PAINT AND POWDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2097, 25 January 1908, Page 1 (Supplement)

PAINT AND POWDER.

Women -are becoming recognised 1 as energetic reformers, and they have certainly made their influence felt, in most cases for the better; but (says a writer in the “Sydney Morning' Herald”) there is a wide -field for -reform (within women's own province) -as yet untouched. We have always been very ready to find man’s weakness, and have been so eagerly employed trying to help him that it has escaped our notice that nearly every second woman we meet lias her face'disfigured by paint and powder, and in many instances (becoming discontented with the natural color of her liair) has thought to improve on nature- —with the result that she It-is become an eyesore—a walking monument to vanity.

Anyone must admire the woman who, in spite of natural disadvantages, contrives to make herself attractive by taste, and attention to the details of her costume; but no one can -restrain a shudder of disgust to see the vulgarity that is evidenced bv the women who is so lost to the fitness of things as to appear with painted face and dyed hair. If, instead of this almost universal hypocrisy each woman would try to cultivate a soul -and clothe it in noble thoughts, the hair and complexion would cease to be a matter of such importance: for no face can be considered -plain if there is a nice expression. and no one thinks of the first in the presence of the second. Tlie woman who uses artificial aids to beauty is dragging her soul through the mire, losing her selfrespect, and 1 the respect of all whoso opinion she would be likely to value; no really noble-minded woman would stoop to such paltry actions. It is most pitiful to see the care and! attention bestowed when -the result is such an absolute failure, for in almost every case it can bo detected by the first gl-ince—thus revealing the weakness and poverty of the soul within. " . Many a woman will spend an hour over -her -toilet who will not spend five minutes to control her temper or endeavor to make the wheels of life run more smoothly, yet which would have the better ultimate effect on her appearance. It is revolting to see a woman who is careless and 1 slovenly -about her '.appearance; she shows a lack of self-respect as great as tlie woman who overdresses; bu t let us at least have truth as a foundation—for the body is the expression of tlie soul, and if tlie former expresses hypocrisy the latter certainly cannot be untainted.