The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-05-08
One and Only Secret
Kept by All Women


A woman who can endure all man
ncr Of pain and suffering and face al
manner OF danger without shrinking
VIII become utterly demoralized at the
sight of mouse.
Her nervous idiosyncrasy in this re-
spect is matched by the determination
with which she guards the secret OF
her age, even when the census re-
corder desires to complete his lists
with information he is required legally
to furnish
Why woman should be more
ashamed of her age than OF the color
OF her hair or eyes. or the shape and
size of her hands and feet, is as In
comprehensive as is her Shrek OF
horror and alarm over so inoffensiye a
creature as a mouse. 1t is one OF
tho contradictions that render bor
variety SO infinite and so delightful.
Man Deserving Help.
on the other hand, the secrecy pre-
served by women in,regard to the tale
of her years insurcs tho office OF the
census-t aker to be an odious one. II
there Is a ma" who deserves help and
sympathy and support from all right
~ balanced and evenly-m!nded women.
1t is ne who has TO insist upon being
told vital fact that the members of
their sex desire to withhold.
The footuarks and ravages of time
ore too apparent 10 be entirely or ef-
fectually concealed. Women benr In
their faces the story that they sondly
imagine unknown and often the ar
tificial aids used By them as restor-
ntivcs, but render their loss more
painfully apparent. They never realize
in how undignifed n position they
place them by failing to be sin
cere and straightforward. No one Is
deceived, but the women who attempt
deception seem TO think so.
Women stoop to Evasion.
Women who would be scandallzed II
any one were to asser, that they were
not habitually. truthful do not hesitate
to stoop to all sorts OF evasion and
trickery when accuracy OF years Is in
question "Yes." said one friend to an
other recently, "yes. told him l VAS
twenty-seven. But I did not say how
much more. What business is 1t OF
any man TO address personal and dis
Agreeable questions 10 a woman He
need never expect to be answered IN
any way except as q woman chooses.
The mistress of house in Richmond
where the feminine contingent is large
was courteously approached in regard
TO the names OF those residing under
her roof when the question of age
came Mn she said: II do not know the
ages OF a single one of these women,
hut YOU can safely put them all down
at SIXTEEN And when the women
7ieard Of her answer they simply
smiled in serene content.
The weakness or women who have
,assed the debutante stage of. exist
once is frequently played upon ny
those who, for purposes OF their own
desire TO flatter them into com
pIacent or acquiescent mood. ard as
sure them that their faces are un-
lined. that their figures retain the
eienderness and grace Of youth, that
they are so altogether at one with ths
generation that has come after thein
they should make their bow TO society
All over again. And tho woman lends
oar readily and is glad to believe a
rhodomontade that bears no Just resa-
tton to herself in any respect.
One Secret Kept.
III only women recognized as bnllea
and beauties were anxious TO avoid
age test the secretive phase might be
more comprehensive. 1t is easy 10
believe that a woman might hate &c
acknowledge, even to herself. the ad-
vent of the time when she must lay
aside the rights of supremacy @hict
unusual comeliness confers. But ugly
as well as pretty women unite agains'
Tho census taker of names or any
other person who attempts to Wres'
from them the one secret they are
willing and able to keep locked within
their own hearts.
So universal and so absolute Is tht
realism of this womanly idiosyncrass
that the ages Of many of the feminine
sisterhood are omitted from obituaries
Difference to their lifelong habits be
ing carried on by the chroniclers o
their virtues and the perpetrators o
their memories. Indeed, one of th'
Joys OF heaven to which women loof
forward must be that there the coun
of time will cease and the question
..what Is your age?' will cease to OF
Yend the ears of feminlnity.
VIRGINIA MISSIONER,