The Washington times., 1904-04-30

By MARGARET HOLMES BATES,

Probably next year. when the Presi-
iential campaign is on. the new woman,
IT the middle-aged or elderly woman
Eho is accused of trying to look younger,
will not occupy the center Of the stage;
or. If she does. there will be two or
three shadows In the limelight full moon
the candidates and the eternal femi-
nine.
The absorbing question of debate is
and it must be owned that up to date
the affirmative is krgely In the majority
does the middle-aged or elderly woman
of today look younger than did women
of the same age forty years ago?
II is generally conceded that she does.
and then comes the question: What
makes her look young? What is it that
has improved her appearance?
One writer boldly asserts that It IS
all in the hat This writer declares that
the woman OF the COS who was fifty
years old would not wear a hat of the
same pattern as that of her daughter.
1t would not have been dignihed; and
she would have felt ridiculous to have
worn a "hyaway' toque of exactly the
same style as her eighteen-year-old
daughter. Perhaps.
Is It All in the Hat?
II this writer Will look over some of
the fashion magazines of the SOS. he or
she will find that most of the hats and
bonnets of the period were very elabor-
ate, and those of elderly women were
simply marvellous.
How about women in mourning?
That is great leveler. and yet. the
widow of today is a young widow at
forty whereas. forty or fifty years ago.
a widow OF that age wilted down in her
weeds and talked tearfully Of her few
remaining years in these low grounds
OF sorrow" And yet, she was much
more likely to marry a second time than
IS the present day widow. There was
no other way out of the weeds.
The widow of seventy nowadays puts
on mourning because it is the fashion.
Her clothes are the sign Of her bereave-
ment. but they gradually fade into black
and lavender. or black and white. that
is both beautiful and becoming. If she
has had a happy life with the departed
she has nothing on her conscience to
grieve over. If her married life has not
been lone grand sweet song" then she
silently and thankfully accepts he.' de-
liverance and preserves in both cases. a
cheerful countenance.
Women Have Grown Handsomer.
That is the great secret. not of youth
,ulness in women. but of good looks be-
cause OF expression. Women generally
are handsOmer than they used to be,
and for this there is ample reason on
the surface of things. 1t is the mental
attitude that has changed the physical
appearance.
A young woman visitor said to her
hostess: How very old your next door
neghbor looks. She can't be old; her
dre.'
= never thought she looked old:
she's slender of figure, her hair hasn'
thread Of gray and her complexion
Yes, 1 know: I guess she doesn'-
look old. she's just-stup!d.
That was the true state of the case
me woman was a plodder. Her dress
her hat, her jacket were all young
when they hung on their pegs. WheT
she put them on they were-unbecom.
slow. her speech was spiritless Hel
mentality was filed with pots anC
pans, dust rags, and disinfectants. No
that she was a drudge; her circum
sidereG a very fortunate woman Blu
her nature affiliated with low grade
objects. and this state OF mine CAV,
tone 20 her physical appearance.
The Mind Makes the Woman.
Another instance was that of a MAJ
and woman who met after a separation
OF several years. They had been lovers
The man said: 1T seems TO me you'v,
grown taller
No, have not: my walking dresses
are made the same length now that the.
Were ten years ago."
He stood beside her
i guess you're right; Dut seeing yo
at a little distance you surely loo
taller"
The woman laughed; she glanced a
NE heavy figure and face TO match
she would not be so unllind as TO sa,
that ne seemed shorter than when the,
last stood together; but she lifted he
chm bit higher as she answered:
It's because 1 think tall thoughts an,