PASSING OF THE PLAIN WOMAN

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 242, 2 June 1932, Page 7

PASSING OF THE PLAIN WOMAN

just as there are no "old maids" nowadays, only bachelor women, so there are no plain women, only those who do not know how to make themselves beautiful. An inteliigent person of either sex cannot be ugly; intelligence in itself is attractive, and as women have never been as universally inteliigent as they are to-da'y, the plain woman is as rare as the antimacassar. No woman with ahy vitality or personality can "possibly be ugly. She may perhaps not know h'ow to make hel essential qualities attractive to the otitward eye, but qnce she has discovered how, she no longer needs to worry as to whether her nose is the right Shape, or her mouth too Wide. She can, as we say, "get away with it." It is all a matter of intelligence plus clothes — sense and a knowledge of "make-up."

I don't see why we shouldn't all be perfectly frank about "make-up" and admit that mbst of us loOk rather different when we have it on, than when it is washed off. I think most of you who are hroadminded about the use of cosmeties will agree that such articles used in the correct fashion make a world of differenee to even the plainest person. It is rather amusing to hear people remark of a woman's attractiveness that . it "will all come off, in the wash," but I don't think many. will deny the improvement of a right application of the socalled "make-up." It is the result, not how it is achieved, that matters. If the lips are not imitating cupid's perfect bow, why shouldn't natUre be improved upon with a lipsticlc, hut let it be added, providing the colour of the lipstick suits the wearer. I don't think anyone can be blamed for try-

ing to improve Nature's defects, for beauty is a great charm more 'easily procured by women than men who have a hundred and one little acqUisitions with which to add to her attraction from which men are debarred. There are such infinite resources of civilisation in the creation of beauty these days. Never in history has there been a time when it has been easier for women to be beautiful , never a time when clothes have been e'asief to wear, or when it was possible to get an "effect" with so little expenditure of time, trouble or money. The woman who goes about looking unattractive in these days has not much excuse. Among many types, there are two which stand alone in women, the superlatively lovely woman, and the vividly attractive woman. There is the beauty of sheer loveliness and the beauty of personality and both are enhanced by recourse to the charming artifices of civilisation. The one would not be attractive without her alive personality, the other enhances her existing beauty by her complete artistry. There is a kind of gay courage and essential sariity and common sense about the woman of to-day which contributes very largely to 'her charm. These things radiate- from her like a light and constitute a form of beauty in themselves. It would seem — judging from old photographs and prints — that there has never been a time in history when the average of feminine good looks has been higher. We no longer say, "Poor thing, she's So plain!" but, "Good Heavens, Why doesn't she do something about herself ?" Very few women are made absolutely devoid of some redeeming fea- ' ture and things have reached such a stage today that we can givfe ourselves what we lack in our natural make-up.