The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-07-31

length Of time we stand before the mirror,
and the number Of times we turn round
before 1t.
When invited to take a ride by a lady,do
you suppose We keep her waiting for at
least three hours while We run, to be gone
~just moment" to put on cloak and hat (!
Think how many times yemmy gentleman
critic, have been kept waiting that long,
} with nothing to do to amuse yourself ex-
. cept to pace up and down the floor OF a
gloomy parlor? And all this while that
lady was dressing for you. You are mis-
taken when you think we would spend so
much precious time-I might say our
whole lives-and next TO the last cent we
possess in dressing to look pretty to please
one another. No, no, gentlemen, it is for
you we DO all this Ladies would not
spoil their complexlons by using ruinous
paints on the face knowing they lend only
a passing charm, for one mediterranean.
1t is for you we do it all. You do not
knoag tie difference 6etaceen natural and
artificial beauty. You do not know
whether the pretty flush on the face is
natural Or "put on" You do not know
whether the softness or fairness Of a pretty
face is natures work or "lquid pearl" the
fashionable name for whitewash. Indeed
you do not. To use our own words gen
tlenen, YOU "only know when a woman
looks well" You may think you know a
painted face, but you DO not | could not
detect it myself if | had not seen the paint
put on, and were not familiar with this
branch of high art And as long as YOU
think the pretty which we make up gen
uine one, what is the difference whether it
Is or not? Oh, but you are deluded about
some things! A few days go,when walk
ing with Mr.. H., ali at once, stopping as
though a streak Of lightning had flashed
across his path and he was afraid of step
ping on it, he said to me, "Hagar, who is
that lady that Just bowed to you?' After
breathing a full, easy breath, relieved to
find that had done nothing to cause his
excitement, replied in the most matter-of
fact manner-"It is Miss so-and-so." His
nextexclamations were, beautiful w"charrn-
ing!n 'tloyely y / had seen that face at
time of day when gentlemen are not sup
posed to see ladies' I had seen that face
when it presented a different appearance
from that which captured him on the street.
But as he thought the face was what it
seemed, | was not going to undeceive him
no. no. And though | knew, as we
walked along that he was contrasting that
girls bright face and dark shining locks
with my dull face and faded golden hair, |
only remark ed, meekly, ives, she is very
beautiful"
Who described the belle of ballroom,
telling what she wore, how she had her
hair done up, the color and quality of her
complexion, and eyes,lips and teethl Gen
tiemen. Women dress for one another
Absurd. 1t is for you, who condemn our
extrevagance,that we promenade the streets
with three-quarters of yard of rich silk or
velvet trailing behind u.s. 1t Is for yon we
spend sleepless nights and anxious DAYS,
deyising ways and means to charm and to
please. Il is for goa we spend our last
dollar for dress, and 90 half starved and
comfortless in consequence. 1t is for you;
we are just what you make US. Do not,
then, be so inconsistent as to blame women
for being what she is is do not lay all the
awful sins of the unnatural life you compel
her to lead at her door. Such inconsisten-
CIV does not accord WITH the dignity and
wisdom of man. Remembering that the
accusations which you heap upon her re
fleet back upon your own souls-that YOU
will have to answer for the greater weight
of woman's sins at the great day of settling
aocounts-refect ,anl do not be to severe
upon your own works, if they are evil.
HAGAR.