New-York tribune., 1903-08-09
NO MORE "OLD LADIES"
The Modern Grandma Scorns the Title and
Caps and Peppermints Are Things
Of the Past

NO matter how old is. she seems never
to be anything but girl in her mothers eyes,
said the business woman to the summer boarders
the piazza.
age is largely a comparative matter" said the
woman in the low rocker "As mothers do not
grow old themselves what more natural than that
they should use us as corroborative detail?'
My brothers oblge mother to admit that
they are grown up. and they are not so old as
either my sister 7. don't mind telling how old
I am and 1 will leave it to you Now-l am
Three women looked up from their embroidery as
the business woman on the point of divulging
her age.
Tn forty-three years old and can't go into
the kitchen to-day to mix salad dressing without
hearing my mother tell TO put on an apron,
concluded the business woman.
What's the objection" inquired the gray haired
woman. Seems to me you old enough TO
know that you should put an apron without
being told"
Hear, Hear exclaimed the woman in the blue
linen gown
DO you suppose my mother allowed any one to
tell her to put on an apron after she was forty
years old?' challenged the business woman /
should like TO have been within hearing when any
such brazen effrontery occurred"
Doubtless she always put one on, ventUred the
gray haired
The point is said the business woman, that
If a woman does not marry. but continues to i've
under the home roof If she pays for the
roof herself she never enjoys the privilege OK be-
ing considered grown up Ny mother constantly
refers to my sister and me as the girls, ana al
though have time and again reminded her
that we scarcely be regarded as girls any
longer she repeats the offence in the next breath >
THAT is like the old farm horses I saw up in
the country last summer" said the sixteen-year-
old girl. THE old man who owned them called
+hem colts. although they were twenty-six years
old. You see they seemed young and coltish TO
him"
rs your mother an old lady?" asked the woman
who was making a Renaissance centre piece.
Indeed, no.
There are no more old ladies'" said the woman
with the gray hair. Look at me- for example
When my mother was just the age I am now she
was most effectually sheved. We elderly women
have had to learn to adapt ourselves to the times
There is no place to put old ladies nowadays, and
so have to do the next best thing, and that is
to refrain from growing old"
The wives of the Heroes of Gettysburg had
their pictures taken in a group and then published
in the newspapers the other day when they had
the reunion of veterans said woman who had
not spoken before and I recall that my mother
said she wouldn't have posed in that group for
anything in the world
Good for her, said the with the gray
hair. II must say I like old lady who has
ideas. It's the IDEAS after all. that keep young
However. do also have to adapt ourselves to the
times Now. wnat place is there in fiat. should
like to ask you, for an old lady? Where is her
elusive corner for her rocking chair? Where is
there a quiet bedroom which she retire early
at night or where she can get afternoon nap:
% t5 r Of bz aeg6a has asae R qhe f9 aa Jay
tell you old ladies' know our business. when
chiidrenfs fSu5 st56cEngs kin and can remember yet now
9 f & GI oea b aSea Carried rG TfS % most deectabe Deeper
mnts in her pocket to serve as bribes 10 search
r0F nsF Here We are With the children ali
ont out Of e o5 5e TPe % zone @ o
How foolish we would be not to keep up with the
Fancy my mother carrying old lady's pepper