The South Kentuckian

In former days single women, when they had reached a certain age - thirty years, we believe - shared with their married sisters the distinction of being called Mrs. Thus we read of Mrs. Elizabeth Carter and Mrs. Hannah More, neither of whom had a husband. Lately, Mrs. and Miss have lost all relation to age, and are used to express respectively the married and single state. This does not please some of the advocates of women's rights. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Kingsbury, of Portageville, N. Y., writing in the Woman's Journal, urges a return to the old custom. She argues that as Master William or Charles grows to the distinction of Mr. so increasing years and dignity should entitle their female relatives to a corresponding change. "It is annoying," she says, "to be introduced to Mrs. Brown, a silly, superficial creature, yet in her teens, and the next moment to be presented to Miss Williams, who at a glance we perceive to be an intellectual, noble, broad souled woman of thirty-five or forty, worth more than a dozen like Mrs. Brown." She denounces the existing usage as degrading, and in reply to the question of male objectors, "How shall we know that a woman is married?" says: Inquire, if you wish to ascertain, as we have to do respecting you." This is very well as far as it goes, but there remains the fact that most women, especially unmarried ones, are sensitive regarding advancing years. We fear that many of the latter, if compelled when thirty to take the appellation of Mrs. would never confess to having reached that age. Mrs. Kingsbury does not see things in this light, and solemnly warns all girls to keep out of matrimony until they are twenty-five at least. If ardent lovers wish to hasten their nuptials, they must be silenced with "I am twenty-one but I do not intend to marry till I am twenty-five. The laws of my being would be disobeyed by so doing, and I shall not marry even then unless reason and judgment unite with affection in approving my choice." We fear that Mrs. Kingsbury will not find many supporters, and that her young sisters will decline the "strength and independence" which she promises them in the adoption of Mrs. as an advertisement that they are no longer chickens. - [Cincinnati Gazette.]