Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-11
AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
THE FASCINATION OF BEAUTIFUL
WOMEN

A writer discussing of beautiful women
says: "History is full of accounts Of the
fascination Of women who are no longer
young" Among the women of antiquity
he mentions are Helen Of Troy, who was
forty when she was carried of by Paris;
Aspasia, the courtesan, who was thirty-s'x
when PeTicles married her, after having
separated from his wife. Cleopatra was
past thirty when Anthony came under her
spell. Coming down to more modern
times the following facts are verified by
the American CyclOpe,lia: Diana Of Por-
tiers, mistress Of Henry III. of France, mar
ried at thirteen; at thirsy-two she was left
a widow with two children. When nearly
forty she became mistress Of the DauphiB,
afterward Henry III. She retained her
influence over the king until his death,
though she had reached the ripe age Of
sixty. Her power was due not less to her
beauty than to her intellectual gifts.
NinOn de fEnclos, French courtesan; the
CyclOpedia speaks Of her as beautiful,
witty, and fond Of cultivated society. She
early became popular in Paris, her love
being sought by many of the most eminent
men Of the age. She had a constant sue
ceSsiOn of lovers, though she never depend
ed on them for support. Distinguished and
modest women cOurted her society, among
whom was the queen Of Sweden. She " as
regarded as a model Of refinement and ele-
gance in her manners. Although she led a
life of pleasure far into her old age, she
preserved her beauty and fascination al
most to the last, and is said to have had
lovers for three gensrations in the family
of Sevigne. One of her own sons who had
been brought up in ignOrance.Of his birth,
az the age Of nineteen fell in love with
her, she then being ffty-six. Blanca Ca
dellO, mistress and afterwards wife Of
Francesca, grand duke of Tuscany, mar
ried the duke when she was thirty-seven,
she being five years his junior. Nine.
DeMaiutenOn, who when she was sixteen
married the poet ScaTOn, a cripple and
paralytic. became widow at twenty-five,
and remained so until she was fifty-One,
when she was secretly married to Louis
XIV. Of France, after he had yainly sought
to make her his mistress. She was eele-
brated for her beauty and wit as well as
her wisdom and wonderful abilities. She
really governed France through Louis till
his death, period of nearly thirty years.
Her predecessor in royal favor, Nine.
Montesban became Louis mistress when
twenty-Seven years of age, and held her
place as soul OF the court" for fourteen
years. She had eight children by the
king. Nine. Mars, a French actress,
came into public favor at thirty-twO, and
held that place for thirty years. When
past sixty she was able by her grace and
animation to so effectually conceal the
ravages Of time as to appear like girl Of
twenty. She left her large estate TO her
son, who was born when she was seven
teen, though most Of tue tine until her
death she persistently refused to see him.
Instances like these might be multiplied
almost endleSsly. How these women pre-
served their lOVeliness and powers of fas-
einatiOn in spite Of early marriages, child
bearing and increasing years, is secret
that would be well worth knowing.