HOW TO BE ATTRACTIVE

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 337, 23 May 1885, Page 6

HOW TO BE ATTRACTIVE

The Pall Mali Gazette says : " A Parisian newspaper has been teaching its lady readers ' how to be attractive.' Surely the readers of the Vie Parisienne ought to be in no need of advice such as the following : ' Look confident and indifferent; express yourself simply, and with a voice as sweet as possible. Be keenly alive to everything that passes, yet appear absent-minded ; know as much as possible, yet please by asking questions. Having read everything, quote nothing ; seen everything, appear ignorant ; heard all, always express surprise ; desiring everything, ask for nothing. Be light-hearted to preserve your beauty ; be indulgent to attract sympathy' — and so on. These laws— some evidently anti-blue-stocking laws— are laid down as absolute, with one exception, ' Blush neither for shame nor for pleasure,' to which is added, ' if you can help it.' Verily, the good old saying holds still, 'II faut souffrer pou?- etre belle.' There are, however, some clauses which might with equal advantage be applied to both sexes. For instance: 'Do not force * wit ; always listen attentively ; be charitable for your own satisfaction ; be frank, and you need never be afraid of the truth. See things at a glance ; judge quickly, and think more quickly still, in order to keep a cool Lead.' But wise as these saws are, and however much the world might be benefitted by a more general application of them, they belong decidedly to the category of precepts more easily preached than practised."