Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-02-06
,LEyA GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
(,xop
Why Women Lose their Beauty.

Shut up in houses nine -tenths of their time,
with either nc exercise or that which is Of a
limited, irksome sameness, they are, as con-
sequence, uunaturaily pale, s'ft and tender !,
their muscles small and fabby, and the force
and functions of their bodies, as a whole, run
low in the scale of life A spurious fullness
is often seen in the outline during girhood,
which usually melts like snow under an April
sun whenever the endurance is put to test, In
performing the functions OF mother. The
change In appearance from the maiden of one
year to the mother of the next is often so strlk-
ing and enduring that it is difficult to believe
that we are looking on the same person: The
round, pleasing shape is prematurciy displaced
by pnched aDgularlty, and an untlmely and
uuseemly appearance OF age.
Travellers from other countries, who have
had an extensive means for observation and
comparison, have remarked upon the great
beauty of American women and the early age
at which it is lost. Some have ascribed this to
the climate; but more intelligent observers
npree that it is hot-house, enervating mode
Of life. Engsh ladies of rank, who, by the
way, are celebrated for keeping their beauty
even to 1ipe old age, think nothing Of walking
belfa dozen miles at time, while American
ladies' would think such thing perfectly
dreadful" If American women, SO dalntlly
and richly fed, will sit in dark and sultry rooms
all dav, they must expect to bloom too soon, to
hasten through this charming perlod-at the
longest in about ten yesrs-and for twenty-five
wears after have the grim satisfaction OF being
thin, wrinkled, angular, and saQow.
Over Il beauty Of the plum and the apricot,
there grows beauty more exquisite than the
fruit itself-a soft, delicate push, that over
spreads its bushing cheek Now, ifyou strike
YOUR baud over that, aud it is once gone, it is
gone forever, for it never grows but once.
Take the flower that hangs in the morning,
impearled with dew arrayed as no queeny wo-
man ever was arrayed with jewels. Once shake
it, 50 that the beads roll off, and you may
sprinkle water over it as carefully as you please,
vet it can never he made again what it was
when the dew fell silent upon it from Heaven.
On frosty morning, you may see the .panes OF
glass covered with landscapes Mountains,
lakes, trees, blended iuto beautiful, fantastic
picture. Now, lay your hand upon the glass,
and by the scratch Of your finger, or by the
warmth of your palm, all the drlicate tracery
will be obliteratcd. So there is in youth
beauty and purity of character which, when
once touched and defled; can never be 1cstor
ed; fringe more delicate: than frpstwolk, and
which torn and broken, iwin never be re-em-
broidered A man who has spotted and soled
his moral garments in youth, though be may
seek to make them white again, can never
wholly do it. even, were he to wash them with
his tears. When a young man, leaves his
iathcrs house, with the blessing Of his moth
ers tears still wet upon his forehead, if he
once loses that early purity of character, it is
loss he can never make whole again.