The Washington herald., 1910-09-13
FASCINATING FoRTY-F1vE.
Flirtations of Women who Have
Reached Zenith of Attractiveness.

Reached Zenith of Attractiveness.
We are told by the best authorities that
Cleopatra was at least forty-hve years
old when she brought Marc Antony 10
her feet; that Helen OF Troy had attained
almost TO middle age when men fought
and died for her sake; that nearly all
the women who have swayed the destiny
OF nations or have become famous as
rulers Of men became known to the world
after they had arrived at what Is gener-
ally regarded as middle age. Never were
they mere girls or even young women.
In this twentieth century surely history
repeats itself. and the years between
forty and fifty are more often than not
those crowned with the greatest success
IN the life Of a modern woman OF soci-
ETY., says the Manchester Guardian.
The modern woman at forty-hve Is
finished production. a triumph Of nature
and art; hence her wonderful fascination.
Flattery and admiration have become
necessities TO the woman Of forty-hve:
she sways men not only BY her beauty
and wit but also by reason Of her knowl-
edge Of their weaknesses. Power over
them she must have: II Is the chief Joy
OF her sovereignty, the sauce piquante
TO her existence. Fascinating. full OF
run, warm hearted. but cool headed, she
never loses her balance; but men fire.
quently lose their heads and hearts. too.
for her sake; so she is often accused OF
spelling the matrimonial market for
younger women. who complain that her
vanity Will not allow her 20 forego
conquest. The fact that at this age she
has fewer scruples with regard 20 her
love affairs only adds 10 her attraction
in the eyes Of men,
When mere boys make fools Of them
selves over our modern Circes, bitter feel
ings are sometimes rife. and people begin
Indignantly 10 inquire what Mrs. So
and-so's husband Is doing and why he
allows il all" He. good. easy man." is
pitied or blamed unnecessarily. He
knows his wife. believes in her. trusts
her: he is probably a Better man than
any OF those who bangle about her. She
knows II. but she must have excitement
Of Irritation. Probably in the end no
harm is done to any one. for she is lar too
wise TO imperil her position by any real
indiscretion.
Small wonder men fall in love with her
She is
To all their virtues ever kind.
To all their faults a little blind
She cherishes no impossible Ideals OF
character or conduct: she looks with
lenient eye on pet weaknesses and darling
sins; she winks az what she cannot alto
gether ignore. Live and let live" is her
motto, and Il embodies a vast forbear-
ance. This type OF woman Is. OF course.
an accomplished hostess. a delightful ac-
Quamtance. a considerable mistress 20 her
servants. gauging human nature as far
as she knows It with unerring judgment,
but never dipping far beneath the surface
of things
She is often very lovely, with the fra
GRANGE, the completeness. the finished per-
lection Of the full-blown rose. Shortly,
perhaps, the petals will fall and droop.
the edges will wither, the heart decay:
but IN the fullness Of its beauty Il is un-
surpassed. and as a decorative value, a
satisfaction Of the senses. it is Of more
account than the bud. which. though
dainty and full OF promise. is often hard
Of outline and unyielding 70 the touch.
SO the woman of forty-fve or so. rea-
LIKING that her days OF full-blown beauty
are necessarily numbered. makes the
most Of every golden hour. Who shall
blame her?
Her circle speculates. criticises. and chat
tiers. wondering at the triumphant charm
which seems to defy the passing years.
II matters nothing 10 the woman who
knows herself 70 be at least at her best.
The up-tO-date Helen OF Troy, the mod
ern Cleopatra, are with us to-day in the
person Of the fascinating. finished wo-
man Of the world. a friend. .philos- /
opher. and guide" TO its younger mem
bers, a real good pal; woman whose
tact frequently prevents quarrels, whose
delicate judgment often prevents alb
surd situations from developing into
tragedies. whose sense Of humor has
saved many a domestic catastrophe A
modern mixture OF Minerva and Eros. |
she well deserves her power and popu-
iarity