The San Francisco call., 1908-04-05

IF two applicants OF equal Qualinca-
tions and references were to come to
me. one possessing beauty and the
other homely, 1 should choose the
homely one," said the manager OF one
OF the largest department stores in San
francisco II don't regard beauty as
an absolute bar to employment here.
but we have learned to scan it with
suspicion. I am willing to take an up-
usually prepossessing applicant II we
need help, provided she can give proper
references and provided also she ap-
pears to have some qualifications be-
sides good looks. Beauty is always
conscious and too often self-conscicus.
The plain woman expects no considera-
tion on that score and knows that she
must place reliance on her work. Then
there is the question of length Of en-
pioyment TO be considered. The pretty
girl Is likely to get married At least
the chances are In her favor. and we
can count on retaining for q longer
period on the average the services Of
the homely young woman
When 1 called to interview Miss May
Irwin 1t was with some misgivings.
Would she permit me to quote her or
would she refuse on the ground that a
really and truly stage beauty should
throw no cold water on the aspirations
of the sisterhood? ! found her In the
middle of the floor of her dressing
room at the theater making a large
picture frame.
When L stated the purpose of my
visit Miss Irwin threw up her hands.
How many women have you inter-
viewed on this subjectg she went on
Did you expect to get back to the Of
fee alive? How many women have ad-
mitted to you that they were homely?
Now. as matter OF fact, / regard my
LIAlI a H.
say my beauty. A face can have value
for expression. can't it? That is the
reason why / have considered il my
working capital. If it hadn't been for
that ! wouldn't have had the face to
keep on singing coon songs and re-
citing poetry.
II suppose somebody has been knock
ing. beauty. Forget ii. Beauty is all
right. It's nice thing to have around
the house. Lots OF my friends keep 1t
preserved--in jars and bottles on their
dressing tables. But you can't keep
1t in alcohol. Strange, isn't tt2
II always have been an admirer of
beauty. I wish there was more Of Ii.
Don't think 1 am jealous when l say
that I never have seen many beautiful
women. I may be bit critical. Some
thing always seems to be lacking. One
woman will have beautiful COM
plexion and spoil it by an ugly nose.
Another may have the smile OF an
angel and a voice like a crosscut saw.
One may have perfect face and spoil
1t all by her figure. / insist that fem
mime beauty includes the figure Yes.
indeed. That is the one subject that
arouses emotion in me--the figure.
"Of course there IL beauty and them
there Is beauty. Far be II from me to
defend all the puffs and furbelows with
which the woman OF today Is bedecked.
The heads of some women sprout puffs
as a commuters garden sprouts weeds.
They are a good deal like the old style
when women wore rings in their
noses-all right when you get used to
them.
"As 1 said before. I personally am q
great admirer of beauty. but I don't
find many women OF the stage getting
much beyond the front row Of the
chorus il that is their main qualihca-
tion.
'T know it hasn't anything to do with
the subject under discussion. but will
you let me say one little word en- the
general topic of the beautiful womanf
There is something pathetic about the
way they grow old. They can't do IL
gracefully. So few of them preserve
their dispositions. So many OF them
are sour and-well-catty. They can't
see why they should not preserve their
old popularity. They get peevish when