To Grow Old Charmingly.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue III, 20 July 1901, Page 139

To Grow Old Charmingly.

To grow old pleasantly and gracefully it is necessary to recognise the fact that one is getting old. and that therefore one should shape one’s life accordingly.

To begin with, to be beautiful one must have a contented mind, and as this has very much to do with the bodily health, this should be taken care of.

One need not be a faddist or a fidget, but even the youngest girl ought to begin to prepare for a beautiful and healthy old age, by using discretion in diet.

Indulgence in quantities of unwholesome. though perhaps pleasant, sweetmeats and other indigestible foods will slowly, but surely, ruin the best of complexions, which, as

time goes on. will become thick and coarse, or even worse, pimply. Io retain a good complexion anil digestion—for the two generally go together—the food taken should be simple but nourishing, and at regular hours. Promiscuous meals are to be avoided, and. as a general rule, stimulants should not be taken. Warm milk will be found an excellent pick-me-up when needed. The elderly woman must remember that she cannot undergo as much fatigue as she could a few years ago, and that she should, while taking regular walking exerei.se. be careful not to overdo it. She should also be careful to have sufficient sleep, and if she should chance to have to keep late hours, she should take a rest and a sleep during the daytime. Cold. too. must be guarded against, and therefore the elderly woman should always wear underclothing of wool or silk. rinkles, of course, will come, but no woman as she gets on in life need wish to be without them, for they really give character to the face. If after forty years there were no lines there, it would surely denote a want of intellect, if not a want of heart. For the complexion there is no cosmetic to equal rainwater, and the daily tepid bath should not be forgotten. As to the hair, that should be the colour Nature intended it. for thus it harmonises with the complexion, and dyeing it is invariably an artistic mistake.