The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-05-23
Ghe 9S9aily Argas,
THE FEMALE WOMAN.
Thin or Srort--American, English,
French, and italian Girls, and Their
Adipose Development.
From the Neao York Times.

|
The women OF this republic are gener-
ally SO much slighter than the women of
other civilized nations that they are le-
markable and distinct for this fact alone
''As thin as an American" is a common
siuliie in Europe, and its fitness is seen
as soon as our women are compared with
those of the either hemisphere, or even of
parts of this. Europeans are constantly
commenting upon the fragllity of Amer
lean women, and are surprised that they
can have SO much nervous force and en-
DURANGO This fragility, far more arpar-
ent than real naturally strikes foreigner,
who is accustomed to SO much ampler pro-
portions not to say more redundant con-
tours in his own land ind. he isidisposed at
first to think our women race OF confirmed
invalids. Pale compleXlons, rather sharp
| features. and slender figures are to him
palpable evidences of disease; for he has
| learned TO associate robust health with
high color, full face and unmistakable
stoutness Outward signs are likely to be
deceptive. American women are not OF
the frmest but they are much trmer than
| they look, while many women OF the Old
World, pictures OF superintendent health,
are the opposite of what they show.
But man in general is more in the habit
of judging the other sex 9stheticaly than
physiologically. He asks himself atout
their cumellness, grace, elegance. or
manner, without thinking or caring over
much whether they have sound constitu-
lions or freedom from ailments.
Foreigners frequently crticise the Amer
lean woman tor her meagerness, her au9-
uarality, her pallor. while cOnceding her
grace, fexibility, mobile expression, ease
OF carriage, intellectual flavor She would,
10 doubt be gamer by an increase Of
hesh-she does lack roundness, as rule,
though there are iunumerabie exceptions
Likewise a certain physical, not less than
spiritual, touing down. She is net ideal in
her proportions; what woman is? for
nature has not fully discharged the duty
o. beauty to her, nor indeed to any of the
daughters of the earth. But nature is
Improving; with our help. she is slowly,
though steadily, advancing TO rarer exc
clti0n.
Tie English grill is frequently so fresh
aud wholesome; has such clear. bright
eyes, such wealth of blonde hair, such a
delicate pink and white complexion, that
! it is impossible not to admire her One is
excusable for enthusiasm. which, if he
. would keepit, he should express betimes,
dreading, as he has sound reason to, the
metamOrphosis of coming years. Not
t long after she has been married she is
;. apt t. change; her complexion loses its
" bloom, and dee pens in hue her plump
. ness degenerates into stoutn1ss; she be
- comes u gross exaggerntion OF her former
= self. She may still be good looking; but
+, she is 50 large looking that her qu1ndam
| suggestion OF deticacy, sweetness, and pro.
portion is swallowed up III sense OF color
redundancy, and vastness.
N So with the French woman, notably
a with the Parisienne. From eighteen &c
q twenty five, though less regularly hand
some than her English sister her bru
lie nette type, with her dark eyes and hair
y her clear, dark skin, her mellow roundnes:
n -yergins on, perhaps urging. over-ripe
8. ness-are sensououly inviting, and mentally
le also, coupled with her vivacity, sparkle
ID and fncsse But presently she expands
~ beyond the depressing power Of corset ant
ID Mantuan art; the Image of her elegance il
rudely aud etcrnally dispelled.
The young Italian reminds you of tn
Correggi0, Guido, and Rellini pictures il
face and lorm-whv should she not, sine
= those are but idealized copies! but a
s. she grows older she ceases to be u suhjec
n of, or study for, art Her graceful Gu,
lines are ublitcratcd by expansion; til
up pigment Of nature is too thickly laid on
les the tone of the model isatotally lost. TIL
ND blackeyed, olive complexioned, voluptu
re Gus Spanish maiden spreads into to
bounteous wifehood and maternity; yo
no longer lock for her supergenerou
counterparts on the canvas or panel {
d. Murillo or Velasquez
out Alas, alas, all the Old World runs
~ flesh with added years; the Angl3 Saxor
in reutonic, Latin, and Sciavonic races AZ
he unwilling that their daughters shall ste
within the boundaries of grace. Th
s01 Republic, aged century, alone prescribe
limitations TO the material groHtl OF he
womtn; keeping them, it may be, With
their best development. their loyeie
: blossuming Nature were wise, pc
chance, to strike an average. and so ben
c, fit both hemispheres. But since st
= does not let US be content with our spar
t. ness and our angularity. especially sin,
% these are scusihly growing less, we a
much nearer the ideal and the classic th;
h the rest of the globe is. Let our womt
/ rejoice that they are not fat; that they C;
approach middle life without accumulate
Is an overplus of flesh. IF they need CO
SUidllOu, tueg sNOulu ftDSupSi tiidt u
ipose matter is not given with discrimin
ton; that nature ordains it should be t
much or too little, and that, all thin
- considered. the latter is far preferable.
- The Greek statues, still regarded
uE perfection of form, as archetypes
beauty, are mere like American than Ii
other women; the old masters, (barri
Ma Rubcns and his reproductions of his t
huge, f4bty wives,) painted goddess
!, saints an3 madonnas without leaning
, stoutness. The great beauties of histo
the fascinating heroines Of poetry a
IT. fiction, we're slender, lithesome creatur
IL, whose glorious bodies seemed capable
reflection. There can be no real gra
no elegance, no untold charm in t
hundred avoirdupois; while she who
thiuness itself may still be enchanti'
may inspire poetry, may make men Il
for love Of her, aud set the world iE arr