The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-03
Old Maids.

Some women are born old maids,
some acquire old maidism, and some
have old maidism thrust upon them"
Penelope said, despondingly. ST have
had old maidism thrust upon me. L
was the eldest daughter, and conse-
quently always ancient in the eyes of
the younger children. L had cares
which made me staid and so 1 was
accused of primness, and now that 1
am 80 single blessedness is as newt
able as gray hairs and wrinkles"
mo woman is old at 30" 1 told her.
1.-The trouble with you is that you are
establishing old-maid millstones At
Is you said I am old;' at 80 7 am
older and at 40 you will be moaning
all hope is gone Now as a matter
of fact, Penelope, there is no age when
woman need settle down and de-
clare that life holds nothing else for
her. Tea and toast and tabby cats
nave no terrorS for the woman of to-
day. There was a time when to make
pet of a pussy was a confession of
spinsterhood, but today some of the
most attractive women 1 know make a
display of their affection for felines.
The serving of tea and of toast in the
afternoons has done away with the
bugbear and opprobrium attached to
this our peculiarly feminine function,
and single women of our time go on
independent of criticism and know
that no one need be prim, or fussy, or
peculiar. unless she so Desires
1t is always. foolish for a girl to
look upon herself as old. have known
young women of 20 who begin to settle
down. They seemed to lack joyous
ness, and so they never We're young.
And, on the other hand. there are
women of so who are like girls; they
have retained the spirit of youth,
which is, after all. the thing that
counts.
1 am going to make the suggestion
to Penelope that she fight for youth.
AS rule 1 advise thai life should be
serene, and when old age comes it
should bring its own pleasures. In
Penelope'S case, however, the cares of
a family and the duties of older sis
ter have kept her from the girlhood
which is her right. Now that she is
free from her cares. it is her province
to secure for herself some pleasures,
and some joy, and some appreciation
of the attractiveness which she really
possesses. I am not just sure how she
can do this, but there is always a
way where there is a will, and she
will never do it by counting the mile
stones along the way to old maidism.
1t will ont do for the woman who
wishes to reform to say, 81 did not
learn to dance" or 81 cannot sing" or
ct have no talents" There is no talent
which may not be cultivated to some
extent in the later life. l know
man who. as a boy, worked hard. and
when he made his mony he recognized
that he had much need of certain ac
complishments in society. He was
awkward, and when he tried to dance
he knew he was not an acceptable
partner. He went therefore, to first
class dancing master and labored for
hours in acquiring the graceful art.
He kept at it until he bore himself
we'll and made an impressive appear
ance wherever he went. Yet this man
was over 40 when he started on his
somewhat difficult road to cure his
crudeness. Any woman of energy can
do things that will shake her out of
her prim ways. Many an old maid
would seem like a different person
after a few lessons in swimming, in
dancing, or after association with d
class in some vivid interest. Mere
intellectual striving is not the remedy.
Brains, overcultured, may result in a
woman of the blue stocking type. 1t
is rather charm of manner and grace
of body which woman must seek
in her avoidance of Drimness.
Penelope, if she follows my advice,
will be younger at 35 than she was at
Is, and so may many other old maid
who resolves that she will not set up
milestones along the way.-Kansas
City Star.