Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-22

Yes. 1t Is true; | am an ugly woman
Sincere enough to face the fact, how.
ever-that is my saving grace. Kind
friends might charitably use the adiec.
tives "homely" or plain" as applied tc
me. but l know better I am downright
hideous and l realize the appalling trag-
edy of It!
In all the tales and books one picks
up there one reads that beauty of the
soul Is far more sought after In women
than outward beauty Of the face. such
utter rubbish! I know better. But oh, thu
sheer unfairness Of this beauty handicap
cuts me to the very heart.
Upoa the street and everywhere I see
go many pretty faces-foolish, vacant,
pretty faces-and | see men pay them
court on every hand. 1t fills me with a
burning rage! There is no BRAN, no
throbbng heart, no pulsing life behind
one-half of all their loveliness. yet they
are pretty, and all the joys of love come
TO them; while IL with my brain and
capabilities of love am left alone! / hate
those pretty women, with their shallow
silly souls
This afternoon l went to reception.
l wore a lovely gown and such pretty
hat. The wearing of them made me feel
quite cheerful Then | looked in the
lnirror-and the day was spoilt for me.
Yes, was frankly hideous, and l
saw 1t.
So put on a thick and heavy-pattcrned
veil. No one could see my face through
its dense folds. l felt better then.
At the reception | met charming man.
had Just arrived and had not yet re-
moved the veil. The Man ana talked
together for long time
One thing I know and it is this: ! have
a beautiful voice. 1t is very soft and
melodious, and matches i'll with the rest
of me! Yes. my pretty voice and l are
most incongruous
The Man became most interested in
our conversation. I am so sensitive that
am quick to find out these things. He
was quite irritated when the servants
interrupted us with refreshments.
You will have some caret, or Coffee"
he said to me. 4 sudden. mad impulse
seized me then. 1t was a woman's pro-
tective instinct, l can analyze it now.
knew that when | raised my veil the
Difference and fatterng attentions on his
part would cease, fade, melt before the
sudden appartion of my uEliness. Had
I not seen that happen hundred times
before! So l decided not to raise my
veil.
mo, thank YOU" I replied. 81 don't
want any refreshments at all
The Man looked surprised, but .aid
nothing.
know that in matters Of the brain
I can far exceed other women, My
VIEWS VI lll' dif SlDNtI' anu ~ TIE hN'l-
age man most interesting. In powers
of intellect and conversation, I can sur
pass most women. The one soul-killing
handicap is my poor face,
After an hour or so, the Man--to mo
he always is The Man"-leant for
ward. and a new. personal note crept
into his voice. You interest mo most
intensely" said he your ideas and your
conversation are brilliant! | feel as If.
could never grow tired of talking to
you! Won't you put up your veil and
let me have one glimpse of you? Not
that 1 need to, for I know that your
face matches your fine brain and finer
soul! It must he beautiful"
A thrill went through me at his words.
Never in all my lonely life had any man
uttered such words to me before I could
not, would not disilluson him! Surely
had a right to the ordinary woman's
heritage-ah mol I knew I was outside
the pale. cut off by that great woman's
tragedy, Cglness. Yet for today | would
taste the cup Of happiness. Tomorrow's
pain l would ignore
I talked and talked at that reception,
and l opened out some OF my inmost.
hAart-deep fances to the Man l saw