The Detroit times., 1908-09-14
The Man and Woman Of SO
0 Means Dead at This Crest Of M
Is Often of the Foolish Kind.
BY ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.

power, and who made her the object
OF his chivalrous attentions.
Perhaps fifteen years later when
she was thirtytiYe and he sixty-iiye.
or still later, when the wife OF forty,
possessed OF all the ambition and VI
tality OF her prime, she found her hus-
, band an old man. weary OF the vanities
OF life. perhaps then she might think
her choice mistaken one. That
would all depend upon the nature Of
the woman and the type OF man.
Beauty Must Fade.
But the young husband and mature
wife problem is more serious. Posi-.
ton, power and honors are elements
which enter into the ideal of an at.
tractiye man, with almost any woman
OF any age; but no man of vNrile char
acter pictures the lady of his dreams
with these worldly gifts to bestow
upon him. 1t is the nature OF woman
10 receive, the nature OF man to be-
stow, the external things OF life,
and the moment a man begins to
weigh the benefits he will derive from
marriage with an older woman, that
moment he ceases 10 be manly in the
true meaning of the word.
Once in Thousand times. perhaps
woman OF 90 retains the charms and
destinations which render her able to
capture the heart of her youth. Ninon
de L'Enclos was as irresistible at 60,
and even at TO- il is said as at 20. But
she was wise enough (even II her wis
dom did not lead to morality to avoit
marriage with any OF her youthful ad-
mirers. She retained the privilege OF
being the one to tire, instead OF plac-
ing herself in the position OF a DESERT
ed and neglected old wife OF young
husband.
1t IS rare indeed. that young man
seeks an elderly woman for wife un-
less he has some other object TO gain
than domestic felicity. But In spite or
this fact. such women are to be found
in every community who believe In
the protestations OF love made by de-
signing youths. and resign to their
keeping heart, hand and purse with
out demur or question.
There is a certain pathos In all this
which should awaken our pity rather
than call for our ridicule.
1t IS the maternal and romantic i'm
pulse. both awakened after lethargic
q
woman's heart, which leads her on to
such follies.
The early romance Of her life faded
perhaps into mere memory long be-
fore she donned widows weeds. The
husband became engrossed In busi-
ness or public affairs, or INDUCED in
infidelities which she concealed and
condoned for pride's sake; her chill
49, .,,A ho-
came men and women, and no longer
needed her; she settled into rut OF
duty. a mere existence; the affec-
tional impulses In sort OF apathy,
and imagined she had outlived all
vivid emotion when suddenly she
found herself rich widow; men were
seeking her society; they were paying
her compliments, and up from Tie
ashes Of her youth rose new emo
tional nature.
And when the young lover pleaded,
she was both woman and mother In
her affections again, but mingled emo.
ton and vanity made her forget that
she was an elderly woman. and that
the young man could not In the nature
OF things be sincere In his protestar
tons OF love.
Alas, poor woman! May wisdom
and common sense guide her to shut
the door gently but firmly on the
young lovers retreating form. and save
her dignity and self-respect from SUI
fering the miserles OF neglected old
wife OF young man.
When the woman Of so marries. let;
her choose mate OF ner own age.
---------------
Is IL the fickleness OF women tha1