Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-19
Misrellaneous.
BEAUTY OF ENGLISH AND AMERICAN
W0MEN COMPARED.

One day lady whom had had the
pleasure of taking in to dinner in coun-
try house near London, and whom | mad
soon found TO be one OF those simple
minded, good-natured, truth-tellng wo-
men who are notably CONNIE in England.
spoke TO me about some ladies who on a
previous day had attracted her attention,
adding, Il knew they were Americans ;"
"Iiow ?' asked. "Oh, we always
know American women - but how,
pray ?' She thought moment, and an
swered: by their beauty-they are al
mosl always pretty. if not more-by their
exquisite dress" did not tell her that |
thought that She was right;
but that she was so | had by
that time become convinced. And yet |
should say that the most beautiful women
| had ever seen were English women
were it not Tor the memory OF a French
women, 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 Amer
lea than in England. saw more beauty
OF face and figure at the first two recep-
tions which | attended after INV 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 per-
| fecilon much oltener here than there
Beauty OF feature is, however, sometimes
more clearly defined in England than here
The mouth in particular when it is beau
titul Is more statuesque. The curves are
more decided, and at the juncture 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. 1t
gives Il chiselled effect to those fea-
lures which is not so often found
in America" but the nose
itself, the brow, and the set of the carriage
OF the head are generally finer among
american" In both countries, however,
the head is apt to be too large for perfect
proportion. This is a characteristic defect
OF the English tJpe OF beauty. Its effect
is seen Ia StOiharls figures, IN E,ty's, and
In those OF other English painters. Anoth-
er defect is in the heaviness OF the articu-
latiOns. Really liue arms are rare; but
fine wrists are rarer. Such wrists as the
Niennoise women have--of which saw a
| wonderful example in the Niennoise wife
OF Sussex gentleman-are almost un-
known among women OF the English race
in either country. 1t is often said, even in
| England, tina. "American' women have
more beautiful feet than Englishwomen
have. This | am inclined to doubt. The
feet may be smaller here; and they gen.
orally look smaller because Englishwomen
wear larger and heavier shoes. They are
obliged to do SO because they walk more,
| ana because OF their moister climate. But
| mere smallness is not beauty in a 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 proportion in other countries than
China. foot to be beautiful should seem
fit for the body which it supports to stand
upon and walk with. 1t is said bv some
persons, who by saying it profess to know.
that nature, prodlgal OF charms to Eng
llshwomen 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 do not venture TO give an
| opinion; but am inclined to doubt the
judgment in question upon general physio-
| logical principles. he human figure is
the development of a germ; and it is not
natural that, whatever may be the case
with individuals, the type OF a whole race
in one country should present this ncon-
| sistency. Possibly those who started this
notion We're unfortunate in their occasions
of observation and comparison. Richard
| Grant Hhile, IN the GdldTy for !Mdu.