OLD MAIDS. (Linbnal Review.)

Waikato Times, Volume III, Issue 128, 1 March 1873, Page 2

OLD MAIDS . (Linbnal Review.)

Thbbz may bo many, exceptions, but it i» true that old maids as a rule are not agreeable, particularly to members of tlie-W raale,population. Th*y appear to regard the latter aa beings from whom it is their duty to guard themselves and all young maidens. Thus they constantly display. an acidity of manner which it most embarrassing to those with whom they aire brought in contact, and inculcate m<the minds of girls ettremely prudish notions. Everybody knows that it i$ iuw ossjr matter to pick out aniold maid from amongst a crowd. If she has so desire to- attract male admiration she is as particular about her attire as the belle of a ball-room—though, n>a different way. Sho likes to b# prim .and tidy, and there is invariably much that U characteristic about the cut of her idrcis and the shape of her bonnet. She apposn, as a rule to aflfcet ancient fashions, and when she has once founded *» style of dressing herself to stick to it, with some, slight modi- M fixations, perhaps, inispite of all popular changes. Tte con- , sequence is that she-succeeds in dimming the fhstre or whrttever charms she possesses. Site may possibly be a goodlooking woman, but even good-looking women cannot look, well when attired as dowdies. Like many other people w|bo. fdrm certain ideas of 'what is the proper thing to do, the old maid is thoroughly convinced' that the ordinary ran of' womankind dress in a most disgraceful' fashion, and would deserve commendation if they- imitated 'her stylo to a certs in i extent. She is very fond of lecturing her fellows, and pride*, herself upoo knr knowledge of the world. As a rule, if slbeis fortunate enough to possess an independency, she sets wp certain crotchets and literally worships them. Her love lor pat poodles, parrJfs, and th«*like, is proverbial, and it is. perhaps rather late in the day to state that she is often ex-^| tremelv fond, of dabbling in the woman's rights movement. Indeed, it it difficult to say how that question would be agitated were it not for antiquated spinsters, who have plenty of time upon their hands and nothing particular to. do. Probabljj, it would, languish for a season, and die a natural death. Sh& frequently sets up as a philanthropist in. general, but there is that about her whioh prevents herenlisting the sympathy of those to whose wants she endeavours to minister, and whose sorrows she tries to assuage. • The reason of hor failure in this respect is not far to. wek. She has, at the best, but a poor conception, of human nature. Her own has to a certain extent, become narrowed and one-sid«d. Sho cannot, then, sympathize with tho yearnings and aspimtions of other souls which* have hud, perhapi, a hardef druggie, but have received a. more thorough education th»*l Jiera has done. This is her misfortune rather than her Awft, but still tho unpalatable truth remains. Living in the 1 contracted sphere in which she encircle* herself, she cm lee little of that which liies. beyond ; and when she encounters anything to which sib© bas been unaccustomed, it afcilo hold up her hands in horrorand amazement. She is gffll&ally, to a greater or lewierextent a disappointed woman. Though she may not actually^ have been crossed in love, shf cannot help feeling that sac • is,leadins» a useless, aimless lire. There aro none to wham, her existence is absolutely indiipensaple, and who would bo heartbroken if she were taken away to that bourne whenceno traveller returns. Ndt for her is the delight of 'moulding . growing characters to what sho conceives to be an ideal form of perfection ; not for her is {.ho joy of seeing those wham, she ha* tenderly nurtured nobly winning a foremost place in the battle of life. To agitato for women's suffrage or pet » ' poodle n a poor substitute for this ; and she cannot help perceiving the vast difference between , her work and that of many other women. Her mind tnay be, and generally is, of a masculine type, but she has her weak moments. In such she recognises the fact that somehow or other her lifolios been a failure — sho fails to see how she is answerable f*^it—and she is more selfish than she ought to be. But sho do«TJ tot see~tnaC Tier~ise"eTfli*r notions" are a mistake, and that it is, to some extent, hor ovm fault sue is in opposition to ik> many of her fellow- beings. Notwithstanding, the old'maic! induces as many asshocitni to follow in her footsteps. Those children who exhibit indications that it is likely they will do so, are raised high in h»v favour. She is fond of old-fasbioned' girls, and encourages, them in their eccentricities. Fortunately, however, in most cases nature proves strong enough to assert its authority, . and the principles instilled by the old maidi into tho mind* of her protigtet are cast upon.on* side sooner or later. Occasionally, in comparatively- yonng-girla, tho sign of i old 5 maidlsm make tftenwervesappareat. Who has not been brought face to f«c* with quiet, demur* ohildren, who develop into . prim-women, anoNiltimately into precise old maids ? Thereit MKMthing so cold about th<w, such an air of defiance ot% reserve, suck eccentricity-andilMluniour, that it is no wondlerthey are neglectedfor more lively, impulsive • and attractive, creatures ; who, not withstanding that they sometimes slip and ' outrage prim conventionality, arer at the bottom, better «nd' nobler-minded women. They saythatbirdsofafeather floekiiogether. Certainly old maids seem attracted towards each othor, are never better pleased than when having a nice gossip about their neighbour's affairs over aquiet cup of tea. Tlie mzonj these poor toula must nulfcr on account of the sini of * those around them ought to elicit the most-sincere compassion, on their behalf, and should perhaps indueo us to exouse them , . that,. possibly with the best intentwns, tbey unearth scandiils and 'inflate thorn to enormous dimensions when there is frequently no-ground for scandal at all. It is not a pleasant thin?, as a rule, to maVe * prolonged stay with an old maid, however hospitably inclined, she may be. She is apt to lose her peace "of mind if her pet arrangements are. disregarded. It pains hor to see anything out of order. The arrangements of her house aro as precise as is her own attire ; and she i* as particular about the on» being sot upon one side as s'»e is of tho other. Noise i* diifastefid to hor. and everything mmt be done with clockwoirk regularity. The result is, that though the oM maid mliy know many people, she does not know them as they really are. Possibly she imagine* that their constrained subdued' air is natural to t«em t and'tbe sentiments winch are uttered 1 in her presence are rh« real opinions of the speakers. It is the misfortune of the old'nviid to be pursued by a large botly of tuft-hunters, who try to deldue the lone woman into thebelief that they v really care for her, and would' be ready ito. sacrifice much on her bthalf, being all the time insincere, and amongst the first to openly forsakw should misfortune h»pp<tn to overtake her. Bhe may occasionally see through the de»ice« of thes* hypocrites ; more, frequently she does<nflt, bO* dies, leaving them that wealth which they have fortobid 1 so.much »»lf- respect, to obtain, and for which they tba^toe dbmw-QO Htjtle..

