Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-04-01

Prettiness," says a recent writer
can be cultivated, and we fully in
dorse the statement. All Of us can cul
tivate the art of being pleasing; and b.
so doing we shall brighten the expires
sion of our faces. Ill-health often pro
duces ugliness, because it makes u
cross, and thus mars the face; but if W,
are i'll, and will still make the best of it
rise above it, make mind Triumphant
over matter, we can still retain our good
looks. Very few of us are truly beauti
tul, i. e., possess statuesque forms OF
features; but we can all cultivate the
art Of being agreeable, and thus render
ourselves pretty" in many senses Of
the word.
Prettiness does not depend on hair
eyes, complexion, hands, feet, or grace
full and statuesque figure. We often
meet pretty woman with a large
mouth or small eyes, or an immense
nose, and yet are Immediately aware oi
her attractiveness. We all recognize
"prettiness whenever we behold it, but
it is impossible for us to analyze or de-
scribe it. 1t is like the sunshine, intan-
glble, but enlivening and Frightening
everything about it.
What is beauty? Not the show
of shapely limbs and features2 No.
These are but flowers
That have their dated hours,
To breathe their momentary sweets. Then go.
IT'S the stainless soul within,
That outshines the fairest skin.
Life becomes more harmonious, it
beats with keener pulse of enjoyment
in the presence of pretty woman
After all, charming little figure or a
piquant little face is the best remedy
for half the ills of existence, its worries,
its vexations, its dullness, its disappoint-
ments;" thus declares leading writer
of the day, but we must add, to this
charming figure and piquant face :"
must belong a soul at peace with God,
and not at variance with itself and man
kind, else we do not believe that they
will work the charm which is attributed
to them. There is no denying the fact
that tasteful, pretty dress is great as
sistance to "prettiness. The adage,
that beauty unadorned is adorned the
mos" is an exploded doctrine. We do
not intend to say that rich dresses, vel
vets, satins, silks and brocades are es-
sential to "prettiness, but we do main
tain that a tight fitting dress, Of simple
material, with a plain collar, fastened
with bright ribbon or brooch, is essen
tial to good looks. Such dress throws
a grace about its wearer, and makes a
pretty fashion prettier. Inharmonious
colors wall ruin woman's appearance.
Ruskin declares that it is every wo-
mans duty to make herself handsome;
that she can do it in great degree, and
that it should be part of her religion
She owes it to her God to make most of
the material He has given her. By this
he doee not intend that her mind should |
run upon subjects connected with her
appearance to its distraction |
from things Of more weight, but that by
a spirit of kindliness and |
good will to all, by avoiding all malice,
lncharitableness, envious jealousy, and
he mean, despicable thoughts which
sngender bitter passions, women can
write upon their faces the graces which
iprung up at the foot of the cross, and
lave taken deep rootin the human heart.
Beautiful faces they that wear
The light of the pleasant spirit there,
II matters but little il dark or fair.
Beautiful hands are they that do
The work of the noble, good and true,
Busy for them the whole day through.