Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-03-03

I heard a woman trying TO convince
a younger woman that she was making
the mistake Of her life In not marrying
a certain man. Both turned to me to
hear what had TO say on the subject
The older woman, a childless widow.
said that he made a mistake In the mar
rving e second time: he always felt
forlorn and '.out OF it whenever holi-
day season came; sher sister had a
housefuI of children and TO go there for
the holidays was 10 see them turn 10
Mother I'm all their little perplexities,
and to see them planning 10 give up all
sorts Of things they wanted so as TO be
more >able 70 give Mother nicer gift
L have only myself TO please. but
i am not happy. II 1 buy fo1 others
] am not sure they win not think that
] could have put more money in the
gift" She went on TO say that the
friends who had married had something
TO live for, the unmarried woman Is not
necessary TO anyone, no matter now
clever or brainy she may be in the bust
ness world a real woman wants TO be
the chief care, the sole responsibility OF
one man: she wants some one TO pro-
tect her and help her over the rough
places.
saw that she was keyed pretty high
and that the best thing for all parties
was TO let her talk IL out Bessie's eyes
grew round. she looked at me and Il
must confess that I had trouble keeping
my face straight for 1 am one of the
sort with no especial man 10 stand be
tween responsibility and me. Among the
many things she said one was that 1t
isn't years but unhappiness and disap-
pointments that make a woman old
That / took for my text 90 and this Is
the little ''preachment'' that 1 gave
them:
Some OF the most unhappy women on
earth are the mothers of families. IL
is not a question OF being married or
single. OF being in the lonely room or
behind the smiling heads of children.
Ii is altogether the temperament Of the
Individual There are mothers. middle
aged. unattracftve and lonely because
they have not thrown themselves into
the lives OF their children: then there
are unmarried women. as well as child
less widows. who have lived such sell
fish lives that there Is nobody in the
least dependent on them.
On the other hand. there are plenty OF
unmarried women who are so identified
with the children in their families that
any holiday without their auntie. or
their cousin would be spoiled There
are business women who are shields and
bucklers TO young girls going into their
ofices. and there are homes where GER
tain unmarried women are most hon
ored guests
There are dissppointments for all Of
rs We often cast our bread upon the
water and find it unappreciated by the
ones We expected TO benefit. but let not
that discourage you. When famine
threatens your own heart. or life bread,
and to spare viii be ready for us The
main thing in life is to forget self
There Is where most OF us fail. and until
We do. we need not expect to reach mid
die age with friends and loved ones eager
TO share their pleasures with us Right
now I know more than one elderly wom-
an known 70 the world as ''old maids,
who have more invitations than they can
accept. and i know some mothers who
make their chiidren's lives burdensome-
Don't marry TO provide carpet 10 keep
the rough places from your feet. nor be so
afraid OF the responsibilities OF married
life as 20 stay unmarried Bring common
sense TO bear on this as wei as all your
other plants. and leave the rest 10
God Faithfully yours.
LIZZIE o. THOMAS.