POWDER AND PAINT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17570, 22 June 1925, Page 12

POWDER AND PAINT.

“ Do you think my face looks like a chemist’s shop?' 5 asked Doris, consulting a small silver box., which she had won at chalking the pig’s e\o on a mail steamer. “ A very charming chemist’s shop/’ I replied, guardedly. “Don’t btf silly 1” answered Doris, consulting a. mirror tho size of a halfcrown, as she restored tho bloom to her nose with a few dabs laj£ on with tho precision of an old master. “ I asked you if my face looked like a chemist’s shop. 1 did not ask you to specify what type of chemist’s shop. 5 ’ “ Well, it doesn’t give me a pain in the eye to look at,” I admitted. “That’s more like you,” said Doris, approvingly. “I don’t liko you when you start singing me songs of Araby. But tell me, do you think I have too much on my face?” “Powder?” I asked. ‘‘Yes,” replied Doris, “and—powder. There is a sort of crusade on about powder and lipsticks and all that sort of thing, you know.” “ The chief merit of a lipstick,” I remarked, generally, “ is that it shall bo permanent. The kiss-proof lipstick tells no tales.” “ Don’t worry. You are in no danger!” said Doris, dryly. “I am not thinking about myself,” I replied. But young Smith has just gone down to join the giddy dance with a clown's marking on his right cheek, Miranda of the wine-red .1 ijl'3 smiling on his arm.” “I always said she was a. dreadful person,” remarked Doris. “But you have not answered my question yet. Do you think I have coo much powder on?” ‘ c Mli y? ” I asked. “I don’t want to bo crusaded!” said Doris, with a pout. “ There has always been a crusade against powder and cosmetics,” I answered. “ Thoro is nothing new under the sun. Recently Professor .Flinders Petrie discovered in Egypt relics of a civilisation much antedating that of tho much-quoted Tut. These belonged to the Flint Age, and amongst these were, found palettes for grinding eye-paint.” “How perfectly breathless!” exclaimed Doris. “ This paint, however, was used for protecting tho eyes,” I added. “My dear boy,” said Doris, “nil paint is used tc/ protect somebody’s eyes! ’ 5 “ T never thought of it that way,” I admitted. “ That’s the way with you men,” said Doris. “ You always think the wrong way round.” “ The band has started.” I suggested. “ I can hear the distant saxopbony through three swing doors, and it is strange how swing doors in public buildings create draughts on tho staircase.” “Don’t fuss about tho band,” rejoined Doris. “ You are far more at heme on the stairs than you are on your feet. Tell mo some more about cosmetics.” “Why. it is a strango thing, Doris, but as tho demand for cosmetics increases tho demand for patent medicines is declining. That would paint to the fact that paint and powder are liygenic, and that the girl who is taking care of her face is taking care of lier health.” But, Aunt Louis ” l>c n an Doris. “ My dear girl, there is nothing new in Aunt Louisa,” L urged. “In Saliagun’s ‘ Historia do Nueva Espana ’ there is recorded the advice of an Aztec mother to her daughter, a product of the twilight of civilisation, a. chip, as it were, of old Mexico. And some of it runs : ‘ Let your clothes be becoming and neat, that you may neither appear fantastic nor mean. "When you speak, do not hurry your words from uneasiness, but speak deliberately and calmly. Do not raise your voice very hidh nor speak very low, hub in a moderate tone. See, likewise, my daughter, that you never paint your face, or stain it. or your lips with colours, m order to appear well.’ ” “How long ago was that?” asked Doris. “It was written over four hundred years ago by a Mexican lady who was supposed to be a savage.” “What a priceless old thing!” exclaimed Doris. “Here is Aunt Louisa saying exactly the same ihing. But men use cosmetics !” “ To keep their hair on.” T replied. “The weak point of the modern Ajax, who defied the lightning during tho war. was nob his heel, but the crown of his head where Lis service cap “You pc.or old darling!” exclaimed Doris, “you’re not really so thin on top, after all !’’