Page:Personal beauty how to cultivate and preserve it in accordance with the laws of health (1870).djvu/40

 effect is most singular. Look at one side, and it may be smiling and full of expression; look at the other and it is motionless and inexpressive. In a much less degree this effect is not unusual. Often there is a want of innervation, that is, the nerve force is not distributed equally to the two sides of the face, and one-half does not correspond exactly to the other. If we examine faces critically from in front (not from the side, as there the profile common to both halves confuses our judgment) we shall rarely find one in which the sides perfectly correspond. This is a misfortune or a fault which generally can, and always ought, to be remedied. When the difficulty is in the innervation, electricity applied by a skilful hand is of benefit; in other cases continued pressure or friction is effective.

RELAXED AND STOOPING FIGURES.

It is the proud distinction of man to walk upright. Every other animal must bend and hug the earth. Stooping we associate with age and infirmity. Therefore an erect figure has ever been deemed essential to beauty. Only some passing vagary of fashion would sanction a "Grecian bend." No one in the least acquainted with the laws of beauty would adopt or approve it.

A figure straight, lithe, and graceful will excuse a multitude of faults. It can be acquired with great