The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-07

that there is danger OF having muscles de-
vcloped where l don't want them--lumps
and bumps. ETC.. and the contour OF the
face destroyed. It's very discouraging and
I've about resolved TO stop trying TO i'm
prove on natures handiwork. even if the
work was done with the left hand"
The plain young woman sighed heavily.
I'm sorry your experiments were so I'M
satisfactory" remarked the fat woman in
the big chair. but I'm glad to know that
I've missed nothing by not trying them all.
The fact Is. I wouldn't dare to use COM
plexion masks and creams and all those
things. John Henry wouldn't like it. He
makes a fuss as II is when he sees my hair
put up in papers
II don't blame him." put I'm the red
haired matron. 81 consider such things suf-
fcient cause for divorce. a woman with
her hair in papers and her face smeared
with cold cream is n horrible sight. and
81 read in a magazine the other day
said tho thin girl, that the way to whiten
tine neck was to bind slices of cucumber
around it over night. Think Of that in
addition TO the cold cream and curl pa
pers!' They all laughed.
you haven't told us yet. Mrs. Smith.
what you do TO make your complexion so
good" said the plain girl sweetly. though
some thought maIiciously, addressing the
lady whose cheeks showed pink even in
the dim light"
~" was the response in a complacent
tone. "Oh, L never use anything. 1t
doesn't seem necessary, You know, when
one has a really good complexion natur-
ally. But I've been much interested i'm all
you have been saying on that subject"
Every woman present thereupon thought.
rs it possible she does not know that we
know she puts her complexion on by
hand?' And every woman present except
the one with pink cheeks knew what the
others thought. though no ono spoke.
At this moment an elderly lady came
briskly up the walk.
Here's your mother, Mrs. Jones'" said
the blonde matron. 'Her skin is ike a
rose leaf this minute IL she is a grand
motner. Let's ask her how she does it,"
After the greetings were over came the
question: Grandma. what do you do to
make your complexion so good? We're all
anxious to know the secret"
Grandma seemed a little surprised.
DO? Why. nothing. ladies. nothing.
I've been too busy all my life TO think
much about such things. I've used plenty
of soap and water, OF course; one has to
do that-but nothing else"
And what kind Of soap, grandma? So
much depends on that"
Oh, any kind that I happen to have;
no particular kind. In my younger days.
when had no money to spare. kitchen
soap had to serve and did very well. The
main thing is to be clean"
All the women groaned in concert.
Kitchen soap, We thought it was ia
tall
Grandma went on placidly. ITO my no
ton the best beauty recipe is not to worry
about ones looks. You married ladies', l
suppose. wish TO look well in your hus-
bands eyes. but each OF YOU ought to re-
member that your husband chose you out
of all the world of women, and If you have
defects he doesn't see them as other people
DO or as you do yourself. To be finding
fault with his wife's looks would be to re-
fleet on the wisdom Of his own judgment.
which the average man is not given TO
doing. Besides, I think the glamour of
early days is pretty sure to continue to
the extent that both the husband and
wife We see are not at all the same man
and woman that they seem to each other.
1 may be a little mixed in my pronouns,
but 1 reckon you catch my idea"
"And as for you girls she went on,
turning to the plain young woman and
the thin girl, 'ff you nave In mind the
coming man. don't you worry either. The
experience and observation of a long life
lead me to believe that beauty really
doesn't matter so far as marriage is con-
cerned. If you will call to mind the very
plainest women of your acquaintance you
will discover that they are m~arried-that
somebody found them attractive above all
others. Usually, too. their husbands are
handsome men. Cheer up, girls"
Wen, at any rate. grandma" said the
woman with the double chin, your advice
is comforting and easy to follow, besides
being tnexpensive-plenty of soap and no
worry!'
They al laughed as they dispersed. and
laughter is itself a tonic and a charm
greater than beauty.