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Classic
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page 419
THE ARTS OF THE TOILET.
Beauty and health constitute a royal inheritance. The child born with such a
heritage, and brought up by a mother who has the good sense to discard soothing
syrups, narcotics and cordials, and carefully trains up to cleanly habits,
proper exercise, plenty of air and sunshine, and wholesome food, starts in life
with a capital that will in the long run tip the balance against the largest
fortune in dollars. To keep health and beauty, or to restore it when lost, it is
necessary to observe the laws of health, discarding quackery and panaceas of all
kinds as superstitions, and inventions of the devil. Pure air and plenty of it,
free sunshine and plenty of it, are better restoratives than all the patent
medicines under the sun. Too often the doctor brings the medicine only to have
the medicine bring the doctor again. The sun-light will give a lady's cheek a
fresher tinge and a more delicate complexion than all the French powders and
rouge in Paris.
THE BATH--Not only promotes cleanliness, but is a tonic. The skin does one third
of the work of breathing, and if the myriad of pores are closed, the lungs are
overburdened, or else the work is left undone. The tonic effect is caused by the
contraction of the surface blood-vessels, driving the blood back to the larger
blood-vessels and the heart, bringing on a reaction which rushes the blood back
to the skin, causing a glow, freer respiration, and more vigorous action of the
whole muscular system. A sponge or hand bath are the simplest forms, and should
be taken in a moderately warm room. As a rule, the more rapidly a bath is taken
the better, and it should always be followed by friction with the hand or with a
not too rough towel.
THE FACE.--To wash properly, fill basin two-thirds full with fresh, soft water,
dip face in the water and then the hands; soap the hands well and rub with a
gentle friction over the face; dip the face in water the second time and rinse
off thoroughly, wiping with a thick but soft towel. Pure soaps do not irritate
the skin. The best are castile, curd, glycerine and other neutral soaps.
Medicated or highly colored or perfumed soaps should never be used.
FOOD.--A good complexion never goes with a bad diet. Strong coffee, hot bread
and butter, heated grease, highly spiced soups, meats, or game, hot drinks,
alcoholic liquors, fat meats, are all damaging to its beauty. Strong tea, used
daily, will after a time give the skin the color and appearance of leather.
Coffee affects the skin less but the nerves more, and a healthy nervous system
is necessary to beauty. Late suppers, over-eating at meals, eating between
meals, the use of candies, sweetmeats, preserves, etc., produce pimples and
blotches.
CORPULENCY.--An excess of fat is a disease. To reduce the excess, eat
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