The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-26

the most ungainly and awkward member
Manicurlng, only an affair of recent
years, has done much beside the temporary
improvement which Ii offers. 1t has drawn
general attention to the hands both of
men and women. Well-cared-for hands are
the rule among the generality of refined
people, where once they were the excep-
ton.
To be thoroughly washed was formerly
considered evidence enough of good breed
ing. But all the little niceties in the care
of the hands have developed along with
other attentions to minor details which
distinguish the present age.
The manicure outfit is an important fea-
ture OF every womans dressing room, and
men even do not disdain the little scissors
and the rouge pot.
Rubber gloves have another important
office beside the whitening of the hands.
They impart the softness and delicacy of
touch so much to be desired in the we'll
groomed hand Nothing as vet seems to
have been invented to take their place, al
though the odor from them is anything
but desirable. But they are air-tight prac-
tically, and this produces the sweat-box
erect necessary to the softening and whit
ening process.
The mistake should not be made of buy
ing them too tight. This only irritates and
causes the hands to burn. They should
on the contrary, be worn almost loose
enough to shake off A string, or better
still a rubber band. about the wrist shuts
out the air and holds them on. The really
best time to wear them is at night. But
nervous women often find this impossible
and prefer to wear them about their MORN
ing errands or even on the wheel.
Where they have been worn over night
the next morning is an admirable time
for manicuring. For this a professional
manicuress is not only necessary, but
unless an extra sensible one-is unde-
sirable. Every woman is better calculat-
ed to know the needs and requirements of
her hands than any one else, If she makes
them at all a study.
The chief difficulty encountered is al
ways with the cuticle. Idle hands, he it
known, are the ones on which the cuticle
grows over the nail, hiding the much
desired half-moons. The woman who does
the family washing often has the coveted
crescents, which might be the envy of
her mistress.
and forcing back the delicate cuticle, so
much in use in the early stages of man
touring is now frowhed upon, as it de-
nail grows-the delicate matri-lies close
at the root of the nail At this point
just under the flesh. the nail itself is
in a soft state and easily injured The
white spots, variously interpreted, some
times seen on the nails,s come from no
other cause than a bruse or injury caus-
ed to the embryo nail.
Only by patience and persistent effort
can the cuticle be kept from growing over
the nail.
The reasons are manifest. Nature sup
plies the hard substances we call nails
at the end of the fingers for their pro-
lection. In proportion as the use ceases
the tendency is toward the encroachment
of the softer parts upon the horny It's
sue
Cuticle knives all come in about the
same styles, the only difference being in
| the mountings. These are of silver, pearl,
horn. tortoise shell, and celluloid. The
! knife should be used only for separating
| the cuticle gently from the nail after the
| fingers have been thoroughly soaked.
| The best authorities now say cut away
| the cuticle only at the points where it is
ragged, leaving it to die and rub off nat
| urally.
The newest files are far thinner than
| the old ones, and are correspondingly bet
| ter. There was a tendency in using the
| meath. Besides, the fingers at the corn
ers of the nails were more or less mutt
| lated by them.
oval is the proper shape to file the
| nails in the up-to-date calendar Sharp
| points have been discarded as inartistic
| and unbecoming.
Powdered pomice is used for taking off
stains. And an orange stick, with occa-
sionally an acid, is applied with a soft
/ cloth for cleaning underneath the nail
| An orange stick is said to be the only
wood soft and pliable enough which will
not split.
ANY oily substance rubbed over the nails
| before they are polished is sufficient. A
| red pomade is generally used.
A high polish is no longer considered de-
sirable. Only what would be suggested by
the natural conditions is sought for.
| Full manicure sets are to be had in the
State street shops from s. up to $500.
Tortoise shell, ivory, inlaid woods, and
| even jeweled outfits fft for princess are
to be had for those who can afford them.
The only thing which really should en-
ter seriously into the consideration is the
quality of the steel in the instruments
This should be of the best.