The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-02
Looking Pleasant.

Most people have been told by the
photographer to look pleasant" but
perhaps few have philosophical on ~
necessity for that bit of instruction. A
little reflection on the average Ameri-
cp- {" = as it is seen in the street cars,
however, will throw light on the sub
ject.
Nine out of ten of the people one sees
in the cars have an expression which
is worried and anxious, not to say sour.
Occasionally one sees a face which is
placid and happy, and more often one
observes features twisted up as if their
owner had been experimenting with
green persimmons. In repose, the aver
age persons face is not pleasant.
Hence the photographers injunction.
One reason for this facial aspect is
undoubtedly the fact that when people
are alone they are apt to think of them
selves and their worries and anxieties,
which are driven from their minds
when conversing with others, and their
faces therefore assume a careworn
look. 1t is beyond question that the
worst thing which any man or woman
can do. from an esthetic point of view,
is to be forever thinking of self. 1t
gives the features cast which is su-
percilious, conceited, or unhappy, ac-
cording to the temperament. There is
something in a genuine concern for the
welfare of others which tends to beau
THY the expression If not the actual
features of most people.
Another reason is like many sources
of human action, rather a silly one.
Some folks have an idea that smiling
and happy looks denote a frivolous
character. and they wish to be taken
seriously, and respected. They there
fore compose their features in what
they fondly hope is a romantic and dig
nified melancholy, and they only sue
coed in looking sour. 1t is a very diff
cult thing for the average American
face to be grave and imposing. There
is too much mixed ancestry in this
country, and too many of the ancestors
had snub noses and irregular fore
heads, and uncertain chins. The Amer
lean face can be very alert and inter-
esting in expression, and it may have a
piquant beauty or rugged strength of
its own, but 1t can never be Byronic,
and 1t looks a good deal better VIXEN
happy.
There is, il is true. a certain dignity
in grief. Some people go through life
trading on this fact, and owing to the
tendency in human nature to enjoy be-
ing humbugged,-the trade is generally
successful. Another reason for its sue
cess IS that people. men especially, OBJ
ject to an atmosphere made salt with
tears, and the person of Niobe temper
ament frequently gets what she wants
in that way, while the melancholy
swain sometimes is equally successful
with women. But, after all. melan-
cholia is a rather shabby stock In trade,
and, what is more 1t is exceedingly I'M
becoming to the features. The time has
gone by when solemnity was insepara
bly, associated with either religion or in
tellect. 1t is obvious to every thoughts
full person that a cheerful saint is just
as much of a saint, and a genius of
happy disposition just as much of a
genius, as if either person put on a sad
and depressing countenance for every
day use. AS for people who are not
saints or geniuses. their melancholia
makes them look like crab apples dec
grated with knot holes.