Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1903-02-26
WoMAN'S BEST AGE.
Opinion Seems to Be That It is Be-
tween 80 and 40.

There's no mistake about it. To be
young, to be in the first flush of youth,
is no longer fashionable.
The fashionable age now for wo-
man is between 80 and 49, Have not
their majesties, the king and queen of
England, given notice that the young
person is not to monopolize social at
tention?
The doctrine of middle age is being
preached in London, and from the in
ner most centers of Mayfair exclusive
ness to the outer circles of Bohemian
ism the women who are the most pop
ular are those who have lived.
1t is had to get at the reason for this
inversion Of fancy Somebody says 1t
is because the girls Of the present day
are older and more world-born than
the women who have passed the first
stages OF real youth. Whatever the
reason, the chief interest seems to CEN
ter about women who have left the
white muslin stage and crept out to the
once dreaded verge of maturity
The women Of whom most Is heard
have certainly no longer any right to
be considered young. They are frankly
middle-aged, and they seem to glory
In 1t.
So people seem to have discovered
that the period succeeding youth Is
more desirable than adolescence. The
strange thing is that 1t has not been
discovered before, with all the exam
pies that exist In history. The women
Of France and England who were noted
for their power and attractions reached
the zenith Of their glory after youth
had flown.
Those who have lived and seen the
world must always have a greater pow
er for swaying humanity than those
who are equipped only with the charm
/ of youth. No one Is disposed to under
estimate this charm, for 1t comes to all
once, and partakes not only Of the
sweetness of the flower, but also OF the
evanescence.
Some one has said that every face
ought to be beautiful at 49," and an
other that mo old person has right to
be ugly because she has had all her
life in which to grow beautiful" The
TRANSPORTATION Of a pleasant smile,
kindly lightings of the eyes, restful
lines Of self-control about the lips, Sc
renity Of the face-these things no fit
full year or two of goodness gives. Only
habitual graciousness within will give
them all.
1t Is interesting to remember in con-
nection with this that many OF the
women who have been famous for their
beauty and fascination for men achiev-
ed their greatest triumphs between the
ages of 80 and 40.
Josephine was 80 when she married
Napoleon, and judging from the letters
written by the absent husband during
the early years of their union, she in
spired him with intense love and jeal-
ousy. It has been said that she was the
only woman Napoleon ever really
loved.
Nine. Recamier was most beautiful
between the ages Of IS and S., and Mile
Mars at As was at the zenith Of her tri-
umphs. Diane de Poitiers was &c when
she won the heart of Henry II. The
king was half her age, but his devotion
never changed
Blanca Capello was 80 when tho
Grand Duke Francis Of Florence fel
captive to her charms and made her his
wife though he was five years her jun
ior. Nine. de Maintenon was 43 when
united to Louis, and Catherine II. oil
Russia was 80 when she seized the
empire Of Russia and captivated the
dashing young General Orloff Up to
the time of her death, at g. she seems
to have retained her powers Of be-
witchery.
Cleopatra was nearly 40 when Mari,
Anthony fell beneath her spell, and the
most famous beauty the world has ever
known, Helen Of Troy, was long past
30 when she perpetrated the most not
able elopement on record and set the
Trojan warriors to fighting for her
sake.