Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-06-24
, CHAPTER vi.

IN WHICH LADY BEAUTY HAS HER PORTRAIT
PAINTED IN PRINTERS INK
[Shall I tell you why have written this
story? 1t was because met Sophia Temple,
then styled LADY Beauty" in her fifty third
year; and her power to charm lat an age
when charms are commonly supposed to be
dead and gone) led me to ask, What is this
woman's secret! And having searched into
her life and character, and noted her ways, l
venture to offer this imperfect record of her
life, and this still more imperfect picture of
herself, for the study of hel sex generally. l
wish to convince women that it is great
mistake on their part to suppose that their
power to please departs with youth At all
times have noticed that men of sense seldom
admire-or, if you like grow enamored Of
women for beauty alone, but for character,
manner, taste and conversation. Now, while
beauty I'VE must admit lessons with time,
character, manner, taste and conversation
may each be refined and enriched; and these,
l believe, by their improvement can quite
compensate for the loss of personal charms
Mere beauty is but one bright, unchanging
beanl-it will grow even wearisome; but
wit, sense, courtesy and humanity are forever
casting forth new and unexpected rays, and
enlivening intercourse with agreeable sur
prises And so the story of Lady Beauty is
written as a humble attempt to encourage
women to try to be charming to their latest
day. For they can do it if they tryl
Sophia was without question far inferior in
physical beauty to Sibyl, and l think most
people would have said that she was not SO
handsome as Caroline. Her features were
regular, her nose straight and fine, her COM
plexion delicate and rosy; but still, in her
face she was no model of womanhood. Her
expression-and what is expression but char.
acter fixed in the countenance!- Sophia
what she was. Her delicate upper lip, with
the hint of tirmness in its fine line, told of
resolution; the soft hazel eyes, with their up
ward glance, had a look Of aspiration; the
mouth was full of tenderness, ready to mold
itself oevery affectionate feeling. But what
was this after all? Sophia's nature in So
phia's face!
She was the best dresser ever knew. OF
color, either by study or natural gift, she
was perfect mistress Accordingly her ap-
pearance pleased numbers of people before
they saw her face; and many a time as she
went down the street the curiosity of those
whe walked behind was aroused to see what
might be the face of the woman whose gown
and mantle were SO striking by the harmony
or the contrast of their hue Flowers, rib
bons, brooches, all that sets Off dress, she used
with the most unerring taste. And she man.
aged through all the changes of fashion to re-
spect herself and her own figure and face; in
the fashion she always would be, but still she
modulated it so as to be the queen and not the
slave No doubt Sophia must have paid
great attention to her dress, but scarcely
think she could have achieved such constant
success, or SO complete, had she not been
dresser born. .....,..a.,.
Then her manners in society were cap
tivating Here ! think the little mothers
homilies were useful, indeed. With what
graceful attention she heard what you had to
sayl How modestly she gave her own
opiniopl She was well read, and could take
her part in most conversations with ease;
and now and then she could deal out witty
stroke. Indeed, Sophia had great deal Of
huinor, but seldom gave it the rein in society.
Night was her time, with Car and Sibyl; and
often the two more brilliant girls as they
laughed at her comical "reminiscences of the
day would feel how easily Sophia could out
shine them il she tried
she loved the world. Here again the in
fiuence Of her mother was perceptible, with
this difference. that the world in her mothers