Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-01
paErrY woMEN---No MORE BEAUTIES.

many pretty faces, but is the only one among the
thousands already counted that produces no beauties
whose names shall descend impershablo to the gen.
erations yet to come.
We cannot open page ofhistory that does not re-
cord the fame Of some beauty; the bible has It's ha-
chel-so lovely that twenty gears of service was
deemed light fee for her affections the world was
lost for Cleopatra; the beautiful mlstrcsses OF the
French kings ruled the world through the hearts OF
their imperial lovers; even down to the days OF
George the Fourth, there has always been some lady
whose charms have been more powerful than mon
arch and prime ministers.
But think the problem may be solved; it is the
difference Of dress-costume does it all Revive the
rubbngs of by gone agesand you will revive all the
beauty and the ugliness of those days. for there must
have been good deal of uglincss, otherwise beauty
would not have been SO forclby appreciated. Had
there been more pretty girls in the days OF Troy,
Helen would have had few suitors, and llium might
have been standing yet. What mean to say is this
in those times people dressed unbecomngly that
unless their features perfect they were literally
nothing; all the mirror graces which set of medl-
ere person now, were totally unavailable under that
system OF costume.
For instance, Helen must have worn loose robe,
broad girdle, bare arms, sandals OH her feet and
her hair bound back in those rich, magnificent braids,
termed to this day, "Grecan Plats."
But imagine for moment! all your acquaintances
dressed in this way would not the majority be
frirhtful How few faces, how few compilations,
could stand that banding back OF the thick hair how
few forms would show we'll beneath the simple robe,
without stays or spetticoats how few feet would be
endurable in sandals how few arms would bear the
noon day sun, and the sharp winds would soon
reduce them to the pattern and form Of washerwo-
mans
Perhaps the Jewish costumes ofRebecca and Ra-
chel may have been shade better; but here was the
same exposure of neck and arms, with the additional
disadvantage Of robe that showed leg encased in
hideous boots and hose, and that refused to sweep
with Grecian amplitude, round the limbs Of the fair
wearers
Cleopatra, who is represented as being both dark
and stout, could wear only the robes Of white or
purple the heavy diadem, the string Of pearls that
were allotted 10 the gard Of Egytian princes How
dark and how uncomely must have been the majo
i,y of her countrywomen, may be judged from the
sensation she made
| The Roman ladies were famed for their stately
carriage and somewhat large but noble eatures and
when to those charms are added those OF regularity
and delicacy, and beautiful cooring, no doubt
their simple peucoquette style of dress was especial
ly becoming TO them, but without these latter quail
| fca.ions how gaunt and coarse they must have ap-
peared.
What can be more lovely than the figure Of Agrip-
pina-bending that stately head above the ashes OF
Germanicus the robe falls in long sweeping folds,
the bare arm, naked to the shoulder, supports the
urn the hair braided back, the smooth brow, the
magnificent eye, in its large and lofty chamber not
ribbon, nor the gleamings of jewel. break the
calm outline, or disturb the severe unity. Perhaps
among the circle of our acquanances there are two
or three women who would appear to advantage so
attiredl but, oh how well for the dumpy and the
scraggy e= reirousc," and the 'nez saub" that they
| fall upon better days.
| As we decend the stream of time, the number OF
celebrated beauties decrease this we may attribute
to the increasing knowledge Of the art of dress in
different conplexons bad fgures irregular features,
began to have something like fair play shown them;
exgencies OF persons met with some assistance from
costumes, and in the same degree as the plain women
were made 10 appear less plain, were the beauties
less PROMINENT and the distance between the parties
lessened.
| Still We hear of some strangely lovely, as TO
be known to all the world by the fame of their eyes
only Of those, we may name Edith, Of the swan
neck 80 called from the brilliant whiieness of
skin capable OF resisting the exposure TO sun and
wind which tanned and freckled into frghuness the
Queen and lofty ladies Of those rude days; Rosa
mond the Fair-so fair that it was said other, "none
but Jealous and exasperated woman could harm
her - Beatrice Cencl whose beauty made one shud
der, mysterious seems the lghn those large un-
troubled eyes, soon about 10 close beneath the pres
sure of so awful a fate Lucrezia Borga, angel in
face, demon in heart; Mary, of Scotland, whom
sno man ever beheld without love-" and some few
Others until we reach that famous trio recorded in
the letters of Henry Walpole, as the loveliest
man of their time, the Misses Cunning
One of these the Duchess of Hamilton, was so re-
nowned for her charms, that her fame spread far and
near insomuch, that, when travelling from the
north to the town, the mob IN the places where she
rested at nights, assembled round the hotels,
would they depart until she had appeared on the bal
comics to display to them her world famed face.
And there is something strangely sad in the &C
count OF the dealh OF anotTIvi or io sieteis-Lduy
Covantrv, who pershed OF consumption while in the
highest pride of youth and beauty She is recorded
as patiently awaiting her approach of deuh-her
looking glass her constant compartments scarcely
ever removing her eyes from the reflection of her
own face, and as bcwailing only the too early ex-
tincton of beauty worthy of Immortality.
At later time, when the name of some (avorite
beauties are again recorded, the costume, totally diff
teren. was 80 hdeous, that no one can wear it with
impunity--hence the high reputation for beauty OF
Pauline Bonapart and Madame Recamier. The for
mer is described as appearing at party give by her
mighty brother, in unlc OF white muslin, reaching
little below the knees, and commencing far below
the shoulders, the waist exceedingly Short and bound
with narrow girdle; sandals clothed the small feet
while mantle of leopard skin hung round the form
Of Canova's iatesl model.
And there are many who can remember the ap-
pearance of Madame Recamier in the parks of Lon
don, clad in robe scanty and simpe-her
dark hair wreathed around her head; and fastened
with bodkn to the summit, and scarlet mantle
: wrapped around her.
Now a days, the toilet of lady is exactly con-
Quoted upon the principles most becoming TO all
few figures look ill in the sweeping robes and length
ankles however thick, are concealed by the long
dresses, now the mode. Features, however coarse