The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-08
GIRLS LOOK TO your LAuRELs.
Gay Widows Who are Capturing the
Matrimonial Prize.

New YORK, April 6.-"The buds says
Russian, ''are nine days wonder. and are
much talked Of for that space of time, but
it is the women past thirty who are the
most interesting in America. They seem
to have the gift of eternal youth, and at
fifty are more agreeable looking than the
women OF any other country"
Russians observation will surprise people
whose sole knowledge of fashionable society
is derived from the chronicerS of quarter
or half century back, but to the onlooker,
as well as to tne foreign traveller, it is
patent that there is great phi ysic al change
IN the American society woman as exempli-
fed in New York. They hold their age in
an astonishing and unprecedented ina lner,
and seem not to attain the zenith of their
beauty till q point beyond which they
we're once hopelessly pGSSe. Men say
that the women of to-day are at 35 no older
than they formerly were at 25, and taat
there is correspondent differences all along
the hae; that, consequently, they dress
younger without incong uity: and that be-
yond and above all this they have learned to
grow old with z ace, winch means that they
have at las recog lized that it is furtils to
sham youth and have set themselves to de-
velop wit, style and other attributes when
are permanent aid may grow instead of
lessen with time.
Miss Helen Beckwith of this city is
am ing the women past 30 who quite hold
their own against the debuta tes She is
SO, and is pot only very rich, but very
beautiful, and so fascinating that she at
tracts more attention from men than the
younger women. Nine. Barrios, the widow
Of the late President of G atemaa is 80
and has seven children, but she holds q
little court where adm rers throng, and
worship, nletaphorically, at her feet. Mrs.
Marshall no. Roberts is another beau
tiful woman past 80, and the list might be
indefinitely lengthe ed. The Homen-kill-
ers of Europe who have come over here,
these elderly beauties. Marlb rough, who
spent a season at Newport, snubled all
the young fry there, though they reso.
lutely placed themselves his way, aid
chose to spend his time with Mrs. Paran
Stevens, dashing aud 40, and other
veteran bellies; and other men of
wit and morals have done the
same thing. That she could have had
him if she had chosen no one tho knows
her doubts. There is story told of her
capture of Stevens, which may or may not
be true. but is said to be characteristic. 1t
runs like this: She and Stevens daughter
were schoolmates. and on one occasion she
visited her choolmate's home. Mr.. Stevens,
one day when he found himself alone with
her, chucked her under the chin I'd told
her she was pretty girl. She was poor
he was rich; this was her opportunity,
and they wore soon married.
In the time of our mothers and grand
mothers, if the society chroniclers are
guide, a woman was considered old after
twenty-five. If she did not marry in her
first season she was called 'relic" and
made to feel in the way. And there wa
some reason for the raillery,
Between then and now two things have
happened. Health has become the fashion,
and is sought for passionatelv and success
fully. Clear skins, natural color. firm
muscles, bright eyes and elastic steps are
now the order of the day, and a wo ian
who was once as transient as snow has be-
come as permanent as her husband That
preJenson to youthfulness is not now the
common weakness, Is evidenced by the fact
that the humorous papers. which CO fou d
thi, the most fruitful subject for jests, have
turned their attention to o her foibleS
With this change mans ia te re ,ardne
women see rs to have altered somewhat.
Where once he admired the beauty OF youth
alone aud was satisfied with dumb response
to emotion he now demands IA grea5 deal
more. The woman of to day must make
herself agreeable, not passively nut ac-
lively; she must be brilliant and witty, pos
sessed of tact and able to entertaia; NUT
nave JhC al VI VI NoSAi1St biO h4Oh VI
men, the art of fla tering, must be, in short,
a woman of the worll, with the
liberal education which at implies. TIE
day of the doll has passed away; the de-
butante is in no furry to get married, and
the yearling p1stu is not the W fe market
it was. Only one debutLnte of this season,
out of $50, is reported engaged, AMI many
of the most beautiful of last season are still
fancy free, and for all that the wits have
not thought it worth while to comment on
''ci deuant bellies" or disappointed maid
ensn
1t might be supposed that women who
keep up a CO tinuous round of dinners
operas aud balls, would Look dragged out
and weary and old, before their time, but
in reality they are in the most splendid
physical conditiol. They are up, it is
true till the small hours Of the morning,
dri king champagne, da1cing. conversing
and flirting, but this is their sole occupa-
ton. AMI it does not begin before o'cl ok
il the afternoon. The remainder of thei
time is spent in the pursuit OF health.
After a noon breakfast, they drive,
twice week, to the Turkish baths, and
are steamed, pounded, plunged AID show
cred, shampooed and manicured, and
turned out as if new-made from the hand
of God No other creature under heaven,
unless it be thoroughbred racers. have such
care given to their bodies as these women
whose business is society. Whatever sci
ence and art have discovered and invented,
or nature allotted, to give health and
beauty, is commanded by them, until it is
now beginning to be said, curiously, that
the women are outlasting the mon.
TIE society woman depends greatly on
luxurious bathing to renew her strength.
The Turkish bath must be taken outside the
home, but the bathrooms in some Of the
wealthy houses give evidence of their cost
illness and beauty Of the part they play in
the daily economy. Mrs. Henry Clewes'
bathroom is grotto of onyx; walls, q )or,
ceiling, basins, tub, all being of the
sculptured stone. Distilled and perfumed
waters flow at touch; it is like cool
cave where Undines sport, and no Monte
Cristo uld project thing more fanci full
and costly That of Mrs Cornelius Van
derbilt is very beautiful. The walls are of
mirrors, over which run painted vines Of
morning glory and passion flowers, form
ing an arbor suggestive of the bower where
Venus bathed, and the reflections doubtless
furnish Tltianesque hints Of attendant
nymphs. ADA CONE.
az had 'em ALL" said a rubicund. happy
faced gentleman. Gan whatF' saked his
frie I'd. "Why, all the SYMPTOMS of ma
laria, viz: lame back, achi < joints. sleep