The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1891-01-15
AS OLD AS SHE LOOKS.
Women Who Have Conquered Heroes
When Past Middle Age-A south
erner's Experience.

History is full Of the accounts Of
the destinations Of women who were
no longer young. Helen of Troy was
over forty when she perpetrated the
most famous elopement on record,
and as the siege of Troy lasted a de-
cade, she could not have been very
Juvenile when the i'll fortune OF Paris
restored her to her husband. Strange
as it nav seem, the long suffering
spouse. received the fair Helen, SO
saws the report, with unquestioning
love and gratitude.
Pericles welded the courtesan AS
pasta when she was thirty-six, ana
vet shesafterwards for thirty years or
more welded an undiminished repu-
ton for beauty.
The beautiful and fascinating ser
pent OF old Nile, Cleopatra, in whose
history every woman Is interested,
was over thirty when Antony fell
under her spells, and which never
lessened until her death, ten years
afterwards. Livia was thirty-three
when she won the heart of Augustus,
over whom she maintained her charm
until the end.
Turning to more modern history,
where it is possible to verify dates
more accurately, there is the extraor-
binary De Poictiers, who was thirty
six when Henry II.-then Duke OF Or
leans-at that time just half her age,
became attached to and fascinated by
her. She had held as the first lady
and most beautiful woman at court
up to the period of the monarch's
death and the accession OF Catharine
of Medicis.
Ann OF Austria was thirty-six when
she was described as the handsomest
Queen of Europe. and when Bucking-
ham and Richelieu were her jealous
admirers.
Ninon. the most celebrated wit and
beauty of her day, was the idol oil three
generations of the golden youth OF
France; and behold, old ladies, take
courage ye who cling to youth and EN-
ulate its charms, Ninon was only sew
enty-two when the Able de Berais
fell in love with her. True it is In the
case of this lady a rare combination OF
culture, talents and personal attrac-
tiveness endowed the possessor seem
ingly with the gifts OF eternal youth.
Blanca Capella was thirty-eight
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 Mainti-
non when she was forty three years OF
are. Catherine III Of Russia was
thirty-three when she seized the em-
pire oil Russia and c~aptiyated the
dashing General Orloff. Up to the
time OF her acknowledgements
seemed to have retained the same be-
witching powers, for the lamentations
were heartfelt among all those who
had known her personally.
Mile. Mars, the French tragedienne,
only attained the zenith OF her beauty
and power between forty and forty
five. At that period the loveliness of
her hands and arins especially was
celebrated throughout Europe. The
famous Nine. Recamier was thirty
eight when Barras was ousted from
power, and she, without dispute, was
declared to be the most beautiful
woman in Europe, which rank h
held for fourteen years. Among all
the examples given there is no Eng
lish They were nearly all
French women who retained their
beauty, probably from their bright
and lively dispositions and yiyacity OF
manner.
A few years ago a solid but charm
ing Southern belle visited st. Louis
and other Eastern and Western cities.
She seemed disappointed at her re-
ception, and said that M thing
struck her forcibly in the society in
Western cities. 1t was composed
mostly Of quite young girls, and a
woman over twenty-five received lit
tie attention. and was considered
passe. She had had her day and
must stand aside. Now, the South
ern belle referred to was quite thirty.
and although it was known in New
ORR cans and other cities where she
had lived and reigned a belle,
il made no difference, so long as
she was beautiful, fascinating, and
youthful looking. Struggling her
statesque shoulders one evening she
said:-''I am sick ofthe discussions on
age that / hear in the West. 1t Is the
first question that one hears as soon
as a girls name is mentioned, How
old is sheg" 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 old girl, one who has
seen several eason | am glad To
live where women can enjoy their
youth before they settle to the graveF
duties of wife and mother. st. Louis
Post Dispatch.