The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-05-19
English and American Women.

One day lady whom had the pleas
ure of taking into dinner in a country
house near London, and whom | had
soon found to be one of those simple
minded, goodnatured, truth telling
women who are notably common in En-.
gland, spoke to me about some ladies
who, on previous day, had attracted
her attention, adding: 81 knew they
were Americans" How" | asked.
"Oh, we always know American women!n
But how, pray?" She thought "a mo-
ment, and answered: "Bv their beauty
they are almost always pretty, if not
more-by their fine compilations, and bv
their exquisite dress" l did not tell her
that l thought that she was right; but
that she was so l had by that time be-
come convinced And yet l should say
that the most beautiful women | had
ever seen were English women, were it
not for the memory of Frenchwoman,
"a German, and Czech. But the latter
three were rare exceptions Beauty is
very much commoner among women of
the English race than among those of
any other with which am acquainted;
and among that race it is commoner in
America" than in England. saw
more beauty of face and figure at the
first two receptions which l attended
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 per
lection much oftener here than there.
Beauty of feature is, however, sometimes
more clearly defined in England than
here. The mouth in particular when it
is beautiful! is more statuesque. 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
a very noble way. This may also be
said of the nostril. 1t gives chiseled
effect to those features which is not so
often found in America, but the nose
itself, the brow, and the set and carriage
of the head are generally finer among
Americans" In both countries, how
ever, the head is apt to be too large for
perfect proportion. This is character
istic defect of the English typeof beauty
Its effect is seen in Stothards figures, in
Etty's, and in those of other English
painters. Another defect is in the heavi-
ness of articulation. Really fine arms
are rare; but fine wrists are still rarer
Such wrists as the Viennoise women have
of which | saw wonderful example
in the Niennoise wife of a Sussex gentle
man-arc almost unknown among women
of English race in either country. 1t is
often said, even in England, that Gamer
lean" women have more beautiful feet
than Englishwomen have. This am in
clined to doubt. The feet may be smaller
here; and they generally look smaller,
because Englishwomen wear larger and
heavier shoes. They are obliged to do
so because they walk more, and because
of their moister climate. But mere
smallness is not a beauty in a foot more
than in any other part of the body.
Beauty is the 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. 1t is said by some persons,
WIN ny say ny II PiOlCoS W hho", tudI
| nature, prodigal of charms of English
women in bust, shoulders, and arms, is
chary of them elsewhere, and that their
beauty of figure is apt to stop at the
waist. Upon this point l do not venture
to give an opinion; but l am Inclined to
doubt the judgment in question upon
general physiological principles, The
human figure is the development of a
germ; and it is not natural that, what
ever may be the case with individuals
the type of whole race in one country
should present this inconsistency. Pos
| sibly those who started this notion were
unfortunate in their occasions of obser
walton and comparison.-Richdrd Gram
White, in the GalaTy for May.
| How Female Suffrage Works.