OVER THE TEACUPS Boudoir Gossip for Lady Readers

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 16, 15 April 1908, Page 65

OVER THE TEACUPS Boudoir Gossip for Lady Readers

How To Be Beautiful. EIGHT BEAUTIFUL WOMEN GIVE 5 EIGHT EFFECTIVE RECIPES. “Not every woman wishes to be wealthy but all woman would with gladness accept the gift of beauty—that elusive attribute of flesh and soul, which no two people ever define alike;” says ft modern essayist. T-tie definition of beauty does not trouble a woman. She is only concerned With possession. .Some would, perhaps, define it as an excellence of form, or face, ©r figure; but Miss Ellen Terry more nearly hits the mark, perhaps, when she •declares that there is “no cosmetic like happiness”—an inner light of the mind radiating through this texture of flesh. Miss Terry tells us how every woman Can be beautiful —even the plainest. And beautiful women tells us of other ways in the little articles and interviews published below. They have apparently learned the lesson that good health is the prime factor in good looks. Not every woman in the world has learned that lesson yet. HAPPINESS THE BEST COSMETIC. By Ellen Terry. With regard to the question of how to preserve beauty, remarked Miss Terry to an interviewer, I have observed that when people are forgetting themselves, or are engrossed in work, there comes a -something or other into their faces that makes what I call beauty. For the preservation of actual face and figure there is, in my opinion, nothing like hard work. For a clear complexion I believe in lots of open air, and plenty of washing. Bathing! there’s nothing like that. But, of course, being happy is the great thing, and if one is hard at work one is usually happy. Therefore, I come •back to my original statement of hard work being a beautifier. ■Ah! and is there any cosmetic in the world like happiness? “ANGER WORSE THAN SMALL-POX.” By Pauline Chase. I think there can be very little doubt that the best method of keeping one’s complexion is plenty of hard work, fresh air, and exercise. I personally never feel so well as when working my hardest; it- is so necessary to observe the strictest rules as regards hours, diet, etc., that the body becomes more or less a machine. When playing two performances daily I have so little time for anything but to take my meals, and plenty of sleep, that I really have not time to be anything but well, and when the body is well, the skin performs its natural functions, and one’s complexion is accordingly preserved. Like beauty itself, a good complexion is a great gift; and it is only one’s duty to preserve it as much as possible. It is nothing to be proud of, but to keep it good is something to be very proud of indeed. As for exercise, I think golf -is decidedly my favourite game, and with my handicap of 120 I recently proved successful in a competition for a cup played for by the “Peter Pan” company. Motoring can scarcely be called exercise, but nothing is more healthy or invigorating, except, perhaps, sea-bathing, of which I am also very fond. In conclusion, as my dear friend Miss Terry said to me, “Anger spoils the face Worse than small-pox,” and one should endeavour to worry as little as possible, and always hope for the beat. BERMAN v. THE ENGLIHH WAY. By Lillah McCarthy. Air and activity are the greatest beauty doctors that have ever existed. They *re, indeed, the factors which have called

all beauty into being. In the larger sense they have made all things in nature beautiful. As regards the present question, I believe in mortifying the flesh; in plenty of exercise, and under feeding; in keeping brain and body alert. If one overeats, as undoubtedly most of us do, one cannot hope for a clear complexion. It is necessary .to be extremely frugal. I never use any powders or face creams. My favourite exercise is walking. 1 ride whenever I can. Hair is one of the things that help to make a woman beautiful. In German women one is struck by the hair being very well cared for and dressed. They preserve their hair by wearing it in plaitsj wound round the head. Englishwomen exploit their hair, saying: “Look what luxuriant tresses I’ve got!” German women conceal theirs, we exploit ours. It improves our faces. Englishwomen always make the best of themselves. German women do not. Again, a face without character has no beauty. And character implies self-re-straint. But beauty is a matter of individual taste. A good figure is part and parcel of being beautiful. And a good figure (in the meaning of the words) means low heels. It depends on the height of the heels and the broadness of them. Low heels and flat heels for beauty and health. Then one wants a free figure and light, short clothing. That is for an athletic figure, and that is what I want. THE HAIR AND GOOD LOOKS. ’ By Constance Collier. Beauty is, of course, a relative term—• just as pain is relative. I do not know that I can say very much about the best way to preserve it. 'One should take heaps of exercise, riding if possible, and eat plain food. The majority of women pay too little attention to their hair, and do not brush it enough. Hair is essential to beauty. Badly kept hair gives one an unkempt look. I have looked down from a box and seen the stalls full of charmingly dressed women of beautiful appearance, with untidy heads. It completely spoilt their effect. Good teeth are another necessity, and often one finds a truly handsome woman spoilt by her teeth, which may nave been neglected in youth. Grease paints preserve the face, I an* quite certain. Not only by reason of the fat they contain, but because you moreor less massage your face as you apply them or rub them off. Actors and actreses, as a rule, have very good skins. 1 have often noticed this. Lastly, I must say that for real beauty perfect health is essential. You may get a kind of erotic, neurotic fascination from unhealth —but as for true beauty, health is the one thing that gives it. So the best way to preserve your beauty is to preserve~yourself constitutionally and keep sound in wind and limb. BRISK WALKING V. BEAUTY DOCTORS. By Lily Elsie. From my point of view, I think that to preserve beauty in the true sense we must preserve health, and 1 find that outdoor exercise is the most essential thing in keeping the body strong. It is the main thing of all. Walking, riding, fencing (which trains the nerves and muscles as perhaps no other sport can—giving quickness of decision, mentally and physically) arc the •mainstays of health. A good game of golf is very good indeed; the brisk walking alone being

