The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-06

have been present when the gods were distributing gifts, would hesi- tate between selecting the good fig ure or the beautiful face l, for one, would hold up both hands in favor of the former
 I've heard so many men, on being l asked if they did not consider Mrs. So-and-So beautiful, answer, Beau tiful? Yes, she has an exquisite face, but such poor figure. No, l wouldn't call her beautiful" Even the wise and very perceptive Lord Frederic did not consider a lovely face suffi- cient endowment to give it more than passing tribute.
 To my mind fatness Is one of the deadly sins. No woman with a deep love of beauty will be fat,
 There are too many ways of over- coming this unnatural and distress ing condition for me to begin to men tion them, but the trouble has been removed by women of perseverance, and anybody who wishes to can do the same.
 No Fashions Made For Fatness.
 Yes. it's a bitter thing to be a fat woman. for fashion makes no allow ance for her. No hat was ever de- signed for a fat face, with more chins than the law allows. No boot maker ever gave reign to his fan tastic dreams of satin and suede and rosettes with a fat foot as his model In fact, it seems to me that the fat woman must have a sad time buying her wardrobe, for there's nothing really imaginative created for her.
 Now, when l speak of fat women. l do not mean that we should be skeletons. Of course, the present mania for the slender silhouette has led us into all sorts of madnesses for curtailing the form. I really hate a scrawny, angular figure. It's un- natural and unnecessary. But the woman who has well-covered, firm body may count herself fortunate, for hers is the permanent outline, the one which can best conform to the whims of a varying silhouette.
 But beauty depends on more than line and color. Mere Physical beauty serves as an introduction sometimes, 1t is true, but beauty with nothing behind 1t has never held anybody for any length of tine. Who, man or woman, would prefer to sit and look at beautiful woman with no soul or light in her eyes and with whom the only possible conversation is the passing of insipid compliments when they could talk to a woman whose features might be ugly, but who has lQIGlll2GnCS and interest in life?
 l think the reason so many beau tiful women are dull is the fault of their families when they are young. They are brought up to think that mere surface looks is the all-impor- tant thing and that no other factor Is necessary to make then. charming and attractive. The ugly child, on the contrary, probably is made to feel that she must acquire many other things to overcome the supposed handicap of her oloks. Consequently she. in the long run, is apt Jo win over her more fortunately endowed sister. The light in the eyes of inteiligence. interest in others-in other words. vitality of Xpression-have much more charm and fascination for ev- eryone than beauty by itself. Of course, when one finds the two to- gether it is a marvellous thing: hnt 1t IS so rare we have almost come to believe it doesn't exist.
 It Has To Be Lived Up To.
 If I had a beautiful child I should try to make her realize that if ia great gift to start out with, but nm less she develops her mind to keep up With It, It Will turn into handi- cap.
 Unfortunately slmness does not necessarily constitute literally good figure. But it is certainly great help toward giving the impression of having it. If one is slim one can quite easily conceal, defects of pro- portion or of build. But if one is fat there is nothing to be done about 1t in these days of no disguises.
 This summer I played a part in which l wore large bustles with my waist artificially constructed with whalebones. I was most uncomfort- able, but thought .how little women in older days had to worry about the size of their hips. But today, as I have already said. fashion has no sympathy for the fat woman.
 When l say that there is nothing to be done about a fat figure l do not mean quite that, for of course, yhe colors one wears can be of some as sistance. l have watched . certain