After her
marriage hundreds of persons who had sneered at her condition find her
charming, thus showing the extent of their prejudice against feminine
celibacy. Old maids in general, it is fair to presume, do not wait for
opportunities, but for proposers of an acceptable sort. They may have,
indeed they are likely to have, those, but not to meet these.

8. NO LONGER MARRY FOR SUPPORT.--The time has changed and women have
changed with it. They have grown more sensible, more independent
in disposition as well as circumstances. They no longer marry for
support; they have proved their capacity to support themselves, and
self-support has developed them in every way. Assured that they can
get on comfortably and contentedly alone they are better adapted by
the assurance for consortship. They have rapidly increased from this
and cognate causes, and have so improved in person, mind and character
that an old maid of to-day is wholly different from an old maid of
forty years ago.

[Illustration: CONVINCING HIS WIFE.]

* * * * *

WHEN AND WHOM TO MARRY.

1. EARLY MARRIAGES.--Women too early married always remain small in
stature, weak, pale, emaciated, and more or less miserable. We have
no natural nor moral right to perpetuate unhealthy constitutions,
therefore women should not marry too young and take upon themselves
the responsibility, by producing a weak and feeble generation of
children. It is better not to consummate a marriage until a full
development of body and mind has taken place. A young woman of
twenty-one to twenty-five, and a young man of twenty-three to
twenty-eight, are considered the right age in order to produce an
intelligent and healthy offspring. "First make the tree good, then
shall the fruit be good also."

2. If marriage is delayed too long in either sex, say from thirty
to forty-five, the offspring will often be puny and more liable to
insanity, idiocy, and other maladies.

3. PUBERTY.--This is the period when childhood passes from immaturity
of the sexual functions to maturity. Woman attains this state a year
or two sooner than man. In the hotter climates the period of puberty
is from twelve to fifteen years of age, while in cold climates,
such as Russia, the United States, and Canada, puberty is frequently
delayed until the seventeenth year.

4. DISEASED PARENTS.--We do the race a serious wrong in multiplying
the number of hereditary invalids. Whole families