The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-07

swered by Newspaper-Views on the
Subject. rsss
New York SUM-
We have received from young lady
question which is so interesting and invites
our consideration of theme 30 delicate and
delightful, that we are fairly forced to an
swer it at length. This is what she writes:
SIR-WilI you be kind enough to tell me, are
young ladies considered more lovely, and
thought preferable, at the ages of from is to p,
or from p to % or rs? You will understand
me, do men most admire them? B.
Before proceeding to our answer, let us
thank our lovely friend for refraining from
any attempt to bias our judgment by giving
even hint Of her own age. She probably
though if che did so, natural gallantry might
lead us away from cool, judicial view of
the subject and tempt US to give the prefer
ence to the types of maidenly beauty which
appear IN young women OF her confessed
years. And we do not deny that such might
have been the case. As it is we are left en-
tirely in the dark as to the class to which
she herself belongs-whether she is between
IS and %, or betwe % and %; and so we
are able TO answer her question on its intrin-
sic merits.
LONELINESS in woman, though 1T may vary
in its character and manifestations at differ.
ent periods of life, Is not the property of
youth only. There is great and undeni-
able charm in the fresh beauty of Is, 10
which inexperience and early romance lend
perhaps additional fascination. A pretty
girl of that age, who has been untouched by
care, and who knows of the world through
imagination only, is very delightful object
and many men may wish they might take
captive her first affections. Between Is and
% the change of girl, so far as the charms
of her person go, are not likely to be great;
but In that time, by longer intercourse with
society and by natural development, she
may grow more companionable for men of
Iar coll r,1
become improved. Those are important
years in a young woman's life-the years
during which, in our climate, the majority
of the sex are married And yet.
from % to % or 26,
maiden may and generally does still further
store of her charms. She is still young, but
she has outlived many youthful fancies,
and feels some of the dignity of womanhood.
No better ages than those in maiden's life,
and never is she lovelier.
But why stop at 26? What fairer women
are to be found than many of those between
&c and 80, and even older? Girls OF Is may
look on them as unsought old maids and yet
they are in their womanly prime, and may
capture hearts which have been steeled
against girlish destinations. Oftentimes they
make the best OF wives, and men find a solace
and companionship In their society which
immaturity can not give. They have the
learned the lessons taught by longer contact
with the world, while still they may not be
averse to falling in love.
No, we assure our fair friend, it Is not that
a woman is Is, or 26. or 80, which makes her
lovely in the eyes of men. She may be just
as lovely at one age as the other; but mas
much as most marriages of women occur be-
tween the ages she mentions, 1t is safe to as
sumo that the majority of men prefer to
take wives who are not older. But all men
of taste and discernment admire feminine
beauty and loneliness whether they show
themselves in budding youth or ripper matu-
rity; and We will dare assert that if our cor
respondent was really charming at Is. she
will be more so at 26, or that if she is now
lovely at Is she ought to be loveiier at the
greater age. .e
But let her give no further thought to the
subject The beauty that is unconscious is
most alluring, and loveliness which exercises
its sway without apparent effort is sure to
make the best conquest This we say in full
confidence that the multitude..of weddings
which are to take place in the period after
Easter will confirm the truth of our words.
Let us hope that before another return of
this delightful season our fair correspondent
will be selecting her bridal outfit, having
found by happy personal experience that we
have wisely answered her important ques.
ton. &0f G