Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-05
A Philippe Against the Complexion
Painting - q Hundred
Ke0rs AR0

Years Ago.
A correspondent writes us: GAS 1 was
looking over the old books in Harvard
Library, the other day, l came across 4
collection of papers called " The World
a rare book published in London in l7si
by Adam Fitz Adam. Among them wai
one which seemed to me exceedingly pleas
ing, as well US curious, and which you may
think interesting enough to publish" The
paper consists of a strong denunciation
of the women of fashion whose complex,
ions are artificial, and will be of curious
interest to our readers of either sex. We
append it:
THURSDAY, January 2, 1855.
As 1 am DESTROYS of beginning the new
year well, l shall devote this paper to the
service of my fair cou1trywomen, for
whom l have so tender a concern, that ]
examine into their conduct with a kind Of
parental vigilance and affection. l sim
cerely wish 10 approve, but at the same
time am determined TO adnonish and
reprimand, whenever, for their sakes, l
may think it necessary. l will not as far
as in ne lies, suffer the errers of their
minds To disgrace those beautifuldwellings
in which they are lodged nor will 1. on
the other hand, silently and quietly allow
the atfectation and abuse of their persons
to reflect contempt and ridicule upon their
understandings.
Native, arlless beauty has long been the
peculiar distinction of my fair FELLOWSHIP
iects. Our poets have long sung the genuine
lilies and roses, and our painters havelOng
end e%avoured, though in vain, to initiate
them beautiful nature Knocked all their
art. But l am now informed by persons
of unquestioned truth and sagacity, and
indeed l have observed but too many in
stances of it myself that a great number
of those inestimable originals, by a strange
inversion of things, give the lie to their
poets, and ~servilelv copy their painters
degrading and Disgusting themselves into
worse copies of bad copies of themselves.
1t is even whispered about town of that
excellent artist, Mr.. Liotard, that he lately
refused a fine woman to draw her picture,
alleging That he never copied anybOdy's
work but his own and God Almighty's.
1 have taken great pains to inform my
self of the growth and extent of this
heinous crime of seJ-pGiHt1lg, Il had
almost given it a harder name) and 1 am
sorry to say, that 1 have found it to be ex-
tremelv epidemic. The present state of
it in its several degrees, appears to be
this:
The inferior class of women, who al
ways ape their b%etters, make use of a sort
of rough-cast, little superior to the com
mon lathe and plaster, which comes very
cheap, and can be afforded out of the
casual profits of the evening.
The class Immediately above these,
paint occasionally, either in size or oil,
which at sixpsnce per foot square, comes
within a moderate weekly allowance.
The generality of women of fashion
make use of a superfine stucco, or plaster
of Paris, highly glazed, which does not
require a daily renewal, and will, with
some slight occasional repairs, last as long
as their curls, and stand a pretty strong
collision.
As for the t-ranscendent and divine
pearl powder, with an exquisite varnish
superinduced to fix it, it is by no means
common, but is reserved Tor lsdies not
only of the first rank, but of the most con-
siderable fortunes; it being so very costly
that few pin-moneys can keep a face in it
as a face of condition ought to be kept.
Perhaps the. same number of pearls whOLe
might be more acceptable to some lovers
than in powder upon the lady's face.
1 would now fain undeceive my fair
countrywomen of an error, which, gross
as it is, they too fondly entertain. They
fatter themselves hat this artificial is not
discoverable, or distinguishable from ma
tive white. But 1 beg leave to assure
them that, however we'll prepared the
color may be, or however skilful the hand
hat lays it on, it is Immediately discover
ed by the eye at a considerable distance,
and by the nose upon a nearer approach;
and 1 overheard the other day, at the
cotfee-house, Captain Phelan McManus
complaining that when warm upon the
face it had the most nauseeus taste imagi-
nable. Thus offensive to three of the
senses, it is not, probably, very inviting to
fourth.
Talking upon the subject lately with a
friend, he said, that in his opinion, a wo-
man who painted white, gave the public a
of her chastity, by fortifying it with
a wall, which he must be sure that noman
would desire either to batter or scale. But
I confess l did not agree with him as to
the motive, though 1 did as to the conse-
quences; which are, 1 believe, in general,
that they lose both operatn ct oLeuH1. l
have observed that many of the sagacious
landlords of this great metropolis who let
do, at the beginning of the win
ter, new vamp, paint, and stucco the
fronts of their houses, in order to catch
The eyes of passengers, and engage dodgers.
Now to say the truth, l cannot help sus-
this is rather the real motive of
nv fair countrywomen when they thus in
crust themselves. But alas those outward
will never tempt people to enquire
The cases are great Y different;
n the former they both adorn and pre-
iervei in the latter they disgust and de-
I shall conclude this paper With a word
II two of serious advice to all my readers
# all sorts and sexes. Nature may be
and improved, but will not be
Orced or changed. All attempts in di-
opposition to her, are attended with
idicule; many with guilt. The women
o whom nature has denied beauty, in vain
ndeavors to make it by art, as the man
o whom nature has denied wit, becomes
ediculous by the affectation of it; they
9th defeat their OVID purposes, and are in
he case of the valetUdinariau, who Gre
ties or increases his distempers by his
emedies, and dies of his immoderate de-