Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-07-30
FOR THE PLAIN GIRL
ADVICE TO ONE WHO WOULD
SHINE IN SOCIETY.
The Heart and Mind Count for Fully
as Much as an Attractive
Personal Appearance
Would.
a girl writes me Diaintively.

A girl writes me Dlaintively.
Il have great ambition 10 shine IN
society. but though my figure is good.
my features are very plain. and. like
all ugly persons. I am extremely SEN
sitive. Then ! am afraid that
haven't the kind OF way that IS needed.
Do tell me what TO do. for am very
unhappy"
There are good many plain people
In the world. II they only knew IL. for
great deal Of the lack Of charm comes
from the Inside. Irregular features
and the Indifferent colorings which
stand for absence OF beauty are by no
means the whole thing The heart
counts. as do the mind. dress. extreme
fastidiousness I'm personal habits. etc
The plain girl must want to please in
every way. and she must get some fun
out OF her efforts II she hopes 10 be
an entire success. She must not only
like the little amenities OF society:
she must love them.
Let me consider the qualities OF nv
correspondent for social brilllancy.
She has. 20 begin with. a good figure.
Way down under her tormented self
consciousness she has the wish 20
please. So. II she will only stop think
Ing Of her good points she will be
able 70 do wonders.
A girl who can write such a frank
and simple letter IS no fool. and her
self-depreciation shows she Is OF mod
est nature. two excellent qualities for
conquering the bland artifcialities OF
social life. For no woman with a good
figure Is ugly when she Is well-dressed
and society sees nothing but charm In
the modest figure who. without osten-
tation. does the right thing az the
right moment every time
SO the first thing to do is TO strive
with might and main 70 Danish self
consciousness. When the plain girl
listens she must think Of the talker
and not OF herself She must en-
deavor 90 be interested and TO give
such sympathetic answers as will i'm
mediately -endear her TO the speaker.
There is a point TO keep ever before
you-the good and sympathetic listen
er is a power in society. Every little
act OF graciousness in the way OF con
oA1NA AAAh tAAt NOAlAOtA anu vanity OF an
other before your own adds one more
figure 20 the total OF charms. The girl.
plain or beautiful. who would shine in
the world cannot afford 10 take always
the best chair and biggest piece OF
cake at the drawing room tea any
more than she can AFFORD TO interrupt
talk with irrelevant gable. Her heart
must be open 10 the foible OF the other
"critter." man or woman. and she
must have at her finger points a per
feet knowledge of all the small polite
nesses that constitute human decency
Tact must be her sword and genuine
liking for humanity her armor. So let
me advise ali girls who fancy them
selves plain 10 practise. first. the gen
tie art OF pleasing: for this constitutes
the very foundation Of success in so
ciety. and without il one Is nil. And
OF course this recommendation in
cludes the little arts and graces. for
II you don't know when to call and
when not, and think 1t not worth while
10 answer invitations. or do some 9th.
er thing equally annoying TO others,
you will fall far short OF being tact
ful a knowledge OF every social re-
quirement. however small. is absolute
ly necessary
PRUDENCE STANDISH.