COMPLEXIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7936, 30 April 1887, Page 6

COMPLEXIONS.

THE ROSES AND THE LILIES OP Tm> FACE AND SOAP.

famous English, irish, AKn AMERICAN BEAUTIES GRapr, 0 CALLY SKETCHED

[PROM HARPER'S BAZAAR.) One of the gallant poets of France wrnto Mary, Queen of Scots, that her complex' was "clear as a hen's egg with a blush' it," and it is certain Elizabeth was as j ea j ° D of Mary's wonderful transparency of c ° US plexion as of her claims to the Edom! throne. That lovely but wicked Countess - Essex, who compassed the death of «• Thomas Overbury, was also noted fo r v lr clearness of skin. Der The celebrated Irish beauties— the th » Misses Gunning—all of whom married are said to have had complexions sotra 68 ' parent that, when they rode over the " £, i"!' Mile," what was passing around them C (Hi be seen in their faces as in a mirror. Th left Dublin with a five-pound note and t silk dresses among them to take London h° storm, and the wits of the time averred th last words their father od their leaving w " Your faces are your fortunes, be virtu^ 8 ' be modest, arid don't be afraid of a 0 Ueorgiaua, Duchess of Devonshire, preset her charms far beyond middle age and l lovely complexion to the last. Georgia M was a Whig and a warm partisan of th' orator, Charles James Fox, for whose eat 8 she permitted one hundred electors to take 6 gold coin from between her lips with the* teeth. This was bribery and kissing at a* same time, and Fox was returned at th 9 head of the poll. When asked by the r i n 9 Regent where she obtained the rosea an? the lilies on her face, the answer was, "Soi furnishes one, your Royal Highness, anJ water the other." '

Our American women of to-day have attained to the perfection of severe Grecia beauty of feature, as the Parisians, thn" modern Athenians, are willing to testify and were their complexions as bright as their fac are classic, would throw the English counted ances far in the shade. Perhaps Cuticura Soap will aid them in achieving this triumnh of art as well as nature. :

Mrs. Virginia Fiske, who died 5 few months ago in Baltimore, had a beauty strictly American, now recognised as a die tinct type. She was acknowledged to be the most fascinating woman at the Tuilleriea when Napoleon 111. was in his glory, The Countess de Castiglione was the belle of Paris before Mrs. Fiske appeared above the horizon Madame Mariscal, n6e Laura Smith 0? Baltimore, wife of the Mexican Secretary 0 State, is an American blonde of the pstn'a la type. She is a more beautiful woman t|i ln either Mrs. Langtry or Lady Louaaie, but not being profesional, her name is not noised abroad so much. She met the Shah of Persia in Paris, in 1859, and so captivated Hig Majesty with her overpowering beauty that he at once offered to make her second in com' mand among his wives. Declined with thanks. Though she refused his hand in marriage, the lovely American accepted from the successor of Cyrus a highly perfumed paste or soap, used extensively in Persia the land of roses and sherbets. This soap, until then thought to be used by the ladies of the Shah's harem only, was found, when ana? lysed, to possess several of the same proper, ties as Cuticura Soap. The perfume of the Eastern savon de toilette is more powerful than that of the latter, but not so agreeable. Ia skimming the cream of American beauty, we must not forget Miss Mary Anderson, who has so completely vanquished the Cockney heart, much to the chagrin of Miss Chamberlain and Mrs. Cornwall West. Mia: Anderson is essentially of the American type" Her complexion is unique and absolutely per feet, and than she no one is more willing to acknowledge that she owes her spiritual appearance, in a great measure, to the free use of Cuticura Soap, which has been a favourite with her since it was discovered, or rather recovered from the lumber store things and arts that have from time tc time been lost.

_ Among other lovely women of face ana figure of the purely American type are Miss Van Renssalaer Cruger and Miss Langdon, of New York, both with European reputation! But, in truth, the mention of any American city as containing fair women par excellence is invidious when Baltimore, New Orleans and San Francisco are considered, not forgetting Brooklyn, as the aesthetic in'style, It is strangaly characteristic of civilised human nature that it prefers to- be considered as having inherited to having made fortunes, and on the same principle to having been born beautiful to having cultivated beauty. This weakness accounts for the few reigning belles to be found as frank as the Duchess of Devonshire and Miss Anderson. That beauty can be cultivated to an extent little dreamed of by those who have heretofore laboured only to destroy it, by the use of poisonous washes and powders, is established by the testimony of thousands of beautiful women, who have relied solely upon the Cuticura Soap, Upon this point Dr. Blodgett, a noted authority on the skin, in his recent comparative analyses of skin soaps, says :—

" This soap contains, in a modified form, the medicinal properties of Cuticura, combined with delicate and fascinating flower odours.

"It purifies and invigorates the pores of the skin, and imparts activity to the oil glands and tubes, thus furnishing an outlet for unwholesome matter which, if retained, would create pimples, black heads, rashes, and other complexional disfigurations. "Its gentle and continuous medicinal action on these natural lubrications of the skin keeps the latter transparent, soft, flexible, and healthy, and prevents or cures rough, cracked or scaly skin, and speedily lessens tan, sunburn, freckles, and other discolourations.

" Hence its constant use realises the fairest complexion and the softest and whitest skin within the domain of the most advanced scientific knowledge to supply. It is admirably adapted to preserve the health of the skin and scalp of infants and children, and to prevent minor blemishes or inherited skin diseases becoming chronic, if used from the moment of birth.

"In conclusion, I am obliged ta say that an unprejudiced, critical examination shows it to be the highest type of a pure medicinal skin soap, in which statement 1 am joined by the analytical chemists of the State of Massachusetts."

The opinion of scientists that there is in nature a subtle essence, possessing curative and beautifying properties, is thus confirmed, and whether this essence is concealed in tie baths of Cleopatra, the supposed philters of the almost immortal Ninon de l'Knclos, the Jordan water of Madame Rachel, or the now world-renowned Cuticura Soap, it is « inestimable blessing when utilised for the general good.