope to make 4 length |
ened pause and almost stand secure. at
least from binding grief. unless our chill |
drens lives go wrong. But even then