LONELY WOMEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 247, 9 January 1928, Page 4

LONELY WOMEN

By JOYCE BURLEIGH. “The most pitiful creature on God’s earth is a lonely woman,” according to a well-known novelist, and there is more truth in the pronouncement than in many of -the gems of wisdom scattered throughout the pages of a be i t have e rio doubt that if the problem, “Are women more lonely than men?” were propounded, the votes would be fairly even, and it is just possible that the men might be in a small minority, for a man, if he is employed atl day. may have a dreary enough existence without a home of his own, and some one to “fuss” over him. It is infinitely worse, however, for a woman who has the instinct for homemaking in her blood. The maternal instinct, too (sometimes stronger in the unmarried because it is denied, than in a mother of a family) demands that she should have to care for, someone on whom she may lavish the treasures of her affection. Houses and Homes “I have quite a comfortable little house, but furniture does not make a home because that sacred name can only rightly be applied to a place whichshelters more than one,” said a woman rather pathetically to me not long ago, and the memory of her words has haunted me ever since. Unfortunately, it is one of the tragedies of our civilisation that it condemns thousands o ; f splendid women to be lonely throughout the greater part of the lives, and to spend their mature years in a grim struggle against fearful odds, with the hope of being able to keep themselves alive in old age. “It’s a dreary enough picture,” assents some reader, “but is it not partly at least their own fault?” Not always by any manner of means, though it must be admitted that some are guilty of pitying themselves too much, and that never improves, matters. There are many church and philanthropic organisations which would be glad of their assistance, and where they might do an immense lot of good. Indeed, many such would cease to function if it were not for devoted women workers. Keep the Heart Young The various interests fill up their leisure, broaden their sympathies, keep them young in heart and outlook, and prevent the bitterness of their lot eating into their lives and making them dull, dispirited and selfish. All these things are excellent as substitutes, but they do not supply tjie needs of a soul yearning for human companionship and the cheery comfort of a home shared with loved ones. Many married women with their families growing up around them and a congenial husband, may fancy that they know something of the loneliness

at times, for every soul must “dree its ain weird,” but their emotion is very different from that of a spinster,' the last perhaps of her own generation, like the last leaf on the tree in the winds of autumn, with vague longings after ideals and individual love. Even if she have money enough for her wants it is in the things of the heart that she suffers most. The sight of a mother with her baby or her little Iprood around her arouses “thoughts that lie too deep for tears” and makes her realise how much she has missed of the good things of life. Value of Friends The problem of the woman alone is well nigli insoluble, but those who are comfortably situated and happily sheltered, might well spare a thdught for the lonely and go out of their way to stretch out a friendly hand. Sympathy is always sweet, and the thought that someone cares is as. balm of Gilead to those who may be feeling as if they had almost reached the end of their tether. Next to the possession of health, physical and mental, for the daily conflict, most lonely women prize above all things the affection of faithful, loyal friends, who are interested in their welfare and desirous, in however small a measure, of ministering to their small stock of personal happiness. To double the wear of children’s stockings when they are new put a piece of sateen about 3 inces square on the inside of the knees.