Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-01


Undoubtedly there is much idle talk about
the wonderful extravaganza Of the ladies Of the
present day, their pursuit Of constantly chang
ing styles, and the Injuries demanded by those
who can, or think they can, afford the expense
One would be led to suppose. in the absence of
knowledge to the contrary, that these were
things Of modern growth. But just look at the
''style" they used to put on in early ages, and
their enormous extravaganza.
We are told that the ladies of Lesbos slept on
roses whose perfume had been artifcialy height
ened. And in those times court maidens pow
dered their hair with gold.
Marc Antonys daughter did not change her
dress half dozen times day, as do the Sara
toga graces, but she made the lampreys in her
fish pond wear earrings.
The dresses of Lolita Paulina. the rival OF
Agripina, were valued at g, 664 $50. This did
not include her jewels. She wore at one sup
per 81 .562. 200 worth of Jewels, and it was
plain citizens supper. The luxury of Poppaa
beloved by Nero, was equal to that of Lolita.
Ine women OF the Roman empire INDUCED in
all sorts of Injuries and excuses, and these
were revived under Napoleon |. in France
Nine. Tallien bathed herself in wash of straw
berries and raspberries, and rad herself rubbed
down with sponges dppe4 in milk and per-
fumes.
Ovid says that in his days girls were taught to
smile gracefully.
The beauties of ancient times were Just as vain
as modern bellies and spent the greater part of
the day at their toilet. Theuse of cosmetics was
universal among them. Aspasia and Cleopatra
(models of female beauty, it is said, both used
an abundance of paint and each wrote a treatise
on cosmetics. Cleopatra used bears grease to
keep her hair from falling out. Roman ladies
were so careful of their compilations that to pro-
tect them they wore masks. The Athenian
women of antiquity were very studious of their
attitudesand actions, and thought a hurried and
sudden step certain sign of rusticity
We have certain styles of beauty nowadays,
so had the Greeks. They were wild over the
Ideal chin"-nether sharp nor blunt. but gently
undulating in It's outline. and losing itself grad
ualy and almost insensibly in the fulness of the
neck. The union of the two eyebrows was
esteemed by the Romans beauty. 1t is said
they admired the air of dignity it gives to the
face.
An Albanian belle of to-day presents rather
cOiffed with seed pearls and coins and envelOped
in black serge pelsse. She uses paint on her
face profusedy, and her taste runs to cherry
lips and cheeks and jet black eyebrows strongly
drawn. An Albanian bride discards paint for a
while, and If wealthy wears suit something
like this: Rose colored under-robes, with an
Over-rObe of dark green velvet. the idea being
taken from rosebud halt folded in its leaves.
Thus arrayed the girl of handsome features is
said to look really bewitching.
The Tartars despise prominent nasal append
ages, and the woman who has the smallest nose
Is esteemed the more charming. but to the out
side barbarians she is perfect fright.
The women of Spill, in India, wear tunics
and trousers of wooden stuff, with large boots,
partly of leather, partly of blanket. which come
up to the knee: and which are fond of lacking
off at any time. In order to get greater warmth
they often put a quantity of flour into these
boots beside their legs. Their taste in regard to
ornaments runs much to all sorts of rings, in
Guiding nose-rings.
typical woman in the interior of Africa is
thus described: ''Her naked negro skin was
leathery, coarse, and wrinkled; her figure tot
tering and knock-kneed; her thin hair hung in
greasy locks on her wrists and ankles she had
almost an arsenal of metal links of iron, BRASS
and copper, strong enough to bind a prisoner
in his cell. About her neck were hanging
chains OF iron, strips of leather, strings OF
wooden balls, and heaven knows what lumber
mOre'