Lil THEIR VARIETIES, CHARACTERS, AND CONDITIONS. "with gentle hand Touch-for there is a spirit in the leaves." WORDSWORTH. PUBLISHED BY SMITH, ELDER AND CO., BOOKSELLERS TO THEIR MAJESTIES, CORNHILL. 1835. 335- PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. Ir sometimes happens when an author is successful, that his success is neither in accordance with his expectation, nor with the actual merits of his production. The public in passing its judgment upon a book, even when that judgment is favourable, not unfrequently wounds the selflove of the writer-He finds himself seen through a false medium-he is taken up on points, which are perhaps accidental portions of his pages, and hence it is a common saying, of more than one popular author of the day, that they have never been closely analysed, and consequently, that they are not understood. This is a mortification, and although praise qualifies it, the man who is thus misunderstood, is ever uncomfortable in placing a new book before the public. -His strength, his peculiar literary impress, he iv knows to be passed over, and he fears, lest the particulars, with which his critics have chosen to mark him, should be found wanting-they are not essentials of his moral and intellectual stamina, and consequently may be overlooked or exaggerated by him. In this dilemma, fortunately for ourselves, we are not placed.With one voice, and as it were with one accord, the intellectual and literary portion of the press, have spoken the same language of OLD MAIDS,' and what is more, have spoken precisely the language, it has been our wish, that they should speak-We say fortunately, because our very title exposed us to a sneer, on the opening of the work-Had this been taken advantage of, the Sisterhood,' whom we were especially anxious that our book should reach, would have been frightened from us. We rejoice that it has not been so, and in placing our Second Edition before the reading public, we have only to express our acknowledgments, for the favourable reception of the First. Champion Hill, 22nd May, 1835. CONTENTS. What is an Old Maid?-Difficulties attending the tion-Council of Old Maids.-General definition-Generic divisions-Voluntary Old Maids-Involuntary Old Maids Erroneous opinions of the Sisterhood as to their Order— Effects of our labours-Difficulty of drawing a general like- ness Our success- -Description of an Old Maid-False notions of the world-A creature full of love and tender- ness Causes of this-Her condition contrasted with mar- |