The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-05-20
How Ladies May Grew Old Gracefully.

How Ladies' May Grew Old Gracefully.
| tn the line of densafkatiou between
youth and middle age, says a writer in
the San Francisco Chronicle, comes a
time of dire temptation to womanhood.
The girl of fifteen or sixteen, to- whom
the future is full of golden possibilities,
cannot hasten too speedily the antici-
pated moment when she can throw of
the trammels which bind her to child
hood and emerge full-fedged young
lady. She Is impatient to adopt the
ways of her elders. The short and SIM
pie dresses of girlhood, simple fashions
of wearing the hair. have grown odious
to her. She cannot be content until
her hair is piled ON top of her head and
| long train is attached to the skirt of
her dress. A few years of revelry in
the privileges of young ladyhood, and
she becomes dimly conscious that there
was charm in the freshness and SIM
plicity of youth that all the fashionable
modistes in the world cannot restore
A few years more and the Consciousness
Of what they have irretrievab1y lost
falls upon many women with the force
of tragedy. The skin is losing it's old
time smoothness, the cheeks their fresh
tint; hints of wrinkles are coming upon
the forehead and about the eyes.
Threads of silver appear in the hair and
streaks of gold in the teeth. Time is
making It's Inevitable ravages upon the
once fresh and girlish features. The
best and most philosophical course
for woman to pursue when she ar
rives at this epoch in her life Is to-
gracefully submit to the unavoid-
able, and, by careful consistency in
dress and graceful and appropriate
adOrnment, strive not to conceal her
age, but openly conceding it, make it
as lovely as possible, for beauty of per-
son and charm of department belong to
no particular age, but are individual
qualities, capable of being manifested
at any period of life. The attempt to
compensate for the loss of youthful
charms by means of gay and girlish
dress is a disastrous error. There is
no mere pitiful sight than women of
thirty-five or more decked out in the
paraphernalia of youth. Jaunty hats
surmounting faded faces, stylish jackets
tightly drawn about corpulent or gen.
erously-developed forms, flaming rib
bons, overturned dresses, all serve
but to draw attention to the defects
they are designed to conceal. Women
could study military tactics to advan-
tage. Wise warriors rarely rush head
long into an enemy's region, but seek
combat in their own country, where |
they can avail themselves of the vantage |
ground given by experience and usage.
Yet there is no need for middle-aged or
elderly women to relax into the shape
less gowns, destitute of ornament, or
the dingy colors which characterize
some aged females. A little legitimate
artistic effort, judicious choice and good
taste combined will render even the
most subdued dress pretty. We call to
mind a lady between fifty and sixty
years OF age, moving in our best circles
Of society. She is descended from one
81 the Oldest Philadelphia families, and
The gentle Quaker breeding displays it
self in her softly-modulated voice, gen.
lie manners and dignifed bearing.
sorrow and care have left ineradicable'
Impressions upon her heart, but
The soft outlines of her face have never
received a harsh touch. Her home and
evening dresses are always made with
he greatest simplicity, of soft flowing
Material rich or unassuming, as the
occasion demands, but always perfectly I
lifting the slight, queenly form, and
with full, soft frill about the
neck: She is never old-fashioned, for
Ter dress conforms in some way to the
'elgnlng modes, but is so modified that /,
never differs conspicuously from the
costumes OF others. Such a woman is
one sense the most dangerous rival ..
young girl can have. The saucv !.
of young society lady,
Ter most fascinating arts and graces.
ppear to poor advantage beside The un-
onscious and dignifed. self-possession
I the elder lady, while the CAV oar.
aents OF the younger cannot borrow
ne distinguished air possessed bv
he other. The distinctive air Or 7
tyie peculiar to the dress of some
adies cannot be acquired from the >
Judy OF fashion plates. 1t is the reflex !.
an inner individuality, and the !.
rowth OF an intuitive sense of what is q
and appropriate, with the /!
arer glft OF the ability to produce a Ii
eslred effect. Some women. with q
Nv pats OF the hand and the insertion
pin. can effect more in correcting II
le defects and Tightening the merits e
costume than other women can u
,nleVe IN hours OF study and perplex- q
A Day Of Dupes. n
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