The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-24
MRS. xYRA CLARK GAINES.
fPhiiadelphia Correspondence Chicago Tribune

IFnne0elpnlA Correspondence Cni1So IFiDunel
Here we saw Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines. In
seeing her for the first time, one is struck by
q certain sense Of incongrnity. Knowing
her years, the golden wig and youthful dress
at first strike one with sense of pain. The
cnrls hanging down her back would be charm
ing at sixteen, as would also the bows on her
shoulders, and the general youthful appear
ance Of her attire. And yet who shall cavil
Mrs. Gainess eyes are bright and dark, her
intellect seemingly unimpaired, and her
blonde wig undoubtedly takes off score of
years from her record. Who shall say how
much influence this may have had toward
helping her to keep up the good fight for her
claims! Had she looked in the glass and
found there the scant, white locks of age,
that seem to mark the stages of decay,
might she not have given up, have thought
life too short to be worth such struggle,
even for its most costly gift, and have said :
"Only give me enough to last my few re-
naming years, and it is all l ask ?"
How very probable! Instead, when she
dresses herself to do battle with her
opponents, she finds the golden tresses
of youth npon her brow. She knows they
are not her own, but they have the same ef-
feet as if they were. There is no feeling of
sluggishness within her veins life is still
king, and, if decay is prime minister, his
power is as yet subjective; SO she feels
filled with renewed courage to urge year
after year her suits against those who have
the nine points of possession. Like Samson
Mrs. Gainess strength, am sure, lies in her
hair; and the surest way to conquer her
will be for one of the opposing counsel to
play Delilah and steal her wig. She was
eagerly conversing with some gentlemen
who also had claims, and vituperating
person whose name did not learn. Don't
trust him don't trust him for minute
He'll steal papers Il know it Be warned
by me, and don't trust him. Then, having
wished her companion success, she turned to
lady friend and asked, "Have yon got your
new bonnet allow oyou like it q! What did it
cost - She was wearing, herself, jaunty
hat and feather, which matched her rig in
yOuthfulness. And here is where men geo
the better Of us poor women. Their dress is
so uniform that it helps to conceal their age.
The hale old dandy of fifty or sixty years
may wear the same style Of overcoat, neck
tie, collar and hat az his son, who is an ex-
guisite of rs. Are seal skin caps the rages
then one of the latest style can cover his
gray locks; and we are apt to say of him,
with his gray mOnst ache and erect bearing
What a handsome, stylish mani"
Suppose, however mamma, of 40, even at.
tempted to wear the same fur cap or jaunty
hat as her daughter Of 16, what would then
he the critibismi "See that old woman try
ing to make herself look young! l should
think she would wear things little more
in accordance with her age. Still, what a
handsome woman she has BEEN" Yes, it is
the women who are has beens. Until the
men fall into the very last stage of lean and
paralytic he;plessness, they are
still. or consider themselves to be. in the
pre- sent tense of good looks and captivation.