The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-13
Gables portfolto.
Agreeable Women.

Why is that pretty women are spoken of
as if they, Of all others, were the elect !
The term is merely conventional, for she
who is interesting from whatever cause Is
generally called pretty" by her masculine
friends, though her feminine ones are not
quite SO ready to accord her the title. She
who has graceful manners, or style IN dress,
or cordial, bright ways, is frequently term
ed pretty, though both face and figure may
be very ordinary. A really plain woman
who has a talent for conversation, style IN
dress, tact and quick sympathies, will prove
a formidable rival to a woman who can
boast of only a beautiful complexion and
regular features. 4 woman must possess
something more than a beautiful face in or
der to charm her admirers for any length
of time. The first favorable impression she
makes may be entirely spoiled by a loud
voice or a coarse laugh, or manners which
are not agreeable.
1t is extremely difficult to say what is the
real criterion of beauty in woman. In the
Sandwich Islands only a very fat woman Is
considered beautiful; the Chinese admire
deformed feet and black teeth. A woman
must wear a ring In her nose and be tat
tooed sky blue in order to win the admira-
ton of a South Sea Islander; and African
DTluCcS lHSlSI upon udNliS lHC lCCli " IL
brides filed like those of a saw. Thus 1T
will be seen that all men do not have the
same opinion as to what constitutes beauty
IN woman.
Most girls possess personal attractions In
Il sufficient degree to renderthem agreeable
to somebody. The same face does not wear
the same attraction to every beholdcr.
The eye of love will discover attractions
which would surely escape the eye OF the
casual and Indifferent observer. 1t is well
it is so, or there would be no matrimonial
chances for the hopelessly ugly girl. They
depend upon their power of being agree
able, and if cultivated in the right way this
power will be of more use to them than any
other.
There is great partiality shown in the cul-
~tivation Of the head over the heart. But
the culture of the latter should be real.
The counterfeit will never pass muster.
She who truly studies to promote the hap
piness Of those with whem she is associa-
ted, will never lack admirers. A woman
who desires to please must endeavor to be
pleased. She must show no consciousness
of self, 10 desire to make an impression in
any way. The social talents of Others must
delight her to the exclusion of any delight
in her own.
'That is the mcst agreeable woman |
ever met" said an old gentleman to me one
evening, as he left the side of a tall. slen-
der, pale woman, with nondescript features.
| smiled, having noticed that the ''agree-
able woman" had not spoken except in
monosyllables. Her charms for him lay in
being able to listen well-and he loved to
talk. She understood the art Of being
agreeable, and cultivated it, since she had
neither beauty nor style.
The woman who INDUCES in sarcasm. OIL
finds pleasure in saying hateful things i:
never spoken of as agreeable. Her sheer:
aimed, perhaps, at some defect in person
or some sacred opinion, are worse thar
blows. The bright, sharp witticism ma,
cause the laughter of the thoughtless hear
ers, but to the person at whom it is leveIec
it is like a red hot needle piercing the soul
No soul stands out without disguise.