, 1876-05-27
Pretty Women.


of this cannot be gain said. I" Pretty
: is his pet adjective; he applies it TO at
the daughters Of the earth in the way
Of encomium on inquiry. lie says,
} she is very prettg,' as though Tan
ewing he had exhausted euloGy. lie
asks, 3" Is she pretty ?" as though
: deeming any other question superiiu>
Gus. But does he mean pretty IN the
e generally received sense? Does be
mean only fair attractive exterior
; Does he wish to convey that he feels
> no interest in aught but certain WIN
Ming material combinations
Not in the least. Ask him, and he
,, will tell you as much. Prettiness is
vague sort of substantive, very
loosely applied TO womankiuG in a
manner generally designed to be ln-
definitely complimentary. lie em-
ploys it though he may be unaware OF
it, not so much TO interpret any physl-
cal quality as to express an agreeable
effect produced upon him by agencies
he does not, perhaps could rot, ana
lyze.
The term is merely conventional.
4 pretty women in the private luxlcon
Of masculinily, signifies woman ln-
tereSting from whatever cause. Who
has not known women TO be called
pretty that could not hardly boast of
a single handsome feature? -? Who has
not been acquainted with those enjoy
ing a wide reputation for prettiness
that had almost any other than a
physical charm She who has dis,
! tinctly graceful manner, or an elegant
air, or fine tact, or a talent for con-
versation, or quick sympathies, or
cordial ways, or the art of listening
well, albeit plain in face, and of or
dinary figure, is frequently styled
| pretty, and the adjective is repeated
until it is fastened upon and constant
/ ly associated with her.
They who speak of her as oretty
nse the accepted word to say that she
is agreeable to them. That is all.
They know that it will convey their
meaning at once, while, if they at
tempt to particularize, or 90 out Of
the beaten path of social language,
they may not be understood.
Men seldom have any, much less a
clear conception of the cause of their
liking for This or that woman. They
feel the fact, but know nothing This is
in entire accordance with the roman
tic theory whicn ayers that our mas
lerirg atiinities should be independent
of our reason, if not positively invol
uniary. Flncying that good looks
are the chief source OF attraction in
woman, men are prone to believe that
she to whom they are attracted must
he good looking Consequently they
call her so whether she be or not, and
thus help to misrepresent themselves
in respect to the other sex. Nor are
/ they without n liberal share of the
/ ideaIizng power presumed TO belong
exclusively to their sisters aud sweet
hearts. They see in the face and fig
ure what is behind these; the light
/ they detect within shines through and
/ iIIuminates the whole exterior. They
are likely to believe woman hand
some if they are fond of her, Tor beau.
ty is so associated with affection that
| il might almost be defined as the thing
we love.
We do not wish to uuderrate femi-
nine beauty in the least. 1t is very
important factor in human life, in the
destiny cf the race But 10 be com-
manding, to be continuously inhuen>
tial, it must be sustained and co ordin-
ated with something else. Apart from
mind, manners culture, character, it
is a poor possession, and only PRO
claims the lack Of what hv q natural
law, should be its aAjuncts. Alto~
gether too much stress has been and
is laid upon it separately. Its overes-
innate does harm by inducing those
who have il 20 neglect the attributes
which should accompany it, and which
serve to mbellish it as rich setting
embellisheS a stone not precious in IT.
self. Trey who are devoid of beauty
are also hurt by its undue apprecia
ton being discouraged thereby from
cutivatiDg social, spiritual or intel
lectural graceS or charms that might
more thsn compensate for its absence.
A merely pretty. handsome. or beau
ti!al woman. IN all that lends attrac-
ton to her kind, is no match for one
who Is plain, even homely in person,
| provided the latter has tact, Gelicacy
or instinct, elegance and cleverneSs.
, The former ma;, probably will, make
a decidedly agreeable impression al
first, for personal comelinesS Is Ike a
, letter of Recommendation. But the
impression will be removed, and q
L certain reaction will set in. nuless The
; pretty woman can prove by some Other
T. and higher means her full right TO hel
: physical favor. She will soon be re
! gqrded as counterfeit, having moth
b ing internal 20 answer 20 the external
a at once so prepossessing AMI so decep
r tious.
e The plain or homely clever woman
r on the contrary, will be pleasant
z, sarprise, since she promises scarcely
} anything and contributes much, Sht
: has the best inside, instead o: tn;
:, best outside; she advances, while he
II fair sister rotrogrades; she expands
r while the other shrinks, ana gracious
Is ly rounds ont the circle Of her being
h Who are the interesting, the attrae