WOMEN’S AGES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4802, 12 August 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

WOMEN’S AGES.

That age is an honorable state in man may be quite true, but that it is considered so in woman is not equally certain. Age in man commands respect, and entitles him, naturally, to a certain position in the world which a very young man, no matter how great his abilities, finds it difficult, if not impossible, to attain to. Women, on the contrary, as they become older, although perhaps more respected, are not so much sought after, and receive less attention from the male portion of the community at least, than they did in the days of their youth, and, as man’s admiration is very dear to most of the fair sex, it is not to be wondered at if they should try every means to retain it. It is only for a very few years during her life that a woman is satisfied with her age. Most girls are educated to look upon marriage as the one great object of their lives, and as there is an age before which a girl cannot reasonably expect to enter into that holy state, so also is there one after which the chances of their doing so become less and less each year. Thus it is that we find very young girls as anxious to add a few years to their ages as young ladies of a certain age are to subtract a few years from theirs. But it is not only unmarried women who are anxious to appear young, or who disguise their ages. Many married women take as much trouble as single ones do to attain this object, but the difficulties they encounter are greater, and they are not always successful. Every unmarried female is styled a “girl” for years after she has lost all right to the juvenile name ; but no matter how young a female is, when she becomes a wife she ceases to be a girl, and is called a “woman.” This alone gives the unmarried woman a great advantage over the married one in the fight against age ; but in addition to this, there is always that landmark in the march of time—her wedding day to date from, which renders any complete disguise of true age impossible among her own friends. Of course, if she is a mother, her children are constantly reminding her and others how old she is getting, and it is useless her trying to appear younger than she really is. Why married women should wish to be thought girls is not quite clear ; but let us be charitable, and, taking it for granted that it is to please their lords and masters, pronounce it most commendable.

That unmarried women should try to look young and preserve their ages as a profound secret is only natural, and they are often eminently successful in their efforts is beyond doubt, but that they always adopt tho most certain means of doing so is not so indisputable. False hair, false teeth, stuffing, padding, and lacing, are, to a certain extent, successful agents for hiding the ravages of time ; but dyeing paint, and powdering deceive none, even for a time, and rapidly increase the very evil they are used to avert. The most active prolongers of youth arc wholesome food, pure air, regular habits, and plenty of exorcise for both mind and body. With these, added to a contented disposition and a good temper, Father Time may be long defied. To the young girl who is anxious to appear older than she is we have no advice to offer. Her wish will ho gratified quickly enough; all she has to do is to wait. It is no doubt contemptible to see an old woman ashamed of her ago, and by aping tho ways of a schoolgirl and dressing like her granddaughter trying to pass herself off as being young. It is simply an outrage on nature and common sense ; but we consider it is the duty of every woman to treasure her youth as long as possible, and whilst being careful always to dress in a manner consistent with her age, to neglect nothing which would enhance her natural attractions. Women, whether married or single, are to a great extent dependant for their happiness on those powers of pleasing tho sterner sex, and if they do not cultivate these powers they have only themselves to blame if men neglect them for others more attractive. Youth, like everything else, must bo cherished, not squandered, and if wo waste it in idle, frivolous dissipation, ago will come

before years. The faster we travel the sooner wo get to the end of our journey. Our advice, therefore, is simply this : Enjoy youth in every reasonable way whilst you have it, but always remember that every time you overdraw on it you are contracting a debt which must he repaid with heavy interest in the future. Retain youth as long as you can, neglecting nothing which will assist you in doing so, but scorning everything which is false or deceitful. And when old age comes, as come it will, despite all your efforts to the contrary, accept the inevitable gracefully, and attempt neither to disguise or disown it. —Hand and ]Yatci .