The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-10
FREEDOM OF WIDOWS
If THEY ARE ONLY YOUNG AND
RICH
A Woman Who Was Asked What She
Would Like to Be Replied the Widow
of Rich Man She Had Not Loved
Advantages of This Age Over the
Old Times

A woman was asked not long ago
what she would be if she had her
choice and replied that to her to be
widow of a rich man she had not loved
seemed ideal.~ This being widow ap-;
peals nightly to some women, but on
the other hand there are widows who
say they would not wish their worst
enemies anything worse. But the in
dependence of being young widow is
extremely fascinating; of course the
possession of means goes without say
ing as necessity to ideal widowhood.
Now, of course, this all sounds very
heartless, ana fear that many women.
will be shocked at this department for
discussing so painful a subject in
light way, but no offense is intended
and the occasion was given by the re-
mark quoted above A young widow
with plenty of money is possessed of q
freedom which a woman could surely
gain in no other way. She does not
need a chaperon, and her life is hers
to do as she pleaSeS with.
Some women were talking recently
of the troubles that rarely come singly
and one woman told of another whose
sorrows seemed more than she could
bear. In the first place she lost her
husband" said she, but not a word
ey,' at this perfect chorus of ooh,
how AWFUL went round. Comment Is
unnecessary. You can get a second,
nay, third, fourth or fifth husband,
but when you lose your money it is sad
indeed. For money is protection to
a woman that nothing else is, even
sometimes a husband. Years ago
when woman's husband died, leaving
her without means somebody, perhaps
relative or friend, would offer home
and she would be cared for. While that
often happens now, more often wild
ow VIII turn to account some talent or
accomplishment she has Or go into
business. And the ways in which
women can now help themselves are
increasing yearly. 1t is not, literally,
the dreadful thing to lose ones hus-
band that 1t was years ago. This is
speaking, of course, from material
point of view. Love is the same and
the sorrow of separation is just as
dreadful as formerly, but a woman is
not as utterly bereft as she was in an
other age. She can support herself if
necessary and bring up her family we'll
merely by her own eXertions.
So do not say the times are not i'm
proving and that women should go
back to an age when they were en-
caSed in cotton wool and knew nothing
of the world. 1t is an excellent thing
for many men that women can do for
themselves and have left behind them
a day when they were merely expected
to look pleasant and be able to Sem-
broider pretty little things. Speaking
Z of embroidery reminds one tlfa t. the
man who took the first prize for his
centerpiece and who was mentioned
on this page a week or two ago has
written to ask if he cannot please be
a perfect lady without sitting on his
foot. l think he can. There was also
received pleasant letter from a lady
in another state who said she had no
hard feeling against him because he
took the prize, which speaks well for
her, although at the bottom of her let
ter she added, But the ideal"
Now there may be few young
widows-even with plenty of money
to whom life looks dark and who think
they can never, never smile again. But
let them cheer up. for when one is
young there is always hope. And then
If a young widow who is rich only
stops to think how many women envy
her, it will be some solace. Black is
exceedingly becoming to young faces,
and small white frill round the face
is really fetching. 1t is surprising
that the widows bonnet and white cap
have gone out of fashion, for they are
stunning on a young woman. GA lit
tie widow is a dangerous thing" says
an up-to-date calendar. and truer
thing was never printed. So if at first
life seems insupportable, remember
that skies will be blue again and that
mourning Is very becoming.