PAINTED BABIES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3220, 19 May 1924, Page 2

PAINTED BABIES.

(By Mary Ashton.) ‘'What little angels of heaven!’’ exclaimed a woman who was visiting an exclusive West End dancing class for children, as she watched the tiny tots mastering the intricacies of the latest dance .steps.

“f’aiintcd angels!” said her com-V-rwittu, with w MawA vA vowUmpt. avA ;i very little close- observation proved the truth of her words. At least half oi the small girls who were having a dancing lesson that day were made up —some were actually painted and had their checks touched up with rouge, wh.le others showed ai considerable- useol powder and sundry artificial beauty aids.

These were all children of “quite nnc” parents, some of them were kiddies with wcil-knoiwii names, and the incident merely .serves to illustrate how the use of make-up among children is on the- increase. Not so many years ago the schoolgill well in her teens was reprimanded if /-he dared to dust her pretty girlish skin with powder. To-day the veriest babies are “made up” for special occasions. Little girls -of live or six years of age have their own powder bowls and puffs of-sorts, and can show righteous indignation if some carelessly minded person selects - the wrong shade of powder to be used on the particular baby skin.

A loading beauty specialist lately said Hint the number of her child clients had increased so much during the last couple, ol years, that she was -seriously thinking of starting a child’s beauty parlor. The idea apparently already has been put into being in America, where painted babies are by no means a new notion. But, even in suggestion, there is something repellent about the thought. Massage, .to help the formation of a well-shaped face and figure; manicure, to encourage pretty hands and fingers; hair culture, to make the best of whatever locks Nature has bestowed —these are three forms of beauty help which have ail ways been practised among children by long-sighted \ mothers with means to pay for them. To-day’s development- is quite another story. 'bake this instance. Amother took her small girl to a leading Hairdresser, not many we -ks ago. She was disappointed because the child had flaxen b-nr - she wanted a Titian-headed daughter, and was sure that red hair would (it in hotter with the child’s pers'.nality. The hairdresser advi-ed in vain, and the small girl is now redreaded. This is only one example from many similar eases; baby girls, not vet in double figures, have their hair Duled or actually dyed, to sav nothing <■! the permanent waving, curling, and shampooing which are mailers of iia bit.

lioiige. too, is lit'i ay u-ed lar too nineh on liny children. Quo mother, “touching up” her little one’s ehooks I" do re going (o a party. excused it, on tin ground that the child was too lade hy nature, ,-nid tlnifc it was reiilly hotter lor Miss Seven Years Old to he made (o look bright and happy, fdhi-r motliors may share these reclines, hut they are terribly wrong, dust as wrong as are the mothers who make ;t hio free and unwise use of powder - a their baby girls.