worth any quantity of beauty doctors. Now, all these outdoor exercises give such splendid circulation. We at* know how' our cheeks glow, and how the air oxygenates the blood and sends it tingling through the system. The good circulation means good digestion, and a clear complexion. I find also that after a hot or windy day’s exercise in the open a good unscented cold-cream rubbed into the skin before retiring at night, and washed off afterwards in hot water is very beneficial. I know nothing of massage and all the rest of it for the complexion. It may be very good in its jvay. But if people would only be happy and contented, instead of worrying over the little up and downs of daily life, as I see so very many do, I am sure the wrinkles which age so many young people need not appear before one gets quite old. For myself, I think that a regular life, moderate exercise, and regular hours for meals go a very long way towards keeping one young and beautiful. A DIFFICULT QUESTION. By Gabrielle Ray. This is a very difficult question indeed. I have really not begun to think about preserving beauty. Ido not use any kind of cosmetiques or powder. Before motoring in a cold wind I put a little cold cream on my face. I am sure that grease paint improves the complexion and preserves the skin. I always douche my face with cold water after washing with warm. Then I ride, and in the summer swin. Walking is, of course, very good. I get up about nine o'clock whatever time 1 go to bed. I eat what I like and drink what I like, and do everything that is contrary to the rules laid down by the w.edical profession, the vegetarians, and their like. I should like very much to hear of a process for preserving beauty. Even my Gollywoge get dusty, and I have, to pack them in a parcel and send them to be renovated. One day I may have to do this myself unless someone finds the secret of beauty that will never need preserving. THE REAL SECRET OF BEAUTY. By Nina Sevening. I think that the secret of beauty preservation is—health. There are toilet accessories which will help to preserve the complexion, the hair, the teeth, and hands, but they are of little use unless you keep in good health. And as fresh air and exercise are the best things to keep you well and strong, I should call them the finest beautifiers. I am a firm believer in outdoor exercise in all weathers, and I don’t believe in shading one’s face from the sun or wiftvi. Personally, I do not mind the effect of the sun on the skin. 1 find the sun makes the skin finer instead of rougher. And if the wind does roughen it, a little cold cream will soon put that right again. in the summer 1 find sculling does mo a lot of good—l think it is a splendid exercise—and 1 always scull without a hat on. Without paying any particular attention to diet, 1 always eat plenty of fruit. I wash my face with hot milk in tiio morning, but with water at night. 1 always manicure my own nails, as I believe professional manicurists mnko them an ugly shape, and altogether do not do them as well as I can myself. I use a good liquid nail polish, not enamel. THE SIMPLE LIFE RECIPE. By Sybil Arundale. I have been asked to give my views on the best way to preserve beauty. Never having gone deeply into the question, it seems to me the people who look the best are those who lead healthy, ordinary lives, with plenty of exercise, plain living, and proper rest. i am a great admirer of beautiful hair, a line clear skin, and, above all, one’s teeth, as they are among the greatest attractions a woman can possess. However, much can be done to enhance one's appearance by choice of becominj) colours and suitable stylo, “