THE DEATH OF THE OLD MAID.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 5

THE DEATH OF THE OLD MAID.

'The, Bachelor Girl is not the same person whom we used .to know as the "old maid," but as, a quite distinct variety. The " old maid" -still 'exists. Every - now and again we her, and recognise her instantly (says an' Australian'paper). Sometimes she is quite young in years, and sometimes sho is; married—is that' old maid .'character. Primarily, she is old-fashioned in every possible way,, and clings to what was the mode in her girlhood, and cannot think of change, mrich less adopt it.. She.-thinks the same thoughts, reads,.the same books, dresses iri' the same way, walks and speaks just as she did'-long, long ago, and, ■ whatevor her age, she still is hoping against hope that a miracle will be performed, and tho desire of her heart, a husband, will be granted to her. Rest-thee, patient, soul!- -But-the bachelir girl, , as we know her in Australia; is very unlike all this. She has grown up with lier brothcrs, she has shared, their school and college' training,; and being keenly interested in all manner -of out-door sports, her miiid and her, sympathies ', have widened.. . How seldom, we came ' across ( a -narrow-minded bachelor girl I She has taken up ; life in earnest. She has set an object before her, a goal to.win, just as a man has, and that goal is success in the'.work ;sho has undertaken. Like, man, sho may, take what* pleasures she can in the passing, arid certainly she.- enjoys life, and - she enjoys hor work. If marriage comes hor way sho sometimes finds time to " work- it" in " with her other engagements, but sho. certainly has no time to run about seeking it. And the bachelor girl married often makes the best of wives. Her experiences give her a wider sympathy with hor husband's work and interests, anil she is not so exacting, fault-finding, and impatient'of her husband's small shortcomings, Knowing that it is only the big tilings that matter.

Of course, the bachelor girl loves her independence. (so does the bachelor man), and it is well in the homo for these equal rights to bo recognised. He pays for hia privileges, so docs she. But rightly speakjng the bachelor girl oithor boards or lives in chambers. But let 110 girl think that because she does these things she is therefore ii bachelor girl. She may be an " old maid," or she may be a " butterfly! " The bachelor girl works, and she looks forward to doing the same work probably as long as she lives, though 6he may hope to secure a competenco upon which to retire—just as does a man.'