Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-05

George .. Ball, Nineteenth street, DetWeen Tenth and Eleventh avenues, South High lands. Telephone 9SS)
 There are many changes of sentiment in this utilitarian age of ours, which mark an advance not only of thought but of taste. One of the many matters in which our judgment differs from that of a generation or more ago is our opn- ion of what constitutes female beauty. It is a question whether the women ad- mired a quarter of a century ago as rep resentatlve beauties would create the slightest enthusiasm at the present time. We can all recall pretty women we kneW in the past, with gentle, highbred faces, clear-cut features, fresh colofing, and with an utter absence of any intellectual suggestions in their faces, who were con sidered perfect types in their youth; and yet the same style of woman receives but little admiration at this present time. Now what has wrought this change? Why have our views of physical attrac- tions altered? Is it because our tastes have deteriorated or improved? It is simply because the present day activities, in which women of character and intel lect naturally take their rightful inter- est, have made their impress not only upon the faces of women, but also upon our individual judgment of what really constitutes female beauty.
 To past age, as we know, belong the faces of women who posed in "The Sou venr,' "The Memento," and other books of similar calihre, which adorned the center tables of parlors more than gen. eration ago. Those feminine types quite excuse any unorthodox opinion that may have been held by men of that day re- gardng the limited mental capacity of such women. Upon the memory of many of this generation is impressed indis- tinct recollections of few such pictures which decorated these old-fashioned gift books. There sat these old-time beauties in idiotic satisfaction, looking out from the pages with great eyes, which saw not. straight noses-that unfortunate test of beauty to many people-smiling mouths, long curls on either side of their blank faces, and the whole mass--curls, face and exasperating se1f-satlsfaction- resting upon pretty, soft hand the in- dex finger of which pointed towards the forehead. indicating "deality," accord ing to the doctrine of that time. Of course such woman, such picture, could not endure. Together they went into an early and fortunate decline. They were succeeded by scarcely a lesser evil in the form of the inane, posing, pretty girl of twenty years ago, who had but one object in life and that was to be ranked as g. beauty" Every energy was brought to bear to further this illusion. She was kept dressed curled, perfumed
 
 the one sole aim in view-a successful matrimonial alliance. Generally, be 1t said to the credit of discerning men, this longed-for object was not always ac- complished.
 These professional beauties were ire quently indifferent to all mental attain ments, and their small accomplishments were limited to smattering of music and one or two foreign tongues, when they could scarcely converse intelli- gently in their own language But, for the present, at least, all this is done away with in the demands of this earnest time of ours. No woman can hold her own in this day unless she has brains, and if she has upon her face will be written in unmistakable lines such an expression that possesses its own att traction, irrespective of coloring and features, especially if her heart and soul are as big as her intellect. This is day of earnestness, of expression, so to speak, and the world at large demands indications of brains and cultivation.
 And with this condition has passed away also all toleration of the "profes- sional beauty" the girl who wearies you with her never ending efforts to be con- of this form of humanity come before us. the victims of an inordinate vanity, and the ill-timed admiration of injudi- cious parents and friends. Sweet, nice looking girls-only this and nothing more-take on that "always-being looked at" expression that would ruin the ap- pearance of the most brilliant beauty of the world, and unfortunately imagine that every observer is an admirer. It is one of the remarkable facts connected with this subject that the posing girls, the ''professional beauties" in other words, are really very rarely the most beauti- full specimens of feminine physical at- fractions. but generally girls with mar velous credulity. in whose minds small compliments have become tremendous facts.
 One of the greatest charms of beauti- full or intellectual woman is an uncon- sciousness of these gifts. sweet, self abnegation that prevents them from thrustlng upon their friends constant reminders of any especial endowments If woman be gifted with unusual physi- cal attractions or a brilliant intellect there will be no need of effort on the part of the possessor to make the facts evil dent; either gift finds it's own expression and makes it's own impression. And a small vanity Is not usually an accompa- niment of either genius or remarkable beauty.
 There will be an experience meeting at the home of MT. and Mrs. John Towers next Friday evening, the 10th instant, for the benefit of the Central Presbyte- rian church. Short experiences will be given by a number of our talking men and women. among whom will be Mrs George R. Ward. Mrs. Robert Cunning ham, Miss Willie Allen, Mrs. Zac P Smith, Mrs. Robert D. Johnston, Mrs. Mims Stone, Mrs. George c. Ball. Col. Sumter Lea, Hon. A. O. Lane, Judge J. J. Banks, MT Frank V. Evans, MT. Alex T. London, MT. A. R. Dearborn and three or four others. They will give brief ex- periences, either amusing, thrilling or pa- thetic. Besides these "reminiscences, musical programme will be rendered. MT. Latady will whistle and Mrs. Robert Stone will give mandolin selections with guitar accompaniment A most cordial invitation to attend this entertainment is extended the friends of the church and those assisting No written invitations have been issued, but all friends will be warmly welcomed.
 The appointment of Alfred Austin to be poet laureate of England has been re- oeived with disappointment by many people and by others with hearty ap- broval He is man who has accom- plished enough in a literary way to en-