The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-04-17

always know American womenp "But
how, prayW. She thought a moment,
and answered:s "By their beauty-they
are almost always pretty, il not more
by their fine complexions, and by their
exquisite Dress" / did not tell her
that thought that she was right; but
that she was so I had by that time be-
come convinced. And yet snould say
that the most beautiful women l had
ever seen were Englishwomen, 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; /;
among that race it is commoner in
"America" than in England. l saw
more beauty of face aud figure at the
first two receptions which l ate nded
after my return than l had found among
the hundreds of thousands OF women
whom l had seen In England.
The types are the same in both coun-
tries; but they seem to come near to
| perfection much oltener here than there.
| Beauty of feature is, however, some
| times more clearly defined in England
than here. The mouth in particular
when 1t 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 delicatoly raised OUT
line which marks the form Of the ieat-
ure in very noble way. This may also
be said OF the nostril. 1t gives cbis-
eled 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 "Ameri-
cans" In both countries, however, the
head is apt to be toolarge for perfect pro-
portion. This Is characteristic defect
Of the English type of beauty. It's effect
is Seen in St0thard's figures, in Etty's
and in those OF other English painters.
Another defect is in the heaViness OF
the articulations. Really fine arms are
rare; but tine wrists are Still rarer.
such wrists as the Viennoise women
have-of which l saw wonderful eX-
ample in the Viennois wife OF Sussex
gentleman-are almost unknown among
women OF English race in either coun-
try. 1t Is often said, even in Eng
land, that "American women have
more beautiful feet than Eng
lish women have. This l am H.
clined to doubt. The feet may be smaller
here; and they generally look smaller
because English women 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 foot more
than in any other part OF the body.
Beauty is the result of shape, proportion
ana color; and teet are often cramped
out OF shape and out OF proportion In
other countries than China. A foot to
be beautiful should seem fl for the body
which it supports to stand upon and
walk with. IL Is said by some pei
sons, who by saying it profess to
know, that nature, prodigal Of charms
tO English women in bust, shoul-
ders, ana arms, is chary of them else
where, and that their beauty of figure Is
apt to stop at the waist. Upon this
point DO not venture to give an opin-
ION; but am inclined 10 doubt the judg-
ment in question upon general physlo-
logical principles. The human figure is
the development OF germ; and IL is not
natural that, whatever may De the case
with individuals, the type OF whole
race in one country should present this
Inconsistency. Possibly those who
started this notion were unfortunate in
their occasions Of observation and COM
parison.-L Richard Grant White, in The
Galaxy for May.