F.&UE Economt. — It ie announced thatthe Treasurer of the United States derotei a considerable part of his forthcoming report to a representation of the absolute necessity of tucth anincipase in- salaries m will enablathajGownmcnt to obtain thosetticei) of a- class of men' who, with the present par, eannefc b« secured, bnfore any r«al pro^rats can be made (a reforming the Civil? Service. The force in the Treasury is stated to be far 100 small to allow of any precautions to 11m taken. He attributes tbo late defalcation in New York, the Hodge defalcation, nn.d others directly to. the. small forcuwhich the law provides for. He thinks th&t to increase the pay will, in a jjwnt measure, remedy the evil of ofßoes to frequently falling into tho bands of those who seek theraii nolnlV for the stfaljnes they afford. The report, which it for the fiscal year ending the 30th Junr, 1872, mentions also that the " conscienoe fund" has b>en increased $2,977, makifc now ivrmivit to $129,124. Ore Empire.— The Professor of Modern History in tide University of Cambridge delivered • lecture upon " Oiiir Empire," and dealing with the great question whether tliic empire should continue one or be split up into fragments argued that tho colonies were gradually separating themnelves from us, owing to our reckless course in taking reipomiibilities without uVrt investigating the consequence. We did not know whether- w» ought to part with our colonies or not ; we mistrusted our power of judgment, and took refuge in tli« petty argument about the payment of the bill. Professor Seeley said that we lost the American colonies through tltiowant of lar«« views. We had taxed our colonies without any preparation for parting with or subduing them. The fact was we did not wjwit to part with, (hem, and we did nob know how to subdue them. He contended that our polioy in India had been unwise by building up our forms of Government and our education, instead of improving and »• balldfag fchose which had been in use there for ages pastel Public opinion required to bo muoh better educated Wo considered questions, but declined to look at the difficulties. The Professor contended that the English publio were quite incompetent to foreign affair*, and said tnat our colonies would' hurely drop from us. Ha. ga*e too opinion of hi* own , 4 but he thought tho present arran^ment oould not be permanent. Tho link that now held us to so many oountriiis was •tight, bai the removal of it woojd; not be a small aikin Tfhtn » tftan fajli, into n, forU-ftiot twll ai Omaha, nidj ropM ara not at hand to draw him up at once, a bottl* <ol whiiky is sont da.ru to lum as an elevator.