Birmingham age-herald., 1895-08-18

I began to look with pleasure to our daily exercises and in a few months my shoulders strengthened I regulated my diet and learned to control my weight almost to an ounce.
 My looks began to improve wonder fully l had never been noticeabiy pretty woman, but ] could not help but realize that l was fast becoming one. and 1 suppose vanity, like love, grows upon what it feeds upon" l found also that my little ones were keenly alive and rapturously proud of being known as the children of pretty Mrs. B., as I took lessons With a reward for my appearance was indeed marvellous and l soon took greater pains with my dress. l took le&ons with "a reward for my trouble, and l think I never was so 1attered by a compliment before ur since as the day I overheard my Jack excldim: Mamma is getting to be a ripping beauty! that's just what she is.
 Sharing Her Children's Pleasures.
 My little girls were old enough now and anxious to learn to ride horseback and 10 skate. I took lessons with them. At the end of the year l was not only an active participant in all their sports, but drifted into sharing their every occu- patton with them until our lives were passed almost entirely together, just as they are at present My youthful spirits are reflection of theirs and my health and " J beauty were not the gifts of the gods. but are requirements, just as a knoWl- edge of French and German are. They are within the power of every woman who is willing to make what seems to me of the greatest importance-her own mental and physical beauty the object in fact of her existence. My accom- plishments, such as they are, l have ac- quired with my children. We have learned to dance and speak French, to swim and bicycle together, and l am the happiest woman in being my boy Jacks best girl and my daughters most in timate friend. f
 A Coquettish Grandmamma.
 ~Yes," she continued T was a prude at 20 and I am a coquette at twice that age for my children as we'll as for the rest of the world. 1 love pretty clothes, fine and dainty lingerie, and every access sorry that makes me more attractive to the world but best of all l love the thought that I have so got the whip in hand over time. It cannot make frumpy old woman of me. I have taught my girls that coquetry within a certain limit is their duty, and the night before my Gladys went to her husband in all the whiteness and sweetness of her beauty and youth l took her in my arms and told her that her first duty was to be more charming. more dainty, more ir- resistable to her husband than any other woman could be. This was worldly ad- vice perhaps, but there is heavenly wis dom in it.
 "So Madame Diane you may quote me if you like as a vain and coquettish grandmother"
 "I will make text of you" I replied and preach a sermon on you, and bow low to your ladyship as all who approach you love to do, but you yourself who are Hygiea and Diana and Minerva em- t.11. |, to keep eternal youth upon you and about you. Let me repeat to the women who are suffering the torments of for saken and neglected wives how to grow young. and those on the sunny side of 30 how not to grow old. Tell me just what rules you have followed and let me make life happier for hundreds of women who sadly believe it is the inevitable fate of the American wife and mother to grow fat and frumpy at 40 and her spinster sis ter to wither and wilt in uninterrupted gloom and loneliness long before the cru cial 10th mile stone has been passed"
 Beauty Rules.
 "T get up," said the bella donna, "at o'clock every morning. I take a cold sponge and dress quickly so as to get a walk before breakfast. Usually take a cup of hot water before my walk be gan by drinking glass of milk, because I was accustomed then to the foreign fashion of taking my coffee before ris- ing, and it was some time before could school myself to rise fasting, but now I never think of it. I walk until break fast. drink one cup of coffee only at that meal I eat bit of steak and perhaps an egg and then little fruit perhaps. but not great deal My tendency is to get stout, so I rigidly restrict my tastes for sweets and cereals.
 After breakfast when I am at home I am busy about the house doing the thousands of little things woman finds she can do better than the most accom- plished servant. Then I go daily to mar ket walking both ways. I superintend making all of my own and Rosamond's s house, dinner and evening gowns. I can sew on the machine, and the girls and I have all taken course in millinery and dressmaking, so we can plan and make our most fetching costumes for every occasion except visits and shopping.
 "We each get at least two very smart tailor-made gowns and visiting costumes a year, but all the rest are made at home So you see I am always very busy from the time I return from mar ket until luncheon.
 Regulating the Day.
 "After luncheon go to my own room for what the children call mothers own little hour,' and during that time read or rest or take an unprejudiced look at my face by the aid of hand mirror and if I find am going off in the texture of color of my skin I take some simple means of arresting such misfortune. If discover that am growing haggard I arrange to repair the waste by getting an extra hour of perfect quiet each day until have got back the endangered freshness. watch the color and texture of my hair and twice week have 1t washed and brushed thoroughly.
 "Every three months go to a dentist. I used to think once in six months was sufficient. I am convinced 1t Is better to go oftener. I never intend to lose tooth unless by accident if I live to be 30;