Connecticut western news., 1877-05-25
Beauty Of English and American
 Women Com paF ed.

Beauty OG English ana American
 Women Compared
 One day lady whom had had the pleasure of taking into dinner in a cOun- try house near London, and whom 1 had soon found to be one of those simple minded, good-natured, trGth-telling women who are notably common in England, spoke to me about some ladies who on 8 previous day had attracted her attention, adding, s1 knew they were Americana "HowP' asked. ''Oh, we always know American wo- men!' She thought moment and answered: "By their beauty-they are almost always pretty, If not more-by their fine complexions, and by their exquisite dress." I did not tell her that thought that she was right; but that she was so had by that time be- come convinced. And yet should say that tho most beautiful women had ever seen were Englishwomen, were it not for the memory of a Frenchwoman, German, and Czech. But the latter three were rare exceptions. Beauty is very much more common among women of the English race than among those of any other with which am acquainted {; and among that race 1t is commoner in "America" than in England. 1 saw more beauty of face and figure at the first two receptions which attended after my return than had found among the hundreds of thousands of women whom had seen in England.
 The types are the same in both coun- tries; but they seem to come near to perfection much oftener here than there. Beauty of feature Is, however, sometimes more clearly defined in Eng land than here. The mouth in partic- ular when 1t Is beautiful Is more statu esque. The curves are more decided, and at the junction of the red of the lips with the white there is delicately raised outline which marks the form of the feature in very noble way. This may also be said of the nostril. It gives chiselled effect to those features which is not so often found in "Americs" {; but the nose itself, the brow, and the set and carriage of the head are gener- ally finer among Americans" In both countries, however, the head is apt to be too large for perfect propor- tion. This is characteristic defect of the English type of beauty. Its effect is seen in Stoddart's figures, in Etty's, and in those of other English printers. Another defect is in the heaviness of the articulations. Really fine arms are rare; but fine wrists are still rarer. Such wrists as the Viennoise women have-of which saw 8 wonderful ex- ample in the Viennoise wife of Sus- sex gentlemau-are almost unknown among women of English race in either country. It is often said, even in Eng. land, that American" women have more beautiful feet than Englishwo. men have. This am inclined to doubt The feet may be smaller here; and they generally look smaller because Eng. lishwomen wear larger and heavier shoes. They are obliged to do so be- cause they walk more, and because ol tn cir moister climate. But mere small ness is not beauty in foot more than in any other part of the body. Beauty is the result of shape, proportion, and color; and feet are often cramped out of shape and out of proportion in other countries than China. A foot to be beautiful should seem fit for the body which it supports to stand upon and walk with. It is said by some persons who by saying it profess to know, that nature, prodigal of charms to English. women in bust, shoulders, and arms is chary of them elsewhere, and that their beauty of figure is apt to stop al the waist. Upon this point ] do mol venture to give an opinion; but I an inclined to doubt the judgment in ques tion upon general physiological princi ples. The human figure is the develop ment of a germ; and it is not natural that, whatever may be the case with individuals, the type of whole race ir one country should present this incon' sistency, Possibly those who started this notion were unfortunate in theil occasions of observation and cempa | rison.