The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-04-09
PhIIIIppIc Against the Complexion
Makers..-.ssPainting'' Hundred
Years Ago..


"A correspondent writes us: Gas I wa:
looking over the old books in Harvard
Library, the other day, came across 6
collection of papers called The World,
rare book published in London in It's:
by Adam Fitz Adam. Among them was
one which seemed to me exceedingly
pleasing, as well us curious, and which
you may think interesting enough &c
publish" The paperconsists ofa astrong
denunciation of the women OF fashion
whose complexions are artificial, and
will be OF curious interest TO our read
ers of either sex. We append it:
- THURSDAY, January 2, 1755.
AS I am desirous of beginning the
new year we'll, 1 shall devote this paper
to the service OF my fair rcounLrywonen,
for whom have SO tender concern,
that examine into their conduct with
n kind OF parental vigilance and atfec-
tion. l sincerely wish to approve, but
at the same time am determined to adj
monish and repriInand, whenever, for
their sukes, may think it necessary.
will not, as far as in me lies, suffer the
errors of their minds, to disgrace those
beautiful dwellings in which they are
lodged; nor will /, on the other hand
silently and quietly allow. the atfecta=
Iion and abuse of their persons to reflect
contempt and ridicule upon their un-
derstandings.
Native, artless beauty has long been
the peculiar distinction of my fair fel-
Our poets have long sung
the 1eltIiine. liliesJand roses, and our
printers have long endeavored, though
in vain, to initiate them: beautiful nu-
ture moukedl all their art. But L am
s..T u INyVV -
tioned truth and sagacity, and indeed l
have; observed buttoo many instances
OF it myself, that great many of those
originals,yby by u strange in
version ofthings, give the lie to their
poets, and ,servilel y copy their painters;
degrading and Disgusting themselves
into worse copies OF bad copies of them
town of that excellent artist, Mr., Lilo
tard that he lately refused a tine wo-
man 10 draw her picture, alleging that
he never copied anybody's work buthis
own and God Almighty's.
] have taken great pains to inform
myself of tile growth and extent of this
henious crime ofSeLf painting, II had al
most given it u harder name) and l am
sorry TO say, thnL have found 1t to be
extremely epidemic. The present state
OF it in It's several degrees, appears TO
be this
Tue inferior class of women, who al
ways ape their betters, make use of a
sort OF rough-cast, little superior to the
common 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 siXpence per foot square,
comes withina moderate weekly allow
ance. III
The generality of women of fashion
make use of "a afsupertine stucco, orplaS-
ter of Paris, highly glazed, which does
not require. daily renewal, ana VIII,
with Some slig.lt occasional repHirs,
last as long as their curls, and stand a
pretty strong collision.
As for the trAnscendant and divine
pearl powder, with uT exquisite var
nish superinduced TO fix il, it Is by no
means common, but is reserved tor lH=
dies not only OF the first rank, but OF
The most cOnSiderH bic fortunes; IL DeI
ing SO very costly that few. pin-moneys
can keep a face i'll it as a face OF condi-
Iion ought to be kept. Perhaps the
sume number of pearls whole might be-
more acceptable TO some lovers Lhnn in
powder upon the Iady's face.
L would now tain undeceive my fair
countrywomen OF an error, which, gross
as tits, they too fondly entertain. They
Halter themselves that this artificial Is
not discuverable or distinguishuble
from nutive white. But beg leave To
assure them that, however well pre-
pared the color may be, or however
skiIful the hand that lays it OH, ii is
Immediately discovered by the eye at II
considerable distance, and by the nose
upon nearer approach; and over
heard the other day, ut the coffee house,
Captain Phelan MrManus complaining
that when warm upon the face II had
the most naSeOuS taste Imaginable.
Thus offensive TO three of the senses, IL
is not, probably, very inviting to Il
fourth, F5a tsa'lH .a2
q Talking upon the subject lately with
a friend, he said, that in his opinion, a
woman who painted white, gave the
public n pledge of her chastity, by for
tifying it with wall, which he must
be sure that no. man would desire ell
ther to batter or scale. But confess l
did not agree with him as TO The motive,
though did as to the Consequences;
they lose both operdnt ct oLeult. have
observed that many of the sagacious
landlords OF this great metropolis who
let lodgings, do, ut the beginning of the
winter, newtvamp, paint, and stuceo
thefrontS of their houses, in order TO
catch the eyes of passengers, and en-
gage lodgerS. Now TO say the truth,
CuuuOb uSlp SuSHeStLue5 thHt tu'S A9tHSH
er the real motive of my fair country
women when they thus incrust then-
selves. But alasi those outward re-
pnirs will never tempt people 10 enquire
lDtthiIi, The cases are greatly different;
in the former they both adorn and pre-
serve; in the latter they disgust and de-
stroy.
I.shall conclude this paper with a
word or two OF serious advice to all my
readers ofsall sorts aud sexes. Nature
may be helped and Improved, but will
not be forced or changed. Allattenpts
in direct opposition to her, are attended
with ridicule; many with guilt. The
women To whom nature has denied
beauty, in vain endeavors. to make 1t
by art, as the man TO whom nature has
denied wit, becomes ridiculous by the
affectation of it; they both defeat their
own purposes, and are in the case of
the vulet1dinariun, who creates or IN
creaseS his distempers by his remedies,
and dies of his iinmoderate desire to
live. -s5;is
Artistic Caprice OF a Woman of Fash
- sfaii ion.
Walking up Broadway yesterday, re-
marking the extreme richness and va
,riety ofcostume displayed by the wo-
men of New York, and the delightful
and unhesitatiDg liberties taken by the
March wind. WAS reminded OF the
tendency to excess which pleasure anu
fashion confirm, and / thought of the
very remarkable artistic caprice OF "a
woman of fashion in Italy, at u grand
costume ball, given last winter oy y
banker of Florence. Madam RatazZl
Princess Salnlsl riveted and anlazeo