She Was Up on the Subject

1895

That the representatives of the weaker sex never reach a conclusion by reasoning, but by intuition, was well illustrated a few days ago in one of the high schools.

The professor of natural philosophy had just completed a lecture on the "Forces of Cohesion and Adhesion." He had been extremely careful to explain the difference between the two, and in order to test the knowledge of the class upon the subject he asked a demure young lady on the front seat:

"Miss Blank, when you powder your face, what is it that keeps the powder in place? What keeps it from falling off?"

The maiden, thoroughly startled at the question, seemed to be in doubt for a few moments, and then, with sparkling eyes and animated countenance, made the remarkable answer, "Glycerin." — Cincinnati Tribune.

Ye Gods! What'd John L. Have Said to Hair Curling and Brow Arching?

(Click the graphic for better view.)

1920

My dears, you should see that pompadour!

And that isn't half of it. He's having his eyebrows daintily arched, too!

And, to cap it all, his cheeks are adorned with the best grade of milady's rouge carefully handpainted over a field of perfumed pink powder. 'Tis even hinted that for a time he considered wearing a lace-covered corset to accentuate the lines of his form-fitting suit of clothes, but this has later been indignantly denied.

No, Genevieve, your guess is wrong. It isn't Launcelot de Slushe, the hero of "Nine Oceans of Tears" in the movie — it's no less a personage, they say, than Jack Dempsey, heavyweight fistic champion of this universe.

Dempsey won't say whether it's the influence of his recent trial at the movies or the success of his next opponent, Georges Carpentier, the bearcat boulevardier of gay Paree, but —

The erstwhile training camp, 'tis whispered, exudes an odor of lilac toilet water and face powder. Electric curling irons are said to adorn the walls where boxing gloves once hung. Cauliflower-eared attendants no longer take to road work and handball — manicuring and eyebrow-arching is the order of the day now, according to latest reports.

So much did Dempsey admire his first marcel wave at the hands of a Los Angeles society barber that he returned to have his brows arched and has since made it a regular practice, if Los Angeles advices may be believed.

But, ye gods! What would the shades of John L. Sullivan and Bob Fitzsimmons say if they could return to earth and see a modern fistic champion?

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 10.

Use Your Rouge Artistically, Girls!

1920

Then The Men'll Fall for You, Is Doctor's Advice

Girls who powder and paint have found a champion in Dr. Anna Dwyer of Chicago. She said girls must paint to attract attention and she could see no harm in it.

"But it must done artistically," she said.

Dr. Anna Dwyer is connected with the Chicago health department. She takes issue with Dr. Florence Meredith, the Boston woman who heads the Y. W. C. A. dress reform movement.

"Uncorseted women do not live any longer nor enjoy any better health than the smartly corseted, up-to-date modern city woman," she said.

"As to the facial make-up, which Dr. Florence Meredith claims make it impossible for even a person experienced in the ways of women, like myself, to pick out the good from the bad, all I can say is only the good Lord Himself can tell the good from the bad these days."

And then she defended the girl with paint on her face.

"It is every girl's privilege to paint her face if she likes. Those who do, attract attention, and those who don't, do not, I notice. But it should be done artistically.

"Silk stockings and low shoes are neither objectionable nor dangerous, and the modern corset is quite sensible, to my mind," she said.

—The Saturday Blade, Chicago, Jan. 3, 1920, p. 3.

Now Futurist Face Powder

1914

Mauve, Yellow and Green Tints Made by Fashion's Leaders From Pearl Dust

The post-impressionist artists, painting, as they do, mauve, yellow, green, and brown flesh tints, have given a new idea to manufacturers of cosmetics. The fashionable woman may now tint her complexion in any tone as easily as she may assume a toilette in that color. One manufacturer is showing face powders in shades called violet yellow, emerald, old rose and ashen rose.

These new tints are recommended only for evening wear, as it is generally admitted that they would be too grotesque for daylight. The amazing thing, however, is that they really look well on the skin, and when applied give only the faintest suggestion of shadowy color. Thus, when the mauve powder is used, the shadows have a sort of purple bloom, which is rather becoming and lends softness to the face, accentuating in small degree the expression of the eyebrows and eyelashes, and also intensifying the color of the eyes. The purple tint is usually recommended for brunettes with blue or gray eyes.

Yellow powder is flattering to blondes, who need to intensify the yellow in their skins to correspond with the shadows cast from golden hair. This intensifies the type and makes it much warmer looking, therefore much more harmonious than if the face were tinted with either white or so-called flesh-colored powder.

The most difficult of all the new shades to conceive as having a place among beauty applications is the green powder. But through demonstration it is proved that certain types of coloring look well with the green tint, notably ashen blondes who have the reflection of green lights from the hair. This is also recommended for types too florid, whether blonde or brunette. It is said to give a cool, clean look to such skins.

The rose color is not at all the old fashioned flesh pink, but a sort of salmon tinted old rose. This is a color which would be well suited to a neutral brunette, as it would warm the type, giving body and a look of strength to the skin and a consequent health-like flush.

It is an interesting fact that these new cosmetics are made from powder of real pearls, a discovery of somewhat recent date, though for some time in quite current use in Paris.

Maxims of a Modern Maid — "Understanding Little Pal"

1920

Get Wise — Maxims of a Modern Maid

Marriage, like the department stores, could not get along nowadays without the exchange privileges.

The girl with golden curls and a pink and white complexion is any man's idea of an angel — even is she has a selfish mouth and a small cold blue eye.

How in the world did a "sunkissed summer girl" ever transform herself into a ballroom beauty before the art of make-up reached the present miracle working stage?

Every girl with a grouch can cheer up by reflecting that the sort of man who never makes a woman unhappy never makes her happy either.

No man ever falls in love with his stenographer — he falls in love with the "understanding little pal," he thinks she is.

Now that women have won votes, perhaps an occasional valiant soul may be allowed an idea of her own — even when a man is around.

When you hear a man say that his wife is an angel, see if he isn't a widower.