The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-06-25

TO BEAYTIFY THEMSELVES HOW
THEY OBTAIN BRIGHT EYES AMI
CLEAR XIONs-BELLADON.
Ma AND ARSENIC.
A writer in the Cincinnati Com.
nserciGl thus discourses upon these
twin curses of society:
Some years since, in New York, ]
was admiring lady met in society
aid was particularly eeatlIusiastie-cou
cerning her eyes. which flashed with
a brilliancy l had seldom seen equaled.
Commenting on them to physician
of my acquaintance, he said, drily,
"BELLADoNNA."
Upon my replying 1 had just been
remarking she was q fine woman, and
had such eyes, he laughed at my igno-
rance, and thought that people from
the Western cities had great deal to
learn when they came to the metrop-
oils. It was like those from rural dis
tricts visiting the city for the first
time. I fred up at this, and did battle
for my beloved West, which thought
and acted for itself, and was only be-
hind New York in wickedness, etc.
After some good-humored railery, he
asked if ] really did net know what
made the lady's eyes so bright
did not, and / said so.
He then informed me she took bel
ladOnna for the purpose, that being
one of the effects it produced. = had
never heard of such thing before,
and only knew there was drug of
the name. i learned in answer to my
question that it was quite 3 common
thing fer women thus to brighten
their eyes. To be sure, belladonna
was poison procured from thedead-
ly night-shade, the use of which was
dangerous in the extreme, and certain
to produce eyil consequences; but
what did a woman who was bent on
looking well and attractive tonight,
care how she suffered on the morrow.
Many other things l learned in this
conversation which had never
dreamed of, but when / reached home
and spoke of them, 1 found 1 need
not have gone all the way to New
York to be informed.
asked the Doctor, when he told
me these things, if he remembered the
story of the priest and the oats. A
hostler went to confession. The priest
inquired if he ever had creased the
horses teeth that they might not eat
so many oats. The man replied no.
Next time he came he confessed he
had. On the priest expressing aston
ishment, he said: 'fI did not know it
could be done, holy father, until you
told me-"
/ must confess l had somewhat of
this feeling on approaching the SUBJ
ject at home, but found that not only
married women, but young girls, knew
all about ii, and one or two quite
school girls, laughed at my ignorance
in the matter. So the West was not
so far behind the East in this particu-
lar as 1 had thought. ''Why, SO-and-
So always takes belladonna when she
goes to a party, and-and-eat arsenic
they did at school. and know good
many girls who use ether" This was
said with qaite an injured air, as
though was very slow, indeed, and
had done our girls wrong by my abb
sence of knowledge of their habits
and their manner of making them
selves fascinating and agreeable.
Still / insisted that it was only a
certain class of girls-fast girls-girls
of the period, who resorted to these
things; but l was laughed at for my
pains, however, and still insist that on
this point L am right.
DELIRIUM TREMENs.
1t was years ago, as have said, that
l was enlightened on. this matter, and
since then / have known of one terri
BILE instance of Womans' ruin from
taking something to make her feel
better when she was going out. She
was brilliant, beautiful woman ; had
an indulgent husband and children,
was admired and caressed in society,
and surrounded by every luxury at
home. She had begun with only a
wee drop when she felt depressed, or
did not feel we'll, and she died like
any low sot, of delirium tremens-
died in her bed, it is true, but it took
three or four to hold her there, and
her mother stood at the bedside with
clasped hands aud streaming eyes,
begging God to put an end to the dis