The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-01-21
ABOUT OUR GIRLS.
THEIR COMPARATIVE BEL UTY And
CHARACEERISTICS
Pen Sketches of the Bellies OF Boston,
Philadelphia, Baltimore. NIchmond'
Charleston and the West.

Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond,
Charleston and the West.
In the January number of the Galaxy Junius
Henri Browne writes Us follows Of the charac-
teristics in our American girls:
THE BOSTON GIRL
Is very unlike her sister OF the Empire City;
has dlssimilar air, another style OF face, and
almost contrary expression. She OF Boston
nsually reveals too much character TO be mere
ly pretty, and too much independence to ap-
neal to the masculine sense of protection. Her.
features not unfrequently are more regular
than those with which Broadway and the ave
nue. make us familiar. Bat she has no such
consciousness Of the fullness OF physical lie,
because her health Is less robust and her emo
tional nature is more strictly guarded. Her
intellect dominates her flesh and blood, and
she Is ever on the alert lest her will and her
purpose be disarmed. She reads, and studies,
and thinks too much 10 be quite healthy either
in mind or body. She spoils her eyes with inc
midnight gas and diamond editions, or, If she
do not, she deems it obligatory upon her, as
descendant of the Puritans and an upholder
the modern Athens, TO wear eyeglasses.
She would sooner be regarded as anything
rather than unlearned. She thinks 1t the
heighth OF human happiness and the crown OF
feminine glory to understand the mysteries OF
Hegel, and to discuss the Eleusinian mysteries
at an unrlghteously early breakfast. She CON
siders herself lineal descendant OF the Pll-
grims who first landed at Plymouth, and SO
many Of her ancestors fell at Bunker Hill tnat
1t has always been something OF puzzle to her
how she came to be born at all. She holds
Beacon street to be the directest road to Para
disc, and Washington street to be the ninth
wonder OF the world. She has either written
for the Atlantic or is proud Of sister or cousin
who has, and she hopes In the fair future,
when the hearts dearest wishes are vouch-
safed to us, that she will be mentioned
among the Atlantic's most favored con-
tributors. She is deeply concerned with
the plans and possibilities OF the universe,
and deems 1t part of her mission-every
Boston woman has mission-to see that the
equilibrium of things eternal Is not disturbed.
From all these and many other causes the Bos-
ton girl, though often handsome, and gener-
ally interesting in appearance, looks worn and
somewhat prematurely old. She Is likely to
be blonde, and, though usually pale, her
cheeks Is often bright with natures carmne,
and her face is capable of great variety Of ex-
preston. Her air Of coldness and reserve dis
appears before acquaintances OF sympathy,
and she Is found, like Hecla, to be volcanic be-
meath external ice and snow. Less arlihcia!
In person, mind and manners, than the girl OF
New York, she is more sincere aad earnest,
and not 80 liable to surprise Of the heart.
PHILADELPHIA
bs asts much of her daughters, whom she
considers as peerless In beauty as matchless
in manners. AS rule, they are certainly fair;
but they need the variety and individuality
which constitutes the highest charm of woman.
They are, on the whole, the pretty nuns OF
good society; too wel-bred to give offence,
and too prudent to excite enthusiasm They
look like the houses In which they live, anG 1t
is not infrequent for strangers to mistake for
dear friends, fair Phlladelphlans they have
never before seen. The Philadelphia girl Is
almost invariably model OF all the proprie-
ties. Her sentimental affairs are conducted on
mathematical principles, and before she falls
In love with anybody, she finds out by calcu-
lus the integral and diferenual OF her sympa-
thIes and affections. Her appearance depends
to certain extent upon the convictions she
has In regard to the gentility Of her family.
When she Is morally certain that 1t has includ. |
ed many very distinguished persons, OF whom
no one outside Of her set ever had the good
fortune to hear, she bears about with her
serenity and satisfaction which contributes
much to her personal attractions.
BALTIMORE
has long felt assured that Aphrodisc could not
have been the true queen Of beauty, because
she did nJt spring from the waters ofthe Ches-
-apeake. There are few handsomer women |
anywhere than In that city. They Incline to
the brunette type; have rather regular fear
lures, soft, dark eyes, and warm blood. which
speak eloQuently through cheeks OF delicate
olive. They are hardly Northern. yet barely
Southern. They are somewhat provincial In
their opinions and feelings, but they are candid,
generous and hospitable. They look well, live
well, talk well, and dress we'll, and are said to
be among the best and t. uest friends man Of
character, courtesy and chiyalry can have.
RICHMOND bellies
are good deal like those OF Baltimore, but
intensified and O triae narrower. Though slls-
ceptible and sentimental, they are rigldly con-
ventioual in society, and rarely permit their
lips to express the promptings Of their hearts.
Generally, they are neither decided blondes
nor brunettes, but Of mixed type, having tt.
constancy of the one and the tervor of the
other. They have passion for politics, and
are remarkable for seeing questions only on
one side. They are hopeful lor themselves
beauty and expectation are nearly anied-bnt
they sometimes despair of the Republic and
the planet, because great change has fallen
upon their beloved Virginia.
CHARLESTON
is sadly altered from what it was, and many of
the fair women who gave laws and tone to its
exclusive and egotistlc society are no longer
there The Palmetto City. as 1t once delighted
to style itself, had much Of what Is ascribed 10
the old school Of forms, customs and manners,
and Its representative woman still has faith
in and keeps them up. The fair Charlestonians
have mobile, animated and attractive, rather
than regularly handsome faces, and tend to
brown eyes and brown hair. Their noses are
slender, with thin sensitive nostrils, and their
mouths often seem little drawn, as if from
too much suppression and compression.
This is somewhat singular, since they are,
as class, impulsive and even mercurial,
perhaps from the fact that those who lay
claim to birth and blOod-and there are few
who do not-believe themselves descended
from Huguenot families. This French extrac-
ton is as famous IL Charles on as Mayflower
origin Is In Boston, and Is not unfrequently, l
suspect, quite as probematical. But the gen.
nine feminine types Of the Carolina metrOpo-
lis, like those OF Richmond, Mobile, New Or
leans. and nearly all of the Southern States,
are hardly recognizable now, such social revo-
lutions has the war wrought, and to speak of
them In the present Is papable anachronism.
There is one exception however, and that
is the women Of Kentucky, as represented in
LOUISVILLE.
They are decidedly southern. and have so
little in common with the North, tnat persons
who have lived this side of Mason and Dixon's
line have difficulty in understanding them.
ht,tl. g.,