The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-03
The Woman's Page Of The Times-D ispatcl
About Growing Old

k1eonos. yoD are perfectly c4rtelu IN
Yesr own mind that you are not goins |
- get old And have wrinkles. but you
leek sslsance 1T the sirl next door and
~ pityingly 20 the closest friend.
',Shs viii steutsn up so In . few years"
weader u you have really ever de-
libssateiy planned what sort Of IN
old lady you are going to be? Please.
dear rsadsr, do not hold up your men
tai hands In such q horrified manner!
] am sure that you plan the cut Of
your winter suit aud the drapsry for
your dinner gown weeks before you
actually wear them. ana are mighty
particular about the details. too. 50
don't see why you shouldn't decide onl
the pattern for your old-lady years.
Now. there are a great and varied
assortment Of old ladies- There 10 one
that talks all the time about the things
that abe did when she was girl ana
the dresses that she had made out OF
"just what she had IN the house." when
all the time yop are wanting 70 taik
about what you are doing now tnas
you are \ girl She harps continually
on the simple muslin frock and the
blue sash ribbon. which. supplement-
cd by only q pink rose in her hair.
brought all Of her little world OF SUIT
ors to her feet. You know that time
and years have softened things for her.
and also that she probably stamped
her foot q nd declared that she hated
muslin ami was tired to death OF blue
ribbons aud tea roses Then sne mas
told her story just ~ the minute you
are wheedlinE your pretty mother Gus
Of the market money for the price OF
q most adorable pink chiffon gown. and
sou. way. deep down In your heart.
xnow ti-at a real rose willis aimos:
before you have gotten to the party
much less survives to allure suitors-
That old lady would be charmlnA. ont
che talks too much and remembers
such a lot Of detail that you are not
interested in.
Then on the next page. We ind the
intricate and complicated design for
the old lady that won't be an old lady
It all You couldn't tell her aGure
from her younses. daughters. and
sometimes II 10 a little better. She
1ressss In the latest style and does SO
many Of Che most approved and stylish
things to herself and her face that
che hasn': time left for any OF tbs
mellow softness that Is really under II
all to come TO the surface. Now. don't
for the smallest moment. think that J
mean for an old lady 10 be stupid ana
minteresting and behind the times and
badly dressed. sweet heaven forbid.
Haven't you seen somebody that had
taken all the flowers and plums that
time had brought into her life ana
made them into a fabric that fairly
shone in the every days" that pass
II il like some rare bit Of tapestry
that is woven with the story Of ones
own heart. There are the little white
roses of her gtrlhood. tinted TO pale
pink and grown into great red rose
Of love for tke man that came and
gathered H. There 10 the sturdy seed
Of a useful mind widened and Develop
ed with the contact Of other minds.
and there are the little blue flowers OF
sweet thoughts OF others and the
golden glow of sacrifice and self-fc-
getfulness over II all Don't you think
tina, she il the sort Of person that you
would like to be. ai.>. don't you know
that the colors selected for the loom
came from the garden Of the soul OF
the woman who wrought
You meet people that make you
think to yourself: What a wretched
human being to be left ss.aying about
the earth. with her distorted vision OF
life" She is the woman that VIII tel!
you that everything 10 dead wrong
from the beginning. That her husband
IL an inconsiderase old groUch, ana
,Lar her children arc the most migrate
full and thougEtiess Of the human race
That she is simply waiting Tor ner time
10 die, and what weary long road you
have to travel and lot more things
that make little Fuckers in tie happy
N IN
slad to get out in the sunshine and
breathe the fresh air right away.
When you read in the papers that wo-
men have taken poison and pulled down
the blinds 10 die because they are|
tired of life" you mag Dc sure inAt
they have not put anything into hiel
IN the reason they are weary OF the
monotoEy Of things.
Maybe the kind old lady you want toI
be Is Just = dream person but any
body that wants to can grow into the
interesting sort OF soul that makes
people fly TO the door to meet you. and |
say with Q glad. happy ring In their
voices: Dear. Aunt Mary, take on your
hat and spend the day., because you
know you axe not always so fond OF
nav one that you want item to stay the
day out. Love OF people and interest in |
people can SHINE right out OF anybody
eyes II they will only put 1t there. and /,
now while you are growing and the
wears pass 10 softly and SO unnoticed.
10 the time to put the laugh lines IN
your face and write the loving thoughts
around your mouth
Strange what curious ideals We have
for ourselves. and stranger still. those |
We have for our friends- We can oniS
weave in the pink roses and the little |
blue flowers as they. come. and II 10
only when the colors grow dim VIE
ere and the twilight 10 barring the
rate 10 the garden where they may %
found. do we gather At last the golden
haze Of all the love OF the people whom |
We have served and loved
BRENT WITT.
Ranneous u Tahee 1.aDeDR.
There are fashions in table linen. vi
he'd linen. and in all manner Of house. !
hold furnishings that one never thiDks !
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