Page:Love and its hidden history.djvu/181

 freshness to the skin, more support to the muscles; and as it is certain in physiology that it is the depression of the muscles which causes wrinkles, those formidable enemies of beauty, it is equally true to say that, cœteris paribus, those who understand eating are comparatively ten years younger than those who are strangers to this science.'

"This is the cause of the pale, pasty complexion of many of our dames who are otherwise so charming. They do not understand eating. Not but that they put enough into their stomachs, but what they do fill them with is not of the right sort. Instead of feeding at regular periods upon well-cooked, nutritious food, they waste their appetites upon cakes, sweets, and other indigestible articles. Nothing is more fatal to purity of complexion. Every bit of pastry eaten seems to rise from the stomach to the face, and shows itself there as distinctly as if in the confectioner's shop window. The diet, too, must be regulated according to the natural complexion of the individual. The excessively ruddy should feed lightly, avoid heating articles of food, and strong wines and liquors. The pale, on the contrary, should live on a more substantial diet, moistened with generous drink. Too much sleep is as hurtful as excessive watchfulness, and over-exercise should be avoided equally with an indolent repose. 'Il y a,' says a French authority, 'certaines personnes qui prennent tous les jours un lavement, pour se conserver, dit-on, le teint frais. Il y a évidemment une exagération dans cette habitude quotidienne, qui d'ailleurs va souvent en grandissant d'une manière déraisonnable; mais au fond, il y a quelque chose de vrai.'

"The obvious means of protecting the complexion from heat and cold is to avoid exposure. If this is inevitable, nothing is better to prevent tanning by the sun, or any of the effects of temperature, than to powder the face when dry with ground starch or rice. "Dr. Cazenave is decidedly opposed to the free application of water to the face. He says 'You should moisten the skin of the visage as little as possible.' There are some skins even, according to him, which should never be cleaned except with powder, and he exclaims, 'How many dames there are who have preserved a delicate, fresh, and transparent complexion by never, or at least hardly, moistening it!' This is said to be the practice of the Circassian beauty of the Turkish harem. She is as chary of water as 3