A WORD FOR OLD MAIDS.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9177, 7 August 1895, Page 4

A WORD FOR OLD MAIDS.

The Bishop of Rochester has a kind word to say in one of the magazines about i> spinsters who are so frequently and flip pantly talked about »3 old maids. ,l Wba» * a dreary wilderness this world would be, ,| he says, " without unmarried women ! Ie - V thousands of homes the maiden sister or , aunt is the very angel of the family, U»9 children's idol, the secret ""ihder and da* J|

light even of those who too unscrupulously use her; by sick beds and death beds, a divine consoler; the depository of tender secrets of blushing hearts ; the unwearied friend of the old, and the poor, and the jowly. Old maids, indeed ! With certain obvious exceptions, they are the very salt of the earth ; the calm ana clear light of the household that ia so blessed as to own them ; their distinction to be wanted by everybody ; their reward to be useful to everybody; their home the snuggest, warmest place in tho hearts that can love." A "FREK WOMAN." Lady Charlotte Schricber is the only woman in the world, if we except the Baroness Burdett-Coutt3, who can boa9t of being a Free-woman of a London City Compan}*. She owes this honour to the Faumakers, for she is at the present time the great authority on ancient and modern, foreign and British fau3, and the bplendid collection which she lately presented to the British Museum is visited by people from all parts of tho world. [We shall be glad to receive in this column brief contributions, both from tho •' New Woman,' - ' and also from her sisters who do not lay claim to " advanced " ideas. Contributions mu3t not exceed sixty lines in length, and may be either original or selected. Iv the latter case the" source should be stated.]