The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1891-08-15

TIMELY TOPICS
Thoughtfully Discussed For Careful
Readers.
1T is the first time / ever had a
dress come home to me looking ex-
actly like picture," said a fashion
able little woman to me the other
day, while she was viewing before
her mirror the latest effort of her
dressmaker She did look like she
had stepped out of one of the plates
Of T. Dart dc la Node. There was
the long, very narrow skirt, the tow.
ering shoulders and aggressive col
lar. She looked extraordinarily
slim, and she was really not an ether
cal being at all.
1t was very stylish costume, with
all individuality carefully suppress
ed.
If she had entered into conspir-
acy with her dressmaker to effect
ually disguise herself, the result
could not have been more satisfacto-
~. There are few women-and for
this we are grateful-whoc can achieve
this sort Of success. Their own
human nature is sufficiently strong,
their characteristics developed to a
degree that will not allow of being
concealed, even though they may
have the most unflinching determi
nation to make fashion plates of
themselves.
The women of Kentucky are pro-
testing against the new Constitution
now being considered in that State
famous for its beautiful women, and
for its chivalrous men. The afore-
mentioned chivalrous men seem TO
have gained their reputation in some
other way than by framing constitu-
tions, for Mrs. Josephine Henry writes
that they shave the worst laws in the
Union
The women will make their hard
est fight against the ignoring their
property rights. Forty years ago
this same fight was made and won
in Pennsylvania, and the organized
effort against this Constitution in
Kentucky argues that the fair women
there have laid aside their romantic
trust in a measure, and believe "who
would be free, themselves must strike
the blow"
50
Perhaps not many people know
that among the Arabs an uplifted
scimeter must fall with its blow un-
struck at woman's command; that
fleeing thief has but to cling close
ly to the women's tent to.save him
self from pursuers; that if the wo-
men demand his pardon, he is free
even if the prince has condemned
him.
Perhaps advanced civilization has
taught men to trust less to woman's
mercy, but it seems also to be teach
ing the Kentucky women to trust
less to mans justice.
So
l was reading, not long since, a
sketch of the reigning French beauty
who of course lives in Paris-and
was rather interested in her picture
1t gave her very long nose, Ion
ger chin, and tiny eyes set-far back
in the head. Her admirers acknowl-
edge these defects, but contend that
a magnificent figure and marvellous
complexion more than make amends
for them.
/ had rather think that she is
otherwise so charming, that her man
ner is so delightful that she achieves
in this way a reputation for the
beauty she certainly has not, if her
picture even approaches faithful
representation.
| remember well "reigning beau
ty' | met in one of our large cities.
| stood at distance and saw tiny
woman, from whom all the freshness
of youth had departed, who, to me,
was positively ugly, but around whom
men crowded three deep to catch ev-
cry word she uttered. | entered the
literally charmed circle, and although
| never found her beautiful, she was
so much more, l failed to think she
was not. She had as rival in pop
ular favor the most beautiful woman
L ever saw-a statuesque, faultlessly
featured, fair-haired creature, in
whose face the most critical failed
to find flaw. She, too, had most
generous following-it was impossi-
bic to not give admiration to any
thing so beautiful-but it was rare
thing that man transferred his al
legiance from the ugly little queen
to her more radiant presence, and
the other was continually receiving
reinforcements from among her fol-
lowers. Beauty is very, very power
full, but certainly not SO powerful as
brains.
| have often thought if those two
women could only have made com
bination of their projections, what a
gloriously, royal woman men might
have called queen.
~
Some one remarked the other day
on the clearness with which a mans
business or profession stamped itself
upon his features We see man of
certain style, and say at once, HE
is a preacher" or doctor, LAWYER,
business man, or whatever we may
think his countenance indicates.
Really we cannot see as much as we
imagine we can. For instance, lot
of people were sure that stranger
at one of the hotels was visiting
doctor, when he was an insurance
agent, and / selected a man on the
train recently as Methodist minis
ter on his way to Moundsville, when
he pulled a deck of cards from his
pocket and proposed game of seven
up with his neighbors. Whatever
his profession may be, feel sure l
made mistake. 1t is very much
easier to discover indications of the
profession after one discovers the
profession.
BARBARIAN.