The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-05-13

the justice to assume, IN her autumn-tlme,
an autumnal livery. Ii she would only
have the sense to believe hat gray hair
was meant to soften wrinkles and brighten
faded checks, giving the same effect for
which our youthful grandmothers wore
powder; that fiimsy light colored gowns,
irippered over with trimmings, only suit
airy figures and active motions; that a
sober-tIrced substantial gown and pretty
cap, viii any day take away ten years fron
ia lady's appearance. Above all, if she
would observe this one grand rule of the
toilet, always advisable, bat after youth
indispensabIe-that though good person
al points are by no means warrant for
undue exhibition thereof, no point that is
positively unbeautiful ought ever, by any
pretence OF fashion or custom, to be show
"The other sort of dress, which, it must
be owned, is less frequent, is the dowdy
style People say-though not very soon
= Oh, | am net a young woman now; it
does not signify what wear Whether
they quite believe it, is another question
but they say it-and act upon it when
laziness or indifference prompts. Foolish
women they forget that if we have rea-
son at any time more than another to mind
our looks it is when our looks are de-
parting from US. Youth can do almost
anything in tic toilet-middle-ag can
not yet is none the less bound to present
to her friends and society the most pleas
! ing exterior she can. Easy is it to do this
when we have those about us who love Us,
and take notice Of what we wear, and in
whose eyes we would like to appear gra-
cious aud lovely to the last, so far as na-
ture allows not easy when things are 9TH
erwise. This, perhaps, is the reason why
we see so many unmarried women grow
careless and 'old-fashioned' in their dress
- What does it signify nobody cares.
. think a woman ought to care a little
for herself-avery little. Without preach
ing up vanity, or undue waste Of time
over that most thankless duty Of adorning
ones self for nobody's pleasure in partic-
ular--is not still right and becoming
feeling to have some respect for that per-
sonality which, as well as our soul, Heaven
gave US to make the best use Of? And
is it not our duty-considering the great
number Of uncomely people that are IN
the world-to lessen it by each Of Us
making herself as little uncomely as she
can
because a lady ceases to dress youth
fully, she has no excuse for dressing un-
tidily; and though having found out that
one general style suits both her person,
her taste and convenience, she keeps to it,
and generally prefers moulding the fashion
to herself, rather than herself to the fash
ion. Still, that is no reason why she
should shock the risible nerves OF one
generation by showing up to them the
out-of-date costume ofauotner. Neatness
invariably, hues carefully harmoaized,
and as time advances, subsiding into a
general unity of tone, sottening and dark
ening in color, until black, white and gray
alone remain, as the suitable garb for old
age; these things are every woman's bound
en- duty to observe as long as she lives.
No poverty, grief, sickness or loneliness
those mental causes which act 50 strongly
con the external life--can Justify any
one (to use phrase probably soon to be
obsolete when charity and common sense
have left the rising generation no fifth of
November) involuptarily making Il Guy
OF herself
THAT slow, fpc, and yet preceptible
change of mien and behavior, natural and
proper to advancing years, is scarcely re-
ducble TO rule at all. Ii is bat the out
ward reflection of an inward process of the
mind. We only discover its full effect by
the absence Of it, as noticeable in per-
son who has such very young manners,
who fails into raptures of enthusiasm, and
expresses loudly every emotion OF her ma
ture. Such character, when real, is UNI
Objectionable, nay, charming, in extreme
youth; but the great improbability of It's
being real, makes it rather ludicrous, i'll
not disagreeable, in mature age; then the
passions die out, or are quieted down, the
sense of happiness itself is calm, and the
fullest, tenderest tide of which the loving
heart Is capable, may be described by those
still waters which run deep
To grow old gracefully as one, who
truly has exenplifed her theory, has writ
ten ana expressed its good and beau
tiful thing to grow Old worthily, better.
And the first effort T. that eud, is not only
to recognise, bat to become personally re
conciled to the fact OF youths departure
to see, or, if not seeing, to have faith 10,
the wisdom of that which we call change,
yet which is in truth progression; to 1ol-
low openly and fearlessly, in ourselves and
our own life, the same law which makes
s2ring pass into summer, summer into au
tuln, autumn into winter, preserving an
especial beauty and fitness IN each OF the
| four.
Yes, if woman could only believe it,
there is wonderful beauty even 10 grow
! ing Old. Toe charm Of expression arising
/ 49, : Ill