New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-13
AN ELEMENT Of BEAUTY.
EXPRESSION ONE OF THE CHIEF FACTORS
IN GOOD LOOKS

Take Of your expression" said a woman
who has been giving series Of practical talks to
her friends during the summer; take of your
expression. and the rest of your beauty will take
care of itself,
You smile at the word beauty and I confess
at the outset that II is in the power of every
woman be beautiful. or even pretty But every
woman can be, within her limits, attractive.
The statement is commonplace enough and is one
that we hear continually. only repeat it in order
to give # new significance We constantly
urged to take of the skim of the hair of the
features; enjoined to keep healthy and
happy, well dressed and clean; take exercise
and avoid excuses. All these things-except happi-
which is contingent-are Of great use in pre-
serving the sort OF beauty which is skin deep But
there Is beauty which is both skin deep and soul
Deep and its outward manifestation is that indie
Unable thing which we call expression. and which is
one of the strongest factors in a woman's charm"
AT this point one of the auditors showed desire
to ask question, and the speaker deferred to her
Il only wish to suggest she said. that you
are dealing with character, which should be
cultivated for a deeper reason than its outward
manifestation in beauty Surely attractive ex-
preston is an involuntary result of an attractive
character. If expression Were studied for It's own
sake would 1t not become mere facial posing, and
result in disfguring afectations?"
THAT is a very good point said the lecturer
land one that intended to make in the course of
nv remarks. If a woman is constantly thinking of
her expression her face becomes hard to man
age a schoolboy's obtrusve hands and feet A
pose Is always unnatural and unattractive either
expression or in attitude. Our aim of course Is
not to good, but to be good, and the best
Hesitation of high and sweet thoughts is involun-
tary and unconscious
But take care of our expression in a
lighter and more negative way. We can avoid bad
habits and muscular contractions such as scowI-
ing peerinS, setting the lips brfdIing' the chin
and wrinkling the forehead A kind cheerful per-
son may thoughtleSSy acquire the habit of frown-
ing. perhaps In the effort to see clearly. by
allowing the features to express too freely the
workings of the mind. We may cultivate wrinkles
by adding columns, by planning the days
work, If we get the habit of moving and contract
ing the muscles of the face In unison with the
activities of the brain. We should relax the face.
1--WE frequently told of the value of relaxing
the body and We know that much nerve force
expended in unnecessary tension This habit of
preston. Many a good wouldn't
a fly contracts her face until she looks as fierce
as a grenauler And many fretful ill tempered
woman believes she has succeeded In conceal
ing her faults of disposition from the world while
in fact they written all over her face. She
has forgotten the inevitable lines which care
petulance and anger are sure to grave upon the
Welding tissues. Good temper tends naturally
relax the face, but little watchfuness in that
direction assists in the process the muscles
tissues kept soft. the air OF youthfulness is
means And If the heart is kept warm by affec-
ton and enthusiasm and the mind bright by in
teIligent interest in all that is worthy of interest
the eyes and lips will respond to the impulse Of
the soul, and keep much of their lustre and soft
ness into old age
ITO sum up what have said: First, as a mat
ter of course, and for better reasons, cultivate
seIf-contros and serenity of character; second,
for the sake of outward attractiveness relax the
face and teach ii TO respond to your sweeter and
finer impulses.