The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-17
FOR FEMININE READERS
A CORRESPONDENT OBJECTS TO THE
PREVALENT .BEAUTY TALKS"
Present Fashions Make Dressing for
Dinner Easy-way OF the Woman
Recommendations Suggestions.

The chief end OF woman is TO beautify
herself and TO be a girl forever. That Is,
one would suppose so judging by the
beauty talks we see in print. How TO
torestaIl and obliterate wrinkles is a mo-
mentous question with women. How 10
overcome the teIltafe scragginess Of the
throat, how 10 prevent the corners OF the
mouth from dropping, how TO guard against
crows feet" in short. how 10 look twenty
at seventy. seems of paramount interest.
There is one beauty of youth, another of
maturity and another beauty OF old age;
for one beauty differs from another. and
happy is she who recognizes each in its
order. That woman of fifty should regret
the roses of twenty is not to be wondered
at That she should spend the rest of her
life in seeking to restore them is incompre-
hensible. A face at fifty has an attraction
OF its own. Much is written there in the
way Of grace. dignity and character. That
a woman should view with pang her first
gray hair, that she should note with some
sadness her fading cheek is not surprising.
That she should mourn, refusing to be COM
forted over these things is past understand
ing.
The advantages to health and good looks
of the BATH the tooth brush and nail file
are well enough To expatiate upon TO I'M
fortunates in ignorance of these things.
The benefits of exercise, good food and
fresh air should be duly valued. But the
advice poured out concerning perfumed
baths, oil massage, creams, ointments, rub
hing OF the neck, manipulation of the
corners Of the mouth, and kindred stuff is
amazing. In one column "a woman of
seventy tells how she preserves her
youth. After reading it the wonder is, does
she preserve anything else? Can she talk
Of other things than pomades and washes?
Does she ever fear a greater enemy than
fabby flesh and deepening wrinkles? How
can she? A woman who resolves when a
very young girl that the corners of her
mouth shall not droop. who watches all
her life for each sign OF age, who cares for
her body as IL she were a prize race horse
has not much time left One of the prettiest
OF women is more than seventy years old
Her hair is gray, her cheeks and brow are
lined, her mouth droops, her figure is
bent But a spirit shines from her eyes, a
radiance from her face, a sweetness from
her smile that is gladdening al
ways. In talking with her no one
thinks Of the seams in her brow,
the hollows in her cheeks, the stoop of her
figure. She is alive to all that goes on in
the world. She is eager to hear of the MAX
ms OF history, keen to listen to discoveries
Of science. quick to discuss new books and
old. She is as dainty and sweet in appear
ance as rose. Yet she knows nothing of
balms and lotions. complexion powders or
manicure paste. Her toilet articles are few
Cho
climbing the monument as OF rubbing her
neck and shoulders with cocoa butter or
taking thought for the corners of her
mouth. Her conversation is never of
hints on the care of the hands," or s'how
to retain the bloom Of youth" or. 'how to
be fair. though fat" The editor of the
beauty department. Of a popular news
paper receives more mail than all the rest
of the editorial force put together. She
has secretaries and typewriters to help dis
pose of it, yet is always far behind in her
work. Her three or four columns per week
contain recipes for bleaching, fattening,
thinning and coloring the face; for bleach
ing, coloring, curling and thickening the
hair; for covering with flesh the collar
bones; for Strengthening the back, arching
the eyebrows. .lengthening the eyelashes,
whitening the teeth, removing freckles,
reddening the lips. raising the instep, shap-
ing the finger nails, Grecianizing the nose,
fiattening the ears and for getting rid of
moles, warts and superfiuous hair. Who
writes these countless letters of inquiry?
Who buys the creams and mixtures so
widely advertised? When Bob Staples
called Lady Dedlock the "best-groomed
woman in the whole stud we remember
that she had an air of high breeding as
well as the services of French maid. We
do not think of her as plastered at night
and scraped in the morning. We do not
fancy her reeking with bandoline and per-
tune, waving powdered hands with point
ed, polished and tinted nails. We imagine
her an elegant, well-dressed lady with no
suggestion of a beauty department
The good old name of lady needs to be
revived. Not IN an empty, meaningless
use, but as designating cultivated, gentle
woman She is a lady" - there is no
higher praise. 1t implies woman suf-
ncently careful concerning her personal
appearance. but more careful for, the
graces of heart and mind. 1t implies one to
whom years shall add to rather than take
from attractiyeness.
mo spring nor summer beauty hath such
grace
AS have seen in an autumnal face"
But not an autumnal face with artificial
roses on IL. Not a face anointed, and
rubbed, and steamed, and patted, and
forced into unnatural smoothneSs; but a
face showing that the owner of it has lived
A face that may betray, perhaps. traces Of
tears, or sorrow, of disappointment but
shows also sweet serenity, a neyer-fading
hope and love and trust.