Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-02-04
MIDDLE-AGEr BEAUTIES.
A Woman Must Not Necessal w q Yorug
to be F:sscinatinc

to be Fascinating
History is full of the accounts of the
destinations of women who are no longer
young. Helen of Troy, was over 40
when she perpetrated the most famous
elopement on record, and as the siege of
Troy lasted a decade she could not have
been very juvenile when the ill-tortune
of Paris restored her to her husband.
Strange as ii may seem, the long-sutter-
ing spouse received the fair Helen, SO
says report, with unquestioning love
and gratitude.
Pericles welded the courtesan Aspasia
when, she was So, and yet she after
wards Tor thirty years or more welded
an undiminished reputation for beauty.
The beautiful and fascinating serpent
of old Nile, Cleopatra, in whose history
every woman is Interested, was over
so when Antony fell under her spells
and which never lessened until her
death, ten years afterwards. Llvla was
so when she won the heart of Augustus,
over whom she maintained her charm
until the end.
where it is posi- BILE to verify dates more
accurately, there is the extraordinary
De Poictiers, who was 36 when Henry IL.
then Duke of Orleans-at that time
Just half her age, became attached to
and fascinated by her. She was held as
the first lady and most beautiful woman
at court up to the period of the mon
arch's death and the accession of Cath
crime OF Medicis.
Ann OF Australia was SO when she was
described as the handsomest queen Of
Europe, and when Buckingham and
Richelieu were her jealous admirers.
Ninon, the most celebrated wit and
beauty of her day, was the idol of three
generations of the golden youth of
France, and, behold, old ladies, take
courage we who still cling to youth and
emulate it's charms. Ninon was only
70 when the Able de Berais fell in love
with her. True it is in the case of this
lady, a rare combination of culture, tai
ents and personal attractivenes en-
lowed the possessOr seemingly with
the gifts of eternal youth.
Blanca Capella was IS when the
Grand Duke Franciscan, of Florence,
fell captive to her charms and made her
his wife, though he was five years her
junior.
Louis XIV. welded Nine de Mantle
non when she was 43 years of age.
Catherine II. of Russia was SO when she
seized the Empire of Russia and cap
tivated the dashing General Orlotf Up
to the time of her death-67-she
seemed to have retained the same be-
witching powers, for the lamentations
were heartfelt among all those who had
known ner personally.
Mile. Mars, the French tragedienne,
only attained the zenith of her beauty
and power between 40 and 45. At that
period the loneliness of her hands and
arms especially was celebrated through
out Europe The famous Nine. Re-
camier was SO when Barras was ousted
from power, and she without dispute
was declared to be the most beautiful
woman in Europe, which rank she held
for fourteen years. Among all the
examples given there is no English
woman. They were nearly all French
women, who retain their beauty,
probably, from their bright and lively
dispositions and vivacity of manner.
few years ago solid but charming
Southern belle visited st. Louis aud
other Eastern and Western cities. She
seemed disappointed at her reception,
and said that one thing struck her
forcibly in the society Of Western cities:
it was composed mostly of quite young
girls. and a woman over % received little
attention and was considered pGsse. She
had had her day and must stand aside.
Now, the Southern belle referred to was
quite 80, and although it was known in
New Orleans and other cities where she
had lived and reigned belle, it made no
difference SO long as she was beautiful,
fascinating and youthful looking.
Struggling her statuosque shoulders one
evening she said: 81 am sick of the
discussion on age that hear in West.
1t is the first question that one hears as
soon as a girls name is mentioned.
How old is she?' In the South a
woman is as old as she feels and looks,
neither more nor less. There a girl is
forced to marry before she natures. to
give place to others who will point at
her in scorn as an odd girl one who has
seen several seasons | am glad to live
where women can enjoy their youth be-
fore they settle to the graver duties of
wife and mother"