Smyrna times., 1912-08-07
Why She
Didn't Marry
By SARAH P. LANGDON


girl she was permitted to read only
books with excellent morals. The sto-
ries allowed her were largely those
showing that it is no disgrace to be
poor; that labor is highly honorable;
that wealth is often a source of evil.
Yet, side by side with this democrat
ic, moral training, certain lessons were
gradually introduced to inform her
that her associates must be from the
upper classes; that provision for the
future is always in order; that, while
labor is honorable, poverty is hard to
bear. She was also given to under
stand that. while other girls might
marry poor men and be happy in a cot.
tage, she must have a husband who
could keep her in the society in which
she had been born, for her father was
not a rich man. Indeed, his wealth
was not up to his family's social posi-
tiOn. This was the reason given her
for the exception in her case
But when Agatha came to be twenty
an uncle who had never been married
died in Mexico. where he had been
interested in mines, and left her moth
er an enormous fortune.
Before this windfall Agatha had
| fallen in love with poor artist She
did not know whether her love was re
turned. for she gave him no encOur-
agement. Having been told that to
keep up the social position to which
she was accustomed she must marry a
rich man, it was, of course, out of the
! question that she should marry the
artist. But when the family were re
| jOicing over their good fortune Agatha
said to her mother that now, there be-
ing great wealth in the family, she
might marry a poor man whom she
loved.
Then she discovered that the acces-
sion of wealth did not change the fact
that she must marry wealth. 1t only
changed the reason for her doing so.
The fortune she would inherit added to
that Of some millionaire would enable
her to do so much good in the world.
Think Of the poor whom she could ben
eft
Agatha was inclined to argue the
point. Her mother was a great novel
reader and had often sympathized with
lovers who had been separated on
account of worldly considerations.
Agatha reminded her mother of this
and she had been taught by her moth
er to understand that such wOrldliness
was reprehensible. There could be no
charge of imprOvidence in the girls
marrying poor men. because their fu-
ture and that of their children would
be amply provided for.
But on falling heir to a fortune the
good lady's romance and repugnance
to sOrdidness seemed to have deserted
her
That's very different" she replied tC
her unhappy daughter, but how and
why it was different she did not eX
plain. Instead she told Agatha that
If she did not give up her romantic
nonsense" she would take her to the
other end of the world.
Poor Agatha. having come to woman
hood. discovered that her education
the books shn had read inculcating sell
sacrifice and other virtues were for chill
dren and to be discarded as soon a.
they reached an age of maturity. He
mother continued to read novels il
which noble impulses were followed
but did not recognize them in her owl
family.
Meanwhile money was rolling il
upon the family in such quantities tina
they scarcely knew how to spend it.
One day Agatha asked her mOthe
what was the use of more money thar
one could spend
"Why my dear" was the reply. 9TH
use of more money than one can spen
= is to do good TO others"
Then Agatha asked her mother TO
I something to give away to a need
family.
1 Mrs. Goodwin suggested sendin
to a charitable association re
quest to investigate the case. Agai
and again Agatha asked for funds t
help others. but was always put Oi
by some excellent reason. She did nc
quite see that adding to fortune b'
cause so much good could be don
with il resulted in the good bein
done. The family income was $4,000
year. half Of which was all they coul
spend without throwing it away, br
Agatha could not wed her poor arts
because it was expected that she shoul
ally her fortune with another. that S
much good could he done with it.
| The years sped on and Agatha
mother lived on. Agatha grew from
Young woman to an old maid. Sh
had no desire to marry any one bt
| her artist Besides. no man with
fortune came along who asked Il
her hand. Each year the chance
meeting such a person decreased, an
i ut last Agatha passed the age whel
children would come to her.
Single persons do not develop on Il
y lines, the natural lines. of married pc
- sons. Agatha grew crochety. Chi
dren. especially if they were health
Y noisy children. annoyed her. She gre
II irritable. Cle day friend asked h
why she had never married
.-,IgoH with n cioh ssh