Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25
NAaddne EYES Looking Glass.
1-or the Dispatch from the Spanish Q
Carlos Edo)

ssn,e archau ologists have traced It's his
,,rv back many centuries before the
Christian era: but still remain far short
of us real origin, as Is proved by the
..,,nle fact OF FURNISHED metal discs
having been found in Etruscan tombs, for
which no other use or purpose could be
.,arined than to reflect the features Of
their ancient possessors.
other archacologists have discovered IN
prchistoric caverns oval plates, or discs,
of polished stone and have declared in
consequence that the mirror antedates
the Bronze Age.
Menaud. in his treatise on this article
81 feminine luxury, approaches more
nearly e. tho truth when, employing a
,blase now somewhat out Of fashion,
BE- says: Its origin is lost in the OBJ
s,uriy Of time
r-hls Is true to this extent, al least,
tr.. the FIRST appearance Of the mirror
comedies with that Of man upon the
earth
Before proceeding. however. to demon
efrate ITS exact antiquity. l propose 10
sneak OF something which / believe has
NOT before been treated or discussed. en0
that is. the influence II exercises over
w0mankind: the Vices and defects OF
character Il produces: the torments and
troubles IL causes her during good part
az her life and the miseries man Is made
do slner from refusals and reflections on
account Of its noXious and insidious sug-
l.-u0ns TO her vanity.
I've. the first woman. vase well ac-
cgalnted with the looking-glass. Even If
Oh. accuracy OF this opinion cannot be
clearly and indubitaby established, l
think that nobody would dare 10 reject
i-. because the intimate relation that
exists between woman and this article OF
furniture. which has always been con-
sdered as one of prime necessity and
which exerts such an influence over her
character and passions must he evident
% all
Leaving 70 one side the ugly woman.
who processes horror of the mirror, we
may perceive how great is this influence
and how far il reaches.
From 10 years Of age the girl consults
10 with q fun knowledge of cause and
effect; she analyses her features; enjoys
tre contemplation of them; compares
them with those Of some girl friends
Jess beautiful than herself, and knows
for Tie first time the pleasures Of salts
fed vanity. on the other hand, when
sre compares them with those Of others
rrettor than herself she is dsquieted
and disturbed. and there is born in her,
at the same time, envy and the desire
% conquer or outshine her rivals; for
this object She has recourse again 10 the
mirror as q friend and counsellor, and
leens TO cultivate her beauty, that oc-
up8rcl so full Of perils for the daugh-
ter 81 Eve. At first she uses only the
mos. simple adornments. the flowers, rib
loas. bows. and combinations that best
su't and set off her golden or ebon locks,
as the case may be: rehearses thou
sand smiles ana shippers, which she di-
tects at her reflected image. the most
seductive and the most coquettish that
she can contrive with g. view TO the Ill
innate and practical effect of her
charms And aided by the confidence
and freshness of youth (Which the French
call the beauty OF the DeviiD, she near
lr always accompishes the desired re-
sIt au9 therefore, doesn't experience
envy iu all IT'S intensity.
llt. by degrees the looking-glass, with
it- ins.dious receptions and adulati tons.
ulltrates her nature with the germs of
vanity, coquetry and envy, like subtle
p0.sOns. and encourage besides id.eness
and waste OF time.
This is how il is that. after the cat
and the fy. woman wastes more time on
NNilft .linA any Vliltl tlf0AtA hflAASf
few years later, IN the flower of her
i..e as il were. there appears one morn
sing the first gray hair. and then the soul
torment begins
TO the free. joyous, and unprejudiced
IDEAS and hopes Of youth. which she had
thought must continue forever succeed
s4l thoughts al this sudden drawing OF
the veil OF the future, and the fate It
holds in store Tor her cherished beauty.
She loses faith I'm her charms. prolongs
tGe hours devoted 20 her toilet. sbuns
the liant. and In order to soften it gives
more attention 10 the curtains Of her
r11ms She seeks the best and fastest
dyes 90 conceal the threads of silver in
beg hair, it matters little that the drugs
used in their fabrication may or may
not Doe prejudicial TO health; what she
desires SIS TO conceal the ravages Of the
passing years at any price.
But time, implacable continues his
work; artilce so far from restraining or
preventing. precipitates the dreaded ava
anche OF snow; soon there comes the
withered color Of the face. the looseness
Of the skin. formerly firm and velvety
the blush circles under the eyes and the
almost invisible crows feet" precursors
OF the wrinkles Of advancing age
Terror seizes Ter: her mental anguish
She makes herself insupportable 70 those
around her. and finally resorts to the
tlIeadbare pretext Of NERVES" TO con-
caal the true cause Of the distressing
change.
Bv every mefns she endeavors 20 delay
the inevitable; struggles with greater
desperation against the inroads Of age;
throws herself almost bodily into the arms
o. the chemist; fills her dressing-room
with cosmetic ingredients Csome Of them
almost Deadly, and shuts herself up
alone for hours at a time. as though she
were meditating some crime.
From this point the mirror plays with
hor as q cat plays with a mouse.
She leaves her dressing room quite salts
fel with the result Of her artistic touches,
because the mirror. under the faint and
tranquil light Of that apartment has de-
caiyed her by softening the glazing stucco
effect OF the enamelling she has employed
On nor cheeks but on the street and In
The searching light Of broad day the pitt
lu result OF her articles Is only too
clearly revealed.
The ill-concealed indifference Of the
gentlemen and the half-repressed smiles
and pointed remarks Of her lady friends
n her soul with bitterness. but far from
acknowledging herself beaten and giving
up the unequal fight, she strives with
sIl greater energy against dreaded
DOOM
Just here her husband or she has one)
hegins 20 suffer seriously.
She still hoping TO find an effective
remedy against the Ills Of flesh. avaiis
herself Of the skill Of those who embel-
lis' and beautify the skin. and OF those
vl0 exploit wonderful rouges at fabulous
,ecs which prices the husband. OF
1f..l