Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 March 1871 — Prettiness. [ARTICLE]

Prettiness.

“ Prettlnrss,” says a recent writer “can be cultivated," and wo fully indorse the statement. All of us can cultivate the art of being pleasing; and by so doing, we shall brighten the expression of our faces. 111-health often produces ugliness because it makes us cross, and thus mars the face s idly; Upt if we are HI, and will still make the best of it,' rise above it, make mind triumphant <mir matter, we tan still retain bur*good looks. Very few of us are truly beautiful, i. «., possess statuesque forms or features; but we can all cultivate the art of being agreeable, and thus render ourselve “pretty ” in many senses of the word.

Our young girls are not to ruin their faces by tho -pouting expression of their mouths. We do not use the term " pouting ” in the sense in which it is applied to cherry red lips, but by it we mean ill-hu-mored and ill grained expression. There is a proverb which runs thus: “God makes our faces, but we make our mouths,” and, like most proverbs, it contains powerful germs of truth. Walk down the chief streets of a city, and examine the mouths which you meet. Mark well their twists and turns; and judge for yourselves of its truth. Men possess an advantage over women, in this respect. They can veil the flexible motors of the mouth and chin with dpep fringe* of . hair, and thus conceal the ugly traits of their disposition; but women are usually denied this privilege, though a few years ago the “ boarded woman" at" Bamum’s Museum " proved that every rule has its exceptions. Prettiness does not depend on hair, eyes, complexion, hands, feet, or a graceful and statuegoue figure. We often meet a “pretty woman’ 5 with a large mouth or small eyes, or an immense nose, and yet are immediately aware of her attractiveness. Wo all recognize “prettinesß” whenever we behold it, but it is impossible for us to analyze or describe it. It is like the sunshine, intangible, but enlivening and brightening everything about It. What ie beauty? Not the show Of shapely limbs and features? No, Tlioed a#e but flowers That have their dated honre. To pryathc their momentary ewceta. Then go. Tie tho stainless soul within, That outshines the fairest skin. “ Life becomes more harmonious, it beats with a keener pulse of enjoyment in the presence of a pretty woman. After all, a charming little figure or a piquant little face is the best remedy for half the ills of existence, its worries, its vexations, its dullness, its disappointments;” thus declares a leading writer of the day, but we must add, to this “ charming figure and piquant face ” must belong a soul at peace with God, and not at variance with itself and mankind else we do not believe that they will work the charm that is attributed to them. There is no denying the fact, that a tasteful, pretty dress is a great assistance to ‘prettiness.” That beauty unadorned is adorned the most,” is an exploded doctrine. We do not intend to say that rich dresses, velvets, satins, silks and brocades {ire essential to “ prettincss,” but w%do maintain that a neat fitting dress, of any simple material, with a plain, neat collar, fastened with a bright ribbon or broftch, inessential to good looks. Contrast suahadress with a soiled wrapper, collar, etc., tangled, frowsy hair, and a general unclean appearance, and judge whether a pretty dress is‘ not’ essential to “preitinessl" Such a dress throws a grace about the wearer, and makes a pretty fashion prettier. Inharmonious colors ‘will ruin a woman’s appearance; we have seen a crimson dress, a scarlet shawl, and a blue hat and green gloves. The tout ensemble was pornd! Purple and blue are most annoying contrasts to our eyes, yet we often see them in juxtaposition. KusijLia declares that it is every woman’s duty .to make herself handsome; that she can do it in a great degree, and that it should' be a part of her religion. She owes it to her Goa to make the most of the material He has given hbr. By this he does not ifatend -that her mind should run upon subjects connected with her personal appearahce to Its distraction from things of more weight—hut that by motivating a spirit of kindliness and goodwill to all, by avoiding all malice, nnoharitableneas, envious jedoMyjand th* mean, despicable thoughts which engender bitter passions, women can write upon their fkoee the graces which sprung up at the foot of the cross, and have takes deep root in the human heart. As we grow old, life often becomes more harmonious; we leant that discipline is needful' fbr us; that by it we become fitted to endure the ills of life which' Vfo must encounter. We also learn that we cannot be carried to the skies “on. beds of flowery ease," but must fight to win the desired prize; and this knowledge is written upon our faces, and imparts to them a " prettiness ” that we lacked when we were young, and fretted by oveiy adverse* wind and opinion. Remember that “ prettiness ” can be cult’vated, and give heed to it while you are ttil young, w the advieowe should give to

every young girl entering upon her teens, and also those of maturer years; for—' Nor spring nor summer beauty hath such grace, Aa I Dave seen In, an autumnal face. Young girls greatly desire beauty —indeed some of them believe that its possession would be to them the ne plus ultra of life! Yet it never has brought perfechappiness to its owner: and if it is not joined to a good temper and a harmonious boul, it soon becomes wearisome to those who once delighted to gaze upon it “ Dead Sea apples,” such beauties are styled. Alas! the epithet is not undeserved. - Again, its liosseasion often engenders detraction and ealousy; and its owner is made to feel the sting of their sharp fa,ngs. So, young friends, cultivate “ piettiness ” of soul and' face, and sigh not for the beauty of red jmd white, blue eyes and golden hair, blaek eyes and raven tresses, and learn theso lines: Beautiful face* they that wear The light of the pleasant rplrtt there, It matters little ff dark or lulr. . Beautiful bond, are they that do The work of the noble, good and true, .Busy for them tbc long day through. —Springfield Republican.