The evening times., 1898-06-25
Plain FACTS
FOR PLAIN FACES
Ugly Women Should Not Sigh
for Unattainable Looks"
BY Wisely CuItivnting What Tai
ents They PGssess They Can
Always Please.

woman who sighs for beauty and the
many blessings she thinks 1t brings in Its
train, let her listen for only five minutes
to the plain, unvarnshed truth l have
prepared for her. In the first place, the
powerful women of history, the danger
Gus women Of history. have all been plain
women. Beauty is but skin deep. as many
a man, discovers after marriage, and af-
ter he has grown weary of the beautiful
face which conceals so many imperfections
of character. The most tenderly cherish
ed wives l know are plain women. and
the American girl who captured the heart
of that confirmed bachelor. George Van
derbilt. is far from beautiful. Year after
year such beauties as Maizie Cuyler. now
Lady Grey Egerton; Lulu Morris. now the
wife of Freddie Gebhardt: Marie Scott ami
Susie Sturgis. whose approaching marri-
age brings disappointment to the heart OF
more than one Philadelphia man. had met
Mr.. Vanderbilt and left his heart and
even his fancy untouched, and he had
come to be regarded as unattainabie He
was an extremely desirable husband, thar
was everywhere acknowledged. One day
a quiet young woman whom the very
small world In which she lived knew as
Miss Dresser crept down into his heart
because she evinced evident pleasure in
hearing him read aloud, a practice to
which he was seriously addicted. Now
she is Mrs George Vanderbilt, with more
homes. money and jewels than she can
ever thoroughly enjoy, and the beauties
are left in the rear. even though they
made excellent matches.
1t is a misfortune to be pretty unless
you have qualities of mind to sustain
your good looks. 1t Is a misfortune TO be
beautiful II you are Of humble parentage.
although there are rare cases where
beauty has lifted girl to high posi-
ton in the social world. History teens
with instances of the curse of beauty,
and even in modern life in this prosaic.
matter-of-fact world of ours. good looks
have been a stumbling book in the way
of some young womeA. ami one they
would gladly remove If they could do it
by wishing. The affection born of good
looks merely is not worth having, be-
cause it will vanish when the years be-
gin to leave marks upon the face
woman with refined manners. a good.
clear head, and sense enough to make
the best of her limited opportunities can
compete more than favorably with the
prettiest woman who ever breathed.
once heard a sensible girl remark that she
would rather be gifted with style than
Beauty and whether she knew 1t or not
she was gifted that way. That is some
thing that never deserts woman as long
as she can keep her waist line and a
straight back.
A girl of my acquaintance was about as
ugly as you could imagine and her
childhood was spent in trying to over
come at least a portion of her ugliness.
And how do you suppose she did il? Not
with cosmetics, / assure you, but by
cultivatinS what few talents she had. She
ilherited rare musical taste, and piano.
She had an intense desire to sing. and
her mother consulted the pest authority
on the voice that the city afforded. and
asked him for the plain truth-was her
voice worth spending money and time up
on He tried IL and considered. tried il
again and honestly said that he could
not tell. II might develop into something
suited FOR the parlor- he- own pleasure
and tina, of her friends, but never more
than that, and perhaps not even as much.
His charges were frightful. but the fami-
ly conclave declared in favor of trial.
How that girl worked,
Faithfully she practiced with little or no
encouragement from her teacher, until
: one day when he found a ray of hope in
the way she had managed to place her
tones She had good musical taste. and
/ that materially assisted her. and after
months OF tedious work singing was add
/ ed to her little list of attractions. which
consisted mainly of the ability to listen
and to talk well when necessary. To-
day she is mistress of one of the prettiest
homes in a gay little city, and leader in
the social life. She entertains notables
when they visit the city. and largely
assists in her husbands popularity as a
physician. But she always has a secret
dread of meeting new people: she says
that It Is such uphill work for a plain
girl until the new acquaintance begins to-
find her Interesting. That Is where the
pretty girl has the advantage: she attracts
instantly, although often she cannot hold
the position she easily obtains.
As the chief complaint of the plain wo-
man Is her lack of admirers. suggest an
unfailing remedy. Treat men with indif-
ference-not the obnoxious kind. which
makes you appear disagreeable. but the
easy manner which says very plainly that
! while you treat a man politely and enter
| tainingly you will treat his successor
equally well. Not being used to such
! treatment. 1t piGues him, and Immediately
| he tries to interest you. And from that
moment he is lost if you are one of the
clever women meet every day.-Boston
| Traveller.