The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-24
Spinster Keeps Ideal Always
 In Mind
By SALLY CLAGETT

V. M v
 as old maids" reiterated the
 Spinster, with laugh. They went out of style with our grandmoth- CTS It's only envy that makes some women call us that. And it's usually the women who lacked strength of char acter to wait for the right man. That type always wonders wher SMary Smith, who seemed such nice girl, never had a chance to marry and, of course, now that she's nearly 4O--ceftainly 30-she never will. Then she taetfully conveys the impression that her own state is due to her superior charms, but the wiles she used, and the smiles she used and the telephone bills dad paid tell a different story"
 The Young Wife regarded the Spin ster with nnmistakahle pity. It must be terribly humiliating never to have had a proposal" she said with feline seftness, and now, at your age"--
 "Forty-four,p murmured the Spin . ster meekly.
 "And looks twenty-five" said the Pessimist, whe disliked the Young Wife intensely.
 'Twenty-five 1" exclaimed the Young Wife incredulously. "Oh, mol Not 25. But if she'd rub the crowsfeet ont around her eyes, and get rid of that stringiness of the throat, and, perhaps henna her hair to hide the gray, she might pass for 45 or 40.Y She cooked her head on one side and looked the Spinster over critically. "Of course you couldn't expect to attract a man who's been out in the world, but you might possibly
 Cat" muttered the Pessimist, and rudely turned his back, but the Spin ster laughed merrily, and replied, "Be, ing single isn't half bad, especially when one has lived with that state as long as have"
 Tt isn't so much being single" per sisted the other. "It's the awfulness you attractive enough to want to marry you. had dozens, of proposals. Johr literally had to fight his way through the men who cluttered my path"
 Possibly if I had tried hard enough too might have induced some mar to. propose to me, returned the Spin ster, with suspicious meekness, "but maybe was waiting for the right man Maybe the unbelievable was the case and preferred not to have a man pro pose when I did not love him. There really are some women with a con science. Some women who do not lust for conquest and take joy in killing the best in a man. We are not all scalp hunters"
 The Young Wife shook her head When woman of your age is single it's because she's never had q chance, she said, unconvinced.
 The Spinster's Ryes danced witt amusement, mixed with good-naturet malice.
 You talk of a woman not having had chance. It would be more ap propriate to talk of the man not having had it. You know as well as dC that when man proposes nothing hal been left to chance, The stage hal been set by the girl. She doean't intent he shall propose until she is ready and she selects the time, place and sub ject of conversation which will precipi tate the question. The man hasn't fighting chance. Tie girl, or her moth CT, sees to 1t that his thought, eye and stomach are properly directed. II the majority of cabes his choosing i - the result of caFefnIg thought out suR gestions."
 The Pessimist chuckled, and asked ''Why is it that so many women pre- fer to- remain unmarried-charming r attractive women
 Because they have too much sens, to marry" snapped the Divorcee. ''Wha does a married woman get out of life i she does her duty by her husband an, home? Drudgery and imprisonment It's not worth it."
 The Spinster shook her head .yigor ously. No, no" she answered. Al the drudgery and Imprisonment in tn, world would never keep a woman iron marrying if she l6ved a man. It. in that word love that. the true reason lies. In old times women had to mar ry anything that offered or wandeI from the home of one relative to tha of another to be the household drudK, in return for her board and lodging Economic freedom has released hel from those chains and she can indulg, in dreams of an ideal home with ar ideal husband and ideal children, whil waiting for the right man. She pre- fers a dream husband, whom she caI endow with all the qualities that sat isfy her heart, to one she does no really love. Editors say it's the Ol, maid who writes the real love story That's because she creates an atmo sphere of idlyllic love. She throws asid all things that might offend her in he loved one and retains only those qual ities that please her"
 T don't see" said the Pessimist how on earth you ever secured mat .rimony."
 The Spinster laughed and blushed T haven't escaped it altogether" sh replied, flor I'm going to be marie, in October"
 The Young Wife's mouth opened an, shut in amazement. You're going t, be married in October !' she repeate, incredulously. "Why-why, you are"-
 Forty-four, returned the Spinste