LONELY WOMEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21258, 12 February 1931, Page 15

LONELY WOMEN.

If a woman has had no great tragedy in her life, if she has every necessity, if not every luxury that the world , offers, if she is in perfect health—yet complains that she is lonely, it is merely an admission that she has no personality within herself, no desire to strike the slightest spark of happiness among her fellow-beings. To the wolnan who lacks friends, 1 say: “ Lose no time in cultivating a few, and don’t forget to make a friend of yourself/' This is done by investing in a sense of humour, and taking a certain amount of interest in one’s talents and appearance.

Let me tell you the story of a friend of mine who laughs when I vow that she should be set up as a model for every lonely woman throughout the world.

This triend (whom, for convenience, t will call Mary, chiefly because most people are called Mary) was born in a small country town. Her father died when she was quite a child, and the whole of her life up to the age of 24 was devoted to the care of a mother who had been a semi-invalid for many years. When her mother had gone she left a daughter with few friends, no knowledge of any profession, and just enough money to dispense with the necessity for earning her own living. Mary’s mind, however, was quite capable ot coining to rather “ uprooting ” decisions. Away from her life went the house and the country town, together with very man, woman, or dog she had known. And soon after her mother’s death, behold her in a snug and inexpensive London flat.

Here, of course, she was more alone than ever, yet she hardly noticed the passing of a month in the enthralling business of decorating her new home. Curtains, embroidered traycloths, and even underclothes or simple frocks for herself sped from her fingers as fast as her purse and ability would allow.