The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-18
CONCERNING PAGES.

Most words are relative in their mean
ing, as, perhaps, most things are in their
significance. That is, they depend on
circumstances. For example, as to
beauty. You are a woman and think
yourself beautiful, OF a man and think
yourself handsome. Perhaps you are
right, perhaps not. The gift of seeing
ourselves as others see us, either NOR
ally or physically, is not granted to
many. 1t takes an extraordinarily able
and impartial judge to judge himself or
herself fairly and without bias. In
regard to ones opinion of ones own
looks is it not possible that one may
become so accustomed to his or her ap-
pearance, by years of familiarity in the
glass, as practically to Obliterate the
judicial faculty? Many a woman who
thinks herself beautiful, or man who
thinks himself handsome, is deceived
by long acquaintance which has worn off
h edge of surprise. Perhaps if they
could see themselves for the first time
in their lives after they have reached
mature years they would be startled at
their own ugliness.
The terms beautiful and handsome, as
applied to men and women, are relative.
The standard Of beauty in both sexes
not only differs in different countries and
ages, but in different parts of the same
country contempOraneously. In fact,
scarcely any two persons can be found
who agree in their judgment of what
constitutes beauty. Nothing is more
ommon in society than to hear persons
discussing whether Miss A. is more beau
tiful than Miss B., or wherein m excels
the other, or whether either is really
beautiful. 1t is not unusual to find
gentlemen unanimous and enthusiastic
in praising the beauty of a woman in
whom those of her own sex can see MOTH
ing to admire. Some might ascribe this
to jealousy or envy on the part Of
women, but let us attribute it to an
honest difference of opinion and stand
ard of judgment. All eyes cannot see
alike. Many ladies are almost beautiful
without being quite so. They have a
narrow escape from being beautiful,
though probably no woman en-
joys that kind of q narrow
escape. Many women are beautiful in
some eyes-those of a fond husband, for
instance-and not at all so in others.
Many who are not at all good looking at
first become positively beautiful upon
further acquaintance, owing to mental
accomplishments or charms of character
or disposition, which make one forget
their plain features.
1t is singular to think that of the end
less variety of human faces in the world,
and among the thousands of millions
which have existed, no two have been
exactly alike. Often there are close re-
semblances, but lever perfect ident-
ity. A human artist can hardly
draw or paint a dozen faces
from imagination without repeat
ing himself. The Great Artist makes
unnumbered millions and never dupli-
Gates a single face. The number and
| arrangement of individual features are
the same in all, but no two are exactly
alike. Evidently, the fundamental diff
ference in faces is in their expression, and
| this, in turn, depends upon the charac-
ter. That which is within expresses
itself on the face. The eyes are the
window of the soul, and the character
writes itself in the features.
Different standards of beauty prevail
in different countries. In the picture
galleries of Europe n sees Madonnas
painted by Italian, Dutch, Flemish, Span
| ish and German artists. In each one the
| artist has tried to make the mother of
Jesus beautiful according to his Owl
standard and conception of beauty.
| The result is that Mary is made to look
like an Italian, Dutch. Flemish, Spanish
or German beauty, according to the hand
| that painted her.
The American type of beauty in
women is marked and distinctive. No
| country has more beautiful women or a
greaternumber of them. Climate, breed
| ing, culture and environments all com
bine to produce a very striking type of
female beauty. Indianapolis has its full
share of them, and this is especially
| true of young ladies and girls in their
teens. There are scores of such here
who might furnish an artists ideal of
female beauty.