The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-01
THE USE OF COSMETICS.

ttE USE OF COSMETICS.
From Lecture by j. II. Kellogg, nj. d.,
OF Battle Creek Sanitarium.
Cosmetics are moro extensively used
among Americans than among any other
class If women, and this prevailing
custom OF using powders and lotions for
tho faco is partly duo to false ideas of
what constitute 4 beautiful complexion
The rich, dark complexion OF tho bru-
motto is just as beautiful as tho delicate
pink and whito of tho blond, provided it
is healthy and clear. Tho average usor
of cosmetics does it to cover up dingi-
ness and blotches which sho has reason
TO DO ashamed of, since
sho is responsible. Tho skin
IS ono OF tho cxcretory organs OF the
body and carries off from one and half
to two pints of waste material evory
twonty-four hours. Brain work and mus
clio work are all tho time breaking
down tissues and creating poisons which
would DO fatal if retained within the
body, so closely is activity allied with
death. II the action OF any one OF the
five great depurnting organs is interior
cd with or injured, tho remaining ones
tax themselves to tho utmost to do tho
extra work of eliminating these poisons.
1t Is plain then that tho health and
beauty Of tho skin must depend upon
the activity and integrity Of the other
cxcretory organs. Tho skin is naturally
semi-transparent as is all living tissue,
but it becomes dull and Opaque whom
other work than its own is
forced upon it. Tho appearance
OF tho skin may be tax
en- as good index Of tho condition of
the rest of the body Whom q part of
tho work of the liver is forced upon it,
1T is unable to make all the changes
necessary to elimination and so particles
of organic dirt arc deposited and the
skin loses its brilliancy. Tho same
whom the bowels arc lax about doing
their share OF the work or if tho lungs
arc so crampcd for room rs to do impor-
feet work.
less scdcntary lives. They may work
themselves nearly to death in society
matters, but that is not tho kind of
activity which is conducive to health
In consequence their lives stagnate,
they do not breathe half enough and
tho skin becomes saturated with dead,
inert matter and is not very pleasant to
look upon so perhaps it is not any won
der that they seek to hide its real ap-
pearance by means of cosmetics Brisk
exercise in tho open air means the talk
ing in of large supplies of oxygen with
its cleansing, vivifying powers, giving q
sparkle to the eye and q tint to tho COM
pleXion which works powerful trans
formation in appearance. 1t is exactly
like letting strong current Of fresh air
sweep through an unventilated, musty
apartment. Ladies, go out OF doors as
much as possible and lot tho breezes of
heaven sweep in fresh, life-giving cur
rents through overy artery, vein and
capillary that it may burn up the accu-
mulating poisons. Then you will have
less excuse for using cosmetics.
A strong reason why American women
do not walk moro is that they dcliber-
ately cripple and abuse the muscles of
their bodies and cramp the action of
lungs, liver, stomach and kidneys by
their manner of dress. Toll O woman
to take deep breath and palpitation
OF tho Ghost and raising of the Shout
ders is the only apology for breathing
which She can manifest. Ask man to
take deep breath and Immediately his
ribs swoll out just as the ribs Of dog or
any lower animal docs in breathing. All
uncivilizcd women breathe naturally,
using the diaphragm which was place in
the lower expansible part OF the chest for
that very purpose. But the civilized
woman deliberately tics up this flexiblo
portion of her body with bands of steel
and whalebone so that natural breath
ing is utterly impossible. A woman's
dress should be just as loose as mans.
Some who think they are not lacing and
have, perhaps, laid aside their corsets,
have tho bands to their heavy, drag
ging skirts so tight as to cut off q por-
ton OF tho necessary air supply. II is
the same as though construction wero
placed about the mock, not tight enough
to produce death, but SO as to make tho
breathing laborious and insufficient.
liver which is in n vice can not do good
work, and have often found livcrs not
only crowded out OF place, but deeply
creased with tho pressure of tho ribs
Comprcssions which affect tho liver, af-
feet tho stomach and bowels also, and
no wonder with imperfect nutrition and
dcpuration, the skin becomes dingy and
muddy, and tho poor woman feels that
She needs something to cover It up. But
cosmetics do not produce healthy skin.
One which is doctored is patent to all
observers, nobody being deceived but
the victim, and she is ready enough to
detect any one else. Health is general
ly beauty. A healthy skin has a natu-
raj brilliancy which is pleasant to look
upon. have seen peasant girls in Cor
monu and Ifnlu u.hn ,orlrnI out a.