The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-04-21
A TALK ABOUT BEAUTY.
BY II. A. IL.

"Aunty do you think it is wrong to wish
to be beautiful ~
Something in the earnest look and tone
recalled another question asked by this
same niece of mine, years before. when she
was wee girl of seven.
Then she had broken long silence with,
"Aunty, do you think the heather will be
saved?'
Evidently the years which had made her
almost woman had not settled every doubt
full subject TO her satifaction.
. | looked into the face, no longer child
ish, but child like, and thought within my
self that there was small need for youth,
and health, and innocence, to wish any
thing of the kind; but like a wise woman I
kept my thoughts to myself, and answered,
after the MANNER of my notion, with an
other question.
"WhS, May, do you wish to be beauti-
full %
Yes, do frankly, ard with a defiant
shrug of the shoulders" and do you think
it is wrong?''
Here was an opportunity, and thereupon
l made g a small talk" as an Indian would
say, something after this fashion:
are SO many other things SO much better
worth wishing for | would great deal
rather be what is called "a fine looking
woman,' than a beautiful woman. I'd
rather have beauty of mind and of heart
than beauty of person"
"As rule, which has few exception,
beauty is conscious, vain and empty headed;
the last as matter Of course, stree she
relies on her face rather than on her brains.
| have known, personally, only one beauti-
full woman who was not spoiled by her own
charms, and she had the rare grace of I'M
consci business. She honestly thought her.
self plain looking"
"Then, too, by one of the laws Of COM
pensatiop. beautiful people win no more
real, true love than homely people. Think
over the persons you care the most for and
you will be surprised to find how little your
liking depends upon their looks, or rather
how fair their faces have come to seem,
because of the good hearts which have ex-
preston there. We always see our loved
ones through Loves spectac!es. AS far
back as | can remember, that old saying
was dinned in my ears, Handsome is that
handsome does, and used to wonder what
it meant; now, thinking of many lovely
lives which have illumined very plain feat
ure, | kR03c.'
IL Is common experience Tor persons
going into strange places to think How
homely all the people are; but kindly fell
lowship nearly always changes the opinion"
Would you like to know my dear where
is the best description of a truly noble
woman | have ever read ?-the one | would
most like TO have you resemble -
May frightened up with a new interest,
and her eyes said Eyes" though she did
not interrupt with a word; and continued:
"Iou will find it in the thirty first chap
ter of Proverbs and you will see there is
not one word said about beauty, except
that it is vain; yet am sure such a woman
would have beauty of the soul lasting be-
yond the bloom of youth, all down through
the years, and into the great hereafter.
There was moment silence: when my
niece drew a long breath 4 could not make
out if it was relief at the end of my ser
mon, or some deeper feeling add said
"Well, Aunty, You have your wish. You
are not beautiful woman, but You are
very fine looking woman"
| looked half Indignantly into the up
turned face. Could it be May was making
fun of me? But no; family discernible
perched upon her nose Chat nose which
woud turn up little. and on whose Zip
rested tiny freckle. which last had occa-
sion to know, was May private I" thorn in
the flesh y were pair of the very Loves
spectacles " had been talking about. and
Trough them | stood tranSfi9 ured in her
eyes From the Bat. Sunday Telegram.