The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-10-21
Arsenic Used to Preserve White Com
plexions.
Neso York Letter

Neto York Letter.
The discovery Of arsenic In the remains OF
the unfortunate Jennie Cramer, and the
mooted question as to whether IL was admin
istered to her or whether she had not taken
1t herself for the preservation Of her remark
ably white complexion, has revived the sub
,ect of arsenic-eating In this city. A chat
with one or two prominent druggists and
physicians has given me some idea Of the ex-
cess to which this pernicious and dangerous
habit Is INDUCED In.
1t has It's foundation, of course, in the de-
sire for beauty so natural in every woman,
and how important part an exquisite COM
plexion plays In the general appearance Is
recognized when we note how easily . girl
wins the title Of pretty, even II her features
are poor and her dress simple, II she has Q
pure, soft, white skin, that enables her to
wear either the color Of blonde and brunette
with impunity, and to defy the rough caress-
e. Of the sun and wind; while another girl
with well-cut features and all the advantages
Of toilet is doomed to the cruel adjective Of
"plain," on account Of sallow or pimpled
complexion, which neither powder nor rouge
used In decent quantities can conceal.
To gain what nature has denied, women
resort TO every conceivable device, from the
use Of simple lemon-juice and glycerine to
the elaborate compounds imported from
France, and the expensive treatment Of the
specialists who promise to make lilies and
roses bloom on . satin-smooth skin. There
sre great many Nine. Rachaels on small
scale In New York, and each of them has
her own particular recipe for identifying the
epidermis.
One woman has place on Fifth avenue,
where she gives baths Of asses milk to her
lady customers for the triHing sum of SIS
each, and she has enough patronage to be
making money fast.
A firm on Broadway, that has the hand
soonest business parlos In the city, has made
. fortune out Of peculiar sort Of mask TO
be worn over the face ut night. A stout dame
on Twenty-third street uses the bread-and-
milk-poultice method, and treats her patrons
In her own house. Others advertise their
ability TO supply new skin, which means
that they will remove the old one by power
full washes. The most "toney" Of these
skin doctors live In elegant style and make
profound mystery Of the lotions they en-
ploy.
Most Of them are artful enough TO have
one or two young girls In attendance gifted
with naturally beautiful compilations, but
ready 70 swear that they are tile result Of
Madame's "balm" or abloom." One Of
them, who has place near Union square,
employs handsomely dressed young lady
with . brilliant complexion to call Eve or six
times day and thank her In the presence OF
fresh customers for her new skin.
Yet spite Of all this the only women
who have beautiful compilations are those
born with them.
To say nothing OF the compounds made up
In this country, and which have reaped for
tunes for their orieinators, cosmetics are Inn.
ported In thousands Of dollars worth 1t .
time through the year, and many Of them
contain white lead and arsenic In such large
proportions . to be positively dangerous
and not unfreouently fatal In their results
The worst Of experimenting with the com.
plexion 10 that when woman begins she
finds kind Of fascination In II that will moi
allow her to leave of, and the country girl
who begins BY daublng her forehead and CHR
with -four and rubbing her cheeks with Z
mullen-leaf, - city lady winds up with
Roman baths aud Parisian lotions.