The Brookhaven leader., 1883-08-23
Laughing and Crying.


The approach of age shows itself first
about the eyes. Lines come, family at
first. then deeper and deeper, until the
incipient crow-feet are indicated, devel-
oped, revealed. The woman who, look
ing in her glass, perceives these fatal
lines diverging from the outer corners
of her eyes, knows that she has reached
an era in her life. She recognizes it
with sigh, il she be q vain, lovely,
or worldly woman; with a smile, per-
haps, if she has children in whom she
can live her own youth over again. But
1t can never be gay smile. None of
us, men or women, like to feel youth
that precious possession-slipping away
from us. But we should never be on
the lookout for crow s-feet or gray hairs.
Looking for them is sure to bring them,
for thinking about them brings them.
Tears form a part of the language of the
eye, which is eloquent enough when
sparingly used, and which should be
sparingly used for other reasons than
that of adding to their mute eloquence.
Tears are disfguring expression of
emotion, and those who get into the
habit of weeping over every small vex-
alton do much toward acquiring a care
worn, miserable expression, and are
sure to look old before their time. Ex-
cessive weeping has been known not
only to iniure, but actually to destroy,
the sight. Few women look pretty, or
even interesting, in tears, though it-las
long been a pleasant fiction in poetry
and romance to suppose that they do.
Many women, some men and
most children make most dis
figuring and distorting grimaces while
crying, and the lady who thinks she
can work upon a mans feelings by a
liberal display of tears should care
fully study a becoming mode of pro-
ducing them before her looking-glass.
Grimaces soften no hearts, and tears
accompanied by the usual distortion
have a hardening effect, if not Il visi
BILE one. In a prettily-written book.
now probably out of print, purporting
to be the story of the life of one of
Mlton's wives, the author makes that
poet say of his wife's eyes after crying,
that they resembled the suns clear
shining after rain "a very pretty
natural object, indeed, but during the
rain itself the observer is not inclined
to be SO complimentary.
Grimaces of somewhat similar or
der are frequently made during the
action of laughter. Care should al
WAYS be taken with children to prevent
their falling into this habit. 1t fire.
quently reaches such a pitch as to rem
der the laughter positively unsightly.
The face is distorted and out of draw
ing. The eyes disappear, and the lips
are drawn up, revealing half an inch of
pale pink gum. This peculiarly some
! times runs in families, partly from un-
conscious imitation. | know one fam
lily whose grimaces during laughter are
most ludcrously alike. When they are
all assembled at the dinner-table, and u
joke goes round, there is not single
eye left in the family. Much, if not
all, of this could be prevented by due
care in childhood. The laugh can be
cultivated quite as much as the voice.
Actresses take lessons in laughing with
occasionally very charming results. L
do not, however, advise that such teach
ing should begin in early childhood,
lest it might destroy spontaneity and
produce an effect of artiticiality; but |
very strongly recommend mothers to
check disposition to make grimaces
during their childrens indulgence of
mirth. London Letter, IN 81. Louis
Republican.