Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-03
MIDDLE-AGED BEAUTIES.
Woman Must Not Necessarily BE Young
to Be Fascinating.

Woman Must Not Necessarily BE Young
to Be Fascinating.
History is full of the accounts of the fascina-
tons Of women who were no longer young, sayf
the st. Louis Post-Dispatch. Helen of Troy
was over forty when she perpetrated the most
famous elopement on record, and rs the siege
of Troy lasted a decade. she could not have
been very Juvenile when the ill fortune Of Paris
restored her to her husband. Strange as il
may SEEM the long suffering spouse received
the fair Helen, SAYS report. with unques-
tioning love and gratitude.
Pericles welded the courtesan Aspasia when
she was thirty-six, and yet she sfterward for
reputation for beauty.
The beautiful and fascinating serpent 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 afterward.
Liyia thirty three when she won the heart
OF Augustus. over whom she mainta her
charm until the end.
Turning to more modern history, where il ia
possible to verify dates more accurately, there
il the extraordinary 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 was
NJ court up to the period of the monarch 8
death and the accession of Catherine of Med
icis.
Ann of Austria was thirty-eight when she
was described as the handsomest queen Of Eu-
rope 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
N MI lat 70 10 oh Nlnry
only seyeEty-tvo when the Able lie Berais fell
in love with her: Trne it is in the case of this
lady rare combination of culture. talents and
personal attractiveness endowed the possessor
seemingly with the gifts of eternal youth.
Blanca Capella thirty-eight when the
Grand Duke Franciscan of Florence fell cap
tive to her charms and made her his wife.
though he was five years her junior.
Louis XIV welded Nine dc Maintinon when
she was forty-three wears OF age. Catherine III
of Russia was thirty-three when she seized the
empire of Russia and captivated the dashing
Gen. Orloff. Up TO the time of her death
siyIy-seyen-she seemed to have retained the
same bewitehing powers, for the lamentations
were heartfelt among all those who had known
her personally.
Nile. Mars. the French tragedienne only at
tanned the zenith of her beauty and power be-
tween forty and forty-ive. At that period the
loyeliness Of her hands and arms especially was
celebrated throughout Europe. The famous
4uillS- IAttaHlltE WIS tn1rtN-tlSnE Wntn l1rras
was Ousted from power. and she without dis
pute 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 retained their beauty,
probably from their bright and lively DISPOSE
tons and vivacity Of manner.
few years ago q solid but charming south
ern belle visited st. Louis and other eastern
and western cities. She seemed disappointed
at her reception. and said that one thing struck
her forcibly in the society in western cities: il
was composed mostly of quite young girls. and
a woman over twenty-five received little atten-
tion and was considered passe. She had had
her day and must stand aside. Now. the
southern belle referred to was quite thirty, and
although IL was known in New Orleans and
other cities where she had lived and reigned a
belle. it made 10 difference so long as she was
beautiful. fascinating and youthful looking
Struggling her statues9ue shoulders one even
ing she said: Il am sick of the discussions or
age that / hear in the west. 1t is the first
question that one hears az soon as a girls name
is mentioned. How old is she? In the south
a woman is AS old as she feels md looks neither
more nor less. There girl is forced to marry
before she natures to give place to others who
will point at her in seorn as an old girl one
who has seen several seasons. am glad to live
where women can enjoy their youth before
they settle TO the graver duties Of wife and
mother.