"She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies:
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet her in aspect and in her eyes;
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies."
--BYRON.
1. THE HIGHEST STYLE OF BEAUTY.--The highest style of beauty to be
found in nature pertains to the human form, as animated and lighted
up by the intelligence within. It is the expression of the soul that
constitutes this superior beauty. It is that which looks out of the
eye, which sits in calm majesty on the brow, lurks on the lip, smiles
on the cheek, is set forth in the chiselled lines and features of
the countenance, in the general contour of figure and form, in
the movement, and gesture, and tone; it is this looking out of the
invisible spirit that dwells within, this manifestation of the higher
nature, that we admire and love; this constitutes to us the beauty of
our species.
2. BEAUTY WHICH PERISHES NOT.--There is a beauty which perishes not.
It is such as the angels wear. It forms the washed white robes of the
saints. It wreathes the countenance of every doer of good. It adorns
every honest face. It shines in the virtuous life. It molds the hands
of charity. It sweetens the voice of sympathy. It sparkles on the brow
of wisdom. It flashes in the eye of love. It breathes in the spirit of
piety. It is the beauty of the heaven of heavens. It is that which may
grow by the hand of culture in every human soul. It is the flower of
the spirit which blossoms on the tree of life. Every soul may plant
and nurture it in its own garden, in its own Eden.
3. WE MAY ALL BE BEAUTIFUL.--This is the capacity of beauty that God
has given to the human soul, and this the beauty placed within
the reach of all. We may all be beautiful. Though our forms may
be uncomely and our features not the prettiest, our spirits may be
beautiful. And this inward beauty always shines through. A beautiful
heart will flash out in the eye. A lovely soul will glow in the face.
A sweet spirit will tune the voice, wreathe the countenance in charms.
Oh, there is a power in interior beauty that melts the hardest heart!
4. WOMAN THE MOST PERFECT TYPE OF BEAUTY.--Woman, by common consent,
we regard as the most perfect type of beauty on earth. To her we
ascribe the highest charms belonging to this wonderful element so
profusely mingled in all God's works. Her form is molded and finished
in exquisite delicacy of perfection. The earth gives us no form
more perfect, no features more symmetrical, no style more chaste, no
movements more graceful, no finish more complete; so that our artists
ever have and ever will regard the woman-form of humanity as the
most perfect earthly type of beauty. This form is most perfect and
symmetrical in the youth of womanhood; so that the youthful woman is
earth's queen of beauty. This is true, not only by the common consent
of mankind, but also by the strictest rules of scientific criticism.
5. FADELESS BEAUTY.--There cannot be a picture without its bright
spots; and the steady contemplation of what is bright in others, has
a reflex influence upon the beholder. It reproduces what it reflects.
Nay, it seems to leave an impress even upon the countenance. The
feature, from having a dark, sinister aspect, becomes open, serene,
and sunny. A countenance so impressed, has neither the vacant stare of
the idiot, nor the crafty, penetrating look of the basilisk, but the
clear, placid aspect of truth and goodness. The woman who has such
a face is beautiful. She has a beauty which changes not with the
features, which fades not with years. It is beauty of expression. It
is the only kind of beauty which can be relied upon for a permanent
influence with the other sex. The violet will soon cease to smile.
Flowers must fade. The love that has nothing but beauty to sustain it,
soon withers away.
[Illustration: HAND IN HAND.]
6. A PRETTY WOMAN PLEASES THE EYE, a good woman, the heart. The one
is a jewel, the other a treasure. Invincible fidelity, good humor, and
complacency of temper, outlive all the charms of a fine face, and make
the decay of it invisible. That is true beauty which has not only
a substance, but a spirit; a beauty that we must intimately know to
justly appreciate.
7. THE WOMAN YOU LOVE BEST.--Beauty, dear reader, is probably the
woman you love best, but we trust it is the beauty of soul and
character, which sits in calm majesty on the brow, lurks on the lip,
and will outlive what is called a fine face.
8. THE WEARING OF ORNAMENTS.--Beauty needs not the foreign aid
of ornament, but is when unadorned adorned the most, is a trite
observation; but with a little qualification it is worthy of general
acceptance. Aside from the dress itself, ornaments should be very
sparingly used--at any rate, the danger lies in over-loading oneself,
and not in using too few. A young girl, and especially one of a light
and airy style of beauty, should never wear gems. A simple flower
in her hair or on her bosom is all that good taste will permit. When
jewels or other ornaments are worn, they should be placed where you
desire the eye of the spectator to rest, leaving the parts to which
you do not want attention called as plain and negative as possible.
There is no surer sign of vulgarity than a profusion of heavy jewelry
carried about upon the person.
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