The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-04
MISCELLANY.
FEMININE PALACES
AND BEAUTY.
FROM SARchANT's NEW MoNrHLy,


fess to value health? What woma
does not secretly wish to press beauty
AT which shrine does she kneels wit
most bervent devotion !? The shs,,e,
| ed constitutions and feeble frames q
many feuale, who, still in her prim
signs over the fast fading charms sh
would despair at in hermirror, answer
the question. And yet are health an,
beauty twin sisters. The fountain O
one is the source Of the other. Who
ever impresses the feminine mind will
the conviction that this is not the cas-,
of one guilty of a positive injury to thu
sex.
1t is belief that the Editor of tn,
New Magazine, to which these remark.
are communicated, takes a real and
active interests in the welfare OF hi:
countrywomen that | am induced ia
make his periodical the medium Of
exposing some pernicious falIacies
respecting female health and beauty,
which have obtained circulation in one
Of the popular Magazines for February.
My desire is TO contract the influence
of these grossly erroneous opinions,
which might otherwise be to the detri.
ment to many fair and gifted being,
whose chief foible is her too high esti-
mate Of beauty.
As | have much respect for the
Lady Editress, under the sanction of
whose name currency is given to these
faIlacious opinions, | hope she will
not mistake the spirit in which my an
imadversions are made. An article
in her Magazine which processes to in
struct females now to: obtain the largest
quantom of health and beauty, pro-
nounces cold baths, 10y which is gem
orally understood bathing or rather
washing in cold water,) deleterious to
beauty, and sometimes prejudicial to
health. We quote the following from
her periodical
"Cold bathing rarely agrees with
slender and delicate females
"As cosmetics; cold baths are only
useful to women Of full and sanguine
habit, and even they ought not to etn-
Infatuated to it from a
7ery early aee-water az temperature
much below that Of the body. In 9TH
or cases il always contracts the skin
lardens it, and renders it scaly."
.sBathing in The open air and SWIM
ming from viii h health and medicine
derive sometimes the most happy eff
ecls, gradually discolor the skin"
"IVashing The face with cold water
,ct., especially destroys the freshness
Of the skin and face"
Here beauty is ayowedly preferred
70 health. the young are taught that
what decidedly benefits their health
will impair their loveliness by being
TO their compilations. The
application ofcold water TO the surface
of the whole person, which. men Of
science assert, guards the body against
he variability of climate-opens the |
pores Of the skin-remoyes obstruc-
the frame, and pro-
luces healthy circulation of the blood
is eschewed as hardening the skin
md discoloring the complexion
What doctrine could be more hurtful
o a sex, who esteem beauty as one
of the most env;able of possessions
who habitually neglect their health as
If little moment, and thoughtlessly |
the most Important physical
avs to crafty vanity or obtain pleas
are
Experiences proves, that cold wa
er preserves the freshness, helghtens
he bloom OF the complexion, while |
epid gradually withers the skin.
Physicians prescribe, as a means
IF restoring or retaining the health of
he most delicate and even consump-
i've females, daily ablution Of the
whole person in cold water, followed
bv friction with a course towel or
hair gloves. This practice should De
resorted to daily and without any in
even in winter weather. by |
eyery female, who has any considera-
I;on for health and cleanliness, Or who
wishes 10 preserve her personal charms
have repeatedly observed the high
u beneficial effects ofthis habit upon
he most fragile constitutions. Dr.
Combe recommends delicate persons
q mingIe vinegar with the water in
uhich they battle. When there is a
..addinr sense Of chilliness. which
he coarse towel viii not remove then
here is danger he says, that the per-
sop may not possess sufficient vitality
4 derive benefit from cold bathing.
StilI. such individuals should not omit
~ daily use ofwater from which the
chilli beenremoved.
Al very lille reaection N regard 70
he quantity of moisture insenslbly,
hut momensarily, exhaled from The
skiu,will Il once show the extrerne 90