Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-04-08
Beauty Not Power.


sions-who carry with them an stmos-
phere OF their o6n-Hho make social
listeners for themselves-and would
make revolutions, If the times were fit
ting, bear no badge of beauty as an
emblem OF their power. Their forces
and fascInstions are invisible to the
eye. Their mind, their manners, their
sympathies, their instincts, their spir-
ltual lnsight-something of all Of these
hx, mould, and SWAY the natures of
others, and make or unmake fortunes
and careers. They are the women who
convert sensualists into saints, warriors
into Sybarites, gallants into heroes,
poets into swine. Their power for good
or evil Is unmeasured, and circumstance
determines which it shall be. Strong
men bend, icy hearts take fire, breasts
of adamant melt before them; and vet
no outward shape of beauty assists at
the spiritual conjuring. They work
their miracles as mysteriously to them
selves, persdVenture, as to others but
sensuous seeming has no part in the
mystic rites.
Those are the Cleopatra women-as
they might be called-who are ever
setting mankind by the ears, and
making the elements of tragedy where
ever they smile or kiss. Semiramis
and Sappho were, without beauty,
creatures of terrible power-ferce in
their passions as tigers, and fascinating
as serpents. Only tradition tells US of
them; yet tradition, imperfect as it is.
leaves the essence Of truth in its pre-
cipitate of ages.
Cleopatra, it is well known now, was
not lovable in person. Red haired,
thick-lipped, Aat-nosed, masculine in
proportions, she converted the brave
and gifted Anthony into q tipsy drivel-
er, and caused the great julius to for
get even his absorbing ambition in her
love. Lying drunk with yoluptuous
ness at her royal feet, fondling her
fragrant hair, his inVincible legions
called to him in vain, and all the glori-
Gus memory Of Rome and empire was
drowned in her soft csress.
Aspasia was not handsome; yet she
won the heart of the greatest and finest
man of his time; and linked with
Pericles her fame Is immortal. Ninon
de PEnclos, blooming with freshness
reven in old age, all Paris and distin-
guished strangers falling in love with
her on instinct, had her charm in her
msnners, her understanding of human
nature, her conversation aud her wit.
The Duchess de Longueville, the ele-
CANT and fascinating mistress of Roch-
efoucsult, owed the power she exercised
far less to her person than to her spirit
ual grace and delightful tact. Lady
Hamilton, of whom it Is recorded hun
dreds of the unsentimentsl English sat
up all night to see her 60 away in the
morning, she who conquered the hero
of Trafalgar, and made him her willing
slave, though always styled 50, was not
at all beauty. Nellie Gwynne, who
from poor orange girl became the
court faYorite and the reigning toast of
that ever-gallant period, touched the
heart of the profigate but critical
Charles as no woman ever did, and left
her name last upon his dying lips.
And yet poor Nellie was no more a
Venus in face than q Saint Theresa in
morals. Peg Wellington, the clever
actress, whom London Worshipped, and
in whose train of lovers, Edmund
Burke among them, many of the wit
tiest and most gifted men of the day
we're found, professed no prettiness she
could call her own.
| Most of these famous women gained
the reputation of beauty because they
| produced striking effects by unknown
means. And We have grown so accus-
toned to associating all the charms of
the sex with feature and form, that
what attracts or delights US we term
beautiful, without pausing to analyze
| the feeling. or consider the expression.
Perhaps what we love is the highest, if
not the only beauty we can know and
/ therefore IL is not strange men mingle
mind and manners with outline and
| proportion, and confound cause with
consequence.
But it is well to know, and not
wholly Improbable, we trust, 70 insist
that mere personal beauty, delightful
as is its possession, is only a small
magnet compared to other and higher
qualities OF head and heart. Women,
especially in this country. are induced
to believe, if fair faces and and fine fig
ures be given, that character and cul-
ture are superhuous that the inheri-
tance Of beauty bestows the privilege
of folly. No greater or more serious
mistake than this, for q handsome per-
son involves responsibility demands
through the eternal fitness of things an
inward repose, a harmonious whole.
1t is as if the Creator said to the crea-
I
do something for yourself"
For q handsome woman not to strive
to be gentle, and sweet, and fine, is a
species of ingratitude to nature. an un-
kindness to the race. an unful6lled
duty 10 her friends. II she makes no
effort to be what We have named, she
is a common counterfeit, and deserves
resembling to the mint of life, to be
stamped as baser petal.-,Ju7li'1s Henri
/ Rro,cRs.