Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-05-01
THE FACES OF THE FAIR.
ORIENTAL AND CIVILIZED USES
OF THE VEIL.
Yelling the Face Il "a Very Old Custom
The Misuse anu Abuse OF the Arti-
Gle are Many. but IL Has Its
Good Purposes.


fad. Indeed, it is an olden custom
as old as the vanity of woman and the
curiosity OF man. Its origin is lost
somewhere in the vague and misty re-
moteness OF that past which so firmly
refuses to yield up any Of its dark or
precious secrets, But even though il
is old it Is popular, and that is all that
the women OF to-day ask
The curiosity Of man would be great
were he to essay the task of tracing
the veil from the time when its use had
u practical and important significance
to the present day. when it is with no
loftier idea than to beautify. The
master OF the seraglio in eastern coun-
tries had a very sensible idea when he
caused the women OF his establish
ment TO hide their faces behind the
folds of veil. The eye is seductive
feature, but the eye alone cannot con-
quer the world. The eye is deceptive.
When the women OF the seraglio APP
pear with nothing of their face visible
but one cleaning orb, is not the thought
ever present that the expression of
that eye might mean any one OF the
thousand qualities that go TO make up
woman's character? II il be large and
lustrous rs one usually finds the east
ern woman's eye, it may mean any
thing from tenderness to stupidity. Ii
it be brilliant and sparkling it may
mean either vivacity of spirit or sharp
ness OF temper. Therefore was the
sultan wise; for to him only were the
mysteries of those eyes to be revealed.
1t Is a wcllknown fact that anything
we dislike. or which hores us we are
apt TO find bad for our health. bad for
our tempers, bad for its influence on
our minds. Therefore fainting became
the fashion, and to it alone are we in
debted for the veil of transparent. filmy
tissue which superseded the cashmere
and soft silk Of the earlier period.
1t must not be supposed for an in
slant that oculists have any right on
their side when they inveigh against
the dotted veil, which is the evolution
from the thick gauze, which was the
mode but a few generations ago. The
crossbars of these-old fashioned wells
were indeed irritating TO the sight,
and crossed eyes were frequent from
their effect, but dotted wells, by break
ing the barred lines, prevent any
serious affection of the vision. Be
sides. they cast Il soft and tender
shadow beneath the eyes. and soften a
direct gaze into one which becomes
sympathetic and confding, through
the fine meshes. They are infinitely
valuable to the woman with no COM
pleXion. She may have a thousand
tiny blemishes. which the carefully adj
justed dot will conceal, while rs for
her smile. the CLEAN of her pearly
white teeth under the dark shadow
renders it hopelessly enchanting.
The art OF adjusting the veil coquet-
tishly belongs to the French woman.
The veil is a thing Of utility TO the
English woman. The American wo-
man is like her French sister and to
the Spanish woman alone belongs the
skillful arrangement OF the veil in
such ravishing folds that every good
point OF her features becomes promi-
nent, and all the unpleasant ones retire
into an ignominious background. The
fan and the veil are the two weapons
OF warfare with which the dark-eyeC
senorita attacks the world. As mod
est maiden. under her duennas eye
they are her defense, and they are
valued mise en-sccuc when the duenna
looks the other way. A playful toss
OF her veil or languid, indolent open
ing and shutting of her fan are her
resources in filtration. and close
drawing of the former and = quick.
convulsive clasp Of the latter are her
indications of emotion.
A few years ago there was "A curious
fashion in wells, when all the women
were wearing bits Of scarlet tulle
stretched over their faces, which gave
one the idea that scarlatina had ravag
ed the city. There was another fs.d
for tulle of absinthe green, pale violet.
olive and old gold, which gave the
same ghastly effect one has TO endure
on ballet night, when the calcium
lights are on with all their brilliancy.
Women, however. are not the only
victims OF these longings to render
themselves fair. In the early part Of
the Christian era men affected the veil
az an additional charm 20 their dress,
and even in A. ID. 374 Ambrose speaks
OF "silken garments and wells. inter
woven with gold. with which the body
OF The rich man was encompasseds"
In the tropics TO this day the dweller
is obliged TO resort TO the softening
medium OF veil between his eyes and
the glaring sky, and 10 the traveller in
dusty lands u veil Is an absolute neces-
sity. In Washington, several years
ago, young attache Cf the French
Legation made tremendous impress
sion by appearing always, when driv-
ing, with his features protected by the
folds OF veil OF palest blue tissue.
In writing OF wells, it would not be
fair TO neglect the mourning veil,
which has done such good service TO
the sincere and insincero bereft ones.
II is very much the fashion 10 denouncc
absolutely the grape veil which is