BEAUTY CULTURE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 286, 28 July 1932, Page 3

BEAUTY CULTURE

R. M.

Blomfield.)

AN ANCIENT ART FOLLOWED BY MODERN WOMEN. THE POWER OF CHARM. (Specially Written for the "Morning

"Post" by

Beauty culture may legitimately be eonsidered one of the oldest arts in the world. So much is heard in these modern days about beauty culture that many people are inclined to assume that it is a modern institution and is to be included in the category of vices of modern civilisation. This is not so! The search for beauty is as old almost as the world itself, and it has been proved beyond any doubt that beauty culture dates baclt for many thousands of years. Frequent mention of it is found in the literature of the ages, both sacred and seeular. It is a well known fact that the ancient Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans were well versed in various branches of it. Recently, near Dublin, in Ireland, a number of ancient graves, relics of the Stone Age, were discovered, in which were found lipSticks of a pink wax-lilce substance, also mirrors of a primitive pattern — beauty culture in the Stone Age! • History tells that tonsorial art had its origin in a virtue called cleanliness and a pardonable vice valled vanity, which, after all, is a striving after beauty. Reference is also made at various times to packs or masks for preserving the natural beauty and texture of the human skin, together with formulae which contain, in many instances, ingredients in accordance with the scientific packs of our neomodern times. As early as 300 B C. Roman perruquiers understood the art of hairtinting and used to render the hair blonde. It is said that even Venus practised the art of bleaching her own hair! Fashionable ancient 'Greek courtesans wore their hair gorgeously dressed and coloured hlue. This fact proves the existence of the knowledge of hair-dressing and technique of colouring. Ancient Egypt has rightly been named "the Mother of Civilisation," as ocular evidence 'exists that manufacture, arts and crafts existed in those days. They were a highly cultured, war-like and civilised race who practised most branches of beauty cul ture and many authorities contend that the Egyptians were the originators of this art which spread toward the western countries and developed with our great civilisation. Short hair was worn by women during the Egyptian period. Personal Charm. ■ Every self-respecting woman wishes to look her best, and, to attain a considerable shafe of beauty is not such a difficult matter. With care and culture every woman has it within her power to greatly improve her personal appearance and add- to the charm of her features. The beauty to which I refer is not the mere superficial attraction, the power of which is neeessarily evanescent, but represents that far-reaeh-ing culture which acesntuates the best lines and improves the weaker points — which, in short, amounts to a general cultivation of personal radiance , and a study of beauty culture. What is known as beauty culture is really only another name for health culture. The two ought never to he separated, for what is detrimental to health must also be detrimental to beauty, and it should never he forgotten that it is with the skin you have to deal first and foremost in promoting beauty. The old adage that says "beauty is but skin deep" has done a lot of harm. It has confused in thoughtless minds the vice of vanity with the virtue of self-respect. Skin deep is deep enough, for when the skin is truly beautiful there can be nothing much wrong with the effect of the features. No woman can fail to make a good impression if she has a good complexion Helping Nature. "You cannot improve on Nature" is another proverbial snare. As well say we should leave the vine or rose tree to grow its own wild way. Where there is the best natural 'environment, this leaving of Nature alone may be wise, but we seldom meet Mrs. Nature in her primitive state nowadays. She is swayed and moulded by the force of changing circumstances and conditions and a guiding touch of the human hand is often most advantageous. Our physical beauty is amenable to all sorts of improvements with judicious treatment. In the ensuing notes care will he taken not to trespass beyond the legitimate limits within which Nature will respond, for to attempt to leave* Nature behind in these matters is to court humiliating failure. The keynote of success in beauty culture is complete, and perfect personal cleanliness, when a careful study of the instructions cannot fail to yield gratifying results. DifFerent phases of the art will be dealt with fully in subsequent articles.