The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-08-20
FROM the Lectures Of Lola Afontcs.
Beautiful Woman

AS general thing you have 10 look into
the ranks Of the nobility for the most beau
titul woman of Europe. And on the whole
| must give the preference to tho Englisl,
nobility for the most beautiful woman |
remember to have met with.
In calling to my mind the many l have
seen, in the course Of my life, find myself
at once thinking OF the Duchess of Suiher-
land. She was large aud magnificent wo-
man-a natural queen. Her complexion
was light, and she might be considerd the
paragon and type OF the beautiful arislocra-
cy OF England. ! next think of Lady BIes-
slngton. She WAS marvellous beauty
Kings and mobiles were at her feet In It.
ally they called her the goddess. She was
very voluptuous. with neck that sat on
her shoulders like the most charming Greek
models, IL wonderfully beautiful hand, and
an eye that, when it smiled, captivatcd all
hearts. She was far more intellectual typc
Of beauty than the Duchess of Sutherland
The present Duchess Of Wellington is {:
remarkable beautiful womau--but with lit.
; lie intellect or animation. She is q fine
| piece of sculpture, and as cold as Il piece o
sculpture. The most flmously beautiful
! family in England is the great Sheridan
family. 1hercwere two sons who wcr.
considered the han;lSomrst men of their
day. Then there arc three daughters, the
| Hon. Mrs. Norton, well known on this side
Of the Atlantic, though her poverty
and her mistortunes! Lady Black
wool, and Lady Seymour, who was tn.
queen Of beauty at the famous Englin,on
Tournament. These three beautiful Sher.
ilan sisters used TO be called the three
Graccs of England. Lady Seymour has
| dark blue eyes, large, lu>tr, us, AMI most
beautiful; while Lady Blackwood and Mrs
Norton have grey eyes, but all full of fire
and soul and beauty.
The women Of France are not generally
beautiful, although they are very charming
The art of pleasing, or Of refined and fas.
c'nating manners, is the first study of a
French lady. But still France is not with.
out lis beautiful women. The Marquis de
! In Grange was one of the most beautiful
women have met in Paris. She had an
antique head and face, grave and dignfied
in her manners as Juno, and altogether a
grand study for an artist. Eugenia, the
Empress, is, however, handsomer STILL
When last saw her she was certainly one
of the most vivacious, witty. and spright.
ly women in all Parish. All the portraits
Of her which have seer in this country
greatly exaggcrate her size, for Eugenia is
really small woman. Before her marriage
with the Emperor, and when she was the
belle Of Madrid, cvinccd great admiration
Tor the celebrated pianist, Louis Gottschalk
who has, | believe, carried off the hearts OF
half million of girls in this country, with
out, poor fellow, being in the slightest de-
gree cognizant of the fact himself. Euec.
mia cauesd him to be received into the best
and most aristocratic families of Madrid
The ladies Of the Royal family of Russia
are among the most beautiful women of
Europe. The Grand Duchess Olga. eldest
daughter OF the late Emperor Nicholas
was so beautiful that even when she appear.
cd in public the whole audience would rise
up and receive her with slloutsIof applause
Her youngest sister, Marie, the W lie of the
duke Of Leuchtenburg,wa only less beautiful
In Turkey ! SAW very few beautiful wo
men. The style Of beauty there is univer-
, sally fat. Their criterion of beautiful wo-
man is that she. fought to be load for a cam
el. They are, however, quite handsome
when young, but the habit Of feeding them
on such things as pounded rose leaves and
butter, to make them plump, soon DESTROYS
it. The lords Of creation in that part of
the world treat WON en- as you would geese
stuff them to make them fat Though
the roIiteness of Sir Stamford Canning, Eng
lish Ambassador at Constantinople, who
gave me letter to Greek lady residing
i'll the Snltan's harem, was kindly per
mitied to visit, AS frequently as pleased
the inside of that institution, and look upon
what they call i'll Turkey, the lights of the
world These lights Of the world consis
ted Of some five hundred bodies Of unweild
ed fat. Your American Plato, Mr.. RALPH
Emerson, would have exclaimed on seeing
such sight-'what quaDlityr With tho
exception ola few young girIs-there was
beautiful woman in the whole of that
vast accumulation Of pounded rose leaves
and butter. The ladies of the harem gazet]
at my leanness with commiserating wonder
and every one wanted to remedy the horri
bile defor'nity. They paid many civil com.
pliments to my face and foot-hut were
positively disgusted at my d.ninutivc size.-
The ladies OF Turkey are allowed very little
exercise lest they should get thin.