The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1914-04-27


beautiful music, poetry, everything
but beautiful girl more than all
OF these is Gods agent for happiness
among men.
Would that wives studied the fine
art OF pleasing more than they DO.
The vogue for affinties and clandes-
tine lovers would wane. Let them
observe what attributes these very
attractive, if somewhat guilty ones.
have They will find in every case
that they are those of personality
and appearance Pretty ways. pref
ty smiles. pretty hair. nice teeth,
eAred.for complexion. snug waist
line, scrupulous neatness dainty hos
iery and pretty footwear.
Tho Resulting Influence.
Sheer prettiness-for its own sake
alone, events a commendable and
worthy study. Is girl more pleas
ing in her appearance because she
sees thousands Of filthy, shabby
mortals around her? Not at all. 1t
operates In the opposite direction ev-
cry time.
Is murder and suicide going out of
vogue. as result of gloating over
the terrible details of the murder OF
young women by mentally diseased
N.
lifted by the salacious problem play
and the sensational crime news in the
paper? Are we any better for them?
Do they really teach us or warn us?
The contrary. Are men any less tAe
deceivers than ever. and are women
any less sinned against for the
porting over the details of unspeak-
able happenings? Never a bit.
On the contrary, We are taught
from childhood that the only uplift-
Ing influence in any sphere. is the
contemplation and emulation of
higher example Here is the strong
est point in my defense Of fashion
and the fine art Of looking your
best With amusement and impa-
thence rising equally we have noted
the pictures and headlines of a num-
Der OF articles in the newspapers
whose pretended purpose is to re-
form the dress and manners of our
girls.
or course, the real purpose is no.
thing Of the sort-it is merely
good newspaper story, something that
good many people are idly discuss
ing, something that will get readers
and keep up circulation. Very good
journalism, but-such articles only
aggravate the malady.
Exaggerated Views.
II there is such thing as that
which they discuss at such lengths
and with such verbose horror-if
there is such thing prevalent and
important enough to discuss at all
which is doubtful-these eXagger-
ated illustrations and much over
drawn opinions on the subject will
do nothing but spread the epidemic
and We will see more and more OF
it.
How much more to the point it
would be to use this valuable space
to show these perfectly well inten-
toned but slightly misinformed girls
how to follow the fashion prettily
and properly. But, Of course, that
Is the rational method and not such
good Journalism as the sensational
style Why waste efforts trying to
show a few hopelessly foolish girls
how foolish they look when you
can do SO much more by showing
the great majority of sensible girls
how pretty they can be by dis
Greet following Of correct fashions?
Our self-appointed critics are only
increasing the number Of foolish
girls, whereas they might be in
creasing the number Of sensible, and
pretty. and fashionable girls. The
one method is useless. destructive
and even pernicious; the other use
full, constructive and cultivating.
The world does not grow better by
a pandering to constant and morbid
eurisoity for that which is bad. The
constant sight Of filth and squalor
does not make people desire to be
clean and wholesome; it works the
other way-with familiarity comes
indifference.
There is moral and mental uplift
in keeping In the fashion, for the
elementary principles of fashion in
all ages are personal cleanliness, per-
sonal attractiveness, the expression
OF personal individuality and the ex-
ercise Of pleasant manners. 1t Is
the art of being pleasing and
most worthy one Every girl who
makes an effort to make herself
more pleasing to her friends. no
matter what her station in life may
be, Is following this refining pursuit
Whereas. we are all frail beings.
each one with particular faults. the