NEWS BY MAIL

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12254, 9 April 1935, Page 3

NEWS BY MAIL

FATAL SMILES "I begin to realise at hist}” writes n London correspondent, “why our worthy Victorian grandfathers and graimliqothers were such austere and unhumorous persons, at any rate on 'most format occasions, and especially as portrayed on painted canvas by contemporary art. A beauty parlour exhibition in Maykair opened my eyes to this great truth.. There I saw displayed, side by side with our modern pois of paste and cream, ihe jars of facial enamel u M gj in tli” days of Queen Victoria. No- only then,, Vuit for many years later, sin,-.' Ihe enamel.in-g habit did not succumb in more artful modern methods i’ll as late as 1910 or thereabouts. Properly spread over the skin with a brush, aiifi at owed to dry thoroughly this facial ename] achieved its fresh and schoolgirl complexion effect. Bin . it condemned ihe wearer to an Olympian immutability of countenance. Smiling was fatal. 1 j cracked the enamel. So the early Victorians wore not really as stodgy as they wore enameked.” LIFE OF IDLENESS. ' “The stangest girl 1 ever met.” This was a comment made on Valerie Carr, the 19 year old cousin of A. 4V: Carr, tho Notts cricketer, who gassed herself in the Knightshridge (Lon don) fiat, whore she lived with her mother and a brother. The oomnientator was the family servant;. Airs Jenkins, the last to see her alive. “Alias Valerie never went out,.” .she' said 1 . “She spent most of he r time lying in bed, reading novels and smoking. She was a terrific smoker. And she had the wireless op all day. She had no men or girl'friends. But she had cupboards filled with beautiful frocks and underclothing. She had dozens of pairs of shoes standing on racks.” Tho dead girl's brother said ■ ‘Afy sister formerly led l an outdoorlife. She possessed two horses. r<A'o a great deal and attended point-to-point meetings. I would like to discount the suggestion that she had only £2 a week. My mother Ml owed her that for pin money, hut she was never in want of any clothes or other necessaries. All her rent and pleasures were fully provided for.” It was stated at the inquest on Alias Carr that she had £2 a week pocket money, hut was obsessed with the idea that it was not enough on when to enjoy life. A verdict of suicide while of unsound, mind was returned.