Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-11-21
COMMUNICATED.
FascinationS of Women Not Young.

We are told by Madame de Steal that
it is hard for women to grow old grace
fully and we are very prone to accept the
idea that youth is the most charming per-
iod of woman's life. Youth is undoubt-
eddy lovely in its freshness, its guileless-
ness and purity but. like the rosebud. it
is a beauty entirely undeveloped,
We admire the exquisite delicacy of the
bud, but we know that beneath its folds
lies the heart of the flower. We long to
see its petals unfold that the grandeur of
the flower may be developed.
There is luxuriance too, in the full
matured physical and mental charms of
women to which the ephemeral and
evanescent attractions of youth do not
compare.
How we'll l recall my childish admira-
ton of my mother, who was then young
and very beautiful, and then my child
ish fear that time would mar the lowell
ness of her fair face. Instead of which,
as years roll on, and her mind and heart
developed so tremendously. the mellow
ed sweetness of age became surprisingly
lovely, and l would feign have locked
the wheel of time that she might ever re.
main so. History records many instanc-
es of the fascination of women not in their
premiere tennessee.
Helen of Troy performed the most won
derful elopement when over forty years
of age. The siege of Troy lasted a oe-
cade, and when the ill fortunes of Paris
restored her to her husband she was no
longer juvenile, yet he is said to have re-
ceived her with extreme love and graft
tude.
Cleopatra was past thirty when she
threw her spell on Mark Antony-which
never waned until her death, nearly ten
years later-and Pericles welded Aspa-
STA when she was thirtysix. Olivia was
thirty-three when she won the heart of
Augustus, over " HON she maintained her
influence until death.
More modern history gives us instanc-
es quite as extraordinary. Annie of
Austria was thirty eight when she was
called the handsomest queen of all Eu-
rope, and when Buckingham and Richie
lieu were her Jealous admirers.
Henry then Duke of Orleans) became
attached to Diana de Porteirs when she
was thirty-six years old, and he was on
ly half her age. She was held as the
most beautiful woman at court up to the
time of the monarch death, and the ac-
cession to power of Catherine de Medi-
els.
Miron d I 'Enclos, the most celebrat-
ed wit and beauty of her day, was the
idol of three generations of the golden
youth of France, and was seventy-two
when De Bemis fell in love with her.
She possessed a rare combination of cul-
ture. taste and personal attractions. with
seemingly the gift of eternal youth.
Louis XIV. welded Madame de Main
tenon when she was forty-three years of
age. Mademoiselle Mais only attained
the zenith of her beauty and power as
tragedienne between forty and fiftyfiye.
Madame Recumiur, one of the most
famous women of her age, was thirty
eight when Barras was ousted from pow
err, and she was, without dispute, declar-
ed the most beautiful woman in Europe
which rank she held for fifteen years.
The list might be further extended. but
| have noted sufficient number to prove
that woman need not lose her attrac
tions though youth be gone, and that if
her mind be cultured, her talent real, and
her heart kindly, she will retain the pow
er of never fading fascination. p.
November, 1891.