The suburban citizen., 1902-12-27
TY HE old maid in the sense of
the typical home-body, filling
q distinct niche in the ma

ulsllhCl nlNnt III Aht -"
tons households, is passing
from among us, giving way to the
bachelor woman, with her own pecu-
liar aspirations and established inter-
ests. Even now the genuine old maid
Is so scarce as to have risen in value,
In another generation or so she will
have become extinct, and there will be
only garbled likeness of her-cer-
tainly not one that does her Justice
preserved to posterity. 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
unblemshed and sound Of heart. got
inklmg Of a strangely sweet fruit
called independence. How she tasted
it, and finding 1t 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 a pretty good thing. The
fruit of a 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 it, any
how? They had love, shelter, protec-
ton. Even influence and reverence
had been accorded to them, and now
they must east eye upon an exclusively
mans prerogative clearly not meant
for them. And the men Of the day,
so the tale viii 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 to
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 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 a 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
tostes, 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. A taste Of independence might
be well enough for woman's regale-
ment ON occasion. Just sufficient to
jolly her along, and that taste judi.
ciously mixed with other ingredients.
But for daily commons it was too
stimulating for the feminine constitu-
tion.
Well, the arguments were sounded,
the protests reiterated. But woman's
day had come. She slipped off her do
mestic habits and traditions as natu-
rally as 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 thereupon all over the land vas
heard the swapping Of family ties and
the air settling into hundreds and hun
dreds of vacant spaces in household
economy.
This will be the story Of woman's
enfranchisement-partlcularly of the
single woman-pOrtraye in social his
tory many years hence; and coupled
with it will be "reminiscences of the
sort of person the old maid was before
she developed business capacity
she had talent for mendng, darung.
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
unfingging loyalty that was tenderness
Itself and knit in with the very mar
row of her being.
In fact, stanch loya.iy and dislntcr-
estedness will be the chief traits of
the old-style old maid preserved to
posterlty. Now It was niece upon
whom she lavishcd her affection, turn
ing over to this niece whatever store
Of money she possessed. ana abdicating
every slightest riglE to spend her own
means on herself, Again, it was I'm
cousins home that she shonc a vital
Influence, so eVer-present and TO be
depended upon that her ministrations
were counted as much n matter Of