The Washington times., 1906-01-06

The prettiest hand that ever a woman
was blessed with viii be unattractiVe
II the nails are not nice Well shaped
nails are the exception, and though
something may be done 20 improve them
in that way there were never any so
bad that care would not make them
look better. II is the simplest sort OF
care, too but it must be continuous;
il il once lets up for a few days they
will return to their original coarse or
ugly aspect
To begin with, the cuticle must be
soft, smooth, and even. Roughness in
any way is inexcusable because the use
OF cold cream viii prevent it entirely
II should be put on at night when go
ing TO bed and so rubbed on that the
crack AT the base of the nail at the
cuticIe is filled The cream will not rub
off. but will be absorbed by the dry
skin overnight and will soon have a
positive effect.
] hesitate about telling an amateur 10
use a pair Of curved manicure scissors,
It is so simple 10 do damage with them,
The tendency of a person who does not
understand the construction OF the skin
about the nail is 10 cut away too much,
which Immediately thiokens the flesh
I'm a very homely fashion. Yet the scis-
sors should be used to advantage by
every person.
To do this observe the flesh at the
1ase Of the nails. It Will be seen that
cost persons. directly next TO the
nail have skin that is absolutely dry
and hard. Except when the nails are
very bad there Is so little Of this skin
tbot only close observation reveals IT.
Next TO this is the round cuticle. which
while not as soft as skin on the other
psrts OF the hand, is still not dry and
hard and contains no blood. The ali
most irresistible tendency OF an mex
nerienced person. the moment she gets
a pair of curved scissors in her hand
IS 10 cut this thick but bloodless skin.
I'm other words TO cut as close to the
nail as she can without drawing blood.
This is the most serious mistake thaI
can be made. for that thick skin SHOULD
never be cut. If it Is done once, 1t
must be always. and even then will
grow coarser all the time. The only
pleces that it is permissible to put scis-
eors 10 are the absolutely dry thin, hard
hits directly next to the nafl. These
whenever they appear. sho1ld be re-
moved and sometimes an orange wood
stick is sufficient TO do II.
Every nail should be over a
least once a week. and tw is better
The implements necess%r. NE
and emory board II ont ishes. ar
orange wood stick and a pass Of curved
scissors The stick SHOULD have one enc
made broad and rather thin, the corners
being rounded.
Before doing ainything the finger:
should be soaked for ten minutes ii
warm water, sfoftened by soap or glyce-
rine Then wipe, but not especially dry
and dip thFe fat end Of the orange wood
stick in the water Holding the sticl
so that the end will lie fat against the
nail rub first one down one side of the
nail from the top to the base. and theT
rub the other. The stick should be KEPT
moist all the time, both TO keep tho
cl.iticIe from hardening and to prevent
scratching the nail in any way If this
downward stroke is pressed firmly bu
gently, Keeping the stick always close
10 the cuticle. il viii be found after &
moment when the nail is dried on Z
soft towel that it has smoothed the
Isurfaoe of the nail. and has RAISED
fsome bits of old dead cuticie. Toe
great pressure will make a bruise
Some of the cuticle viii have beer
quite rubbed off by the stick. and that
which remains should be trimmed away
with the tips of the fine curved scis
sors Great care should be taken. how
ever not to cut the soft, though blood
less skin,
Each finger should be treated In thi:
manner. rubbing cold cream over i'm
mediately afterwaTd to prevent tn,
skin becoming too dry.
When the nails are so shaped as to bt
stubby. the half moon at the base refus