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a lover of the beautiful to see matrons going so far astray in their desire to
please as to pose for young women when they no longer can look the part。
Holmes； in MY MAIDEN AUNT； asks plaintively： …
WHY WILL SHE TRAIN THAT WINTRY CURL IN SUCH A
SPRINGLIKE WAY？
That this folly is in the air to…day； few will dispute。 It seems to be
perpetrated unconsciously by the greater number； with no particular object
in view； simply because other people do it。 An unanswerable argument
when used by one of the fair sex！
Few matrons stop to think for themselves； or they would realize that
by appearing in the same attire as their daughters they challenge a
comparison which can only be to their disadvantage； and should be if
possible avoided。 Is there any disillusion more painful than； on
approaching what appeared from a distance to be a young girl； to find
one's self face to face with sixty years of wrinkles？ That is a modern
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version of the saying； 〃an old head on young shoulders；〃 with a vengeance！
If mistaken sexagenarians could divine the effect that tired eyes smiling
from under false hair； aged throats clasped with collars of pearls； and
rheumatic old ribs braced into a semblance of girlish grace； produce on the
men for whose benefit such adornments have been arranged； reform would
quickly follow。 There is something absolutely uncanny in the illusion。 The
more successful it is； the more weird the effect。
No one wants to see Polonius in the finery of Mercutio。 What a sense
of fitness demands is； on the contrary； a 〃make up〃 in keeping with the
role； which does not mean that a woman is to become a frump； but only
that she is to make herself attractive in another way。
During the ANCIEN REGIME in France； matters of taste were
considered all…important； an entire court would consult on the shade of a
brocade； and hail a new coiffure as an event。 The great ladies who had left
their youth behind never then committed the blunder； so common among
our middle…aged ladies； of aping the maidens of the day。 They were far too
clever for that； and appreciated the advantages to be gained from sombre
stuffs and flattering laces。 Let those who doubt study Nattier's exquisite
portrait of Maria Leczinska。 Nothing in the pose or toilet suggests a desire
on the painter's part to rejuvenate his sitter。 If anything； the queen's age is
emphasized as something honorable。 The gray hair is simply arranged and
partly veiled with black lace； which sets off her delicate； faded face to
perfection； but without flattery or fraud。
We find the same view taken of age by the masters of the Renaissance；
who appreciated its charm and loved to reproduce its grace。
Queen Elizabeth stands out in history as a woman who struggled
ungracefully against growing old。 Her wigs and hoops and farthingales
served only to make her ridiculous； and the fact that she wished to be
painted without shadows in order to appear 〃young；〃 is recorded as an
aberration of a great mind。
Are there no painters to…day who will whisper to our wives and
mothers the secret of looking really lovely； and persuade them to abandon
their foolish efforts at rejuvenation？
Let us see some real old ladies once more； as they look at us from
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miniature and portrait。 Few of us； I imagine； but cherish the memory of
some such being in the old home； a soft… voiced grandmother； with silvery
hair brushed under a discreet and flattering cap； with soft； dark raiment
and tulle…wrapped throat。 There are still； it is to be hoped； many such
lovable women in our land； but at times I look about me in dismay； and
wonder who is to take their places when they are gone。 Are there to be no
more 〃old ladies〃？ Will the next generation have to look back when the
word 〃grandmother〃 is mentioned； to a stylish vision in Parisian apparel；
decollete and decked in jewels； or arrayed in cocky little bonnets； perched
on tousled curls； knowing jackets； and golfing skirts？
The present horror of anything elderly comes； probably； from the fact
that the preceding generation went to the other extreme； young women
retiring at forty into becapped old age。 Knowing how easily our excitable
race runs to exaggeration； one trembles to think what surprises the future
may hold； or what will be the next decree of Dame Fashion。 Having
eliminated the 〃old lady〃 from off the face of the earth； how fast shall we
continue down the fatal slope toward the ridiculous？ Shall we be
compelled by a current stronger than our wills to array ourselves each year
（the bare thought makes one shudder） in more and more youthful apparel；
until corpulent senators take to running about in 〃sailor suits；〃 and
octogenarian business men go 〃down town〃 in 〃pinafores；〃 while belles of
sixty or seventy summers appear in Kate Greenaway costumes； and dine
out in short…sleeved bibs； which will allow coy glimpses of their cunning
old ankles to appear over their socks？
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CHAPTER 23 … Around a Spring
THE greatest piece of good luck that can befall a Continental village
is the discovery； within its limits； of a spring supplying some kind of
malodorous water。 From that moment the entire community； abandoning
all other plans； give themselves over to hatching their golden egg；
experience having taught them that no other source of prosperity can
compare with a SOURCE THERMALE。 If the water of the newfound
spring； besides having an unpleasant smell； is also hot； then Providence
has indeed blessed the township。
The first step is to have the fluid analyzed by a celebrity； and its
medicinal qualities duly set forth in a certificate。 The second is to get
official recognition from the government and th