Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-06-12
THE MATURE BELLE.
woman's Age of Greatest Charm Is Beiog
Extended.


Extended.
The ruling woman of the present
day is the mature woman. The maiden
of bashful 10, the bud of IS, the clear
eyed girl Of 20, all must stand aside for
their older sister, who leads the process
sion. The age at which women are sup
posed to exercise their greatest charm
varies with the varying of fashion and
taste. In the Elizabethan era it was a.
Other heroines as celebrated in their
day and generation as Juliet were the
instigators of tragic loves and hates at
that extremely Juvenile age. Half a
century ago Balzac astonished his coun-
trymen by claiming unusual powers of
fascination for the woman of 80. Ever
since she has held the stage as an in
oarnation of coquettish attraction. AT
the present day the period of beauty ard
charm has been extended even further.
Balzac's so has received an additional
ten years Women of 40 are no longer
looked upon as ruins i'll which the an
tiquarian may trace relics of bygOne
splendor With the vanishing OF the
term "old maid the old maid herself
has withdrawn into the place of depart
ed spirits. In France an unmarried girl
of over 20 is looked upon as dead stock,
for which there is nothing but con-
vent. Today, i'll the United States,
women of independent means, women
of society, women who are self support
ing, rarely marry under 25, and eener
ally put off that episode i'll their exist
ence to five or ten years later.
There are many reasons for the pres
ent vogue of the mature belle. She is
more attractive, understands human ma
ture better than her younger sister
She is still good looking. Her youth
lasts longer than it used to, because she
has learned how to take care of herself.
American women formerly ruined their
beauty by bad diet, no exercise and too
little fresh air. Now they know better.
A healthy, well groomed woman, who
is not overwOrked Or ove1worried, looks
about the same age at 40 as she did at
25
With her additional years has come
additional wisdom. If she has not the
engaging simplicity that was hers at IS,
she has a knowledge Of men and man.
ners which makes her a more interest
ing companion, more lovable human
being. Experience has given her the
gift of sympathy, Of which the young
girl feels nothing. To men she has come
to represent not only all that is grace
full and gracious and tactful in woman
hood, but all that is broad and tender
and feminine
Among INSTRUMENTATION the
artistic to the plain workingwoman-
the maturer ones are naturally in the
ascendant The young girl among the
workers is the novice whom no one
knows or cares much about. 1t is when
the years Of endeavor have been passed,
and mind and heart have reached their
fullest powers of comprehension and
feeling, that she is at the pinnacle of
her development. In these days of hur-
~ and pressure and intensity of effort
such creature naturally takes prece-
dence over the untried girl who is wait
ing with eXpectant eyes for the message
of the future. Existence is too full, the
struggle too serious, for the return of
those days when youth, Ignorance, beau
ty aud folly were the great requisites of
women. The times are stirring, the
pressure of existence desperately ear
nest and man in his struggle demands
helpmate who can assist him onward,
not drag him back. Chivalry in it's
downfall carried away many pretty
myths, the prettiest the myth of the
child wife hanging, frightened and faint
hearted, on her husbands arm.--San
Francisco Argonaut.