St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-29
MIDDLE-AGED BEAUTIES.
A Woman Must Not Necessarily Be
Young to Be Fascinating.

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 decade, she
could not have been very juvenile when
the ill-fortune of Paris restored her to
her husband. Strange as it may seem,
the long-suffering spouse received the
fair Helen, so says report, with unques-
tiOning love and gratitude.
Pericles welded the courteSan As
pasta when she was thirty-Six, and yet
she afterwards, for thirty years or more,
beauty.
The beautiful and fascinating serpent
of old Nile, Cleopatra, in whose history
every woman is interested, was over
thirty wnen Antony fell under her
spells, and which never leasened until
her death, ten years afterwards. Livla
was thirty-three when she won the
heart Of Augustus, over whom she main
tanned her charm until the end.
Turning to more modern history,
where 1T is possible to verify dates more
accurately, there is the extraordinary
De Poictiers. who was thirty-six when
Henry Il.-then Duke Of OrleanS-at
that time just half her age, became at
tached to and fascinated by her. She
was held as the first lady and most
beautiful woman at cOnrt up to the
period of that monarch's death and the
accession of Catharlne of MedIcis.
Ann of Austria was thirty-elght when
she was described as the handsomest
queen of Europe, and when BuckiDg
ham and Richelieu were her jealous
admirers. h
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 ye who still cling
to youth and emulate its charms,
Ninon was only seventy-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, tai
ents and personal attractiyeness en-
lowed the poSSeSsOr seemingly with the
gift of eternal youth.
Blanca CapellO was thirty-eight when
the Grand Duke Francisco of Florence
fell captive to her charms and made her
his wife, though he was five years her
junior.
Louis XIV. welded Nine. de Main
tenn when she was fOrty-three years of
age. Catherine H., of Russia. was
thirty three when she seized the en-
pire of Russia, and captivated the dash
ing Gen. Orloff. Up to the time of her
acknowledgement seemed to have
retained the same beWitchiDg 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-fiye.
AT that period the loneliness of her hand
and arm especially was celebrated
throughout Europe. The famous
Nine. Recamier was thirty-eight
when Barras was OuSted from
power and she without dis
pute was declared TO be the most beau
tiful 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 retained their beauty,
probably from their bright and lively
dispositions and yiyacity of manner.
A few years ago solid but charming
Southern belle visited st. Louis and
other Eastern and Western cities. She
seemed disappointed at her reception.
ahQ SalQ IndL one bnlDg SlfucK her
forcibly in the society OF Western
cities: 1t was composed mostly Of
quite young girls, and woman over
twenty-five received little attention
and was considered passe. She had
had her day, and must stgnd aside.
Now, the Southern belle referred to was
quite thirty, and although it Mas 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 statuesque shoulders
one evening. she said: 81 am sick of
the discussions Oh age that l hear in the
West. 1t is the first question that one
hears, as soon as girls name
is mentioned, How old is she?'
In the South woman is as old
as she feels and looks, neither
more nor less. There girl is forced to
marry before she natures to give place
to Others VINO will point at her in Scorn
as an old GIRL one who has seen sew
eral seasons. l am glad to live where
women can enjoy their youth before
they settle to the graver duties of wife
and mother"