The Washington times., 1904-06-17
The Pathetic Plain Girl.
Her Need of Charm in Her Duel With Fate.

How charming you are!' he ex-
claimed. in a fervor Of admiring love.
Il have to be charming" was her re-
ply. because I'm so plain"
This same young woman used to say
frankly that a bad temper and selfish
ness were two luxuries that no girl who
wasn't a beauty could afford to treat
herself to. EverythinE-even downright
u~namiability and impudence-were for
gwen to the girl with an angels face.
but such things were intolerable in the
ordinary girl.
"And untidiness-that's another unfor-
6ivable crime in the girl whose fea-
lures are not cut just right, and whose
complexion isn't up to the mark. or
her fgur what IL should be-" was an
other OF her personal convictions. The
beauty can go round with wisps OF
hair hanging On her neck and blowzy
tendrils blowing into her eyes, with her
shoestrings trailing on the pavement
ard her dress frayed around the edges.
and never be criticised for ii. People
vii! call her so unconventional and so
delightfully."- free and easy and just
the most artistic person you ever saw.
Men will tie up her shoelaces for her
and stou in the middle of q waltz or a
hand Of bridge for her TO patch up her
hair. and consider themselves blessed
TO be given the Chance But let the
plain girl try II on-let the girl whom
no man looks at twice 90 around look
ing like that. and see IL she doesn't
catch it, There is no charm or glamour
about untidiness when 1t is practised
by an unprepossessing girl, let me tell
you'll"
Two Misleading Proverbs.
There used TO be two old proverbs
4H,-F 90 nal ~o 10 Irafr~ r-Bofhar q
girl was pretty or plain. Sometimes her
elders reminded her that Beauty Is de-
ceitful and favor is vain." and if she
was good looking this was supposed 10
tone down her satisfaction. and If she
was plain the proverb was supposed TO
encourage her. Sometimes the mothers
and aunts and elderly friends changed
their remark to run. Beauty is only
kin deep" This always made the
homely girl mad" if she had any
proper spirit in her, for, of course, be-
ins a woman, she knew well enough
that n dimDle in the chin or a pair OF
fine eyes would be worth more TO ner In
her duel with fate than any intellectual
gifts or spiritual graces she could ac-
quire. Skin deep though il might be. she
would have liked a little beauty. and not
unnaturally she looked upon herself as
badly treated
over in London. where they discuss
all sorts OF subjects in their papers,
even when II Is not their silly season..
they have been discussing a topic which
grows out Of the general subject Of good
looks and their value TO women. The
Iady's Pictorial" in an editorial en-
titled -Gargoyies and Graces, says:
Just recently there has been much
discussion over the subject of good
1LnN $500. EAw WNa nHaA a-T .nhrna
on the one hand IL has been argued
that a very pretty sicknurse is not de-
siTable In a house. there has been album
dant testimony on the other side that
IN attendance on them and are all the
better for looking upon what is sweet
.ano pleasant in their hours of suffer
ing II is 10 be feared that 1t Is the
goOd-looking ones who best succeed in
their profession. since they frequently
marry either grateful patients or sus-
ceptible doctors. and this being so. it
IS impossible TO hide the painful fact
that many most excellent and charm
ms women. for no other fault than that
Providence has not bestowed gOod ioOks
upon them. are doomed TO the drudgery-
and loneliness and dreariness that
others never know who start with. per
laps. fewer qualifications but fairer
Pathos in PIainness.
None save the sufferers themselves
NhNAr ~ hNrNNrf AAANA VIM UaAAlANN AiAfAt
can be in %plainness; they make the
best OF the inevitable. they assume a
cheerfulness and make n %pretence OF in
difference 10 beauty which at least
sbield them from continual pity. but
who knows but themselves how they
Ions TO have had but a small share OF
the beauty so generously shOwered on
another and how cruelty they feel the
heipiessness % their position when they
are pushed aside FOR their sisters who
are more richly lowered. so far as
beauty IS concerned.
mo woman, however CHEEKY and
sweet ard unselfsh she may be. would
not rather have had good looks. a she
had her choice. Beauty seems 20 be a
right which every woman feels nature
has no business 10 withhold from her.
because. perhaps. with Bruyere. she
finds how much art. good nature. indul-
Gences. how many good Offices and civ
iiities are required among friends to ac-
ccnpnsh So some years what "A lovely
face does in a moment Yet. witha
who shall say that while p~lainness has
its pathetic and its tragic side. IL has not
also ITS compensations. After all. when
a plain woman Is loved. she knows tiat
Il is for herself alone, and that a woman