Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-02-18
SelE REAuIlsYlNG.

Every little while the newspapers re-
port marvellous results of new attempts
to correct, by surgery, physical defects
that have seemed irremediable, and daily
one reads advertisements of specifics for
the cure of various blemishes of body
and skin. The curved spine may become
straight and strong, the squirting eye
may be given a direct gaze, the irregular
nose may take on better contour, and
the rough, wrinkled skin may become
smooth and soft, all this under the
treatments that physicians, never firing
in their efforts to alleviate suffering, have
found to be efficacious.
For, strange as it seems, it is neverthe.
less true, that pain, ill-health can be
traced as the cause of nearly all ugliness
of face or form. 1t is clear then, that
the present age, making it's greatest
stand for sanitation, is laying the founda,
ton for physical beauty for future gen
erations. And physical sanitation is not
all-there is sanitation of the mind
which is as necessary to the identifying
of the face as are the features them.
selves. The thought of the mind is re.
Elected in the face, sooner or later. No
one can be of kindly heart and earnes,
aim without showing in the expression
of eyes, brow and lips, the effect of thai
disposition, and, contrariwise, none car
keep from the countenance reflection
of malicious or vain fancies. Nineteen
hundred years ago there was given the
warning: For every evil thought shall
We give account" and the unholy OF
harsh thought can be read to-day by the
expression of the face of the thinker as
plainly as if, being charged upon her, il
were acknowledged in open court.
The mouth is the feature Of all Others
that most quickly responds to beauti
full spirit or an ugly one. The eyes are
more easily controlled than the mouth
whose sensitive muscles are hard tc
train. Thus, many lovely face il
spoiled by the discontinued, ill-tempered
expression of the mouth, and often ar
otherwise plain face is redeemed by the
sweet curves and motions of the lips
The mouth shows refinement or the
reverse, and this does not depend or
the size and shape Of it but solely on thu
expression. Loosely held lips, never
quite closed, indicate an uncertain or 6
sullen disposition, usually also stupidity
Any one who wishes to be thought
clever should cultivate closing the
mouth firmly. But its curves wher
closed are governed by the thoughts in
its owners mind, and cannot be. made
firm and gracious, until the thoughts
are of that character.
Self-beautifying then is possible, but II
must be done in the effort to beautify
other things; some one else's weary day
some ones toilsome or saddened way, OF
merely to make gladder q glad season
such as that upon which We are entering
1t is Of no use for designers and cutters
artists, and writer's, printers and news
dealers to give out, monthly or weekly
scores of beautiful fancies for the adOrn
ment of the person of woman, if she
does not meet these efforts by lending
not only her form and face to the wear
ing of lovely things, but by showing II
the expression ofkindly eyes, of gracious
mouth and of supple body, that hel
thought is also kind and gracious, ant
that she is ready to help as she has beer
helped.
The increase in the prosperity of thu
country is indicative of the increase o.
favorable conditions in all directions
Conditions that will aid the effort Il
self-beautifying are prominent among
these. Who that has copies of magazines
published two generations ago, can fai
to see, by merely comparing the fashions
of that day and this, what strides to
ward perfection have been made? Now
there is beauty of outline, symmetry il
development, completeness in finish
The fashions are to-day, adaptable
formerly they were rigidly unyielding
once they seemed made only for thu
positively lovely in face and form; nov
plain features and ungainly figures ma.
attain grace and attractiveness in pre-
vailing modes. Why is this? Becaus'
for years, all sorts of artists, designers
inventors, cutters, have striven for tn
natural, for the most reasonable ant
logical evolution Of garments into cover
ings that shall be adequate and yet ex
press the individuality of the wearer
who, according as she accepts and car
ries out this treatment in the very pat
tern of her clothing shall become, will
corresponding attention to her mind
what the prosperous business man like
to remember that he is-self-made, self
beautified by the ornament of beauti
full spirit.-McCall's Magazine.