The Handsomest Woman in the World.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 276, 23 February 1881, Page 2

The Handsomest Woman in the World.

The wife of William Morris, the poet, can give points to Mrs. Langtry and the rest of the professional beauties, if a correspondent of the Inter-Ocean is to be trusted : —“ She is a mysterious, Egyptain-looking woman, with great sad eyes, and Oriental complexion, burning scarlet lips, and the expression of ineffable remoteness and vagueness that one in imagination gives to the sphynx. The young lady’s face was just one of the inexpressively melancholy ones that the pre-Raphaelites adore — just the type of young women coming down the * golden stairs ’ in Burne Jones’ picture at the Grosvenor Gallery this year —and Morris married her. Not long ago this lady wore at ar. evening party a robe of the sheeniest, filmiest white muslin, fine enough to be drawn through a ring. The petticoat under it must have been the same, for the folds at the robe clung to her body as if cut by the finest chisel. At the waist this thin robe was confined by a long supple chain in the form of a serpent, which, after writhing around her body, dropped its jeweled head by her left side, where its diamond eyes glittered and burned like fire. Egyptian bracelets and necklace adorned her arms and neck, and an Egyptian masque gathered and held the folds of the robe at the throat. Her black hair was one thick mass of short curls, and lay close down to her eyes, crept in and out by another golden serpent with jewelled scales and burning eyes. One would have said she was a Cleopatra, who had turned her asps into gold and jewels, and come to life to dazzle a barbarian world.”