WHAT WOMEN WILL DO FOR GOOD LOOKS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7267, 30 November 1901, Page 3

WHAT WOMEN WILL DO FOR GOOD LOOKS.

(Tit-Bita.) There is no knowing to what extremes a woman will go to obtain beauty, judging by the devices some of those who believe &hat a woman's face is her fortune employ. From information the writer recently received it would seem that the cultivation of artificial attractions becomes more extensive every year, and is especially prevalent in the upper grades of society, the members of which are content to part with. large sums to attain the personal charms they lack, besides suffering endless tortures into the bargain. The firsb aim of the tyro is to cultivate a good complexion, for which various expedients are resorted to. Parisiam belles bathe their faces with boiling water, a painful process thab has yet received little support in this country, but an artificial complexion may be acquired by the use of pigments. Bismuth, a dangerous metal, is extremely popular for the purpose, though besides bringing on rashes and upheavals of the skin, ic eventually poisons the, blood if constantly administered. Arsenic chewing, while more fatal, is alarmingly on the increase, and those who once experiment with the pernicious habit speedily become victims, exhaustion and paralysis follow, and a good constitution is transformed into a wreck. To coat the face with enamel is a less dangerous if more arduous task, which will have to be done regularly until all claims to beauty are abandoned, for after the first application the enamel begins to decay the skin, and renders it in its natural state repulsive to look upon. The hair, tod, may be changed in a few hours to a golden tint by the use of peroxide of hydrogen, but after a while, the drug loses its effect, and if constantly administered, makes the haiir brittle and robs it of all natural gloss. But these methods are quite insignificant compared with the forms of self-tor-ture not only in everyday use among adults, but practised upon children of Immature age as well, and the ugliest features can, when treated with appliances, be perfected in shape and rendered attractive. Toilet masks, which may be purchased at several West-end shops for a sovereign apiece, are supposed to remove wrinkles, regulate rhe features, and beautify the skin. The mask covers the whole of the face so tightly, as to be decidedly painful to wear, and is fastened at the back of the head by means of elastic bands, but, despite the inconvenience caused, many women don such a mask every night upon retiring to rest. To shape the hands several methods are employed. Moulds for the purpose may be procured, into which the hand .is placed, covered over and squeezed into shape, until the continued repetition of the process causes the member to retain the coveted dimensions. India-rubber gloves costing one guinea) a pair are also largely worn in private, and, although less painful, are sufficiently uncomfortable to make the cultivation of well-shaped hands little short of a torture. For curving the lips a box is worn tightly over the mouth, the lips thereby being pressed into a mould which gives them the desired -appearance. Even the feet may be forced into shape by an instrument that resembles a relic- of tho Inquisition more than anything else, or if this 2>ainful ])rocess is shirked special boots fitted with contracting sides, deeply arched and very much too smaiH, are worn indoors. Tampering with the eyes is always a dangerous thing to do, but the dangers are not so great that women with a desire for beauty fear them. To inpart a sparkle belladonna is dropped in, which eventually not only seriously impairs the sight, but often brings mi totail blindness, while the brilliance given oniiy lasts ;i. few hours. Others smoke helkiloDiiii <!)g}m?ttes jusn before sotting out ti>> a social function. An artificial vivacity is instilled into the system, followed shortly afterwards by complete prostration. But above all it is hard to understand J how it is that so many women can be I found who are willing to submit to an

operation that may partially, if not totally, paralyse the nervous action oi the eyes for (lie j-ole purpose of obtaining a desired curve to the eyelids. But such is the case, and so dangerous k it that dozens, nay hundreds, of seekers niter artificial beauty have subsequently gone completely blind from the effects.