Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-08-03
PERSONAL APPEARANCE.

There is probably no subject in the
world which eXclte3 more interest In
the human mind than personal appear
ance. Whether We are conscious of it
or not, it is the centre of the greater
portion of our daily thoughts. Look,
for instance, at some of the other
themes on which thought dwells-Am-
bit:oD, Anticipation, Anxiety, Charity,
or Sympathy. The space of time oc-
cupied by any of these in twenty-fOur
hours cannot equal that which We
spend on our toilet, dress, and COM
pertinent combined. They claim our
attention at the earliest hour of the
mornIng; follow us instinctively
TIN Igh every action of the day; are
pr, sent at our meetings of social inter-
course; haunt our pleasures, not unfre-
quently mar them; and are probably
in some degree the last shadows which
veil us from the land of dreams. Con-
sidering that it is very important that
our minds should not be burdened
with what is unworthy, it would be
well for us to assure ourselves that the
effect this produces is not intended to
he prejudicial. At first glance a per-
son may disclaim the imputation, and
say: '1ndeed, 1 think very little of my
personal appearances" or, 81 have no
| looks to boast of, so it's little time 1
spend on them" To each of whom we
would reply: "My friend, you think
more of your personal appearance than
you are aware of; and you spend more
time on your looks because they are not
good.
People who depreciate or pretend to
| be wholly indifferent to their looks,
| either act lie, or else fail to recognize
/ the main structure on which the human
mind is built. What, in fact, are looks
for? If faces were like blades of grass
or leaves of trees, where would be our
| identity? Where would be our pas
sions? Where would be our motives? The
whole world would becomea gigantic
| piece of machinery, worked by the
mind of man, without aim without VI
| tality, without result. 1t is the human
form divine which gives lifeblood to
our passage through this world. En-
ulation, self-respect, improvement,
and admiration, are all qualities which
| spring from the consciousness that
outward appearance is, and was in
tended to be, a matter of first impor-
tance. 1t is as much law of nature as
self No matter how
handsome or how ugly a man may be
and there is no distinction between
man and woman here-let him go arm
IN arm with friend towards the mir
ror. Whose image does he first glance
at? Not the friends, you may be
sure. Observe a lady walking along
the street. How many times will she
!! glance at her own re Election in the shop
windows? AS often as she gets the
chance. The sight never loses it's nov
city. That question, what am
looking like? never loses its fascina-
ton. Let her go into a room full of
mirrors. She will look into one on the
right; then Immediately turn and re-
peat the process on the left. She Is
quite right. The two sides are entirely
different Again, let her see a friend
appear in new dress or fashion.
What is the first thought that occurs
to her? "Now L wonder how that
would suit mel" She Immediately
turns over in her mind how and when
the idea is to be carried out, while the
friend is all the while fiattering her
self she is an object of admiration.
Let no man or woman condemn
themselves for this weakness. 1t is
common to all alike. Neither let them
undervalue good looks, nor despair OF
improving bad ones. The gift OF
beauty Is often allied with fascins.
nation of manner which plain faces
may sigh for in vain. If it could be
bought for money, what price would
be paid for that peculiar glance OF
smile which is imprinted for all timel
This is one kind of beauty with which
no one is born and to which any one may
attain, but the means of acquiring it i;
a secret which each must find out for
himself. 1t is exceedingly rare and
exceedingly beautiful, At least once
in our lives We may remember to have
, seen such a face, generally that of al
old man with many lines in it. 1t ar
j rests the heart as well as the eye. II
makes us yearn for something yet I'M
known, that serenity of countenanct
which is the index of a sanity soul.